I became the demon of the female devil

Chapter 211 Ji Lianxing's Secret Spying!
Entertainment Street.

It was midday, and there weren't many customers at the music and dance hall; most of them were there to drink and listen to music.

Inside the Yunshui Pavilion, a musician sat on a stage, gently playing the strings of a zither. The melodious sounds of the instruments were pleasant to the ear, while a group of sect disciples dressed in martial robes were drinking and chatting.

Liu Qiansong held his wine glass and said helplessly, "This Central Plains is indeed too peaceful, as expected of the emperor's capital. I led my men to stake out the surrounding counties for several days, but we couldn't even catch a petty thief... The list of heroes of the martial arts world is about to be announced, and I'm afraid I'll be at the bottom this time."

After the imperial court established the new examination system, they not only had to attend classes at the Imperial Academy regularly, but also had to accumulate contribution points to improve their ranking.

However, Kyoto is a prosperous and peaceful city, and even if there are occasional lawbreakers, the Six Doors can usually arrest them within a day, which is incredibly efficient.

This meant they had no chance to "make a contribution".

"Indeed, if this were in our Donghua Prefecture, there would be plenty of wicked people who would have maxed out their contribution points long ago."

"I heard that Chief Zi has already gone all the way to Jinyang Prefecture to arrest a suspect..."

"Judging from the situation in Zhongzhou, the imperial court does not seem to be as corrupt as imagined. The laws and regulations are well-established and the discipline is strict. The reason why other prefectures and counties are in chaos is mostly due to the failure to implement government orders."

Everyone was talking about it.

At this moment, Qin Yi cleared his throat and posed the probing question: "So here's the problem: why are government orders not being implemented?"

"..."

The room fell silent after he said that.

Why is it not working?
It's all because of the sects!

The eight major sects, relying on their martial prowess, occupied a province and expanded their influence extensively. Their voice in the local area was even more powerful than that of the government, and it would not be an exaggeration to call them local tyrants.

As for the decrees issued by the imperial court, any that are detrimental to the sect will be met with all sorts of obstruction.

No matter how honest and capable local officials are, they can't do their job without the cooperation of sects... If this continues, who will be willing to do such a thankless task?
It's better to just go along with things and muddle through until retirement.

"Moreover, sect disciples only focus on cultivation and do not participate in labor, so they are almost all on leave... And a sect not only has to support thousands or even tens of thousands of disciples, but also has to provide a lot of cultivation resources."

Qin Yi toyed with his wine glass and asked, "Have you ever wondered where all this silver came from?"

Martial artists consume a great deal of resources. In order to replenish their qi and blood and strengthen their muscles and bones, they often need to eat the flesh and blood of exotic beasts. A fifth-rank martial artist's monthly food expenses alone amount to five taels of silver, which is enough to cover the expenses of an ordinary family for several months!

This doesn't even include the various spiritual essences and elixirs; after all, the saying "poor scholars, rich warriors" is no joke.

But surely this money couldn't just fall from the sky, could it?

"The sects recklessly exploit spiritual veins and control secular industries, but they do not pay taxes to the imperial court."

"In order to satisfy their superiors, local governments have to collect enough taxes, so they can only keep squeezing the people."

"While we angrily denounce the imperial court for its exorbitant taxes and disregard for the lives of ordinary people, we overlook the fact that these exorbitant taxes and disregard the origins of them..."

At this point, Qin Yi paused, then sighed, "To some extent, we are indeed sucking the blood of the people."

The crowd fell silent for a moment, and some even looked ashamed.

"It's shameful that we call ourselves chivalrous and righteous."

Liu Qiansong looked Qin Yi up and down and said, "Brother Qin, when did your ideological awareness become so high?"

Qin Yi said, "What Lord Chen said back then, 'The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people,' is truly thought-provoking. I pondered it for a long time before I understood the profound meaning behind those words."

"The martial world and the imperial court have never been independent. Sects also have responsibilities to bear. True 'chivalry' is not about seeking revenge, but about serving the public good."

"Brother Qin is right."

"We can hardly reach Lord Chen's level of attainment."

"If I can make it into the top three of the list of outstanding talents and receive guidance from Lord Chen, then this trip will not have been in vain."

"Unfortunately, there are too many cases to handle and not enough cases to go around..."

"I really want to improve!"

Seeing that everyone had started chatting again, Qin Yi didn't join in and instead started drinking by himself.

He had already reported the case in Linglan County to the imperial court, but there has been no official announcement yet... Moreover, it involves the Imperial Concubine and the Daoist Master. If he says too much, it may cause unnecessary trouble.

Moreover, several days have passed since Chen Mo was taken away by Dao Zun, and he has not shown up since, which makes him somewhat worried.

Could something have happened...?

crunch--

Just then, the door of the tavern opened, and a tall figure walked in.

