Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Taking the Initiative to Visit

Liu Hao Tian reacted quickly. His swordlike brows lifted as he said, “Fellow Cultivator Wei, do you mean this was done deliberately by evil cultivators, and the goal is to spread evil cultivation methods?”

Yun Xi nodded. “That’s my guess. Mortals don’t enter the Dao, so their lifespans are limited. They chase powerful strength, the right to rise above their class, and a life of eternal youth. All of that is enough to tempt them into cultivating evil arts. As cultivators, we all know this well-once you cultivate evil methods, you have to keep killing. Those who die unjustly will be filled with towering resentment. When that resentment builds up to a certain point, it becomes nourishment for evil cultivators. Maybe that’s why they tossed evil manuals into the mortal world in the first place.”

Yu Qing Cheng narrowed her phoenix eyes. It seemed she had been thinking about this too simply before.

Xia You thought carefully about what Yun Xi said, then spoke. “Actually, if we want to verify whether your guess is right, we just need to investigate carefully on our way back to the Cultivation World. We’ll definitely find some clues.”

Yu Qing Cheng nodded. “Right. Yun Xi’s spirit pet can help at the perfect time.”

Liu Hao Tian had not seen Dian Dian yet, so he looked at Yun Xi.

Yun Xi did not put on airs. She reached into her robe and tugged Dian Dian out, letting Dian Dian formally meet the other three. “This is my spirit beast, a Trail-Seeking Rat. Its name is Wei Dian Dian. You can just call it Dian Dian.”

Dian Dian stood upright, pressed its front paws together, and cupped them in greeting. Its little black-bean eyes rolled around once, and it quickly recognized all of its master’s new friends.

Yu Qing Cheng smiled. “Sister Yun Xi, you’re raising a spirit beast like a pet. Why didn’t you get a spirit beast pouch?”

Yun Xi rubbed Dian Dian’s head. “I never planned to rely on Dian Dian to raise my fighting strength. I kept it because it’s cute, just to cheer myself up. I just didn’t expect it to be talented at tracking. This time, it was able to sense that the bandit chief was an evil cultivator, and that was thanks to Dian Dian’s sharp nose.”

Liu Hao Tian nodded. “That’s Fellow Cultivator Wei’s good fortune. Dian Dian’s fighting strength may be low, but it has other strengths. That’s also a kind of help.”

Yun Xi nodded in agreement. Contracting Dian Dian had been a pure accident on her part.

After Dian Dian finished greeting everyone, it returned to Yun Xi’s arms, and the four of them began discussing their next plans.

Yu Qing Cheng still had her mind on settling accounts with Boss Shen, so Yun Xi smiled and said, “Boss Shen was scared sick. Don’t hit too hard.”

Yu Qing Cheng’s willow brows shot up. “If he weren’t a mortal, I’d have killed him already. He even wanted to sell off my Senior Brother Liu. He must have eaten a bear’s heart and leopard’s guts.”

Yun Xi explained, “The one who wanted to buy you was the county magistrate. He did it to deal with the imperial censor who’s about to arrive. That’s an official from the capital, and he values beauty a lot. He’s not picky about men or women either. To keep his post, the county magistrate is really going all out.”

“Bribing his superior. Looks like this county magistrate isn’t any good either,” Yu Qing Cheng said indifferently.

“County Magistrate Zhou is actually pretty interesting. If you say he isn’t a good official, then why did he plant a spy in the bandit stronghold on purpose to wipe out the bandits? When we delivered the bandits right to his doorstep, he made a decisive ruling-kill who should be killed, punish who should be punished. The gold and silver we recovered also went into the county office treasury. He didn’t pocket it. To deal with that lustful imperial censor, he even has to pay out of his own pocket to send beauties. In that sense, he looks like someone who knows how to adapt.”

After hearing that, Yu Qing Cheng also felt this County Magistrate Zhou was quite interesting-an official who knew how to be flexible.

Liu Hao Tian caught something different in Yun Xi’s words and said, “Fellow Cultivator Wei, are you trying to help this County Magistrate Zhou?”

