Nan Zhi glanced at Daoist Qinglong, who was lying casually in the middle of the ruined bamboo gazebo, unsure if he was feigning sleep or truly unconscious. With a blank expression, she pulled back her half-drenched, sticky sleeve.
“Fellow Daoist Crane, please behave yourself.”
The white crane’s cultivation was higher than hers, and it was Daoist Qinglong’s mount. She could neither strike it nor kill it, so Nan Zhi could only try to reason with it.
“The Monastery Head just said that this was merely a spar between fellow Daoists, and it was a slip-up. Since I’ve dirtied your… feathers, I’m sure you can understand, Fellow Daoist Crane.”
Besides, in what world does the person who was attacked and fought back have to pay money?
The white crane seemed accustomed to being a bully. It refused to let go, using its long beak to peck at Nan Zhi’s arm.
However, her Constitution was high enough that not a single drop of blood appeared despite the repeated pecking.
“Gaa! Gaa gaa gaa!”
【Money! Money! Money! Give me money!】
The feathers on the back of its long neck stood on end. It couldn't believe it had suffered a loss at the hands of a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, so it screamed and cursed.
Its long legs paced back and forth, looking exactly like an over-startled goose at a village entrance.
Nan Zhi recalled unpleasant memories of being chased by village bullies as a child and almost did something impolite.
Like grabbing its neck and lifting it up to check its sex from under its tail.
Of course, if Nan Zhi actually did that, this petty white crane would likely fight her to the death.
“Uncle Crane, it was just a spar. There’s no need to be so angry. Fellow Daoist Nan is the biological elder sister of Nan Yi and Nan Ye. You’ve always been close to those two, so please let it go for their sake. Besides, Master is asleep, so let’s not disturb his rest here.”
Shen Luohe was very practiced. He folded his fan and walked over quickly, pulling several pieces of high-quality jade from his sleeve.
“Excellent Liuyang jade. Calm down. We’ll all be colleagues in the Demon Suppression Division in the future, so there’s no need to make things so tense.”
Although the white crane was still a bit reluctant, it glanced at Daoist Qinglong and heard the names of the Nan siblings, so it knew when to quit while it was ahead.
Its long beak darted out and retracted, swallowing the jade stones into its mouth. It crunched them like broad beans before finally letting the two leave.
This was actually a crane that enjoyed eating gold, silver, and jade!
No wonder the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery was so poor.
One of the main culprits had been found.
Nan Zhi looked back at the white crane. After eating its fill, it stood on one leg and buried its head in its feathers, appearing to groom its wings.
It seemed to be playing, but in reality, it stayed by Daoist Qinglong’s side without moving an inch.
It appeared quite loyal.
Only after they had left the vicinity of the bamboo gazebo did Shen Luohe dare to breathe a bit more heavily. He turned to explain to Nan Zhi:
“Uncle Crane is over four hundred years old. He was a spirit beast contracted by my late Master’s wife. He has been with Master and his wife since he was just a tiny thing hatched from an egg. Since Danxia Fairy passed away, Master has been overly indulgent with him. That’s why… normally, everyone in the monastery has to call him ‘Uncle Crane.’”
Nan Zhi understood immediately. She then asked about what he had mentioned regarding Nan Yi and Nan Ye. Shen Luohe smiled and said:
“You don't know yet, but after the great upheaval in Bianjing half a month ago, evil demons and ghosts have been frequently causing trouble in the surrounding cities. We didn't have enough manpower in the monastery, so Xijian asked your sister to help with some clerical work. Uncle Crane likes those two siblings of yours very much. He doesn't peck them, and he won't let anyone else get close. If any disciples talk to your brother too much, he chases them away.”
“Nan Ye is very intelligent. She originally had the ambition to join the Demon Suppression Division. If she passes the exam next year, she might even become my colleague.”
Nan Zhi nodded, though she understood the situation in her heart.
So that white crane was a keepsake left to Qinglong by Danxia Fairy. No wonder it had been raised with such an overbearing personality.
In the Twenty Four Circuits of the Demon Suppression Monastery, there were only about a hundred people at the Foundation Establishment stage. Yet, a white crane had been fed enough pills and spiritual treasures to force its way to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.
“So, Fellow Daoist Crane is much older than many of the demon suppressors here in the Northwest Circuit.”
