Chapter 13 Shi Xiuqiu

Since demon energy resurfaced, it has had extremely contagious and harmful effects on humans.

Once contaminated, if not treated promptly, there was a high chance of becoming a corpse.

But "demon energy" also had a beneficial side.

When used properly, it could cure diseases or enhance cultivation.

Thus, many commoners or Jianghu practitioners, and even interest groups, would secretly enter the Ten Thousand Mountains to collect pure demon energy, causing great trouble for the court.

Some practitioners even directly substituted the sparse "celestial energy" with "demon energy" for their cultivation, eventually becoming Demon Cultivators.

Pavilion Master Leng Chaosong of Tianqing Manor was one such individual.

And one of the eight major forces of the Demon Clan, Dead Man Island, was comprised of human cultivators who cultivated with demon energy.

However, compared to the Demon Clan, the court's resistance to Demon Cultivators was not very strong. For some Demon Cultivators, as long as they didn't flaunt their power, the authorities generally turned a blind eye.

There were even proposals within the court to recruit Demon Cultivators into the Liushan Division to fight fire with fire.

This proposal naturally faced strong opposition from others.

Li Nanshuang took a swig from a wine pot and said irritably,

"What are you rambling about? If the noodles had been contaminated with demon energy, could we not see it? Could Zhang not see it? Besides, back then, the noodles were only scratched by a demon, not bitten."

"Yes, yes, I was just a bit worried about Jiang."

Lu Renjia chuckled awkwardly, "Back then, when Jiang told us he might have been bitten, we got quite a scare."

Li Nanshuang shook her head, "It was just an illusion. Authorities have specially examined the noodles' body. Except for two scratches, there were no bite marks."

Listening to their conversation, Jiang Shouzhong recalled that day.

At that time, he distinctly remembered being bitten at the ankle, but when examined, there were no bite marks, perhaps... because he possessed the ability "to converse with the dead"?

"Alright, you guys go ahead and be busy. Also, once this case is wrapped up, I'm giving you a few days off. Don't say I, as your leader, don't take care of my brothers. I don't squeeze you all day for promotions like other Hall Masters."

Li Nanshuang walked to the door and suddenly patted her smooth forehead, "Oh right, I nearly forgot something important again, a new member will join our Wind Thunder Hall in a couple of days."

"Male or female?"

Lu Renjia's eyes lit up.

Li Nanshuang's almond eyes narrowed mischievously, and a playful smile appeared on her fair, beautiful face, "Guess?"

With that, she walked away.

The bright, big saber disappeared with the girl's nimble steps from everyone's sight.

Lu Renjia stroked his small mustache, pretending to be profound,

"Based on Jia's years of experience, the new member joining our Wind Thunder Hall this time will either be a man or a woman."

Jiang Shouzhong walked alone to the body, squatting down and whispered softly, "Do you have something you want to tell me?"

The body was lifelessly still.

"If not, never mind."

Jiang Shouzhong did not expect every dead person to burst out like the residual soul scholar Zhang Lang.

Besides, he also had ways to forcibly make the dead speak, but the side effects were too severe, and he preferred not to use them.

In any case, unless absolutely necessary, Jiang Shouzhong did not want to converse with the dead.

This made him feel as if he himself were a dead person.

Inauspicious.

...

Leaving Wufeng Temple, Li Nanshuang, who liked to shirk responsibilities, wandered leisurely down the street.

The girl wondered whether she should head home to sleep today or go to the streets to play chess with the old men. She decided against fishing since it was too cold to torment herself.

As she passed by the entrance of Laoyanzi Street, she caught a glimpse of candied haws being sold and casually bought a skewer to eat with her drink later.

Mr. Li didn't care at all about the demon case.

Since the resurgence of Demon Energy, countless murders, big and small, had occurred.

Although Li Nanshuang sympathized with the innocent people killed by demons, she wouldn't take it upon herself, like those Taoists from Zhenxuan Mountain, to exterminate demons and maintain a harmonious and peaceful world.

She would intervene when she encountered them face-to-face.

But if it didn't happen under her watch, she really couldn't be bothered.

How did her master put it: "Too idle a life leads to roguery, too busy a life hides one's true nature. Therefore, a gentleman should maintain concerns for the mind and body and also indulge in leisurely pursuits."

Li Nanshuang wasn't fond of her scholarly master, but she occasionally agreed with the profound truths he spouted.

Although her current actions were quite different from the philosophies her master preached about, taking strolls, playing chess, and catching crickets were leisurely pursuits too. Solving cases with her subordinates occasionally wasn't too dull either.

Thus, Mr. Li was quite satisfied with her lazy attitude towards life.

After leaving Laoyanzi Street, Li Nanshuang prepared to cross the main street to see if there were any old men playing chess in Chaigou Alley.

It had been days since she'd devastated those old men, and she was itching for some action.

Just as she passed a fork in the road, Li Nanshuang abruptly stopped and then turned around.

"What's up? You turn into a little mouse when you see me, you little tiger? Well, Ms. Li isn't a cat."

The woman's teasing voice rang in the girl's ear.

Li Nanshuang's face scrunched up, and she grimaced, then turned around with a radiant smile, looking at the elegant woman not far away and sweetly said, "Ms. Li—oh no, Li Guanshi... what a coincidence. When did you come to the Capital?"

"Aunt is aunt, why call me sister? Ms. Li acknowledges her age."

Li Guanshi beckoned, gesturing for the girl to come closer.

Li Nanshuang, reluctantly, approached the woman, buttering up shamelessly:

"What aunt? You're like a sister! Li Guanshi, you're as beautiful as a goddess, with a stunning beauty, forever eighteen. No woman in the world is younger or more beautiful than you."

Li Guanshi chuckled and patted the girl on the head, saying:

"You're getting more timid, and your flattery is sweeter than ever. I remember the first time we met, you furiously called me an 'old lady.' Oh right, I heard recently you've given me a nickname, 'Shi Xiuqiu'? Hmm, I like that nickname quite a bit."

Li Nanshuang instantly felt overwhelmed and indignant:

"Who does that, it's too much! Don't worry, Li Guanshi, no matter how others slander you, in my heart, you're always a goddess, a celestial fairy! If I ever meet that person, I'll definitely give them a thrashing!"

If Lu Renjia were here, he'd definitely give a thumbs up in admiration: in the arts of thick-skinned flattery, the boss is almost as good as Mr. Jia.

Li Guanshi smiled wryly, her gaze drifting towards the snow-covered spire of Wuchan Temple, her expression distant.

Seeing the woman silent, Li Nanshuang didn't dare to speak out, just quietly stood there.

There were not many people who could genuinely scare Mr. Li, who was naturally as strong as steel and as courageous as a leopard. This woman right beside her was definitely in the top three.

She had suffered a lot from calling her an "old lady" back in the day.

Though the other party was currently all smiles, when she flipped, even the King of Hell would have to kneel and beg for mercy.

"How's your master doing?" Li Guanshi asked softly.

"He's fine, just the same old bear-like self, chopping wood up the mountain every day, occasionally playing music to cows, searching for deer, painting horses..."

Suddenly, Li Nanshuang's tone shifted, nervously: "Li Guanshi, you're not thinking of choosing my master, are you?"