DONG... DONG...
"The air is dry, be careful with fire!"
The night was dark and gloomy. A Night Watchman, holding a Copper Gong, struck it rhythmically as he walked unhurriedly through the county streets.
DONG...
"Lock your doors and windows, beware of thieves and robbers!"
His hoarse voice wasn’t loud, but the familiar sound often brought an inexplicable sense of security.
SWISH!
A black shadow darted over a wall, landing crouched on a rooftop. It watched the Night Watchman, its crimson eyes filled with brutal, murderous intent.
Kill!
Kill!
Kill!
Licking the corner of its mouth, the shadow struggled to tear its gaze from the Night Watchman, its eyes landing on a beggar huddled in a corner.
’The Night Watchman is also one of the governnt officials. Killing him would probably displease Zhou Ye. This beggar, though, should be no problem.’
Ever since he began practicing the Silent Extinction Path of Evil Death, the killing intent in his heart had grown ever stronger. He could control it at first, but recently, he had reached a point where he would go mad if he didn’t kill.
Only killing could suppress the madness.
Killing...
also made him stronger.
"Die!"
As the Night Watchman moved away, the shadow could no longer control the murderous urge in its heart. In a flash, it pounced on the beggar in the corner.
Its ten fingers were outstretched like sharp daggers.
If they landed on a person, they would surely tear the body to pieces.
At the thought of a living person dying by its hand—the feeling of a vibrant life slowly fading and withering away—a look of crazed delight appeared on the shadow’s face.
PENG!
CRACK...
The sound of fingers breaking rang out.
The beggar, who had been curled up in the corner, suddenly erupted. A violent wave of Inner Qi, almost tangible, rushed forward.
A single punch was enough to break all ten of the shadow’s fingers.
"What did beggars ever do to you? You even kill beggars. You’re utterly inhuman!"
The enraged beggar’s Fist Technique was fierce and powerful. A single punch carried a dull, heavy boom, and fallen leaves several ters away silently shattered.
Inner Qi Release!
"Sothing’s definitely wrong here."
Beneath his ssy, long hair, the beggar’s eyes were sharp. "There have been a series of disappearances and murders in Leping County recently. Don’t tell it was all your doing?"
"AARGH!"
The shadow roared at the sky. Although it was forced back again and again, the killing intent in its heart only intensified, and the Inner Qi within its body circulated at an astonishing speed.
"Kill!"
PENG!
Powerful Qi surged.
The beggar took a step back, looking at his own palm with surprise. His expression grew increasingly grave.
"Yin Corpse Evil Qi, an Innate thod... No wonder you can fight with the strength of soone only at the Nurturing Inner Qi Stage."
"Who in the world are you?"
"Hm?"
The words had barely left his lips when his expression suddenly changed. His body shot sideways like an agile monkey.
THWACK!
A long spear appeared out of nowhere, piercing the spot where the beggar had just been standing. It sank more than a foot deep into the ground. If he hadn’t dodged in ti, he would have been impaled on the spot.
A figure appeared right behind it.
SWISH!
The figure, spear in hand, attacked the beggar without a word.
"This spear technique..." The beggar twisted to dodge. His Fist Technique changed from its previous wide, powerful style to sothing nimble and unusual. "The Wu Family’s Chain Spear! You’re Black Tiger Wu Chun!" he exclaid in surprise.
"How dare you show your face in Leping County again?"
PENG!
As their Powerful Qi collided, Wu Chun’s face darkened, and he took a step back. His eyes, fixed on the beggar, flickered with shifting emotions.
"The Supre Profound Yin Yang Fist... You’re one of the Court’s Inspector Spies!"
"Oh?" The beggar raised an eyebrow. "You were able to guess my identity? It seems you’re no common bandit. Who is pulling your strings?"
"Hmph!" Wu Chun took another step back and gestured to the black shadow.
"Go, now!"
"Trying to run?" The beggar stepped forward.
"Did you ask for my permission?"
BOOM!
The Supre Profound Yin Yang Fist: its Yang Fist was the epito of hardness and ferocity, its Yin Fist was yielding and unpredictable, and its Yin Yang Unity was endlessly powerful. It was a technique taught specifically by the Court to the Inspector Spies who monitored local officials.
With the beggar now unleashing his full power, even Wu Chun could only retreat again and again.
However, with him buying ti, the black shadow finally regained a sliver of sanity from its crazed bloodlust and fled quickly.
CLANG CLANG CLANG...
PENG!
Under the cover of night, figures clashed and darted.
The beggar frowned, looking at the intricate network of surrounding streets, his expression growing uglier.
’This guy is even more familiar with the layout of Leping County than I am. He must have lived here a long ti.’
’He killed the Sunx Family Patriarch and still stayed in Leping County for all these years?’
’Strange!’
’And that strange person reeking of Yin Corpse Evil Qi... I’m afraid great chaos is about to erupt here. I must report this to my superiors.’
