Chapter 396: I Told You to Release, and You Actually Did?

Li Fugui?

Wei Yuan thought for a moment, but could not recall ever having heard of a cultivator named "Li Fugui" there.

Within Daxia, cultivators are as numerous as cattle hair; how could he possibly know them all?

Moreover, many cultivators—especially Evil Cultivators—must hide their identities.

Not to mention the name could very well be an alias.

Wei Yuan couldn't help asking again: "Daoist friend Li, may I ask what connection you have with that Fox Demon, knowing full well it threatens the family of our current High School Top Scholar, yet you still try to save its life?"

"Didn't you say I am its behind‑the‑scenes mastermind?"

Wang Ping'an retorted.

Wei Yuan forced an awkward smile, wondering if Wang Ping'an was the hidden mastermind behind Hu Jiushisan, directing Hu Jiushisan to harm Wang Ruhai's family—could he really be unaware?

He only reluctantly believed Hu Jiushisan's words: that the tracking of Wang Family Members was to protect their safety, not that Hu Jiushisan intended to endanger the Wang Family's lives.

If he truly intended to harm the Wang Family's lives, why bother tracking them?

Hu Jiushisan may indeed be a lowly monster with no remarkable abilities, but the Wang Family are likewise an ordinary household.

Only fortune smiled on the family, producing a qilin child; Wang Ruhai, on the imperial examination path, advanced through every hurdle as a High School Top Scholar—yet before Wang Ruhai returned home.

The Wang Family members lack the ability to protect themselves.

If Hu Jiushisan wished to harm the Wang Family, why track them to Zhang Family Village? He could have done so in Hutou Gou.

He would think that Hu Jiushisan's tracking of the Wang Family, intending to endanger their lives, is merely a case of killing the innocent and taking credit, framing Hu Jiushisan.

Seeing that Wang Ping'an clearly did not wish to answer the question, Wei Yuan looked at Yu Die, who had arrived with Tang Anzhi, recalling the Yu Die who had been watching the play earlier.

After Wang Ping'an appeared, he immediately teamed up with Wang Ping'an.

If Yu Die had not intervened, not even to be seized by Wang Ping'an as a hostage, Hu Jiushisan would likely have been dealt with long ago.

This monster that seeks to harm the High School Top Scholar's family!

Found an opportunity to latch onto Wang Ruhai's connections.

Wei Yuan asked again: "Daoist friend Li, Yu, the Hundred Officer said you owe her a life‑saving debt; how do you explain this?"

Wang Ping'an still gave no reply.

Wei Yuan felt some resentment deep down but dared not show it; after all, he was a man under the eaves who had to bow his head, and his eyes instinctively turned to Yu Die, who was briskly approaching.

"Wei County Magistrate, do you still recall that this time I came to help the Zhang Family resolve the monster occupying Shizi Ling, enabling De Ben to become the Lion Ridge Mountain God?"

Yu Die did not rush to answer, but asked first.

"Of course I remember!"

Wei Yuan nodded.

He wasn't absent‑minded; the events of yesterday couldn't just be forgotten today. Yesterday, when Zhang Chengyong ran to the county office for help, he actually only wanted Luo Liang to step in, not Yu Die.

Slaying demons is Yu Die's duty; she is a Hundred Officer of the Demon‑Suppression Department, and precisely because of that rank, he knows her background is far from ordinary.

If anything were to happen to Yu Die, even if not caused by him, but arising because of him, he would certainly not reap any good fruit.

Having served in Qingyang County for so many years, he seeks no merit, only to avoid fault.

Without achievements, at worst he can make a few more connections later; once a vacancy arises, he believes his years of "friendship" will be enough for his superior to recommend his promotion and raise.

But if he errs, he would need to make double the connections for any effect on promotion and raise. Would he willingly let Yu Die handle this trivial matter?

Not to mention.

If Luo Liang were asked to resolve this, given the tacit understanding between him and Luo Liang, this matter would indeed serve his own interests.

Nevertheless, no matter how he spoke or refused, Yu Die acted as if she hadn't heard, persisting in her own way, rushing with Zhang Chengyong toward Zhang Family Village; if not for his concern that Yu Die is a Hundred Officer of the Demon‑Suppression Department, he truly wishes to expel Yu Die.

"This outing, to help the Zhang Family deal with the monster occupying their Shizi Ling, I overestimated myself and almost capsized in the mudflats."

If this Daoist friend had not intervened in time, I would likely have already perished at the hands of the monster occupying Shizi Ling. Wei County Magistrate, would you say he owes me a life‑saving debt?"

Yu Die gave a self‑deprecating smile.

She never mentioned Luo Liang's outrageous demands, extorting De Ben, treating the newly‑appointed Lion Ridge Mountain God De Ben as a puppet.

It's not that she spared Luo Liang face; she clearly knows Luo Liang is an Immortal Official of Qingyang County, not a newcomer.

How could Wei Yuan possibly not know what temperament his own Immortal Official has?

Perhaps among Luo Liang's countless absurd demands, there lies some benefit for Wei Yuan.

This novel you to.

"What did you say?"

Wei Yuan hadn't spoken yet, his face darkened, when Tang Anzhi, walking over, shouted in a trembling voice, as if struggling to find words:

"You said that if this Evil Cultivator hadn't acted, you would have already perished at the hands of Tiger Hui?"

Yu Die did not answer Tang Anzhi's question, but sneered: "Tiger Hui? So Imperial Attendant Tang knows the monster occupying Shizi Ling!"

"Within Daxia, it's not as if there are no monsters; seeing a monster doesn't mean you must exterminate it. When I was the Immortal Official of Qingyang County, my primary goal was to prevent monsters from causing trouble in Qingyang County, not to slay every monster I saw!"

Tang Anzhi's face turned cold; Yu Die's words left him no doubt of their meaning, and he said: "Tiger Hui merely occupies a mountain range and does not harm the nearby villagers, so why must we exterminate it?"

"Ha! No harm to the people? Yet I've heard that every hunter who ventures deep into Shizi Ling ends up never returning, all becoming the blood food of that Tiger Demon!"

Yu Die, with a mocking tone, looked at Tang Anzhi and said disdainfully.

Speaking with lofty righteousness, who can tell if there's any nonsense hidden inside?

Perhaps this old fellow worries about the power of the monster occupying Shizi Ling, fearing he's not a match and might meet his end, thus lacking the courage to deal with it.

Yu Die again sneered:

"Not to mention the previous Lion Ridge Mountain God, who likely perished at the hands of that monster; many misdeeds were done, yet Imperial Attendant Tang pretends not to hear them."

Since Tang Anzhi killed the innocent to claim credit and framed Hu Jiushisan as a monster seeking to harm the Wang Family, she holds no goodwill toward Tang Anzhi.

Regardless of whether Tang Anzhi is a senior on her cultivation path, or even though he once was the Immortal Official of Qingyang County, in her eyes he is merely an old, undying thief.

Tang Anzhi gave Yu Die a cold look; deep in his gaze a fleeting hint of disappointment, he ignored her sarcastic remarks, turned his head, looked at Wang Ping'an, and said in an unfriendly tone: "You Evil Cultivator, you can now release the County Magistrate, can't you?"

"Bang!"

Wang Ping'an just put away the Sword Apparatus that had been draped over Wei Yuan's neck when a spell suddenly erupted, instantly turning Wang Ping'an into powder.

Tang Anzhi's mouth curled into a mocking smile and said, "Fool, I let you release, and you actually did?"

(End of chapter)