The starting point is auspicious; the fiancée will not call off the engagement.

The next morning, Fang Zhou was awakened by a deep chime.

The bell tolled from the direction of the city square, striking three times in a row, each strike heavy and urgent.

Moonshadow Cat sprang up from its little nest, arching its back and puffing out into a ball of silvery-white fur, panting towards the window.

Fang Zhou sat up and reached out to scoop the cat into his arms to comfort it.

Moonshadow Cat nestled in his arms, its claws gripping his sleeve through his clothes.

Fang Zhou put on his outer robe and opened the window.

As the morning light began to spill over the city walls, hurried footsteps could already be heard on the streets.

Fang Zhou carried the cat and walked out of the courtyard gate.

Several young cultivators dressed in the robes of the Wansheng Sect were maintaining order at the street corner, explaining something in hushed tones to the residents gathered by the roadside.

A disciple saw Fang Zhou come out and quickly walked to the courtyard gate: "Fellow Daoist, someone was killed by a demonic beast near Cheng'an City yesterday. Today, the sect has sent disciples to clear out the demonic beasts in the surrounding area, and the city is temporarily under martial law. Fellow Daoist, please do not move around unless necessary."

Fang Zhou nodded and retreated into the courtyard.

He closed the door, stood in the yard, holding the still trembling Moonshadow Cat in his arms, and suddenly felt a little unreal.

Yesterday, Su Yan sent the deer to the orphanage, and the very next day, the bells of the Wansheng Sect rang throughout the entire city.

They immediately sounded the alarm, declared martial law, and mobilized their followers to launch a full-scale purge.

Fang Zhou returned to his room, put Moonshadow Cat back in its cat bed, and squatted down beside it, casually stroking its fur.

With a sect like this around, it seems he can just find a place to lay low and do nothing.

Fang Zhou sighed helplessly. "Is there some super-powerful, invincible villain I can fight?"

The moon cat gradually calmed down and curled up in its den.

Fang Zhou stood up, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind.

Sigh, if martial law is declared in the city, what will he eat for breakfast this morning?

He stood there, carefully weighing the options of going out to find food versus staying home and going hungry. Just as he was about to risk being questioned by law enforcement, there was a knock on the gate.

Fang Zhou was about to open the door, but before he could even reach it, the door was pushed open.

Ye Ninghan walked in, carrying an oil paper package in her right hand.

Today she was wearing a blue and white Saint Cold Peak disciple's robe, with snow peak patterns embroidered on the hem. Her long hair was neatly tied up, and Fang Zhou stared at her, somewhat stunned.

"I brought you breakfast." Ye Ninghan placed the oil paper package on the table.

Fang Zhou stood by the table, looking at the oil paper package. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out to open it.

Inside the oil paper package were several steaming hot buns. He picked one up and took a bite. The bun skin was just the right amount of soft, and the broth inside was incredibly delicious.

"Thank you," he mumbled.

Ye Ninghan sat down opposite him, her gaze fixed on the table, without looking at him.

Fang Zhou slowed down his chewing and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

Ye Ninghan pursed her lips slightly, as if she was thinking about something difficult to say.

As Fang Zhou stuffed the second bun into his mouth, Ye Ninghan suddenly raised her eyes and met his gaze.

"Yesterday, a disciple of the Wansheng Sect reported that a demonic beast had killed someone," Ye Ninghan began, her voice lower than usual. "Today, the sect has dispatched disciples to clear out the demonic beasts in the surrounding area. The city's affairs hall will also issue related missions."

"If you want to go, I'll take you. It'll be safer, and you won't need to go to the office to get the mission."

Fang Zhou still had half a steamed bun stuffed in his mouth, his cheeks bulging.

He looked at Ye Ninghan, and Ye Ninghan looked at him too. Her eyes were serious, but there was a sense of caution in them.

Fang Zhou suddenly felt a pang of panic, quickly swallowed the steamed bun, and looked away. "Why such a strong reaction this time?" He quickly changed the subject, "Normally, shouldn't we only look for the demon beast that killed the person?"

"The sect believes that there are too many demonic beasts, and daily tasks can no longer suppress their reproduction and growth. Therefore, we have decided to carry out a large-scale extermination," Ye Ninghan replied, her voice returning to its usual coldness.

"Then why is martial law in the city? Isn't the extermination of the monsters happening outside the city?"

"Martial law is in place to prevent cults from infiltrating the city's independent cultivators and causing trouble," Ye Ninghan said, her tone suddenly becoming somewhat detached. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Go ahead. I'm just idling at home anyway."

Fang Zhou immediately agreed, treating it as a picnic, mainly to keep an eye on Ye Ninghan and prevent any accidents from happening to her.

Ye Ninghan nodded, stood up, and walked outside.

Fang Zhou tightened his outer robe, and Moon Shadow Cat jumped onto the table. He patted its head to stop it from running around, and then followed Ye Ninghan.

The two left the hospital gate one after the other.

The disciples patrolling the street saw Ye Ninghan and bowed to make way for her.

Ye Ninghan nodded in response to each one, and Fang Zhou followed half a step behind her, watching her neatly tied long hair sway gently in the morning light.

A number of Wansheng Sect disciples had already gathered outside the north gate of the city, standing in groups of three or five on the open ground beside the official road.

As Ye Ninghan walked over, several disciples came to greet her. The leading male disciple was tall and carried a broadsword on his back, with crimson fire patterns embroidered on his sleeves.

"Senior Sister Ye, you've arrived." He glanced at Fang Zhou. "And this is?"

"Fang Zhou, you're on our team."

The male disciple glanced at Fang Zhou again, his gaze lingering on him for a moment before he nodded without asking any further questions.

"The scope of this cleanup is within a hundred miles of Cheng'an City. Our team is responsible for the west. Our main targets are second and third-tier demonic beasts. Fourth-tier and above will be handled by senior brothers and sisters in the Dao Infant Realm. We will be divided into four groups of three people each, supporting each other."

Ye Ninghan nodded and turned to Fang Zhou: "Stay close to me."

Fang Zhou followed her into the woods beside the official road.

Morning light filtered through the tree canopy, casting a layer of shimmering gold on the ground, and the air was filled with the scent of earth and dew.

The male disciple followed behind them, his eyes scanning back and forth between them, a smirk playing on his lips, remaining silent.

After the group had walked thirty miles, a dark figure suddenly darted out of the bushes ahead.

A wolf the size of a calf leaped out of the bushes, its fur as black as ink, its eyes bloodshot, and drool dripping from its mouth, charging straight at Fang Zhou.

Fang Zhou had noticed the third-tier demon wolf long ago. He smiled crookedly and waved his hand casually, sending a beam of red light straight towards the demon wolf.

The wolf's body was instantly crushed, and a sword light flashed, splitting the already flattened wolf in two.

Fang Zhou turned to look at Ye Ninghan, who was holding a sharp sword. She had already swung the sword the moment the demon wolf appeared, but she was a step slower than Fang Zhou.

Ye Ninghan kept an eye on Fang Zhou. Even if Fang Zhou did nothing, the demon wolf could not get within three feet of him.

Ye Ninghan looked at Fang Zhou, somewhat surprised by his combat strength.

"Your combat strength is strong, but your cultivation level is not high. You should conserve your spiritual energy and move closer to me."

Ye Ninghan slowly sheathed her sword, silently approached Fang Zhou a little, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible guilt.

Although Fang Zhou wasn't quite done enjoying himself, he nodded obediently upon hearing Ye Ninghan's words and quietly approached her.

The male disciple looked at the two of them and suddenly wanted to go home.