Tao Lingluo

Fang Weiyan looked back at the Earth God beside him, who had shown no sign of moving, and began to panic.

What was going on with this Earth God? He had given him quite a lot of incense offerings, after all. Hadn't he promised to keep him safe?

Just as Fang Weiyan began to grow flustered, the Earth God finally reacted.

"My lord..."

The Earth God spoke. "This demon isn't one devoted to wrongdoing. This humble god cannot waste divine power slaying a demon like her for no reason."

There was a trace of helplessness in the Earth God's voice. His lordship did indeed possess something extraordinary and knew some Divergent Methods. Otherwise, he could not have vanished into thin air, leaving even him unable to discern his whereabouts.

And now he had even seen straight through this demon's disguise.

"Huh? Don't you kill demons whenever you see them? And how can you tell she isn't up to no good?"

Fang Weiyan was utterly bewildered. He had thought Orthodox Gods and demons were mortal enemies who would fight to the death whenever they met.

But from the looks of things, that wasn't quite the case?

"My lord, there are good and bad demons too. Before she does anything out of line, this humble god cannot simply kill her. Otherwise, it would damage my hidden virtue."

The Earth God explained, "It is just like your lordship's situation. There are good and bad people too, but as county magistrate, you cannot throw someone into prison without cause."

After hearing the Earth God's explanation, Fang Weiyan understood a little better.

In that case, demons and the like could actually enter Linbei County as they pleased?

Fang Weiyan asked the Earth God this question, and the Earth God nodded, indicating that he was right.

Demons who mingled with human crowds each had their own purposes.

Some, naturally, harbored ulterior motives and wanted to drain Yang Qi or eat people.

Others came to repay kindness. For example, some people unwittingly saved demons, and some of those demons would return to repay them.

Once they had repaid the kindness, the karma between them was settled.

Some came to face their Human Tribulation.

In short, they had all sorts of purposes. Naturally, the Earth God could not kill these demons without cause, or his own hidden virtue would suffer.

Fang Weiyan scratched his head and looked at the demon beside him, unsure what kind of demon she was.

"Then tell me, what did you come to Linbei County for?"

Fang Weiyan asked.

The woman before him was confirmed to be a demon; he just did not know what she had come for.

Hearing this, the woman looked helpless. She had no idea how this young county magistrate had seen through her.

"I cannot speak of this. I only hope your lordship understands that I mean no harm. If your lordship is willing, I could also serve as your personal maid."

The woman lowered her eyes meekly, looking as though she bore no ill will.

But Fang Weiyan did not really believe her. She would not even state her reason for coming here. How could he trust her?

Hearing this, the Earth God beside them looked at the woman before him, and a thought stirred in his mind. If he was not mistaken, she had probably come looking for the koi.

That koi's bloodline was somewhat unusual. Eating it would certainly provide tremendous nourishment.

And if she could seize the koi's fortune, that would be even more extraordinary.

When the time came, her cultivation would surely soar into the clouds in a single stride.

"Then what kind of demon are you?"

Fang Weiyan continued questioning her. Whatever the case, he would find out her background first.

"I am a peach tree demon..."

"A peach tree demon? Are you the peach tree demon who underwent a tribulation earlier?"

Hearing this, Fang Weiyan instinctively thought of the peach tree demon nearby that had undergone a tribulation earlier.

Come to think of it, her tribulation had indeed bought Fang Weiyan a little breathing room.

Thinking of that female ghost and the naked intensity of her stare, Fang Weiyan could not help feeling a chill in his heart.

"Yes..."

The woman answered.

She had failed her tribulation, and a wisp of her soul had escaped here. Right now, quite a few demons outside were still searching for this wisp of her Yin soul, hoping to eat it for its rich nourishment.

She had also divined that a nearby koi had already begun undergoing its tribulation and seemed to have fallen into Fang Weiyan's hands.

She wanted to get close to Fang Weiyan and see whether she could find this koi, then eat it and seize its fortune.

If she succeeded, perhaps she would be able to turn peril into safety whenever she encountered danger in the future.

But she could not tell Fang Weiyan about this. For one thing, if she told him and he kept an even closer watch over the koi, that would be troublesome.

For another, the koi was facing its Human Tribulation, and that Human Tribulation had fallen upon Fang Weiyan.

If she laid it all out to Fang Weiyan, she would be divulging heaven's secrets. Her little remnant soul would be struck dead by heavenly lightning in no time.

Fang Weiyan rubbed his forehead. The Earth God could not act against her directly, and Fang Weiyan had no way of dealing with her either.

After thinking it over, he said, "You may stay in Linbei County, but you must not harm the innocent."

"I agree."

Hearing this, the peach tree demon hurriedly replied.

Fang Weiyan nodded at that. "Right, what's your name?"

Even now, he still did not know her name. It really was a little awkward.

"Tao Lingluo."

Tao Lingluo?

After hearing her name, Fang Weiyan warned her not to enter his government compound, then turned and left.

From what the Earth God had said, she did not seem to intend to harm anyone, so he would let her stay for now.

As for letting her follow him, that was absolutely out of the question.

Fang Weiyan traveled back and forth every day. Granted, in the Earth God's eyes, he knew a little Daoist magic or something of the sort.

Tao Lingluo would probably think the same if she saw it.

But what she thought was one thing; Fang Weiyan had no desire to reveal too much in front of her.

Seeing Fang Weiyan leave without the slightest intention of having her follow him or serve as his personal maid, Tao Lingluo stamped her foot.

Her scheme had fallen through, but there was nothing she could do.

Perhaps this koi is destined to survive this Human Tribulation?

Tao Lingluo muttered inwardly.

Meanwhile, after leaving, Fang Weiyan slapped his forehead.

He had forgotten. He still needed to ask the Earth God for a little divine power so he could continue telling fortunes.

But if he went back to ask now, he would have to come face-to-face with Tao Lingluo again.

Forget it. I don't need that ability for now anyway. I'll bring it up with the Earth God when I need it later.

After thinking it over, Fang Weiyan set the thought aside.

After returning to the yamen, Fang Weiyan glanced at the villagers nearby, who were eating with great relish, then headed straight inside.

Outside Linbei County, Fang Weiyan had already marked out a plot of land for growing fruit trees.

Tomorrow, he would take some fertilizer out of the warehouse and give it to the common people to enrich the soil.