Whose Disciple Is a Storage Bag?

The toad Daoist child shuddered all over under Ren Qing's gaze, its bloated body swaying from side to side. Catching sight of the black rat Daoist children's corpses around it, the joy that had arisen from its enlightenment instantly vanished like smoke.

All that remained in its heart was terror. Even the croaks rumbling from its throat trembled.

Ren Qing paid no heed to the toad Daoist child's fear and simply took out a small knife to trim his nails.

The nail clippings fell to the ground, giving off a faint medicinal fragrance.

"Sparrow Fairy."

The sparrow Daoist child flapped its wings and flew off. Before long, it led a swarm of rats scurrying into the backyard.

The rats began fighting over the immortal fate of enlightenment, squeaking wildly as they bit and tore at one another.

The toad Daoist child gradually calmed down. Raising its head, it opened its mouth and swallowed a bluestone slab larger than itself whole, then sprawled flat on the ground.

The interest in Ren Qing's eyes deepened as his divine sense probed into the toad Daoist child's body.

He could clearly sense that the space within the toad Daoist child's stomach was just large enough to hold the bluestone slab.

The slab was slowly being digested, making the toad Daoist child's skin increasingly tough. It even secreted a layer of keratin resembling sculpted clay.

"So it's become a knockoff storage bag. As expected of an outer disciple who has entered the hall."

Ren Qing stroked his chin and chuckled. As the toad Daoist child's Metamorphosis Immortal Art continued to advance alongside his own, the space in its stomach would certainly grow more stable, and its capacity would increase accordingly.

Using his divine sense, he could directly control the stomach space, retrieving and storing items as he pleased. Nor did he need to worry that the toad Daoist child would digest them; his authority over the stomach space still surpassed the Daoist child's own consciousness.

Unfortunately, the storage space was currently too small, and the toad Daoist child was inconvenient to carry around.

"To think the enlightenment divine ability paired with the Metamorphosis Immortal Art could be used like this."

"If I can obtain the Immortal Ascension Sect's orthodox inheritance of artifact refinement, I might truly be able to grope my way into the path of artifact refinement."

Ren Qing patted the toad Daoist child's thick head. "Good disciple, go back and stay in the well. Nurture that space properly, and this poor Daoist won't shortchange you."

The toad Daoist child hurriedly croaked its assent and clumsily rolled over to crawl to its feet.

But what kind of disciple was a storage bag?

Splash.

It plunged into the well with tremendous commotion, sending water spraying everywhere.

By then, the new batch of black rat Daoist children had already cleaned up the backyard. The corpses had been dragged into a corner and buried, and even the bloodstains had been licked clean.

"Rat Divine General, dig a cave abode in the well for this poor Daoist."

Now, he could vaguely influence the Daoist children through his divine sense. The black rat Daoist children lacked the intelligence to understand what a cave abode was, but with Ren Qing's occasional interventions, they could still complete some uncomplicated construction.

Having said that, Ren Qing turned and returned to the side room while the black rat Daoist children climbed into the well one after another.

After searching around for a while, he took out a patched undershirt.

"Water-Fire Corpse Liberation carries a certain amount of danger, but with the mysteries of the Metamorphosis Immortal Art, it shouldn't be much of a problem. It's just that this garment liberation needs some planning."

The condition for garment liberation was clothing worn close to the body for a long time. This undershirt was what he had worn for several days while bedridden when he had first arrived in this world, making it perfect for metamorphosis.

Ren Qing folded the undershirt and tucked it into his robes. Next, he still needed to inscribe the corresponding talismans.

Once he had finished tidying his things, Ren Shanshi happened to push open the door and enter the side room.

His cheap father wore a trace of weariness on his face, and unmelted snowflakes still rested on his shoulders.

"Ah Qing, let's tidy up the ready-made coffins. We need to haul a load."

"Father, where are they being delivered?"

"Four are wanted by Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, and the remaining small coffin is being sent to Treasure Gathering Pawnshop in the north of the city." Ren Shanshi explained as he fastened ropes around the handcart.

The small coffin was specially for burying children. The size requested by Treasure Gathering Pawnshop was only enough to hold an infant.

"Wish-Fulfillment Abbey again."

Ren Qing did not tell Ren Shanshi to stay away. Deliberately avoiding it would instead arouse needless suspicion.

Besides, he too coveted the Immortal Ascension Sect's orthodox inheritance. This would let him approach Wish-Fulfillment Abbey openly and aboveboard.

Concern showed on Ren Shanshi's face. "The yamen has already ordered a curfew. Life will only get harder and harder, so we should earn whatever we can. Just leave the coffins in front of the abbey."

Ren Qing's heart stirred. Coffins? Could it be that someone at Wish-Fulfillment Abbey was preparing to enter the Metamorphosis method?

