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With a bang, the bullet struck Dashuai Sun right between his eyebrows.

"Aaaah!" Before Dashuai Sun could bask in his triumph, he let out a pained scream. A hole had formed in his forehead, smoke rising from the searing wound. His face seemed to have been scalded by boiling water, layers of skin peeling off in an instant.

"Pain! Pain! Pain!"

A single talisman was causing Dashuai Sun excruciating torment, as if his soul were being torn apart.

"How is this possible? How can there be such a powerful talisman?"

For all these years, those Taoist priests hadn't managed to harm him in the slightest.

Why was this talisman so potent?

Grasping at Zhou Fengxu with a distorted expression, Dashuai Sun howled in agony, determined to extract the soul. "I'll devour your soul!"

"Sir Zhou!"

A gust of wind rushed from behind the bamboo grove.

A flash of golden light darted forward, slicing through numerous bamboo leaves as the compass led the way.

The wind howled fiercely.

The girl's delicate hair danced in the air, her fair complexion composed and calm. The peach wood sword hovered, while she held her right hand with her left, fingers intertwined.

"Invoking soldiers, warriors, and forming ranks before us!"

In an instant, yellow talismans flew out of her pocket, encircling Zhou Fengxu.

The vengeful spirit, attempting to seize Zhou Fengxu, was forced back by the talismans. Even the slightest touch of the talisman caused it to shriek in agony.

Chu Yuening yelled, "Detective Zhou, crouch down!"

Reacting swiftly, Chu Yuening grabbed the hovering peach wood sword and, running forward, used Zhou Fengxu's shoulder as leverage to jump into the air. With both hands on the sword, she plunged it straight through Dashuai Sun's crown.

"Ahh…"

With the peach wood sword embedded, Dashuai Sun's shriek intensified. His face contorted like a shattered vase, glowing crimson with agony. His bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief.

The sword had pierced his skull, akin to an electric drill relentlessly twisting his spirit.

Dashuai Sun's pain distorted his features. He'd thought the agony of being assassinated years ago was unbearable. Little did he know, death could bring a torment from which one couldn't escape.

He was now experiencing the pain he had inflicted upon the Guo family back then.

Caili was shot through the forehead.

The Guo family's parents had their heads severed.

Dozens of the Guo family members were thrown alive into a raging fire to burn to death.

Enduring it again and again.

"Aaaah!"

Dashuai Sun sought a swift end, for even his soul shattering would be better than the torment he was now enduring. He trembled as he looked at Guo Fengdan, reaching out his hand.

"Fengdan..."

"Help me put an end to this..."

Guo Fengdan's spirit body had already become translucent. She crouched down, watching Dashuai Sun's struggles with a cold gaze.

"You have no right to call me by my name."

"Miss Guo, Miss Fengdan..." Dashuai Sun pleaded in agony on the ground, his right spirit limb shattering—had that hand just struck her?

Guo Fengdan watched silently, carefully etching Dashuai Sun's pitiful struggle for survival into her memory.

Gradually, more ghosts appeared.

The ghosts of the Guo family encircled, all to witness the spectacle.

Their rigid faces contorted into grimaces of relief.

Dashuai Sun's agonizing howls echoed through heaven and earth, eventually turning into black ashes that were dispersed by the wind, vanishing without a trace.

The pain he had inflicted upon the Guo family returned to him in full measure.

Before his obliteration, Dashuai Sun reflected, if only he could turn back time, he would never have committed such atrocities.

Zhou Fengxu rose and brushed off a shoe print from his shoulder. "Many thanks."

The girl offered a slight smile.

"No need to be formal. However, it seems Officer Zhou owes me another life."

Just as Zhou Fengxu was about to respond, a voice interrupted.

Both of them turned to look.

"Master Chu!"

Yu Feiyang had finally managed to navigate the maze and hurried over to meet them. "I've found you! You wouldn't believe it, but that bamboo forest just turned into a labyrinth. I wandered for ages and ended up right back where I started."

"A ghost's trick," Chu Yuening twirled her sword gracefully with one hand, glancing at the now-restored bamboo grove. "Unlike the previous Ghost Realm, this one was designed to keep you circling in place."

As for the Ghost Realm...

Chu Yuening gazed at Guo Fengdan, whose form was on the verge of dissolving.

The Bamboo Grove's Ghost Realm was, in fact, created by Guo Fengdan to protect Yu Feiyang.

Though the Ghost Realm temporarily trapped the trio, it also shielded them from Dashuai Sun's discovery. Unfortunately, Guo Fengdan's severe injuries left her unable to maintain it.

Yu Feiyang quickly caught sight of the ghostly figure from the Guo family, recalling the terrifying scene that day, and waved his hands again in alarm. "Uncle and Aunt Guo, I only entered for Dan Dan's sake. There's a reason for every grievance, and debts must be settled with the right person..."

Mrs. Guo forced a smile onto her rigid face. "Don't be afraid, we won't harm you."

"Yes, we wouldn't harm you." Guo Xiang also forced a smile, sincerely stating, "You're an admirable young man. If possible, we'd also hope that you could become part of the Guo family as our son-in-law."

Upon hearing the term 'son-in-law,' Yu Feiyang's mood dampened, and he began searching again. "Where's Dan Dan?"

"Over there," Chu Yuening tapped Yu Feiyang on the shoulder, gesturing for him to look to his left.

A light rain began to fall in the bamboo grove. Guo Fengdan stood in the rain, still dressed in her pink cheongsam and holding an oil paper umbrella, though her body had now turned semi-transparent.

"Dan Dan."

Yu Feiyang ran over and embraced her.

"Feiyang," Guo Fengdan set down her umbrella and caressed his cheek. On the verge of losing her soul, she could finally manage a smile.

"Do you want to hear me sing a tune?"

"I do, I really do," Yu Feiyang smiled through his tears, meeting her gaze.

He knew that singing opera was Dan Dan's dearest aspiration.

He was also aware that Dan Dan was eager to sing for him in person.

Both were keenly aware that their time was limited.

With a graceful pivot, Guo Fengdan casts her sleeves aside, instantly transforming into a delicate flower-doll character. She strides onto the stage with the poise of a seasoned performer.

"Soul ascends from the mundane world to Penglai, free from suffering. Together we transform into butterflies, dancing in harmony, ascending to the Immortal's Terrace..."