Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

Jiang Mu fell into deep thought.

In that last fight, besides his Saber Skill, the most eye-catching thing was the Instant Teleportation.

’In other words, this old man saw my Instant Teleportation ability and came to make a deal because of it.’

’Only Instant Teleportation can deal with his enemy?’

’What kind of person is this enemy anyway?’

’But this old man’s origins are a mystery. I can’t be sure he isn’t just making things up to lure me into a trap.’

’Besides, the Celestial Spirit Star is still a bit out of my reach right now.’

’If I really needed information, with the Demon-slaying Bureau’s vast network and a powerful backer like Patrol Envoy Ling Ye, would I really have trouble finding things out?’

Thinking of this, Jiang Mu shook his head. "You should find someone else."

The old man’s eyes dimmed, but he didn’t press the matter.

He took a neatly folded letter from his robes, placed it gently on the ground, and weighed it down with a small stone.

"My name is Dong Wanhai. This is my address. If you change your mind in the future, Lord Jiang, or become interested in the Celestial Spirit Star, you can find me at any time."

After speaking, the old man gave Jiang Mu a deep bow and melted into the darkness.

"Damn, a broke bastard, just as I thought."

Jiang Mu glanced at the few taels of silver he had found on Chen Da Chui’s corpse and curled his lip in disgust.

He walked over to the letter, hesitated for a moment, but picked it up anyway and unfolded it to look at the address.

Then, with a burst of energy from his fingertips, he disintegrated the paper into dust.

After dealing with the scene, Jiang Mu called over some nearby patrolling Government Officials, telling them to notify the Bureau to come clean up and to report the incident to Ran Qingshan.

Before long, Ran Qingshan arrived in a hurry with his men.

Looking at the headless corpse on the ground, the Lord Chief wore a helpless expression.

’This guy... can’t he ever stay out of trouble?’

’Though, I just promised he could walk through Hu State without a care in the world, and the next thing I know, he’s being ambushed on the street.’

’This is a real slap in the face.’

Jiang Mu didn’t mince words. "Lord, I strongly suspect someone from the Divine Sword Sect or someone within our own ranks deliberately leaked my location to have someone else do their dirty work. How about I take some men and go investigate the Divine Sword Sect directly?"

’He couldn’t just let this go; it was eating him up inside.’

Ran Qingshan was startled and quickly waved his hands.

"Don’t be rash. I’ll have someone investigate discreetly. For the next two days, don’t go running around. Just stay at home. I have a more important mission for you."

’Send this troublemaker to the Divine Sword Sect?’

’He’d probably stir up another storm.’

"A mission?"

Jiang Mu’s heart stirred. He probed, "Is it to go to Yan City and help exterminate Demons?"

Ran Qingshan didn’t confirm, only saying vaguely:

"Go home and rest for now. I’ll have my men clean up and knock some sense into these restless independent Cultivators in the city. Don’t worry, on my own turf here in Hu State, I can still protect you."

Jiang Mu silently retorted in his mind.

’My lord, your words aren’t the least bit convincing.’

But on the surface, he still cupped his fist respectfully.

"Yes, this subordinate understands."

—

By the time he returned home, it was late at night.

Bai Xiang had already washed the dishes and was now sitting under a lamp in the front hall, holding a ledger and flicking the beads of an abacus. CLACK-CLACK-CLACK.

The dim yellow light illuminated her focused profile.

Leaning against the doorframe, Jiang Mu sighed. ’This housekeeper of mine has it rough.’

’She tends to the courtyard, cooks, does the laundry, manages the accounts, and on top of all that, she has to put up with her master’s daily pestering, trying to hold her hand...’

’Her misery stats are maxed out.’

’I have to give her a raise.’

’Even if I’m a capitalist, I can’t exploit a helpless woman like this.’

Jiang Mu walked over and asked directly, "Why did you kick me under the table during dinner?"

Bai Xiang didn’t even lift her eyelids, continuing to flick the abacus beads.

CLACK-CLACK-CLACK, the sound was crisp and pleasant.

’Great, she dares to have this attitude toward her master.’

Jiang Mu turned and walked out of the hall, tossing a light comment over his shoulder, "I’m docking your pay next month."

Bai Xiang’s hand paused on the abacus.

She lifted her head and shook a small, delicate fist at Jiang Mu’s retreating back.

’What a creep!’

A moment later, the man’s head poked back in from the doorway. He held up two fingers.

"Just a reminder, my birthday is in two days. Don’t forget the surprise!"

With that, his head disappeared again.

Bai Xiang took a deep breath, fighting the urge to throw the abacus at him.

She lowered her head to continue with the accounts, but the more she calculated, the more irritated she became.

SLAP!

She slammed her palm down on the abacus, puffed out her cheeks, and then muttered through gritted teeth:

"I should just get you a coffin!"

After finishing the accounts with a sullen face, Bai Xiang went out into the courtyard.

There, she saw Yuan Ahqing practicing her stances diligently under the moonlight. The little girl was steaming, clearly at the critical moment of breaking through to the First Realm.

When she finished her form, Bai Xiang walked over and asked in sign language:

[Little Ah Qing, have you thought of a birthday gift for the Master?]

These past few days, besides reminding her, that guy had also been relentlessly pestering Yuan Ahqing, constantly nagging in the little girl’s ear.

Yuan Ahqing wiped her sweat, her little face blushing as she nodded. "I’ve thought of one."

?

’You really thought of something?’

Bai Xiang, who had planned to form an alliance with her to boycott the whole thing, felt a little dejected. She asked curiously in sign language:

[What are you planning to give him?]

Yuan Ahqing mysteriously scampered into the house and quickly returned with a peculiar object.

It was half a gourd with several bamboo pipes of varying lengths stuck into it.

Bai Xiang was a bit confused.

’What is this?’

Yuan Ahqing took the initiative to explain:

"This is called a gourd flute. It’s a musical instrument my mother once taught me. It isn’t worth much, but..."

As she spoke, Yuan Ahqing brought it to her lips and began to play softly.

"OOH... OOH-OOH..."

A graceful, melodious tune flowed into the night air.

The sound was somewhat like a xiao flute, but softer and mellower, with a unique vibrato and a rustic simplicity that also carried an indescribable melancholy.

Bai Xiang was captivated as she listened.