A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

In the alley, Lü Zhong finished replaying the scene, his brow furrowed.

’I knew it! There’s something wrong with that person!’

If he had encountered something like this in the wilds, he would have immediately turned back to eliminate the threat. Unfortunately, he was currently in Yongling City, where cultivators were forbidden from private duels, let alone public murder.

’Even though I believe they’re a Demon Cultivator, what if I kill them and can’t find any evidence to prove it?’

’At that point, I’d probably be captured by Yongling City and have my cultivation crippled.’

After thinking it over, Lü Zhong decided it was best to be cautious and suppressed his killing intent for the time being. Then, he suddenly had a great idea—one that might even bring him considerable benefits.

’That’s it! I’ll go find Lan Yuming!’

Lan Yuming was a squad leader in the Law Enforcement Team and held authority within Yongling City.

’Considering a Demon Cultivator recently took six lives in the city, the Law Enforcement Team must be interested in capturing one alive.’

Lü Zhong pictured the map of Yongling City in his mind and quickly pinpointed the location of Miaoyin Square.

...

Miaoyin Square. A three-story, brick-and-tile pavilion.

In the reception hall, Lan Yuming sat on a chair, glaring at the five subordinates kneeling before him, his face contorted with rage.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! What do I even feed you five for? A Demon Cultivator has committed seven bloody crimes in a row in the south of the city, and you’re telling me you can’t find a single trace? If Elder Dong asks about it tomorrow, what am I supposed to tell him?!"

The five Law Enforcement Team members below were scared silent. Not a single one dared to make a sound.

CRACK!

Lan Yuming crushed the teacup in his hand. He pointed at the five men and delivered his ultimatum. "I’m giving you one more day. If you still can’t find any clues, then get the hell out of my sight. The Law Enforcement Team has no room for useless trash like you!"

"We understand!"

The five men looked as if their own parents had just died. It wasn’t for a lack of trying; the Demon Cultivator was simply too good at hiding. Even though they had used every trick up their sleeves and given it their all, they still hadn’t found a single clue.

After the five men left, a servant girl who had been waiting outside the hall for some time finally came in.

Judging by her timid expression, she was clearly afraid her master would turn his anger on her.

"M-Master... someone outside has presented a calling card."

Lan Yuming took the card. When he saw the name "Lü Zhong" written in the visitor’s section, he couldn’t recall who it was at first. After a moment, he finally remembered: a Talisman Maker he had met at Silver Treasure Village.

Normally, he would have gladly received a visitor, but he was far too irritable right now to think about networking.

Lan Yuming immediately waved his hand dismissively. "Tell him I’m... no, forget it. Bring him in."

A short while later, Lü Zhong was brought before Lan Yuming.

Lü Zhong’s gaze swept over the teacup shards on the floor. Seeing them, along with Lan Yuming’s simmering anger and the five Law Enforcement Team members who had just scurried out with their heads bowed, he could easily guess what had just transpired.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, I have something to report."

"Speak," Lan Yuming said, his eyes distant as if lost in thought.

"A Demon Cultivator. I’ve found traces of one."

"What?!" Lan Yuming shot to his feet, all composure forgotten. He rushed over to Lü Zhong and demanded, "Where is the Demon Cultivator? What proof do you have?"

Lü Zhong told him the red-haired Female Cultivator’s location. As for proof, he certainly wasn’t foolish enough to reveal the existence of his Gray Mist Space, so he gave the excuse he had prepared on his way over.

He claimed he had used his Qi Observation Skill to spot the Demonic Qi the Demon Cultivator had inadvertently leaked.

"This..." Lan Yuming gave Lü Zhong a long, hard look, then suddenly cooled down.

The Law Enforcement Team had plenty of members skilled in the Qi Observation Skill. Yet after all this time, not a single one had managed to catch a Demon Cultivator with it. It was hard for him to believe that Lü Zhong had succeeded where they had failed.

Still, Lü Zhong’s expression didn’t seem like he was lying.

’Could it be that he found it using some other method, and the Qi Observation Skill is just a pretext?’ Lan Yuming suddenly considered the possibility.

’That has to be the only explanation.’

Like a drowning man clutching at a straw, Lan Yuming immediately activated a blue Jade Token at his waist. It was a special Magical Artifact exclusive to the Law Enforcement Team, and activating it would summon his five subordinates.

Once his men were assembled, Lan Yuming gave a decisive wave of his hand and led them charging toward Changle Square.

Lü Zhong followed them.

The capture went smoothly. The red-haired Female Cultivator only had a Fourth Level of Qi Refining Cultivation. Facing Lan Yuming’s entire squad, she was powerless to resist. Even when she dropped her disguise and unleashed her Demon Technique, she only managed to last for two or three more moves.

"CLICK!" With the Spirit-Banning Lock that suppressed her cultivation fastened in place, the Demon Cultivator had no chance of escape.

Lü Zhong breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Demon Cultivator was subdued.

Lan Yuming’s face was flushed with excitement; he could barely keep himself from laughing out loud.

His orders from above were merely to find a clue about the Demon Cultivators, but now he had captured one alive. He had far exceeded his mission’s objectives. By following the trail from this one Demon Cultivator, he might be able to uncover even more of them lurking in Yongling City.

This was, without a doubt, a monumental achievement!

And it was all thanks to Lü Zhong.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lü! I will be sure to reward you generously for this in the future!"

Lü Zhong heard the words but didn’t pay them much mind.

’After all, people change. No one can stay true to their principles in the face of immense benefits. If they do, it only means the benefits weren’t great enough.’

After bidding farewell to Lan Yuming, he headed for the house he had just rented.

...

It was a small, secluded courtyard built on the bank of a river.

The courtyard wasn’t large, less than half an acre, and was enclosed by a fence made of thorny branches. It contained three green-brick, tile-roofed buildings—one large and two small—that looked as though they had been built quite recently.