“Okay!”
Shui Miao responded, then turned and left. At the same time, he controlled his immortal energy to change his facial features, transforming himself into another person entirely.
This would help confuse everyone.
This was called mixing truth with falsehood, falsehood with truth, making it hard for others to grasp.
Knowing they couldn’t defeat Shui Miao, the Fake Bai Niang and her group naturally dared not block his way.
Shui Miao had already achieved his purpose in coming here—confirming that Bai Niang wasn’t present. That was more than enough.
That evening, instead of rushing to find a hotel, Shui Miao hailed a taxi and started circling around Zhonghai City. Now, Shui Miao needed a new identity to conceal himself. More importantly, he needed to find a powerful cultivator capable of entering the Immortal Realm to help him investigate Bai Niang’s whereabouts. Therefore, sitting in the taxi, Shui Miao spread out his divine sense, searching for cultivators who could infiltrate the Immortal Realm and assist him.
The taxi circled Zhonghai City for most of the night.
Finally, when they reached the Nanwan residential complex, Shui Miao sensed a cultivator with decent abilities.
※※※
Nanwan residential complex, at three o’clock in the morning.
Jinshajiang Road, a small alley that appeared quite ordinary.
“Alright!”
Shui Miao responded, then turned and left. At the same time, he manipulated his immortal energy to alter his facial features, transforming into a completely different person.
This would confuse everyone.
This is what they call mixing truth with falsehood, falsehood with truth—making it impossible to discern what’s real.
The fake Madame White and her companions knew they were no match for Shui Miao, so they naturally didn’t dare to stop him.
Shui Miao’s purpose in coming had been achieved: to confirm that Madame White wasn’t here. That was enough.
That night, instead of rushing to find a hotel, Shui Miao hailed a taxi and spent hours driving around Zhonghai City. He needed a new identity to conceal himself and, more importantly, to find a powerful cultivator capable of entering the immortal realm to help him investigate Madame White’s whereabouts. So, as he rode in the taxi, Shui Miao extended his divine sense, searching for a cultivator who could infiltrate the immortal realm and assist him.
The taxi roamed Zhonghai City for most of the night.
Finally, when they arrived at Nanwan Residential Area, Shui Miao sensed a cultivator with considerable strength.
※※※
Nanwan Residential Area, 3 a.m.
On Jinshajiang Road, in an inconspicuous alley.
Hearing footsteps, a stray dog lifted its head, saw a demon, and immediately tucked its tail and fled in fear.
“You don’t need to follow me so closely; I’m not going to run away.” Shui Miao glanced at the black snake demon and shook his head in frustration. This creature’s demon soul was so sinister that even dogs were afraid of it.
Bai Feng, ever the diplomat, quickly said, “Zhang Ling, if you need anything, just call us with your mind. It’s really not convenient for us to follow you like this.”
“Mm.”
Shui Miao nodded at Bai Feng, and Bai Feng and the black snake demon vanished in a flash.
Using his divine sense, Shui Miao sensed them retreating to a bell tower several thousand meters away, where they settled on the rooftop.
At the end of the alley, piled with miscellaneous items, Shui Miao stopped beside a manhole cover. He picked up a tree branch and began tapping on the cover—softly, intermittently, and without any discernible rhythm. After over a hundred taps, the manhole cover finally moved. A disheveled, foul-smelling old man in tattered clothes emerged from the sewer, accompanied by a large black rat nearly half a meter long.
Shui Miao stepped back and sat on a three-legged stool, observing the old man.
The old man blinked, studying Shui Miao for a moment, then placed the rat back into the sewer, climbed out, closed the manhole cover, and sat on the ground facing Shui Miao. After a while, he asked, “What do you want from me? Who are you? Why can’t I see through you?”
“Heh, my name is Zhang San. You don’t need to see through me. I’m here to ask for your help.” Shui Miao smiled faintly. “To be honest, I once dreamed of an immortal who taught me a qi cultivation technique, and I’ve achieved some success. But now I don’t know how to proceed, so I’d like your assistance.”
