"You can barely throw a punch, and all you have is a loud voice—you're truly useless!" Fan Wu finally spoke up.
He caught the giant paper effigy's smash with one hand, speaking in an even tone that betrayed no hint of strain or exertion.
The effigy's two large, pitch-black eyes were constantly focused in Fan Wu's direction.
In those hollow eyes, a hint of confusion seemed to flash at this moment.
This was, aside from its pained howling, the only display of emotion it had shown so far.
Suddenly…
The giant paper effigy trembled.
From its body, a paper effigy about a foot tall rapidly split off.
This tiny effigy held a paper dagger in its hand.
It ran towards Fan Wu on its short little legs.
Another ability of the giant paper effigy!
—Split!
However, in the very next moment!
Fan Wu suddenly grabbed the twisted hand of the giant effigy with a backhand grip, and his fingers forcefully pierced through the layer of special paper on the effigy.
Once his fingers tightly clutched the effigy's twisted hand, Fan Wu's muscles engaged, and he managed to drag the large figure down to the ground!
The small paper effigy that was trying to sneak attack Fan Wu with short strides was directly squashed underneath the giant effigy.
Fan Wu withdrew his hand and took up his sword.
Without hesitation—
A sword fell!
It thrust directly into the effigy's head!
"Sssss"—
A large amount of Yin Energy spewed out from the head of the effigy!
Sparks spontaneously ignited all over the effigy's body, spreading across its surface in all directions.
The giant paper effigy seemed to be enduring a pain beyond the tolerance of ordinary people, wailing like a baby, causing a vibration to one's eardrums.
Its pair of hollow, pitch-black eyes stared straight at Fan Wu.
As if it were trying to etch Fan Wu's face into its memory.
The spreading sparks had already burnt away half of its body.
As the sparks reached its head, two talismans with purple backgrounds and red characters flickered vaguely in its hollow eyes.
The talismans in its eyes immediately caught fire.
The effigy's gaping mouth opened and closed, and a rough and hoarse human language emerged from it, word by word: "You, ruined my plan… I, remember you…"
"Qiulong… Temple!!!"
"Fan…"
The voice abruptly cut off because the rapidly spreading sparks had burnt away its mouth.
In just a few breaths' time, the effigy had been reduced to a bamboo frame.
The talismans pasted on the mummified infants inside…
Slowly turned to ash as well.
[You have successfully killed a "Paper Effigy Stuffed with Twenty Ghost Infants". Congratulations, you have gained Free Attribute Points: 1.5 points!]
Maybe it was the consecutive addition of attribute points, or perhaps it was some innate inclination towards violence within himself, but Fan Wu found that he… strangely felt an urge for more action!
As if not giving the effigy a few more slashes would leave his thoughts obstructed.
Fan Wu did not panic at the emergence of such an emotion.
Because he knew that this was in his nature.
Why go against his own instincts?
After the giant paper effigy was destroyed by him, the two Daoist disciples who had been entangled by the small paper effigies were finally freed.
Exhausted, they collapsed on the ground butt-first, exchanging glances full of lingering fear.
If Fan Wu hadn't disposed of the giant effigy in time, these two disciples might have ended their lives tonight.
The two most severely injured at the scene were the martial monks from Jinlong Temple.
They had both blocked attacks from the White-Clothed Resentful Ghost on behalf of the Abbot of Jinlong Temple.
Fortunately, their lives were not in danger.
They should be able to recover after a month or two of rest.
"Where is the hidden antagonist who controlled the resentful ghost and the paper effigy?" Fan Wu looked to Yang Yizi and the Abbot of Jinlong Temple as he posed this question.
The words spoken by the effigy as it burned to ashes proved that this hidden antagonist knew his identity, Fan Wu's.
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Their tone was filled with resentment, hatred, and a thick fury.
One could almost know instinctively that they had become the focus of that person's scrutiny!
Damn it!!!
Fan Wu felt that these past few days, he just wasn't compatible with Qiulong County.
Previously, he had tried not to have any contact with the person behind the Green-faced Water Ghost.
But after being invited by the Magistrate of Qiulong County to exorcise spirits...
He not only had to contact that person again but also became an object of their grudges!
Therefore, he wanted to know where the other party was.
Strike first to gain the upper hand!!
Just to prevent the chance they might catch him off guard one day with a sneak attack.
But...
Whether it was because of Fan Wu's brazen display just now that had shaken them to their core.
Both Yang Yizi and the Abbot of Jinlong Temple...
When they found Fan Wu staring at them, they didn't dare to meet his gaze!
Faced with Fan Wu's question, they were at a loss for how to respond for a moment.
Or rather, they did not know how to reply...
In a way that wouldn't cause impatience in Fan Wu.
Eventually...
It was Yang Yizi who braved it out, pushing through the invisible pressure to explain to Fan Wu: "Those skilled in controlling ghostly arts often manipulate their sinister spirits from a great distance; under normal circumstances, they wouldn't risk staying too close to their controlled spirits."
"These people are the most suspicious and vigilant. They surely fear their controlled spirits may become uncontrollable someday. If they stay too close, they are very likely to be backfired upon by the spirits."
"So you're saying the other party isn't near the yamen?" Fan Wu asked.
Yang Yizi continued to answer: "If they are cautious enough, they should not be nearby."
"I see," Fan Wu nodded slightly.
Picking up his sword sheath, he sheathed the sword and prepared to leave the yamen.
Seeing this...
Yang Yizi was taken aback: "Fellow Daoist Fan, are you... going to leave now?"
"I've got things to do. Oh, and... you should inform the Magistrate about the events that occurred in the yamen, tell him that all the ghosts and demons have been eradicated. Ask him to bring the promised goods to Qiulong Temple."
"I hope that when I return to Qiulong Temple, I'll see what I want. Magistrate He knows what I'm talking about."
Without looking back, Fan Wu left straightforwardly.
After listening, Yang Yizi was somewhat puzzled but didn't dare to follow.
He just kept Fan Wu's words in mind.
...
Fan Wu stepped outside the yamen.
The area outside was quiet.
Even with all the commotion earlier, no one came back to watch the excitement.
One of the reasons was their fear!
After all...
The haunted yamen was almost common knowledge.
And the fact that the Magistrate had invited several accomplished exorcists was also known by many in Qiulong County.
That meant the disturbance in the yamen was undoubtedly the exorcists battling the evil spirits!
Would anyone dare to come and gawk...
Fearing they might be carried away by an evil ghost?
The vast majority of ordinary people would feel fear and dare not approach these demons and devils, let alone mention them in daily conversation.
Fan Wu recalled the locations around Qiulong County he knew from his memory, and he had a route in mind.
He headed in one direction.
It was not the way back to Qiulong County. He was heading towards the Gou Lan!
"Green-faced Water Ghost, White-Clothed Resentful Ghost. One in life was a Gou Lan madam, the other an Oiran... Those who can be called an Oiran, their profession would involve that, right?"
"A madam, a courtesan, and those undeveloped fetal corpses..."
Fan Wu glanced at the dim night and muttered softly, "Do these three, by any chance, have a connection? I remember that the yamen isn't too far from the Gou Lan."
"Tch."
...
...
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