**Chapter 45: The Ways of a Rogue Cultivator**

A long time later. 

In Wei Fan's courtyard.

He Song had been waiting at Wei Fan's home for a full hour before he finally saw Wei Fan returning from the distance.

Welcoming Wei Fan into the courtyard, He Song poured him a cup of tea and sat beside him, waiting for Wei Fan to speak.

Picking up the tea that He Song had specially poured for him, Wei Fan took a sip. His furrowed brows finally relaxed, and after letting out a long breath, he spoke.

"Phew, you can inform your friend at the Spirit Herb Pavilion to remove Chen Zhou from the list of spirit farmers." As he spoke, a flash of anger appeared in Wei Fan's eyes before he continued. 

"That Chen Zhou is nothing like the meek person you encountered. Relying on his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, he often bullies early-stage Qi Refining cultivators, extorting spirit stones from them. However, since he hasn't killed anyone, the law enforcement team can't do much about it."

"The people at the Spirit Herb Pavilion must be blind to recruit someone like him as a spirit farmer. I can't imagine what the person who brought him into the immortal marketplace was thinking. Such rogue cultivator behavior is despicable."

"Additionally, when I went to investigate, Chen Zhou was secretly gathering information about you. From the looks of it, his intentions were far from good. I didn't continue the investigation and came straight back."

"Let's do as you suggested. First, strip him of his status as a spirit farmer, then force him to leave the immortal marketplace. When that happens, I'll take care of him."

Setting down the teacup, Wei Fan's expression darkened.

His words might have sounded casual, but during his investigation, he discovered that Chen Zhou had brought all the worst traits of a rogue cultivator into the immortal marketplace, turning the area around his residence into a cesspool.

Rogue cultivators, being unregulated in the outside world, naturally develop unruly personalities.

Killing for treasure, extortion, bullying the weak—these were things they did with ease.

Among rogue cultivators, such behavior was common. Unless a rogue cultivator was inherently kind-hearted, they wouldn't think twice about such actions.

However, kind-hearted rogue cultivators, unless exceptionally lucky, rarely survived long in the rogue cultivator community.

And Chen Zhou?

He was originally a rogue cultivator but had joined the Spirit Herb Pavilion as a spirit farmer with his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation.

If he had followed the rules of the immortal marketplace and lived peacefully after joining, that would have been one thing.

But he didn't.

He brought every bad habit he had learned as a rogue cultivator into the immortal marketplace.

Moreover, he exploited loopholes in the marketplace's laws, bullying the weak and extorting spirit stones.

He turned the originally peaceful atmosphere of the marketplace into chaos.

When Wei Fan, who had grown up in the Earthbound Courtyard and later lived in the immortal marketplace, saw all this, he was immediately enraged.

Such rogue cultivator behavior was tolerable outside the marketplace—he could turn a blind eye to it.

But Chen Zhou had brought it all into the marketplace, tainting what Wei Fan considered his "sanctuary."

It was no wonder Wei Fan was furious.

He had grown up in the Earthbound Courtyard, trained as an outer disciple of the Earthbound Sect.

Later, due to his low cultivation level, he was assigned to the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Marketplace as an official in the Spirit Construction Pavilion.

Throughout his life, Wei Fan had lived in a relatively stable environment.

His understanding of rogue cultivators had mostly come from books.

Even so, he had always held a disdain for rogue cultivators.

But today.

When Chen Zhou's actions were laid bare before him, Wei Fan truly understood what rogue cultivators were like.

"Alright, I'll inform him right away." After hearing Wei Fan's description, He Song felt a mix of relief and lingering fear.

Thank goodness.

Thank goodness he had been cautious enough.

Otherwise, Chen Zhou might have shown up at his doorstep one night, and He Song would have been completely blindsided.

Thank goodness he had asked Zhao Lin to investigate Chen Zhou's background.

And after sensing something was off, he had immediately sought out Wei Fan.

If any of these steps had gone wrong, He Song might have been targeted by Chen Zhou, living in constant unease.

At the same time, He Song reminded himself once again. 

In the future, he must never judge someone solely by their appearance.

Even if someone appeared humble and polite, like a gentleman, he had to investigate their background thoroughly.

Especially those he had offended—he had to dig deep.

Take Chen Zhou, for example.

Chen Zhou had seemed timid in front of He Song.

But who would have thought that when facing weaker cultivators, he was a bully who extorted spirit stones and committed all sorts of misdeeds?

It was only because He Song was at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

And because he had Zhao Lin from the Spirit Herb Pavilion as his backer.

That Chen Zhou hadn't immediately turned hostile.

If He Song had been weaker, and Zhao Lin hadn't been the manager of the Spirit Herb Pavilion.

The situation He Song had faced might have been very different.

Moreover, even without openly turning hostile, Chen Zhou had secretly been gathering information about He Song.

It was clear what Chen Zhou had in mind.

Letting out a long breath, He Song's fingers twitched, and a blank sheet of paper appeared in his hand.

"Brother Zhao, Chen Zhou is a vicious individual who bullies the weak, extorts spirit stones, and commits all manner of evil deeds. I've asked a friend to investigate, and it's all true."

"I originally wanted to deal with him directly, but the immortal marketplace prohibits internal conflict, and we must abide by the rules."

"Reluctantly, I can only ask you to remove his name from the list of spirit farmers and force him to leave the marketplace. After that, we'll make further plans."

"This matter is of great importance, as it concerns my safety. I hope you can assist."

"He Song."

With a few strokes of spiritual energy, lines of text quickly appeared on the paper.

However, just as He Song was about to fold it into a paper crane to send it off, Wei Fan shook his head, signaling He Song to wait.

"Let me add a few words."

As he spoke, Wei Fan channeled his spiritual energy, leaving his name and a trace of his aura on the paper.

"Wei Fan."

Seeing this, He Song nodded and didn't stop him.

This was a good thing.

With Wei Fan's late-stage Qi Refining aura on the paper, Zhao Lin would immediately understand upon receiving the message.

That He Song had enlisted the help of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator to deal with Chen Zhou.

As He Song's friend.

Knowing that He Song was already prepared, helping him by removing Chen Zhou's name from the list of spirit farmers would be a simple matter.

This way, Zhao Lin wouldn't have to worry about Chen Zhou causing trouble later.

With a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator targeting Chen Zhou, a mere fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivator.

Chen Zhou's fate was sealed.

The reason Wei Fan left his name and aura on the paper was precisely for this.

He didn't know how close He Song and Zhao Lin were, but with his name and aura on the paper, Zhao Lin would be more likely to help.

That was all.

After sending off the paper crane.

He Song and Wei Fan waited for a short while.

Soon.

A paper crane came flying swiftly from the distance.

(End of Chapter)