“Sister Qin, could you lend me some fu currency for an emergency?”
The moment Jiang Yi left the Labor Administration Court, he went straight to the Grinding and Carving Workshop.
Among the three workshops on Scarlet Flame Peak, the work here was the easiest. Grinding bone materials, carving tool patterns—it was nothing more than having a careful mind and steady hands. Unlike the Quenching Workshop, where one suffered steaming heat waves, or the Forging Workshop, where one swung hammers, it was not so bitter and exhausting.
“What trouble have you run into, Brother Yi?”
Widow Qin’s face was full of concern and worry as she spoke, stuffing the fu notes she had just received into Jiang Yi’s hand.
“If it’s about Old He, let’s endure this for now!
Zhang Chao and Dong Ba, both of them are at the third layer of Qi Refining, and they fight dirty. Don’t clash with them head-on… Is this enough? If not, I’ll bring you more when I get off work!”
Jiang Yi accepted roughly two thousand fu notes and said softly, “If Sister Qin has enough to spare, lend me another ten thousand. Within ten days, I will definitely pay it back!”
Widow Qin’s heart tightened. That calloused hand suddenly grabbed Jiang Yi. “Brother Yi! I can lend you ten thousand fu currency, but don’t do anything foolish! Why fight with jackals and wolves? Zhang Chao and Dong Ba—they are all vicious people who have seen blood!”
Jiang Yi grinned. “Sister Qin, do I look like I’m going to fight someone to the death? It truly is for an emergency.”
Widow Qin’s eyes were suspicious. She stared carefully at Jiang Yi, muttering softly, “Brother Yi, don’t lie to your sister. Borrowing so much fu currency all of a sudden—if not to arm-wrestle with Zhang Chao and Dong Ba, what for?”
Jiang Yi said seriously, “These past few days, buying medicinal materials cost too much; I spent it all clean. Earlier, I presented the secret recipe to Overseer Yang, who said the inner peak would reward a sum, but it hasn’t materialized. I can only mooch off you, Sister Qin. Put your heart at ease, Sister. I’ll repay it as soon as the fu currency is issued.”
Only then did Widow Qin relax. She was truly afraid that Brother Yi, with youthful hot blood, would act rashly and impulsively, running off to fight Zhang Chao and Dong Ba to the death.
“Ten thousand fu currency can be lent. Sister usually doesn’t have many expenses; I won’t rush you. But regarding Old He’s matter, Brother Yi, you must listen to my advice. Taking revenge and venting anger—we need not be hasty.”
Jiang Yi nodded solemnly. “I’ve always been amicable with others, Sister Qin. You know that.”
Looking at Jiang Yi’s sincere face, Widow Qin gradually dispelled her worries. In her view, Brother Yi was an honest, hardworking, and good child. He was good-looking and kind-hearted too—truly a pity he had ended up in a demonic cultivation lineage.
“Fine! Then wait for me to get off work…”
Widow Qin released her hand, a trace of a smile appearing at the corners of her eyes. Brother Yi being willing to borrow money from her meant they were not so distant anymore.
This was a good thing!
“Alright, I won’t disturb Sister Qin’s work.”
Jiang Yi took his leave, but he did not return to the communal compound; instead, he hurried to the Yang residence.
The month-end had passed, and the various workshops on Scarlet Flame Peak had successfully completed their quotas. Without the pressure of the inner peak urging them on, Yang Xun naturally did not need to show up to supervise daily.
He was sitting in the rear courtyard study, circulating his cultivation, harvesting spiritual essence to nurture his fire nature.
Hearing the little dao attendant report, “Master, Inspector Jiang is asking to see you outside,” Yang Xun’s scorching flames, which churned and surged between his mouth and nose, gradually dissipated. His eyes opened, and he said softly, “Let him in.”
This Quenching Workshop overseer seemed to have been waiting for Jiang Yi to come knocking. Hmph, though the *Lesser Refining Origin Fire-Control Formula* was only ninth-grade, it was not something an unrooted ordinary laborer could comprehend! Yang Xun had generously transmitted the method, allowing Jiang Yi to cultivate it, precisely so the other would come to beg for his guidance.
“This kid has a glib tongue. Who knows what pretty words he’ll spin to coax me… forget it, I’ll reluctantly listen.”