“An immortal taught you?”
The old man’s eyes lit up with interest, but then he grew cautious and calm again, shaking his head. “If you have an immortal master, why come to me? I’m not that capable. I probably can’t help you much.”
“My master and I have lost contact. I know you can go to the immortal realm. Could you help me find her? I’ve offended the Yuxu Sect in the immortal realm and don’t dare return myself. If I go back, I might never return.” Shui Miao’s eyebrows twitched as he smiled and added, “Of course, I won’t let you help for nothing. If you can find my master, I’ll ask her to reward you with an immortal pill. How does that sound?”
“…”
The old man blinked. “You actually offended the Yuxu Sect…”
Shui Miao cut him off, stood up, and brushed off his pants as if to leave. “It’s best not to inquire too much. It won’t do you any good. Just help me find this person. A simple yes or no will suffice. If you’re unwilling, that’s fine. With such a reward, I’m sure I can find someone else to help.”
“Wait, wait!” The old man’s eyes darted, and he quickly stood up, chuckling. “Easy, easy. We’re both cultivators. If I can help, I will. Just tell me who you’re looking for.”
Shui Miao glanced back at the old man. As they say, one’s appearance reflects one’s heart—this man had shifty eyes and didn’t seem like a good person. To test him, Shui Miao nodded and said, “My master is known in the immortal realm as Redbeard. Rumor has it he killed a hall master of the Yuxu Sect and slept with the daughter of their chief steward. It shouldn’t be hard for you to find information about him in the immortal realm. But remember, utmost secrecy is essential. He’s a top wanted criminal by the Yuxu Sect. If they find out, the consequences will be dire.”
“I understand, I understand. I know the rules. Redbeard… and you are?” The old man squinted, studying Shui Miao intently.
Shui Miao clasped his hands apologetically. “I’m a nobody. People call me Beardless.”
“Uh… heh, alright, alright! I understand.”
The old man nodded repeatedly with a flattering smile.
Shui Miao nodded as well. “Good. I’ll come find you tomorrow night, same time, same place.”
With that, Shui Miao hummed a tune and walked away.
Before he had gone far, Shui Miao sensed the old man excitedly descending back into the sewer, where he hugged the large rat and muttered to himself, “Xiao Hei, fortunes change! Our luck has finally turned. That fool is handing us a huge opportunity! I’ll immediately project my soul to the immortal realm. You guard my body. The Yuxu Sect is a major faction there—if I provide this information, they’ll surely reward me with several genuine immortal pills!”
The old man was overjoyed.
“What a despicable villain!”
Shui Miao gritted his teeth, itching to kill him on the spot. But after a moment’s thought, he calmed down. He had changed his appearance, altered his aura, and used a fake name. If the old man went to the immortal realm, he’d only be courting disaster—the Yuxu Sect’s chief steward might even eliminate him directly.
Now, he had to find another ally.
There were few vehicles on the street, and no taxis in sight, so Shui Miao wandered aimlessly.
Unexpectedly, as he walked, he spotted five young, beautiful women wearing sexy miniskirts. One of them was Xiao Hong.
“Ah! Shui Miao, it’s you! Are you here to see me?”
Seeing Shui Miao, Xiao Hong was thrilled. She ran over, grabbed his hand, and jumped with joy, then waved to the other girls. “Come, come! This is the great magician I told you about, Shui—”
“Zhang Ling,” Shui Miao interrupted Xiao Hong. “That ‘Shui’ something was just a random name I used. My real name is Zhang Ling.”
“Okay, okay, whatever your name is, you’re here now. That’s what matters. I’ll take you to see our troupe leader right away.” Xiao Hong pulled Shui Miao along, giggling foolishly. “Now you can’t run away.”
