(03) Investigation

The small town was bustling with normal people, walking from place to place, whether it be to shop for new clothes or to eat at a new restaurant. Young misses could be seen chatting happily and children could be spotted playing with each other and running around with a lively atmosphere. From time to time, a carriage would run along the road and people would make way.

Wu LiJing looked at the nameplate of the popular restaurant and entered when she confirmed her destination. "Room five," she said. A servant bowed and led her upstairs into the private rooms on the third floor and she entered room five. Someone was already in there.

A harmless, attractive looking man with a slightly feminine face, had loosely tied and noticeably unique, long, blond hair to pair with his lively brown eyes. He was carelessly sitting down behind the table, wearing some casual light green robes as he fanned himself and looked outside through the wide opened window. If one looked closely, one could tell that the cloth used for his robes were of high quality and the fan's frame was made of a special type of steel.

The man smiled attractively when she entered, showing a small dimple on his left cheek as he saluted and greeted her. Even if she never really cared about how others looked, she couldn't deny Jin RuiYing could be considered one of the best-looking men she had ever seen. Thankfully, they weren't sitting on the first floor, where tables were lined up for customers to sit in. Because then, she would have to deal with the jealous stares from women she didn't even know.

"Wu LiJing. Come sit, I already ordered some food. It should be here anytime now."

She nodded and sat down.

Jin RuiYing smiled. "Well. How is the second direct disciple of the Moon Sect doing?"

"Preparing for the upcoming competition."

"You don't sound concerned at all." His tone turned playful as he smirked. "Aren't you a bit too overconfident?"

She poured herself a cup of tea. "It's not something to worry too much about."

Jin RuiYing rolled his eyes and picked up his cup.

They suddenly heard a knocking on their door and a servant came in, carrying their food. Once the servant left, Wu LiJing raised her hand and drew out a formation in the air using her chi. Once it was done, it disappeared and her chopsticks reached for the food on the plates.

"You always use that formation so casually," Jin RuiYing sighed. "I heard that it's hard learning different spells. Isn't this spell formation hard to create?" Since she always used it when they talked about something serious, perhaps he can have her teach him. "Is there some kind of shortcut to learning it? How about giving me some tips?" He smiled.

Wu LiJing chewed and after she swallowed, she answered, "It's a mediocre spell. Anyone can learn it if they try. Now, let's get to the topic, shall we? It's already been a few weeks since the last message."

Jin RuiYing's lips twitched slightly. He also knew a spell to prevent eavesdropping. But he wasn't stupid enough not to know that this spell she used to was harder to break than the easier one that can be learned. The reason being that if one tried to breach it, then there would be a backlash rough enough to affect one's cultivation if they weren't careful or stronger than her.

He cleared his throat and started spitting out the information from his investigation, knowing she would grow impatient if he kept messing around.

"There are many people that could be connected to your father. If you didn't kill the doctor, we would be having a much easier time," Jin RuiYing lightly blamed her.

"He claimed he didn't see clearly how she looked. And he already described her appearance to me. Didn't I already inform you?"

Jin RuiYing smiled, feeling hopeless. "There are many women with a mole under her mouth. The second woman he mentioned, he also only saw from the back and described her as someone with a voluptuous figure."

"Then investigate all of them," she said, looking at him with dark eyes.

Jin RuiYing coughed and brushed his hair back. "Do you know how expensive that is?"

She paused and put her chopsticks down. "I guess I shouldn't have saved your life then."

Jin RuiYing coughed louder and then showed a sweet smile. "I was joking. With my powers, this is nothing."

"Do you have a clue as to where the poison came from?" One way was to investigate all who bought that poison within a time frame. Though it would take just as long.

Jin RuiYing nodded. "I'm already having this investigated. We traced the poison back to the Black Market. It should be easy if we bribe the seller. He's a short man who specializes in making and selling different kinds of deadly poisons. We already investigated him and learned that he loves money."

"And if he doesn't agree?"