Before long, Jiang Yi stepped into the rear courtyard and appeared outside the study door, respectfully saluting. “Greetings, Overseer.”
Yang Xun feigned calm. “What brings you here?”
Jiang Yi cupped his hands. “I have an impertinent request that can only trouble the Overseer.”
Yang Xun tried hard to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, lest he lose his dignity, and said slowly, “Do you wish to consult this old man on cultivation difficulties? No matter, you may list them one by one; this old man doesn’t mind the trouble.”
Jiang Yi did not beat around the bush, speaking bluntly, “I want to borrow money from the Overseer.”
“The most crucial part of this *Lesser Refining Origin Fire-Control Formula* is… what?”
Yang Xun was stunned, staring straight at Jiang Yi, and asked again, “What did you say?”
Jiang Yi’s expression was sincere and solemn as he said, “Previously, the Overseer told me that presenting the secret method for use in the workshop would earn a reward of fu currency from the inner peak. I wish to request an advance, or borrow a sum of fu currency to resolve this burning need, and I will repay it later.”
Yang Xun fell silent, his fierce face shifting through several expressions like a gloomy mountain vulture. Borrow money for what? Had he picked up some bad habit? He sized Jiang Yi up deeply, then suddenly asked, “You’ve entered the third layer of Qi Refining?”
Jiang Yi nodded. “Broke through yesterday; still in the process of consolidating.”
Yang Xun asked again, “Did you use medicine?”
He caught a faint medicinal scent on Jiang Yi.
“Yes. I bought some tonics, boiled them into a paste, and applied it externally several times. The results were decent.”
Jiang Yi did not intend to deliberately conceal it, nor could he hide it. Shooting up from the first layer of Qi Refining to the third layer would definitely draw inquiries.
Yang Xun nodded and did not pursue the question, seeming uninterested in investigating exactly what medicine or paste Jiang Yi used. Under demonic rule, those in the cultivation lineage—whether ordinary laborers, overseers, inner peak disciples, or true transmission talents—unless born to extraordinary backgrounds, few cultivated steadily, tempering their work and striving for perfection. Such fussiness belonged to the immortal dao way! Demonic cultivators, especially those from petty, impoverished origins, always used whatever methods were available, each displaying their own means to climb up first.
Yang Xun pondered, “How much do you want to borrow?”
Jiang Yi seemed to calculate carefully before opening his mouth. “Thirty thousand fu currency.”
Not much. This small sum was a drop in the bucket for a Quenching Workshop overseer.
Yang Xun nodded. “This old man can lend it to you.”
He paused a moment, then asked, “You truly have no cultivation difficulties you wish to ask this old man about?”
Jiang Yi straightened his back and answered with full confidence, “With the Overseer’s permission, I went to the records room of the Labor Administration Court to obtain the *Lesser Refining Origin Fire-Control Formula*. After carefully reading and copying passages and briefly studying them, I gained considerable comprehension. Currently, I have no points of confusion.”
Yang Xun seemed disbelieving and asked hesitantly, “You’ve read through the formula’s essentials, understood its meaning, and are about to enter the door?”
Jiang Yi calmly answered, “Reporting to the Overseer, it is not merely entering the door, but minor success.”
Huh?
Yang Xun’s eyelids twitched. That fierce face trembled as he tried hard to suppress the surprise that surged to his throat.
This kid!
Could he be a one-in-ten-thousand prodigy at refining arts?
……
……
Acquiring thirty thousand fu currency, Jiang Yi returned to the communal compound, sat peacefully in his room, and began practicing. Two applications of tiger-wolf medicinal paste adhered to his skin, melting like wax and slowly seeping into his bones and tendons, causing his blood and qi to boil. When his true qi circulated through the great cycle, each thread was as if forged by fierce flames, condensing into a strand of fire-natured glimmer even more blazing and dazzling.
Jiang Yi was drenched in sweat, as if fished out of water. His pores opened and closed, emanating astonishing heat. He then consumed green mushroom sap to replenish his depleted origin qi. These two formulas mutually reinforced each other, unexpectedly allowing his cultivation to continuously grow.
“At this rate, reaching the fourth layer of Qi Refining before spring, as Overseer Yang mentioned, shouldn’t be difficult.”
Jiang Yi, bare-chested, walked straight to the courtyard, drew a bucket of water, wiped himself clean, and changed into a clean dao robe.
