Refining the True from the False: Becoming a God Starting with Devouring a True Dragon

Wang Qi wolfed down his food until he was full, then got up and said goodbye to Zhang Yuan.

As he walked to the door, Zhang Yuan called him back.

"I'll talk to the clerk's office first thing tomorrow morning and move to the constables' quarters... With a proper identity, even if things get out of hand, the Black River Gang will have to think twice before killing you. At least it will buy us some time."

Wang Qi's voice was solemn, "This subordinate has another matter he would like to ask for your help with..."

"speak."

Zhang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back.

Wang Qi hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I want to know Li Xiong's whereabouts."

With this remark,

Zhang Yuan immediately knew Wang Qi's choice.

"Besides their dealings with the fishing industry, the Black River Gang is also involved in loan sharking."

"Li Xiong is in charge of collecting debts in the alleys south of Xiashui Lane."

"Thank you, sir!"

Wang Qi cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "I will forever remember your kindness, sir."

Zhang Yuan had indeed helped him a great deal, both in his cultivation and in matters concerning the Black River Gang...

Zhang Yuan waved his hand, "Forget about the favor, just don't betray me if things come to light."

Wang Qi didn't say anything more and disappeared into the night.

……

In the courtyard of the waiting list for constables.

As the three-month deadline drew closer, the atmosphere began to become polarized.

Some people simply give up.

As soon as the sun set, they were already in bed, fast asleep. Or they would gather with the people from the neighboring courtyard, picking up pebbles and playing games they used to play as children.

Another group began to train relentlessly, still wielding their swords even though their faces were etched with exhaustion.

This includes high teeth.

He came from an ordinary background; his family owned a tailor shop.

Going back three generations, they were all of low social status.

He had hoped that even if he were of lowly status, he could at least become a "police officer," the highest-ranking official among them. That way, his family wouldn't be bullied, and their lives could gradually improve over time.

As a result, the whole family exhausted their savings and even borrowed money to ask that uncle to help them smooth things over and get him a position as a probationary constable.

Before I could even get comfortable on the stool, I was met with Master Huang's new order.

His talent is mediocre, his mentality is neither good nor bad, and his background is neither high nor low...

He's just an ordinary person.

He was burdened with a debt of five taels of silver, and the hopes of his entire family of four. The deadline was fast approaching…

Gao Ya suffers from insomnia every day.

So much so that when Li Xiong came to his door, blocked the entrance, and started cursing and threatening to sell his younger sister into a brothel... he also asked Wang Qi if he had any secret manuals.

He impulsively agreed and even promised to help steal the secret manual.

He wasn't in a hurry when Lu Shun and Ge Daniu successfully broke through, since Wang Qi was still there to accompany them.

But seeing that Wang Qi had also broken through to the next level, he was the only one left in the group of four.

He felt increasingly inferior and anxious.

His evil thoughts grew stronger and stronger, and he even considered killing Wang Qi and stealing his things.

Even a few days before his breakthrough, he followed him for several days, looking for an opportunity...

But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Even today, during the tour, Wang Qi said that once he was promoted to a minor official, he would lend him two hundred coins.

Gao Ya suddenly felt like he was a complete jerk.

That evil thought vanished instantly.

But the thought of Li Xiong made him tremble with fear.

If they can't repay that five taels of usurious loan, the lives of their entire family of four will truly be lost...

What should I do about high teeth?

High teeth!

"High teeth!"

The voice beside him immediately pulled him out of his daze.

It is Wang Qi.

"Wang...Qi-ge, what's wrong?" Gao Ya's eyes darted away.

"Here are thirty coins. Take them and use them first."

Wang Qi slapped the thirty coins into Gao Ya's hand.

"What...what is this for?" Gao Ya exclaimed, somewhat bewildered.

Wang Qi slowly began, "I just went to Pig Stomach Alley and heard from your father about your family's situation..."

Gao Ya's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Has my secret been discovered?

Otherwise, why would Wang Qi suddenly go to Pig Stomach Alley?

"Brother Qi, I..."

Just as Gao Ya was about to explain, Wang Qi raised his hand to interrupt, "We're barely making ends meet at home, why force yourself to stay put?"

"If you don't want to talk to Brother Da Niu because you're afraid they'll look down on you, then you can talk to me too. We're in the same class, so it's not like one of us will look down on the other."

"At least this way people won't starve to death."

"At worst, even if we only manage to save half a bowl of that millet and wild vegetable porridge, we can still survive."

Swish!

Gao Ya's eyes instantly reddened.

"I'm not human!"

Gao Ya slapped himself across the face, then knelt down in front of Wang Qi with a thud.

This scene shocked many people in the courtyard.

Wang Qi was startled and quickly dodged away.

The corner where people are being helped up.

"It's over, it's over..."

"I...I'm so sorry!"

Gao Ya burst into tears.

While wiping her nose, she told Wang Qi the whole story.

"Li Xiong..."

Upon hearing these two words, Wang Qi felt a surge of murderous intent rising within him.

When he approached you about this, were there any other people around?

"what?"

Gao Ya was surprised that Wang Qi did not mention his "betrayal" but instead focused all his attention on Li Xiong.

After a moment's thought, Gao Ya cautiously gave his answer, "No, it's just him."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qi's resolve grew even stronger.

When is the next time he asks you to meet?

Gao Ya replied, "Every day he would wait for me by the empty house next to Pig Liver Alley... He looked quite anxious. I was forced into it by him..."