"Then we'll threaten him! Who do you think I am?" He slapped his fan on the table haughtily.

Wu LiJing nodded and then gazed at him with a nonchalant expression.

Jin RuiYing suddenly touched his face and laughed nervously. "Is there something on my face? Has my face dazzled you too much? I purposely dressed lightly today so I wouldn't draw attention." Has she finally fallen for him after all these years? But this was too sudden! He suddenly felt bad because he would have to reject her.

Wu LiJing raised an eyebrow. She was simply thinking that it was good he knew to use force if need be. "I have waited years for you to finally start the investigation. If you didn't do well, I would have to go elsewhere and ask for compensation for wasting my time." Also, his blond hair was unique and would make him stand out no matter what he wore. Why must he always mention his looks whenever they conversed?

"What?!" He hit his fan on the table again. "So you were thinking of ditching me after using me, if you found me useless?! How heartless of you, Wu LiJing!" He scowled and pointed at her like a man who had gotten cheated on by his wife.

But when he found her staring at him again with indifferent eyes, he glanced at his finger and quickly retreated. He cleared his throat, smiled charmingly, and changed the topic, "Your parents are interesting. I spent so long tracking the places they visited and those they met."

She smiled. "Yes... I've a few stories of their travels." Suddenly, the blood dripping down her mother's lips and the unnatural color of her father's body flashed in her memories. She gripped her cup and lowered her eyes.

She could remember the shock when she took her mother's medicine to a distant doctor and learned that her mother had been poisoned.

After she was born, her mother's body slowly weakened without them noticing. After her mother fainted once, they called for a doctor and were told that her mother was only overworked and tired.

Her parents were confused and assumed it may just be a small after-effect of post pregnancy. Perhaps her mother simply needed to rest more and pause the training in her cultivation.

Nevertheless, her mother soon had episodes of bad fevers that were accompanied by an occasional fainting, and it only worsened. After calling many doctors to see her mother, they finally found one who informed them that she had a rare illness that was difficult to cure.

Wu LiJing was so young at that time, she didn't quite understand it, but they put their hopes on this doctor to help her mother; he was Doctor Zhu. Doctor Zhu prescribed her mother medicine and her symptoms decreased, with her illness rarely flaring up.

But the truth was, her mother's body was slowly deteriorating without them realizing. And the medicine she took was not medicine at all. No, it was actually poison that had somehow been fed to her mother from the beginning, but with how low the dosage was, it went undetected.

The doctor who had been seeing their mother worked with the instigator. At first, Wu LiJing was depressed from both of her parent's deaths. But after a few months, she thought rationally and realized how sudden and odd their deaths were. There was too much of a coincidence between her leaving home and her mother and father's timely death.

Her mother was always sick, but it shouldn't have caused her to suddenly lose her life after the mere three days she was gone. And it happened right after her father was attacked by bandits. It was too suspicious. Doctor Zhu was the first one she suspected.

So she waited, and she cultivated. She trained herself using the guidance of the books left behind by her father and practiced with a wooden sword without rest. After she felt confident enough, she practiced with a knife.

When she turned thirteen and finally reached the second realm, she went to find the doctor who took care of her mother, who lived in the outskirts of their village. That was the first time she ever got blood on her hands and treated another so cruelly.

The doctor was afraid of pain, so he quickly spilled the beans. When the doctor finally disclosed that her mother had indeed been slowly poisoned through the years to weaken her body and eventually kill her, she was livid beyond repair.

He said her mother was supposed to have died in a few months, but killing her at that moment was too good of a chance after her father died. He claimed that he didn't know this woman who had come to him with a huge amount of money. But he said he recognized her - he had seen her once with her father in their village, accompanying another woman.

Before she could further investigate, Wang WeiYue came to find them, and they entered the Moon Sect. At first, she was vigilant; she couldn't trust anyone. But she realized quickly that in order to find who killed her parents, she had to have some kind of power. It took her three years before she became Sect Master Wang's direct disciple. It was only after she left her sect to fulfill a mission by her master, that she was able to start her own investigation.

