On the streets of Lin'an City, pedestrians hurried along, lacking the usual relaxation.
Most of the people on the road were martial artists. In recent days, demons had become increasingly rampant, causing unease in the county. Especially after nightfall, the townspeople were on edge.
On the street, a young man in white led a white horse, on which sat a girl holding a candied hawthorn stick, accompanied by a middle-aged man.
This scene attracted quite a bit of attention because the young man leading the horse was extraordinarily handsome, while the girl on the horse was plainly dressed, skinny, and dark-complexioned.
"Hey..."
A shout came, and Li Fan looked up to see a head poking out of a window on the second floor of a nearby restaurant; it was indeed the fortune-telling old Daoist.
"Grandfather Daoist," Qi also saw the old Daoist and happily called out.
"Looks like the Daoist has swindled quite a bit of silver again," Li Fan looked up at the old Daoist and laughed.
"Not much, just enough for a drink," the old Daoist cheerfully replied, "Want to come up for a few drinks?"
Qi looked at his father. Yang Kui hesitated for a moment, then said, "Daoist, we need to continue on our journey, so we won't stay with you."
Saying this, he turned to Li Fan and said, "Brother Xiao Fan, you've already troubled yourself escorting us all this way. We'll go on our own from here."
"How about I escort you a bit further?" Li Fan suggested.
"You've troubled yourself long enough, Brother Xiao Fan," Yang Kui, being an honest man, didn't want to trouble him further after Li Fan had already saved their lives.
"Qi, come down," Yang Kui reached out to his daughter on the horse.
Qi looked reluctantly at Li Fan, who smiled and said, "You and Qi are too slow on foot. This horse is fast enough, and you should be able to leave the city soon."
Having offended the Chen family, he wasn't concerned for himself, but it was better for Yang Kui and his family to leave the county.
"Brother Xiao Fan..." Yang Kui wanted to say something, but Li Fan waved his hand and said, "Brother Yang, Qi called me brother, so the horse is hers."
Yang Kui glanced at his daughter, then knelt to Li Fan, bowing his head.
"No need for this, Brother Yang," Li Fan helped him up. Yang Kui's eyes were red as he said, "Brother Xiao Fan, I fear this great favor is one I may never repay. In the next life, I am willing to be a beast of burden."
"You exaggerate," Li Fan said. "Take good care of Qi."
"Yes." Yang Kui nodded heavily, then said to Qi, "Qi, say goodbye to Brother Xiao Fan."
With red eyes and reluctance, Qi said, "Brother Xiao Fan, can I come find you when I grow up?"
"Of course," Li Fan replied.
"Where should Qi find you?" the girl asked.
"Li Mountain," Li Fan said casually, causing a wave of emotion in Yang Kui's heart.
Li Mountain Disciple!
No wonder.
"Li Mountain," Qi softly murmured, memorizing these words, then smiled and said, "Brother Xiao Fan, Qi will surely find you."
"Alright," Li Fan nodded with a smile.
Yang Kui didn't say more, cupped his hands to Li Fan once more, then looked up at the old Daoist, "Daoist, farewell."
With that, he mounted the horse, holding Qi, and spurred the horse forward.
"Goodbye, Brother Xiao Fan," Qi's eyes were red again. She looked up at the restaurant window and shouted, "Goodbye, Grandfather Daoist."
On the horse, Qi asked, "Father, where is Li Mountain?"
"Li Mountain is Da Li's 'highest' mountain," Yang Kui said softly, a Li Mountain Disciple leading the horse.
Perhaps this was Qi's brightest moment in life.
"Qi, although we may never have the chance to repay him in this life, you must remember Brother Xiao Fan's kindness. Without him, neither of us would still be here."
If Qi had been taken by the demon at the Chen Residence, he would have died there. Their lives were saved by Li Fan.
"Father, I want to cultivate," Qi said in a childish voice, with an indelible image of Li Fan like a deity standing before her in her young mind.
Yang Kui hesitated, then nodded with a smile, "Okay."
After the white horse left, Li Fan went up to the restaurant and sat opposite the old Daoist, pouring himself a cup of wine.
"Daoist, do you know me?" Li Fan asked, looking at the old Daoist.
"Young man, you know the rules of us old Daoists, right?" The old Daoist looked at Li Fan with a smile, and Li Fan placed a small piece of silver in front of him, which the old Daoist squinted and accepted.
"Familiar, yet unfamiliar," the old Daoist replied.
"Why were you at the Chen Residence?" Li Fan asked again.
The old Daoist glanced at what was in front of him, and Li Fan handed over another small piece of silver.
"Opportune fate," the old Daoist replied.
"What kind of fate?" This old man liked to speak in riddles?
The old Daoist remained silent, and Li Fan took out a whole ingot of silver from his pocket, placing it in front of him. The old Daoist reached out, but Li Fan did not let go, asking, "Is this enough?"
