"""

The town beneath our feet, although still considered part of the border area, lay nearly a thousand miles from the actual border.

Whether it was because the higher-ups in Dazhen did not want to care or simply were oblivious to the situation here, the rulers of this town had surely lost both the capability and energy to manage it.

No City Lord would ever like their domain to be overrun by Believers, the bustling markets to become desolate, shops to close one after another, and the number of vendors to dwindle.

Just like Yu Ziqing would not want the Hungry Ghost Dao he created to one day become infested with disgusting entities like the White Sun Evil Cult. He did not need the hungry ghosts to do anything for him, but he also did not want anyone using his name to scam civilians and then go on to scam the hungry ghosts.

Of course, this could not be tolerated. If these Evil Dao individuals couldn't be eradicated, there was another way to solve the problem once and for all—digging a big pit to bury their Holy Mother.

Starting parallel cultivation with the Hungry Ghost Dao was intended to create an anti-fraud Dharma Method sooner, to directly utilize his own authority, inscribing it into the Hungry Ghost Dao, to retaliate against those who exploited the hungry ghosts for incense fire sacrifices.

And do they still think of setting traps, attempting to parasitize?

I will first come up with some worm-killing medicine, blocking the roads for them at every turn, and by then whoever tries will die.

But of course, this was a last resort, not yet ready, and it didn't stop Yu Ziqing from trying other ways to get rid of them.

Cece closed the window and poured Yu Ziqing a cup of hot tea.

"Young Master, the leader today has already begun his cultivation, and there was a hint of temptation in his voice."

"Did you detect anything?"

"I didn't dare to casually explore the city; my control over the domain is still lacking. I'm afraid if there are experts within tens of miles, they might detect me. However, without unfurling the domain, I've noticed there are hungry ghosts in the City Lord Mansion, and there isn't a single cultivator with a bit of strength in the city, which isn't normal. For a border town that's not even of strategic importance, at least a Fifth or even Sixth Tier expert should be stationed here."

"Can you summon that hungry ghost?"

"He seems to be trapped by someone; I'll go with Wu Shuangge tonight."

"Alright."

By nightfall, the Believers of the White Sun sect grew even more rampant. They seemed to be tireless, wearing plain hemp clothes, chanting scriptures as they wandered down the street. No one dared to go out at such a time.

Wu Shuangge, taking Cece with him, went to the City Lord Mansion.

Inside the vast City Lord Mansion, night had fallen, yet it was utterly silent, with only a few candles flickering. Wu Shuangge led Cece into the dungeon where the hungry ghost was.

The place was unguarded, carcasses lay everywhere in the dungeon, with only one cell containing a skeletal hungry ghost, imprisoned within a cell sealed with numerous talismans.

"Gege, it's your turn," Cece pointed to the cell.

Wu Shuangge made a gesture with one hand, and a toilet bucket appeared at his side. He lifted the lid, and wisps of dark smoke seeped into the talismans that shimmered with dim light.

In an instant, the glow on the talismans flashed rapidly and, in one breath, they all exhausted their power and silently fell off.

The hungry ghost cowered in terror, huddling in a corner. Cece stepped into the cell, gently reaching out a hand to pat the creature's head, causing it to gradually calm down, staring dazedly at Cece.

Moments later, Cece sighed, waved a hand, and the hungry ghost disappeared.

They returned to the inn.

"Young Master, there was indeed a hungry ghost there, a little maidservant from the City Lord Mansion, starved to death in that cell. Over a month ago, the City Lord Mansion was slaughtered. Whoever is maintaining order in this city now is definitely an impostor. The experts here were relocated some time ago for unknown reasons."

"During the day, I discovered that out of the four grain stores here, three have closed. The last one that's still open barely has any grain left for sale. I asked, and the price has more than doubled from two months ago and continues to rise daily. That's only because the shop's owner has some conscience; otherwise, he'd also close to hoard grain."

Yu Ziqing frowned slightly, gazing northward.

"Something major must've happened in Dazhen; otherwise, it wouldn't have gone unaddressed for so long. When you write back to Gu Tianxin, mention it."

"Tomorrow, let Wu Shuangge go out and see if those Believers will lead him to their lair."

...

In a dilapidated thatch house in the city, a woman knelt solemnly before a scripture, chanting fervently. Her face was pale, and her lips devoid of any color. Beside her lay a barely breathing man on a straw mat; beside her were a son and daughter, chanting scriptures along with her.

Four two-hour periods passed with them chanting resolutely when the thatch curtain of the house was pulled aside. A Believer clad in plain hemp robes entered, surveyed the scene inside, and retrieved a bowl, the size of a palm, from behind him. It contained half a bowl of thick sweet soup.

The woman carefully approached, respect obvious in her eyes, and took the ceramic bowl with both hands.

As she watched the gradually diminishing sweet soup in the bowl, the woman mustered her courage and asked,

"Sir, we've already chanted for eight hours in total today. I even taught my children. I am utterly pious to the Holy Mother, could we possibly receive more? My children fainted from hunger earlier today, and my husband is also gravely ill..."

"When it's been said that the whole family must serve the Holy Mother together, and chant scriptures, then the whole family must do so together. Although you are the most devout, I cannot make exceptions for you; otherwise, it would break the rules," the Believer patiently explained, gesturing to the half-bowl of sweet soup, speaking softly.

"This is already more than you should be given; we're really showing you favor, but rules are rules, and I dare not change them..."

After the Believer left, the woman held the half-bowl of sweet soup and offered it to her son and daughter, who looked on eagerly.

"You two go over there and eat first. Mother isn't hungry. I'll go check on your father..."

The children, having chanted all day, were so hungry their eyes shone green. They wanted to tell their parents to eat first, but their hands were already moving of their own volition.

Clutching the half-bowl of sweet soup, they crouched in the corner of the thatch house, sipping it bit by bit.

The woman sat at the edge of the straw mat, touching the face of the gravely ill man, tears in her eyes, her expression tinged with madness.

"Dear, you heard it, our family is the most devout. Usually, we can eat porridge thick enough to hold a chopstick upright. These days, it's come to this, I can't bear to see those two starve, they are still so young, and you wouldn't want that either, would you..."

As she spoke, her hands slid from the man's cheeks to his throat, beginning to squeeze with slow force.

Her face was filled with despair, coupled with sorrow, eventually transforming into a pious frenzy.

After a while, she stood, her expression returned to calmness.

"You two aren't full, are you? I'll go ask Sir for some more. We are the most devout family and have chanted for eight hours today; we shouldn't go hungry."

"""