As for that doctor, she used all of her money to hire a deaf and mute girl to look after him after locking him in at a hidden house. When she started to leave the sect more often, she came back to ask him more questions, but he was useless. Therefore, she tortured him with a slow-acting poison.

She made sure he suffered and wished the god of death quickly took him before he really died. She could still remember, the flesh that slowly burned off by itself like ash being scraped off a black pot, as he cried from consuming the Burning Poison. If he dared to poison her mother for so many years, then he should be able to withstand this small poison that only made him suffer for three days.

Once Jin RuiYing summarized all the information he obtained, he could finally enjoy his food. Whenever he had to report to her, he was always a little nervous because of her indifferent eyes that would stare right through him. He always felt as though she was going to chop off his head if he even said one wrong thing. So he didn't really touch his food just now in case he got indigestion... But that didn't mean it would stop him from doing what he wanted after! He quickly reached for the string beans.

Wu LiJing sipped her cup of tea and then looked up at him. Jin RuiYing jumped a little and cleared his throat, putting down his chopsticks. "We're getting closer to the culprit," he added. "Since we need to narrow down the suspects who came to give that doctor money, it would take a bit longer. But the truth is, I have a hunch. To solidify my thoughts, let me gather more information and we can talk again."

"Very well."

"By the way, your parents were very amazing and adventurous! They didn't even join a sect yet were able to cultivate to the late stages of the Immortal Realm, travelling the world and going on adventures." He scanned Wu LiJing's straight posture. "Very different from you," he muttered.

Wu LiJing raised an eyebrow and ignored his comment, suddenly thinking about his previous comment about her parents as well. "You investigated my parents' past?"

"I have to!" he quickly explained. "I had to investigate who they had connections to and who they had contact with, see if there are any rumors regarding enemies or arguments. Do you know how much work that is?" He looked as though he was doing a lot of work, work he didn't want to do if he didn't have to.

She frowned. "Why don't you just look at their contacts in the village or right before they had me? There is no need to go so far." She didn't think this person could be traced back that far. They probably met either before or right after she was born. The doctor confessed he had seen this woman in the village after all. Her parents didn't settle into the village until after they had her. And they were probably around fifty to sixty years old then?

"I know!" he said, looking away and taking a bite of the pork in his plate. But her parents were quite interesting, after all, they were rogue cultivators. It was interesting to see how they were able to cultivate and get to the level they were at. Her father was especially interesting, having a unique fighting skill. Their love story was also quite entertaining to learn about. But he wouldn't tell her this or he may not leave this place in one piece. With a serious expression, "I just have to make sure."

After emptying her cup of tea, Wu LiJing stood up, having been finished with her business. "Enjoy the rest of the food."

"What?" Jin RuiYing blinked widely. "You're leaving already?"

Wu LiJing raised an eyebrow. "I'm busy."

"Of course," he muttered. She always left quickly after getting all the information sucked out of him! Though this is only the fifteenth time they met up... but still! They had been connecting through letters all these years!

When she opened the door and stepped through, the spell vanished, and she left. Jin RuiYing rolled his eyes. She was always like this. She doesn't appreciate his hard work at all. He was also a busy man, hmph! He chewed the now cold food in his mouth.

Wu LiJing went to one of the most popular sweets restaurants that she was familiar with in the Flying Bird Village since she frequently visited this city when she had to meet up with Jin RuiYing and stood in the long line that led to its door. As she was waiting in line, she took out a book to read. Her eyes scanned the words and pictures as she took a step forward.

Suddenly, she felt someone behind her get nearer and her eyes narrowed as she took a step sideways to evade. She looked down and saw a little boy on the ground with red eyes. It seems he hit his butt on the ground hard enough for tears to emerge.

The boy quickly held in his tears and stood up. The chubby boy had cheeks that resembled cute dumplings and looked up with an adorable face. He looked to be only around five to six years old. He was also dressed up nicely in an expensive light blue robe and his skin was pale and smooth, meaning he was probably from an influential family.

