My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Ye Qingfeng ignored his explanation and simply said:

Whether or not there is evil spirit is not for you to decide. Although she used your official position for protection and concealed her aura, I have already seen the mark she left on you.

Zhou Wenchang's face turned pale.

"If you don't believe me—" Ye Qingfeng lightly flicked his sleeve, "you can lead the way to your residence and you'll see for yourself."

Zhou Wenchang opened his mouth, wanting to refuse.

But when he saw the look Lu Yang gave him—a look that contained warning and scrutiny.

The words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

He realized that he had completely offended the Taoist priest tonight.

If we refuse again, we won't be able to explain it to Young Master Lü.

If this opportunity can be used to ease tensions, perhaps...

Zhou Wenchang gritted his teeth and forced a smile:

"Since the Immortal Master wishes to see, this humble official will naturally lead the way. However... it is late at night, and the women in the mansion are probably already retired for the night, which would be inconvenient..."

"It's alright," Ye Qingfeng interrupted him. "Evil spirits don't disappear just because it's late at night. Lead the way."

The tone left no room for argument.

Zhou Wenchang had no choice but to get up, dust off his official robes, and give instructions to Sun Debiao.

"Squad Leader Sun, you take your men and guard this place, clean up the scene, and tally the casualties... no, the losses. I'm going back to my residence first."

Sun Debiao bowed and accepted the order.

Zhou Wenchang then looked at the guests who had not yet left and said in a deep voice, "You have all seen what happened tonight."

The Moon-Embracing Boat was indeed a den of evil spirits, but fortunately, the immortal master intervened and saved it from a great disaster.

I will report this matter truthfully. Please all refrain from spreading false information to avoid causing panic.

These words were half an explanation and half a warning.

The guests naturally understood the implied meaning and nodded in agreement.

After making the arrangements, Zhou Wenchang turned around and gestured for Ye Qingfeng and Lü Yang to proceed.

"Immortal Master, Young Master Lü, please follow me."

Lu Yang stood beside Ye Qingfeng, watching Zhou Wenchang's pathetic state of being arrogant at first and obsequious at second.

My yearning for "divine methods" has grown even stronger—this is the true power!

Without relying on family background or official position, he could make the county magistrate kneel down and beg for mercy simply by virtue of his supernatural abilities!

He was thinking about how to beg Ye Qingfeng to accept him as a disciple when he suddenly felt something was wrong.

Zhou Wenchang, who was standing to the side, began to tremble slightly.

At first, it was just a slight tremor, as if caused by fear.

But soon, the trembling became more and more intense, and Zhou Wenchang began to shake as if he had the malaria, his hands supporting him on the ground, his knuckles turning white from clenching them.

"Magistrate Zhou?" Sun Debiao sensed something was amiss and called out tentatively.

Zhou Wenchang did not respond.

He slowly raised his head.

That fat face, which had been filled with fear and fawning, was now contorted with rage.

The left side of his face remained fearful, while the right side was strangely tense, with the corner of his mouth pulled to one side, revealing a bizarre expression that was neither a smile nor an anger.

Even more horrifying were those eyes: the left eye was wide open with a dilated pupil; the right eye, however, was narrowed into a slit, with bloodshot veins covering the whites of the eyes, and a faint, inhuman green hue emanating from the depths of the pupil.

"Heh...heh..."

Zhou Wenchang let out a wheezing sound like a broken bellows.

He struggled to straighten up, his movements stiff, like a marionette.

After standing up straight, he twisted his neck, making a "crackling" sound from his joints, and then—

He smiled.

Half of his face was smiling, and the other half was crying.

That smile was ferocious and eerie, sending chills down everyone's spine.

"Sun Debiao".

When Zhou Wenchang spoke, his voice was hoarse and dry, as if someone who hadn't spoken in a long time was forcing himself to speak, and each word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"What are you still standing there for?"

Sun Debiao was taken aback: "County Magistrate?"

"Cut these madmen—" Zhou Wenchang slowly raised his hand, pointing at Ye Qingfeng, Lü Yang, Lin Zhenyuan, Zhao Damang, and the guests who were witnessing, "—all of them!"

The last word suddenly rose in pitch, sharp and piercing, completely unlike Zhou Wenchang's usual voice!

The streets were deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Sun Debiao stared blankly, unable to process what was happening for a long time—the magistrate had just been kneeling and begging for mercy, how could he suddenly be about to behead someone?

And the ones they attacked were Young Master Lü and that immortal Taoist priest.

"Your Excellency... Your Excellency," Sun Debiao stammered, "this is Young Master Lü, the Prefectural Magistrate..."

"I don't care who he is!" Zhou Wenchang interrupted sharply, his right eye gleaming with a bright green light.

"He caused trouble in my territory, set fires and committed murder, and even beat an official appointed by the imperial court in public!"

Such madmen must be killed to uphold the law! Sun Debiao, if you disobey orders, I will punish you as well!

These words were spoken with absolute certainty and a menacing air.

But with his distorted face, strange expression, and stiff movements, he just doesn't look normal at all.

Lu Yang was both shocked and furious, and stepped forward to shout.

"Zhou Wenchang! Are you out of your mind?! My father is Lü Wenyuan! You dare touch me?!"

Lü Yang was getting angry!

Has Wenchang lost his mind this week? One second he's all respectful and courteous, the next he's ready to execute someone!

Zhou Wenchang grinned maliciously.

"Lu Wenyuan? Heh... By the time he receives the message, you'll already be a corpse."

At that time, I will only say that you colluded with evil Taoists and plotted wicked deeds, and I will kill you on the spot...

Tell me, would your father believe a dead man like you, or a living magistrate like me?

These words were extremely malicious and completely unlike Zhou Wenchang's usual style.

Although Zhou Wenchang was not without his greed for money and lust, and occasionally committed immoral acts, he did do a lot of practical things for the local people.

He was able to maintain a generally fair and just administration, which earned him a moderately good reputation among the local gentry and common people.

Lu Yang was so angry that he trembled all over. He wanted to argue again, but Ye Qingfeng stopped him by raising his hand.

Ye Qingfeng remained calm throughout.

From the moment Zhou Wenchang's expression suddenly changed, he watched quietly, his gaze thoughtful.

At this moment, he slightly turned his head, his gaze passing over Zhou Wenchang and looking towards the direction of the county government office in the distance, as if he could see through the layers of buildings and see something that others could not see.

"Interesting," Ye Qingfeng suddenly murmured to himself.

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang hurriedly asked, "Immortal Master, is this corrupt official possessed by an evil spirit?"

"It's not possession," Ye Qingfeng shook his head. "It's being controlled."

"Controlled?" Lu Yang was taken aback. "Who's controlling it?"

Ye Qingfeng did not answer directly. He stepped forward, standing two zhang away from Zhou Wenchang, his gaze fixed on the faint green light in the other's right eye, and said calmly:

"Stealing me from behind, why don't you show yourself? Do I need to summon you with my sword?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Zhou Wenchang's body trembled violently!

The eerie green light in his right eye flickered wildly, his facial expression became even more distorted, and strange "hoarse" sounds came from his throat, as if two consciousnesses were fiercely fighting for control within his body.

The stalemate lasted for three breaths.

Zhou Wenchang's mouth suddenly opened uncontrollably, and a completely unfamiliar female voice, charming yet venomous, squeezed out of his throat:

"Hmph... you stinking Taoist priest, you ruined my plans..."

The moment that sound came out, the whole street erupted in uproar!

"A woman's voice?! How could Magistrate Zhou's voice be a woman's?!"

"Sorcery! This is sorcery!"