Nan Zhi brought it up casually, as if making small talk:
“If even his mount is at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, I wonder what the Monastery Head’s current cultivation level is…”
“Master took over this Demon Suppression Monastery during the reign of Empress Shenlong while he was traveling the mortal world. Since then, dynasties have changed, and the Song replaced the Tang, but the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery has always operated independently. We only suppress demons and do not interfere in politics.”
Shen Luohe hesitated for a moment.
Actually, Daoist Qinglong’s background was not a secret within the Demon Suppression Division.
He stood still and bowed deeply toward the bamboo gazebo before speaking again:
“Master was already at the Mid-stage Nascent Soul a hundred years ago. His current strength is unfathomable.”
Then isn't it possible he is at the Nascent Soul Great Circle now, or even hopeful of reaching deity transformation? He could be considered the strongest combat power in the mortal world.
If Daoist Qinglong was the mole inside the Demon Suppression Division…
Then wouldn't she have to fight a Nascent Soul Great Circle expert as a Foundation Establishment cultivator?
Nan Zhi immediately began brainstorming.
One must know that a Golden Core births a nascent soul. When the core breaks and the soul forms, any nascent soul cultivator has a lifespan of at least a thousand years.
If the monk Huiyuan’s accomplice in the Demon Suppression Division was him, why would he need to be so secretive? He could just flip the table and take over.
Furthermore, above the nascent soul is deity transformation. Even in the cultivation world, someone with such cultivation would be, at the very least, a first-class elder in a small sect, receiving the same treatment as a sect leader.
If Daoist Qinglong conspired with Huiyuan, what could he possibly gain?
Even if he truly were Huiyuan’s accomplice, why didn't he just kill her the moment she stepped into the monastery?
As for the location of the Witch Corpse, he would only need to kill her and then search her soul or refine her corpse, or use her family to coerce her. Why would he worry about not finding that evil treasure?
When the white crane was testing her just now, Qinglong could have easily killed Nan Zhi directly.
If they were truly accomplices, why would he bother putting on an act in front of her?
Could it really be to gain the trust of a mere second-level Foundation Establishment cultivator?
On the other hand, Mo Chenghuai, who fled to the cultivation world half a month ago, seemed more suspicious.
Nan Zhi couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
She felt that behind all these recent events, there was a faint thread she was overlooking.
It was all so confusing.
...
...
After many months, Nan Zhi finally saw the reassuring faces of Chen Jingui and Nan Dazhuang again.
There were also mortals working in the Demon Suppression Division. Fearing the Nan family wouldn't be used to it, Shen Luohe had found a separate courtyard with a persimmon tree to settle them in.
When Nan Zhi descended from the clouds, Chen Jingui was standing in the courtyard airing out some quilt covers, nagging Nan Dazhuang tirelessly:
“Shake the quilts out so they’re softer. Nan Yi’s leg is still injured. If he sleeps on something soft, he’ll suffer less at night.”
“Lately, there are fewer and fewer people walking around the monastery. It gets so empty at night; it’s almost scarier than a deserted temple on a mountain… Nan Ye is working for the immortals now. Even though we don't have to worry about bandits or thieves in the monastery, she’s still young and easily frightened. Be more diligent about delivering her meals. I’d rather you wait a bit longer in front of the Records Tower at night than have her come back alone.”
“Sigh, the pork the Daoist boys bought from town is nowhere near as fresh as the big fat pigs we slaughter ourselves. It’s so stringy it gets stuck in my teeth.”
“We left in such a hurry that I forgot to take the two pieces of cured meat from the stove. I’ve just made things easy for thieves and rats.”
“Sigh, it’s been three months since we left. Autumn is almost here. Why isn't Sister Zhi back yet? I don't even know if the fur sleeves and mats I made for her will fit.”
“That child has never been away from home since she was little. I raised her right by my side. The letter she sent earlier was so vague, only saying she was investigating a case in Bianjing.”
“Sigh! I wonder if she’s been promoted, and to what rank. I wonder if we can move into a big mansion in the future.”
After talking for a long time, Chen Jingui felt her throat go dry. Seeing that Nan Dazhuang only responded with occasional grunts, she suddenly got angry:
“You blockhead, you can't squeeze a word out of you even if you were beaten with three sticks! Why on earth did I lose my mind and marry you?”
Rate on N.U.
