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

The flames were pure and violent in color, making it almost impossible to see Zhao Si's original shape.

All that could be seen was a human figure writhing and twitching wildly and unnaturally in the flames, its limbs contorted at bizarre angles that no human joint could possibly achieve.

Instead of the sizzling sound of burning flesh, there was a strange hissing sound, like cold water dripping into boiling oil, or like countless tiny bubbles bursting.

An indescribable stench spread out, and it was not merely the smell of burnt flesh and blood.

It also carried a strong, musty, and cold smell, as well as... the pungent smell of cheap paint and rotten paper being burned!

Then, something even more horrifying happened!

A thick, inky black shadow was suddenly "forced" out from Zhao Si's burning body!

The shadowy figure vaguely resembled a distorted human shape, constantly struggling and howling, trying to break free from the flames' hold.

The golden-white flames, like a persistent carbuncle, relentlessly entangled and burned the dark figure!

"Crackling... hissing..."

The shadowy figure rapidly melted and shrank in the golden-white flames, emitting more chilling black energy, before being purified.

As the shadow dissipated, the body of "Zhao Si," which had been twisting in the flames, also underwent a terrifying change.

It was as if it had lost its internal support, and it quickly withered and collapsed!

In a few breaths, the flames suddenly subsided, receding back into the campfire and turning orange-red again.

On the ground, only a charred, curled-up object remained, but it wasn't a severely carbonized human body; rather...

An empty, charred, and damaged human-shaped body lay there limply.

The edges are curled up, and the outline of the body that was originally dressed as a bodyguard can still be vaguely seen, but the inside is empty.

It was as if it had been perfectly hollowed out, leaving only a thin layer of "skin" that had been burned beyond recognition.

On the face of the man, the once honest and familiar features of "Zhao Si" had long since vanished, leaving only a charred, empty hole, grotesque and terrifying.

Almost at the same instant that this physical form appeared—

"Buzz..."

All the bodyguards, including the black-faced head bodyguard, felt as if an invisible needle had gently pricked their brains.

Immediately afterwards, a cool sensation dispelled a thin mist that had been shrouding the depths of my memory.

Those clear and familiar memories of "Zhao Si" from before.

His honest smile, his taciturn demeanor, and the scenes of drinking and boasting together.

Suddenly it became blurry and distorted, then receded like the tide, revealing the cold and unfamiliar truth beneath.

They stared in astonishment at the gruesome body on the ground, then looked at each other's horrified faces.

"Where is Zhao Si...?" a bodyguard murmured, his voice filled with confusion.

"I...I remember him, but...but I can't remember his face? Does he...do he really look like that?"

"No!" Another bodyguard suddenly clutched his head, his face turning deathly pale.

"Does our team... have this person in them? 'Zhao Si'... that name sounds familiar, but... who is he? I... I think I've been tricked by something!"

The dark-faced镖头 stared intently at the body, veins throbbing on his forehead, a chill running through him.

He was filled with boundless lingering fear. If Master Ye hadn't pointed it out and dispelled it with his immortal magic...

They probably won't realize until their deaths that a demon in human skin has been lurking beside them all along!

A deathly silence once again enveloped the dilapidated temple, but this time, the silence was filled with a sense of horror and disorientation after one's understanding had been overturned.

All the bodyguards were plunged into great chaos and fear.

They looked at the empty body on the ground, then at each other, and began to doubt the authenticity of their memories like never before.

The terror of "the person you know best may never have existed" is more chilling than facing a hideous ghost.

Ye Qingfeng was also completely stunned, standing there as if petrified.

Painted Skin? The infamous Painted Skin Ghost from "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio"?

And just like that... he was burned out by his own made-up "fire test"?

But he quickly came to his senses and, looking at the unwavering trust in everyone's eyes, an idea popped into his head.

Could this be the cheat code that gave me when I transmigrated?

Ye Qingfeng appeared calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

The strangeness and danger of this world exceeded his cognitive limits.

But what unsettled him even more was this strange phenomenon of "words becoming law".

A cheat code? What exactly is my cheat code?

He tried countless ways to invoke it, silently chanting in his mind "system," "panel," "deep blue," "attributes," "sign-in," "task"...

They even tried "the Great Way," "the Way of Heaven," and "the Lord's favor"... but all their efforts were in vain, receiving no response whatsoever.

It's not a data-driven system, nor is it simply adding points.

He forced himself to calm down and carefully reviewed the situation.

