"If the young master likes Miss Yao’s appearance, I can still transform into her form."

The River Clam Spirit didn’t seem to understand what Fu Jun meant, as she wiped her tears and spoke coquettishly. Then, she actually transformed into Yao Xuelian’s appearance.

When Yao Xuelian saw the River Clam Spirit transform into her likeness, she immediately screamed and almost fainted from fright.

Anning, with a smile on her lips, called over a maid who was serving Yao Xuelian nearby: "Go fetch a mirror, a larger one."

The maid jogged over with a mirror.

Anning handed the mirror to the River Clam Spirit: "Here, take a look."

The River Clam Spirit dared not refuse to take it.

She held up the mirror and was so scared at what she saw that she threw the mirror away: "Who is this? Why so fat? So terrifying..."

Anning said with a mischievous smile, "That’s you, indeed."

The River Clam Spirit couldn’t accept it at all.

Old Master Yao, watching the River Clam Spirit scream wildly, turned to Daoist Lu and said, "Master, please capture this fiend."

Daoist Lu nodded and took out a copper bell from his robe pocket, shaking it a few times. The bell emitted an indescribable sound, not pleasant but not harsh either.

However, upon hearing it, the River Clam Spirit collapsed to the ground and curled up, soon revealing her true form.

Daoist Lu captured the River Clam Spirit and turned back to Anning, saying, "Miss Luo, I have dispelled all the spell of this River Clam Spirit, and broken her demon bones, she will no longer harm anyone."

"Thank you, Daoist."

Anning thanked him with a smile.

Mrs. Luo then went over to call Daoist Lu, "Daoist, I have something else I wish for your help with."

Daoist Lu then looked at Mrs. Luo, "Please speak, Madam."

Mrs. Luo recounted the incident of Luo Anqing being controlled by evil magic: "In a few days, that Chunniang intends to disguise herself as my daughter and return home. I suspect she will bring my daughter back with her, and I wish for the Daoist to take a look and, if possible, dispel the evil magic from my daughter."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Lu frowned: "From what you mentioned, the evil magic your daughter is under likely originates from a poisonous insect technique from the Miao Region, something I’m not well-versed in."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Luo nearly burst into tears.

She attempted to kneel before Daoist Lu.

Daoist Lu quickly sidestepped: "There’s no need for that, Madam. Although I am not skilled in this, your Second Miss is a reincarnation of a hundred-life good person, with her here, she should be able to break the evil magic."

Mrs. Luo was somewhat skeptical: "But my elder daughter fell under the evil magic while residing with us all along, how could this be..."

Daoist Lu chuckled, "A few years ago, Second Miss was young, her merit was either sealed or she was unable to use it. Now as her spiritual acupoint opens gradually, she can become immune to all evil."

Mrs. Luo, hearing Daoist Lu’s confident words and finding no immediate expert in poisonous insect techniques, could only trust his words.

After seeing off Daoist Lu, Granny Yao embraced Mrs. Luo and wept.

While crying, she exclaimed, "What kind of sins have our family committed to encounter such troubles, poor Anqing, poor Xuelian, it’s tearing my heart apart."

Thinking of the suffering her elder daughter had endured over the years, Mrs. Luo couldn’t help but cry out loud as well.

Anning and Yao Xuelian comforted them for quite some time before they calmed down.

Mrs. Luo narrated to Granny Yao the things she had heard, and then went to find Old Master Yao.

Mrs. Luo and Old Master Yao had a good sibling relationship, years ago, before she got married, Old Master Yao would often take her out. Even now, when they are older, they remain close.

She and Old Master Yao went to the study, and Old Master Yao dismissed the servants before asking Mrs. Luo, "Sister, what do you plan to do?"

Mrs. Luo sneered, "Li Pengcheng intends to use our Luo family’s connections to rise swiftly, he should treat my son well. However, he not only scolds and beats him but also seeks his life. Even if I was a saint, I couldn’t tolerate such a treacherous wolf-hearted person."

Old Master Yao clenched his fist, "Is he bullying the wife of our Yao family?"

After cursing a few words, Mrs. Luo continued, "Isn’t Li Pengcheng an official in Ding City? Big Brother has some influence there, doesn’t he? I want to ask for your help..."

Old Master Yao listened to Mrs. Luo’s plan thoroughly, and then smiled.

"Indeed, you truly are my sister. People like Li Pengcheng must be dealt with this way. I will certainly help with this matter."

The siblings discussed their plan in detail. After dining at the Yao Family, Mrs. Luo took Anning back home.

Anning, upon leaving, saw Yao Xuelian still reluctant to part.

Were it not that the Luo Family had matters to attend to, it seemed Yao Xuelian would have gone to stay at the Luo residence for a few days too.

However, the two young girls made plans to go out together in a few days and agreed to keep in contact through letters at any time.

By the time Anning and Mrs. Luo returned home, darkness had already fallen.

Both of them were exhausted from the day’s activities, and without much ado, they each retired early to their rooms.

After ensuring everyone had fallen asleep, Anning opened the window and sat cross-legged in the room to cultivate.

Far away, in a cave mansion at the bottom of Dongting Lake, a middle-aged woman meditating amidst exotic flowers and herbs suddenly coughed up blood.

Her face changed dramatically, and she hurriedly walked over to check the lifebound talisman she had enshrined.

Upon seeing her daughter’s, He Zhuzhu’s lifebound talisman shattered, her heart ached as if pierced, and she spewed another mouthful of blood.

"Damn it, who cost my child her life? I will capture them and skin them alive..."

This woman was He Ji, mother of the River Clam Spirit. She had suffered severe injuries two years ago and had been recuperating at Dongting Lake, unable to leave the lake.

Now, just as her injuries were about to heal, she couldn’t afford to waste her efforts.

Having no alternative, she contacted several River Monsters she was on good terms with.

She attempted to use her transmission magic, but some River Monsters appeared to be in deep meditation and could not be reached.

Only a Black Fish Spirit responded.

This Black Fish Spirit was named Black Flood Dragon, whose biggest dream was to evolve into a dragon. However, he dared not name himself Black Dragon, and so he opted for Black Flood Dragon.

Flood Dragon had been cultivating for a millennium and had considerable cultivation prowess.

Of course, he could not compare with someone like He Ji, who had a powerful backing, but among the wild monsters, his cultivation was quite significant.

In earlier times, He Ji had assisted Black Flood Dragon, who, being loyal, established a sibling bond with her and often helped her with some tasks.

He Ji contacted Black Flood Dragon, and said through gritted teeth, "Brother, your niece met an unfortunate fate. I don’t know which heartless person captured her... I am confined to the lake floor, but I ask you to avenge her death for the sake of our sibling bond."

Black Flood Dragon was infuriated upon hearing this: "Damn it, who dares touch my lady’s kin? I will eradicate them completely."