Chapter 224: Yin Energy Disperses, A Mysterious Woman
The Yin energy that had permeated the area completely dissipated.
Lin Tianlu looked at the spot where the demon had vanished, a sigh escaping his lips.
The actions of a single demon had caused so much chaos and suffering in this town, families torn apart, lives lost, yet no one had been able to stop him. Each tragedy was just another act in his twisted play.
This world…
Perhaps it truly needed a change.
Lin Tianlu turned around and saw Magistrate Hua emerging from the county office, his steps unsteady.
“That demon, Fan Qi…”
“His soul has been destroyed.”
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly. “Although he didn’t face your judgment in court, Magistrate, I believe this outcome is still satisfactory.”
Magistrate Hua’s expression flickered, then he exhaled slowly, as if releasing a heavy burden.
“He deserved his fate. It’s a blessing for Anshi County.”
Whoosh
The heavy plaque returned, spinning through the air, and Lin Tianlu caught it, effortlessly placing it back above the county office entrance.
“Now that this matter is resolved, I’ll take my leave. As for the remaining criminals, I’ll leave them in your capable hands, Magistrate.”
“I won’t disappoint you, Master Lin.”
Magistrate Hua bowed deeply.
But then he frowned slightly, his voice serious. “That Fan Qi was a powerful individual, connected to Prince Pei. Be careful, Master Lin. The prince is unpredictable, and even his son, although seemingly gentle and kind, is not to be trifled with.”
“Thank you for the warning, Magistrate.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and bowed slightly. “Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Why don’t you stay in town for a few more days, Master Lin? We can offer you our hospitality—”
“There’s no need.”
Lin Tianlu didn’t hesitate. He turned and walked away, waving his hand dismissively. “Magistrate, if you have some free time, you should visit your family. Family bonds are stronger than you think.”
“…”
Magistrate Hua took a deep breath and bowed respectfully.
…
A while later, the constables emerged from the county office.
The middle-aged constable approached Magistrate Hua and said in a low voice, “Magistrate, that Master Lin…”
“He’s a kind and selfless man, not interested in fame or fortune. He’s already left.”
The magistrate straightened his back, his voice filled with admiration.
“It was a blessing for Anshi County to have encountered such an extraordinary individual.”
“Magistrate, should we try to find him and express our gratitude—”
“No.”
He quickly raised his hand, stopping them. “Master Lin is a noble and righteous man. Don’t bother him with trivial matters. Excessive flattery would only offend him.
Simply restoring order to Anshi County is enough to repay his kindness. If we ever meet again, we’ll express our gratitude and offer our assistance.”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Magistrate, what about this Hu girl?”
A constable led Hu Siqi out of the county office, her expression dazed and confused.
The magistrate glanced at her and sighed. “Young lady, although Master Lin showed you mercy, you still deserve to be punished. You’ll spend a few days in jail. Do you have any objections?”
“N-no!” Hu Siqi shook her head quickly. “Thank you, Magistrate Hua! Thank you, Master Lin!”
“Alright, take her to a cell. And don’t mistreat her. After ten days, we’ll contact her family and collect the fine. Her family is relatively wealthy. They can afford it.”
“Yes, Sir!”
The young constable nodded and took out a pair of shackles, binding Hu Siqi’s hands. “I apologize for this, Miss. Please come with me.”
“I-I understand. I won’t run away.”
Hu Siqi glanced at the unconscious ghost practitioners lying on the ground and shuddered.
Although the unfathomable scholar had left, there were still dozens of skilled constables present. If she caused any trouble, she would be punished severely, just like those pathetic wretches.
Magistrate Hua watched as she was led away, then turned to look at the dark and empty street, his eyes filled with a melancholic longing.
He sighed softly.
“Perhaps… I should visit my family, as Master Lin suggested.”
…
Hu Siqi shivered as she was led through the dark and damp corridors of the prison.
She looked at the cells and the prisoners inside, her heart pounding with fear.
Although she had foolishly tried to steal, she had never imagined that she would end up in jail. And the sight of those dirty and disheveled prisoners made her skin crawl.
“You’ll be staying here for the next ten days, Miss Hu.”
The young constable stopped in front of a cell, unlocked the door, and opened it. “We’ll bring you two meals a day. There’s a prison uniform inside. You can change when you’re alone. The conditions aren’t ideal, but it’s your punishment. Try to endure it.”
“I-I understand. I won’t complain.”
Hu Siqi nodded quickly, her demeanor meek and obedient.
Seeing her enter the cell and sit down quietly, the constable raised an eyebrow, surprised by her submissiveness.
She didn’t seem like someone who had tried to steal, even from that powerful Master Lin.
But the thought of that extraordinary scholar, his display of power, filled the young constable with excitement. He locked the cell door and hurried away.
He wanted to share his excitement with his colleagues, to recount the incredible events of the night.
It was an experience he would never forget.
However, he didn’t notice…
Hu Siqi, sitting on the straw mat in her cell, suddenly smiled, her expression strange and unsettling.
…
“—I never thought I would end up in a mortal prison.”
She patted the hard straw mat, practically a stone slab, with amusement.
