Li Fan put away the Demon Core, raised his head and looked toward a faraway pavilion, where it seemed someone was peeping at them.
On that pavilion, a powerful surge of demon energy was churning.
Retracting his gaze, Li Fan turned around and walked towards Qi, while the female Ghost Cultivators stepped aside, somewhat fearful of Li Fan, having just witnessed the methods of this handsome young man.
Back at Qi's side, he saw Li Hongyi squatting beside the girl, placing her red clothes over Yang Kui.
"Brother Xiao Fan, can Father also become a ghost to keep watching over me?" The girl looked up at Li Fan, and only then did Li Fan notice the terrifying redness in the girl's eyes.
"Of course he can." Li Fan nodded.
"Then why can't Qi see Father?" the girl asked.
Li Fan was at a loss for words.
"Benevolent ghosts usually stay quietly by their family's side to avoid scaring them." Li Hongyi explained.
"But Qi isn't afraid. Can you let Qi see Father?" As the girl spoke, tears suddenly flowed like a fountain, and she broke down crying, "Qi wants to see Father."
With that, she stood up to search for something, and Li Hongyi's eyes moistened, as she hugged the girl tightly, and Li Fan stepped forward gently embracing Qi, both of their arms wrapped around her.
"Brother Xiao Fan, they ate Father, Qi wants to kill them all." The girl cried out loudly.
"Yes, kill them all." Li Fan sighed inwardly, and as he looked up, Li Hongyi also raised her eyes to look at him, and he saw those beautiful eyes filled with tears.
An eerie wind swept through the street, and those Ghost Cultivators began moving; Li Fan looked up to see a sedan chair flying this way from afar, carried by four female Ghost Cultivators.
Inside the sedan, sat a ghostly woman who glanced at the Ghost Cultivators on the ground and said, "Retreat."
After speaking, her figure continued moving forward, and the Ghost Cultivators on the ground followed suit.
But at this moment, a blinding light shone this way, and in the silent night sky, a Buddhist chant resounded. On the rooftop not far in front of them, a monk stood blocking the path of the departing Ghost Cultivators.
This monk was very young, appearing to be about twenty years old, with a delicate appearance, a slender build, bronze skin, draped in a Buddhist robe, his body glowing with Buddhist light, his stature awe-inspiring.
"Monk, do you want to meddle in others' affairs?" The ghostly woman in the sedan, somewhat intimidated, glared at the young monk.
The young monk said, "Amitabha Buddha, all of you ghost benefactors have already passed away, you should go where you belong, why linger in the mortal world, harming the innocent?"
"Monk, who told you we've harmed the innocent?" The ghostly woman retorted upon hearing his words, "Demons run amok in Lin'an City, why don't you go after those demons instead of targeting us weak women?"
The young monk seemed oblivious, continuing, "Demonic and ghostly creatures are filthy; demons must be slain, and ghosts banished. The might of Buddha treats all equally."
"Well said." At this moment, tremors sounded from afar on the street, and the ground shook incessantly.
The ghostly woman's gaze shifted to the ground, where a group of figures was coming their way.
The leader was a middle-aged man, riding a horse, dressed in official attire, with an air of authority; behind him were several others, all from the Lin'an County government.
Behind him, a group of armored horsemen riding black horses appeared, radiating a strong killing aura from afar.
"The Demon Suppression Army!" The ghostly woman, sensing that powerful killing aura, turned pale; the deployment of the Demon Suppression Army meant she had been targeted.
Li Fan, hearing the noise, also looked that way. In the group, he even saw a familiar face, Chen Zongzhi following behind the official-clad middle-aged man.
On the other side, Li Fan saw the Second Son of the Chen family, Chen Li.
"The master speaks truly, ghostly entities are harmful and should not exist in this world." The middle-aged official cupped his hands toward the monk and said, "I am Cao Gong, the County Magistrate of Lin'an County. Is the master from the Buddhist Sect?"
"This humble monk comes from Jingang Temple," the monk responded mildly. Cao Gong and his men, hearing this, grew solemn and bowed slightly in respect to the monk, saying, "So, you come from the Buddhist Holy Land, no wonder your Buddhist teachings are so profound."
"Jingang Temple." From afar, Li Hongyi looked over; she had heard her father mention Jingang Temple, known as a flourishing Buddhist Sect in Chuzhou, reportedly with very few cultivators, but each with extraordinary Buddhist talent, often journeying the world.
This monk being from Jingang Temple, those Ghost Cultivators were likely in trouble.
The ghostly woman, however, had never heard of Jingang Temple, being a native of Lin'an County; seeing the two conversing so amiably, she remarked disdainfully, "Birds of a feather."
Cao Gong and the monk simultaneously looked at the ghostly woman; Cao Gong said, "Will the master take action, or shall we?"
"This humble monk will offer salvation." The monk's voice was serene, and Cao Gong nodded in agreement.
