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

On the long street, Ye Qingfeng suddenly opened his eyes.

"I'm back."

As soon as he finished speaking, a streak of azure light swept across the northwestern sky and landed steadily in his palm.

The sword was warm, with a wisp of golden-red sparks remaining at its tip.

Ye Qingfeng flicked away the sparks with his finger and handed the sword back to Lü Yang:

"The remnant soul of the Painted Skin Goddess has been completely annihilated."

Lu Yang accepted the sword with both hands, overwhelmed with emotion: "Immortal Master... your ability to control the sword for ten miles and vanquish evil in an instant... this disciple... this disciple..."

He addressed her as "disciple" for a long time, unsure of what to say, and finally bowed deeply.

"Master, please accept my bow!"

As he spoke, he even tried to kneel down and kowtow.

This time, as soon as he bent his knees, Ye Qingfeng's hand had already risen first.

A gentle yet irresistible force supported Lü Yang's knees, preventing him from kneeling.

"There's no need to kneel anymore," Ye Qingfeng said calmly. "As I've said before, I dislike these empty formalities."

Lu Yang hurriedly said, "Immortal Master! This disciple sincerely wishes to become your disciple! This is not a mere formality! This disciple is willing to perform the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows, offer tea, and swear an oath to serve you faithfully from this day forward!"

He spoke earnestly, and the fervor and determination in his eyes were clearly visible to everyone present.

Lin Zhenyuan and Zhao Damang exchanged a glance and sighed inwardly—it seems that this young master Lü is truly determined to cultivate with the Taoist priest.

Given his family background, if he could be accepted as a disciple by the Taoist priest, his future achievements would likely be limitless.

Sun Debiao and the yamen runners lowered their heads, not daring to look any longer.

This is not something they can interfere with.

Ye Qingfeng looked at Lü Yang, but his mind was quickly weighing the options.

But if we don't accept it... it would be such a waste to let go of the opportunity to increase our cultivation level.

To take Lü Yang as a disciple?

What a joke.

This is the reincarnation of Lü Dongbin, the Pure Yang Sword Immortal!

The leader of the Eight Immortals, the ancestor of the Taoist sword sect!

Ye Qingfeng dared not even think about the magnitude of the karmic consequences behind the reincarnation of such a being.

Taoism places the greatest emphasis on cause and effect.

Once a disciple is formally accepted, a master-disciple bond is formed, and this karmic connection is completely severed.

If ordinary disciples are like this, how much more so this one who is the reincarnation of Lü Dongbin?

Who knows what this Master Chunyang is up to?

Is it a genuine reincarnation to cultivate again, or is it using a mortal body to carry out some kind of scheme?

If it is the latter, Ye Qingfeng's hasty acceptance of him as a disciple would be tantamount to voluntarily jumping into Lü Dongbin's trap.

He cannot bear the consequences of this.

On the other hand, Lü Yang, this mobile "cultivation amplifier," is still of top quality.

Give up? I can't bear to.

Accept it? I can't accept that.

Ye Qingfeng's mind raced, and he finally made a decision.

He slowly shook his head, his tone gentle yet firm:

"Young Master Lü, there is no master-disciple relationship between us."

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang's face turned pale instantly.

"Immortal Master..." His voice trembled, "Is it because my talent is dull and I am not worthy of your attention? I can change! I can learn! As long as you are willing to accept me, I can endure any hardship!"

Ye Qingfeng waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

"It's not a matter of qualifications." He paused, carefully choosing his words.

"Those who cultivate the Tao value predestined relationships most. The predestined relationship between master and disciple requires the right timing, location, and people; it cannot be forced."

"Judging from your destiny, I have no master-disciple relationship with you. If I were to force you to become my disciple, it would only ruin your opportunity."

This sounds mysterious, but it's really just an excuse.

But to Lü Yang, it meant something else entirely.

Fate? Chance?

Could it be that the immortal master saw that I had other destiny in my life, which is why he refused to take me as his disciple?

Lu Yang's mind raced with thoughts.

He had read many Taoist classics and knew that some highly skilled people could see people's destinies and foresee future opportunities.

Since the immortal master said that "forcibly accepting disciples will ruin the opportunity," he must have seen something!

