Chapter 42: Instant Kill of the Cultivator

"Excellent!"

Bai Ruyun swept his gaze across the room, casually scooped up a woman, and strode into the inner chamber.

Before long, the woman’s screams erupted. The others were filled with even greater terror; their bodies trembled, yet they dared not make the slightest move.

*Whoosh!*

About half an hour later, the sounds in the room came to an abrupt halt. A pitch-black vine shot out, bound another woman, and dragged her into the inner chamber.

The screams continued, just the same.

Two. Three. ...

When the ninth woman was taken inside and only one remained, the last woman finally succumbed to her fear and attempted to flee.

But a pitch-black vine, moving like a venomous snake, flew toward her, coiled around her, and dragged her into the room.

Night faded into dawn.

Bai Ruyun emerged from the room, his face rosy and his spirit refreshed, in a jubilant mood.

After he departed, several disciples of the Salt Gang immediately entered the room. They saw, strewn across the floor of the inner chamber, a row of shriveled corpses—ten in total, neither more nor less.

Clearly, these were the ten young virgins from the night before.

They had been living, breathing people just yesterday, yet in a single night, they had all been reduced to withered husks. Even the Salt Gang disciples, who were accustomed to killing, felt their scalps tingle, a chill rising from the soles of their feet straight to their crowns.

"Get to work," the leader ordered, suppressing his revulsion.

The disciples immediately produced burlap sacks, stuffed the corpses inside, and carried them away. These bodies had to be incinerated; otherwise, it would damage the reputation of the Salt Gang.

Outside the residence, Zhou Chen walked along the street, actually intending to observe the movements of the Salt Gang branch. He found a nearby noodle shop and sat down to slowly eat a large bowl of beef noodles.

Finally, just as he was finishing his meal, he saw several disciples emerge from the residence carrying bulging burlap sacks.

"No need for the rest."

Leaving the silver, Zhou Chen pretended to brush past them.

"Master, they are the shriveled corpses of women. It appears to be the result of a cultivation technique that extracts yin to replenish yang," Ji Fengxia whispered. As a spirit, she was an expert at gathering intelligence, and the common Salt Gang disciples could not detect her at all.

"There are ten in total."

"Utterly inhuman."

Hearing this, a surge of anger rose within Zhou Chen. Although human life in this world was as cheap as grass—with the upper class living in boundless luxury while the lower class lived worse than dogs—hearing that ten women had been drained into dried corpses in a single night still left him feeling a heavy, somber ache.

However, he was not a hot-headed youth; he would not rush in to expose them and make an enemy of the Salt Gang. That would only put himself in mortal danger. He was no saint, and he had enough trouble just looking after his own household.

Zhou Chen went to the yamen to clock in, then left together with Zhang Long.

"Brother Long, it seems a big shot has arrived at the Salt Gang branch. Do you know about it?" Zhou Chen asked, feigning curiosity.

"Of course I do. I heard he’s a guest elder from the Salt Gang headquarters named Bai Ruyun. They say he’s a cultivator, highly skilled in tracking, brought in by Shi Lei to investigate the case of his missing son!" As a county lieutenant, Zhang Long knew quite a bit, though not everything.

Having confirmed the information he wanted, Zhou Chen chatted with Zhang Long for a while before they parted ways.

*Sixth level of Qi Refining. Even if he has some supernatural abilities, he shouldn’t be able to track me, right? But Liu Ruyi... she might be in trouble.*

Thinking of Liu Ruyi—with whom he had enjoyed himself twice, gaining not only a significant amount of "Romance Points" but also immense pleasure—Zhou Chen decided he should probably give her a warning. In any case, with his current strength, even if he were cornered, he could escape without danger.

Finding a secluded spot, Zhou Chen changed his clothes and appearance, donning his "Han Feiyu" persona, and made his way to Liu Ruyi’s home.

"Did you miss me, Hero?"

A fragrant breeze rushed toward him as Liu Ruyi’s lithe and graceful figure appeared before him. She tilted her head, her watery, enchanting eyes gazing at him, her red lips slightly parted, breathing like orchids.

"I’m here to make sure you don't die too quickly."

Zhou Chen gripped her fair, delicate chin, lifting it forcefully to look down at her pale, beautiful face. "Shi Lei has brought in a guest elder from the Salt Gang headquarters, a cultivator around the sixth level of Qi Refining named Bai Ruyun, to investigate the Shi Baoyu case. Watch yourself."

"Are you joking, Hero? I didn't kill Shi Baoyu, so what does that have to do with me? You’re the one who should be careful!" Liu Ruyi reached out to hook her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes. Her face was nearly pressed against his as she gave a sweet, defiant smile. "If you happen to kick the bucket and I haven't conceived yet, wouldn't that be a huge loss? So, while there's still time, let's put in some more effort!"

"You really are asking for it."

Zhou Chen, confident in his own abilities, did not hesitate to meet the challenge. Most importantly, Liu Ruyi was truly a powerful source of experience points. Especially when combined with Ji Fengxia, the first time had earned him five thousand Romance Points in a single night, and the second time over three thousand.

Zhou Chen gave Liu Ruyi a stern "lesson." Watching the three thousand Romance Points increase, he felt refreshed and satisfied. Reaching out to rub her waist and abdomen, he quietly used the "Thunder-Light Ruyi Hand" to eliminate all traces of his involvement.

"With your level of cultivation, if you don't want to die, leave Qinghe City as soon as possible."

Dropping this warning, he departed without lingering.

"A sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator?" Watching him leave, Liu Ruyi fell into deep thought. The safest course of action was, of course, to leave Qinghe City as he had suggested.