The boy saluted and apologized, "Sorry!" He got too excited running over and had tripped.

With a small nod, Wu LiJing went back in line to read her book silently. The boy was curious and stared at her face for a moment before he quickly looked down with a blush. Then his curious heart gave him the courage to look again, but this time he glanced at the book title in the pretty lady's hands in front of him.

"A martial arts book?" He whispered in surprise.

Wu LiJing finally switched her gaze to him and he jumped, quickly looking away with red cheeks. Then she went back to reading her book.

It took much longer this time, but he glanced at her face once more. He would take small peeks, not feeling too daring to stare longer.

Finally, the line shortened and there was only one more person before Wu LiJing could buy some cakes. She closed her book and put it back into her sleeves. She let out a breath and her inner chi calmed down. She liked to be productive, even if it was while she was waiting.

"Young master! How could you run away like that? I would be punished if I couldn't find you!" A servant had run up to the little boy with tears in his eyes.

The adorable boy replied, "It's your fault for being slow! If the cakes run out, I won't be able to get any today. Brother is coming to visit me, I have to share my favorite cakes with him so he comes back more often." His hands were on his hips as he spoke with his chin up.

"Young master, what happened? Your clothes are dirty..." The worried servant patted his young master's robes to get rid of the dirt and dust.

The boy replied in a haughty tone, "It's nothing. I just tripped a little," as though he had nothing to be ashamed of. After all, he was doing all of this for his brother.

Suddenly a servant stepped out of the restaurant and looked towards the line, announcing, "Dear customers! Please return! There is only one more order of cakes left!" These cakes were so popular that it usually ran out fast, with only a few customers taking up the five tables and eating inside the small restaurant before leaving.

Wu LiJing was their last customer. She couldn't help but show a small smile. It seems she made it in time. It was worth the wait. If she had wasted more time eating in that restaurant with Jin RuiYing, she wouldn't have been able to buy any. These were one of her favorites and she wanted to bring some back for QiaoHua as well. They were sweet but the perfect flavoring of the cakes made her overlook its sweetness.

As she entered and paid for the last order, the boy behind had his mouth slightly open, and stood frozen in place outside. The rest of the customers who had arrived later walked away remorsefully, knowing they would have to wait another day for these coconut cakes. She accepted the packed cakes, not even checking because she knew the store could be trusted and walked away in a good mood.

"No more?..." The boy muttered quietly as he stood looking forlorn.

"Master, let's return," his servant sighed, feeling regretful and patting his master's back gently. His young master had wanted to wake up early this morning to come here, however, he overslept because he couldn't sleep due to the unending excitement of his brother's incoming visit.

"There's no more, Xiao Hai. What do I do now?" The servant saw the tears in the boy's eyes and panicked.

"Young master, don't cry! Next time! Next time, we can come much earlier!" The servant waved his hands.

"B-but brother won't be here," he sniffed as a big drop of tear fell, feeling as though the world was ending. His second brother rarely came home. So he was ready to come buy his own favorite snack today and return with this mission, in order to bribe his brother into staying longer.

Now it was no use... Would his brother still come back? What if he was disappointed? He wrote in his letter to his brother that he would have his favorite snacks ready! His head hung low as tears fell and he glanced at the store. He mustered up enough courage and walked over to the shopkeeper who was closing the shop.

"Mister! Please make me another batch of sweets! I will pay double!" He raised two short fingers with teary eyes.

The shopkeeper was shocked when a crying child suddenly came over and asked for a favor. He quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, young boy. However, it is our rule to only sell this much every day. I cannot make more even if you pay me double." This was also a reason why the cakes were more expensive. It tasted luxurious and was limited. "I am also quite tired from selling cakes all day. You can come tomorrow instead," he said in a softer tone since the child looked pitiful.

The boy shook his head and cried louder. "No, I have to get some today!"

