I'm So Hungry

How could Layman Zhao, with his level of wealth, not understand this?

He hurriedly nodded with a smile and sent a servant to fetch a brocade box. "The Immortal Master has exterminated the ghosts and monsters. This is just a small token of my appreciation. It is not much, but I hope it can compensate for the damage to the Immortal Master's Dharma Artifact."

The brocade box was opened, and a faint glimmer of spiritual light flashed within. Resting quietly inside were four Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Seeing this, the Qi Refining Layer Three cultivator's eyes lit up instantly. He laughed heartily, swiftly stowed the spirit stones into his robes, and departed with a flourish.

Just as he had expected, the Zhao Family had been established in Blackwater City for a century and sent Outer Disciples to the Greenwood Sect every three years; they certainly possessed the spirit stones he needed for his cultivation.

Watching the back of that Qi Refining Layer Three cultivator, Zhao Huaian shook his head, assuming he was a rogue cultivator the Zhao Family had hired from somewhere.

However, he did not meddle in other people's business.

It was never easy for rogue cultivators to survive; they had to swindle a few spirit stones here and there just to get by.

"Layman Zhao, the evil ghosts in your manor have not been expelled or subdued."

Just as Layman Zhao was about to return to his residence, Zhao Huaian spoke up abruptly.

Hearing the voice, Layman Zhao frowned slightly and looked at Zhao Huaian with an unfriendly expression. "Who are you? The Immortal Master has only just left, and here you are, trying to swindle me!"

"I am a member of the Greenwood Sect, specifically tasked with coming to Blackwater City to expel evil ghosts."

Zhao Huaian revealed his identity, not wishing to bicker too much with Layman Zhao.

To his surprise, as soon as he said this, Layman Zhao and his companions did not show any respect; instead, they burst into laughter.

"You say you are an Immortal Master from the Greenwood Sect? Ridiculous, simply ridiculous!"

"If you are an Immortal Master from the Greenwood Sect, then who was that Immortal Master just now?"

"Kid, you've come to the wrong place. The evil ghosts in my Zhao Family were already removed by the Immortal Master from the Greenwood Sect who arrived earlier."

"I see what you're doing—you saw that the Greenwood Sect Immortal Master had already removed the ghosts, so you're trying to take advantage of the situation to swindle some money from my Zhao Family. How could I not see through such a petty trick?"

Layman Zhao looked at Zhao Huaian with a sneer.

There was such a thing as first come, first served.

Compared to this wet-behind-the-ears youth before him, he clearly trusted the cultivator who had just demonstrated immortal techniques more.

Furthermore, if the Zhao Huaian before him were truly an Immortal Master from the Greenwood Sect, why didn't he step forward just now?

The reason was surely that he was a fraud, trying to swindle money from his Zhao Family.

"He says he is from the Greenwood Sect?"

Zhao Huaian frowned, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure.

He had not expected this rogue cultivator to be impersonating a member of the Greenwood Sect.

"That goes without saying. You brat, you'd better get lost quickly. My Zhao Family is not a place you can deceive."

Layman Zhao looked at Zhao Huaian with a mocking expression.

He simply considered this person incredibly foolish for daring to impersonate someone from the Greenwood Sect.

"Layman Zhao, if you persist like this, your days are numbered..."

Zhao Huaian sighed. He did not offer any further explanation and simply turned to leave.

Explaining things to a fool would only be a waste of breath.

The best approach right now would naturally be to show off a bit, demonstrating his strength and cultivation methods.

But there was no need.

Zhao Huaian was no saint. Layman Zhao before him was blind and had resorted to mockery without bothering to clarify the situation; he had already brought his own demise upon himself.

Fools are destined to be ground down by evil spirits.

Since they did not believe him, they could wait until nightfall to regret their stupidity today.

By then, it would also be the perfect time to lure that evil spirit out, saving him the trouble of waiting around like a rabbit waiting for a tree stump.

As for that person impersonating someone from the Greenwood Sect...

He had originally felt that life was hard for rogue cultivators and that occasionally swindling a few spirit stones was no great harm.