The remaining sunset glow was bright and beautiful, scattering orange light.
Waiting for Widow Qin to return from work, quietly bringing him ten thousand fu currency. As they say, older people know how to dote on others. This sworn sister even knew to take care of Jiang Yi’s face, deliberately avoiding the others in the communal compound.
“Many thanks, Sister Qin.”
Jiang Yi was not pretentious, stuffing the ten thousand fu currency into his chest, then smiling. “If there’s anything you need this little brother for in the future, speak freely.”
Seeing Jiang Yi still staying in the communal compound without any unusual actions, Widow Qin’s hanging heart finally settled.
Her bright eyes blinked as she said softly, “Why so formal? Back when your elder brother died without leaving any savings, I was almost left without a place to go. It was Brother Yi who lent a hand, covering two months’ rent for me…”
Jiang Yi smiled. “Living under the same roof, helping each other when trouble arises is perfectly normal. I’m touched Sister Qin remembers it for so long.”
But Widow Qin shook her head. “Fawning over the high and stomping on the low is the norm. Those willing to lend a hand are rare. In our outer sect, there’s never a shortage of jackals and wild dogs who want to take a bite of flesh and drink a mouthful of blood from others.”
Jiang Yi’s expression was calm, making no comment.
He felt Old He had spoken rightly: it was the dao lineage that distinguished immortal from demon; what difference was there between ordinary mortals and cultivators? Born in the immortal dao, would one necessarily pity the common people? Existing in the demonic dao, did one have to commit all manner of evil?
“Then in the end, are people cultivating the ‘Dao,’ or is the ‘Dao’ devouring people?”
Jiang Yi carried the fu currency, did not eat, and just returned to his room to continue tempering his fire-natured glimmer. By the way, he summoned the Heavenly Book.
[I implore the Heavenly Book to show me whether any accidents will occur in tonight’s assault on Zhang Chao and Dong Ba of Scarlet Flame Peak?]
[Subject of Inquiry: Conflict]
[Deduction Time: One hour]
Hooo! The cold wind whistled past. Tonight the snow was falling heavily, weighing down the treetops until they creaked and swayed.
Knock, knock, knock.
Jiang Yi lightly rapped on He Lao Hun’s shack door.
“Brother Yi, so late…”
Since bawling his eyes out last night, He Lao Hun had been like an eggplant beaten by frost—wilted and listless, unable to raise his spirits.
“Brother He, let’s step out and talk a while.”
Jiang Yi did not want to say more, only tossing down these words before walking out of the communal compound.
He Lao Hun’s face shifted, his heart tangled. Suddenly he gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, catching up to Brother Yi who had stepped out the gate.
The wind blew urgently, the snow fell heavily.
He Lao Hun followed closely behind Jiang Yi, his voice trembling. “Wait for me! Brother Yi, are you planning to find Zhang Chao and Dong Ba?”
The latter smiled. “Precisely. Can Brother He lead the way?”
He Lao Hun stared blankly at Brother Yi, who was normally amiable and mild—suddenly feeling he had changed so much!
The man was like a blade tempered by blazing fire and icy water, his gaze sharp and his edge fully exposed!
“I understand!” He Lao Hun said fiercely. “Brother Yi, you’re doing this for my sake! I’ll never be a coward! Let’s fight Zhang Chao and Dong Ba together!”
Perhaps pressed by the wind and snow, the bone-piercing cold instead forced out a trace of courage. The normally mediocre and cowardly He Lao Hun actually stiffened his backbone. He swung his steps to walk before Jiang Yi, heading straight for the large house at the other end.
That was a good place costing a thousand fu currency to rent. Spacious and bright, with heated kang beds. Compared to ordinary laborers’ shacks, it was incomparably more comfortable.
Wuuu! The cold wind swept down accumulated snow. By the time they saw the large house, He Lao Hun’s heart went hollow again. He unconsciously slowed his steps, lowering his voice. “Brother Yi, if both Zhang Chao and Dong Ba are inside later, let’s just throw down a few harsh words. There’s no need to contend with two mad dogs! They have numbers…”
He Lao Hun spoke while cocking his ear to listen. From far away came the sounds of boisterous laughter—presumably Zhang Chao and Dong Ba gathered together.
