Fellow Daoist, You're No Cleaner Than I Am

Ever since the Wood Spirit Servants had issued their first warning after being forged, Su Qing had not dared let down his guard.

He switched to the vision of the Wood Spirit Servants three li away.

Steadying himself, Su Qing saw only two figures—one in green, one in black—one pursuing and one fleeing.

The Daoist in Green Robes had blood staining his robes and a pale face. Riding a White Longsword, he fled while shouting, "A demonic cultivator is attacking! Quickly activate the formation and kill this brute!"

No sooner had the Daoist spoken than Cloud Mountain Sect Enforcement Team Members rushed toward his location.

Unfortunately, the demonic cultivator seemed intent on spreading fear. Just as the Enforcement Team was about to arrive, he thrust a hand through the Daoist in Green Robes' chest.

Licking the blood from his hand, he gave a savage grin and shouted at the Enforcement Team closing in on him, as well as the many Rogue Cultivators in the Living Area who had turned to watch, "The Cloud Mountain Sect is declining like the sun sinking behind the western hills, and White Cloud Market Town stands on the brink of danger! If you still want to live, you'd best make your plans early!"

"Demonic scum, how dare you spread lies to beguile the masses!"

A Late Qi Refining Stage cultivator in the Enforcement Team roared in fury and unleashed a spell from his hand. More than a dozen Enforcement Team Members behind him struck at once as well.

Under that barrage of spells, the demonic cultivator's body turned into a wisp of smoke in an instant and easily escaped beyond the formation.

The Enforcement Team was furious and alarmed at the sight, yet they did not dare leave the formation to pursue him.

The formation of White Cloud Market Town was called the Cloud Soaring Array.

Those bearing its mark could gain fifty percent more combat power within the formation, and it could actively bar Foundation Establishment Cultivators from entering.

The Daoist in Green Robes had worn the garb of a Cloud Mountain Sect Outer Disciple. Since he could ride a sword through the air, he had to be at least a Late Qi Refining Stage cultivator. Yet even with the formation's boost to his combat strength, he had only become a plaything for the demonic cultivator.

Even if this group went out to search for the enemy, they had no confidence they could keep that brute behind.

Of course, the demonic cultivator outside was also wary of a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator from the Market Town rushing over. After letting out two sinister cackles and putting on the full villain act, he immediately withdrew, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Though Su Qing coveted the white magical sword that had fallen beside the Wood Spirit Servants, he knew the risk of taking it away in front of the Enforcement Team. He ordered the Wood Spirit Servants to stand motionless, temporarily severed his Spiritual Sense Link with them, and only then walked out of his house with a feigned look of terror.

By then, the nearby Rogue Cultivators had come back to their senses as well. They gathered around the few Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators in the Living Area, all looking uneasy and frightened.

"A demonic cultivator entered the formation and killed someone. Life won't be easy from now on!"

"A Late Qi Refining Stage cultivator was killed just like that. If a demonic cultivator sets his sights on us, we won't even have a chance to run!"

"The demonic cultivator only targeted Cloud Mountain Sect disciples. We aren't one of them. Those who should farm, farm; those who should sell meat, sell meat. Stop worrying about the sky falling!"

"I'm not afraid of demonic cultivators. It's just that after this fuss, the Market Town higher-ups will definitely send more people to the outer Living Area. That expense will be passed on to us!"

"You mean the rent will go up?"

"Not just the rent. Stall fees, goods fees, every last expense—they want to raise them even without an excuse. Now that they have one, do you think they'll spare us?"

Blending inconspicuously into the crowd of Rogue Cultivators, Su Qing joined them in complaining about White Cloud Market Town's oppressive taxes and levies.

As Rogue Cultivators, they truly were not afraid of demonic cultivators. Unless Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivators broke the formation and launched an attack, a few Qi Refining Demonic Cultivators entering the formation to kill people did not frighten them.

The barefoot feared not those wearing shoes. When the two sects went to war and their disciples slaughtered one another, there were sect Merit Points to be earned.

What was there to gain from killing Rogue Cultivators? The scraps and bits inside their Storage Bags? Many Rogue Cultivators did not even have Storage Bags!

