My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

At the end of the dirt road leading to Xiahe Village, two figures appeared in the distance.

Leading the way was none other than Huang Youde, the "Master Huang" whom Li Laoshuan had hired at great expense.

His apricot-yellow Taoist robe was neither new nor old, with some dust from his journey clinging to the cuffs and hem.

The octagonal pattern embroidered on his chest was roughly stitched and the color had faded somewhat, but it still clung to his thin frame.

Combined with his deliberately upright posture and measured steps, it did give off a somewhat "ethereal and otherworldly" performance vibe.

His two carefully trimmed whiskers curled slightly upwards, and his small eyes darted around.

He kept glancing at the approaching village, his eyes a mixture of caution, calculation, and a barely perceptible hint of greed.

Half a step behind him was a boy who looked to be only fourteen or fifteen years old.

He was wearing a drab gray outfit and carrying a rather large blue cloth bundle on his back.

He was also carrying a long, narrow object carefully wrapped in oilcloth, which looked like a magic sword or something similar.

The boy had a round face, and his eyes still retained a childlike innocence.

But his eyes were more lively than those of his peers, and he also had a more cautious and alert look.

He was a lackey that Huang Youde had picked up or bought from some remote, impoverished village.

They are called "Taoist boys" to outsiders, but in reality they also serve as apprentices, servants, and swindlers when they are swindling people.

"Master...Master," the young Taoist boy hurried a few steps, his voice low and slightly panting from the journey.

"Is that Xiahe Village up ahead? It looks... really remote."

Huang Youde grunted through his nose, his steps unwavering, but his gaze swept over the low, dilapidated houses like a hook.

They swept past the crooked old tree at the village entrance, past the few villagers who were drawing water from the river in the early morning, and who stopped to look at them with surprised and suspicious eyes.

His lips twitched almost imperceptibly, a knowing and disdainful glint flashing in his eyes.

Remote, poor, and isolated.

In such places, information is scarce, knowledge is limited, and people are both fearful and blindly aware of supernatural matters.

This is precisely the place where itinerant sorcerers like Huang Youde can most easily display their "talents" and make a fortune.

"A talent with a unique ability is good." Huang Youde also lowered his voice, his tone carrying the teachings of a seasoned veteran and a sense of smug confidence.

"The more remote the area, the fewer people there are who know about this, and the more they believe in it. Look at the way those villagers look at each other, like they've seen a living god."

He straightened his not-so-crooked cloak, his voice lower, carrying both warning and enticement.

"Little monkey, be smart and do as we agreed on the way here. If this ritual is done well, the reward from the host family... your master will not treat you unfairly."

"Haven't you always been saying you wanted to save money to build a house back in your hometown and get married? Work hard, this time your share will be enough for you to save a considerable sum."

The Taoist boy, who was called "Little Monkey," had a bright look in his eyes and nodded quickly, a fawning smile on his face.

"Don't worry, Master! I know! I'll definitely make sure everything goes smoothly for you!"

Huang Youde nodded in satisfaction and said no more. The two of them, one after the other, set off on the dirt road leading into the village.

Huang Youde deliberately took more steady steps, and his hand had somehow become gripping the gleaming copper bell he always carried with him.

Occasionally, a soft "ding-a-ling" sound would ring out, carrying far in the quiet morning and drawing all the more attention.

At the village entrance, under that crooked old tree, a figure was pacing anxiously back and forth, craning his neck to look out onto the road. It was Li Laoshuan.

He barely slept all night, and before dawn he would make an excuse to come out for some fresh air, but in reality he stayed here the whole time, eagerly waiting.

At that moment, I saw that striking yellow and two figures approaching.

He shuddered, and his withered face instantly lit up with wild joy and excitement. He staggered forward to meet them.

"Master Huang! Master Huang, you've finally arrived!" Old Li's voice trembled sharply with excitement as he rushed forward, almost kneeling down.

Huang Youde was prepared and reached out to offer a helping hand at the opportune moment.

His face quickly adopted a solemn expression that conveyed both compassion and a touch of weariness from a long journey.

"Li Shanxin, there's no need for such formalities. Eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path is of utmost urgency. Since I have already agreed, I will set off day and night."

His gaze swept over the few people behind Li Laoshuan who had originally been "guarding" him but had now also gathered around.

The village's young men, their faces filled with curiosity, suspicion, and a hint of amusement, raised their voices to make sure everyone could hear them.

"I've heard that a river demon is causing trouble in your village, forcibly taking women from the people—how outrageous! Such evil is intolerable to Heaven and Earth, and I, this humble Taoist, will today act on behalf of Heaven!"

His words were righteous and forceful, perfectly complementing his attire and deliberately crafted tone.

The young men were taken aback, exchanging glances and unsure how to react.

Chen Laizi rolled his eyes, remembering the village chief's instructions, and didn't step forward to stop them. He just crossed his arms and watched coldly.

Li Laoshuan, however, was so excited that he became incoherent, as if he had heard divine music.

"Thank you so much, Venerable Master! Thank you so much for your great kindness! Please come to my humble abode to rest and have some hot tea! My daughter... my daughter is counting on you!"

As he spoke, he eagerly led Huang Youde and his apprentice into the village, his back straighter than usual, as if he had found a pillar of support.

Huang Youde nodded reservedly and followed Li Laoshuan into the village with measured steps.

Chen Laizi watched their departing figures, winked at one of his companions, and whispered something.

"Go and tell the village chief that the 'expert' Li Laoshuan invited has arrived. He's a Taoist priest in a yellow robe, and he's brought a little follower with him."

The companion responded and turned to run quickly toward the village chief's house.

Chen Laizi strolled leisurely behind Li Laoshuan and his group, keeping a respectful distance, a sneer of anticipation playing on his lips.

He wanted to see what tricks this seemingly slick-haired, yellow-robed Taoist priest could pull off.

The village chief told him to "keep a close eye on things."

The quiet, oppressive atmosphere of the remote village of Xiahe was shattered by the sudden intrusion of the "Yellow-Robed Mage".

More and more villagers heard the commotion and either hid behind their doors or stood by their courtyard walls, peering out curiously.

Doubt, curiosity, a faint glimmer of hope, and even more deeply ingrained fear intertwined on those numb or anxious faces.

The news that the sorcerer Li Laoshuan had invited to "exorcise demons" had arrived spread like wildfire throughout every corner of the village.

......

Chen Maocai, with his two sons, walked slowly toward Li Laoshuan's house.

The expression on his face was no longer the cold, calculating look he had in the main room the night before; instead, it was that of a worried, angry Muramasa.

Chen Dahu and Chen Erbao followed behind him, imitating their father, with stern faces and eyes that showed their dissatisfaction with the "troublemakers".

The news spread quickly, and by the time they reached the relatively open space in the village near the Li family's house, a large number of villagers had already gathered there.

Most people didn't dare to get too close, but just stood at a distance, craning their necks to look, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was sympathy for Li Laoshuan's family, curiosity and anticipation for "Master Huang," and a deep fear of what might happen.

The gate to Li Laoshuan's courtyard was open, and people could be seen moving around inside.

Huang Youde was standing in the courtyard, shaking a copper bell with one hand and making a hand gesture with the other, chanting incantations into the air, seemingly doing some kind of "exploration" foreplay.

The little Taoist boy and monkey were burning incense with great seriousness, and the smoke was curling up.

Li Laoshuan and Zhou Shi seemed to have found their backbone. Although they were still nervous and fearful, they straightened their backs a lot and looked at Master Huang with hope.