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

Lu Yang looked around and his gaze fell on the few broken coffins.

"Got it."

He stood up and walked toward the coffins.

Miao Gui huddled in another corner, staring blankly at the corpse oil lamp.

Seeing Lü Yang's movement, he looked up:

What are you doing?

Lü Yang didn't even turn his head:

"Start a fire. It's too cold."

He wandered around the inn, but seemed to have found nothing, and was somewhat disappointed.

Lü Yang frowned:

"Why is everything empty? No firewood?"

Miao Gui said from the side:

"Where did this inn get firewood? Those coffin boards were dismantled and burned long ago."

Lu Yang was stunned for a moment, then looked back at the room.

Indeed, apart from those few broken tables and chairs, there wasn't much else in the house that could be burned.

If the tables and chairs are dismantled, there won't be a place for people to sit when they come over.

Such despicable acts as destroying homes are unacceptable.

His gaze swept around before finally settling on the three ancient corpses on the ground.

Miao Gui followed his gaze, and his expression immediately changed:

"You...you wouldn't be thinking of..."

Lü Yang's eyes lit up:

"Yeah! If we burn these three, we'll have a fire!"

Miao Gui opened his mouth wide.

He looked at Lü Yang, then at the three ancient corpses, then back at Lü Yang, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.

"You...you're going to use them to start a fire?"

Lü Yang nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

"They're all dead anyway, so keeping them is pointless. Burning them will at least provide some warmth, killing two birds with one stone."

Miao Gui remained silent for a long while before finally managing to utter a sentence:

"...You're a fucking genius."

Lü Yang proudly raised his chin:

"That's right. Come on, give me a hand, I can't move it by myself."

Miao Gui opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that he couldn't find a reason to refute it.

Yes, those three ancient corpses are already dead, what's the point of keeping them? Burning them can provide warmth, it's definitely killing two birds with one stone.

He silently stood up, walked to Lü Yang's side, bent down and grabbed one of the feet of the ancient corpse dressed in an official robe.

The two of them worked together to drag the three ancient corpses to the center of the room and piled them up.

Lu Yang clapped his hands, took out a tinderbox from his pocket, and held it up to the pile of corpses.

He blew on it.

No luck.

He blew on it again.

Still no luck.

Lu Yang paused for a moment, then brought the tinder closer and blew on it a few times.

Not a single spark appeared on the hem of the ancient corpse's clothes.

"Huh?" Lü Yang scratched his head. "Why can't it light?"

Miao Gui, watching from the side, suddenly understood something:

"This is an ancient corpse, dead for hundreds of years, covered in yin energy. How could ordinary fire possibly ignite it?"

Lu Yang paused for a moment, then chuckled and turned to look at the figure sitting cross-legged in the corner:

"Immortal Master—"

He drawled out the sound, grinning as he said:

"Could you please blow some air on me?"

Ye Qingfeng opened his eyes, looked at Lü Yang's smiling face, then at the pile of ancient corpses dragged together, and his lips twitched slightly.

It was an expression of helplessness, tinged with a hint of amusement.

He didn't move, he just blew a breath gently.

"call--"

A wisp of golden flame floated from his mouth and landed on the pile of ancient corpses.

In an instant, flames shot into the sky!

The golden flames were intense yet pure, without a trace of smoke, only a warm glow.

It landed on the pile of ancient corpses, instantly enveloping them and setting them ablaze.

Strangely, no matter how fiercely the flames burned, there was not a trace of a burnt smell.

Only a faint scent of sandalwood wafted from the firelight.

Even more amazing is—

The chilling aura and the bone-chilling cold were visibly receding.

The inn warmed up.

It wasn't the kind of intense heat, but rather a gentle, comforting warmth that made you feel completely at ease.

It's like basking in the winter sun, or soaking in a warm spring.

Lu Yang squinted comfortably, moved closer to the fire, and warmed his hands by the flames.

"The Immortal Master is truly amazing!"

Miao Gui stood to the side, staring dumbfounded at the blazing golden flames.

He had been working as a corpse driver for three years and had seen many spells, but he had never seen fire like this before.

Moreover, there is no casting animation.

No talismans, no incantations, just a gentle breath—

Is this what a master is like?

He couldn't help but glance at Ye Qingfeng again.

The Taoist priest had closed his eyes again.

The golden firelight reflected on his face, revealing an indescribable tranquility and transcendence.

Miao Gui silently shrank back into his corner, clutching the corpse oil lamp, no longer daring to look at it.

Inside the room, only golden flames flickered.

Warm and peaceful, like any other ordinary night.

After an incense stick has burned.

Lü Yang leaned against the wall, warming himself by the fire, and was dozing off.

Miao Gui huddled in the corner, clutching the corpse oil lamp, occasionally stealing glances at the Taoist priest who was meditating with his eyes closed. One thought kept swirling in his mind—

Who exactly is this Taoist priest?

He recalled that gentle breath, the golden flames, and the three ancient corpses whose heads had been severed by a single sword strike…

He knew about those things.

Those three ancient corpses have been guarding this inn for hundreds of years. Corpse drivers, spirit mediums, and shamans who come by must all respectfully pay a room fee.

Miao Gui walked this road for three years, and every time he passed by, he had to make a cut, without exception.

But this Taoist priest cut him down with a single sword stroke.

Miao Gui glanced at the Taoist priest's profile again, secretly relieved.

Luckily, I didn't offend him.

Just then, a sound came from outside the inn.

The sound was strange; it wasn't footsteps, nor was it the sound of wind, but rather a kind of... elusive, barely audible noise.

It felt like something was moving through the rain, but you couldn't quite make out its direction.

Miao Gui's expression changed, and he suddenly sat up straight.

Lü Yang groggily opened his eyes:

"What's wrong?"

Miao Gui raised a finger to his lips:

"Shh-"

The sound was getting closer and closer.

Immediately afterwards, a voice came from outside the inn:

"May I ask... is the expert inside present?"

The voice was high-pitched and ethereal, as if it came from a very far place, yet also as if it were right next to your ear.

Neither male nor female, neither yin nor yang, it sends chills down your spine.

Lu Yang jolted awake, fully waking up:

"Who?!"

Miao Gui's face turned pale, and he lowered his voice to say:

"They're ghost soldiers... the ghost soldiers of the local earth god..."

Lu Yang was stunned:

"A ghostly earth god? What's that?"

Before Miao Gui could explain, the noise outside started again:

"I am here on the orders of the local earth god to invite you, esteemed sir, to my residence for a discussion. I wonder if you would do me the honor of accepting my presence?"

The voice was even more respectful than before, even carrying a hint of caution.

Miao Gui was stunned.

He glanced at the door, then at Ye Qingfeng, and suddenly understood something—

Those ghostly soldiers must have witnessed the fate of those three ancient corpses.

They knew they couldn't afford to offend this Taoist priest.

That's why I speak so politely.

Lü Yang also realized what was happening. He looked at Ye Qingfeng and whispered:

"Immortal Master..."

Ye Qingfeng remained motionless with his eyes closed.

Lu Yang dared not speak again and could only stare at him longingly.