Compared to demonic cultivators, the Rogue Cultivators were more worried about White Cloud Market Town's next moves. Those moves might target demonic cultivators, but every slash of the blade would land on Rogue Cultivators like them!

"Fellow Daoist used to be a Cloud Mountain Sect Inner Sect Disciple, so you should be careful lately. If the intelligence from the Desiring Demon Immortal Kingdom is not updated in time and they kill you by mistake, that would be terribly unfair." Tang Wanqing had come over at some point and offered a gentle reminder.

"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Tang. I know the danger. As for the Puppet I promised you, shall you come collect it the day after tomorrow?" Su Qing knew what Tang Wanqing was truly worried about, so he said it outright.

Tang Wanqing merely assumed he would be focusing on Refining Puppets for her over the next few days. Her brows curved as she smiled faintly. "I nearly forgot to congratulate you on breaking through to the Mid Qi Refining Stage. Immortality is within reach!"

Compared to her earlier warning, this congratulation was rather perfunctory. Even among Rogue Cultivators, breaking through to the Mid Qi Refining Stage was merely a matter of steady grinding. Tang Wanqing, already at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, could not even remember when she had broken through the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. Fifteen years ago? Twenty?

She only remembered that when she had reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, she had not even started menstruating yet.

Thinking of it that way, Tang Wanqing felt that her words just now had been somewhat abrupt.

Su Qing's expression truly did not look very good. If he had not known that Tang Wanqing had no reason to mock him with barbed words, he would have thought she was deliberately ridiculing him.

"This humble Daoist has poor aptitude. I am already over twenty, yet only at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. How would I dare hope for immortality?" Su Qing replied flatly. Having lost all desire to chat, he cupped his hands and prepared to return home.

Did I really upset him? Is he going home to cry? Tang Wanqing watched Su Qing's somewhat desolate back with a trace of guilt in her heart.

Imagining Su Qing's circumstances, she thought to herself that this Puppeteer, who had fallen from being a Cloud Mountain Sect Inner Sect Disciple into the mud, might now live somewhat more comfortably than ordinary Rogue Cultivators thanks to his Puppet Technique. Yet the flaw in his cultivation was likely still an unspoken pain in his heart.

"If Fellow Daoist goes to set up a stall in the Market Town next time, you may invite me to travel with you." With graceful steps, Tang Wanqing caught up to Su Qing and spoke solemnly.

"You jest, Fellow Daoist. The little Spirit Crystals this humble Daoist earns from setting up a stall could hardly cover the cost of having you make the trip."

Su Qing merely assumed this woman had seen that he currently had a need and wanted him to spend Spirit Crystals to hire her as a Guard. That even made Tang Wanqing's earlier warning seem less pure to him.

Still, he bore her no resentment. He even admired her somewhat. A Rogue Cultivator who had spent years scraping by in the Living Area needed the ability to make money through every crack and crevice. Compared with a seasoned Rogue Cultivator like Tang Wanqing, he still had much to learn.

Tang Wanqing was slightly displeased by Su Qing's wariness. Rolling her eyes at him, she raised a brow and said, "The Market Town is about to fall into turmoil. I also need to go into the Market Town to look for some supplies lately. I can protect you along the way. If you do not wish it, then forget it."

"Then we definitely cannot forget it. It would be this humble Daoist's greatest honor to travel with Fellow Daoist!"

Su Qing did not think a Guard who cost money was necessary for the time being, but a Guard he could get for a free ride? That was simply too sweet.

"Then it is settled. Early the day after tomorrow, I will go to your place to collect the goods, then stop by the Market Town to buy some sesame oil..."

"Why buy sesame oil? This humble Daoist has specially formulated lubricating oil. I will give Fellow Daoist a few bottles then."

"Hiss! You actually specially formulated lubricating oil for the Demoness Puppet? How disgusting."

"The Puppet is not even in your hands yet, and Fellow Daoist already thought of sesame oil. Fellow Daoist, you're no cleaner than I am!"

"That's different. I work in this trade!"

"What a coincidence. This humble Daoist has recently entered this trade as well."

"Fellow practitioners?"

"Mutual benefit. Let us exchange more in the future."