"Did the Qingcheng Sect summon you back? Because of what happened with Feng Yu?" Lin Ji thought for a moment and understood the reason.
Sure enough, Ling Yin nodded slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Guo Yi then said, "It's just Ling Yin going back. I will stay in Qingyang County as a demon catcher."
Hearing this, Lin Ji felt relieved.
While Ling Yin was dispensable and couldn't help much usually, Guo Yi was his capable assistant.
"When we meet again after Ling Yin returns, I might have to address her as senior and respectfully salute," Lin Ji said with a light smile as he accepted the resignation letter.
"Lieutenant Lin, I appreciate your care during this time," Ling Yin rarely lowered her head in front of Lin Ji.
"Your senior brother takes care of you more. I'm just doing my duty," Lin Ji shook his head and added, "If you're leaving, it's not going to be in the next few days. Let's solve the case of the fierce ghost first before you go."
"Okay," Ling Yin nodded, her eyes seeming slightly red.
After Ling Yin left, Lin Ji looked helplessly at Guo Yi and said, "Did the little girl cry?"
Guo Yi chuckled lightly, "Junior sister grew up in the mountains since she was young. Although she always opposes you on the surface, she often tells me in private that you're not bad."
"This is her first time experiencing the world outside the mountains, going through many things and gaining a lot of insights. Therefore, she might feel reluctant to leave Qingyang County and its people and affairs," Lin Ji said.
"I just hope she won't forget these experiences in the future," Lin Ji stood up from his chair, watching the direction Ling Yin had left.
"In this world, it's not just about cultivating diligently and fighting demons; there are also the mundane matters of life and the myriad emotions of people," Lin Ji sighed lightly. "The life of a cultivator is one thing, but the lives of ordinary people are also important."
"Whether cultivating on the mountain or walking in the human world, there isn't much difference. There's no distinction between high and low," Lin Ji looked at Guo Yi. "I'm not preaching; I just don't want the little girl to become someone who is ignorant of the sufferings of the world and looks down on others."
"You're right," Guo Yi nodded slightly.
By not returning to the Qingcheng Sect this time, it meant he might never go back in his lifetime.
Compared to Ling Yin, who was only seventeen years old and had reached the third realm of cultivation, Guo Yi was already over forty and had no hope of reaching the fourth realm in his lifetime.
Although such disciples were pillars of the Qingcheng Sect, the sect would allow them to go out and develop because their future was bleak.
"Boss, after we solve the case of the fierce ghost, I will go back to the Qingcheng Sect with Ling Yin to bring my wife to Qingyang County," Guo Yi said.
Lin Ji noticed the change in how Guo Yi addressed him and understood the reason behind it.
He didn't expose it and just said with a smile, "That's good news. Just bringing your wife? I remember you have a son too."
"My son has good talent and has been accepted as a disciple by the elders in the sect," Guo Yi's face brightened when he mentioned this.
"Congratulations," Lin Ji patted Guo Yi's shoulder. "Later, use your messaging token to inform the Monitoring Bureau in Liangcheng that two demon catchers have resigned in Qingyang County, and they need to send replacements."
Although Lin Ji knew that the Monitoring Bureau in Liangcheng was currently overwhelmed and couldn't spare any manpower, the proper procedures still needed to be followed. When they would send replacements was not his concern.
"I'll take care of it now."
Leaving the office, Lin Ji walked alone on the streets of Qingyang County.
Although he didn't show it on the surface, parting ways with his subordinates whom he had been with all day still brought some sentimentality.
"Anyway, there's no feast that doesn't end. It's not like it's a life-and-death separation. If they leave, they leave," Lin Ji shook his head, pushing aside his thoughts.
Late at night.
With no night watchman around, Qingyang County was quiet.
Lin Ji strolled through the city, not feeling the need to be on high alert for just the fierce ghost.
After midnight, the early spring night grew colder, and after wandering around for a while with no results, Lin Ji felt a bit bored.
"Maybe I should just go back home and rest." Once the thought of slacking off arose, it was hard to resist.
But just as he was about to head back home, a shout from Lu Cong suddenly came from a distance.
"Boss, help!"
The voice came from the east side of the county.
Lin Ji's expression changed, and he hurried towards the direction of the sound.
Moments later, he arrived at the scene, but what he saw shocked him.
"Three fierce ghosts?!"
In front of him, Ling Yin and Lu Cong were being besieged by three fierce ghosts, their vitality greatly diminished.
Although the domain of a single fierce ghost was only a few dozen meters, the overlapping domains of the three fierce ghosts made the situation more complicated.
"With enough vitality, I can greatly advance by devouring you!" The fierce ghost's eerie laughter echoed, and the resistance of Lu Cong and Ling Yin became increasingly difficult.
However, Lin Ji didn't rush to intervene.
Although Lu Cong and Ling Yin were at a disadvantage, they wouldn't be defeated in a short time. Since he was there watching, he decided to let them gain more experience.
So Lin Ji found a place to stand with his sword, enjoying the spectacle.
Shortly after, Guo Yi also arrived.
"Let's watch a bit more. We'll help when they can't hold on any longer," Lin Ji stopped Guo Yi.
But the fierce ghosts didn't understand their intentions.
"There are two more living people over there."
"I'll take care of them."
Soon, a fierce ghost rushed towards Lin Ji.
The ghostly aura was strong, giving a sense of impending doom.
Lin Ji raised his hand, and with a sword strike, he dispelled most of the ghostly aura.
The fierce ghost let out a painful howl in mid-air, and its domain shattered without Lin Ji attacking.
Then, Lin Ji looked at Guo Yi.
"There's no more fun to watch. You take care of this fierce ghost, and I'll deal with the other two."
These fierce ghosts were at most at the second realm of strength, with most of them still lingering in the first realm. Therefore, facing Lin Ji, they had little resistance. With a few strikes, Lin Ji severely injured the other two fierce ghosts.
At the same time, Guo Yi used a Soul-Sealing Talisman to capture one fierce ghost and brought it to Lin Ji.
Lin Ji glanced at the fierce ghost Guo Yi had captured, thought for a moment, and then used his sword to kill the other two.
The captured fierce ghost showed signs of fear, its soul trembling unstably.
"Answer my questions truthfully, or I'll scatter your soul. Do you understand?" Lin Ji said.
"I understand."
"Did you kill the old man, Lao Qiao, last night?"
"We did kill an old man last night, but it wasn't me, it was them," the fierce ghost tried to point to its companions, only to find them already dispersed.
So it became even more frightened.
Lin Ji continued, "Where did you come from? How dare you harm people in the county?"
"We escaped from Liangcheng," the fierce ghost replied.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji and Guo Yi's expressions turned grave.
"Liangcheng? Are you under the command of the Ghost King of Liangcheng?"
"Yes."
"Didn't the Ghost King restrain his subordinates and seal the city to all spirits? How did you end up in Qingyang County?"
"The Ghost King restricted us from absorbing vitality. Although Liangcheng was under attack and breached, he only surrounded but didn't attack," the fierce ghost cautiously explained. "That's why many fierce ghosts escaped."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji took a deep breath.
He killed the fierce ghost with a sword, but his expression didn't show any relief.
"The Ghost King can't even control his subordinates now," Guo Yi exclaimed in shock.
Lin Ji nodded.
"Trouble is coming."
(End of this chapter)