Chapter 37

"Who?"

Luo Qingchen lay in bed and asked weakly.

His eyes stayed fixed on the doorway as he quietly gripped the dagger in his hand.

At the same time, he prepared to replenish his blood at a moment's notice.

This was when his body was at its weakest—and when he was in the greatest danger.

Though it was daytime, he couldn't rule out the possibility that one of the people from earlier had sinister intentions, returned after leaving, and planned to take his blood while he was down.

"Guard Luo, it's me, Xiao Cui."

The young maid's voice came from outside the door, timid and frightened.

"Xiao Cui?"

Luo Qingchen paused at her words. Still holding the dagger, he got out of bed and went to open the door.

This freckle-nosed little maid had once given him a steamed bun.

Even so, he didn't dare let down his guard.

"Guard Luo, I brought you some food."

Xiao Cui stood in the doorway with a tray in her hands. She kept glancing at the room next door, her face filled with alarm and unease.

Clearly, she had also heard about last night's tragedy here.

Luo Qingchen reached out to take the food and was about to thank her, but the little maid had already turned and hurried away. As she ran, she looked back and called, "Guard Luo, Miss A-Yun heard you were injured, so she gave you some of her own food too. Also, when you're done, remember to bring the bowls and chopsticks back yourself... Ah!"

Before she could finish, she suddenly tripped over something and stumbled, falling flat on the ground.

Ignoring the pain, she scrambled back to her feet and fled in a panic.

Luo Qingchen looked down at the food on the tray. There was one more steamed bun than usual, a small piece of meat, and a bowl of porridge.

He closed the door and quickly wolfed down all the food.

After sitting in his room for a while, he went out and returned the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen.

The entire Hundred Fragrance Pavilion was quiet and deserted. He didn't encounter anyone along the way.

Though it was daytime, the place still felt filled with an eerie gloom.

Back in his room, he carefully set a trap, then lay down on the bed again and soon fell asleep.

He slept until nightfall.

Just as he was about to replenish his blood, he suddenly heard footsteps outside.

Then came a knock at the door.

"Brother Luo, are you awake?"

It was Zhang Jiu's voice.

Luo Qingchen's heart tightened. He hid the dagger in his sleeve, went over to light the oil lamp on the table, and only then opened the door.

Zhang Jiu stood outside.

Captain Zhou Qingyang and the others stood behind him.

Zhang Jiu smiled. "Brother Luo, sorry to disturb you. Captain Zhou will lead people on patrol around the building tonight. If you hear anything or see anything, just call out loudly, and Captain Zhou and the others will be here soon. Also, two more guards will arrive in a few days. Once you've recovered, you can join them on night patrol."

Luo Qingchen nodded. "Understood. Thank you, Chief. Sorry for the trouble, Captain Zhou."

Zhou Qingyang gave a slight nod and was about to leave, but then turned to look at him. "Guard Luo, you slept all day. Are you feeling any better?"

Before Luo Qingchen could answer, Zhou Qingyang walked over and held out his hand. "Come, let me check you again."

Luo Qingchen glanced at him and extended his right hand.

Zhou Qingyang grasped his wrist and slowly closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them and said, "Your qi and blood are still very weak. Guard Luo, you need to eat more meat and get more rest."

With that, he turned and left with the others.

Zhang Jiu still wore a smile. He patted Luo Qingchen on the shoulder and said, "Brother Luo, get some good rest. We'll take care of things here."

Just as he was about to follow the others, Luo Qingchen spoke again. "Chief, when can I move somewhere else?"

Zhang Jiu paused, then turned around with a sigh. "Brother Luo, I can't decide that, and neither can Sister Sun. There's a rule from above: guards working here can only live in this rear courtyard. Unless you have the money to rent or buy a place outside yourself. Brother Luo, do you have any money?"

Luo Qingchen fell silent and said nothing more.

Zhang Jiu gave a wry smile and hurried away.

The rear courtyard fell quiet once more.

After everyone's figures disappeared into the dark night ahead, Luo Qingchen returned to his room and shut the door.

