As Lang Jiuchuan had said, anyone with a degree of cultivated ability could tell whether a person had been subjected to a curse. The traces of the technique cast upon Cui Shi were particularly fresh. Though Lang Jiuchuan had already expelled the malevolent energy, it was still possible to detect that she had been struck by a malicious and damaging curse.

Gong Qi’s expression was cold and severe as he said, “Daoist Changqing, I find the ‘accidental injury’ that Daoist Lu spoke of rather dubious. What kind of accidental injury would be so precise as to ravage every single inch of her meridians with malevolent energy?”

Even after the malevolent energy had been expelled, Cui Shi’s vitality had been depleted by more than half, and her meridians were ice-cold.

Lou Shan, standing to one side, remarked, “In my view, it was deliberate. This Daoist Lu ought to be reported to the Inspectorate and have a case filed against him.”

Daoist Changqing’s expression was rather unflattering. Just as he was about to speak, Lang Jiuchuan stepped in ahead of him and said, “Exactly. Though I have already expelled the malevolent energy from my mother, it was only by sheer luck that she survived long enough for me to perform the ritual. Otherwise, this so-called accidental injury would have become accidental murder.”

She placed deliberate emphasis on those two words and said, “Daoist Changqing upholds the righteous path. Surely you wouldn’t say something like, ‘Since the malevolent energy has already been cleared, why don’t we just let this matter go?'”

Daoist Changqing looked rather awkward. That was precisely what he had been thinking — better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

“You also injured Junior Brother Lu…”

“Is he an ordinary person? He is a practitioner of the occult arts. Furthermore, I was there specifically to expel evil and subdue malevolent forces — it was he who got caught in the crossfire. As for that malevolent ghost, you all witnessed it yourselves. It was hardly something conjured up by that man surnamed Lu opening and closing his mouth.” Lang Jiuchuan said coolly, “I am not being unreasonable. I am simply stating the facts. As for how the Inspectorate chooses to handle this, that is for you to decide. After all, I have heard that this department was established precisely for cases of a special nature — including the oversight of occult practitioners who stray from the righteous path. Surely the Inspectorate cannot turn a blind eye when innocent common folk like us have suffered such harm?”

Everyone fell silent.

She said all this without so much as a blush. After all, who exactly was the one who had suffered harm? Lu You’an had been left half-dead by her, lying there unable to move.

Yet none of them could refute her. From beginning to end, she had held the moral high ground at every turn, backing every claim with evidence. What could they do? Lu You’an, on the other hand — who had witnessed him “accidentally injuring someone while subduing evil?”

This matter was troublesome, particularly with Lou Shan from the imperial faction watching from the sidelines like a hawk. It seemed unlikely to be resolved quietly.

As the women’s meditation quarters were not a suitable place for the men to linger, Gong Qi and the others departed after their inspection and took Lu You’an away with them.

Gong Qi fell back a few steps and said quietly to Lang Jiuchuan, “That man surnamed Lu is one of Rong’s people. By slapping them in the face so openly, the Rong Family will likely not let this rest.”

Lang Jiuchuan gave a cold laugh. “Between me and the Rong Family, there has always been an irreconcilable blood feud. When you have so many lice you stop feeling the itch — one more makes no difference. I’ll be waiting for them.”

Gong Qi looked at her with that air of I’m a thorn and I fear no one, and added, “Don’t worry. The Inspectorate is in need of a matter like this to establish its authority. I will give it a push. The Rong Family is currently seeking a marriage alliance with the imperial family, and whether to demonstrate support or show sincerity, they will most likely sacrifice this disciple.”

Lang Jiuchuan cupped her hands in a respectful bow. “A small foot soldier like this is of no concern to me, but thank you all the same. If you have the inclination, rather tell me about the circumstances of that young Rong master’s mother — everything and anything, no detail too small.”

Gong Qi raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Is she your mortal enemy?”

Lang Jiuchuan flashed a flippant smile. “Indeed she is. Will you help me?”

“I’m flattered you think so highly of me, but my cultivation is nowhere near as capable of fighting as yours.” Gong Qi glanced at the others waiting ahead and said, “When things are quieter, I’ll come find you at the Wanshi Shop.”

