Cong Zhongbai escorted Luo Anqing back to Yang City, while Xiao Yuan, having nothing else to do, returned a step ahead.

After returning, he met with Constable Geng, explained the situation to him, and informed him that he had helped Luo Anqing to lift the evil magic. He asked Constable Geng to inform Mrs. Luo.

Constable Geng went to the Luo Family after finishing his work at the government office.

Mrs. Luo knew it must be about Luo Anqing, so she quickly asked someone to bring Constable Geng to the flower hall.

Constable Geng didn’t come empty-handed; his mother just made some excellent pickled vegetables, so he brought some along.

Mrs. Luo loved this dish, and upon seeing the pickled vegetables brought by Constable Geng, she smiled and said, "I’ve been craving this flavor for a while. I didn’t expect you would bring so much this time; it’s enough for us to enjoy for quite some time."

Constable Geng also sat down with a smile: "My mother specially made some this time. She mentioned that Miss loves this dish the most, and she remembers how Miss used to pester her to make it when she was little. This time, Miss is returning home, so she made extra to send with Miss when she leaves."

"Your mother really remembers her fondly."

Mrs. Luo smiled and asked Sixi to bring tea and snacks. Constable Geng then told Mrs. Luo about the situation.

Upon hearing that Xiao Yuan had helped undo the evil magic on Luo Anqing, Mrs. Luo was immediately overjoyed: "I am truly thankful to Daoist Xiao. I am unable to invite him over, nor can I personally thank him. Could you help convey my thanks and ask if there is anything he needs?"

Constable Geng nodded: "Alright, I will certainly pass on your words to Daoist Xiao."

Mrs. Luo was filled with gratitude, knowing that Xiao Yuan was now in her backyard.

Anning knew Xiao Yuan had arrived, and without bringing any maids along, she ran alone to the rockery in the back garden, where Xiao Yuan grabbed hold of her hand as soon as she arrived.

Xiao Yuan held Anning in his arms, and softly asked her, "I helped your sister get rid of the poisonous insect, how do you plan to thank me?"

Anning smilingly hugged Xiao Yuan’s waist: "How about offering myself?"

"I’ll think about it." Xiao Yuan laughed heartily.

Anning softly said: "Come by again tonight, I’ve saved a nice surprise for you."

"What nice surprise?"

Anning told him about capturing the River Clam Spirit and then luring out the Black Fish Spirit: "Too bad the River Clam Spirit was taken away by Daoist Lu, otherwise, we could have made a big pot of soup. But with the Black Fish Spirit, it’s enough. I’m wondering though, since the Black Fish Spirit was killed, will other demons be drawn in? If a few lobsters could be drawn in, that would be ideal. Of course, carp would be nice too."

Xiao Yuan smiled: "Why don’t I take a trip to Dongting Lake and capture a few more heavily sinful demons for you to eat?"

"No, no, that’s too troublesome."

Anning waved her hand: "Why go so far to catch them when they come to us willingly? You’d be too tired, and I’d feel bad. I’ll just wait for them to deliver themselves over thousands of miles."

Saying this, she laughed to herself: "What do you think, aren’t these demons foolish to serve themselves up as food?"

Xiao Yuan affectionately patted Anning’s head: "When you finish this Black Fish, if none come to deliver themselves, I’ll capture some more for you; once we’ve eaten the Water Monster, we can move on to the mountain spirit. I heard there’s a Wild Bear Spirit in Changbai Mountain; if I can find one that is heavily sinful, I’ll capture it for you to eat bear paws."

Hearing this made Anning’s mouth water.

"Is there any Wild Boar Spirit?"

Xiao Yuan laughed even more heartily: "Yes, whatever you want to eat, I’ll capture it for you."

Anning thought for a moment: "Won’t we end up eating all the demons in the world?"

Xiao Yuan waved his hand: "No, there are others raising them for us."

"Uh?"

Anning didn’t understand: "What do you mean by that?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Xiao Yuan looked up at the sky: "The reason the River Clam Spirit was so bold was because she had backing. Her backing is none other than her grandmother."

"She has a grandmother?"

Anning was surprised: "So beating the young brings out the old, huh? There wouldn’t be a great-grandmother as well, would there?"

"That’s unknown."

Xiao Yuan shook his head.

He sat down holding Anning: "The River Clam Spirit’s grandmother is kept in the Heavenly Pool of the heavenly palace. She excels at playing the flute, and several dancing fairies admire her. They often take her to perform at various Immortal Official Mansions. Over time, she gained some benefits; with her protection, the River Clam Spirit is so unrestrained."

"Are you suggesting someone is raising them, and do you intend for me to eat her grandmother?"

Anning asked Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan chuckled: "In the heavenly palace, those immortals love to raise pets. Many have pets that dare to defy Heaven’s sanctions, despite the Heavenly Monarch stating immortals and mortals should not interfere. They still grant favors to their descendants in the Lower Realm, covering up their mistakes. So when our cultivation becomes profound, we should fish out these heavily sinful, protected little monsters, and through them, find a way to Heaven..."

Anning quickly understood what Xiao Yuan meant by this.

Her mouth began to water once more.

"I heard Chang’e Fairy has several Jade Rabbits. I wonder what their taste is like; supposedly spicy rabbit heads are delicious."

Mrs. Luo and Constable Geng were discussing how to thank Xiao Yuan in the front hall.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan and Anning were plotting in the backyard on how to scheme against the heavenly palace’s immortals’ pets. The pair was truly audacious, thinking not only of the fish and shrimp in the Heavenly Pool but of the rabbits in the Moon Palace, and even longing for the deer raised by the Lord.

"Ah."

Anning happily embraced Xiao Yuan: "Dear, as you say, the heavenly palace is our pasture, I hope those immortals raise many pets so we can occasionally enjoy one."

This term of endearment made Xiao Yuan’s heart melt, feeling as if he had just drunk sweet honey.

"No worries, there are plenty of wrongdoers in the heavenly palace, enough for you to eat."

He Ji had no idea Anning was even planning ways to capture her mother.

She was currently investigating the situation of the Black Flood Dragon.

In a few days, He Ji would come out of seclusion, intending to gather some friends to tear apart the filthy Taoist who dared to harm her daughter and her brother.

After enduring for several days, He Ji finally emerged from seclusion and immediately contacted her friends and the friends of the Black Flood Dragon.

Black Flood Dragon, apart from being sworn siblings with He Ji, also had other ties.

Black Flood Dragon was frank and generous, and very loyal; he had many friends.

Naturally, most of his and He Ji’s friends were spirits from the water.

For instance, he once had a romantic partner who was a Lobster Spirit named Hong Yue, and another close friend to whom he entrusted his life was an old tortoise who had become a spirit, named Gui Jiang, while another was a Lotus Seed Spirit named Lian Qingqing, and He Ji had a friend named Huang Liu, who was an Eel Spirit.

He Ji contacted these friends and recounted the story of He Zhuzhu and Black Flood Dragon’s plight. She said, "Black Flood Dragon departed never to return; I suspect he encountered misfortune. Black Flood Dragon had considerable cultivation; for him to encounter trouble means seeking justice alone is risky. Hence, I wish to invite everyone to join forces and lend support."

These Water Monsters knew He Ji’s mother was nurtured in the Heavenly Pool as the River Wind Fairy, so naturally, they would give her face.

The Water Monsters assured He Ji that they would definitely seek justice for He Zhuzhu and Black Flood Dragon.