The next day, Li Fan was woken up by the noise.
When he opened the door, he saw a large crowd gathered by the lake, engaged in heated discussion.
"Brother Xiao Fan." A voice came from beside him, and Li Fan saw Yang Kui and his daughter Qi, who seemed a bit frightened, call out to him, "Brother Xiao Fan."
Li Fan smiled and nodded at the girl, asking, "What happened?"
"Last night, two people were found dead in the lake, likely drowned after drunkenly falling in," Yang Kui said.
"It's not that simple. Several women also went missing last night, probably the work of a demon," Lin He approached and said to Li Fan and Yang Kui, "Brother Xiao Fan, Brother Yang, both of you should be careful."
"Thank you for the warning, Brother Lin." Yang Kui nodded solemnly and whispered, "The Daoist was right last night; where is he now?"
"Strangely enough," Lin He said, "I looked for the Daoist and found he had disappeared."
Li Fan appeared puzzled as that old Daoist was indeed odd.
He stepped forward, heading toward the lakeside, and amidst the crowd, he saw two waterlogged bodies by the shore.
At that moment, a group appeared from afar, causing the crowd to part swiftly.
Leading the group was Chen Li, accompanied by a middle-aged man in black, with a large saber at his side, his sharp face radiating a strong and oppressive aura, followed by a contingent of imposing constables.
"It's Chief Chen," someone said, and immediately the martial artists around cupped their fists, "Greetings, Chief Chen."
The person was Chief Chen Zongzhi of Lin'an County, a Mid Grade Grandmaster, with a powerful physique and vigorous vitality, known for his ferocious sword skills and having slain many demons.
Chen Zongzhi squatted to inspect the bodies, then asked, "Are there any more clues?"
"So far, we've identified three missing young women, all under eighteen," Chen Li responded.
"Last night, many young women also went missing across Lin'an County, the demon seems to be targeting them," Chen Zongzhi stated, "Search the Chen Residence to check for any demonic creatures hiding within."
Chen Li nodded, addressing the crowd, "Everyone, apologies in advance, but we need to inspect your residences briefly."
The crowd naturally had no objections.
The Chen family led the constables in action, with Chen Li and Chen Zongzhi remaining at the scene as murmurs spread among the onlookers.
"Have you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors?"
"The demons abducting the young women might be orchestrated by that manor on the west side of town."
"Fulong Manor?" someone exclaimed.
"Shh... quiet down."
"What is Fulong Manor?" Li Fan asked Lin He, who was walking over.
"The owner of Fulong Manor is a demon, actually a Jiao Long with a lustful nature, and there are said to be a hundred young beauties for its pleasure at the manor, rumored to be backed by Li Mountain," Lin He frowned, "Could this chaos truly be connected to Li Mountain?"
"Li Mountain again?" Li Fan looked puzzled, his senior sister never mentioned anything about Fulong Manor.
Inside the Chen Residence, chaos reigned, but the search revealed no clues whatsoever.
The crowd by the lakeside grew larger, abuzz with discussion, many calling for slaying the demon.
Li Fan quietly sat at a stone table, glancing over at the bodies, noticing Huang Yan standing behind Chen Li.
"No clues found," the constable reported upon returning to Chen Zongzhi.
After a discussion between Chen Zongzhi and Chen Li, Chen Li addressed the crowd, "You've all heard the news; it seems this demon targets young women. For everyone's safety, the Chen Residence will take the young women into the inner courtyard where the Qi Cultivators will guard them. The Chen Residence will also enhance patrols and hopes you will cooperate in night watches to prevent further incidents."
Everyone nodded in agreement, with many relieved to leave their female relatives where they would be safer.
Soon after, Yang Kui arrived with Qi, asking Chen Li, "Mr. Chen, may I stay with my young daughter?"
Chen Li gave him a cold glance, and the Qi Cultivators behind him looked somewhat disdainful.
"Overestimating himself," Huang Yan thought privately.
Witnessing this, Yang Kui nervously said, "Mr. Chen, I can stand watch outside."
"Do you not trust the Chen family?" Chen Li retorted, leaving Yang Kui stammering, "Mr. Chen, I assure you that is not my intent..."
"You, the second young master is protecting your daughter, and yet you have conditions?" someone chimed in.
"Brother Yang," Lin He interjected, "My daughter Lin Min is a bit older; she can help care for Qi."
Yang Kui glanced at Lin He's daughter, who appeared composed at seventeen or eighteen, hesitating somewhat.
Qi also glanced back at Lin Min before reaching up to touch Yang Kui's beard, whispering, "Father, Qi will be good."
Yang Kui nodded at his obedient daughter.
