The shopkeeper was slightly surprised to see Qin An interested.

He had been setting up his stall near the Evil Extermination Bureau for years and was quite familiar with its various ranks.

Mr. Qin wore a silver badge at his waist, his status was quite illustrious.

Not to mention anything else, this silver badge alone would ensure that many families in the city wouldn't even dare utter a word.

With such a towering status, why would he be unaware of Ye Lengshuang's situation?

Although surprised, since Mr. Qin had asked, the shopkeeper responded without hesitation.

"Mr. Ye was originally the only daughter of the Ye Family, and the Ye Family was a major family in Lingzhou, but unfortunately, they encountered disaster."

"It is said that Mr. Ye captured a chicken demon in his early years, and the eggs born from this chicken demon greatly nourished cultivators, so they kept the chicken demon captive."

"Feeding it large amounts of flesh daily, Mr. Ye's strength grew immensely, but one day the chicken demon broke free, killing over a hundred members of the Ye Family, including Mr. Ye himself."

"Several officers from the Evil Extermination Bureau died before finally exterminating the chicken demon."

Speaking of this, the shopkeeper's expression held a trace of reminiscence.

The incident was so significant, many people knew about it, so what he was saying was no secret.

Upon hearing this, Qin An, connecting the cause and effect, understood the entire story.

No wonder those two prefectures of Silver Province behaved that way; there was a reason behind it.

Ye Lengshuang had transferred from the Internal Affairs Department to the Foreign Affairs Department and even fought her way to become a Silver Province prefecture officer, all because of redemption.

But no matter what, the events of that year were too bloody, there would always be people who couldn't forget.

Qin An placed silver coins on the table and turned to head to the Evil Extermination Bureau.

The time was almost up; he needed to gather all of Li Zheng's former subordinates.

As for Ye Lengshuang's story, it was just a tale.

What else could be done?

Seek justice for her, or something like that?

The two were only connected through tasks, not familiar with each other.

They're not protagonists from a storybook, and Qin An had no intention of dealing with such trivial matters.

Besides, Ye Lengshuang... she had her own path to walk, why interfere?

Before long, Qin An's figure disappeared from the street.

The street remained bustling, with its own flavor amidst the tea, rice, oil, and salt.

...

Ye Lengshuang, carrying a bamboo basket, walked out of the Evil Extermination Bureau and headed to a deserted hillside.

The hillside was not high, and the grass was sparse.

Occasionally, birds flew by, but none stayed.

There were no paths in the mountain, but that wasn't a problem for Ye Lengshuang.

As she entered the mountain path, Ye Lengshuang maintained an icy demeanor, like a perennial glacier that wouldn't thaw.

It wasn't until she reached the middle of the mountain that Ye Lengshuang's expression finally changed.

Not far ahead, the mountain wind whined past grave mounds overgrown with wild grass.

The bluish-gray tombstones were crookedly embedded in the soil, like lines of forgotten memories.

The breeze stirred up a few crows, whose black feathers skimmed over the ruined grave heads.

Ye Lengshuang's eyes took in everything before her, as she moved indifferently to the easternmost grave mound and slowly set down the bamboo basket.

The easternmost grave mound carried the moist smell of earthy decay.

She crouched down, her fingertips touched the rainwater still clinging to the monument, and as she looked up again, tears streamed down her face.

"Big brother, little sister has come to see you."

Ye Lengshuang lit the yellow paper and inserted incense candles: "Little sister is doing well now, big brother need not worry."

"What father did back then caused the entire Ye Family to turn to ashes, only little sister survived because she was with the Evil Extermination Bureau."

"But little sister's heart is bitter, if only it were big brother with the Evil Extermination Bureau, it would've been better for little sister to perish."

"Little sister has now risen to Silver Province prefecture officer, experiencing much bloodshed, atoning for the Ye Family, and for father's sins."

"But little sister's heart is anguished..."

At this moment, Ye Lengshuang shed the cold facade, exuding a gentle aura, and began to recount.

After speaking for a while, Ye Lengshuang wiped away the tears from her eyes and then went to other lonely graves one by one to offer incense and burn paper.

These were all innocent lives lost during the chicken demon's havoc.

Only the Ye patriarch was the sinner of the past.

But as a lone woman, Ye Lengshuang bore the infamy, hoping to redeem the Ye Family.

No matter how tough she acted outside, inside she was still a woman.

Whenever she couldn't bear it, she would come to this graveyard to unburden her heart.

After expressing her grief, she felt much better and was able to face the life ahead.

She spoke for a long time, until the tears dried at the corners of her eyes.

She stood up, grasped the long sword at her waist, and prepared to return.

After returning, she planned to take on more tasks, kill more demons and pseudo-gods, restoring Lingzhou to its pristine glory.

At this time, a chilling wind rose, carrying with it an icy evil qi.

Ye Lengshuang, having walked many paths of life and death, became instantly alert, drew her sword, and scanned the edge of the graveyard: "Who!"

A white fox tail flashed by.

The fox girl garbed in gauzy silk came slowly, with a hint of mockery in her voice: "Humans treat you unjustly, why do you fight for them?"

"Demon!"

Ye Lengshuang did not speak, but lifted her sword, thrusting it towards the fox girl.

The sword moved like the wind, swift as lightning.

The fox girl slighty turned, evading Ye Lengshuang's sword, her hands climbed up Ye Lengshuang's neck, gently blowing: "You're not my match, why not have a good talk?"

Ye Lengshuang felt her body weaken, and gravely asked: "Jade Bone Realm Great Success, under which of the Fox Mother's subordinates are you?"

The fox girl giggled, extended her hand to brush Ye Lengshuang's cheek: "My name is Fox Qiao, you have such a lovely face, it would be a pity to ruin it."

Ye Lengshuang, unable to move, clenched her teeth: "Whatever you want to do, just do it."

She hadn't expected Fox Qiao to risk danger by coming to a mountain near Lingzhou.

If even a shred of information was leaked, it would result in a fate of bones left nowhere.

Fox Qiao chuckled: "I need a favor, I want to kill Qin An; as for how it ends, it depends on your agreement."

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