Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Looking at Lin Xiaoman's struggling appearance, Wei Qingyi couldn't help but recall the hot water Lin Xiaoman had given her when they were roommates, the food she had left for her late at night, and her timid yet sincere concern. Her heart ached. How could Lin Xiaoman be an evil cultivator?

Chen Anran was also torn between his conscience and his conscience. Logically, Lin Xiaoman practiced evil arts and carried resentment, and was being hunted by a righteous sect like the Vajra Temple. As a disciple of the Cloud Hidden Sect, he had no right to stop her, and should even assist her. Emotionally, this girl had helped his second senior sister before, and judging from her words and actions, she didn't seem like a truly evil person, but rather a pitiful person struggling to survive in dire straits.

"Miss Lin," Chen Anran took a deep breath, stepped forward, and stood in front of Wei Qingyi, "I believe you may have your reasons. But practicing evil arts and controlling spirits is ultimately not a long-term solution, and it is very easy to backfire. What Senior Brother Huiming said is not without reason. The Buddha's teachings are compassionate and may truly help you get out of your predicament."

The glimmer of hope that had just ignited in Lin Xiaoman's eyes instantly dimmed. "Even you..."

"However," Chen Anran changed the subject, looking at Huiming with a sincere tone, "Senior Brother Huiming, could you please show leniency? Miss Lin... she truly never intentionally harmed my senior sister; on the contrary, she took good care of her. She is still young and has gone astray. Could you give her a chance? We are willing to vouch for her in the name of the Yunyin Sect and supervise her to reform herself."

Monk Huiming frowned slightly. "Benefactor Chen, I know you are compassionate. However, this woman is burdened with malevolent and resentful energy, making her extraordinary. Letting her roam freely may cause future trouble and harm herself. Our Vajra Temple has its own Buddhist methods of salvation, not indiscriminate killing. I urge you to understand this and not let personal feelings interfere with the important matter, or jeopardize her potential path to redemption."

His words were sincere, carrying the resolve of a Buddhist disciple. Although the four martial monks remained silent, their encirclement did not weaken in the slightest, and their blood and energy surged, clearly indicating that they would not easily let him go.

Lin Xiaoman curled up on the ground, and when she heard Chen Anran plead for her, a faint glimmer of hope rekindled in her eyes. "I don't believe them! These prestigious sects, all talk and no action!"

Seeing the stalemate before her, and then at the struggling Lin Xiaoman, Wei Qingyi gritted her teeth and stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Chen Anran. She said to Huiming, "Senior Brother Huiming, I, Wei Qingyi, am willing to guarantee with my own cultivation and the reputation of the Yunyin Sect! Please give us some time. We will keep an eye on Xiaoman and try to dispel the malevolent energy within her. If she commits further evil deeds or loses control, the Yunyin Sect will personally send her to the Vajra Temple to be dealt with according to their judgment!"

Huiming looked at Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi, whose attitudes were resolute, and remained silent in thought. Although the Yunyin Sect was not well-known, it had an ancient tradition, and Master Shi Haisheng seemed to value it highly. If he forcibly took them away, it would inevitably lead to conflict with these two, which was not what he wanted.

After a long pause, Huiming sighed softly and clasped his hands together: "Amitabha. Since Benefactor Chen and Benefactor Wei are willing to vouch for you, I will trust you this once. However..." He paused slightly, then looked at Lin Xiaoman, "This benefactor, I hope you cherish this opportunity and act accordingly. Do not let down Junior Brother Chen and Senior Sister Wei's kindness in protecting you, and do not make any more mistakes. Our Vajra Temple will pay attention to this matter. If you do not change your ways, the situation will not be the same as it is today."

Having said that, he nodded slightly to the four monks. The four monks immediately withdrew their imposing aura and silently retreated behind Huiming.

"Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother Huiming." Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi both breathed a sigh of relief and bowed in gratitude.

Huiming shook his head, gave Lin Xiaoman a deep look, and then said to Chen Anran and the other man, "Now that this matter is settled, I must return to the temple to report to my master. Take care, both of you."

"Take care, senior brother."

The oppressive atmosphere finally dissipated after watching Huiming and the martial monks disappear into the alleyway.

Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi quickly turned to look at Lin Xiaoman. Although the black aura around her was still swirling, it was no longer churning violently as before. She was slumped on the ground, panting heavily, her face still showing shock, and her eyes were filled with complex emotions as she looked at Wei Qingyi and Chen Anran.

"Sister Wei...Master Chen...thank you..."

Wei Qingyi squatted down, her eyes full of confusion: "Xiaoman, what exactly happened? How could you...?"

Lin Xiaoman lowered her head, tears silently streaming down her face, mingling with the grime on her cheeks. "I...I had no choice...My family has some unorthodox ghost-raising techniques, originally just for self-defense. But later...later I was bullied so badly that in a fit of anger, I...I used some more radical methods...thinking that with power, no one would dare bully me anymore..."

She recounted, haltingly, how she went from a timid, bullied girl to someone driven by hatred and fear to embark on this evil path. She emphasized that she had only targeted those who had hurt her and had never intentionally harmed the innocent, but practicing this method inevitably led to her mind being eroded by malevolent energy and resentment, causing her to frequently feel pain and loss of control.

Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi listened with heavy hearts.

In the Dharma-ending Age, at the beginning of the spiritual revival, the order was not yet established, and the suffering of those struggling at the bottom of the cultivation world was truly indescribable.

"Alright, stop talking now." Chen Anran interrupted her. "Your injuries are quite serious, and the backlash from the Yin energy needs to be treated as soon as possible. We shouldn't stay here any longer; come back with us."

Lin Xiaoman looked at her dilapidated rented room with some hesitation.

Wei Qingyi understood her thoughts and said gently, "You can come and get the things later. Healing your injuries is the priority."

Seeing Wei Qingyi's sincere concern, Lin Xiaoman finally nodded and, with Wei Qingyi's help, stood up with difficulty.

Looking at the weak and exhausted Lin Xiaoman, and recalling her previous "heroic deeds," Chen Anran couldn't help but sigh and tease, "Miss Lin, you really do manage to do 'business' wherever you go! Raising zombies in Lin City to prolong people's lives, and raising ghosts for self-defense in Guang City?"

Lin Xiaoman's pale face flushed instantly, and she lowered her head in shame. "I know I was wrong... I won't do it again..."

Wei Qingyi looked puzzled. "Xiao Man, you actually went to Lin City to raise zombies?"

Just as Lin Xiaoman was about to answer, Chen Anran said quietly, "Yes, her roommate has a broken home, a stay-at-home sister, an alcoholic younger sister, and a boyfriend who needs to be supported. So she has to work three jobs and rely on Yin Sha magic to prolong her life."

Upon hearing this, Wei Qingyi reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling with anger. She angrily demanded of Lin Xiaoman, "What nonsense have you and my junior brother been spouting?! And why would I need to rely on Yin Sha techniques to prolong my life?!"

Lin Xiaoman blinked. "I didn't do this because I thought Sister Wei was working too hard. And that 'broken home,' wasn't it you, Sister Wei, who told me about it..."

She had only spoken half of what she was saying when Wei Qingyi covered her mouth tightly.

"No! I didn't say that! Xiaoman, if you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll beat you up!"