Good thing I didn't replenish my blood just now...

It seems Zhou Qingyang hasn't found anything out from Zhang Jiu. Or perhaps he has, but is pretending not to know.

After all, judging by the traces left at the scene last night, Zhang Jiu is the most suspicious.

Zhang Jiu really was at the scene last night, and he really did fight Chen Ju. He injured Chen Ju and got himself pierced by a nail. A careful examination couldn't have missed it.

But from what I just saw, Zhang Jiu can still move around freely, as if nothing happened.

Clearly, Zhang Jiu's relationship with Zhou Qingyang isn't simple.

Or perhaps Zhang Jiu has some other powerful backing.

Luo Qingchen furrowed his brow as he pondered, running his fingers over the wound on his wrist.

He had a feeling that the Town Guard Bureau's people coming to help patrol wasn't making this place much safer. If anything, it might make things more dangerous.

The Town Guard Bureau's people were cultivators too, and naturally they needed blood.

Zhou Qingyang was a master of the Blood Changing Realm. If he truly had sinister intentions and was in cahoots with Zhang Jiu, then no one in the building might be able to fight back.

He had to hurry up and cultivate!

He had blood, silver, and all the resources he needed. He had to make the most of his time, cultivate as quickly as possible, and break through to the Blood Changing Realm!

Otherwise, what awaited him would certainly not be the apparent harmony and peace he saw now.

It might well be sharper fangs and an even more terrifying, blood-filled maw!

"Replenish blood!"

He immediately filled the first Blood Bar with blood.

In an instant, the fatigue in his body and the listlessness in his mind vanished. A ceaseless surge of power welled up inside him.

The oil lamp on the table went out.

He began cultivating in the darkness.

Tonight was Zhou Qingyang's first night leading patrols. Surely nothing else would go wrong so soon.

After all, three cultivators had just died last night.

The entire area outside the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion was probably under tight guard now.

"Whoosh!"

He practiced his punches again and again, finally refining all the medicinal energy remaining in his body.

His cultivation progress had reached 160/1000.

Tomorrow, he would have to find a way to take another medicinal bath.

He didn't feel safe taking one here. It would be better if he could find a more secluded place outside.

By the time dawn neared, he finished cultivating and let his overheated body settle.

Outside, it was still silent.

This dark, eerie rear courtyard where people kept dying would probably see no visitors for a while.

Chen Ju and the other two had been horribly killed last night, drained until they were nothing but husks. Zhang Jiu and the other cultivators were probably badly shaken too.

Beyond the window, the night soon faded.

After daybreak, Luo Qingchen went to the kitchen for breakfast, then left the building.

Just outside the entrance to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion, he happened to run into Zhou Yan and Sun Tong, who were returning from outside.

The two yawned. When they saw him, their expressions changed in different ways.

Zhou Yan couldn't help saying, "Brother Luo, you're really gutsy. Chen Ju and the other two were drained like that by the monster, yet you still dared to sleep alone in the rear courtyard last night. Weren't you afraid it would come back?"

Sun Tong, standing beside him, spoke with lingering fear. "We don't dare stay in that haunted place anymore. We're planning to spend some money and rent a place outside for the nights."

Luo Qingchen said, "It's not that I'm gutsy. I was too weak to go anywhere yesterday. Besides, I don't have the money to rent a place outside."

Zhou Yan sighed, shook his head, and prepared to leave.

Luo Qingchen suddenly said, "Brother Zhou, Brother Sun, do you have any silver to spare? If you do..."

"We don't! We really don't!"

The two immediately changed expression and hurriedly said, "Brother Luo, we have something to discuss with the chief. See you later."

With that, they hurried inside.

"Renting a place outside?"

Luo Qingchen watched them go, raised a hand to touch the silver hidden against his chest, and a thoughtful look crossed his brow.

He headed down the street ahead.

The morning street was somewhat deserted. The stallholders by the roadside looked listless and half-asleep.

Hm?

As he walked along, lost in thought, he suddenly sensed someone following him.

He turned to look. A corner of someone's clothing darted into the narrow alley on his right.