If it were just Black Tiger Wu Chun, as an Inspector Spy for the Court, he had plenty of ways to deal with him.
But now that the matter involved the ’Yin Corpse Evil Qi’ associated with Innate Qi Refiners, it was beyond his ability to handle.
「A short while later.」
SCREE!
With a low cry, a bird shot into the sky, flying from Leping County toward the Governnt Office in Hejian Prefecture.
*
*
*
「The Otherworld.」
Yidu.
A bustling city in Qingzhou of the Saint Dynasty.
Zhu Ju—wearing a Magic Crown, a long robe, a jade pendant at his waist, and Yin Yang Shoes—crossed over once again, appearing near the city gate.
"Young Master."
A man approached, cupping his fist in his palm.
"You have an unfamiliar face, Young Master. Is this your first ti in Yidu? This city has historic sites from three dynasties, Buddhist Temples, and Daoist Temples. I know all the famous scenic spots."
"If you need a guide or soone to run errands, I can help with that."
"Oh?"
Zhu Ju glanced to the side. The man was dressed as a porter or servant, the kind of professional who runs errands for others.
Although it was a lowly profession, the man’s clothes were clean and his movents were sharp. He spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, unlike the other filthy porters.
"Interesting."
He spoke nonchalantly.
"What are your rates?"
"Twenty large coins a day," Yang Qiu said, his eyes lighting up.
"Don’t think it’s expensive, Young Master. My na is Yang Qiu, and people call the Yidu Omniscient. As long as it’s sothing happening in Yidu City, big or small, I know about it."
"Is that so?" Zhu Ju asked.
"Do you also know about matters concerning Magicians and Mages?"
"..." Yang Qiu’s expression stiffened.
"You must be joking, Young Master. I’ve t a few Magicians, but how could I possibly know about great figures like Mages? I do, however, know where the Marketplace is."
"The Marketplace is where people like that buy and sell their wares."
"That’s good enough," Zhu Ju said with a nod, striding forward.
"Keep up."
"Yes!" Yang Qiu grinned and hurried to follow.
"This is the main street of Yidu City, also known as Celestial Phoenix Street. It’s said a phoenix once landed here."
"The shops on both sides are all opened by the city’s wealthy rchants. They sell good things, but the prices are a bit steep."
He explained as they walked.
Yang Qiu truly lived up to his "Omniscient" nickna. He could introduce the city’s streets, bridges, canals, and even an old tree, rattling off several anecdotes for each.
This also allowed Zhu Ju to quickly get a grasp of the local environnt.
This world was very strange. Although it had a unified dynasty, the Court seed almost invisible in the various regions. The cities were more like self-governing entities.
Heroes of the Martial World, Mages, Magicians, demons, ghosts, and ordinary Mortals all lived together.
Chaos!
Utter and complete chaos!
But the people here were clearly used to it. Yang Qiu even joked about the currency fluctuations in recent years.
"More than ten years ago, one tael of silver could be exchanged for over a thousand large coins, but now you can’t even get eight hundred. The Court keeps talking about standardizing the legal tender, bringing it up every few years, but nothing has ever co of it."
"That Granny Niu who lives on this street is a Magician. They say she has the ability to seize the Soul."
"..."
"Yang Qiu," Zhu Ju said, stopping in front of a tavern and interrupting his endless chatter.
"If you can buy a residence in this city and have the paperwork sorted out within a day, I will pay you fifty taels of silver as a reward."
"If you can do it, co find here. If not, there’s no need to keep following ."
Fifty taels of silver?
Yang Qiu’s expression shifted several tis. Then, he gritted his teeth and nodded firmly.
"I can do it!"
...
「Evening.」
The tavern.
Zhu Ju sat on the second floor, sipping tea.
Between the introductions from Xinhai and Yang Qiu, and his own several explorations into this world, his understanding of it was growing deeper and deeper.
Unlike what the Monk Xinhai had ntioned, this world wasn’t crawling with Magicians and Mages. In fact, Magicians were extrely rare, and Mages were as elusive as a Divine Dragon—seen only by its tail, if at all.
As for Great Mages and Bodhisattva True n, an ordinary person like Yang Qiu hadn’t even heard of them, let alone seen one.
’This is more like it!’
’If Mages were really everywhere and Magicians were a di a dozen, the power ceiling of this realm would be terrifying. He might as well give up exploring this Otherworld and just go back to the Main World to lie low.’
Even in a major city like Yidu, there weren’t many Magicians and even fewer Mages. It was mostly populated by ordinary people.
Not long after, a sweat-drenched Yang Qiu ca up to the second floor. He handed over several docunts and notices, saying:
"I’ve found two residences. You can go transfer the deeds anyti, Young Master. Also..."
"I also asked around about the Magicians."
"Oh?" Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.
"Yang Qiu, your efficiency has far exceeded my expectations. Don’t be in a rush. Sit down and have a bite."
"Thank you for your generosity, Young Master!"
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