Zhao Xueqing trudged back home, exhausted—only to be greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of cooking and the rhythmic clatter of a spatula against a wok.
“Jiang Tian is back?” Her heart pounded wildly as she rushed to the kitchen.
There he was—apron tied around his waist, wielding a ladle like a seasoned chef. He even pinched a bite to taste, muttering to himself, “Hmm, a bit salty… Hope Xueqing doesn’t scold me for being clumsy.”
This scene, one she had longed for, now unfolded before her eyes—yet it felt surreal, like a dream.
Thud.
The bag of groceries slipped from her fingers. Tears welled up uncontrollably, streaming down her cheeks.
“Oh! You’re back? Could’ve warned me—you scared me half to death!” Jiang Tian turned around, clutching his chest in mock fright.
“Am I really that terrifying?”
Xueqing wanted to joke, to ease the awkwardness of their reunion—but the tears wouldn’t stop.
And then, she realized—there was no awkwardness.
It felt as if Jiang Tian had never left. As if he’d simply come home earlier than her today.
As if her body moved on its own, Xueqing stumbled forward, her vision blurred by tears. She threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, and sobbed uncontrollably.
“You jerk… Why did you leave?”
“Fine, I told you to go—but you didn’t even leave me a way to contact you! Do you know how hard I looked for you?”
“Idiot! What kind of flimsy string did you use for that bracelet? It snapped so easily! I spent forever searching for those beads!”
“And when was the last time you washed these clothes? They reek! Can’t you be a little hygienic?”
Between sobs, she pummeled his chest with her fists—though it felt more like a massage than an attack.
“Alright, stop crying. You’ll ruin your pretty eyes…” Jiang Tian raised a hand to comfort her, then hesitated—his fingers were greasy.
“Oh, so now I’m not pretty enough for you? How bold!”
Xueqing pouted, but then grabbed his arm and pulled him into a tight embrace.
For a long moment, they held each other, their cheeks pressed together, as if trying to merge into one. The golden glow of the setting sun bathed them in warmth, painting a scene of pure tenderness.
“Jiang Tian, your arm and head… Are they really okay?”
After a while, Xueqing wiped her tears and began inspecting Jiang Tian’s scalp, searching for scars.
“It’s nothing. Healed ages ago,” he reassured her, his heart swelling with affection.
“Oh no! The ribs are burning! Quick, take them off the heat!”
Only after confirming he was unharmed did Xueqing snap back to reality—and promptly shrieked at the sight of the nearly charred dish.
“Mmph… My husband’s cooking is the best! So good it makes me want to cry!”
Xueqing shoveled food into her mouth like a starved kitten, her lips smeared with sauce and grains of rice—far from the poised, elegant image she usually projected.
Yet, the Eight Blessings Jade Pendant around her neck glowed faintly against her skin, casting a soft radiance that made her seem even more ethereal.
“Slow down! Have some soup—don’t choke…” Jiang Tian kept piling food onto her plate, his gaze overflowing with adoration.
“Husband… Promise you’ll never leave again. Cook for me every day!” Xueqing’s eyes reddened as she pleaded pitifully.
Since her mother’s death, Xueqing had never known the warmth of being cared for by family.
And after marrying Jiang Tian, life had been chaos—a never-ending storm that left her in tears.
But now, Jiang Tian was back. Better than before. Gentle. Attentive.
She couldn’t bear to lose him again.
“Last time, you were the one who told me to leave. I never wanted to go,” Jiang Tian pointed out wryly.
“Well, that’s because I thought—”
Xueqing’s face flushed as she recalled that morning—the two of them tangled in bedsheets, naked and breathless.
“Hmph. We’re married. Isn’t that supposed to happen?” Jiang Tian feigned indignation.
“I wasn’t ready! And besides, on our wedding night, you were so rough with me…”
Xueqing’s voice trembled with grievance. “How were we ever acting like a married couple?”
“Ugh, my eternal shame…”
Jiang Tian had no rebuttal. The guilt was crushing. He hastily changed the subject. “Eat! Eat!”
…
After dinner, Jiang Tian moved to wash the dishes—but Xueqing stopped him.
“Cooking is delicate work—that’s your job. Washing dishes is rough labor—leave it to your wife!”
She brewed him a cup of tea, then gathered the plates and vanished into the kitchen.
“Honestly… Even without cultivation, living like this with Xueqing wouldn’t be so bad.”
Jiang Tian lounged on the sofa, sipping tea, listening to Xueqing hum an off-key tune as she scrubbed. A profound sense of peace settled over him.
