Ruin

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

Seeing his younger sister's worried expression, he patted her head. "Don't worry, Xiao Xi. I've taken care of the Autumn Tax. No need to fret."

After comforting his sister, Luo Yi went into the kitchen, boiled the Tonic Medicine, swallowed a piece of Bear Gall, and continued his cultivation.

He practiced for nearly four hours straight, and the Panel showed: Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Minor Accomplishment 121/300).

This morning's training had added 44 points of progress, so he packed up with satisfaction.

He found the Tiger Bone that had been drying in the shade since yesterday and figured it would be ready to soak in wine by tomorrow at the latest.

Thinking back to the Tiger Bone wine from his past life, which always had some precious herbs added, he touched the last piece of Bear Gall in his pocket.

He decided to head to the town's pharmacy and ask the shopkeeper what herbs were needed for Tiger Bone wine, and maybe buy some more Bear Gall for his martial training.

Arriving at the pharmacy door, he saw the shopkeeper sitting behind the counter with a sly merchant's face, and stepped inside.

"You again? Finished that Bear Gall you bought yesterday?"

Hearing the shopkeeper's question, Luo Yi nodded.

"Shopkeeper, you weren't lying. The Bear Gall's effects are indeed powerful—even better than the Tonic Medicine. This time, I want to buy some more Bear Gall and also some herbs for making Tiger Bone wine."

"Kid, how much Bear Gall are you buying this time? Don't come at me with ten or eight taels again—don't waste an old man's time."

"Yesterday in town, everyone was buzzing about that tiger-killing youth, and it turned out to be you. I really misjudged you."

Thinking that the Tiger Bone wine would take at least half a month to be ready to drink, and needing to keep up his training efficiency, he couldn't afford to stop using Bear Gall.

Steeling himself, he pulled out a Silver Note and placed it on the counter.

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

Seeing the pained look on Luo Yi's face, the shopkeeper knew the kid had gone all in.

The shopkeeper went into the back room, came out after a while with a crumpled piece of paper, rummaged under the counter for a bit, and produced two bundles of herbs.

"Kid, Bear Gall is good, but don't overdo it."

Luo Yi took the wrapped Bear Gall and the herbs for the Tiger Bone wine.

After thanking the shopkeeper, he walked out of the pharmacy.

No sooner had Luo Yi left than a subordinate entered the pharmacy and reported to the shopkeeper what he'd found:

"This guy's family had three people. Now it's just him and his younger sister."

"His father went missing a while back after hunting on Yunling Mountain—suspected to have run into a Demon."

"Worried about his father, the kid went into the mountains alone to look for him, ran into an Evil Spirit, got possessed, but got lucky. A Hunter found him and brought him home. He was unconscious for three whole days, and when he woke up, he seemed like a different person."

"In just over half a month, he went from a scrawny 'Tongsheng' to a Minor Accomplishment skin-refining martial artist. On top of that, he's got amazing archery skills."

"Yesterday on Yunling Mountain, he even hunted a tiger weighing six or seven hundred jin."

After hearing the report, the shopkeeper thought, "Every time I see that kid, his martial arts have improved drastically."

It seemed very likely that the "Evil Spirit possession" had awakened some special constitution in him.

After digesting the news about Luo Yi, the shopkeeper asked his subordinate, "Any sign of that female demon that escaped a while back?"

With more and more people going missing in town lately, he guessed the female demon was hiding somewhere in town.

Hearing the subordinate's report, the shopkeeper thought it over.

"Go check where these missing people were last seen, or any places they all visited."

"Yes, sir."

Leaving the pharmacy, Luo Yi headed to the busiest market in Dongsheng Town. The once bustling, lively streets were now desolate.

The vendors who used to line the roads were long gone, leaving only broken goods scattered on the ground.

On his way home, he heard women wailing and children crying from the alleys.

He sighed in sorrow. Shaking off the thoughts, he walked home.

Meanwhile, at Mister Li's mansion on the east side of town, Mister Li stood in the courtyard with a few unfamiliar men.

Looking at the motley crew before him, Mister Li asked with disgust, "Just you lot? Where's Luo Wei?"

"Mister Li, Boss Luo went into the mountains with his nephew that day and never came out. We think he's dead in there."

"Useless. A bunch of useless trash." Can't even handle a weak 'Tongsheng,' and you have the nerve to come boast to me every day about how tough you are.

"Since that waste Luo Wei is dead, why are you lot coming to me?"

Seeing Mister Li's furious face, one thug stepped forward.

"Mister Li, even though our boss is dead, you still owe him the payment you promised. We put in a lot of work too—shouldn't we get a cut?"

Hearing the thug's words, Mister Li laughed in anger.

He called for his house guards to break the thug's hands and feet and throw him into the back courtyard.

The guard standing nearby, hearing the master's orders and thinking of the terrifying monster in the back courtyard, couldn't help but shiver.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Mercy, Mister Li! Mercy! We don't want the money anymore!"

The servants carried the men with broken hands and feet into the back courtyard.

Hearing the screams outside, the petite and lovely noblewoman stepped out of the side chamber and looked at "Mister Li."

"You've been bold lately. Just two days ago, you brought in a big batch of rations, and today you've delivered so much more food. Aren't you afraid someone will discover your identity?"

"Afraid? Of course I am. But today happens to be the Autumn Tax deadline. These men had no money to pay, and they were scared of being conscripted into the army, so they ran."

"If the authorities do come knocking, I'll have an excuse. As long as I fork over plenty of silver, this whole thing can be smoothed over." Hearing Mister Li's explanation, the noblewoman shook her head.

If it weren't for that old ghost from the Demon Suppression Department gravely wounding me not long ago, that damned old ghost chased me all the way here. I'm worried he might have followed me into town—otherwise, why go through all this trouble?

I could have just devoured those punks in the courtyard cleanly.

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 only has half the potency of last time's."

Seeing the pill at his feet, Mister Li hurriedly scooped it up and swallowed it in one gulp.

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

Watching his actions, the noblewoman nodded. "You mentioned earlier that the 'Extremely Yin Maiden' due at the end of the month—when can she be delivered?"

Hearing the question, Mister Li hesitated for a moment.

"Lady, this matter was handled by Luo Wei. Just now, one of Luo Wei's men reported that Luo Wei died on Yunling Mountain a few days ago. The trail regarding the 'Extremely Yin Maiden' has been cut off for now."

After Mister Li finished speaking, the noblewoman, who had been wearing a faint smile, instantly twisted her face into a snarl. "Investigate. Leave no lead unchecked. You must find me that Extremely Yin Maiden."

"Yes, Lady!"