“This is quite a novel experience. So this is what they provide for prisoners to sleep on?”
She touched the dusty wall, her fingernails scraping against the surface, sending a shower of particles into the air.
She wiped her fingers and chuckled. “To be trapped in this place for years… it would be a fate worse than death. I can’t believe there are people who willingly endure this.”
“Hey, I didn’t expect to see a woman in here.”
A raspy voice, filled with amusement, suddenly called out.
Hu Siqi turned to see a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard, dressed in a tattered prison uniform, sitting in the cell across from hers, a leering smile on his face.
“I heard the wind howling outside earlier, and the air’s getting colder. Is winter coming early this year?”
Hu Siqi glanced at him dismissively, her attention returning to her surroundings, her eyes filled with curiosity.
She examined the table, the chairs, the chamber pot…
These were things she had never seen in the Luo Xing’s Myriad Ghost Pagoda.
“What’s so interesting about this place, girl?”
The man chuckled, not at all offended. “I didn’t get a good look at your face earlier. Why don’t you come closer? If you’re pretty, I might take you under my wing.”
“…”
Hu Siqi finally turned to face him, her finger tracing her chin thoughtfully. Then she smiled faintly. “So you’re in here for… assaulting a woman?”
“Hmm?”
The man was startled. “How did you…”
“Get down on the floor.”
Hu Siqi smiled, her finger pointing downwards. “I don’t want to be seen by a lecherous man like you. It’s disgusting.”
The man’s face darkened. This girl was showing him no respect.
He would teach her a lesson when he had the chance. After he was released, he would contact a few friends and— Thud!
Suddenly, he found himself sprawled on the floor, his limbs stiff and unresponsive.
“A worm, even after a year or two in prison, is still a worm. Incorrigible.”
Hu Siqi’s smile turned sinister, and she flicked her finger.
The man, who had been about to call for help, suddenly froze, drool dripping from his mouth, his eyes rolling back as he fainted.
“Not bad. Although I only managed to escape with a fragment of my soul, I still have some control over my power.”
Hu Siqi wiggled her fingers playfully. “Killing him here would cause unnecessary trouble. And—”
She glanced towards the exit, her lips curving into a sly smile. “That scholar… he’s the benevolent ‘Master Lin.’ He saved so many lives, yet he didn’t take anything in return, just a few words of gratitude. Such a good person… they’re rare these days.”
“Now that I think about it, he didn’t get angry when we met earlier. He even spoke to me so gently and politely. It’s just like him. But he didn’t see through my disguise. He was completely unsuspecting.”
She shook her head, amused, and pinched her cheek. “Perhaps this disguise is too effective. Did he really think I was just an innocent young girl?”
“But this appearance is a bit inconvenient. This Soul Fusion technique is powerful, but it can also be dangerous. Maintaining this act, pretending to be so timid and helpless… it’s tiring.”
She smiled and formed a hand seal, uttering a single word:
“Release!”
A shimmering light erupted from her body.
Countless particles of light swirled around her, then converged towards her palm.
Her appearance transformed drastically. Her small and frail body became tall and voluptuous, her long skirt revealing her smooth legs and thighs, her skin like flawless jade, her breasts full and round, her aura mature and seductive.
She stroked her hair, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face, her red lips curving into a enticing smile.
“Thank you for your soul, little girl.”
She poked the dim orb of light floating in her palm. “If it weren’t for you, I would have been discovered immediately.”
The orb transformed into a faint, translucent figure of a young girl, her body curled up, trembling.
“Look at you, so pathetic. I borrowed your soul for an entire day. You should at least have some dignity.”
The mysterious beauty chuckled and waved her hand over the orb.
The light flared, and the figure solidified, taking on a more distinct form.
“—Huh?”
Hu Siqi blinked, her eyes wide with confusion, standing in her cell.
She touched her body, her memories returning as she looked at the mysterious woman sitting before her.
“Y-you’re letting me go?”
“Did I ever say I would kill you?”
The mysterious woman crossed her long legs, her arms wrapped around her chest, a sly smile on her face. “I just borrowed your soul and your memories for a while. You were about to fade away anyway. I practically saved your life.”
“I… thank you, Elder Sister.”
Hu Siqi’s expression flickered, then she knelt down, her voice filled with gratitude and a hint of fear.
The events of the past few days had been a traumatic experience for this “rich young lady.”
Three days ago, she had been living a comfortable life, the daughter of a wealthy family. A chance encounter with Yin techniques had sparked her curiosity, and she had ventured out, hoping to learn more. But she had been attacked and killed.
And then, this mysterious woman had possessed her body…
Their souls had merged, and Hu Siqi had spent the past two days in a daze, her actions and words controlled by another consciousness, her memories fragmented and unreal, like a puppet.
It was a disturbing experience, and she never wanted to repeat it.
“—You foolish girl.”
The mysterious woman sighed. “After you’re released from prison, go home and stay there. Don’t ever touch Yin techniques again. If you encounter another demon or ghost, you won’t be so lucky.”
“Y-yes, Elder Sister!”
Hu Siqi kowtowed repeatedly.
But when she looked up, the mysterious woman was gone, vanished without a trace.
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