Yan Qige approached and stopped in front of Magistrate Wang, gazing at him on the ground with indifferent eyes before pointing twice at his body to release the acupoints, saying, “If you wish to see her, then follow me.”

Then without waiting for Magistrate Wang to speak, Yan Qige walked straight out carrying the lantern. Magistrate Wang stood up from the ground without thinking and followed, with Yusang hurrying behind. After leaving the West Garden, Yan Qige went directly to the purple bamboo grove on the residence grounds. The sunlight was blocked by bamboo leaves, and the scorching heat from the fierce fire and blazing sun immediately dissipated, even making them feel a chill around their bodies in an instant.

Yan Qige walked directly to the center of the bamboo grove, looked around, then reached out to touch a purple bamboo, saying, “Magistrate Wang, you should thank the bamboo demon here. Otherwise, today, everyone in your residence would have perished in the sea of fire.”

“Young Master is truly polite.” Huayi emerged in human form from a purple bamboo, smiling warmly.

“That thing has been done according to your wishes, right here.” Huayi pointed to an open space in front of Yan Qige.

Yan Qige said nothing more, lifting the lantern above the open space and casting a spell to suspend it in mid-air. Then he curved his finger to his lips to chant an incantation, and extended his pale, slender index finger to trace two circles on the lantern. Crimson smoke began rising from within the lantern.

After a while, the flame in the lantern dimmed, but the crimson smoke condensed into human form above the open space. Looking more carefully, it was a woman in red gauze robes with beautiful features. Seeing the woman, Magistrate Wang disregarded Yusang’s obstruction and quickly ran over, crouching down to help her, but was blocked by Yan Qige.

“Your yang energy is too strong. If you touch her, she’ll be reduced to ashes.”

Magistrate Wang was greatly alarmed at these words, turning to look at Yan Qige then at the woman, finally slowly withdrawing his hand, lowering his head and stepping back a few paces.

Yan Qige looked up toward the West Garden, which was billowing with thick smoke, faintly hearing shouts in the distance, then turned to address Huayi standing nearby: “Go to the West Garden and set up a barrier to contain the fire, lest it harm innocent mortals.”

…

…

Huayi covered her mouth and laughed lightly, making a coquettish gesture and saying petulantly, “What benefit do I get? You should know that we demons are quite practical.”

Yan Qige stepped two paces closer to Huayi, looking directly into her eyes. Huayi wasn’t afraid at all, lifting her pretty face to meet his gaze persistently.

Smiling, Yan Qige curved the corners of his mouth, his eyes crinkling as he gave Huayi a slight smile.

“Fine, for the sake of that face of yours, sister will help you do a good deed this once.”

Huayi waved her sleeve behind her, and the bamboo grove rustled. Over a dozen women dressed in various colored robes emerged from the bamboo branches, smiling as they nodded to Huayi, then all gave Yan Qige gentle smiles.

Huayi left with the group of bamboo demons, and the bamboo grove immediately returned to quiet. Yusang examined the red-robed woman, crossing her arms as she walked a few steps before asking Magistrate Wang, “You knew there was a demon living in your residence yet still harbored her. You truly have great courage. Is she your first wife, Lu Shi? Do you know you married a demon as your wife?”

Magistrate Wang had been watching the woman intently since she appeared, his gaze earnest and pitying. Though he hadn’t spoken, just from the affection in his eyes, one could see this woman was extraordinary to him. Hearing Yusang’s words, he closed his eyes and sighed, saying, “Indeed, she is this official’s first wife, Lu Shi. Years ago, when I went to the capital for the imperial examinations and got lost in the mountains, she saved my life and escorted me to the capital. At that time, I vowed to her that if I could pass the examinations, I would marry her as my wife. After the examinations, when I succeeded as hoped, I discovered she was a demon.”

“Knowing she was a demon, you still married her.” Yusang was surprised, continuing with some emotion and suddenly feeling somewhat sympathetic, but was given an imperceptible glance by Yan Qige.

“Enough. Since you can subdue me, I won’t say more. I admit that all the murder cases in the city were my doing. Capture me.” The red-robed woman who had remained silent looked toward Yan Qige and spoke.

Yan Qige looked at her with an indifferent expression and didn’t respond. The woman then looked at Magistrate Wang, who gazed at her and said sadly, “Ten hasty years have passed. I once entered the capital’s flower halls for the Qionglin Banquet, received imperial edicts in the great hall, and was also reduced to the bottom steps, rising and falling uncertainly until now. Thinking about it, it truly seems like a dream. I just feel I’ve wronged you. Had I known it would come to this, I would rather not have gone to the capital for examinations, then I wouldn’t have implicated you to this extent. I owe you.”

“My lord, I hope my lord and the old madam will take good care of themselves hereafter.” Lu Shi’s clear tears fell as she reached out to hold Magistrate Wang’s hand, but with just a light touch her outstretched hand dispersed into smoke, and her soul under the lantern’s firelight also began to scatter and fragment.

Seeing Lu Shi’s form completely dispersing, Yan Qige slightly lowered his eyes and curved his finger to chant an incantation. In no time, Lu Shi’s soul was collected into the lantern. Seeing such a scene, Yusang couldn’t help but feel pity and sadness in her heart for them, but Yan Qige maintained an indifferent expression as if turning a deaf ear throughout. After collecting Lu Shi’s soul, he said to Magistrate Wang, “Since the demon has been eliminated, I’ll take my leave now.”

Magistrate Wang seemed to be enduring great heartache, yet still suppressed his grief to bow to Yan Qige, saying, “Thank you, Young Master, for saving the people of this region.”

Yan Qige casually raised his hand toward Magistrate Wang, then left on his own, as if he felt no guilt whatsoever about this matter that caused others to part in life and death.

“Yan Qige, Yan Qige, stop right there.” Yusang somewhat indignantly chased after Yan Qige as he left, catching up to him in the corridor and extending her arm to block his path.

Yan Qige stopped and turned his head to look at Yusang, waiting for her to continue. Yusang snorted unpleasantly and said, “I used to only know you were sharp-tongued, but I didn’t know you were also so cold-blooded and heartless. Looking at you like this, you must have done plenty of these things before – destroying people’s relationships and breaking up lovers…”

Yan Qige listened to Yusang’s righteous indignation and accusations until she stopped talking, then calmly said, “Are you finished? Then clear the way. I still have proper business to attend to.”

“Hmph, proper business. Your proper business is making people separate and scatter, I suppose.”

“How strange. Even Magistrate Wang didn’t blame me for half a sentence, yet you, an outside demon, are quite indignant.” Yan Qige couldn’t help but chuckle slightly.

“You can still laugh. Someone as heartless as you should never say you know me again.” Yusang flicked her sleeve and turned to head toward the main gate.

Yan Qige shook his head inwardly, thinking this was truly a rather strange demon who had a softer heart than ordinary mortals. Seeing that Yusang seemed truly angry, he felt somewhat reluctant. Sighing, he walked a few steps forward and patted her shoulder, saying, “Come with me then, and you’ll know I’m helping them.”

“Who wants to go with you?” Yusang didn’t turn back as she waved her hand to push away Yan Qige’s arm.

“You said that yourself, so don’t follow me anymore.”

With that, Yan Qige walked directly past Yusang’s side, descended the corridor toward the main gate. Seeing Yan Qige about to exit the county yamen gates, Yusang became anxious again, taking three steps as one to catch up, saying, “You said not to follow, so I specifically want to follow.”

“Following is fine, but shut your mouth. Don’t keep asking questions – you’re giving me a headache.”