The whip possessed a magical power. In Fang Ruotang's eyes, it was a weak creature that could be easily blocked with a flick of the wrist, or even take the life of its opponent in the blink of an eye. Yet, it knocked Lin Hua to the ground, causing him to groan in pain.

Fang Ruotang: ...

For a moment, he didn't know whether to curse the manager for being vicious or to be surprised by Lin Hua's weakness.

Farewell, Ancestor.

"Yes, I can call it back for you."

No, he just whipped me a few times to vent his anger, and that'll make me feel better.

To be honest, this was the first time Fang Ruotang had encountered such a weak creature.

Born into the Prime Minister's family, none of the people who could associate with her were ordinary. While not all of them were overly arrogant, they certainly possessed a certain pride.

This is the inherent strength of a distinguished family.

From a young age, their elders would tell them that while arrogance is unacceptable, integrity is essential.

This was probably the first time she had ever seen someone struggling to survive in such a precarious situation.

The poor people I saw during the previous porridge distributions were somewhat different.

"Who did this?" The steward brandished his whip a few times, but just as Lin Hua had said, he stopped hitting and instead looked greedily at the magic mine.

The burly servant immediately stepped forward, fawningly saying, "It's me, it's me! I came to talk to Lin Hua just now, and somehow I broke these magic ores."

Magic ore is no ordinary thing; it's impossible to break it easily, let alone in such an accidental situation.

But these two are clearly colluding; when they make eye contact, it's as if they're on the same wavelength.

"Alright! You stay here and work. Lin Hua, you go to the other side!"

The person in charge didn't care what Lin Hua thought at all and assigned him to a more remote and secluded location.

Lin Hua shrank back, not daring to speak at all. If he didn't want to know where the manager was pointing, he wouldn't even dare to look up.

Fang Ruotang sighed inwardly; it was no small matter.

Lin Hua blushed with embarrassment.

He limped to the other side and out of everyone's sight before his eyes reddened slightly, and he asked with embarrassment and dejection.

[Ancestor, have I disgraced you?]

Fang Ruotang watched from the side, wanting to reply with "Of course!"

But seeing Lin Hua looking so broken, she didn't want to stab him in the chest. She was afraid that if she replied, he would break down and cry.

Why won't you let me help you? That manager is weak; I could kill him with a single thought.

[But if something happens to the person in charge, won't they send someone down to investigate?]

Let them investigate! They won't find anything on me.

What if?

Lin Hua looked dependent on him.

Fang Ruotang felt a little uncomfortable. She was just talking nonsense and made up an identity on a whim, just to have some fun.

He didn't really come here to be someone's ancestor and help him ascend to the demon realm.

I'm afraid something might happen to you.

Lin Hua's voice was soft, like that of a fragile little animal.

Fang Ruotang felt a little choked up and responded awkwardly.

I'll be fine, you should take care of yourself!

After saying that, Fang Ruotang tossed out a tube of ointment rather ungently.

Lin Hua hurriedly caught it. Seeing the bottle, he knew it was no ordinary product. He unscrewed the stopper and smelled the medicinal aroma, which startled him so much that he immediately covered it up.

The spiritual energy was so strong that the steward noticed it in an instant, and his voice followed.

"What's going on? Why did I smell spiritual energy just now?"

"Spiritual energy? My lord, are you mistaken? This is the Northern Territory; there's no abundant spiritual energy here."

"Who do you think you are, daring to question me?"

The foreman had a cold and unfriendly demeanor, and he didn't give the burly servant a friendly look either.

Lin Hua nervously stuffed the ointment into his pocket and pretended to be busy.

He left the hoe where he had been, and now he lay on the ground, digging for magic ore with his fingers.

Fang Ruotang rubbed her forehead. She had never seen such a stupid person. Wasn't this just like trying to hide something obvious?

Could he be any more obvious?

Fortunately, the manager didn't think there would be any spiritual energy in this magic mine.

He assumed he had misheard something, collected the magic ore, and left without checking it further.

Lin Hua breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that the mine had returned to calm, he carefully returned the ointment to Fang Ruotang.

[Ancestor, you should keep this good stuff for yourself! I don't need it.]

Things only have value if they are useful.

【Can……】

No more "buts," I've given it to you, so keep it! If you don't want it, just throw it away!

Fang Ruotang suppressed her shame and uttered such domineering words.

Alright, if you're still having trouble getting over this, then answer a few questions for me.

"Alright, Ancestor, ask away! I will answer everything I know to the best of my ability."

What is the current situation in the North?

Fang Ruotang's question drew laughter from Xiao Jingzi.

【You're asking a menial servant? Did I not provide complete information? What could he possibly know? He knows absolutely nothing!】

Fang Ruotang blocked the small mirror to prevent him from chattering away in her mind.

However, Lin Hua did indeed, as Xiao Jingzi said, know nothing when asked.

Seeing Lin Hua's head droop lower and lower, his face flushed with shame, Fang Ruotang could only considerately ask him a question he was absolutely certain he could answer.

How did you get here?

Lin Hua opened his lips several times, wanting to speak, but then he remembered that he didn't need to speak when talking to his ancestor, so he pursed his lips and sniffed.

I...I want to find the murderer who killed my parents.

【ah? 】

Although I lack talent for cultivation, my parents both practice demonic arts. They used to contact me once a month, but this time they haven't contacted me for half a year. I knew something must have happened to them, so I came to the Demon Profound Sect to take a look. Only after arriving at the Demon Profound Sect did I realize that entering the sect is incredibly difficult.

Are your parents disciples of the Demonic Profound Sect?

Yes, they were all outer disciples of the Demon Profound Sect, and their status was not high, so after I was born, they settled me in a nearby village.

Fang Ruotang summoned a small mirror to examine Lin Hua's past, which she hadn't had a chance to look at before.

The things Xiao Jingzi found out were not far from what Lin Hua had said.

After all, in Lin Hua's heart, Fang Ruotang is now his ancestor.

Are his parents dead? Who killed them?

[The evil cultivators among the demonic cultivators are rather pitiful.]

Fang Ruotang felt nauseous upon seeing the image reflected in the small mirror.

The group of heretical practitioners is universally condemned.

Evil cultivators among demonic cultivators are even more ruthless and unscrupulous in their actions, employing insidious and vicious methods.

[Make a rubbing of it for me.]

Upon their first meeting, Fang Ruotang wasn't particularly considerate. That's just how she is; she doesn't care about things she doesn't know, but if she does know something, she hopes it's true.

I don't like it when people use the guise of supporting her to tell well-intentioned lies.

She's not a three-year-old; she has the ability to judge.

Moreover, this involves a deep-seated hatred between his parents.

So that's how she treated Lin Hua too.

I know who hurt your parents.

Who is it?

See?

Fang Ruotang unleashed a burst of magic power to create a barrier before releasing the recording stone.