Chapter 1028: Chapter 1028

Though she didn’t fully understand, she could tell from Ao Zhaozhao’s expression that she was deeply saddened.

So... there really were such good parents out there...

The death of those parents would bring their child immense grief.

She placed her hand over her chest, which was now a grotesque, decayed mess, and dazedly asked, "Then... can I meet such parents?"

Parents who would love her, care for her, even if it meant sometimes going hungry. She just wanted to be with her family.

Qiu Hai spoke up, "Rebirth depends on cultivation. Simply put, if you weren’t happy in this life, it’s likely because of your previous misdeeds. You’re just bearing the consequences now. Don’t feel too sorry for yourselves! Now, the Grandmaster is showing mercy. If you resolve your grievances, you’ll be able to reincarnate—don’t waste this opportunity!"

As soon as his voice fell, one of the infant ghosts stirred.

They returned to their childlike forms, no longer grotesque or terrifying. They passed through the opening in the talisman array, eagerly drifting toward the Nether Sect.

First one, then ten...

Eventually, even the girl with the deepest resentment took a step forward.

Ao Zhaozhao wiped away her tears and waved her hand to encourage the girl, "Good luck!"

The girl smiled sweetly at her and nodded firmly, "I will."

She, too, entered the Nether Sect.

Although the infant ghosts moved quickly, the number of them was considerable, so it took nearly half an hour for them to all pass through.

Grand Lady, watching this, couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. She murmured, "So many... how many baby girls has Futian Town abandoned over the years?"

Qiu Hai quickly counted and replied, "There were 351 in total."

"Amitabha," Cinian murmured.

Nanli stroked her chin and said, "Futian Town has more men than women. How could the county officials not notice this issue? Why has it never been reported to the court?"

Siheng, who had dealt with government affairs for many years, was quick to understand the corruption behind it. "The officials probably turned a blind eye, even helping to cover it up."

Grand Lady’s eyes widened, and she clenched her fists. "What?! I thought he was a good official!"

Siheng’s eyes turned cold. "Grandmother, don’t be angry. Many officials are . They don’t seek glory or merit; they just want to get through their tenure peacefully."

Grand Lady’s face turned frosty. "The common people might be ignorant, but how could the officials be so blind? If they couldn’t manage it themselves, they could report it to the court. With the government’s intervention, perhaps fewer baby girls would have been abandoned to die."

"You’re right," Siheng agreed, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "So what about that corrupt official?"

Grand Lady replied, "He was still outside the city last night."

The sky was already completely light.

After the last batch of infant ghosts entered the Nether Sect, Nanli instructed Qiu Hai to make the proper arrangements. The Nether Sect closed its doors.

Cinian let out a deep breath, relieved. His gaze toward Nanli was filled with admiration. "Thanks to Grandmaster Nanli, this was resolved."

But Nanli didn’t share his joy. "Let’s return to the city. Many people perished just now."

It only took a moment to return to the city.

At the city gates, a loud voice was heard shouting, "Thanks to this official, I brought two Daoist priests, and now the entire city is saved!"

The common people, having escaped their torment, were now gathered in the streets. Upon hearing the official’s words, they immediately knelt down and shouted, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!"

They had suffered for so long, and now, finally, they could step outside and see the bright sunlight again.

Bai Peng rolled his eyes at this.

Just then, Nanli and the others arrived.

Siheng, wary of people noticing Ao Zhaozhao’s Dragon Horn, discreetly cast a spell to conceal it.

Ao Zhaozhao, sensing something, glanced at him. But Siheng’s face remained cold and impassive, not even sparing her a glance.

Ao Zhaozhao sighed and lowered her head again.

The people had heard about the immortals who roamed the land, exterminating evil spirits for the common good. Now, seeing these people fly on their swords, their excitement was palpable.

"Immortals! They really can fly!"

"Did you bring them here, sir? Thank you so much!"

"Did you destroy all those evil ghosts? No, no, you must have shattered their souls and made sure they can never reincarnate! They were just girls—what use were they, anyway? They died, but they couldn’t rest in peace. Now they’re back to seek revenge."

The crowd enthusiastically agreed with this sentiment.

Grand Lady could not stay silent. "You all know that these were your children seeking revenge, and yet you show no remorse?"

She had two sons and had always wished for a daughter, so she couldn’t understand the hearts of these people.

Bai Peng, too, was utterly baffled. "Are you people so heartless?"

Though they were cultivators, their words clashed violently with the people of the city. The common folk grew angrier by the second and glared at them.

"Heartless? You mean us? They were girls—what good are they? They can’t carry on the family name, can’t enter the family registry, and can’t inherit land. What’s the use of keeping them alive? They must have had bad luck, being born girls!"

One man added, "Exactly! They forced us to cook our own children, dividing up their flesh to eat! How could we possibly feel guilty?"

The most terrifying part was when a woman shouted, "Since I gave birth to her, I have the right to dispose of her however I wish! What do you outsiders have to say about it?"

Having suffered unimaginable torment, the common people, seeing the cultivators speak for the infant girls, became even more agitated, shouting insults.

The county official hurriedly tried to calm everyone down.

He turned to Grand Lady and the others and said, "Thank you for your help, but this is a matter for the common people to handle. Please, don’t get involved."

"You’ve already done a great service. If there’s anything you need, within reason, the people will agree."

Grand Lady’s face flushed with anger. "They treat human lives so casually! This is no longer just their private matter—it’s the matter of the court! We ask for nothing, only that you give these children justice!"

The county official’s face darkened. "Futian Town has always followed this custom. People here believe that having a daughter brings bad luck. The kinder families give their daughters away, and the crueler ones abandon them outside the city. If you want to punish them, you’d have to question nearly all the households in Futian Town. Are you going to arrest them all? Some things are not as easy to fix as you think!"

He was about to be reassigned and just wanted to sweep the matter under the rug to protect his record.

Grand Lady was at a loss for words, unable to rebut his claims.

If they were to punish everyone, Futian Town would be emptied out.

The county official, now done with the conversation, threw a bag of silver at them. "I will not keep you any longer. Please leave!"

Grand Lady was furious. "This matter is far from resolved, and you’re already trying to chase us off?"

"Otherwise?" The official said, his tone turning hostile. "You are all cultivators, and I remember the imperial edict forbidding cultivators from meddling in government affairs."

With a wave of his hand, he ordered, "Leave, now!"

His words carried weight, but he dared not do anything more to them.

The common people began chanting for them to leave.

This, then, was what a "backstabbing wolf" looked like.