With his piece said, Qu Qixing led a group of people away in a great bustle.
Qu Qizhong watched them leave, the smile on his face slowly vanishing until only an icy coldness remained in his eyes.
He stood there blankly for a mont before turning and entering the house.
After watching the whole debt-collection drama play out, Zhang Deming placed a mark on Qu Qizhong, then turned and left for target number five.
Zhang Deming took one look at target number five and imdiately crossed him off the list.
The guy was a total slacker, the kind that was completely hopeless.
After looking over the information, Zhang Deming revised his screening criteria again and began evaluating a second batch of candidates.
Over the course of the afternoon, Zhang Deming went from five targets in the first batch, to seventeen in the second, and then to thirty-three in the third.
After a preliminary screening, he finally narrowed the list down to three potential candidates.
So far, Qu Qizhong’s situation was the one Zhang Deming was most satisfied with.
This was especially true because he seed to be pursuing the path of a professional rchant, and his Entry-Level Magical Technique was very likely Oratory.
From the farce this afternoon, it was clear that he was quite skilled with Oratory.
Oratory is a type of Word Spirit Magic. It has no specific Hand Techniques and relies solely on one’s speech. Cultivating this Magic requires a certain degree of natural talent.
Using this Magic as a foundation and continuing to cultivate, he could potentially beco a rchant of the Miscellaneous Arts Dao.
Or a Law Master, Word Spirit Mage, or other such Elite Mages.
As the sky darkened, Zhang Deming found a place to eat and then waited in an inn until midnight.
Then, Zhang Deming donned the black robe and mask he had prepared earlier and opened his room’s window.
The Light Wings on his heels trembled slightly, and Zhang Deming leaped straight out.
He flitted swiftly across the rooftops. With so many Cultivators around, Zhang Deming did his best to conceal his Spiritual Power fluctuations.
A short while later, Zhang Deming arrived again in the northern part of the city, outside Qu Qizhong’s house. He first crouched on the roof, listening quietly for a mont.
Hearing nothing, a slender vine sprouted from Zhang Deming’s palm. It gently pushed open a window, and he slipped nimbly inside.
"Who’s there?"
Zhang Deming had just climbed into the house from the back courtyard when he heard a cry of alarm from the next room.
Zhang Deming froze instantly. ’Did he spot , or is soone else here?’
Before Zhang Deming could make a move, a brief silence was broken by a voice that suddenly rang out from the next room.
"I heard a rumor, and it says: the person who snuck into my house tonight will co and say hello."
As the words sounded, Zhang Deming, who was still listening for any movent, instantly sensed a fluctuation of Spiritual Power.
Imdiately, his entire body began to move uncontrollably. He got up and casually walked into the adjacent room.
"Uh, hi. Good evening!" Zhang Deming greeted him casually, just like that.
’Heh, so he really is an Oratory Cultivator. And from the looks of it, his skill is quite profound!’
Zhang Deming entered the next room, which was a study. Qu Qizhong was standing in front of a writing desk.
They were both stunned to see each other.
Qu Qizhong was stunned by Zhang Deming’s sudden appearance and his attire.
He had initially thought it was just his imagination and had only used that technique out of caution. He never expected soone had actually shown up.
What stunned Zhang Deming was that behind a bookshelf in the study, there was a secret room—one his Spiritual Eye hadn’t detected during the day. Right now, its door was open.
As for Qu Qizhong himself, he no longer had his haggard appearance from the dayti. Instead, he looked vigorous and completely normal.
’Heh, this guy is interesting!’
After a mont of shock, Qu Qizhong’s expression changed drastically. He instantly opened his mouth, channeling Spiritual Power into his voice, and said:
"I heard a rumor, and it says: the person before tonight will ki—mmph... mmph..."
The instant Qu Qizhong opened his mouth, the Light Wings on Zhang Deming’s heels flickered, and he shot in front of him, clamping a hand over his mouth.
During the Apprentice Stage, although Oratory doesn’t require Hand Techniques, the words must be spoken aloud for the Technique to take effect.
It’s just like how other mages must perform Hand Techniques when Casting.
While covering Qu Qizhong’s mouth, Zhang Deming’s other hand swiftly completed a Spell. Green Vines shot out from his pocket, snaking around Qu Qizhong and binding him.
"Your Oratory is not bad, but it’s a pity your Cultivation is a bit lacking. And since you only know this one Entry-Level Technique, your combat strength is just pathetic."
Once the Vines had him initially bound, Zhang Deming let him go.
"I heard a rumor—" Qu Qizhong quickly began to say.
"If you ’hear’ any more damn rumors and continue spouting nonsense, I can guarantee that your head will part ways with the rest of you before you can finish."
As Zhang Deming spoke, a Vine slithered up and coiled around the man’s neck, moving gently like a snake.
Qu Qizhong instantly went rigid, no longer daring to make a single move.
"What’s wrong? Heard another rumor? Why aren’t you spouting more nonsense?"
Qu Qizhong stared coldly at Zhang Deming, his mouth clamped shut, not daring to speak rashly.
Zhang Deming turned away, ignoring him, and entered the secret room.
The secret room was not large, only about five or six square ters, and there wasn’t much inside.
A quick glance revealed a Cultivation Technique manual, a Technique manual, and a small bag of Spirit Stones.
The Cultivation Technique was, as expected, the Celestial Spirit Sect’s ubiquitous "Basic Cultivation Technique". The Technique was precisely "Oratory: Rumors". The small cloth bag of Spirit Stones wasn’t bad, containing a full seventeen stones.
For an ordinary person, this was a considerable sum of money.
These items were already packed and bundled together. Zhang Deming glanced at Qu Qizhong’s clothes and asked, "What, planning on making a run for it?"
Qu Qizhong stared coldly at Zhang Deming. Gone was the timid man from the dayti; his gaze was frigid as he said:
"My family is already sucking dry and grinding my bones. It’s co to this. Do I have any other choice?"
Zhang Deming was slightly taken aback, then chuckled. "I think you’ve misunderstood sothing. My surna is Zhang."
"I have nothing to do with your Qu Family of East City, not in the slightest. And I’m not here to collect any debts."
Qu Qizhong paused, clearly not having expected such a response from Zhang Deming.
He recovered in an instant, his tone becoming mild. "Perhaps it really is a misunderstanding. In that case, sir, for what purpose have you paid this late-night visit?"
"I see you’ve opened my bundle, yet you didn’t take the Spirit Stones. I suppose you’re not a common thief or robber, then."
"And I, for one, don’t recall ever having any dealings with soone like yourself."
Zhang Deming paused. "Right, I forgot to introduce myself. Let do so properly. My surna is Zhang, and my given na is Wu."
"I am a Yellow-Level Three-Star mber of the Blue Sky Alliance."
Zhang Deming began his self-introduction, reciting the cover story he had prepared that morning.
As for the na "Blue Sky Alliance," it was a nod to a fond mory from his past life.
"Blue Sky Alliance? A Yellow-Level Three-Star mber? I’m afraid I’ve never heard of it," Qu Qizhong replied, a flicker of doubt crossing his face.
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