The girls, all around eighteen or nineteen years old, seeing that Shui Miao was young and handsome, also came over to tug at him. Shui Miao smiled awkwardly, thinking to himself that the magician identity seemed a bit fabricated, but it could work. Since fate had brought him and Xiao Hong together again, he might as while stick around for a few days.
The troupe leader Xiao Hong mentioned was also her master—a bald, dark-skinned, portly middle-aged man named Wei Sheng.
Wei Sheng lived in a luxurious villa, appearing quite wealthy.
Xiao Hong and the others rang the doorbell, and after a while, Wei Sheng answered the door, wearing an exaggerated pair of shorts and a white tank top.
Without waiting for Shui Miao to speak, Xiao Hong eagerly introduced him, boasting about his incredible skills as a great magician.
At first glance, Shui Miao sensed that Wei Sheng was no good—his lecherous eyes kept sneaking glances at Xiao Hong’s thighs. Extending his divine sense, Shui Miao detected two naked women lying in Wei Sheng’s room. They looked young but had excellent figures. He also sensed that Wei Sheng’s ten safes contained vast amounts of cash—at least five million. But then, Shui Miao sensed something else that sent a chill down his spine: buried in the yard of Wei Sheng’s villa were the bodies of two women!
Was Wei Sheng a murderer?
Shui Miao frowned, immediately displeased.
Noticing that Shui Miao’s eyes held no respect and even seemed disdainful, Wei Sheng also grew irritated. He raised his hand, cutting off Xiao Hong, and addressed Shui Miao directly. “You don’t look like a magician. Kid, are you using the magician excuse to pick up girls?”
“Actually, I’m a feng shui master, and a top-tier one at that. Magic tricks are child’s play to me.” Shui Miao grinned and shook his head dismissively.
“Such arrogance!” Upon hearing this, Wei Sheng sneered. “You dare try to fool me? Do you take me for an idiot? A feng shui master? You?”
“Words are empty; proof is in the seeing. Talent isn’t bound by age!”
Shui Miao continued to look at Wei Sheng with disdain.
Wei Sheng was nearly provoked to anger. He nodded heavily. “Fine, fine! You said it yourself. Take a look at my villa. If you can identify any issues, I’ll hire you. But if you can’t… Hmph! I’ll make sure you spend half a year in the hospital.”
“Are you sure you want me to take a look?” Shui Miao licked his lips, asking with feigned gravity.
Wei Sheng scoffed. “What, are you scared?”
“Why would I be scared? I’m worried that if I point out the problems, you won’t be able to handle the consequences!” Shui Miao stood his ground, intensifying the tension.
“Fine! Take a look!”
Wei Sheng dragged Shui Miao into the villa, forcing him to inspect it.
Xiao Hong and the others huddled together, too afraid to speak.
Shui Miao raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice. “Boss Wei, I think it’s better if we talk in private. There are too many people here; it’s not convenient.”
“There’s nothing inconvenient about it. If you don’t speak up soon, I’ll call my men.” Wei Sheng, a lecher himself, assumed others were the same.
“Since that’s the case, very well, I’ll speak plainly.” Shui Miao took a deep breath, pushed Wei Sheng’s hand away, and mysteriously made a few gestures while muttering incantations. “By the decree of Taishang Laojun, grant me the divine eye talisman, open my yin-yang eyes, and perceive spirits and gods!” After this theatrical display, Shui Miao trembled, pressed his thumb to his forehead, and suddenly opened his eyes wide, scanning the area. He then pointed to the spot where the two women were buried, pointed at Wei Sheng, and held up two fingers…
At this, Wei Sheng’s face paled, his eyes glazed over, and his calves trembled. He quickly grabbed Shui Miao’s finger, stammering, “Master, master, don’t say another word! Let’s go inside and talk—have a proper talk!”
“Alright!”
Shui Miao responded, then turned and left, simultaneously using his immortal power to alter his facial features, transforming into a completely different person.
This would help confuse everyone.
