Demonic Qi on You

"Young Master Li."

The constables' swagger instantly diminished by more than half when they saw who had arrived. All of them lowered their heads respectfully and clasped their hands in salute.

They knew this man's identity all too well!

He was Li Yanqing, the biological son of Li Chong, the Jin Province Governor.

They saw him in the yamen every day. Whenever anyone met him, they had to call him Young Master.

After all, he was a bona fide little ancestor. Not only did he stir up trouble in the yamen all day, he had even made quite a few burly constables his lackeys. Was there anything more absurd than that? Yet aside from his father, no one dared discipline him. Governor Li was usually busy and had no time to deal with him. As subordinates, they did not dare lodge complaints either; at most, they could mutter a few words behind his back.

So ordinarily, they wished they could stay as far away from him as possible.

By now, Li Yanqing had already run over. He stood before the constables, raised a finger, and immediately began berating them.

"Who gave you the nerve to arrest my benefactor and teacher?!"

"Teacher?"

The constables stared at one another wide-eyed, utterly bewildered.

With his hands on his hips, Li Yanqing snorted coldly. "This senior is the new master my father found for me. You didn't know?"

The constables exchanged glances. Clearly, none of them knew about this.

"Young Master Li, we truly haven't heard of this."

"You haven't heard because your ranks are too low. If this young master says there is such a thing, then there is." Li Yanqing's voice was icy.

Watching the overbearing Li Yanqing before him, Zhao Huai found it rather amusing as he swept a glance over the constables' expressions. Every one of them looked constipated.

The lead constable knew he absolutely could not offend this young master before him, or he might not even be able to keep his post. At the same time, this case was important, and it was difficult to yield.

He could only force an awkward smile. "Young Master Li, we're merely following standard procedure."

"Besides, we didn't know he was your master. We were only inviting the shopkeeper over for a little chat. Nothing would happen to him."

"No."

Li Yanqing crossed his arms and refused, his tone utterly resolute.

"Why not?"

The constable asked in confusion.

Li Yanqing said flatly, "I have business with Senior. You can't take him away."

"But he is connected to a major case. Young Master Li, please do not make things difficult for us. It will be hard to explain to the Governor." The constable looked troubled.

"I'll take responsibility for anything that happens." Li Yanqing said impatiently.

"Why aren't you gone yet? You want to fight?"

After the constables exchanged looks, helplessness flashed across their faces. They could only return and report first.

"Senior, please forgive the spectacle."

Once Li Yanqing saw that they had finally left, he turned around with a beaming smile and bowed to Zhao Huai.

He was completely different from how he had been just now.

Leaning against the doorway, Zhao Huai had quietly watched a fine show. He could not help but smile faintly. "You carry quite an impressive young master's authority."

At that, Li Yanqing shook his head and sighed. "Alas, it still isn't fit for the grand stage. When will I be like you, Senior—using Sword Flight from afar, killing a man in ten steps without a drop of blood staining my body? That would be true prestige."

"Enough. Cut the flattery. What did you come to see me about?" Zhao Huai asked with a faint smile.

At the mention of this, Li Yanqing's eyes lit up. He hurriedly said, "It has already been several days since I last parted from you, Senior. You said you would teach me how to cultivate qi, and I've been waiting so anxiously that I could hardly sit still, so I came over myself!"

"I was indeed somewhat busy these past few days and forgot."

Zhao Huai explained briefly, then said leisurely, "This matter cannot be rushed. I happen to have time over the next few days. How about I first examine your aptitude now?"

"Please, Senior, inspect it as you wish!"

Li Yanqing straightforwardly held out his hand, unbothered by any of it.

Zhao Huai grasped his hand and sent True Qi into his body to inspect it.

But at the very instant of contact—

"Shriek!"

A fox face formed from invisible black qi screeched sharply as it burst from Li Yanqing's meridians, launching a direct attack at Zhao Huai.

"Hm?"

Zhao Huai narrowed his eyes.

At that moment, the Firm Dao Heart fate suddenly activated within his mind.

A cool current surged from his sea of consciousness and merged with the mental barrier formed by the Soul-Subduing Mind Technique. His mental power swelled until it was nearly tangible, ultimately transforming into an ancient bell that let out a droning BOOM! BOOM! The deafening peal was vast and mighty, able to cleanse the heart and strip away demonic nature.

In an instant, it shattered the black-qi fox face to pieces!

Immediately afterward, Zhao Huai took a stack of withered yellow talisman paper from his Mysterious Ring.

Using his hand as a brush and qi in place of ink.

He began drawing talismans with one hand, moving so quickly that only afterimages could be seen.

Now, with the enhancement of the Talisman Expertise fate, Zhao Huai's proficiency in drawing talismans had risen to another level.

"Senior, what is this—"

Li Yanqing watched the scene before him in confusion, unable to make heads or tails of it.

Zhao Huai did not answer, merely continued drawing talismans.

True Qi shimmered brilliantly at his fingertips, bright as a lantern.

Deep marks appeared across the paper's surface, the talismanic patterns winding in nine twists, dancing like soaring dragons.

In but a moment, the two talismans had been completed. Without another word, Zhao Huai stuck them to the back of Li Yanqing's neck.

Only after doing all this did Zhao Huai slowly release Li Yanqing's hand.

"What is it, Senior?"

Only then did Li Yanqing dare ask.

Zhao Huai frowned, his expression grave. "You have Demonic Qi on you."

"Demonic Qi?!"

The moment he heard those words, Li Yanqing's head buzzed.

"Yes, a very dense strand of Demonic Qi." Zhao Huai nodded slightly and began explaining. "I originally intended to inspect your meridians, but a strand of Demonic Qi suddenly rushed out. I suppressed it with mental power, but it still remains within your body."

"Senior, then what should I do?"

Li Yanqing's expression was miserable, as bitter as a bitter melon.

Zhao Huai comforted him. "I drew a Water Dispelling Thunder Talisman and an Earth Suppressing Thunder Talisman to seal it for now. There is no need to worry temporarily."

The Water Dispelling Thunder Talisman and Earth Suppressing Thunder Talisman were both Five Elements Thunder Talismans, basic Dao talismans. For now, they were enough.

After hearing this, Li Yanqing relaxed somewhat, but he was still deeply puzzled.

"How could there be Demonic Qi inside my body?"

"The Demonic Qi is very dense. It has been lurking inside you for quite some time already." Zhao Huai added.

During their confrontation just now, Zhao Huai had clearly sensed that this Demonic Qi carried a trace of an inexplicable seductive fragrance. Given enough time, it could erode a person's mind.

Seeing Li Yanqing deep in thought, Zhao Huai gave him another hint.

"Think back. Where have you been recently? Somewhere you go every day."

"I've got it!"

Suddenly, Li Yanqing slapped his forehead and came to a realization. "Could it be the Drunken Flower Pavilion!"

"The Drunken Flower Pavilion?"

Zhao Huai paused, but quickly understood.

Wasn't the Drunken Flower Pavilion a brothel?

This kid went to a brothel every day. No wonder he had run into demons. Even if demons did not drain him dry, something else would.

Li Yanqing recalled, "I remember that a group of newcomers arrived at the Drunken Flower Pavilion. One of the women was not only enchanting in appearance, but her voice was also lovely. I visited her several times in a row."

After thinking it over, Li Yanqing gave a bitter smile. "Senior, can you kill that demon? It would count as eliminating a scourge for the people."

Zhao Huai stretched lazily and said blandly, "No. I have no time. Why bother worrying about that? If you just stop going to brothels, wouldn't the problem be solved directly?"