But... she looked down at her slightly rounded belly. It was still too early to tell if she had conceived. She did not want to leave. What if she wasn't pregnant? She couldn't just go find another man, could she?

...

At the Salt Gang’s Qinghe branch:

"Elder Bai, I wonder if you are free now to help me investigate my son's disappearance?" Shi Lei asked cautiously. More than half the day had passed, and Bai Ruyun hadn't made a single move, leaving Shi Lei no choice but to bring it up himself.

"What’s the rush? I have traveled a long distance and my spirit is exhausted. I will rest for the day first," Bai Ruyun said coldly. In truth, he simply wanted to exploit more of the women Shi Lei had provided.

Shi Lei had heard of Bai Ruyun’s reputation and cursed him silently. But needing his help, he had to force a smile. "I understand you are weary, Elder Bai, but I am truly worried about my son. If you can uncover the truth, I will prepare twenty young virgins for you tonight!"

Bai Ruyun’s eyes lit up. His heart stirred, and he immediately changed his tone. "The branch leader's love for his son is deep; I admire it! Lead the way, Branch Leader Shi."

"This way, Elder Bai!"

Shi Lei hurried to lead him to Shi Baoyu’s residence. Since the incident, the property had been sealed off, with disciples stationed there to guard it day and night.

Upon arriving, Bai Ruyun performed an unknown technique. A multicolored butterfly flew out, circled the room, and then darted outside.

"Follow it! The Seven-Colored Spirit Butterfly will lead you to the killer!" As he spoke, Bai Ruyun was already in pursuit.

Shi Lei, hearing this, felt his spirit lift. A bloodthirsty glint flared in his eyes as he followed, ordering his own experts to trail them covertly to avoid alerting the target.

On the second floor of the Fulai Inn, Zhou Chen, having left Liu Ruyi’s, had come here to eat. It was already three or four in the afternoon, and he had yet to have lunch. Liu Ruyi might have been "full," but he was famished after such a significant expenditure of energy.

"Hm? Shi Lei?"

Suddenly, Zhou Chen saw Shi Lei and an old man chasing a multicolored butterfly at high speed. His heart tightened. He knew that butterfly must be a tracking spirit beast. He had already switched back to his "Zhou Chen" persona, and he had carefully cleansed his aura, but cultivators had many methods, and he wasn't certain if they could track him.

He quietly left the restaurant and, seeing that they were not pursuing him, felt a sense of relief. It seemed Bai Ruyun’s tracking method could not trace him.

But Liu Ruyi...

Thinking of this, Zhou Chen switched back to his "Han Feiyu" persona. Before he could act, a conflict erupted in the direction of Liu Ruyi’s home.

Zhou Chen rushed over immediately. After all, he and Liu Ruyi shared a bond as deep as Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya; he would help her if it was within his power. Bai Ruyun was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining—no threat to him.

"Chase her!" Shi Lei roared at his subordinates.

"Rest assured, she won't escape!" Bai Ruyun controlled the Seven-Colored Spirit Butterfly, full of confidence.

Liu Ruyi was vigilant. Even before Shi Lei and his men arrived at her door, she had quietly slipped away. But the Seven-Colored Spirit Butterfly seemed to have locked onto her scent, accelerating instantly. Bai Ruyun and Shi Lei followed closely behind.

This pursuit confirmed to Liu Ruyi that she was indeed being tracked. She no longer bothered to hide, sprinting madly toward the city gates. Being tracked meant there was nowhere to hide, so she decided her only chance was to leap into the Qing River outside the city and escape via the water!

"Not good! The thief intends to use the Qing River to escape!" Shi Lei was shocked, but Liu Ruyi’s speed was fast, not inferior to his own, making it difficult for him to catch up.

"I didn't expect such a prime young woman, and a fourth-level Body Tempering martial artist at that! I've really hit the jackpot!" Seeing Liu Ruyi’s face clearly, Bai Ruyun’s eyes lit up instantly. Having been indifferent, he now felt like a lion in rut, brimming with excitement. Although he could tell at a glance she was no longer a virgin, her fourth-level Body Tempering cultivation made her far more valuable than a common young maiden. She was worth a hundred of them! And since she was the killer, he could capture her without any restraint.

"No! She’s going to jump into the river!" Shi Lei’s eyes turned bloodshot, his rage boiling over; he wished he could teleport to her. But he couldn't.

"Witch, where do you think you're going!" Bai Ruyun unleashed his prized "God-Walking Talisman." His figure moved like lightning, vaulting over the city wall. Watching Liu Ruyi about to leap into the river, he pointed a finger: "Black Silver Binding!"

A flash of black light vanished, and just as Liu Ruyi leapt toward the Qing River, she was tightly bound by a black vine. Bai Ruyun held one end of the vine in mid-air, suspending Liu Ruyi over the river, his eyes filled with greed and lust.

*Boom!*

However, just as he was manipulating his magical artifact, the Black Silver Vine, to bind her, a terrifying, razor-sharp edge struck him. The piercing sensation made his hair stand on end, a chill of pure dread washing over him.

He tried to dodge, but found all his paths of retreat sealed.

There was no way to dodge.

A stream of light, swift as a thunderbolt and sharp as a piercing rainbow, instantly penetrated the center of Bai Ruyun’s brow.

Bai Ruyun’s body shuddered; his eyes widened, his mouth hung open: "Yi Archery Technique!?"

As the words fell, his body plummeted like a stone into the depths of the Qing River with a splash.

"Elder Bai!?"