He said fire could detect evil, and... the bodyguards believed him without a doubt, and the painted-skin ghost was burned to death.

The key point seems to be that he stated a certain "rule," and enough people believed in that rule.

And then this rule... came true?

To verify this crazy conjecture, he secretly tried to sense the campfire.

With his eyes closed and his mind focused, he clearly "felt" the connection between himself and the leaping flames.

There seems to be an inexplicable connection, if another "evil spirit" were to approach now.

He can also rekindle that golden-white purifying flame.

The feeling was mysterious and elusive, yet it made his heart race.

If the conjecture is true... then the core of this cheat code is probably "the construction or interference of rules based on cognition"?

Is it a kind of idealistic power similar to "many voices can melt metal" or "three men can make a tiger"?

"thump!"

The dark-faced head镖师 suddenly turned to Ye Qingfeng, kneeling down more forcefully than ever before.

His forehead slammed heavily against the cold ground, his voice distorted by extreme shock, lingering fear, and gratitude.

"Immortal, you have shown great kindness! Your abilities are beyond measure! This fiend... this fiend has actually managed to alter our memories and confuse the public."

If it weren't for the immortal master's ability to "see the truth within the flames," discerning the smallest detail and using supreme immortal techniques to annihilate this fiend...

We...we fear that it will devour us completely, steal our identities, and leave us still in a dream, dying without knowing why!

The other bodyguards also realized what was happening and knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly.

The look in their eyes when they looked at Ye Qingfeng was no longer one of awe, but rather one of almost fanatical faith and dependence.

Being able to see through disguises and restore altered memories—this is more than just "having some skill"; this is clearly a true immortal walking among mortals!

"The Immortal Master's life-saving grace is like being given a second life!"

"Thank you, Immortal Master, for dispelling evil and revealing righteousness, restoring my true knowledge!"

Inside the dilapidated temple, cries of gratitude echoed, a mixture of the excitement of surviving a catastrophe and the lingering fear that ran deep in their bones.

Seven or eight valiant martial arts heroes were kneeling on the cold ground.

He kowtowed repeatedly in the direction of the young Taoist priest in the green robe, his posture humble and devout to the extreme.

The flickering light of the campfire cast Ye Qingfeng's shadow on the wall, making it appear longer and shorter, adding to his unpredictable aura.

He stood there, bearing this sudden, almost fanatical faith, but his heart was far from as calm as it appeared.

The empty, charred remains of the Painted Skin Ghost after it was burned, the lingering cold, burnt stench in the air.

And the bewilderment and fear of the bodyguards as their memories were forcibly distorted and then suddenly returned...

They are all silently telling the truth that this world is not so simple.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions surging within him.

He shifted his gaze from the unsettling remains of the painted mask on the ground to the kneeling crowd.

The lines on his face that had been slightly stiff with shock were deliberately softened and relaxed.

Ultimately, it transformed into a bottomless calm, as if the thrilling scene just now was truly a trivial matter to him, like flicking a finger.

"May the Heavenly Venerable grant boundless blessings."

He spoke, his voice not loud, yet it clearly drowned out all the noise, carrying a strange sense of soothingness and authority.

He made a gesture of support.

"Esteemed benefactors, please rise. Slaying demons and monsters, and helping people in need, are simply our duties. There is no need for such a grand ceremony."

His tone was calm and soothing, without any arrogance or deliberate humility, only a natural and indifferent attitude.

This demeanor inspired even greater respect from the other bodyguards—truly the bearing of a celestial being, unperturbed by honor or disgrace!

The black-faced head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) was the first to raise his head, but he did not stand up. Instead, he remained in a half-kneeling position and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Great Immortal, we mortals only now realize that there is truly a righteous path and immortal magic in the world!"

If it weren't for the immortal, we would likely have died without a burial place, and our families and friends would have been harmed and replaced by this demon! This kindness and virtue are truly extraordinary!

His voice choked with emotion, clearly revealing his genuine feelings and extreme fear.

Ye Qingfeng shook his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the still-shaken faces of the crowd, and said slowly.

"The world is in harmony with yin and yang, yet there are always filthy things that, by chance, disturb the human world."

This demon, skilled in altering memories and seizing identities, is the most insidious and treacherous.

You are all wandering the world, full of vigor and vitality, but when your minds are cluttered, you are easily taken advantage of.

If you notice anything unusual about the people around you in the future, such as contradictory words or actions, or sudden, jarring memories, you might want to take a closer look.