Dao Ming Beast

Lin Qi had finally discovered one of Luo Ci's greatest virtues.

He had a good mindset.

No matter how hard he cried one second, the next he could act as if nothing had happened.

He even held out pastries with a grin to share with Lin Qi, completely forgetting that not long ago, he had shouted that he was cutting ties with her for three days.

With him looking so foolish, no one could even stay angry at him.

With the Luo Family escorting them, Lin Qi's group no longer needed to transfer through Spatial Array Formations. In less than half an hour, they arrived directly at Ming City's main city.

The cities of the Cangwu Realm were divided into three ranks.

Cities like Luo City were first-rank cities, the most prosperous of all. There were only nine first-rank cities in the entire Southern Continent.

The desolate city where Lin Qi had lived lay on the border of the Southern Continent. It was a famously barren place and a third-rank city.

Ming City, where they currently were, was an affiliated city of Luo City and a second-rank city.

Lin Qi stood beneath Ming City's gates, a Small Wooden Sword strapped to her tiny back, her face brimming with anticipation.

"I heard Ming City is renowned throughout the Southern Continent for producing fine wines. Every household here is skilled at brewing, and Wine Immortal Pavilion's Spiritual Bamboo Wine is especially famous. They say one sip lets you break through an entire stage on the spot."

"Fake!" Luo Ci had finally found an opportunity to gain the upper hand and look down on Lin Qi.

He puffed out his little chest and lifted his chin. "If one sip could make you break through a stage, then why does my mother drink it every day without her cultivation increasing? Clearly, those claims are wildly exaggerated!"

Lin Qi stroked her chin and looked at Luo Ci with pity.

"Does your mother know she gave birth to such a genius?"

Luo Ci shrank his neck. He somehow felt Lin Qi was not praising him, yet he could not figure out what was wrong with her words.

So he waved a hand, tugged at Senior Sister Yuan Xi's sleeve, and began to act spoiled. "Senior Sister, look! Second Senior Sister is bullying me again!"

That practiced, coquettish manner left Lin Qi utterly amazed.

Yuan Xi patted his shoulder and said gently, "All right! We need to find the Tianyi Sect's Affairs Hall in Ming City."

Luo Ci snorted and followed close behind Senior Sister Yuan Xi, as if determined to draw a clear line between himself and Lin Qi.

When they reached Ming City's Affairs Hall, Luo Ci tugged on Lin Qi's clothes, leaned close, and whispered, "Are we going in with Senior Sister later?"

Lin Qi slapped away his paw and replied coldly, "Whatever!"

Luo Ci refused to give up and tried to grab her again, but the moment his fair little paw touched Lin Qi's clothes, it was covered in a layer of ice.

Lin Qi calmly turned her head. "Use your words properly. Don't go touching people!"

Luo Ci timidly withdrew his hand and immediately became as well-behaved as could be.

While the two of them exchanged nonsense, Senior Sister Yuan Xi had already taken the mission scroll to be stamped.

"Another one?"

The steward behind the counter lifted his eyelids, glanced at the scroll, then deftly took out a jade tablet and left a mark on it.

"Once it's stamped, you must return to the Affairs Hall within fifteen days to report the information you find. Only then will the mission handover be fully completed."

When he handed over the scroll and caught sight of Senior Sister Yuan Xi, he frowned instinctively. "You're already a Golden Core cultivator at such a young age?!"

Although Senior Sister Yuan Xi was only twelve, she was merely a brow shorter than True Monarch Qingyun. Her features were somewhat youthful, making it obvious at a glance that she was still very young.

"Yes, thank you for the trouble, Senior Brother." She accepted the scroll and thanked him softly.

Seeing that Yuan Xi was young and exceptionally courteous, the steward developed an appreciation for talent and gave her a few extra reminders.

"The Affairs Hall requires Golden Core cultivation to accept this mission. Ming City is remote. Powerful Golden Core cultivators disdain this mission, while those somewhat weaker either stumble and fall on it or return empty-handed. As a result, six consecutive groups of mission-takers have returned with feathers scattered and wings broken."

"Junior Sister, you are young and your future is promising. Be cautious above all else, and do not act rashly."

Yuan Xi bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

The mission scroll was half-sealed. Only after it had been stamped by the local Affairs Hall would all its information be revealed.

When Lin Qi saw Senior Sister Yuan Xi emerge holding the scroll, she curiously leaned over to look.

Case details: A monster skilled at hiding and fleeing has appeared in Ming City. It loves fine wine. Every ten days, it breaks into a household in the city, steals wine and kills people, leaving only the torsos behind while consuming the heads alone.

Mission requirements: Find the demonic beast that steals wine and kills people, capture it, and return it to the Tianyi Sect, thereby calming the unrest in Ming City.

The scroll also contained information uncovered by the previous mission-takers.

Lin Qi looked it over and felt it was all much the same, with little useful information.