Far from being disappointed, he felt even more that Ye Qingfeng was unfathomable.

He can even see through his future opportunities; what else could he be but a true immortal?

Seeing the change in his expression, Ye Qingfeng knew he had been persuaded, so he continued:

"However, your desire to seek the Dao is indeed sincere. Although I cannot accept you as my disciple, I can allow you to travel with me for a period of time."

He looked at Lü Yang, his gaze calm:

"During this time, you can observe my actions and comprehend the principles of cultivation. As for the future, we can discuss it after our travels are over, shall we?"

That's a clever way of putting it.

"Traveling together" gave Lü Yang the opportunity to follow, but did not establish any official relationship or cause and effect.

"Observe his actions and understand his practice" is actually a way to make Lü Yang continue to "believe" that he is a master, and to continue to provide him with faith.

The phrase "we'll discuss it after the trip" leaves plenty of room for maneuver.

Whether to stay or leave, whether to continue following or part ways, the initiative will be in Ye Qingfeng's hands.

Lü Yang had no idea about all these intricacies.

He could only tell that although the immortal master had not accepted him as a disciple, he was willing to take him along!

This is clearly a test!

It's giving him a chance to prove his sincerity and perseverance!

"This disciple is willing!" Lü Yang's voice trembled with excitement. "As long as I can follow the Immortal Master, this disciple is willing to do anything!"

Ye Qingfeng nodded slightly: "In that case, let's rest at Weiyuan Escort Agency tonight. We'll discuss the itinerary again tomorrow."

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Zhenyuan.

Lin Zhenyuan understood and quickly said, "Rest assured, Daoist Master, the guest rooms at the escort agency have already been prepared. If Young Master Lü doesn't mind, please come along as well."

Lü Yang had no reason to object and nodded repeatedly.

The group then headed towards the Weiyuan Escort Agency branch.

As night deepened, the guests and officials on the street gradually dispersed.

Sun Debiao directed his men to carry the unconscious Magistrate Zhou back to the county office, and left several yamen runners to guard the ruins of Lanyuefang to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to steal.

The Weiyuan Escort Agency branch is not far from Liuhua Lane, only a quarter of an hour's walk away.

Upon arriving at the escort agency, Lin Zhenyuan made the arrangements personally.

Ye Qingfeng stayed in the same quiet room as before, while Lü Yang was arranged to stay in the adjacent side room.

Lin Zhenyuan originally wanted to arrange the best room for Lü Yang, but Lü Yang insisted on being closer to Ye Qingfeng, so he had to give up.

Zhao Damang went to the kitchen to instruct them to prepare a midnight snack, while Lin Zhenyuan went to the backyard to check on his son Lin Yunfeng.

After returning to his room, Ye Qingfeng quickly washed up and lay down on the couch.

Tonight's harvest was quite substantial.

Now, his cultivation has reached nearly eight hundred years. Although he has not yet broken through to the next realm, his strength is more than ten times stronger than when he first came to this world.

Ye Qingfeng pondered to himself.

But this world is too complicated. The reincarnation of Lü Dongbin, the manipulator of the jade carving... we must be even more cautious from now on.

As he was thinking, he suddenly sensed a faint noise coming from the next room.

It's Lü Yang.

The boy was clearly too excited to sleep. He paced around the room, occasionally muttering to himself, as if reciting some Taoist scripture.

Ye Qingfeng shook his head, ignored it, and went to sleep.

Silent all night.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Ye Qingfeng awoke from his meditation, opened the window, and felt the cool morning breeze, carrying the refreshing coolness unique to autumn.

A few sparrows chirped and chattered on the old locust tree in the courtyard, adding a touch of life to the place.

Just as he was about to close the window, he suddenly heard a wail coming from the backyard.

"Ah—! Father! Be gentle! Be gentle!"

"Shut up! It's only been a few strokes! The Taoist priest said it takes fourteen days to draw blood, and this is only the second day! Bear with it!"

"But... ah—!"

Amidst the wails, the crisp, loud cracking sounds of bamboo whips striking could be heard.

Ye Qingfeng was slightly taken aback, then remembered that it was Lin Yunfeng who was using the "bamboo whip to exorcise evil spirits".

