Mrs. Luo devised a plan to ruin Li Pengcheng.

Of course, this plan required assistance.

After Constable Geng left, Mrs. Luo changed her clothes and instructed the servants to prepare the carriage for her trip to the Yao Family.

She needed to first discuss things with her brother from her family, so her brother could help her.

When Mrs. Luo arrived at the Yao Family, she happened to catch Old Master Yao inviting a mage to hunt demons.

This mage was not a fake swindler or anything like that but a true master, the junior disciple of the State Preceptor. Although his skills weren’t as high as the State Preceptor’s, he was still a renowned mage.

If it weren’t for the fact that this mage was incidentally in Yang City for business and happened to need the Yao Family’s help, Old Master Yao might not have been able to invite him.

The mage’s surname was Lu. As for his full name, it was unknown; anyway, everyone called him Master Lu.

Old Master Yao invited Master Lu inside, speaking as they walked: "To be honest with you, Master, my home has encountered some issues recently, and I’ve especially invited you to help see if there’s a demon at home."

As Master Lu entered, he frowned: "Old Master Yao, you actually invited the right person. There is indeed an overwhelming demon energy at your home."

Old Master Yao felt his heart tighten: "Please, Master, point it out, and help us capture the demon."

Master Lu nodded: "Naturally."

He stood still for a moment to feel the area and then began to stride forward.

Old Master Yao gestured for people to follow.

At that moment, Mrs. Luo arrived. Upon hearing that the Yao Family had a demon and had invited Master Lu to hunt demons, she thought of her eldest daughter’s affliction with evil magic and decided to follow and see. If Master Lu could capture the demon, then she would need his help to get rid of the sorcery affecting her eldest daughter.

Subsequently, a large group followed Master Lu grandiosely into Anning’s courtyard.

"Master, this is the small courtyard where my niece resides; is the demon in here?"

Old Master Yao asked anxiously.

Mrs. Luo was even more terrified, her face pale: "Master, please save my daughter."

Anning heard the commotion and came out of the house with a smile; she immediately noticed Mrs. Luo and joyfully leaped toward her: "Mother, what brings you here? Have you missed me?"

Mrs. Luo was in no mood for jokes with Anning; she steadied her daughter with a stern expression and scolded: "Stand properly; can’t you see the master is here? Quickly greet Master Lu."

Only then did Anning notice Master Lu. She curiously scrutinized him and then bowed: "Greetings, Master."

Master Lu looked at Anning with delight: "There’s no need for such courtesy, young lady, no need."

While speaking, Master Lu took out a jade pendant and handed it to Anning: "This is a jade pendant that I have nurtured in the Cave Heaven Blessed Land, a gift to the young lady to ensure her health and prosperity."

Old Master Yao immediately laughed upon hearing this: "Ningning, quickly thank the master and put away the jade pendant."

Old Master Yao knew that any jade pendant Master Lu presented would surely be a magic artifact. At the very least, it could ward off illnesses, and more advanced ones could save lives.

He observed the jade pendant bestowed to Anning, noting its transparency and radiance, verifying it was not of the lower grade but the advanced type, akin to a life-saving amulet.

Anning accepted it cheerfully and securely: "Thank you, Master."

Master Lu waved his hand: "No need for thanks, young lady, you are indeed a fortunate individual with deep merits."

This remark brought unabashed joy to both Old Master Yao and Mrs. Luo.

After exchanging a few words with Anning, Master Lu briskly approached the water tank. He glanced at the enormous river clam at the bottom and looked bewildered.

"Whose idea was it to keep this river clam?"

Anning quickly answered: "I am the one who keeps it. It’s been over half a month now. I fished it out by the lake because I noticed it was larger than usual, so I kept it at the bottom of the tank. My idea was to see if pearls came from having sand inside the river clam, so I added sand to its body and tied it up to prevent it from spitting it out."

Master Lu’s face scrunched up in disbelief.

"What’s the issue with this river clam?"

Old Master Yao stepped forward to ask.

Mrs. Luo was also visibly alarmed.

Master Lu pointed to the river clam: "This is the demon. It’s been cultivating for hundreds of years and had transformed into a human form. Previously, Old Master Yao mentioned a demon that resembled your daughter; it was indeed this creature."

"This..."

Old Master Yao and Mrs. Luo looked at the motionless river clam, finding it hard to believe.

Mrs. Luo queried Master Lu: "Master, if this is a demon, why did it so easily end up captured by my son, living here for so many days without causing any oddities or even attempting to escape?"

How should Master Lu respond to this?

He looked at the river clam with a sympathetic expression then turned to Mrs. Luo: "To be frank, your daughter is a person of great fortune. She is endowed with immense merit. Even I cannot fathom how profound Miss Luo’s merits are; I can only guess that the young lady is the reincarnation of a hundred-life good person. Lady, you may not realize how difficult it is to live a life doing good without evil, let alone across lives. A ten-life good person already has profound merit and could instantaneously ascend to immortality, let alone someone like the young lady, a hundred-life good person, blessed at birth with divine protection and repulsion of all evil. This river clam spirit, being a malevolent being, finds it difficult to resist when in the hands of your daughter."

The river clam spirit had been contemplating for over half a month why it couldn’t resist Anning, a mere mortal, and after hearing Master Lu’s explanation, it finally understood.

Upon realizing this, its frustration was so intense it felt like vomiting blood.

It knew from some teachings its mother had imparted that if one were to encounter someone with profound merit, like the ten-life good person, it was best to stay away and never provoke them. If ever they did, even their guardians wouldn’t save them.

The river clam spirit had taken this advice to heart. It knew a ten-life good person was undoubtedly formidable.

But previously, finding no evident merit on Anning, it didn’t regard her as a threat.

In retrospect, Anning didn’t lack merit; it was so deep that someone with shallow cultivation like itself couldn’t perceive it.

The river clam spirit was profoundly regretful.

If it had known earlier about a hundred-life good person’s miss residing in the Yao Family, it wouldn’t have dared offend Young Master Fu, not by any means.

Alas, now it was too late even for regrets.

Master Lu extended his hand and retrieved the river clam spirit.

The river clam spirit, realizing its exposure, struggled mightily, even speaking human tongue amidst its efforts: "You, the aged taoist with the bull nose, if you have any wisdom, release me at once. I must tell you, I’m no mere mountain spirit; I have backing. My family supports me. If you provoke me, rest assured..."

Anning slapped the river clam spirit onto its shell so forcefully it nearly cracked.

"You dare threaten the master?"

Anning stood with hands on her hips, glaring imposingly: "Keep mumbling and I’ll crack your shell, carve out your flesh and feast upon it! One would think, a demon’s flesh must taste superior to an ordinary river clam’s."

The river clam spirit instantly fell silent.

Master Lu chuckled softly and glanced at Anning.

He turned to Old Master Yao: "Old Master Yao, how do you intend to deal with this river clam spirit?"

Before Old Master Yao could respond, Anning intervened: "It would be best to call Young Master Fu and clarify the situation."

Old Master Yao nodded and instructed the servants: "Go and invite the Old Madam, Miss, and Young Master Fu here."