Catching Ghosts as Head of Yin Department

If it were just an ordinary meeting, Hou Hongfang naturally wouldn’t say anything.

This meeting is very important.

This meeting is held by the East District leadership, marking the second meeting in the East District.

The first meeting was about ghosts invading the human realm.

The East District leadership proposed that powerful forces organize an action to eliminate ghosts.

Today marks the second meeting.

Jin County.

Mo Lin is no stranger to this place; he’s visited here more than once.

After enduring the passage of time, Jin County is almost an empty city.

At a glance, no ordinary people are surviving here.

The center of Jin County.

There stands a series of pitch-black wooden posts.

Each post is about one meter long and spaced approximately two meters apart, encircling a villa.

The pitch-black wood is imbued with the power of lightning.

This is no ordinary wood; this is lightning-struck wood.

Mo Lin follows Hou Hongfang into the yard.

Upon entering, he feels there is something unique about the place.

Fog permeates the surroundings.

They enter the house.

Inside, it resembles a grand hall.

In the central spot sit three silhouettes.

All around, many people are seated.

There is some sort of barrier or restriction here, making it difficult to see the faces of those around.

There are no fixed seating arrangements.

Everyone sits freely.

Though unable to see the faces, they can feel the presence of everyone else.

Those present are not just humans; Evil Spirits and Evil Buddhas are also here.

Mo Lin is very familiar with these two presences.

After an unknown period, the entire hall is filled with people.

Some don’t even have seats and are forced to stand.

"The theme today is coexistence.

We humans, alongside Evil Spirits, Evil Buddhas, and ghosts from the Yellow Springs Realm, will cooperate and live together in the East District," the man in the center announces loudly.

As Hou Hongfang described, this meeting concerns the future direction of the East District.

"From now on, none are adversaries; all are allies," the man reiterates.

"Evil Buddhas prey on humans; it’s their nature.

It’s like dogs eating feces.

Out of ten dogs, eight eat feces when they encounter it.

How could Evil Buddhas meet humans and not devour them?" someone raises an objection.

Clearly, he disagrees with the man’s proposal.

He’s right; for Evil Buddhas and Evil Spirits, humans are the best resource.

"True, that’s correct."

The man concedes slowly, "We can provide Evil Buddhas and Evil Spirits, and the Yellow Springs Realm, with one million living humans annually.

With enough food, they won’t harm cultivators.

We can sign a contract."

He’s already suggested this, even provided a precise number, clearly having deliberated it.

"Treating humans like livestock? Where will we find so many people?

If things develop like this, will there be any living people left in the East District?" someone retorts.

"Capture, breed, and farm humans," the man explains slowly.

In simple terms, it’s raising enough humans, treating them like livestock sacrificed to Evil Buddhas.

"Aren’t ordinary people being pushed to the brink of extinction?" another person questions.

"Only cultivators are considered human; are ordinary people still human?

They’re merely livestock, beasts.

They’re worthless lives, destined to be sacrificed.

Exchanging ordinary lives to secure the future for us cultivators is quite good."

"Here I have an Immortal Cultivation Technique, a Cannibal Cultivation Method."

If everyone agrees to coexistence, they can obtain this technique.

Each person can then receive ten thousand living humans."

Even without consensus, humans are used as bargaining chips, and distribution has begun.

The room falls silent.

Everyone lapses into silence.

"Those who agree to coexistence stand to the left, those who disagree go to the right," the man calmly instructs, pointing left and right.

"I think this approach isn’t good, alas... it’s the trend," one man remarked while grumbling and moved to the left side.

"Cultivation interests me greatly." Another person moves to the left.

"The lives of ordinary people have nothing to do with me; I don’t care."

Those who expressed themselves were all moving to the left.

Some hesitated.

In this situation, who dares to stand out?

No one stood on the right.

Standing to the right, showing disagreement, might lead to being targeted, might invite retaliation?

Opposition introduces exclusion from the crowd.

More people gradually stood, expressing agreement.

No one stood on the right.

Mo Lin slowly rose, standing to the right.

This is unrelated to being a good or bad person or having a kind or wicked heart.

Mo Lin would never coexist with Evil Spirits.

Due to hatred, due to grievances.

It’s like being propelled by fate.

Mo Lin naturally stands in opposition to Evil Spirits and Evil Buddhas.

As Mo Lin stands to the right, all eyes focus on him.

With hostility... with dissatisfaction... with rage.

"Kid, do you want to be a hero?

Savior?"

Someone from the left mocked Mo Lin, "Even the Destined Person from the East District didn’t oppose; you dare oppose here?

You’ve been given face?"

"Do you think you’re stronger than the Destined Person?"

The term Destined Person is familiar to Mo Lin.

Though he’s unclear who this Destined Person is, Mo Lin doesn’t know them.

Destined Person, literally, means someone meant to guard the East District.

But for unknown reasons, the East District’s Destined Person seems to have joined the side of Evil Spirits.

"Kid, you’re provoking us all, you understand?" the person across challenged Mo Lin.

Mo Lin’s refusal impacts these people’s interests.

Some remained neutral, neither agreeing nor rejecting.

"If you’re capable, reveal your true face, let’s all meet you," another person challenged Mo Lin.

Mo Lin didn’t conceal it; he raised his right hand and tore away the layer of light on his face, revealing his true visage.

"I am Mo Lin," Mo Lin stated his name decisively.

"I disagree."

Mo Lin’s voice sounded strong and sonorous.

The previously noisy atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

All eyes focused entirely on Mo Lin.

Those who had taunted him earlier now fell silent.

Those able to express opinions here are all residents of the East District.

People from outside the East District are unqualified to voice their opinions here.

The man intended to attack Mo Lin but swallowed his words.

The person before him has very tangible accomplishments.

Setting aside the events from a few years ago.

Just mentioning the Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain battle, where he alone slew Two Buddhas, one Ghost, and one Spirit, enough to shut everyone up.

Mo Lin’s weight in the East District is too heavy.

Hou Hongfang slowly raises his hand to express, "I also disagree."

With that, he walks to Mo Lin’s side, pointing at him calmly and says, "If you want trouble, take it up with him.

He’s the lead."

These words aren’t meant for Mo Lin.

He’s saying this for those present who waver in their decisions.

To clarify, even if they refuse, they won’t face trouble.

Mo Lin stands as the backbone here.

"I also disagree.

Treating ordinary people as livestock, is that what humans do?" Another person stood up and angrily cursed.

Earlier, he didn’t dare to express his opinion, simply having no confidence.

Now things are different, Mo Lin exposed himself, giving him confidence.

"Only Evil Cultivators would agree; as a Daoist Cultivator, I won’t agree to harming people."

Another person stands and states.

"You bunch of spineless people, worse than dog shit." Yet another stood to express refusal.

Though they just express loudly, their stance is clear.

Simply refusing.

Those choosing neutrality now all sided with Mo Lin.

Mo Lin stands in the front row; they stand behind him.