Everyone turned to look, and the noisy atmosphere instantly quieted down.

"Master Chen?"

Chen Mo's gaze swept over the crowd, noticing several familiar faces. He smiled and nodded, saying, "You're all here. It's been a while since we last met."

"Greetings, Lord Chen."

Everyone came to their senses and stood up to pay their respects.

Qin Yi hurriedly got up to greet him, saying, "Brother Chen, you're back? Well... cough cough, did that person give you any trouble?"

Chen Mo shook his head and said, "It's nothing, just a little friction."

To be precise, it was the Daoist master's hands rubbing up and down...

However, the good news is that the Daoist Master didn't just take it for free; he even gave me two supernatural powers... It feels like I'm some kind of prostitute who sleeps with clients, and the kind that can fly all over the country...

Qin Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief and said in a low voice, "I've been feeling uneasy these past few days. If anything had happened to Brother Chen, I would have been damned..."

After all, the demon was possessing a disciple of the Kui Xing Sect. Not only did he not notice it at all, but he also led Chen Mo into a trap... If something were to happen to Chen Mo as a result, he would naturally be held responsible.

Even if the imperial court doesn't pursue the matter, he still can't get over that mental hurdle.

Chen Mo patted Qin Yi on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Brother Qin, don't worry about it. Kui Xing Sect has made great contributions in assisting the case. I will report to the court and apply for rewards for you."

"Brother Chen..."

Qin Yi couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

He knew in his heart that he hadn't been of any help at all, and had almost actually hindered the process...

"By the way, is the female disciple who was possessed any better?" Chen Mo asked.

Qin Yi nodded and said, "Thanks to Miss Ye's help, I am now out of danger and just need to rest for a while."

"That's good."

Chen Mo nodded slightly and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't disturb your enjoyment any longer. We can have a drink together another time."

"Please take care, Lord Chen."

Everyone watched him walk into the inner room.

Qin Yi had just sat down when Liu Qiansong grabbed his neck. "What did Lord Chen mean by that earlier? Collaborating on the case? No wonder you were so calm and confident... So you were pulling strings behind the brothers' backs?!"

"..."

Qin Yi shook his head and said, "Brother Liu is joking. I just happened to get dragged into it..."

Liu Qiansong naturally didn't believe it and said, "Lord Chen said it was a great achievement, it must be a major case. Could it be that you caught a suspect on the wanted list?"

"That's not it." Qin Yi's lips twitched slightly, and he said indifferently, "It was just that I helped Lord Chen save dozens of lives and kill a Grandmaster-level demon... It's nothing to mention, nothing to mention."

Since Chen Mo had already said he would help him get credit, there was no need to hide it anymore.

If you don't seize this opportunity to shine in front of others, you'll probably regret it so much when you get back.

"..."

There was dead silence.

Not only Liu Qiansong, but everyone present was stunned, wondering if there was something wrong with their ears.

"A Grandmaster-level demon? And you killed it?!"

"Just kidding!"

"Even Lord Chen couldn't possibly be a match for a Grandmaster... Besides, are there any demons who dare to come to Zhongzhou now?" Faced with the crowd's doubts, Qin Yi didn't offer much explanation, but poured himself a drink, appearing completely nonchalant.

Others may not know, but Liu Qiansong understands his old friend's personality very well.

Although he occasionally likes to show off, he would never lie. Considering what Chen Mo just said, this is most likely true!
Besides, once the list of outstanding talents is released, everything will be self-evident, and there's no point in bragging about it.

"What kind of merit is it to slay a demon at the Grandmaster level?"

"Even just cheering from the sidelines would be enough to get you to the top of the list of outstanding talents!"

Liu Qiansong cleared his throat, leaned close to Qin Yi's ear, and whispered, "Brother Qin, from today onwards, all your entertainment expenses in Kyoto will be on my tab. Could you please help me make some introductions? I'd also like to try and get in touch with Lord Chen through connections..."

In the world of gangsters, who doesn't want a good reputation?

Even if we can't get first place, getting into the top three is fine too!

Qin Yi: "..."

……

……

The inner room, the bathroom.

A woman is soaking in a bathtub, a golden mask covering half of her face, revealing cherry-red lips.

Half of her nearly perfect, plump curves floated on the water's surface, dazzling like white jade, resembling a ripe, pressed peach, ready to burst with sweet juice at the slightest squeeze.

Gu Manzhi and Ye Henshui knelt behind her, obediently massaging her back.

"Master, this is already the fifth day. Isn't your stay a bit too long?" Gu Manzhi said cautiously.

Ji Lianxing glanced at her with her deep purple eyes. "What's wrong? You think your teacher is in your way and want to kick me out?"

"This disciple had no such intention; I was merely worried about Master's safety." Gu Manzhi shook her head and said, "After all, the capital is not safe. If Consort Yu discovers this, it could lead to great trouble."