“Go shower and change!”
Once the dishes were done, Xueqing ran a bath for him and laid out fresh clothes.
As Jiang Tian stepped into the bathroom, he couldn’t resist teasing her.
“Xueqing… Not joining me for a couple’s bath?”
“In your dreams! Be grateful I even drew the water for you!”
Her face burned crimson as she stomped away.
Later, as Jiang Tian emerged, Xueqing suddenly blinked up at him with sparkling eyes.
“Jiang Tian… Can you really catch ghosts? Is Wolong Villa actually haunted?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t elaborate. The concept of spirits touched on reincarnation and the soul—far too complex to explain in a few words.
“Ghosts are real…?”
Ever since Jiang Tian had improved the Nourishing Cream formula, Xueqing had suspected he was no ordinary man. But hearing him confirm the supernatural still left her stunned.
Then, abruptly, she asked: “Hey, are you going to help Tang Wannian with the ghosts?”
“Well… I don’t really care.”
Jiang Tian sat beside her, draping an arm around her jade-like shoulders.
Initially, he had wanted to help—partly out of gratitude for Tang’s past assistance, partly because absorbing ghostly energy could boost his cultivation.
But now, his priority was gathering the remaining elemental materials for his Spirit-Gathering Array—a far more efficient path to power.
So despite Tang Wannian’s desperate pleas, Jiang Tian had remained noncommittal.
“Mmm… Husband, you smell amazing. How did I never notice before?”
Xueqing inhaled deeply, intoxicated by his scent—a mix of clean masculinity and something uniquely Jiang Tian. Her pulse quickened; her cheeks warmed.
“What are you doing? Sniffing me like a puppy?” He chuckled.
“Checking if you washed properly! Making sure you don’t stink!”
Her face burned hotter than the sun, but she stubbornly held his gaze.
“Oh…” Jiang Tian let it slide.
Then—
“Husband!” Xueqing clung to his arm, eyes shining. “Let’s go ghost-hunting! I want to see!”
“You… want to watch me catch ghosts? You’re not scared?”
Jiang Tian nearly spat out his tea. Since when was Xueqing this brave?
“With you here, why would I be afraid?” She grinned, brimming with confidence.
“…Fine.” He sighed in defeat.
Back in his past life, his battles against demons had been life-or-death struggles, witnessed by awed disciples.
But Xueqing? She was treating it like entertainment.
Still—if it made her happy, why not?
…
Meanwhile—Old Cadre Residential Compound
Tang Wannian paced before his father, sweating bullets.
“Dad, you have to help me! Wolong Villa is my life’s work! If ghosts keep haunting it, I’ll lose billions!”
“You dare ask me to intervene?!”
Old Master Tang scowled. “You humiliated Master Jiang! My face is ashamed to show itself!”
“Dad, I was blind! I regret it so much!” Tang Wannian looked ready to bawl.
“Third Son, you must learn—there’s always someone greater. I won’t live forever. One day, you’ll stand alone!”
The old man sighed. “In the martial world, they say: ‘A grandmaster is like a dragon.’ Master Jiang is practically a deity. That he didn’t kill you for your disrespect is mercy itself. Forget about asking him for help!”
“Dad, we’re talking billions here!” Tang Wannian wailed.
The villa had already claimed over a dozen lives. The compensation payouts alone were in the millions, not to mention the losses from shutting down.
He’d even hired Feng Shui masters—only for them to flee in terror or lose their minds.
To Tang Wannian, the villa was doomed. A financial black hole.
Then—his phone rang.
Zhao Xueqing’s number.
He answered instantly, forcing cheer into his voice. “Madam Jiang! You’ve seen Master Jiang? What can I do for you?”
“Oh, my husband wants to visit Wolong Villa tonight to catch ghosts. Is that alright?”
“Wait—Master Jiang changed his mind? He’ll really help? Yes! The sooner, the better!”
Tang Wannian nearly jumped for joy.
“Mhm! I wanted to see ghost-catching, so my husband agreed!” Xueqing’s tone dripped with pride.
“…”
Tang Wannian’s eye twitched.
Master Jiang, you’re truly a wife-con of the highest order!
I begged until my lips cracked, offered a hundred million—and you refused. But your wife says one word, and you’re on board?!
He promised to send a car immediately. Meanwhile, Xueqing began her own preparations.
She dug out a bulky hazmat suit and an oversized glass helmet—leftover from her company’s lab, used once during a deep clean.
“What the— Are you trying to go to space?”
Jiang Tian burst out laughing, tea spraying everywhere.