"Why don't you save yourself?" The ghostly woman said coldly.
"Amitabha Buddha." The young monk clasped his hands together with a sudden force, and instantly the Buddhist light shone brightly. The dazzling golden Buddhist light, like a golden sword, illuminated the women around, causing the female Ghost Cultivators to writhe in pain as their semi-transparent bodies scorched under the Buddhist light.
Cao Gong quietly watched the battlefield, the profoundness of Buddhist teachings befitting a Buddhist cultivator.
Elsewhere, Li Fan also looked towards the battleground, aware that Buddhist teachings naturally counter demon evils, and this monk's Buddhist skills far surpassed the Chen family genius Chen Luoyun.
Seemingly sensing something, Li Fan's gaze fell on Chen Li, who also looked back at him with cold eyes.
Li Fan sensed that Chen Li harbored a trace of resentment towards him in his gaze.
He was somewhat puzzled as to why Chen Li bore resentment.
"Brother Xiao Fan, those sisters are good people." At this moment, Qi broke free and saw the situation across the way. She stopped crying and whispered.
Li Fan, understanding Qi's words, realized that the female Ghost Cultivators had protected Qi earlier, which prevented her from being harmed.
Li Fan walked toward them, looking up to speak to the young monk, "Master, these Ghost Cultivators seem not to have committed any wrongdoing. With compassion in your heart, wouldn't it be better to investigate first?"
The young monk glanced down at Li Fan, expressionless, and said, "The great way has its course; ghostly entities should not exist in the mortal realm."
The Buddhist light remained dazzling and radiant.
Li Fan acknowledged this, "With demons causing chaos, these female Ghost Cultivators were just fighting the demons. Master, could you first inquire about what happened?"
"Are you teaching this humble monk how to act?" The young monk lowered his gaze to Li Fan, his voice emotionless, yet Li Fan could feel a sharpness; this young monk seemed exceedingly strong-willed.
"Who are you to speak for the ghostly entities, perhaps you have connections?" At this point, the Lin'an County Captain, Cao Gong, also looked at Li Fan and spoke coldly.
"Mr. Cao, this person is named Li Fan, and during his time at my Chen family, I suspected him of colluding with demons. This child committed murder and fled, currently wanted by the county office." Chen Li, beside him, spoke.
"I see." Cao Gong nodded, "This seems indeed to be a case of collusion with ghostly entities beyond doubt."
Li Fan: "?"
"Mr. Cao," Li Hongyi stepped next to Li Fan and said, "I am Li Hongyi from Lin'an County. Li Fan did not collude with evil spirits."
"Miss Li, this person is traveling with ghostly entities; so many eyes are watching, why speak for him?" Cao Gong looked at Li Hongyi.
"Miss Li, you spoke for this person at the Chen family earlier, and now the evidence is irrefutable, you still defend him. If Uncle Li were here, he surely wouldn't stand for it." Chen Li glared at Li Hongyi; he used to flatter her, but after leaving the Chen family, he follows Li Fan instead.
"Whether he colluded with demons should be checked at the county office." Cao Gong looked at Li Hongyi and continued, "Miss Li, don't tarnish your father's reputation."
"The official is rather indiscriminate." Li Hongyi, not being articulate, simply responded coldly.
"Miss Li, there's no need to speak more; they are just putting on a show." Li Fan said to Li Hongyi beside him, the Chen family and government collusion, having falsely accused him before; now, with 'irrefutable evidence,' it's easy to levy a charge against him.
They have certainly targeted him.
Li Hongyi looked at Li Fan and finally understood how Li Fan felt in the Chen family.
At this moment, she believed Li Fan's words.
There's definitely a problem with the Chen family, and they've colluded with the government.
Knowing Li Fan's unusual background, why are they doing this, she couldn't quite figure out yet.
"Such authority from Mr. Cao, how many innocent lives have been harmed in your county jail? Can anyone survive once inside?" The ghostly woman mockingly said, giving Li Fan a glance, "Young man, this Lin'an County Captain, Cao Gong, is accustomed to injuring the innocent. This has nothing to do with you; leave quickly."
"Vile ghostly creature, insolent words." Cao Gong looked up at the monk, "Master, please continue your actions, suppress the demon, there will be endless merit."
"Good!"
The monk nodded, and as his words fell, the Buddhist light became even more radiant, striking the female Ghost Cultivators.
Cao Gong and Chen Li kept their eyes fixed on Li Fan, as it was clear their goal was not just the ghostly woman but Li Fan as well.
Cao Gong squinted; if the Chen family's suspicions were correct...
Chen Li's eyes were cold; he had been humiliated by Li Fan at the Chen family, the latter killing and leaving, and now with the government involved, charges already placed, and with a monk from the Chuzhou Buddhist Holy Land, Jingang Temple, involved, he wanted to see just how arrogant Li Fan could be.
Unfortunately, they couldn't kill him.