"Young master, when Second Young Master returns, surely he wouldn't be disappointed! How about we go and buy a different snack? I'm sure Second Young Master would be understanding." Xiao Hai looked apologetically at the shopkeeper.

"No!"

"Excuse me, young boy." The boy sniffed and looked up after hearing a soothing voice. He saw the beautiful face of the lady in purple that had been in line before him. She seemed a bit scary before because of her unsmiling eyes and indifferent air, but he still thought she was very pretty so he couldn't help but stare a little.

Now she was talking to him and he was slightly surprised. He blinked and a fat tear slid down his chubby face that was still stuffed with baby fat. Because of his great genes, even when he cried and snot was running down his nose, he still looked adorable and pitiful to onlookers.

Wu LiJing sighed and handed the box of cakes to the pretty boy. She had already walked away, ready to return to the sect, but blame her great hearing. She couldn't just ignore the boy who was probably trying to please his brother. It reminded her of an event long ago when QiaoHua was a little girl.

She still remembers the little girl in pink robes who went to the market to buy her some sweets to comfort her for not improving at the speed she wanted when she first started cultivating with her father. meeting her father's expectations.

"Here, I forgot that I had already bought some much earlier. You can have this batch."

The boy blinked again. He quickly wiped his tears which made his eyes even more puffy. "B-but you already paid for it..." his voice trembled and he sniffed.

"I can afford to lose some money," she said.

He was quiet. "Really? You're really giving them to me?" His tears that seemed to have stopped flowing again. He felt very touched as he looked at her like a savior.

She nodded.

"No! Xiao Hai, quickly pay her for them!" He pulled Xiao Hai over towards Wu LiJing.

Wu LiJing smiled, making the boy a bit stunned. Her smile was so pretty and she suddenly didn't seem so scary anymore. "I don't need any money," she said.

"I insist! Brother always said to repay those who do you a favor!" He tried to speak like an adult and Wu LiJing found it amusing.

Wu LiJing hesitated but she bent down to say, "It's alright. I still have some leftover. You take this and spend some time with your brother." She placed it in his arms and walked away.

"Wait!" He held onto her sleeve. The boy quickly gave the wrapped snacks to his servant. Wu LiJing turned around and looked at the hand holding onto her with a slight frown.

"Let me apologize for bumping into you!" the boy said with resolute bright eyes.

Wi LiJing raised an eyebrow. But he didn't even bump into her? In fact, he fell on his butt... She sighed. She could just leave...

"I also want to thank you! Or else I wouldn't be able to share my favorite snacks with my brother! Please!" He stared at her with hopeful eyes. His tears had already long disappeared.

His servant gaped then quickly ran over and whispered, "But young master! You don't even know this woman!" Xiao Hai glanced at Wu LiJing with wary eyes.

Wu LiJing silently stared at the boy, then she asked, "And how are you going to..." Just then she sensed an intense bloodthirst and sharply turned her head.

Wu LiJing pushed the servant and he flew two feet away from her, then she pulled the boy up and held him, jumping to the side before a blink of an eye.

A big boom could be heard and the dirt on the ground jumped up, creating a dusty fog around them.

Wu LiJing squinted her eyes and frowned. There was a man wearing tattered clothing standing where they were earlier. He had punched the ground, creating a crack. She scanned his body and then frowned. This man was possessed. Just then, the man looked to the left with red eyes and saw a trembling woman. He smiled and ran towards her.

Wu LiJing put the boy down and flew towards the possessed man. She unsheathed the silver sword that suddenly appeared in her hands, and in one swift movement, swung it as fast as the wind. The man felt a fluctuation behind him and quickly dodged but wasn't fast enough, feeling a slight pain on his back thigh. He gnashed his teeth and glared at his attacker.

Wu LiJing observed him carefully. The dark energy surrounding his body was not small. This wasn't a low-level demon. The human body was already dead at this point and a demonic energy has already possessed the body. That meant there was no need to hold back because this was now no longer human. The demon with red eyes jumped towards her and lifted his leg for a kick. She quickly dodged and aimed for his foot but he twisted his body and escaped, landing safely.

