Zhou Yi

Er Gou's blood ran cold as he listened. He subconsciously touched his body, but had no idea where the Demonic Seed Chu Qing spoke of was.

He didn't think Chu Qing would lie to him... Chu Qing was so skilled, he could kill someone like Tang Xi with just a word.

In front of him, he was as insignificant as an ant, so why would Chu Qing bother to deceive him?

Immediately, he dropped to his knees with a thud:

"Thank you, Master, for saving my life."

Master...

Chu Qing stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.

"Get up. Er Gou is a bad name, pick a new one for yourself."

Er Gou stood up and scratched his head. "Master, I... I never went to school since I was young, I don't know how to pick names."

I don't know either!

Chu Qing felt a bit troubled.

Er Gou's name was clearly one of those "the humbler the name, the easier it is to raise the child" kind, and definitely not a name he could use his whole life.

"What's your surname?" Chu Qing asked again.

After Er Gou finished crying, it was as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart. The fierceness that had been swirling in his mind was gone, replaced by a touch of simple honesty. "Master, my surname is Zhou."

Chu Qing pondered deeply and, after much consideration, finally said:

"As the year begins anew, all things are renewed.

"From today onwards, your name shall be Zhou Yi."

His voice was filled with profound wisdom, and Er Gou listened, stunned. He felt this person was truly remarkable!

Even naming had such depth.

He immediately nodded repeatedly. "Okay, Master. I've noted it down. From today onwards, I am Zhou Yi."

Seeing this, Chu Qing breathed a slight sigh of relief. He felt that naming was indeed a difficult task, not suited for him.

Fortunately, he had managed to get through this one. He immediately said, "Zhou Yi, I have a few things I need you to do."

"Please command me, Master."

Zhou Yi had already made up his mind. No matter what Chu Qing asked him to do, he would face any danger without hesitation.

Then, Chu Qing spoke softly, "I want you to take over the Chen Ji Oil and Grain shop on North Main Street in Heavenly Dance City."

"Ah?"

Zhou Yi blinked in surprise and scratched his head. "Master... I don't have any money."

If he had money, why would he be living here?

"You don't need to worry about that." Chu Qing said softly. "Since you are working for me, you will naturally have your silver.

"Listen to me first... After you take over the oil and grain shop, continue to operate it as usual, and be responsible for your own profits and losses.

"After that, every night at midnight, you need to go to the back alley of the oil and grain shop. There is a large stone there.

"Turn over the large stone. If there is a letter inside, take the letter.

"Then, prepare a large vat in the courtyard and place a basin on top of it.

"If there is a letter, fill the basin with water and place the letter beneath the basin.

"If there is no letter, also place a basin, but do not fill it with water.

"Have you remembered what I've told you?"

Zhou Yi was silent for a moment. After confirming he had remembered everything Chu Qing had said, he nodded. "Yes, Master. I have remembered."

"Good." Chu Qing nodded. He took out a handful of Gold Leaf from his robe, estimated the price of the oil and grain shop, and took out a portion to give to Zhou Yi.

He then gave him some loose Silver.

Zhou Yi looked at the Gold Leaf and Silver and accepted it without much thought.

"Alright, you may go."

Chu Qing waved his sleeve, dismissing him.

Zhou Yi was about to leave but couldn't help but turn back.

"Master, how should I find you usually?"

Chu Qing shook his head.

"You don't need to find me. If there's anything, I will find you."

"Yes."

After hearing this, Zhou Yi asked no more questions. He glanced at Tang Xi's head on the ground, picked it up, and said:

"This humble one takes his leave."

With that, he walked out of the land temple.

Chu Qing waited until Zhou Yi could no longer see him before leaping up and following his footsteps.

Fighting alone had many inconveniences.

In his current state, taking on jobs relied heavily on luck and couldn't last.

Therefore, he needed to establish his own influence.

However, he didn't need to build a massive organization like the Sin Mirror Platform... He just needed 'eyes' to see and 'mouths' to speak.

Thus, the people under him didn't need to be top-tier experts.

Rooting himself among the common folk was the only way to understand more.

Zhou Yi was an experiment.

If he hadn't been blinded by greed and had run off with Chu Qing's Gold Leaf and Silver, then a preliminary trust would have been established.

From then on, the profits and losses of the oil and grain shop would all be his.

He could completely support himself with this single shop, even marry and have children. Becoming incredibly wealthy might not be possible, but living comfortably wouldn't be difficult.

But if he ran off with the money... Chu Qing wouldn't go looking for him.

This was because Chu Qing hadn't completely helped him resolve the Demonic Seed within him.

It wasn't that Chu Qing was intentionally holding back; it was that his Demonic Seed was too deep-rooted to be resolved in a day or two.

The Purple Cloud Void Scripture contained the Purple Cloud Divine Skill, which could neutralize foreign true qi. The Demonic Seed, to some extent, was a type of foreign true qi, so it could be barely neutralized.

But this required time...

Chu Qing didn't reveal this, wanting to observe his character.

As for whether this was unfair to Zhou Yi, Chu Qing had already saved his life. If Chu Qing hadn't appeared, his ultimate fate would have been to be disemboweled alive, his heart devoured.

Furthermore, Chu Qing had helped him get revenge.

He was the one who had entrusted his life to Chu Qing...

Under these circumstances, if he still ran off with Chu Qing's money, he would only have himself to blame.

Chu Qing followed Zhou Yi all the way. He saw Zhou Yi first find a secluded spot and use a short knife to disfigure Tang Xi's face completely. Then, he walked along a small path, seemingly searching for something.

Shortly after, a wild dog suddenly darted out from the bushes. Zhou Yi, perhaps having been bitten by one before, instinctively shivered upon seeing it. He then tossed the head to it.

The wild dog, not knowing how long it had been starving, snatched the head and ran, as if afraid someone would steal it.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi finally showed a hint of a smile. He changed direction and went to a clothing store, changing into a decent set of clothes from head to toe.

Afterward, he went to a bathhouse. When he emerged, he had already changed into his new clothes.

Once that was done, he headed straight for the oil and grain shop.

When he left the oil and grain shop, it was with the original shopkeeper, and the two of them went to the City Lord's Mansion together.

Transactions for shops like these had to be registered at the City Lord's Mansion.

The entire process wasn't quick. By evening, the oil and grain shop had a new owner.

Only then did Chu Qing depart, having temporarily established a preliminary trust.

As for everything else, they would take it as it came.

Chu Qing also had his own matters to attend to.

He had been staying at the inn for too long. As an assassin, it was best not to reside in one place for extended periods.

Therefore, he bought a small courtyard as a place to stay.

He had expected the next few days to be uneventful, simply waiting for the 'big job' to begin.

But he didn't expect that one evening, while he was meditating at home, someone moved in the dead of night, creating gusts of wind.