Wang Qi raised his hand, "No need to say more. When people are pushed to the limit, how can they not make mistakes?"

Didn't I slip up in the matter of the water crow?

With Li Xiong's whereabouts known, things will be much easier...

"I'll go see him in your place tomorrow night."

"So... what are your plans, Qi-ge?"

Gao Ya asked.

"I apologize." Wang Qi smiled. "Don't worry about your debt; we'll figure out a solution together."

"Problems can always be solved."

Wang Qi patted Gao Ya on the shoulder to comfort him.

"Thank you, Brother Qi!"

Gao Ya was moved to tears, "Tomorrow, I'll go with you again..."

"That Li Xiong is very fierce, I'm afraid you'll suffer if you go alone."

"It's alright, I'm a martial arts practitioner now too," Wang Qi patted his chest.

"That guy's been training outside for a long time, be careful..."

……

Early the next morning.

Wang Qi then went to the clerk's office and changed into a black-clad constable's uniform.

Besides not having the word "candidate" on their uniforms, the uniforms of the bailiffs were also a lighter shade of blue than those of the fast bailiffs, and the fabric did not look like scraps.

It also has a layer of fleece inside, making it especially warm in this late autumn.

He wasn't in a hurry; he simply wrapped it up.

There was no rush to move. Instead, they returned to the small courtyard where they were waiting to become constables, drank millet and wild vegetable porridge, and followed Gao Ya on patrols through the sewer alley where snake demons often appeared.

Until sunset.

Sitting on the bed, Wang Qicai changed into casual clothes and began to act.

After their shifts, probationary constables were not allowed to carry sharpened yamen knives when they went out.

However, the knife rack was left unattended.

Wang Qi picked up a knife, wrapped it in his old constable's uniform, touched the liver of the Hidden Fire Bull Demon that was on his back, confirmed that he had it with him, and then walked towards the sewer alley.

After leaving the hospital...

A kestrel appeared above Wang Qi's head.

After walking two streets, three more sparrows appeared around the kestrel.

Until Wang Qi walked into the sewer alley...

More than a dozen birds have already scattered across the rooftops within a radius of tens of meters.

From time to time,

The bird would fly to the kestrel first, and then the kestrel would land on Wang Qi's shoulder, pointing in the direction with its beak to indicate roughly which direction someone had passed by nearby.

Wang Qi would take the initiative to deliberately avoid it.

In the alleyway beneath my feet,

Two ducks, whose owners were unknown, were taken by Wang Qiwei, who happened to be passing by. They went straight to his left and right to help him explore the way.

"quack……"

Behind the corner of the broken courtyard wall in Zhudu Hutong.

Li Xiong leaned against the wall, constantly shaking his leg.

Just thinking about how I obtained the secret recipe for that king duck and how I would present it as a gift to the pond owner at his birthday banquet and steal the show...

He couldn't help but hum a little tune.

He went from a fisherman to a great fisherman in just two years.

Within the entire Heihe Gang, he could be considered a promising young talent.

But he waited eight years to go from a fisherman to a boat owner and still hadn't achieved it!

Eight years! How many eight-year periods does one have in a lifetime?

But now, the Li family boat owner who is in charge of him only makes empty promises, saying that he will present him with an amazing birthday gift this time, and that once he becomes the pond owner's confidant, he will immediately start applying for resources for him to break through the inner strength realm.

He believed those words three years ago.

He believed it five years ago too.

But it's been eight years now, why don't I just take this opportunity to become the pond owner's confidant?

"Wang Ya, Wang Ya..."

"quack……"

"Huh?" Li Xiong looked down and saw a duck pecking at his feet incessantly.

"Where did these ducks come from?!"

He bent down, grabbed the duck by the neck, and was about to lift it up.

suddenly,

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw blazing flames roaring toward him.

It filled the entire eyeball in an instant.

It seems there's someone behind the flames.

It looks kind of familiar... Ah...

"Ah~!"

A pitiful scream rang out instantly.

"My eyes, my eyes!"

Li Xiong struggled, repeatedly gripping the duck tightly in his hand and swinging his fist.

With his brass knuckles, every punch he threw shattered a section of broken bricks.

Blood trickled down his fist, but quickly congealed, sticking to his skin...

Wang Qi stood not far away.

His pale golden eyes coldly surveyed the scene before him.

Far from feeling fear, I felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration!

He watched silently.

After Li Xiong charged forward and threw dozens of punches, he grew increasingly weak and finally collapsed to the ground, where he fell silent.

"It's really heat-resistant; it took it so long to die."

Wang Qi clicked his tongue in amazement at how monstrous a mere martial arts practitioner in this world could be.

It took two large mouthfuls of the Fire-Hidden Bull Demon's liver and dried meat to kill it.

He waited a while longer to make sure Li Xiong was completely dead before stepping forward.

Why provoke me?

He used a knife to lift the duck by the severed neck and blew on it twice.

"Hoo hoo...maybe we can still eat it after peeling it."

The temperature seems to have dropped.

Wang Qi then began to peel off his charred clothes and search him from head to toe.

Splash...

A bag was pierced by the tip of a knife, and dozens of tiny pieces of silver fell out.

Wang Qi quickly picked up all the money.

"One coin, two coins..."

He weighed it in his hand, estimating the weight of the broken silver.

"That must weigh seven or eight ounces?!"

"Wow, no wonder they're loan sharks...they're really rich!"

Chirp chirp...

In mid-air, a kestrel began to cry.

Someone is coming this way.

Wang Qi quickly left and disappeared into the night.