This is what they call mixing truth with falsehood, making it hard to discern reality from illusion.
The fake White Lady and her companions knew they were no match for Shui Miao, so they naturally didn’t dare to stop him.
Shui Miao had achieved his goal—confirming that the real White Lady wasn’t here was enough.
That night, instead of rushing to find a hotel, Shui Miao hailed a taxi and spent hours driving around Zhonghai City. He needed a new identity to conceal himself and, more importantly, to find a powerful cultivator capable of entering the immortal realm to help him investigate clues about the White Lady. So, as he rode in the taxi, Shui Miao extended his divine sense, searching for a cultivator who could infiltrate the immortal realm and assist him.
The taxi roamed Zhonghai City for most of the night.
Finally, when they arrived at Nanwan Residential Area, Shui Miao sensed a cultivator with considerable strength.
※※※
Nanwan Residential Area, 3 a.m.
On Jinshajiang Road, in an inconspicuous alley.
Hearing footsteps, a stray dog lifted its head, saw a demon, and immediately tucked its tail and fled in fear.
“You don’t need to follow me so closely; I won’t run away.” Shui Miao glanced at the Black Snake Demon and shook his head in frustration. This creature’s demonic soul was so sinister that even dogs were afraid of it.
Bai Feng, knowing how to handle the situation, quickly said, “Zhang Ling, if you need anything, just call us with your mind. It’s really not convenient for us to follow you like this.”
“Alright!”
Shui Miao nodded to Bai Feng, and Bai Feng and the Black Snake Demon vanished in a flash.
Using his divine sense, Shui Miao sensed that they had retreated to a bell tower several thousand meters away, where they sat on the rooftop.
At the end of the alley, piles of clutter were stacked up. Shui Miao stopped beside a manhole cover, picked up a tree branch, and began tapping on the cover. The sound was soft, intermittent, and rhythmless. After over a hundred taps, the manhole cover finally moved. A disheveled, foul-smelling old man in tattered clothes emerged from the sewer, accompanied by a large black rat nearly half a meter long.
Shui Miao stepped back and sat on a three-legged stool, observing the old man.
The old man blinked, studied Shui Miao for a moment, then placed the rat back into the sewer, climbed out, closed the manhole cover, and sat on the ground facing Shui Miao. After a while, he asked, “What do you want from me? Who are you? Why can’t I see through you?”
“Heh, my name is Zhang San. You don’t need to see through me. I’m here to ask for your help.” Shui Miao smiled faintly. “To be honest, I received teachings from an immortal in a dream and cultivated a type of qi energy. Now, I’ve reached this level but don’t know how to proceed. So, I’d like to ask for your guidance.”
“Teachings from an immortal?”
The old man’s eyes lit up with excitement, but he quickly grew cautious and shook his head. “You have an immortal master, yet you come to me? I’m not that capable. I probably can’t help you much.”
“My master has lost contact with me. I know you can go to the immortal realm. Could you help me find her? I’ve offended the Yuxu Sect in the immortal realm and don’t dare to go back. If I go, I might never return.” Shui Miao’s eyebrows twitched as he smiled and added, “Of course, I won’t let you help for free. If you can find my master, I’ll ask her to reward you with an immortal pill. How does that sound?”
“…”
The old man blinked. “You actually offended the Yuxu Sect…”
Shui Miao cut him off, stood up, and prepared to leave. “It’s best not to ask too many questions. It won’t do you any good. Just help me find this person. A simple yes or no will suffice. If you’re unwilling, that’s fine. With such a reward, I’m sure I can find someone else to help.”
“Wait, wait!” The old man’s eyes darted around, and he quickly stood up, smiling ingratiatingly. “Easy, easy. We’re all cultivators. I’ll help if I can. Just tell me who you’re looking for.”
