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

Lin Zhenyuan held the icy-cold bamboo whip.

Looking at his son, who was beaten to the point of near death on the ground but showed a look of extreme fear because of Ye Qingfeng's words, he was torn between two conflicting emotions.

But in just a moment, reverence for Ye Qingfeng and fear of the terrible trouble his son had caused overwhelmed everything.

He gritted his teeth, and the last trace of hesitation in his eyes disappeared.

"You unfilial son! Today, I, as your father, will act on behalf of the Taoist priest to teach you a lesson for your troublesome mouth!"

Lin Zhenyuan let out a low roar and raised the Jade Heart Bamboo Whip in his hand.

"Father! No! I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! Daoist Master! Immortal Master! Spare me!"

Lin Yunfeng was terrified. Looking at the lush green bamboo whip, he desperately shrank back, his face covered in tears and snot. His previous arrogance had completely vanished.

However, Lin Zhenyuan had already hardened his heart, and with a whooshing sound as the bamboo whip cut through the air, he lashed out without hesitation!

"Snapped!"

With a crisp sound, the bamboo whip landed on Lin Yunfeng's shoulder.

The expected, even more piercing screams from her son did not immediately occur.

To Lin Zhenyuan's astonishment, a faint, grayish-black mist suddenly rose from beneath Lin Yunfeng's clothes where the bamboo whip struck!

The mist twisted and turned, emitting a faint hissing sound as if it were alive, before quickly dissipating in the moonlight!

Lin Yunfeng, who had just been hit, first froze, and then let out a wail that was several times more miserable than when he had been punched and kicked before.

"Ah—!! It hurts! Daddy! It hurts so much!!!"

But at the same time, Lin Zhenyuan clearly saw that his son's face, which was originally ashen, was now flushed with an unhealthy redness.

After that lash, the unsettling gloom seemed to have faded a little, and although it was still pale, it vaguely revealed the true color of a living person!

"This...this is?!" Lin Zhenyuan looked at the bamboo whip in his hand in shock, then suddenly looked up at Ye Qingfeng.

Ye Qingfeng nodded slightly, as if he had just remembered to explain, and spoke in a calm tone.

"This bamboo grows in a sacred place. I brought it from afar and used a little magic to awaken its spiritual light."

Its nature is pure and refreshing, containing vitality, specifically counteracting yin and evil influences, and also having the effect of invigorating qi and blood, and stimulating waning yang energy.

He glanced at Lin Yunfeng, who was writhing on the ground in pain, and continued, "The evil energy in your son's body has penetrated deep and cannot be cured by ordinary means."

By striking with this whip, the stagnant evil deep within their bones can be gradually shaken out and purified. Although there is some pain, it is the most direct method to expel evil and uphold righteousness.

He paused, then added, "Of course, if Chief Escort Lin feels this method is too harsh, he can stop it."

Stop?!

Lin Zhenyuan watched the dissipating black energy on his son's body, and then looked at the complexion on his face, which, although painful, seemed to be truly improving. He was far from stopping!

At this moment, his heart was filled with ecstasy and lingering fear—ecstasy that the Taoist priest had actually forgiven him and repaid evil with kindness, and even bestowed such a divine object to heal Feng'er.

She was filled with fear that if she had hesitated even for a moment, she would have cut off her son's path to survival.

"No! Not harsh at all! Thank you so much, Daoist Master, for bestowing this method upon me! Thank you for your compassion, Daoist Master!"

Lin Zhenyuan's voice trembled with excitement. Looking at the emerald green bamboo whip in his hand, he regarded it as a divine artifact!

Without the slightest hesitation, and even fearing that his son's misbehavior would affect the exorcism effect, he shouted at Zhao Damang and the others.

"Da Mang! Hold him down! Don't let him move!"

Zhao Damang and the others also saw the magical black aura, and they now regarded Ye Qingfeng's methods as divine.

Upon hearing this, they immediately stepped forward, and seven or eight hands firmly held down Lin Yunfeng, who was still trying to struggle and escape.

"Father! Uncle Zhao! Let me go! No! I know I was wrong! Daoist Master! Immortal Master! I was foul-mouthed! I deserved to be hit! Please forgive me! Can't you find another way?"

Lin Yunfeng was held firmly down and unable to move. Seeing his father raise the terrifying green bamboo whip again, he was so frightened that he begged for mercy incoherently.

However, what he received in response was an even more determined and skillful lash from Lin Zhenyuan.

"Clap clap clap!"

The sound of bamboo whips piercing the air and Lin Yunfeng's pig-like screams echoed once again in the mass grave.

Ye Qingfeng stood quietly to the side, his gaze distant, seemingly looking towards Wen'an County. The "Whip and Exorcise Evil" symphony behind him seemed to be just a gentle breeze in his ears.

Only the corners of his mouth, a very faint, almost imperceptible curve, gently lifted upwards.

Hmm, my thoughts seem to have cleared up a bit.

This bamboo whip is indeed very handy to use.

About an incense stick later.

Lin Zhenyuan seemed to have gotten tired of whipping, so he called over another bodyguard to continue whipping him.

At this moment, Lin Yunfeng's shouts grew louder and louder, so these men smoked without any restraint.

The group smoked incense for a full incense stick until Lin Yunfeng's complexion had noticeably improved, before they finally stopped.

Lin Zhenyuan looked up at Ye Qingfeng, who had been standing quietly to the side, his eyes filled with gratitude and awe, and was about to bow down.

Ye Qingfeng raised his hand to stop him from moving.

"Your son has expelled nearly half of the evil and foul energy from his body. Continue this method for the next six days, supplemented with a light diet and quiet rest, and he will be safe."

His voice was calm, and he even had a gentle smile on his face.

It was as if the bamboo whip used to exorcise evil spirits was just a routine medical order, and she didn't care at all about Lin Yunfeng's previous offensive remark.

Seeing this, Lin Zhenyuan felt somewhat relieved.

It seems the Taoist priest is broad-minded and indeed did not take the child's ignorant words to heart.

I had underestimated the Taoist priest.

At this moment, Zhao Damang seemed to remember something, and said to Ye Qingfeng with a solemn expression.

"Master, you just said that the mind-bewitching technique of this paper ghost is similar to that of the painted skin ghost in the dilapidated temple... Could it be that the painted skin ghost is not completely dead?"

Or... are they in cahoots? Did they follow us all the way from the ruined temple here?

This conjecture sent a chill down everyone's spine.

If that's the case, then the power of this evil spirit is far too great.

Ye Qingfeng shook his head and pondered for a moment.

"Although both are adept at illusion and bewitching the mind, and live by absorbing the essence and blood of living people, their sources of energy are slightly different."

The Painted Skin Ghost is closer to a "demon" because it walks in a skin; this thing, on the other hand, is purely formed from resentment and yin energy, relying on paper effigies, making it a strange creature that is both a "ghost" and a "thing".

Whether they share a common origin is still uncertain. However, the proliferation of evil spirits in the world occurs according to various causes and conditions, and they are not necessarily all related.

"Furthermore, I have not seen any painted-skin ghosts or paper effigies along my journey, which suggests that these painted-skin ghosts and paper effigies may originate from your county."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Damang felt a chill run down his spine, and his hair stood on end.

So, the painted-skin ghost who was burned to death earlier wasn't someone who infiltrated the group midway, but rather someone who had already joined the team before they even set off.

Doesn't this mean that their Weiyuan Escort Agency has already been infiltrated by ghosts?

At this moment, the other bodyguards seemed to have figured out the key point as well, and their expressions instantly changed.

They each suddenly stepped back a few paces, cautiously looking at the people around them.