Yun Xi smiled, dimples appearing. “Overall, County Magistrate Zhou counts as a qualified county magistrate. He can keep one region safe. This matter has already gotten tangled up with us, so why not help a little? I’m also curious what this imperial censor is like.”

Yu Qing Cheng could tell at once that Yun Xi’s curiosity outweighed any desire to help. She pressed her lips into a smile. “Sure. Since we’ll be searching for traces of evil cultivators along the way, taking one or two extra days won’t matter. Let’s go meet this County Magistrate Zhou.”

All four of them were the type to act fast. Once they decided, they went to the county magistrate’s residence that very night.

Yun Xi, following the principle of not troubling a second person when one would do, asked the adviser acting as a spy to help introduce them to County Magistrate Zhou.

Hao Chun De, who was pretending to be the adviser, saw the four of them appear out of nowhere. He forced down the urge to scream and briskly led them to County Magistrate Zhou.

County Magistrate Zhou had been worrying about where to find beauties, and then he saw four beauties, each radiant in her own way. He froze, and only Hao Chun De’s voice pulled him back to himself.

“Master, these are the immortal cultivators I told you about before, the ones who helped capture the mountain bandits.”

County Magistrate Zhou immediately stood and bowed. “Thank you, the four of you, for stepping in with righteous courage. Only then was Jin Shan County able to remove this tumor. Please allow Zhou to bow to you.”

The four accepted County Magistrate Zhou’s bow, then took their seats.

Yun Xi got straight to the point and spoke about the imperial censor, which made County Magistrate Zhou feel embarrassed. “How can I trouble the four immortal cultivators to act in this matter? This… this…”

Liu Hao Tian said calmly, “It’s fine. This matter has some involvement with us, and this is a way to settle karma. Just arrange a place for us to stay. When that imperial censor arrives, you only need to introduce us to him. We will handle the rest.”

“Yes. Zhou will personally arrange lodgings for the four of you right away.”

County Magistrate Zhou went to find his wife, explained the reason briefly, and quickly cleared out the rear courtyard for the four immortal cultivators to stay in.

Madam Yu was also seeing the legendary immortal cultivators for the first time. She was respectful, but cautious. Still, the four of them were far too striking, and she could not help stealing a few extra looks.

After Yun Xi and the other three moved into the county magistrate’s residence, they each went into closed-door cultivation and did not go out. Four days later, Hao Chun De came to deliver a message, saying the imperial censor had arrived in Jin Shan County.

County Magistrate Zhou led all the officials of the county office to welcome the imperial censor, and escorted Di Kang Nian’s group into a local rich household’s vacated residence with three successive courtyards.

Di Kang Nian put on a great deal of airs. That day, he never met County Magistrate Zhou at all. He rode in a carriage straight to his lodgings, wrapped his arms around two concubines, and went into the courtyard without even showing his face.

County Magistrate Zhou cursed in his heart, but his outward attitude remained extremely respectful. Early the next morning, he personally sent four sedan chairs to Di Kang Nian’s residence.

Di Kang Nian was being served breakfast by his concubines. When he heard his subordinate report it, he grew interested. He waved for the slightly unhappy concubines at his side to leave, changed into a dark purple robe, and stepped out of the room.

Seeing the four sedan chairs parked in the courtyard, he nodded in satisfaction and signaled his men to invite the people out.

Yu Qing Cheng was the first to step down. Today, she wore a red robe, making her looks even more alluring. When her phoenix eyes shifted, everyone in the courtyard lost their senses, and even Di Kang Nian’s breathing quickened by two beats.

Yun Xi was the second to step down. Today, she adjusted her robe to a pale lotus-pink, which matched her sweet, lively face perfectly.

Xia You was the third. She wore a blue robe, her expression cool and faint, with a clean, restrained charm that still drew the eye.

Liu Hao Tian was the last to step out. He was 1.9 meters tall, and his sky-blue robe set off his handsome, unearthly air. Beneath his swordlike brows was a pair of peach-blossom eyes that made people’s minds wander, and Di Kang Nian grew even more restless.