“Bad, seems we didn’t pick the right time, inside…”
Bam!
Jiang Yi did not stop, walking forward with head high, lifting his foot to kick open the not-so-secure wooden door. Immediately passing He Lao Hun, he crossed into the courtyard like a gust of wind.
That page of golden paper flickered in his eyes, the tadpole-like small characters glittering.
[Deduction Result: Absolutely Certain]
Below, there was another query, its result just barely manifesting.
[I implore the Heavenly Book to show me whether Zhang Chao and Dong Ba of Scarlet Flame Peak harbor malicious intent toward me!]
[Subject of Inquiry: Human Hearts]
[Deduction Time: One hour]
[Deduction Result: As for Zhang Chao, he is jealous that you are favored by the overseer, achieving success at a young age… As for Dong Ba, he views you as an easy target for bullying, intending to exploit and skin you…]
“As expected! These two have brought death upon themselves!”
Jiang Yi’s gaze was icy and deep, his killing intent surging. In the blink of an eye, he burst into the large house.
……
……
“What was that noise…”
Dong Ba, who was drinking and eating meat, twitched his ears, looking outside. Before he could rise, the thick curtain was torn apart. Wind and snow poured into the house like an inverted dragon, freezing everyone into shivers.
“Who?”
Dong Ba roared. He was an old Jianghu hand, a veteran mounted bandit, a ruthless mountain brigand. Sensing something wrong, he grabbed the long wooden bench under his buttocks and flung it behind him.
Crack! Wood splinters flew!
That bench seemed to have struck an iron plate, smashing to pieces!
Using the momentum of this exertion, Dong Ba twisted his waist and steadied his stance, seeing the visitor clearly.
It was a youthful face with traces of childishness between the brows!
“Surnamed Jiang…”
A thick killing intent that had seen blood emerged on Dong Ba’s dark face. A brat whose fur hadn’t even grown, daring to come knocking for trouble.
“Grandfather here thought you were like He Lao Hun, a good-for-nothing!”
Jiang Yi’s true qi surged, shattering the cloth curtain as he stepped over the threshold into the house. He swept his gaze around, first staring at Zhang Chao, who sat motionless by the square table, then turning back to Dong Ba.
“Tonight if you can walk out my door standing, I’ll write my name backward!”
Dong Ba fully displayed his reckless nature. The reason he and Zhang Chao could throw their weight around on Scarlet Flame Peak was first, they had studied fists and kicks—fiercer than other ordinary laborers, able to keep the scene under control; second, they struck viciously with many dirty tricks. Whoever provoked them would surely suffer.
“Brother Yi, you chose to refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! We brothers thought highly of you, only then were we willing to split a sum of money with you. You don’t take it, then you don’t give us face! You don’t take it, you equally make us lose face!”
Zhang Chao pinched the porcelain cup; the warmly heated good wine grew cold under the blowing wind.
“Face, many times, is greater than heaven. Brother Dong indeed has a hasty temper; he slapped He Lao Hun, made him crawl through his crotch… but at the root of it, you slapped our faces, we returned the humiliation onto your face—this is very fair.”
Dong Ba’s figure was lofty and sturdy, like an iron tower planted there. Qi Refining third layer was Blood Exchange, replacing old blood to create new. When his aura released, he was as fierce as a vicious tiger!
He stared tightly at Jiang Yi, who hadn’t made a sound since entering, and said mockingly, “Brother Zhang, in a while make him crawl through our crotches too! Teach him a proper lesson! No ability yet wants to show kindness, do good…”
Sss!
Jiang Yi was expressionless, merely raising his hand to form a seal. A fire-wire shot out, fast as lightning, instantly piercing through Dong Ba’s neck, scorching a charred hole.
“Hurk… hurk…”
Dong Ba didn’t even react, only feeling pain in his throat, unable to squeeze out another half-word.
Jiang Yi still didn’t open his mouth, only stepping forward. His five fingers spread, pressing onto the head of Dong Ba, who was collapsing to his knees. True qi tempered with fire nature gushed forth, like a red-hot branding iron, burning that dark face until skin split and flesh tore!
But with his throat pierced, Dong Ba couldn’t make the slightest sound, forcibly enduring seven or eight breaths before finally breathing his last.