Shui Miao glanced back at the old man. As the saying goes, the face reflects the heart—this man had shifty eyes and didn’t seem like a good person. To test him, Shui Miao nodded and said, “My master has a nickname in the immortal realm: Red Beard. Rumor has it he killed a hall master of the Yuxu Sect and slept with the daughter of their chief steward. It shouldn’t be hard for you to find out about him in the immortal realm. But remember, keep it secret. He’s a wanted criminal by the Yuxu Sect. If they find out, the consequences will be dire.”
“I understand, I understand the rules. Red Beard. And you are…?” The old man squinted, studying Shui Miao intently.
Shui Miao clasped his hands apologetically. “I’m a nobody. People call me the Beardless One.”
“Uh… heh, alright, alright! I understand.”
The old man nodded repeatedly with a flattering smile.
Shui Miao nodded as well. “Good. I’ll come find you tomorrow night, same time, same place.”
With that, Shui Miao hummed a tune and walked away.
Before he had gone far, Shui Miao sensed the old man excitedly diving back into the sewer, where he hugged the large rat and muttered to himself, “Xiao Hei, fortune’s wheel is turning! Our luck has finally arrived. That fool is handing us a huge opportunity! I’ll immediately project my soul to the immortal realm. Guard my body. The Yuxu Sect is a major faction—if I provide this information, they’ll surely reward me with several genuine immortal pills!”
The old man was overjoyed.
“What a despicable villain!”
Shui Miao gritted his teeth, itching to kill the old man on the spot. But after a moment’s thought, he calmed down. He had changed his appearance, altered his aura, and used a fake name. If the old man went to the immortal realm, he’d only be inviting trouble. The Yuxu Sect’s chief steward might even eliminate him directly.
Now, he had to find another helper.
There were few cars on the street, and no taxis in sight, so Shui Miao decided to stroll around aimlessly.
Unexpectedly, as he walked, he spotted five young, beautiful women wearing sexy miniskirts. One of them was Xiao Hong.
“Ah! Shui Miao, it’s you! Are you here to see me?”
Seeing Shui Miao, Xiao Hong was thrilled. She ran over, grabbed his hand, and jumped with joy, then waved to the other girls. “Come here, come here! This is the great magician I told you about, Shui—”
“Zhang Ling,” Shui Miao interrupted Xiao Hong. “The name ‘Shui’ was just something I made up. My real name is Zhang Ling.”
“Okay, okay, whatever your name is, I’m just glad you’re here. Let me take you to see our troupe leader.” Xiao Hong pulled Shui Miao along, giggling foolishly. “Now you can’t run away.”
The girls were all around eighteen or nineteen years old. Seeing that Shui Miao was young and handsome, they also came over to pull him along. Shui Miao smiled awkwardly and thought to himself that the identity of a magician seemed a bit fabricated, but it could work. Since fate had brought him and Xiao Hong together again, he might as stay here for a few days.
The troupe leader Xiao Hong mentioned was also her master—a bald, dark-skinned, chubby middle-aged man.
The troupe leader’s surname was Wei, and his given name was Sheng.
Wei Sheng lived in a luxurious villa, appearing very wealthy.
Xiao Hong and the others rang the doorbell, and after a while, Wei Sheng came to answer the door. He was exaggeratedly dressed in large shorts and a white undershirt.
Without waiting for Shui Miao to speak, Xiao Hong eagerly introduced him, boasting about how amazing he was and that he was a great magician.
At first glance, Shui Miao could tell Wei Sheng was no good—his lecherous eyes kept sneaking glances at Xiao Hong’s thighs. Using his divine sense, Shui Miao sensed two naked women lying in Wei Sheng’s room. They looked young but had excellent figures. He also detected ten safes in the house filled with vast amounts of cash—at least five million. But then, Shui Miao sensed something else that sent a chill down his spine: buried in the yard of Wei Sheng’s villa were the bodies of two women!
Was Wei Sheng a murderer?
Shui Miao frowned, instantly displeased.
