Ruined

After the officials left, Luo Yi closed the door and returned to the courtyard.

Seeing his sister's worried expression, he patted the little girl on the head. "Don't worry, Xiao Xi. I've taken care of the Autumn Tax. There's no need to worry."

After reassuring his sister, Luo Yi went into the kitchen, put the Tonic Medicine on to boil, swallowed a piece of Bear Gall, and continued his training.

He practiced for nearly four hours straight. The Panel displayed: Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Minor Accomplishment 121/300).

His morning practice had added 44 points of progress. Satisfied, he called it a day.

He found the Tiger Bone that had been drying in the shade since yesterday. It seemed he'd be able to use it to make wine by tomorrow at the latest.

Thinking of how precious Chinese herbs were always added to Tiger Bone wine in his previous life, he felt the last piece of Bear Gall in his pocket.

He could go to the town's pharmacy and ask the shopkeeper what herbs were needed for Tiger Bone wine. While he was there, he could also buy more Bear Gall for his martial training.

He arrived at the pharmacy and saw the shopkeeper sitting behind the counter with the look of a shrewd merchant. He walked inside.

"Why are you back again, kid? Have you already finished the Bear Gall you bought yesterday?"

At the shopkeeper's question, Luo Yi nodded.

"Shopkeeper, you really weren't lying to me. The Bear Gall's medicinal effects are powerful—better than the Tonic Medicine, too. I came to buy some more Bear Gall from you, and I also need some herbs for making Tiger Bone wine."

"How much Bear Gall are you planning to buy this time, kid? Don't go asking for just ten or eight taels again, wasting this old man's time."

"I heard all about the young tiger slayer everyone was talking about in town yesterday. Turns out it was you. This old man really misjudged you."

It would take at least half a month for the Tiger Bone wine to be ready to drink. To keep his martial training on track in the meantime, he couldn't stop taking Bear Gall.

He steeled himself, took out a Silver Note, and placed it on the counter.

"Give me fifty taels' worth of Bear Gall, and some herbs for making Tiger Bone wine."

Seeing Luo Yi's pained expression, the shopkeeper knew he'd dug deep into his pockets.

The shopkeeper went into the back room. After a while, he returned with a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to Luo Yi. Then he rummaged beneath the counter for a long time before taking out two bundles of herbs.

"Kid, Bear Gall is good, but you shouldn't eat too much of it."

He took the Bear Gall wrapped in paper and the herbs for making Tiger Bone wine.

After thanking the shopkeeper, he left the pharmacy.

Luo Yi had barely left when one of the shopkeeper's men entered the pharmacy and reported what he'd found:

"There are three people in his family. Now it's just him and his younger sister."

"His father went hunting in Yunling the Mountain some time ago and mysteriously disappeared. He may have encountered a demon."

"Worried about his father's safety, the man went into the Mountain alone to search for him and was possessed by an Evil Spirit. Luckily, a hunter who had gone into the Mountain to hunt came across him and brought him home. After he got back, he remained unconscious for three whole days. When he woke up, he seemed like a different person."

"In barely half a month, he went from a frail Tongsheng to a Minor Accomplishment skin-refining warrior. On top of that, he's a highly skilled archer."

"Yesterday, he even hunted a Fierce Tiger weighing six or seven hundred jin in Yunling the Mountain."

After listening to his subordinate's report, the shopkeeper thought, Every time I see that kid, his martial skills have improved by leaps and bounds.

There was a strong chance that the Evil Spirit entering his body had awakened some kind of special constitution in him.

After hearing the news about Luo Yi, the shopkeeper asked his subordinate, "Have you found any trace of that female demon who escaped some time ago?"

The number of people disappearing from town had been steadily increasing. He suspected the female demon was hiding somewhere in town.

After listening to his subordinate's report, the shopkeeper considered the matter.

"Investigate where these missing people were last seen, or any places they all might have visited."

"Yes, sir."

After leaving the pharmacy, he went to the busiest market in Dongsheng Town. The bustling marketplace, once crowded with people, was now deserted.

The vendors who used to line both sides of the streets had long since disappeared. All that remained were various things smashed and scattered across the ground.

On his way home, cries from women and children could be heard from the alleys.

He sighed and thought no more of it. Luo Yi continued on home.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of Mister Li's mansion on the eastern side of town, Mister Li stood with several unfamiliar men.

Looking at the ragtag bunch before him, Mister Li asked with disgust, "Why are there only a few of you? Where's Luo Wei?"

"Master Li, after Luo the Elder went into the Mountain with his nephew that day, he never came back out. We suspect he died in the Mountain."

"Useless, every last one of you." They couldn't even handle a powerless Tongsheng, yet every day they came before him, bragging about how capable they were.

"Since Luo Wei is dead, you useless lot, why have you come to me?"

Seeing Mister Li's furious expression, one of the thugs stepped forward.

"Master Li, our boss may be dead, but you still haven't paid the reward you promised him. We put in a lot of work, too. Shouldn't you pay us some of it?"

Hearing the thug's words, Mister Li was so angry he laughed.

He called for the household guards and ordered them to break both the thug's arms and legs, then throw him into the rear courtyard.

The guards standing nearby heard their master's orders. Thinking of the terrifying monster in the rear courtyard, one of them couldn't help shuddering.

"Ah!" "Ah!" "Ah!" "Spare me, Master Li!" "Spare me! We don't want the money anymore!"

He had the servants carry the men with broken arms and legs into the rear courtyard.

Hearing the screams outside, a petite and lovely-looking noblewoman walked out of the side room and looked at Mister Li.

"You've been awfully bold lately. You brought in a large batch of provisions just two days ago, and now you've delivered so much more food. Aren't you afraid someone will discover who you are?"

"Afraid? Of course I'm afraid. But today was the day to pay the Autumn Tax. These men couldn't afford it, and they were afraid of being conscripted, so they fled!"

"If the officials come looking, I'll have an excuse. With enough silver, I can smooth everything over." Hearing Mister Li's explanation, the noblewoman shook her head.

If that Old Ghost from the Demon Suppression Department hadn't gravely wounded me some time ago, this wouldn't be such a hassle.

That damned Old Ghost chased me all the way here. I was worried he'd followed me into town. Otherwise, why go to all this trouble?

She devoured every last one of the thugs in the courtyard.

Black qi gathered in the noblewoman's hand, gradually forming a pitch-black pill. She tossed it at Mister Li's feet.

"You brought fewer people this time. The Longevity Pill is only half as effective as the last one."

Seeing the Longevity Pill at his feet, Mister Li hastily picked up the pitch-black pill and swallowed it whole.

"Thank you, Lady. Thank you for bestowing the Longevity Pill upon me."

Watching Mister Li, Lady nodded. "You said some time ago that you'd deliver the Extremely Yin Maiden by the end of the month. When will she arrive?"

At her question, Mister Li hesitated for a long while.

"Lady, Luo Wei was handling this matter. His men just reported that he died in Yunling the Mountain a few days ago. We've lost the trail of the Extremely Yin Maiden for now."

After hearing Mister Li's words, the noblewoman's smiling expression turned savage in an instant. "Search! Don't overlook a single clue. You must find the Extremely Yin Maiden for me."

"Yes, Lady."