Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

"There's no need to bring this up again, fellow Daoist Qian," Yi Chen refused without a second thought.

His decision to agree to Qian Yueru's request to guard Longjiang Prefecture was merely a matter of convenience.

Never one to be bound by others' constraints, he would never again join any other power.

"Eh, I just knew it would be like this," Qian Yueru's face fell, momentarily wilted like a frost-stricken eggplant.

As the saying goes, it's easy to recruit an army, but difficult to find a good general.

Who could refuse a subordinate both capable and smart?

If she could win over Yi Chen, think of all the trouble she could save.

With a light sigh, Qian Yueru began walking down the streets of the other districts, carrying her Bagua Xuanhua Axe on her back.

It was rare to find a satisfactory subordinate, and now her attempt to recruit one had been rejected; she was in a bit of a bad mood and felt like venting her frustration by practicing her axe skills on a few unlucky ones.

Then she would go back for a simple late-night snack.

In these extraordinary times, one mustn't overindulge.

Maybe just some carp baked with noodles, or a whole roasted sheep.

After watching Qian Yueru leave, Yi Chen dusted off his hands and continued his investigation of the reported "fortunate ones."

Even though a big fish had been caught, who could guarantee there weren't problems with the rest?

Therefore, Yi Chen still had to put in the extra effort in this night's shift.

...

...

The night of the full moon.

Light spread everywhere, and the moon above Longjiang shone like a jade belt, winding its way forward.

At this moment, four paper figurines enveloped in Yin Qi were carrying a large, red palanquin as they flew swiftly, arriving at a secluded location hundreds of miles away from Longjiang Prefecture.

The top of the red palanquin was round, and dreamlike red gauze curtains cascaded down. A beautiful figure lay sideways atop the vast palanquin, and just the glimpse of a shadowy profile was enough to parch one's mouth and tongue.

A fair hand lifted the curtain revealing a cheek fitting for both anger and joy, playful words drifting towards a shadow by the riverbank: "Daoist You Quanzi, you have become ever more cautious, haven't you? The night is deep and dew is cold, why not come inside my gauze curtain and have a chat?"

Her voice was both grievous and affectionate, highly enticing.

The shadow by the riverbank suddenly writhed as it was called out by the owner of the gauze curtain. The hiding place of the shadow slowly lost its shade, revealing its occupant.

It was a thin, tall Daoist in black robes, with a waist hanging a purple gourd.

Strange red patterns wound around the gourd, giving it a mystical appearance.

The Daoist was revealed, but his face was still shrouded in shadow, obscuring his true features.

In the darkness of the night, a voice as grating as sawing a pot with a broken saw spoke up.

"Daoist You Quanzi would like to live a few more years; Madam Butterfly, I think I'll stay out of your dark and lovely tent," he said.

"I am here today to discuss with you, Madam. Now that three days have passed of the seven required for the blood sacrifice, and we have yet to collect all the offerings, what shall we do?"

"I have already learned that your pet chubby bug has just met its demise in the netherworld this very night."

Upon hearing You Quanzi's words, Madam Butterfly didn't get angry but chuckled instead, her laugh breaking the clouds and revealing the moon, stunningly beautiful, making hearts flutter.

She played with her hair next to her ear with fingers that could slice onions, opened the curtain wide, stretched lazily, revealing a breathtaking curve as she giggled and said:

"The foundation of the Yellow Springs Sect is truly profound. Just as my useless pet perished, you, You Quanzi, already knew about it. Tell me, have you placed someone near me or within Longjiang Prefecture?"

The beauty inside the curtain held a jade finger to her lips but stared intently at the tall, gaunt figure of the Daoist ahead, as if desperately trying to see through the shadows on his face to discern something.

"Why bother testing me, Madam? I merely wish to make a trade with you."

"I can single-handedly resolve the issue of the offerings; it's not too difficult. But in exchange, I want the Daoist who guards South City right now."

"He has great secrets upon him, and he must be taken alive."

"Dead is fine, but the body must remain intact."

"Yin Mountain Prefecture has agreed to send over the Shura Ghost General, the Yasha Ghost General, and King Zhao Corpse to work in tandem with Umbrella Girl and Extreme Yin."

"What does madam think?"

Lady Butterfly tilted her head in thought, then chuckled lightly, "You're thinking of using my Ghost Qi Netherworld Banner to set a trap and ambush that young Daoist, aren't you?"

"That's quite a clever plan, but after all, little bug did follow me for so long, and now that someone has killed him, if I don't show any reaction, that would make me seem too easy to look down on."

"Fine then, I'll consent to this matter; taking such action could be considered fair."

"But now I'm a bit curious, how do you plan to gather the required number of sacrifices for the blood ritual?"

"We're still short by at least a few thousand live offerings."

"Don't let us be in the middle of the heated battle on our end only for you to drop the ball."

Under the night sky, You Quanzi hesitated for a moment before whispering a few words to Lady Butterfly in secret.

Suddenly, Lady Butterfly began to laugh wildly, clapping her hands, she said:

"Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!"

"When it comes to cruelty and grasping the subtleties of human nature, none is better than humans themselves."

"Old coot, I'm starting to admire you now; compared to you, Umbrella Girl is as tender as a little chick without any feathers."

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....

....

The fourth day.

Today the sky was somewhat overcast.

Yi Chen stepped out of the guest house, twisted his neck, and stretched mightily, his joints crackling.

Since he had killed the Demon Worm child last night, he rested for a while before plunging back into the major task of investigation, only now completing it all.

"Eh, where's Little Miao?"

"This damn thing, hasn't been following me these past two days, where has it been messing around?" Yi Chen looked around but couldn't spot his dear companion.

Just then, on the distant street, there appeared a strange black cat with ribs sprouting wings, elegantly prancing in the morning breeze.

Accompanying it, three slightly smaller cats of tabby, ragdoll, and Persian breeds.

They ran together in the morning wind, chasing each other.

There was a sense of did I come at the wrong time, no, you came just at the right time kind of beauty.

Seeing this, Yi Chen's fists couldn't help but clench.

"This unfilial son!"

"It's only been a few months since it was born, and it has become this wild, is this the manner of the Azure Fierce Beast of Hidden Dragon Temple? Such a waste."

As if noticing Yi Chen's gaze, Little Miao suddenly snarled at the tabby, ragdoll, and Persian cats with true scoundrel cat nature, then scampered towards Yi Chen with its tail tucked between its legs.

It jumped onto Yi Chen's shoulder in an instant, showing a flattering smile.

Yi Chen slapped Little Miao's head in annoyance, then grabbed the scruff of its neck and set it down on the ground.

He gazed at the three female cats in the distance looking over sorrowfully, wanting to approach but not daring, and sighed in resignation.

"Miao Zi, beat it."

"Don't run too far, if someone catches you and decides to stew you, don't blame your dad for not warning you."

"Meow meow." (Alright.)

With a somewhat sycophantic meow, Little Miao turned into a black bolt of lightning and ran off to play again.

The pink pads of Miao Zi's feet touching and kicking up the street dust were not merely specks of dirt; they were the remnants of its fleeting youth.