```
"This girl is of age, and it is no longer proper to stay by her elder brother's side!"
"I wonder if Miss Pei Rong could make some arrangements?"
Upon hearing Li Jing's request, Pei Rong nodded without any hesitation, smiling as she said, "Please rest assured, Officer Xiahou!"
"I find this girl rather clever and articulate, seemingly literate and educated."
"It would be perfect for her to stay by my side as a maid!"
"In the future, when a suitable person appears, she can marry then."
Hearing Pei Rong's words, Xiao Cui was overjoyed... She quickly kowtowed to Pei Rong, thereby establishing their servant-master relationship.
The beggar boy, even if unwilling, had no other option.
The crowd also nodded secretly in approval. Officer Xiahou, despite his rough appearance, handled matters without a slip. With such a person as the Investigation Officer, everyone was reassured.
In less than half a day, the entire Jiangdu knew about the judgement.
Everyone expressed their own opinions on this matter. Some supported it, while others opposed it.
But in the end, support outweighed the opposition.
Because Li Jing's final words were simply too sensible.
In the absence of clear evidence, such a verdict was most logical and caused the least harm.
If one were to support the boy and decree the girl to be his wife,
An error would harm human relations, a great disgrace that would shame the ancestors.
It was precisely because they understood Li Jing's concerns that everyone so strongly supported his verdict.
The elders of Jiangdu also breathed a sigh of relief: their choice was not wrong. Li Jing was indeed very suitable for this position.
While people were abuzz with conversations,
In Jiangdu City, Merchant Li was conducting a ritual at home.
Dressed in a bright yellow Daoist robe imprinted with the Eight Diagrams, Li Jiufeng stood solemnly in the center of the altar.
"Taoist Li!"
"We entrust this matter to you!"
"Once successful, we shall reward you handsomely!"
The plump and affable Merchant Li of the family bowed repeatedly, a pleading look on his face.
"Merchant Li!"
"Rest assured!"
"The formation I have set up is the Supreme Limitless Extermination Immortal Array!"
"Not to mention a mere Fox Demon!"
"Even the Great Sage Equalling Heaven would fall here!"
With three wisps of a goat's beard and a gaunt face, Li Jiufeng nodded with a smile, pride evident in his gaze.
Wide palm-sized talismans with dragon and snake-like strokes were plastered all around.
In front of the altar stood an object that resembled a small umbrella, a Magic Artifact.
"Hehe!"
Just as Li Jiufeng was uttering his incantations, a few contemptuous chuckles suddenly came from one side.
A woman's voice followed: "Even the Great Sage Equalling Heaven would fall here!?"
"You, Taoist, sure can boast!"
"Let's not even talk about the Great Sage himself, you couldn't even handle a single strand of his hair!"
"Who?!"
"Who's there?!"
The Taoist's bluff was called out, and his face couldn't help but change, his eyes revealing anger. He formed sword fingers with his hand, casting a spell towards the direction in front of him:
"Evil spirit!"
"Show yourself at once!"
With his spell, the incense burner that had been dimming suddenly burst into flames.
Countless talismans flew in all directions.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
From the spot where the woman's voice had emerged, a puff of smoke appeared.
However, to everyone's surprise, as the talismans descended, the woman not only remained unharmed but also wore a look of disdain.
"Yo~ I thought it was some expert!"
"Turns out to be a practitioner of such weak Daoist magic!"
Humiliated consecutively, the Taoist could no longer bear it, his hands forming seals rapidly, and the closed small umbrella in front of him suddenly unfurled.
And it kept getting larger!
A trace of solemnity appeared in the eyes of the scornful Fox Demon for the first time.
A round and pinkish inner core, like a bead, flew out from her lips.
Boom!
The paper umbrella and the inner core collided.
```
There was a muffled sound.
The face of the fox demon couldn't help but turn pale.
The Taoist was even worse off, retreating continuously.
The incense burner, originally burning, suddenly exploded into pieces.
"What a demon!"
"I am no match for it!"
Seeing the exploded incense burner and the spontaneously combusting talismans, Li Jiufeng's face paled drastically, and in the end, disregarding the well-being of Mister Li, he fled in a panic.
Seeing the Taoist trying to run, the fox demon's eyes involuntarily widened, radiating ferocity, and her fingers, slender like bamboo shoots, revealed sharp claws, just as she was about to attack.
Suddenly, an old crone appeared in the air.
It was also because of the crone's obstruction that the Taoist was able to scramble and roll away from the Li family.
"Mother!"
"Why do you obstruct your daughter?"
"That Taoist, just now, was being meddlesome!"
Hearing the girl's complaint, the crone did not get angry but simply shook her head gently: "Daughter!"
"That Taoist's mana is weak!"
"To us, he's nothing at all!"
"But, don't forget!"
"Beasts cherish their pack!"
"People protect their party!"
"If we were to kill him, it would inevitably bring forth more formidable people."
"By then, we, mother and daughter, would truly have no place to shelter!"
Hearing the crone's words, the girl's face showed a look of being taught a lesson.
"The business here is finished!"
"You should return and rest with your husband!"
Upon hearing the crone's words, the fox demon shyly nodded and, after taking one glance at Mister Li hiding in the shadows, gracefully departed.
As for Mister Li hidden in the shadows.
The crone pretended not to see him, gave a salute, then turned into a gust of wind and disappeared into the courtyard.
Just after the two of them vanished, a long-abandoned attic in the back garden of the Li family suddenly lit up.
There were both men's and women's voices coming from it.
Looking up at the attic, where silhouettes flickered like a revolving lantern.
Mister Li was filled with helplessness.
This fox demon was just too formidable.
He had already sought out several experts, and all had returned in futility.
*Sigh*
Just as he sighed, at a loss for what to do, suddenly a house servant came in and, with a mysterious look, whispered into his ear.
As the house servant recounted!
Mister Li's expression gradually became solemn, and in the end, he couldn't help but ask: "Is it really so?"
After receiving an affirmative answer, Mister Li then nodded, his face brimming with joy: "That's wonderful!"
"Who would have thought that such a capable person would come to Jiangdu City!"
"Xiahou Investigation Officer, right?"
"Very well!"
"Tomorrow, I shall go and strike the complaint drum!"
"These demons' good days are coming to an end!"
"Hmph!"
Saying this, Mister Li left the back garden with a vigorous flick of his sleeves, his face full of joy.
A night without words!
The next day, as dawn barely broke,
Mister Li, accompanied by house servants, arrived at the Government Office and, under the gaze of the public, vigorously struck the complaint drum.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
People around the Government Office all looked up in astonishment.
The heavily shut doors of the Governmental Office slowly opened.
Dozens of soldiers filed out and lined up on both sides.
Not only that!
A person dressed like a Steward also welcomed Mister Li and others inside.
"The great lord is going to hold a trial!"
The crowd couldn't help but stir!