He smiled slightly, pushed open the door, and walked out of the room.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, the door to the next room opened.

Lu Yang rubbed his eyes and came out, clearly also woken up, looking completely bewildered.

"Good morning, Immortal Master... What... what's that sound? Why is it wailing and howling so early in the morning?"

As he spoke, he listened intently, and the wails and the sounds of whipping grew clearer, causing him to shudder involuntarily.

"This place...it's eerie..."

Ye Qingfeng said indifferently, "It's just an exorcism, no need to pay attention to it."

"Exorcising evil spirits?" Lu Yang was taken aback.

Just then, Lin Yunfeng's screams came from the direction of the backyard again:

"Father! I really know I was wrong! I'll never go to a place like that again! Please forgive me!"

Lin Zhenyuan's angry shout followed immediately: "You know you're wrong? If you know you're wrong, then just bear with it!"

The Taoist priest said this bamboo whip can dispel the remaining evil energy in your body; the harder it whips, the faster you'll recover! Stand up straight!

"Clap clap clap—"

Another burst of intense whipping sounds followed.

Lu Yang felt a chill run down his spine and whispered to Ye Qingfeng, "Immortal Master, this bamboo whip... can it really ward off evil spirits?"

"Bamboo is pure and refreshing, and it is naturally good at warding off evil spirits," Ye Qingfeng said casually.

"After my further guidance, it is indeed effective in dispelling evil spirits and boosting yang energy. Young Master Lin's essence has been drained by the paper figure for many days, causing yin energy to accumulate in his body, which needs to be cleared by this method."

He spoke with utmost seriousness, and Lü Yang nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Actually... it's true that bamboo whips can ward off evil, but was it really necessary to whip so severely, for a full fourteen days, twice a day, morning and evening...?

Well, that's a matter of opinion.

After all, Lin Yunfeng had publicly called Ye Qingfeng a "stinky old man."

Although Ye Qingfeng appeared magnanimous, in his heart... well.

As the two were talking, there was a knock on the front door.

Zhao Damang went to open the door, then quickly returned with a strange expression on his face.

"Master Daoist, Young Master Lü, Magistrate Zhou has arrived."

"Zhou Wenchang?" Lü Yang frowned. "What's he doing here?"

"They said they came to apologize and apologize," Zhao Damang said. "They brought quite a few things and are waiting in the front hall."

Ye Qingfeng and Lü Yang exchanged a glance and walked towards the front hall.

In the front hall of Weiyuan Escort Agency, Zhou Wenchang stood anxiously.

He wasn't wearing his official robes today, only an ordinary silk long gown, and he wasn't wearing an official hat either, making him look like a wealthy landowner.

His face was pale and he had heavy bags under his eyes, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well last night.

Two servants stood behind him, carrying a heavy mahogany chest.

The box wasn't fully closed, revealing the glittering gold and silver ingots inside.

There were also several brocade boxes next to it; judging from their shape, they should contain jade or antiques.

Upon seeing Ye Qingfeng and Lü Yang enter, Zhou Wenchang quickly bowed and greeted them.

"Your humble servant Zhou Wenchang pays respects to the Immortal Master and Young Master Lü."

He adopted an extremely humble posture, completely abandoning the airs of a county magistrate he had displayed yesterday.

Ye Qingfeng nodded slightly and sat down in the main seat. Lü Yang stood beside him, coldly watching Zhou Wenchang.

"What brings Magistrate Zhou here so early?" Ye Qingfeng asked in a calm tone.

Zhou Wenchang wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a forced smile.

"This humble official...this humble official has come specifically to apologize to the Immortal Master. Last night, this humble official was foolish and deceived by that demon, and was disrespectful to the Immortal Master. I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

After returning home, I tossed and turned in bed, feeling increasingly terrified. Therefore, I came early this morning to beg for forgiveness, hoping that the Immortal Master will forgive me!

As he spoke, he gave a wink to the servants behind him.

The servants quickly opened the mahogany chest.

Inside were fifty gold ingots, each weighing ten taels, totaling five hundred taels of gold.

There were also one hundred silver ingots next to it, each ingot weighing ten taels, totaling one thousand taels of silver.