But now that they had impersonated him, they could no longer be let off.

"Pah... any stray cat or dog thinks they can scam my Zhao Family? Simply overestimating themselves!"

Watching Zhao Huaian's retreating back, Layman Zhao spat in disgust and led his group of servants into the manor.

However...

When night fell, Layman Zhao would finally realize just how foolish and ridiculous his actions today had been.

"Fellow Daoist, please stay your step!"

In a small alleyway, the Qi Refining Layer Three cultivator was just planning to find a place to enjoy himself.

A voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

He turned his head to look.

A youth dressed in white robes was standing there, watching him with a beaming smile.

Before he could react in any way, a flash of silver light streaked past.

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Puchi!

The next moment, blood splattered.

The cultivator at the Qi Refining Layer Three collapsed to the ground with a look of terror in his eyes, his breathing ceasing.

"You only have your own bad luck to blame. Of all the people you could have impersonated, you had to choose to do it while I was accepting a mission."

Zhao Huaian shook his head, looking down at the corpse on the ground with an indifferent gaze.

By the time he left, he already had several Low-grade Spirit Stones in his hand.

The corpse of the Qi Refining Layer Three cultivator was already engulfed in raging flames, turning into a pile of ash.

Scenes similar to this occurred endlessly every single day in the Cultivation World.

Weakness is the original sin.

Night fell.

Most of the people in the Zhao Residence had already fallen asleep, leaving only two burly men patrolling the grounds.

Time ticked away bit by bit.

As the moonlight deepened, it reached the Hour of the Rat, the time when yin energy was at its most concentrated.

Chilling winds swept through from time to time.

Even the burly men, with their robust physiques and abundant vitality, could not help but shiver.

"Brother Daniu, why is it so eerie? Do you think that immortal master from the Greenwood Sect really got rid of that evil ghost?"

One of the burly men looked at the leader in front of him, his expression slightly pale.

He couldn't help but think of the white-robed youth who had appeared at the gate at noon today, claiming to be from the Greenwood Sect.

If the youth hadn't been lying, then I'm afraid...

Thinking of this, the expression on the burly man's face grew increasingly terrified.

Yet, his words received no response.

"Brother Daniu, Brother Daniu!"

Receiving no reply, the burly man grew increasingly terrified.

He couldn't help but reach out and pat Brother Daniu on the shoulder.

But to his shock, the next moment, Brother Daniu collapsed straight to the ground, his pupils dilated wide, already devoid of life.

"Brother Daniu!!!"

The burly man's expression turned to one of horror, and he stumbled backward, falling to the ground.

Just as he was about to cry out, a chill surged into his heart, and the words stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered.

The burly man turned his head, his expression stiff and pale.

He saw a White-Clad Evil Ghost with blood leaking from its seven orifices and a mouth split wide, looking at him with a greedy expression.

The burly man's vitality drained away rapidly, his entire body instantly withering until he was nothing more than a shriveled husk.

"Hungry... so hungry..."

The White-Clad Evil Ghost cried out with vacant eyes.

It walked step by step toward the guest room of the Zhao Residence.

That night, the Zhao Residence did not sleep.

"Ghost! There's a ghost!"

"Help! That evil ghost is out again!"

"The evil ghost is eating people! The immortals from the Greenwood Sect didn't get rid of it!"

Waves of terrified screams awakened Layman Zhao, who had been fast asleep.

Hearing the commotion, Layman Zhao was so frightened that he hid under his covers, trembling uncontrollably.

He had not expected that the immortals from the Greenwood Sect would fail to eliminate the evil ghost.

At the same time, the figure of that white-robed youth involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Recalling the white-robed youth's words, Layman Zhao's expression was filled with terror and regret.

"So hungry... hungry..."

A hair-raising voice rang out.

Layman Zhao peeked out through a gap in his quilt.

He saw a malevolent ghost with disheveled hair and blood streaming from its seven orifices, its wide mouth split into a grin as it stared at him, giggling foolishly.

"I'm so hungry..."

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