Enthusiastic Reporting Citizen - Daoist Master Fan

"It's nothing."

Facing Xie Jiuyi's kind inquiry, Fan Wu simply replied with two words.

"That's good then!" Xie Jiuyi breathed a sigh of relief.

His tone was still tinged with shock, clearly not having recovered from the scenes they had just witnessed.

After a moment, he continued, "I never expected Daoist Master Fan to save me again this time. If not for Daoist Master Fan's timely intervention, I'm afraid the Squad Leader and I would have met a grim fate tonight."

These were not words of flattery.

Xie Jiuyi was simply stating the truth.

With his and Shen Jiyue's strength, if the ghost groom and ghost bride were separate... while they might not necessarily be able to defeat them, they could at least hold them off for a while.

But when the ghost groom and ghost bride combined into one, their combined strength would not be enough.

Let alone holding them off for a while...

Whether they could last ten breaths was probably a question!

This time, they had truly walked the line between life and death.

Although he didn't fear death, being able to keep his life was ultimately good.

He felt a sense of relief.

"Thank you, Daoist Master, for slaying the Malevolent Spirit, thank you, Daoist Master, for protecting the Heavenly Mechanism Coffin, thank you, Daoist Master, for saving the people of Baihe County!"

Shen Jiyue had walked over at some point.

She sincerely offered her thanks three times, her expression solemn, "Both Baihe County and the Imperial Astronomy Bureau will remember Daoist Master's kindness!"

To Fan Wu, their thanks sounded no different from passing gas.

If it weren't for the two of them, and if it weren't for that broken coffin in the inn.

Why would the followers of those Great Venerables come here?

And why would he encounter those followers of the Great Venerables again?

Thinking of this...

Fan Wu mentally reviewed how many ways he had offended the Great Venerables in the past few days.

First, he placed a shackle from a green-faced water ghost in the Prison Dragon County yamen, effectively taking away one of the Great Venerables' offerings. He killed Xuan Shizi, which was equivalent to killing one of the Great Venerables' followers.

Before killing Xuan Shizi, he had also slapped the Great Venerables' face and kicked their statue... which could be considered blasphemy.

Then, Xie Jiuyi's transport of the Heavenly Mechanism Coffin attracted a strange shadow. He killed the strange shadow... which was another follower of the Great Venerables.

Because that broken coffin sought his protection, it attracted the ghost groom and ghost bride, forcing him to act.

The result... was obvious, he had killed yet another follower of the Great Venerables this time.

He had killed two!

Sigh!

Fan Wu realized that he not only clashed with Prison Dragon County but also with the Imperial Astronomy Bureau!

Perhaps because he was in a bad mood, a shadow of gloom hung on his face.

Combined with the aura of a ferocious beast emanating from him...

It made both Xie Jiuyi and Shen Jiyue...

Feel a sense of unease!

They naturally didn't know why Fan Wu was in a bad mood.

They only knew that the Daoist Master Fan before them gave them a terrifying feeling.

That oppressive pressure was enough to make even cultivators... feel their hearts tremble!

This made them quite uneasy.

What was wrong?

Hiss!!

Could it be that something they had said had offended Daoist Master Fan?

Considering this possibility, both Shen Jiyue and Xie Jiuyi...

Began to panic!

They lost their composure!

Just as the two of them felt uneasy, Fan Wu's voice suddenly rang out.

This was a rare instance of him proactively speaking to people from the Imperial Astronomy Bureau: "Two banner officials, does your Imperial Astronomy Bureau know of a strange anomalous entity?"

"Ah?" Shen Jiyue had thought that Fan Wu's anger was about to erupt, given his displeased expression.

But the outcome was unexpected.

The situation that unfolded was unexpected.

"Daoist Master Fan, what do you mean by anomalous entity...?" Shen Jiyue suppressed her relief and couldn't help but ask.

"It is called the Great Venerable, and its full title seems to be—Merciful Great Venerable of Salvation from Suffering Above and Below Heaven and Earth," Fan Wu said without reservation, directly revealing the Great Venerable's name.

His reason for revealing the Great Venerable's name was simple: he felt he shouldn't be at too much of a disadvantage.

Having inexplicably helped the Imperial Astronomy Bureau twice, he felt the Bureau should do something for him in return.

Coincidentally, he had thoroughly offended the Great Venerable.

And an existence like the Great Venerable was fundamentally incompatible with a government agency like the Imperial Astronomy Bureau!

As a result.

Could the Imperial Astronomy Bureau also take action against the Great Venerable?

That's right!

Fan Wu intended to find a colossal power to become one of the Great Venerable's enemies!

This enemy should ideally be powerful and capable of drawing away some of the Great Venerable's attention.

This would allow Fan Wu to have...

A slightly more peaceful period ahead.

And what could be more suitable than the Imperial Astronomy Bureau? After all, the Imperial Astronomy Bureau was naturally the sworn enemy of the Great Venerable!

How could a government agency allow a supernatural entity to wreak havoc within the Great Zhou?

With a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind, Fan Wu pondered for a moment before continuing, "In Prison Dragon County, I once helped a malevolent spirit find peace. That malevolent spirit was raised by a heretic. That heretic worshipped an anomalous entity called 'the Great Venerable.' That anomalous entity is likely very powerful and has a large number of followers."

"Earlier, the shadowy anomalous entity that I and Sub-Squad Leader Xie encountered, uttered the words 'Great Venerable' in front of me. And now, the ghost groom and ghost bride we just encountered also mentioned the name 'Great Venerable' in front of me."

"From this, it can be basically concluded that they have an unclear relationship with the Great Venerable."

"Perhaps the mastermind behind the attempts to seize the Heavenly Mechanism Coffin in the past few days and tonight, is also that Great Venerable."

As Fan Wu spoke, Shen Jiyue and Xie Jiuyi's expressions grew increasingly solemn.

When he finished speaking, the two looked at each other tacitly.

In their eyes, the words spoken by Daoist Master Fan...

The amount of information was utterly explosive!!

Heretics, anomalous entities, vengeful spirits... they all worshipped a bizarre existence called 'the Great Venerable'?

This was faith!

The word 'faith' was not used lightly!

Shen Jiyue took a deep breath and shook her head. She replied, "I am not aware of the name 'Great Venerable.' If, as Daoist Master Fan says, then this Great Venerable..."

She paused, her expression extremely solemn: "Is likely a very terrifying existence!"

Although she hadn't seen any strange shadows, she had just seen the ghost groom and ghost bride.

Such powerful vengeful spirits were actually worshipping that Great Venerable?

What did this imply...

Shen Jiyue understood clearly.

She did not doubt the truth of Fan Wu's words, because in Shen Jiyue's eyes... this Daoist Master Fan had saved her life and helped them protect the Heavenly Mechanism Coffin.

How could she possibly doubt the words of someone who was like such a great benefactor?

Her expression was solemn, and she immediately said, "Our Baihe County Imperial Astronomy Bureau branch is likely unable to handle such demonic evil. I will order someone to relay this major matter to the Imperial Astronomy Bureau in Yinghe Prefecture!"

She cupped her hands towards Fan Wu: "Thank you, Daoist Master Fan, for your chivalrous heart in informing me of such a destructive and malevolent spirit."

Fan Wu nodded in response.

What ill intentions could he possibly have? He was just a concerned citizen "reporting a crime."

Let the Imperial Astronomy Bureau and the Great Venerable...

Engage in their various struggles!