"Rest assured, I would not take such a risk if I did not have a foolproof plan."

Ji Lianxing narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "Besides, I'm also very curious... You said that by cultivating with Chen Mo, you were able to push the Azure Jade True Scripture to its peak. How could a martial artist have such great ability?"

Gu Manzhi and Ye Henshui exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat helpless.

The day their master discovered their affair with Chen Mo, he was furious and vowed to kill Chen Mo to put an end to their hopes...

Left with no other choice, she had to reveal the whole story about dual cultivation, hoping to change her master's mind...

“Everything I said is true, and Junior Sister can testify to it,” Gu Manzhi said.

Ye Henshui nodded. "That's right, that's exactly it."

Ji Lianxing snorted coldly and said, "Come on, you two are in cahoots. Do you think I'm that easy to fool? I want to see for myself whether this so-called dual cultivation effect is really that exaggerated!"

"With your own eyes?"

Gu Manzhi's cheeks flushed. "Master, isn't this inappropriate?"

Ji Lianxing raised an eyebrow and said, "Feeling guilty?"

Gu Manzhi bit her lip and said softly, "No, it's not that... it's just too absurd..."

"Hmph, could anything be more absurd than what the two of you have done?"

Ji Lianxing's eyes darkened, and she felt a pang of regret.

She had Gu Manzhi painstakingly approach Chen Mo only to control him with the Heart-Eating Gu, not because she really wanted to ruin her disciple's life.

The plan failed, and the subsequent developments were completely unexpected.

The two not only had a physical relationship, but now it seems that Chen Mo has stolen her heart!

Ye Henshui is probably on the verge of falling...

"One thing at a time. Chen Mo did indeed do me a favor, and he even saved Manzhi and Henshui's lives. If I were to kill him, wouldn't I become an ungrateful wretch..."

"But we can't just stand by and watch him steal our two apprentices away!"

"Although the Manzhi physique is special and suitable for dual cultivation, it is impossible to achieve mastery of the Azure Jade True Scripture through dual cultivation alone... To utter such a clumsy lie is truly outrageous..."

"We need to give them a good talking-to!"

Suddenly, Ji Lianxing noticed something, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "After waiting for so many days, it's finally here."

wow-

She got up and stepped out of the bath, her stunning figure on full display.

With a wave of her hand, the long robe hanging on the clothes rack flew through the air and draped over her body, covering her snow-white and delicate figure.

"You should know what the consequences are for deceiving your master. Don't say I didn't give you a chance!"

Having said that, his figure suddenly vanished.

Before Gu Manzhi and Ye Henshui could react, footsteps sounded outside, and then the bathroom door was pushed open, and a familiar figure walked in.

"Oh, taking a shower?" Chen Mo said with a smile.

"My lord, what brings you here?" Gu Manzhi was slightly taken aback, then her eyebrows furrowed.

"Of course I'm saying this because I miss you." Chen Mo walked up to the two of them, looked at Ye Henshui, and asked, "Little Grey, how is your recovery going?"

Ye Henshui recalled the events of that day, his heart racing slightly, and he whispered, "Much better."

"That's fine."

Chen Mo nodded.

Gu Manzhi hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

She wanted to warn Chen Mo to leave, but her master was definitely watching from the shadows, so she didn't dare to make any rash moves.

"While the water's still warm, I'll take a wash too..."

Looking at the still steaming pool water, Chen Mo reached out and unbuttoned his shirt, taking off his outer robe to reveal his strong and muscular physique.

Ye Henshui hurriedly looked away, her face flushed, and stammered, "What...what are you doing?"

"It's not like we've never seen this before, why are you so nervous?" Chen Mo asked, somewhat puzzled.

When he and Saintess Gu were cultivating together, this white-haired girl watched the whole thing. She saw everything, both what she should and shouldn't have seen.

What's the big deal about taking off your clothes?
Ye Henshui bit her lip lightly, lowered her head, and remained silent.

Gu Manzhi cleared her throat and said, "My lord, this water has been used and is already dirty. Let me change it for you..."

"It's alright, no need to trouble yourself, I don't mind." Chen Mo smiled, stepped into the pool, leaned against the edge, and let out a contented sigh as the warm water enveloped his body.

"Comfortable~"

"..."

The two looked at each other in bewilderment; this water was the very water their master had used...

Remembering what her master had just said, Gu Manzhi hesitated for a moment before slowly taking off her clothes...

"Saint?"

Ye Henshui was stunned.

Gu Manzhi bit her lip and said, "Junior sister, you can go out first."

?

Ye Henshui's throat tightened, somewhat incredulous.

Is the Holy Maiden really going to do this in front of her master...?

This is too ridiculous!

(End of this chapter)