Chapter 296
Chen An had reminded Qingge Ji to be careful. However, it seemed the other party had not taken his words to heart.
The Ji Manor’s backyard was vast, with at least ten named annexes. As people walked through the corridor leading to the backyard, they could hear suppressed exclamations. At the location of the Qinghe Annex, a magnificent and enormous pale yellow light barrier had appeared. The barrier enveloped the entire annex, leaving everyone in awe.
“Immortal arts! This is true immortal arts!” someone shouted excitedly, while others knelt and recited scriptures. Even the respected elders murmured, “Indeed, this is the unique immortal art of the Zhengqing Sect, the Demon Trapping Array!” An old man added, “I once saw a Zhengqing Sect Immortal Master use this array in the Capital.”
Ping Ji stood closest to the annex entrance. He observed everyone’s reactions and smiled with satisfaction. He recalled his own astonishment when he first witnessed a Zhengqing Sect Immortal Master perform, feeling as if he had seen a celestial being. How could this righteous and grand immortal art compare to a fox demon that could only conjure water? Although the fox demon had been well-behaved and showed no unusual behavior during their time together, as the sages say, “Those not of our kind will have different hearts.” Perhaps she was secretly plotting revenge, waiting for an opportune moment to kill and steal souls. This was, after all, what demons were known for. As a city lord, Ping Ji had some understanding of these unpredictable beings.
Ping Ji cleared his throat and said solemnly, “Everyone, seeing is believing. Do you believe what I’ve said now?” The excited crowd quieted down, looking at Ping Ji, awaiting his next words. Ping Ji paced a few steps, organizing his thoughts before slowly beginning, “It all started a month ago.” He continued, “I’m sure you were all wondering when you received the invitation. Why was the marriage of my daughter, Yun Ji, so sudden and urgent, with the wedding set for just a month after the announcement?” Ping Ji chuckled, “That’s because the Immortal Master from the Zhengqing Sect found me a month ago.” He added, “To be honest, at first, I thought she was just another charlatan. After all, how could I not know if a family member living with me for so long was a demon?”
“But as you can guess, the Immortal Master performed her immortal arts, revealing the fox demon’s true form, and then we devised a plan to subdue it…” At this point, Ping Ji’s face darkened, and his voice filled with restrained anger. “The Immortal Master also said that the fox demon was not my second daughter, Ping Ji. My poor second daughter died in childbirth shortly after she was born! This fox demon forcibly possessed her body and returned from the dead!”
Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively took a step back, their eyes filled with fear. They thought about how cunning and malicious these demons were, possessing an infant that had already died. Someone couldn’t help but ask, “If that’s true, then perhaps the fox demon killed the infant first before possessing it!” Ping Ji looked at him with a pained expression, “I have the same thought. I only regret that I was powerless to stop it and could not personally execute this villain to avenge my poor second daughter!” He sighed deeply. Some offered comfort, while others cursed.
Amidst the curses, an elder offered a different perspective, “Actually, according to the Immortal Master, she has lived in Luoyang for so many years, and there have been no rumors of demons harming people. Moreover, her conduct did not seem like that of an evil creature…” Before he could finish, he was interrupted. “Elder Zhang, you are mistaken! Don’t mistake the fox demon’s occasional kindness for genuine benevolence.” The speaker continued, “She is a demon that truly eats people. Perhaps she set your house on fire! And then she acted like a savior, manipulating us all.” Another chimed in, “Yes, Brother Li is right. Otherwise, how could you explain that the fox demon just happened to know water and just happened to pass by?”
Elder Zhang glared at the person who refuted him and snorted, “Weren’t you singing a different tune when you begged her to treat your sick child, and she helped you?” He continued, “And what about the Wang family and the Li family? How many of you have received her kindness over the years? Didn’t you all ask her to perform her arts? Otherwise, would you still be alive today?” The man’s expression shifted, and he waved his sleeve, “No wonder my son couldn’t be cured by so many doctors. It must have been this fox demon’s doing, just to make me beg her!” “Exactly! I always wondered why my persistent headache couldn’t be diagnosed, but it was likely the fox demon’s mischief, and then she pretended to save me with her demonic arts. It’s disgusting!”
“You, you!” Hearing them twist the truth, Elder Zhang’s beard bristled with anger, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to speak. “Alright, alright,” someone stepped in to mediate. “Let’s not let a demon disrupt our harmony.” Elder Zhang’s expression flickered, but he eventually lowered his head and remained silent.
As the atmosphere grew somber, the light barrier suddenly chimed, and a new change occurred. On the pale yellow light barrier, a struggling shadow appeared, translucent like a soul. Upon closer inspection, the shadow resembled a snow-white fox. As they watched in shock, the fox shadow began to wail in pain, its cries piercing and affecting the heart. It turned its head, its azure vertical pupils staring directly at the crowd outside the courtyard, filled with regret, sorrow, confusion, and an insurmountable self-mockery. For some reason, as the fox demon’s eyes met theirs, everyone instinctively averted their gaze, unable to meet her stare. Even Ping Ji, lost in the crowd, lowered his head deeply, daring not to look. Although they all spoke with righteous indignation, they had ultimately… deceived her.
“Don’t panic, everyone. This fox demon has been captured by the Immortal Master and cannot escape. Judging by her expression, she clearly harbors resentment towards us, but we acted first!” Hearing a voice of encouragement, everyone echoed in agreement. “That’s right. Should we show mercy to a demon like this?”
