I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night

In the courtyard.

After seeing off Lin Yan, Mr. Lu picked up some dried cured meat and shouted, "Tonight, we're having chili stir-fried meat, cook more rice, I have a good appetite today, I'll eat at least three bowls!"

"Did Mr. Lu reach an agreement with him?" Just then, the honest middle-aged man, holding a kitchen knife, came out, "I thought you, old sir, would invite the man to stay for dinner."

"Normally, I would have invited him to dine, at least made a polite offer, but it's hard to be completely candid on a first meeting, and dining together would be uncomfortable."

Mr. Lu waved his hand and added, "Moreover, he must have been very busy today."

The honest middle-aged man nodded, about to return to the kitchen, when he suddenly paused.

"Wait a minute!"

"You mean to say, this youngster still has something hidden up his sleeve?"

"You, old sir, are esteemed and respected, and you regard him highly, yet he still guards against you?"

The honest middle-aged man immediately showed dissatisfaction and said, "Next time he comes, even if you invite him to dine, I won't cook. Let him cook for himself!"

Mr. Lu stroked his beard and smiled, far from annoyed, he actually seemed quite pleased.

"This world is in chaos, although it seems orderly in High Willow City, there are still undercurrents, evil spirits lurking in the dark."

"This young man, at such a young age, is cautious, which shows maturity and that he is not a heedless youth, nor a rash man who trusts easily."

"In this regard, I am quite satisfied."

Mr. Lu slowly said, "Besides, I have come to know his true level of cultivation, it's as if I had peeled off one layer of his clothing, seeing his physique clearly..."

He chuckled and continued, "One must leave some secrets for others. If I forced this young man to reveal everything, wouldn't that be akin to stripping him of his remaining undergarments?"

The honest middle-aged man scratched his head, saying, "What about it? Don't I often strip down completely and bathe in the courtyard, clearly visible to you?"

"Today is his second visit to see me."

Mr. Lu slowly said, "Seeing me only twice and being stripped down, completely seen through, if you were in his place, would you still want to associate with me?"

"I would! I certainly would, Mr. Lu... where are you going?"

"I don't want to have anything to do with you, I'm thinking of changing the guardian!"

"Are we still eating then?"

"I've lost my appetite."

"But…"

"Go away!"

——

Lin Yan walked out of the alley.

He looked at a talisman in his hand.

It was a demon-suppressing talisman!

According to Mr. Lu, it had been consecrated in the Wutong Temple in Qifeng Prefecture for a year.

This talisman contained the Qi Mechanism of the Wutong Divine Mother, able to repel evil spirits and intimidate demons.

The return gift from Mr. Lu for today's visit was this talisman, which held an incredibly high value in High Willow City, not easily quantified.

If he chose to sell it, those waiting outside the alley would definitely offer a high price.

"These inner city forces really are persistent, unable to connect with Mr. Lu directly, so they seek me as a go-between?"

Thinking thus, Lin Yan stuffed the demon-suppressing talisman back into his breast pocket and directly jumped over the wall.

At this moment, at the end of the street and alley, several factions were waiting for the young man who had been received by Mr. Lu.

"Have you sent someone to check on that young man's identity?"

"It's already been done."

"Mr. Lu doesn't even see us but chose to meet such a young man, there must be a reason."

"Seeing his modest clothing, his background may not be good; we might try contacting him lightly."

"If he really is favored by Mr. Lu, this young man's future may be boundless."

"Worst case, through him, we can further understand Mr. Lu's preferences."

"Eh? Why hasn't this young man come out yet? Could it be that Mr. Lu asked him to stay for dinner?"

The steward peeked out curiously and then instructed a servant next to him, "Zhou An, go take a look."

——

Lin Yan looked back, feeling that these people would probably wait until nightfall.

His expression cold, he ignored them, carrying a bag of fine salt straight to his elder brother's house.

Martial Artist had just built a new house with three tiled rooms in High Willow City, which was considered rather spacious and imposing.

Just as he entered the backyard, he heard a series of shouts.

"Little Pig... Little Pig..."

It was a toddler with a staggering gait, his face full of joy, toddling over.

With a thud, he fell to the ground.

His lips instantly puckered, his face full of grievance.

Suddenly, his eyes reddened.

"Uncle bought two pieces of candy."

"..."

The little girl's eyes lit up, and her crying stopped abruptly.

A smile spread across her fair, rosy cheeks.

Her eyes, still glittering with tears, twinkled.

"Call me Uncle, and I'll give you the candy."

"Little Pig."

"Uncle!"

"Little Pig!"

"..."

Lin Yan sighed, handed over a piece of candy, then picked up the little girl and pinched her cheek, helplessly asking, "Where is your dad?"

"Not chicken rice."

"..."

Lin Yan entered the house, set her down, and asked again, "Did you learn what I taught you last time? If you can recite it, the other piece of candy is also yours, alright?"

"Yes, yes."

The toddler immediately brimmed with confidence and said loudly in her childish voice, "In front of the bed, bright moonlight, suspected to be frost on the ground, looking up to the bright moon..."

Lin Yan's eyes gradually filled with gratification.

Then, the little girl's voice got smaller and somewhat timid.

"bowing head, thinking... thinking... thinking..."

Clearly, she had forgotten the latter half, stuck for a long time before she quietly looked up at Lin Yan.

Lin Yan immediately gave her an encouraging look, pointing at the other piece of candy.

Her confidence surged, she tilted her head, and thought for a moment.

Suddenly, her eyes brightened, and she proudly said, "Bowing head, thinking of the maiden!"

What maiden is a little girl like you thinking about?

Lin Yan rubbed his eyebrows, having started to teach her bits of poetry from when she had just begun to talk.

This single poem, a year to learn!

"Forget it..."

Lin Yan thought to himself, "This niece of mine, is probably not cut out for this; perhaps, when my little nephew gets a bit older, he might... have a hope of becoming a scholar..."

In this world, from ancient times to the present, it's the survival of the fittest.

Those who succeed in cultivation, with powerful martial force, thus hold high positions and are considered mighty!

The weak, like ants, cling to the mighty and seek survival in chaotic times.

But since the establishment of High Willow City, order was gradually restored, and civilization gradually reemerged.

Even the laws, from their initial establishment, were gradually modified, seeking improvement over time.

At least in today's High Willow City, the meaning of a "big shot" isn't only about martial prowess!

For instance, Mr. Lu, who doesn't have a strong martial arts cultivation, but in High Willow City, he is still a big shot respected by any faction.

If Mr. Lu is regarded as unapproachable and incomparable, then Chief Clerk Yang from Linjiang Station is another example.

Though a weak scholar without the strength to truss a chicken, Chief Clerk Yang's status is still above that of an ordinary Martial Artist.

"High Willow City Guard Mansion is now trying to build an academy within the city, with an invitation to Mr. Lu to lead it."

Lin Yan thought to himself, "While it's with the intention of befriending Mr. Lu, it also signifies that High Willow City intends to cultivate more 'scholars'."

He thought to himself, "I heard that in Liu Venerate Temple now, among the Twelve Temple Priests, there are six who are not trained in martial arts!"