"Brother Yang, Qi is too young; she shouldn't go to the inner courtyard, you can take care of her yourself," Li Fan, who had been sitting there, called over.
Although Yang Kui had been about to compromise, hearing Li Fan's words made him pause, choosing to heed Li Fan's advice, "I'll listen to Brother Xiao Fan."
He then said to Chen Li, "Second young master, I'll look after my own daughter."
"It seems you don't trust the Chen Residence," Chen Li said icily.
"Second young master..." Yang Kui struggled for words, not wishing to offend Chen Li, as he had come seeking a refuge for Qi at the Chen family.
"Mr. Chen, I noticed the bodies resemble ghost work," Li Fan continued.
"Ghost work?" The surrounding people turned to Li Fan, seeing he was especially young and remarkably handsome, dressed in white as pure as snow, sitting casually as if he were the center of attention.
Seeing Li Fan speaking from a seated position, Chen Li raised an eyebrow and asked, "And you are?"
"Li Fan, here to slay demons," Li Fan responded, and after Huang Yan whispered something to him, Chen Li knew something and looked playfully at Li Fan, asking, "And what's so odd about ghost work?"
"If this ghost can infiltrate the Chen Residence silently, there might be internal collusion," Li Fan stated, "You've just searched where we reside, but did you and the constables check the Chen Residence inner courtyard for any heavily yin areas?"
"How insolent."
"Reckless!" Before Chen Li could respond, a Qi Cultivator behind him scolded.
Chen Li squinted at Li Fan and replied coldly, "Aside from the Chen family, many Qi Cultivators are present in the inner courtyard to slay demons; how could something infiltrate unnoticed?"
"If the demon infiltrated the Chen family yesterday, did the Qi Cultivators notice?" Li Fan asked, puzzled at how he could be so forthright.
"How presumptuous," Chen Li barked, letting his mana ripple.
Nearby martial artists also rebuked Li Fan, as if his words targeted them instead of Chen Li.
"Mr. Chen, don't be offended, Brother Xiao Fan is young and meant no harm," Yang Kui interjected, holding Qi and bowing to Chen Li, "We'll leave the Chen Residence to avoid causing trouble."
Though he wished to stay, he didn't want to implicate Li Fan.
Li Fan's remarks had likely already offended the second young master; as a young man, he didn't recognize the gravity of the situation.
The Chen family was an influential clan in Lin'an County, capable of great control, and those martial artists claiming to slay demons were probably seeking the Chen family's patronage.
Chen Li, the Chen Family Patriarch's son, could easily crush a martial artist without government inquiry.
It was said Chief Chen Zongzhi was a cousin supported by the Chen family.
"With demons causing chaos outside, where can you go with a young daughter?" Chen Zongzhi chastised, "Since you don't wish to enter the inner courtyard, take care of yourself."
The oppressive presence of Chen Zongzhi, a Mid Grade Grandmaster Realm, weighed like a mountain on Yang Kui, causing him to bow his head, acknowledging compliance.
"It's normal for young people to be impetuous and dismissive, but be mindful of your words in the future to avoid disaster," Chen Li advised coldly, then swept away with his sleeves.
"Thank you, Mr. Chen." Yang Kui trembled, not daring to look up.
After Chen Li left, many people glanced at Li Fan, someone chuckling, "The girl you like went with Mr. Chen, no wonder you're resentful."
"Miss Huang is a Qi Cultivator from the Shangxuan Sect, a toad lusting after a swan, is it?"
"Let's not say any more," Lin He stepped forward to Li Fan, advising, "Brother Xiao Fan, that was a bit impulsive."
Li Fan looked at Lin Min, who was about his age, and said, "Miss Lin is cultivating, with her father present, there's no need for the inner courtyard."
Lin Min was startled, not expecting Li Fan's persuasion.
She assessed Li Fan, exceedingly handsome, yet having roamed Jianghu since young and matured early, she understood her own aspirations.
Coming to the Chen family, she and her father aimed to enter the family for resources to help her father reach the Grandmaster Realm and herself to access broader opportunities.
This entry into the inner courtyard was indeed an opportunity she would not miss.
"Thank you, Mr. Li, I'll take care of myself in the inner courtyard," Lin Min replied politely.
Li Fan, although extraordinary in appearance, was merely a martial artist and not within her sights.
Li Fan refrained from further comments, respecting people's paths.
"Brother Xiao Fan, I apologize for your trouble," Yang Kui approached holding Qi, still heavy-hearted, Qi clinging tightly to his neck but relaxing at seeing Li Fan, calling him Brother Xiao Fan.
"Qi, be good," Li Fan smiled and said, "Brother Yang, don't worry, everything will be fine."
He recalled the drumstick he ate the previous day.
Could it be that the old Daoist truly had some capabilities?