Noticing that Shui Miao’s eyes held no respect and even seemed disdainful, Wei Sheng also grew irritated. He raised his hand, cutting off Xiao Hong, and spoke directly to Shui Miao. “You don’t look like a magician. Kid, are you using the magician excuse to pick up girls?”
“Actually, I’m a feng shui master, and a top-tier one at that. Magic tricks are child’s play to me.” Shui Miao grinned and shook his head dismissively.
“Such arrogance!” Upon hearing this, Wei Sheng sneered. “You dare to fool me? Do you think I’m an idiot? A feng shui master? You?”
“Words are empty without proof. You’ll see for yourself. Talent isn’t determined by age!”
Shui Miao continued to look at Wei Sheng with disdain.
Wei Sheng was nearly provoked to anger. He nodded heavily. “Fine, fine! You said it yourself. Read the feng shui of this villa for me. If you can identify any issues, I’ll hire you. But if you can’t—hmph! I’ll make sure you spend half a year in the hospital.”
“Are you sure you want me to do this?” Shui Miao licked his lips and asked gravely.
Wei Sheng scoffed. “What, are you scared?”
“Why would I be scared? I’m worried that if I point out the problems, you won’t be able to handle the consequences!” Shui Miao stood his ground, intensifying the tension.
“Good! Read it for me!”
Wei Sheng dragged Shui Miao into the villa, forcing him to proceed.
Xiao Hong and the others huddled together, too afraid to speak.
Shui Miao raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice. “Boss Wei, I think it’s better if we talk in private. It’s not convenient to speak here with so many people around.”
“There’s nothing inconvenient about it. If you don’t speak soon, I’ll call my men.” Wei Sheng, being a lecher himself, assumed others were the same.
“Since that’s the case, fine, I’ll speak plainly.” Shui Miao took a deep breath, pushed Wei Sheng’s hand away, and mysteriously made a few gestures while muttering incantations. “By the decree of the Supreme Elder Lord, grant me the divine talisman of the heavenly eye, aid me in opening the Yin-Yang sight, and perceive spirits and ghosts!” After reciting this, Shui Miao trembled, pressed his thumb to his forehead, and suddenly opened his eyes wide. He scanned the room, then pointed to the spot where the two women were buried, pointed at Wei Sheng, and held up two fingers…
At this moment, Wei Sheng’s face turned pale, his eyes glazed over, and his calves trembled. He quickly grabbed Shui Miao’s finger and stammered, “Master, master, don’t say another word! Let’s go inside and talk, have a proper discussion!”
Bai Feng was good at social skills and quickly said, “Zhang Ling, if you need anything, just call us with your mind. It’s indeed inconvenient for us to follow you like this.”
“Mm!”
“Alright!”
Shui Miao responded, then turned and left, simultaneously using his immortal power to alter his facial features, transforming into a completely different person.
This would confuse everyone.
This was what they called mixing truth with falsehood, falsehood with truth—making it impossible for others to discern reality.
The fake Madame White and her companions knew they were no match for Shui Miao, so they naturally didn’t dare to stop him.
Shui Miao had achieved his goal: confirming that Madame White wasn’t here was enough.
That night, instead of rushing to find a hotel, Shui Miao hailed a taxi and spent hours driving around Zhonghai City. He needed a new identity to conceal himself and, more importantly, to find a powerful cultivator capable of entering the immortal realm to help him investigate Madame White’s whereabouts. So, as he rode in the taxi, Shui Miao extended his divine sense, searching for a cultivator who could infiltrate the immortal realm and assist him.
The taxi circled Zhonghai City for most of the night.
Finally, when they arrived at Nanwan Residential Area, Shui Miao sensed a cultivator with considerable strength.
※※※
Nanwan Residential Area, 3 a.m.
On Jinshajiang Road, in an inconspicuous alley.
Hearing footsteps, a stray dog lifted its head, saw a demon, and immediately tucked its tail between its legs before scurrying away.