Zhang Chao’s eyes widened as if seeing a ghost, stammering in terror, “Refining arts… where did you get an entry-grade cultivation method to refine into a dao technique!”
Among the numerous ordinary laborers on Scarlet Flame Peak, let alone refining arts, even the common-as-dirt *Orthodox Channel Qi Circulation Formula* wasn’t easily cultivated. Hence the saying: a method is worth ten thousand gold, a single art is hard to seek!
Facing a formula refined to minor success, the physique of a Qi Refining third or fourth layer cultivator was simply like paper!
“Brother Yi! I submit! From now on on Scarlet Flame Peak, you call the shots! You point where, I hit where…”
Zhang Chao no longer had any dignified bearing; he was truly scared out of his wits. Having stayed on Scarlet Flame Peak with Dong Ba for nearly ten years, when had he ever seen an ordinary laborer use a dao technique!
Jiang Yi finally opened his mouth, pointing at Dong Ba’s corpse, which had grown cold. “He was Qi Refining third layer; one body of skin, flesh, and bone should be worth twenty thousand fu currency. You’re the same. I borrowed everywhere to scrape together the money to buy your lives.”
Zhang Chao was even more horrified, as if falling into an ice cellar.
“Lord Jiang! Just treat me as a dog, raise your hand high and spare me! I… how about I be your dog from now on? Woof woof woof woof!
Why spend another twenty thousand fu currency on my cheap life!”
Zhang Chao truly could bend and stretch, and as he spoke he dropped to all fours, imitating a dog’s bark.
“Ah, what you said is right. Being able to save a sum—why not?”
Jiang Yi looked at the two ordinary laborers huddling by the wall root, saying softly, “Take good care of Inspector Zhang. He’s crippled both legs and can’t work from now on; you’ll have to serve him.”
Having spoken, true qi activated, fire-wire burst forth, like a hot knife cutting horizontally.
Crack!
Zhang Chao’s legs were severed at the roots!
Jiang Yi turned and walked away without looking at Zhang Chao, who had become a cripple, letting him howl and scream. His eyes flickered, golden paper manifesting.
[I implore the Heavenly Book, show me where Zhang Chao and Dong Ba of Scarlet Flame Peak hide their money!]
Immediately, under Zhang Chao’s hateful gaze, Jiang Yi rummaged through chests and cabinets, smoothly pulling out two stacks of fu currency.
“Animal! You animal! That’s this old man’s hard-earned money…”
Zhang Chao was so angry his eyes went dark. During violent panting, he saw the two ordinary laborers who were usually driven like oxen and horses slowly drawing near.
“Let’s go, Brother He.”
Jiang Yi, from entry to exit, took merely about a quarter of an hour.
“I told you, from now on on this Scarlet Flame Peak, no one will be able to cause us trouble.”
He Lao Hun was dumb as a wooden chicken. He craned his neck to look into the large house—Dong Ba’s corpse lay at the doorway, charred beyond recognition; Zhang Chao howled like ghosts and gods, having suffered some unknown torment.
“This… Brother Yi, wait for me!”
……
……
At the peak of Scarlet Flame Peak, the Yang residence.
Yang Xun was still mulling over the day’s events, thinking of Jiang Yi’s reply, muttering, “He only got the method a few days ago? How can he have refined it to minor success! It makes no sense! Back when this old man…”
The little dao attendant suddenly popped his head in, respectfully saying, “Master, Inspector Jiang is here again!”
Yang Xun said irritably, “He doesn’t sleep at night, does this old man not need to sleep either? He just borrowed fu currency; what does he want now?!”
The little dao attendant shrank his neck, timidly opening his mouth, “Inspector Jiang says he just accidentally killed Dong Ba of the Forging Workshop and injured Zhang Chao of the Grinding and Carving Workshop. He specially came to deliver compensation money to express his remorse!”
Hearing this, Yang Xun stood there stunned, as if suspecting he had heard wrong.
Zhang Chao, Dong Ba? Those two mad dogs were not at Qi Refining third layer? They were both settled by Jiang Yi?
A moment later, Yang Xun’s long face with bald eyebrows and aged skin actually couldn’t stop trembling as he burst into loud laughter.
“Hahahaha, so that’s how it is! Borrowing money to buy lives—what a fine demonic talent!”
PS: Five thousand characters, posted all at once. Votes, please!