Four coffins—where would they find enough bloody water to drench the grave mounds?

Without revealing anything, he helped lift the coffins onto the handcart, then asked, "Are we going now?"

"Mhm." Ren Shanshi lowered his voice. "Treasure Gathering Pawnshop is mainly in a hurry. We'll come straight back once we've delivered the coffins. Whatever happens there has nothing to do with us."

"Father, what happened at Treasure Gathering Pawnshop?"

"I... don't really know. I heard from Constable Chen that after the pawnshop changed owners, there was a murder."

Ren Shanshi hesitated for a long while, fear overflowing from his expression.

Ren Qing did not press further. He helped secure the last coffin, and the handcart sank slightly beneath the heavy load, its axle giving a faint creak.

A glint of thought flashed through his eyes. It seemed Water Mouth City was beginning to grow lively.

"Let's go."

Ren Shanshi tugged on the reins. He had specifically borrowed an old donkey to transport the coffin.

Ren Qing walked beside the flatbed cart, father and son treading through the thin snow as they disappeared into the alleyways.

Before long, they arrived outside Wish-Fulfillment Abbey.

Wish-Fulfillment Abbey was livelier than usual. Amid the curling incense smoke, three Taoist priests had set up an iron pot, and the fragrance of rice porridge drifted through the air, drawing many worshippers to stop.

Any worshipper who entered the abbey would ask for a bowl of porridge.

Ren Qing swept his gaze over the three priests. Every one of them was gaunt and hollow-cheeked. While speaking, they could not help covering their mouths and noses to cough softly. Traces of yellow mud seeped between their fingers, only for them to hurriedly conceal it after coughing.

Without exception, the Taoist priests had all consumed Song Baizhou's yellow mud.

As for the rice porridge, it too carried an earthy, fishy stench.

Ren Qing sneered inwardly. Wish-Fulfillment Abbey had become utterly unscrupulous in spreading the Yellow Mud Immortal Ascension Method.

"Shopkeeper Ren!"

A somewhat shrill voice rang out as Sun Zu came forward to greet them. "As expected of Shopkeeper Ren's craftsmanship—solid materials, and the lacquer is evenly applied as well."

Ren Shanshi hastily cupped his hands. "You flatter me, Daoist Sun. It's only what I ought to do."

Sun Zu smiled in response, but his peripheral gaze made an unobtrusive circuit over Ren Qing, his eyes carrying a trace of scrutiny. Then he changed the subject.

"Shopkeeper Ren, I'd say your younger son has reached twenty, hasn't he?"

Ren Qing smiled, while Ren Shanshi cautiously replied, "He's only nineteen. He'll come of age next year."

Sun Zu nodded. "Shopkeeper Ren, the abbey has been short on hands lately. If he is interested in entering the abbey, this poor Daoist could put in a word for him."

Ren Qing's smile deepened, but Ren Shanshi hurriedly declined. "Thank you, Daoist, but my son is unruly and unworthy of such a blessing. We won't trouble the abbey."

A flicker of malice flashed through Sun Zu's eyes. Turning around, he ladled two steaming bowls of rice porridge from the pot and offered them over. "The weather is freezing. How about warming yourselves up?"

"No, no."

For no reason, Ren Shanshi felt a chill crawl down his spine. "Daoist Sun, we still need to hurry north of the city to deliver a coffin, so we won't delay your work."

Ren Qing smiled broadly enough to show his teeth. Wish-Fulfillment Abbey dared obstruct this Daoist's cultivation. They truly deserve death ten thousand times over. Given the chance, I'll have to cross paths with these crooked, unorthodox fools.

Sun Zu did not press them further and had someone carry the coffin into a side courtyard within the abbey.

He watched the father and son vanish around the mouth of the alley. The gentleness on his face instantly receded, leaving only icy coldness in his eyes.

"Senior Brother!"

An urgent cry rang out. Two Taoist priests stumbled out of the side courtyard, their robes stained with dark-red blood, their faces stricken with panic.

"Senior Brother, M-Master is hungry again!"

Sun Zu knitted his brows. Ever since Song Baizhou had been injured for no apparent reason, not only had his ascension been interrupted, he had also begun demanding blood offerings without restraint.

"What are you panicking for? Inform our fellow disciples. Take turns in order and drain blood to water Master."

"B-But... if this keeps going..."

Sun Zu looked at the four coffins. "We need to offer Master better sacrifices. It is time those outsiders who swallowed immortal flesh were put to use."

"If that still isn't enough..."

His gaze turned sinister as he murmured, "There are plenty of sacrifices in the city."

No one noticed the sparrow standing amid the luxuriant bushes outside the courtyard, looking at Sun Zu and the others with pity, as though it were looking at dead men.

You're finished. The Immortal Elder holds grudges over the smallest things.