She raised her head to look at Yuan Xi. "Senior Sister, this mission may be somewhat tricky."

Luo Ci also poked his head in, utterly confused. "What's so tricky about it? We just need to find a demonic beast and capture it, right?"

He thought the mission was simple and straightforward, quite suitable for beginners.

Lin Qi looked at his sincere wide eyes, and the corner of her mouth twitched.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi patiently explained, "Six Golden Core cultivators accepted this mission before us, yet the information they uncovered was all much the same. They could not even determine the demonic beast's strength. Either all six cultivators were fishing in muddy waters and did not take the mission seriously, or this demonic beast is extremely formidable. The latter is more likely."

"Third Junior Brother, when we encounter matters, we must diligently use our minds and not merely look at the surface."

Though both were offering him guidance, Luo Ci happily nodded at Senior Sister Yuan Xi's words. That made Lin Qi a little indignant.

She had once sincerely tried to guide this brat too, all right?!

"Senior Sister, should we find an inn to rest first and ask around about the situation while we're at it?"

The moment Lin Qi finished speaking, Luo Ci practically jumped into the air with excitement.

"Half the inns here belong to my family. Which one do you want to go to? I'll take you there!" He swung his short arm, looking incomparably proud.

He tugged Senior Sister Yuan Xi along and ran toward a certain direction as though flying.

Lin Qi thought that since it was free, there was no reason not to stay there, so she followed them.

Then the three of them stood before the resplendent, glittering Wine Immortal Pavilion, while carriages streamed endlessly past on either side in a ceaseless flow.

Three young children stood side by side in plain clothes, utterly out of place amid Wine Immortal Pavilion's lavish luxury.

Lin Qi glanced at Luo Ci, who stood in the middle. "This is your family's?"

Luo Ci planted his hands on his little waist, raised his head, and answered with pride written all over his face, "Of course!"

So it had been true when Luo Ci said his mother drank Spiritual Bamboo Wine every day.

It turned out her little companion's family was truly rich enough to rival a nation... Lin Qi felt just the tiniest bit envious.

"Young Master Luo, let's go. Lead the way!" Lin Qi looked at Luo Ci with amusement.

Yuan Xi tugged at Lin Qi. "This seems somewhat inappropriate."

Who went out on a mission only to ride on their junior brother's coattails and feast and play everywhere?

Lin Qi grabbed Senior Sister Yuan Xi. "Senior Sister, this mission is quite difficult. Wine Immortal Pavilion is the liveliest place in Ming City, so it will definitely be much easier to gather information here. If you feel embarrassed, we can pay for our own lodging and not take advantage of Third Junior Brother."

Lin Qi's words moved Yuan Xi.

While she was still hesitating, Lin Qi had already pulled her into Wine Immortal Pavilion.

Though Luo Ci was small, the moment he stepped into Wine Immortal Pavilion and flicked the jade pendant at his waist, the bearing of the Luo Family's young master instantly emerged.

"Where is your boss?! Tell them someone from the Luo Family has arrived!"

Lin Qi had not expected him to be so overbearing and direct.

Feeling the gazes cast their way from all around, Lin Qi could not help wanting to cover her face.

"Senior Sister, I was wrong! I shouldn't have overestimated Third Junior Brother's intelligence."

The attendants of Wine Immortal Pavilion had sharp eyes. They immediately recognized the Luo Family young master's jade token at Luo Ci's waist and respectfully led the three into a private room.

Before long, a handsome young gentleman wearing white robes and a golden crown emerged.

His laughter was clear and bright, his demeanor calm and composed. "Fifth Young Master, why did you not inform us in advance that you would honor this humble establishment with your presence? I could have arranged for someone to receive you."

Luo Ci tilted his head. "Who are you? Shouldn't my eldest sister be the owner here?"

The man named Chen Yun smiled lightly. "I am Chen Yun, the manager of Wine Immortal Pavilion, employed by the Eldest Miss."

"Oh, no wonder. Eldest Sister likes good-looking men." Luo Ci nodded solemnly.

Chen Yun unfolded the bone fan in his hand and bowed to Luo Ci. "Then I must thank Fifth Young Master for his praise."

Luo Ci was someone who yielded to softness but not hardness. Faced with someone so gentle and welcoming, he was immediately unable to withstand it.

"No need, no need. I only came here to complete a mission."

He leaned closer to Chen Yun and asked, "Have you heard of the demonic beast that likes eating human heads and drinking fine wine?"

Chen Yun's expression shifted slightly when he heard that. "Fifth Young Master is investigating the Dao Ming Beast?!"

"Dao Ming Beast?" Lin Qi asked curiously.

Chen Yun explained, "That is the nickname the people of Ming City gave it."

He sighed and began to speak of the Dao Ming Beast.

This chapter was only two thousand five hundred words for now. Another thousand five hundred would be posted tonight.

All right, it was Little New Year today, so I slacked off...