The interplay of gold and silver light was dazzling.

Several brocade boxes were opened one after another—a mutton-fat jade Guanyin statue, a pair of jadeite bracelets, a red gold hairpin inlaid with gemstones, and several pieces of porcelain antiques, all of which were of considerable value.

"These are just a small token of my appreciation, offered as an apology to the Immortal Master, and also as a way of thanking the Immortal Master for ridding the people of this scourge and eradicating the demon's lair at Lan Yue Fang."

Zhou Wenchang bowed and said, "Please accept this as a gift, Immortal Master."

Ye Qingfeng glanced at the gold, silver, and jade artifacts, his expression unchanged.

These assets are an astronomical sum for ordinary people, enough to buy half a street of shops in Wen'an County.

But in his eyes, it was no different from dust.

If he wanted to, he could easily manifest the supernatural power of turning stone into gold.

What he truly cares about is cultivation level and supernatural abilities!

The magistrate was reprimanded by him from afar last night and was also controlled by the Painted Skin Goddess. He must be terrified out of his wits by now, which is why he came early this morning to offer gifts and apologize, fearing that Ye Qingfeng would settle scores later.

"Magistrate Zhou is very kind," Ye Qingfeng said calmly, "but what use do I, a person beyond worldly affairs, have for these valuables?"

Zhou Wenchang's heart tightened, thinking that Ye Qingfeng's refusal to accept the money meant that he was still unwilling to forgive him, and he hurriedly said.

"If the Immortal Master finds it too vulgar, this humble official... this humble official also has several paintings and calligraphies by famous artists, all antiques from previous dynasties. I will have them fetched immediately..."

"No need," Ye Qingfeng waved his hand. "Take these things back with you."

Zhou Wenchang's face turned even paler, and his legs went weak, almost causing him to kneel down.

Ye Qingfeng then changed the subject: "However, since Magistrate Zhou is sincerely repenting, I will give you a chance to make amends."

Zhou Wenchang felt as if he had been granted a pardon and nodded repeatedly: "Immortal Master, please give your orders! This humble official will certainly comply!"

"You must report the matter of the Moon-Viewing Pavilion truthfully," Ye Qingfeng said.

"You can decide how to write it, but you must not distort the facts, and you must not implicate innocent people in your relationship with the Painted Skin Goddess."

Zhou Wenchang dared not disobey, and repeatedly said, "This humble official understands! This humble official will certainly record the truth without any falsehood!"

Ye Qingfeng nodded and added, "Furthermore, if any similar incidents of evil spirits causing trouble occur again in Wen'an County, you must investigate and deal with them immediately and not tolerate them."

Zhou Wenchang readily agreed: "This humble official will remember it! From now on, I will be diligent in serving the people and will never allow evil spirits to wreak havoc on the local area!"

Having finished explaining, Ye Qingfeng said no more.

Zhou Wenchang tactfully took his leave, but insisted on leaving behind the box of gold and silver before departing.

It is said that "although the immortal master does not need to do anything, he may still be able to help the poor and needy, which is also a meritorious deed."

Ye Qingfeng did not refuse again.

After Zhou Wenchang left, Lü Yang said, "Immortal Master, this corrupt official is quite sensible."

Ye Qingfeng shook his head: "He's not being sensible, he's just afraid of dying. After this incident, he'll at least behave himself for several years."

"Immortal Master, should I find someone to move these things? Or can I exchange them for silver notes for easier transport?"

Ye Qingfeng thought for a moment, then took out a gold ingot and put it in his sleeve.

"No need, I'll only take this one. As for the rest, I'll trouble Chief Escort Lin to handle them. Most of this money comes from the common people; let it return to where it came from!"

Lin Zhenyuan naturally dared not refuse and quickly agreed.

Ye Qingfeng wasn't afraid that the other party would dare to embezzle the money. To be honest, after witnessing his abilities, they would still have the guts to do so.

He had to admit he admired her.

Then, he looked at Lü Yang:

"Pack up, it'll be past mid-morning, then we'll set off."

Lü Yang's spirits lifted: "Immortal Master, where are we going?"

Ye Qingfeng looked out the door; the morning light was gradually brightening.

"Just wander around, stop wherever you happen to be!"

……