"It is, ask away, young hero," the old Daoist said politely, then Li Fan released his hand, looking at the old man.
"This old Daoist is getting on in years and wants to find someone to pass on his teachings and to observe someone," the old Daoist said.
"Have you found and seen that person?" Li Fan asked.
"I have found and seen them," the Daoist nodded with satisfaction.
"Why say the demon chaos is related to Li Mountain?" Li Fan continued to ask.
"Listen for yourself," the old Daoist said, looking inside the restaurant. Li Fan listened and heard the martial artists inside discussing the demon chaos.
'Yesterday, a woman went to the government office and reported Fulong Manor. Indeed, several female corpses were found. It's too gruesome. This monster has been quiet for a few years, but now it is stirring up trouble again. It's not satisfied with having over a hundred women for its amusement.'
'So what if they did? The Jiao Long is a great demon with vast abilities. Even Li Mountain is behind it, so the government doesn't dare to act.'
'Could it be that Li Mountain is behind this? Otherwise, how could there be so many demons in Lin'an County?'
'Keep your voice down, lest you lose your life.'
'What's there to be afraid of? I heard that the Chen family was also attacked by demons last night. They're getting too wild. However, martial artists from all over are gathering in Lin'an County. The demon-slaying is imminent.'
Li Fan frowned, hearing this type of rumor spreading so widely at the restaurant, indicating this news had already circulated in Lin'an County.
"You heard it too. This isn't something the old Daoist said; whatever the connection, it can't be separated from Li Mountain," the old Daoist said with a smile.
"So, was the divination you did that day serious?" Li Fan asked, recalling that the old Daoist had told him that both he and those around him would face a calamity.
"Do you doubt this old Daoist's character?" The Daoist glared at Li Fan.
"Daoist, do you have character?" Li Fan glanced at the Daoist's bulging bag. Who knows how much silver the Daoist had swindled?
"This old Daoist earns it by his skills," the Daoist said unconcernedly.
As the two spoke, the restaurant began to tremble, causing an uproar among the people.
Li Fan looked towards the distance and saw a mighty group approaching along the streets of Lin'an County.
As the tremors grew stronger, the crowd on the street moved aside, and a sharp, murderous aura filled the air, with everyone looking at the approaching figures.
A group clad in pitch-black armor rode astride horses, long spears strapped to their backs, and no one dared make a sound in their presence.
"It's the Demon Suppression Army," the restaurant crowd murmured in awe.
"Such strong vitality."
The Da Li Dynasty deployed the Demon Slayer Bureau and Demon Suppression Army to subdue demons.
The Demon Slayer Bureau consisted of Qi Cultivators, while the Demon Suppression Army was made up of martial artists but had far greater numbers.
Martial artists possessed potent vitality and would strike in military formations, their vitality soaring skyward, turning ordinary ghostly demons to dust. If a Demon Suppression Army was composed of Grandmaster Martial artists, it would be truly terrifying.
There had been rumors of the Demon Slayer Bureau arriving in Lin'an County, and now that the Demon Suppression Army had also arrived, everyone sensed an unusual tension, fearing great turmoil in Lin'an County.
Yet, seeing the scene before them, the local residents felt somewhat reassured that the Demon Suppression Army, coming from Chuzhou City, would surely be able to suppress the demons.
Li Fan, however, seemed preoccupied. Everything happening in Lin'an County, coupled with the old Daoist's words, made him feel as if a conspiracy was looming over Li Mountain.
"Someone is coming to find you," the old Daoist said to Li Fan. Looking in the direction indicated by the Daoist, Li Fan saw a figure riding a black horse ahead of the Demon Suppression Army. Even among them, her red dress and beautiful appearance were striking—it was Li Hongyi.
"For me?" Li Fan asked, puzzled, looking at the old Daoist. Li Hongyi swerved to avoid the army, and after they passed, she proceeded, raising her head just in time to spot Li Fan, then dismounted beside the restaurant.
A moment later, Li Hongyi arrived at the restaurant, walking straight to Li Fan.
Standing in front of Li Fan, Li Hongyi glanced at him, then at the old Daoist.
The old Daoist, sensing the moment, stood up and smiled, "The old Daoist won't disturb you two."
Gathering his belongings, he headed out of the restaurant, shaking his head with a sigh.
"Miss Li, were you looking for me?" Li Fan asked.
Li Hongyi nodded and then sat across from Li Fan, saying, "I wanted to apologize."
"This matter has nothing to do with you," Li Fan said.
"Since I was there, it naturally concerns me," Li Hongyi replied. "Also, there's information you should know."
Li Fan looked at her, seeing Li Hongyi express some regret, "The Chen family has had Lin'an County's government issue a warrant for your arrest."
Though she knew Li Fan undoubtedly had a remarkable background, being wanted by the government posed complications. Lin'an County's government office might be unable to deal with Li Fan, but behind it lay the Court.
Moreover, knowing Li Fan's connections, for the government to still pursue him suggested something was amiss.