Chapter 318 Extra - With my golden light, I bless you in your next life.

Time flies, and more than a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Little Xie Weizhao was already able to babble and take unsteady steps. With her adorable appearance and bright eyes inherited from her parents, she was full of charm and became the darling of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion and even the entire Nanchansi Temple. Wherever she went, she was surrounded by laughter and affection.

A few days ago, Huiming took the little guy to stay at the temple for a while, ostensibly to "enlighten him with Buddhist teachings and let him absorb some Buddhist energy."

That day, after dinner, Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng were taking a walk in the courtyard to digest their food. The mansion was unusually quiet because the lively little figure was missing.

Just then, Ruan Guyan and Wang Dazhuang arrived together.

Wang Dazhuang was still the same paper-like figure, his smile seemed a bit brighter than usual, but he was less playful and noisy, and more serious than usual.

He scratched his head, walked up to Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen, and grinned:

"Master, Your Highness, these past few days, my sister Ruan and I have done everything we never got to do in our lives, and tasted all the delicious things we never got to eat... Hehe, it was worth it!"

He paused, his smile fading slightly, and his voice lowered, "We...we're ready. Send us into reincarnation."

"Being able to possess a paper doll, stay in the human world for so many years, see so much scenery, experience so much excitement, and even get to know you, Master and the Crown Prince, and receive so much care... we are truly happy and have no regrets."

Ruan Guyan stood quietly beside Wang Dazhuang, bowed to Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen without speaking, but her eyes were clear and calm, clearly indicating that it was a decision made after careful consideration.

Jiang Dusheng looked at them and sighed softly, feeling both reluctant to part and relieved.

Even if they didn't mention it, she had already had this idea.

Even with specially made soul-soothing incense and a paper doll imbued with spiritual power, a soul lingering in the mortal realm for too long is ultimately not a long-term solution.

Yin and Yang are in order, and reincarnation follows a natural order.

If too much time passes, the soul may become too deeply bound to the paper body, and the soul may dissipate.

Now that they've come to terms with it and are taking the initiative to bring it up, that's good.

Jiang Dusheng's gaze softened as he said, "Won't you wait a few more days? Mingche will be back from the temple the day after tomorrow. He likes you all very much; if he finds out you've left, he'll definitely cry and make a scene."

Back then, the first word the little guy learned wasn't "father" or "mother," but rather the vague "Uncle Zhuang," which made Wang Dazhuang so happy that the paper slips trembled.

Ruan Guyan gently shook her head, her eyes filled with longing, but her tone was firm:

"No. I'm afraid... afraid that if I see the little guy crying and hear him softly call out 'Aunt Ruan,' I really won't be able to leave."

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, concealing that slight emotion.

The decision to part ways has been made, so there is no need for further entanglements.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dusheng stopped trying to persuade him.

She looked up at the night sky; the moon was bright and the stars were few, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

Jiang Dusheng revealed a faint smile: "Tonight, the moon is bright and the wind is gentle, the world is clear and bright, it's a good day for farewell."

She walked slowly to the center of the courtyard, facing Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan.

Raise both hands and form a mudra in front of your chest, with spiritual light flowing from your fingertips, as if stars are gathering.

Jiang Dusheng closed his eyes and concentrated, then opened them again, a faint golden light flashing in his eyes. He uttered a clear chant, each word seemingly resonating with the heavens and earth:

"Heaven and earth are dark and yellow, the soul returns home."

"Now there are old friends, Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan, who remain in this mortal world. Their plight is pitiful, and their nature is inherently good. Now, I will use my golden light as a guide to open the gates of hell and lead you to the afterlife."

As the incantation ended, the spiritual light at her fingertips suddenly intensified, transforming into two soft, pale golden bridges that extended from her hands and enveloped the paper figures of Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan respectively.

At the same time, a misty, ethereal stone gate silently appeared on the courtyard ground.

Jiang Dusheng stared intently at the two ghostly figures that had been accompanying him for so long, his gaze focused, and continued reciting:

"Wang Dazhuang, you were a man of great kindness and righteousness in your life. Though your life was short, your soul remained pure and sincere. May this golden light cleanse your regrets and bless you in your next life, granting you a long and healthy life, a harmonious family, and a smooth, carefree, and peaceful existence."

"Ruan Guyan, you suffered injustice and slander in your life, your innocence was tarnished, and you died in sorrow. With my golden light, I will bless you in your next life, that you may be born into a family of reason, meet a good man, have an open mind, not be troubled by rumors, live a peaceful and joyful life, have close friends to repay your kindness, and have your talents displayed."

As Jiang Dusheng spoke, the golden light enveloping Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan grew softer and brighter.

Their paper figures gradually became transparent in the golden light, revealing the two souls inside that emitted a gentle white light.

Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan felt the blessing and purifying power contained in the golden light, and their souls felt relaxed, as if they had been freed from all shackles.

They bowed respectfully in the direction of Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen.

Wang Dazhuang straightened up, flashed a bright smile, and spoke louder than usual, but with a hint of sobs in his voice:

"Master! Prince! If our fate remains in the next life, Dazhuang will come back to find you! I'll be your steward again! And manage an even bigger household!"

Ruan Guyan also raised her head, gave Jiang Dusheng a sincere smile, and whispered, "Take care."

He nodded to Xie Jinchen again.

Wang Dazhuang seemed to feel ashamed of shedding ghost tears. He sniffed, reached out and grabbed Ruan Guyan's sleeve, and said loudly:

"Little sister Ruan, we're leaving! In the next life, let's try to be neighbors! I'll protect you as your older brother!"

Ruan Guyan gave a soft "hmm".

The two ghosts took one last look at the familiar courtyard, then at Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen, who were smiling and offering their blessings, before stepping hand in hand into the Gate of Hell.

The figure gradually blurred and eventually disappeared along with the golden light and mist.

The illusory image of the stone gate on the ground slowly disappeared, and the courtyard returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Just as the Gate of Ghosts completely vanished, a crystal-clear ghost tear condensed from the dissipating halo and drifted toward Jiang Dusheng.

Jiang Dusheng stretched out his hand, and the Ghost Tear fell into his palm.

This single tear of the ghost was like a silent switch, instantly pulling Jiang Dusheng's memory back to a distant afternoon.

She was seven years old that year.

Life at Nanchansi Temple was quiet and orderly. One day, she followed her master down the mountain to perform a ritual to help the soul of an elderly man who had died peacefully in a nearby mountain village.

After the ritual was completed, on the way back, an unusually strong aura of resentment and malevolence unexpectedly emanated from the depths of the mountains and forests.

The master and apprentice followed the trail and stumbled upon a mandrill that had been tortured and killed in its previous life and had become a vengeful ghost. It was rampaging through the forest, disturbing the villagers, and had already injured several innocent creatures.

The master intended to train her, and only protected her from the sidelines.

At only seven years old, with the fearless spirit of a newborn calf, she spent most of the day using her clumsy skills to scatter the evil spirit.

The battle had exhausted all her strength and courage, and her stomach was growling with hunger.

That day happened to be her birthday.

The master was busy with the aftermath and did not pay attention to this date.

Exhausted and hungry, she squatted by the mountain roadside, watching the smoke rising from the village not far away. She thought of the other children down the mountain who received parental love, new clothes, and delicious food on their birthdays, while she only had a solitary lamp, an ancient Buddha, and endless talismans to practice…

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.

At first, she only sobbed softly, but later she burst into loud sobs, completely forgetting her heroic act of exorcising the ghost.

"Kid, why are you crying? Who bullied you?" A slightly gruff male voice rang out from above.