Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

’I never thought this little girl had it in her.’

When the song ended, Yuan Ahqing lowered the gourd flute, her face flushing. She looked down, scuffing the ground with her toe, and said softly,

"I didn’t know what to get the Master... And I don’t have any money.

Then I remembered this song. It’s very important to me—it’s the one thing my mother left me to remember her by.

I thought... if I played it for the Master, he would like it too, wouldn’t he?"

Bai Xiang took the gourd flute, looked at it, and fell silent.

The gift itself was humble, but the sentiment behind it was anything but.

’That guy is definitely going to be touched.’

’Compared to this, if I just gave him something perfunctory, wouldn’t that make me seem terribly insincere?’

Bai Xiang felt a headache coming on.

She’d never imagined this little girl would actually end up putting pressure on her.

’Maybe... I should play an instrument too?’

’Play a flute?’

’Play a zither?’

’But playing instruments and singing... in many people’s eyes, those are the skills of a courtesan. As someone of my station... how could I possibly do such a thing?’

’That’s an act meant to please others!’

’Absolutely not.’

...

「Inside the room.」

Jiang Mu was lying on his bed, hands cradled behind his head, thinking about his next move.

Inside the transparent bubbles floating beside him, three Demon Shadows cultivated tirelessly.

Demon Shadow Number One sat cross-legged, using breathing techniques to stabilize its foundation.

Shadow Number Two practiced the *Profound Aura True Manual*, a gift from Ling Ye.

Meanwhile, Demon Shadow Number Three was diligently cultivating the *Purple Pole Art*.

And as for Jiang Mu himself, he was having the toughest time of all—

He was just lying there, doing nothing.

Upon discovering that he could transfer his orthodox Star Position without any negative repercussions, Jiang Mu had simply tossed the Earth Concealing Star to Shadow Number Two, completely washing his hands of the responsibility.

The demonic blood in the Demon Slot could likely sustain about a month of this high-intensity, automated training.

And next to the Demon Slot, a small black vortex floated in the air.

This was a Demon Pill, formed from the essence of the several hundred demons he had slain in Black Wind Valley. It hadn’t fully materialized yet and was still in the process of self-refinement.

He had fed the last Demon Pill to Number One, which awakened the divine skill [Instant Teleportation].

He wondered what kind of jackpot this one would hit.

’With the boost from my orthodox Star Position, I’m already in the late Third Realm. At this rate, I’ll reach the Great Perfection stage in a month or two, and the Fourth Realm will be within my grasp.’

Jiang Mu stroked his chin, plotting internally,

’Once I hit the Fourth Realm, I’ll have to start searching for a Celestial Spirit Level Star Position. Otherwise, when I reach the peak of that realm, I won’t be able to break through to the Fifth Realm without a matching Star Position.’

’Of course, if I really can’t find an orthodox one, the Demon-slaying Bureau should have some makeshift Celestial Spirit Level Star Official Seals I can use. No need to get too anxious about it.’

After all, only thirty-six orthodox Celestial Spirit Level Star Positions existed.

Across the entire Great Qing Dynasty, you could probably count the number of experts at that level on one hand. Finding one in a backwater place like Hu State was out of the question.

"The solitary path to immortality, the solitary path to immortality..."

Jiang Mu rolled over, muttering, "Damn it. This fucking Celestial Dao... does it have to force everyone to walk a cursed and lonely path?"

He rubbed his face, then suddenly remembered something.

On the way back tonight, Ling Ye had mentioned Yuan Ahqing.

He’d said the girl had an exceptionally rare aptitude. She was not only suited for Qi Cultivation, but was also prime material for practicing the Sword Dao. He recommended training her to become a Sword Cultivator.

’So this little girl of mine is a Sword Dao prodigy?’

’As her boss, it’s only natural that I pave the way for my employee.’

’Weapons, sword manuals, and all that... I’ve got to get her a decent set, right?’

’The Demon-slaying Bureau’s armory has them, but unfortunately, I spent every last one of my contribution points on that Star Official Seal.’

’Besides, those standard-issue weapons from the Demon-slaying Bureau aren’t worthy of a prodigy.’

"Sword Dao... Sword Dao..."

"SMACK!"

Jiang Mu suddenly slapped his thigh and shot up into a sitting position.

’How could I have forgotten the Divine Sword Sect!’

’They’re one of the top Sword Dao Sects in the martial world, with a legacy stretching back centuries and incredibly deep roots!’

’They must be packed to the gills with Divine Weapons and peerless sword manuals! And it was definitely the Divine Sword Sect that leaked the news about me and sent the whole martial world chasing after me.’

’Perfect.’

’A while ago, I had a "beloved" sword that was "borrowed" by that punk, He Shuangying.’

’Now the guy’s dead, but the sword hasn’t been returned.’

’How is that acceptable?’

’That’s just shameless!’

’It’s only natural for a son to pay his father’s debts, and a father to pay his son’s. That’s just the way of the world.’

’Since He Shuangying is gone, I’ll just go ask his mother for it. Or his grandfather!’

"It’s decided!"

A glint shone in Jiang Mu’s eyes. "Tomorrow, I’m going to the Divine Sword Sect to collect what I’m owed!"