Volume One, Chapter Sixteen: The True Form of the Faceless Statue

Qin Yu frowned and promptly awarded permanent muting to the most disruptive instigators.
“I am a new streamer, so I ask my fellow broadcasters to stand down.” Qin Yu’s sharp gaze fixed on her phone screen. “Everyone in the livestream, please develop your own sense of discernment. The internet is not a lawless land. Before you speak, consider the consequences. Be cautious in speech and action, or else trouble will surely find you.”
In a short time, Qin Yu’s follower count soared, attracting the attention of many other streamers. Usually, the chat would have some agitators, but the viewers remained rational and weren’t easily swayed.
Today, she’d only looked away from her phone for a moment, and someone seized the opportunity to stir up trouble.
Qin Yu’s voice was clear and resonant as it flowed from the phone. “The development of cities cannot happen without the material foundation provided by rural areas, and the rise of the countryside depends on the cities to lead the way. The two are inseparable; society cannot function without both. Whether we are from the city or the countryside is not ours to choose, but we can choose character, we can choose values, we can choose depth…”
Sister Juan sent a Ferris wheel emoji.
Brother Lei from society sent five knee emojis.
I’m a country folk sent three heart emojis.
...
“The streamer has a broad perspective.”
“Suddenly I feel fired up! The streamer’s words are inspiring! Sending my support!”
“We can choose character, we can choose values, we can choose depth!”
“Family, there’s nothing to criticize here, it’s pure positivity.”
“Master Diqiu, thank you for speaking up for us rural people. These days, wherever we go, we face discrimination. Few people speak for us like this.”
“Rural folks are amazing! Without them, there’d be no us. Thank you to the farmers, thank you to the working people.”
“Thank you to the farmers, thank you to the working people.”
...
Qin Yu’s words not only ignited the chat room, but also inspired awe among those present.
Though the voices of doubt hadn’t vanished, they had clearly grown much quieter.
“Master, Yue’er is inside the house.”
Old Li’s home was a two-story flat, and Li Yue’er’s room was upstairs, facing north and south, but at this moment all doors and windows were tightly shut, sealed so thoroughly that a faint trace of ghostly aura seeped from within—subtle, yet undeniably present.
Qin Yu nodded, signaling him to knock.

“Knock, knock, knock.”
“Who is it?” A girl’s irritable voice sounded from behind the door.
“Yue’er, it’s your father.”
“You old fool, what do you want now?”
Old Li’s throat tightened; it was the first time his daughter had addressed him so. “I’ve made dinner. Come down and have a bite.”
“Take it away! I won’t eat! Don’t disturb me while I serve the immortal!”
Tears streamed down Old Li’s face as he whispered to Qin Yu, “Master, Yue’er was never like this. She used to be so filial and polite. Ever since she brought back that harmful stone statue, she’s become a completely different person.”
While Old Li and Li Yue’er spoke, Mu Ling had already slipped inside to investigate.
Qin Yu narrowed her eyes and beckoned Old Li closer, whispering into his ear, “Later, you just…”
After instructing Old Li, Qin Yu turned to brief the villagers.
Once everyone was ready, Qin Yu nodded at Old Li.
This time, when Old Li knocked, he was neither gentle nor patient. He rapped loudly and urgently, shouting into the room, “Li Yue’er, open the door! Enough with the worshipping! All day you do nothing but bow to that worthless stone! I’m coming in to smash it to pieces! Let’s see what you worship then!”
“You dare!”
The girl, furious, flung open the door. At that moment, two burly men lying in wait sprang out and subdued Li Yue’er to the floor.
Even with her hands and feet restrained, Li Yue’er raged like a trapped beast, baring her teeth at everyone.
She was nothing like a human, more a desperate animal driven to the brink.
Qin Yu formed a seal with her hands, and a spell mark took shape in her palm—a blaze of fire, lively and bright.
“Break!”
Her gentle voice shattered the chaos. The fire darted into Li Yue’er’s forehead.
In moments, clarity began to return to the girl’s once-clouded eyes.
“It hurts!”
Agony twisted her mad features.

Old Li recognized his daughter had returned, rushing forward in pain, “Yue’er, is that you? Yue’er?”
Qin Yu looked up at Mu Ling overhead.
A black ball of fur extended a long tail, which stretched into the room.
The furball bounced about, boasting in a voice only the two could hear, “Xiao Yu, you didn’t need to step in for this kind of trash. One swing of my divine tail trapped it completely.”
“Well done.”
Qin Yu praised perfunctorily and strode into the room.
Mu Ling: ??? That’s it?
Shouldn’t she have given him a bit more praise?
Li Yue’er’s room was dimly lit, but thick with incense.
Her desk was crowded with candlesticks, fresh fruit, and burning incense.
At the center, enshrined, was a faceless stone statue about half an arm tall.
Having absorbed the incense, its surface was translucent, glowing with spots of Buddhist light.
Yet even so, it could not conceal the ghostly aura emanating from within.
Mu Ling’s tail was wrapped tightly around the statue, trapping whatever was inside.
Qin Yu clenched her fist, knuckles cracking audibly. Smiling, she winked at the statue, “Will you come out on your own, or shall I force you out?”
“You think I’m stupid? If I come out, you’ll just beat me up! I’m not coming out. Let’s see what you can do! Nyah nyah, come and get me!” The thing inside the statue cackled with shrill laughter and taunted her nonstop.
Qin Yu raised an eyebrow, “Very well, I’ll oblige you.”
An annoyed Mu Ling floated in, just in time to hear Qin Yu imitating a strange voice, sending chills down his spine.
He glanced at the creature trapped in the statue, offering it a respectful salute.
Brother, may you rest in peace~