"Don't get in my way!" he screamed.

"Don't you want the energy of female cultivators?" she said, challenging him in a low voice, as she released a good amount of chi to tempt him.

"I'll eat you!" he screamed and attacked her with his long purple nails, which were obviously poisonous.

After exchanging a few moves, she suddenly heard a deep, familiar voice call her name, "Wu LiJing!"

Wu LiJing turned her head and saw a man running over. Her eyes were unblinking and time seemed still as she watched his valiant figure rush forwards.

The man had a very handsome countenance and a strong pressure suddenly pressed down on the place when he drew his black sword. Half of his hair was tied up into a bun and the other half that was let down flowed behind him as his domineering presence neared. He wore dark red robes that were decorated with black designs, and his dark eyes that seemed endless, always full of cold indifference, looked forwards with a deadly stare.

He swung his black sword towards the demon that was currently trying to reach her, and she jumped backwards towards him. The flaming energy he released cut off the demon's arm and the demon screamed in agony.

But the demon refused to get caught again and attempted a futile resistance against both powerful cultivators, one in red and one in purple, that skillfully moved in perfect motion together and quickly kicked the pitiful demon to the ground.

"Deal with the demon!" he ordered with a fierce voice. The disciples, dressed in similar red robes, following behind him snapped out of their awe. They heeded his order and quickly got to work with sweat pouring down their foreheads.

He turned to look at her with his almost obsidian eyes and saluted. "I apologize, Miss LiJing. We had captured this demon but when I wasn't paying attention, our disciples became careless and let it escape. I hope we didn't trouble you too much."

She nodded. "It's alright, Sir WangYong. No one got hurt." Wu LiJing stared into his eyes for a moment before she lowered her gaze.

Kang WangYong nodded and looked back at the disciples who were finally able to capture the demon again and bind his arm onto his body with a special rope that would nullify his dark energy. The demon growled but one disciple quickly covered the demon's salivating mouth with a cloth to stop him from making more noises.

The disciples brought the demon over and Kang WangYong looked at them with tenacious eyes. "Make sure it doesn't escape this time," he said and they all bobbed their heads in understanding. They quickly took the demon elsewhere in order to take care of him.

Kang WangYong's chiseled side-profile reflected in Wu LiJing's pupils for a moment before she turned away casually. "How is Sect Master Gao?"

Kang WangYong turned to look at her. "Master is doing fine, always going out to find a reason to fight or drink. How is Sect Master Wang?"

Wu LiJing replied, "Besides the occasional outside tasks that keep him busy, Master is the same. He told me your cultivation has improved again." She heard from her master that he broke through to the next stage already. And seeing his skills just now, it was obvious his sword skills have also improved.

Kang WangYong nodded and observed her. "You as well, Miss Wu. I'm surprised with how fast you're improving. Perhaps we can have a spar to compare skills."

"The Sect Competition is taking place three years from now. How about we settle it there?"

Kang WangYong showed a small smile. "Very well. With your skills, I'm sure you'll make it to the top ten."

A genuine smile formed as Wu LiJing stared at him. It has been a while since she saw him because they have stopped working together on missions as they had in the past.

She sighed, "I don't know why Master wants me to be in the competition when I have a senior brother."

"You know how our masters are. They like to show off their disciples, especially if they're new." Kang WangYong's stone face showed no sign of moving even as he spoke about something he found annoying.

"Are you returning to the Dark Ruby Sect after you subdue the demon?"

Kang WangYong nodded. "Then, I shall take my leave, Miss LiJing." He saluted.

Wu LiJing hesitated as she stared at him. She wanted to invite him to a meal, but he briskly walked away. Her slightly parted lips closed and her hand that was slightly lifted, fell by her side. At least he shows her a small smile from time to time. This was enough already.

"I should still be a good sparring partner, right?" Wu LiJing whispered to herself as she stared at his solid back.