The moonlight was bright, illuminating the courtyard where a large group of people had gathered.0

Many of them had anxious expressions, repeatedly leaning forward to peer into the well. They were likely the parents of the three young men trapped below.0

The elder, however, remained unperturbed. He seemed utterly convinced that the Daoist’s bamboo staff would shield them from demonic harm and that the distant relative—whose face seemed familiar but whose name he couldn’t recall—would resist the temptations below. 0

Instead of showing worry, he simply turned to Song You, bowed slightly, and asked, "May I ask, sir, once my kinsman returns, what method will you use to exterminate the demon?"0

"No special magic—just an idea."0

"Might I ask what that idea is?"0

"Then let me ask you, Patriarch—how did the lizards from today die?"0

"You mean, we must handle it ourselves again?"0

"As I have said before, if you had been a little less merciful and a little more ruthless when first dealing with them, even if you couldn’t exterminate them completely, they would not have dared to continue wreaking havoc in your estate. 0

“From what I see, the fact that they panicked when you ordered them burned with firewood suggests that they are not impervious to weapons or flames. They must still fear even harsher...0