Lang Jiuchuan watched the group depart, then turned her head slightly. She saw Jiangche dart out and leap up onto her shoulder. She gave him an absent stroke before letting go and said, “You’d better grow your fur quickly.”

Jiangche heard the disdain in her voice and very much wanted to snap back at her, but seeing members of the Lang Family approaching, he settled down and crouched obediently.

Lang Zhengping noticed a pink lump of flesh on Lang Jiuchuan’s shoulder. Before he could get a better look, she had already tucked it into her sleeve. He asked, “How is your mother?”

“She’s fine now. In a couple of days, Huguo Temple will be holding a grand ritual. Let her stay here for two days first — the temple’s incense and atmosphere will do her good.” Lang Jiuchuan said, “First Uncle, please take the family back to the residence. With so many eyes and ears around, we wouldn’t want anyone else to get ‘accidentally injured.'”

Lang Zhengping had been thinking the same, and said, “Have your Third Uncle take them back. I’ll stay here with you mother and daughter for two days.”

“There’s no need. The household needs someone in charge. If you’re worried, just leave my elder brother behind.”

Seeing her insistence, Lang Zhengping did not press the matter further, though he drew closer and asked, “The Rong Family — will there be trouble?”

They had now openly set themselves against the Rong Family.

“This day was bound to come sooner or later. I know what I’m doing — please don’t worry.”

Seeing this, Lang Zhengping said no more and had his people prepare to return to the city.

Lang Jiuchuan turned to head back to the meditation quarters, but noticed the younger Lang Family men approaching in a hesitant, awkward cluster. She paused, eyeing them coldly.

“N-Ninth Sister, we thank you for sparing our lives!” Lang Cazhao dropped to his knees with a thud, and seeing this, the others knelt down as well.

Lang Jiuchuan: “…”

Had she frightened them senseless?

Jiangche poked his head out from her pocket and witnessed this scene with a snicker. “As expected — fists are the only true argument. Had I known you’d give them a proper thrashing, you wouldn’t have had to put up with their attitudes all this time.”

“Idiot. When have you ever seen me bow to anyone?” Lang Jiuchuan returned to her room in no good humor.

Jiangche leaped out after her and said, “As Elder Lang put it, you openly slapped the Rong Family in the face. Does that mean you’re done keeping your head down?”

“Keep my head down for what? The Rong Family sent all those people to make my life difficult — if they’re not stirring up trouble for me, they’re building up to something bigger. Since they’re offering their faces to be struck, if I don’t strike them, wouldn’t that just make me look like easy prey?” Lang Jiuchuan said coldly. “Keeping a low profile is one thing, but to remain unmoved when someone brings trouble right to your doorstep — that is cowardice, and it only invites them to push further. Even if I cannot overpower them, I will tear a piece of flesh from them before I die.”

Jiangche looked at her and said, “Do you know what you’re like right now?”

Lang Jiuchuan looked back at him coolly.

“A piece of gristly meat!” Jiangche said it and leaped up onto the roof beam. “You’re exactly like a piece of gristly meat right now — impossible to cut through cleanly.”

Lang Jiuchuan flicked a Daoist hand-seal at him. “I’ll cut you up into meat first.”

Jiangche dodged out of the way, then jumped back down and said, “There’s also this — you openly used a technique against Lu You’an back there. Even if you argued it was a stray hit during an exorcism, you did land a dirty blow on him, and then turned around to pressure the Inspectorate into upholding fairness and justice. What about going forward? If you ever strike an ordinary person and get caught in the act, won’t you be contradicting yourself?”

Lang Jiuchuan gave a cold laugh. “I still have a bottom line, and I won’t go on an indiscriminate killing spree. If the day ever comes when I no longer have one, then you should leave.”

Jiangche was startled. “Why?”

Lang Jiuchuan gazed out the window and said with quiet composure, “If that day comes — the day I lose all self-control and all restraint — it will be the day I have fallen into demonic corruption and become an enemy of all living beings under heaven. If you remain by my side then, you will be walking to your own death.”

Jiangche was struck silent, and after a long pause said softly that such a day would never come.