“You don’t need to follow me so closely; I won’t run away,” Shui Miao glanced at the Black Snake Demon and shook his head in frustration. This creature’s demonic soul was so sinister that even dogs were afraid of it.
Bai Feng, ever the diplomat, quickly interjected, “Zhang Ling, if you need anything, just contact us with your mind. It’s really not convenient for us to follow you like this.”
“Mm.”
Shui Miao nodded at Bai Feng, and Bai Feng and the Black Snake Demon vanished in a flash.
Using his divine sense, Shui Miao sensed them retreating to a bell tower several thousand meters away, where they settled on the rooftop.
At the end of the alley, piled with miscellaneous items, Shui Miao stopped beside a manhole cover. He picked up a tree branch and began tapping on the cover—softly, intermittently, and without any discernible rhythm. After over a hundred taps, the manhole cover finally shifted. A disheveled, foul-smelling old man in tattered clothes emerged from the sewer, accompanied by a large black rat nearly half a meter long.
Shui Miao stepped back and sat on a three-legged stool, observing the old man.
The old man blinked, studying Shui Miao for a moment before placing the rat back into the sewer. He climbed out, closed the manhole cover, and sat on the ground facing Shui Miao. After a while, he asked, “What do you want from me? What’s your name? Why can’t I see through you?”
“Heh, my name is Zhang San. You don’t need to see through me. I’m here to ask for your help,” Shui Miao smiled faintly. “To be honest, I received teachings from an immortal in a dream and cultivated a type of qi energy. As a result, I’ve become what I am now. But I don’t know how to proceed from here, so I’d like to ask for your guidance.”
“Teachings from an immortal?”
The old man’s eyes lit up with excitement, but he quickly grew cautious and calm again, shaking his head. “You have an immortal master, yet you come to me? I’m not that capable. I probably can’t help you much.”
“My master has lost contact with me. I know you can go to the immortal realm. Could you help me find her? I’ve offended the Yuxu Sect in the immortal realm and don’t dare to go back. If I go, I’m afraid I might never return.” Shui Miao’s eyebrows twitched as he smiled and added, “Of course, I won’t let you help for free. If you can find my master, I’ll ask her to reward you with an immortal pill. How does that sound?”
“…”
The old man blinked. “You actually offended the Yuxu Sect…”
Shui Miao cut him off, stood up, and brushed off his pants as if preparing to leave. “It’s best not to inquire too much about this. It won’t do you any good. Just help me find this person. A simple yes or no will suffice. If you’re unwilling, that’s fine. With such a reward, I’m sure I can find someone else to help.”
“Wait, wait!” The old man’s eyes darted around before he quickly stood up, chuckling. “Easy now, easy now. We’re both cultivators. If I can help, I certainly will. Please, just tell me directly who you’re looking for.”
Shui Miao glanced back at the old man. As the saying goes, the face reflects the heart—this man had shifty eyes and didn’t seem like a good person! To test him, Shui Miao nodded and said, “My master has an alias in the immortal realm: Red Beard. Rumor has it he killed a hall master of the Yuxu Sect and slept with the daughter of the Yuxu Sect’s chief steward. It shouldn’t be hard for you to find information about him in the immortal realm. But remember, you must keep this secret. He’s a heavily wanted criminal by the Yuxu Sect. If they find out, the consequences will be dire.”
“I understand, I understand. I know the rules. Red Beard… and you are?” The old man squinted, his eyes scrutinizing Shui Miao.
Shui Miao clasped his hands apologetically. “I’m a nobody. People call me Beardless.”
“Uh… heh, alright, alright! I understand.”
The old man nodded repeatedly with a flattering smile.
Shui Miao nodded as well. “Good. I’ll come find you tomorrow night, same time, same place.”
With that, Shui Miao hummed a tune and walked away.
Before he had gone far, Shui Miao sensed the old man excitedly crawling back into the sewer, where he hugged the large rat and muttered to himself, “Little Black, fortunes change—our luck has finally turned! That fool is handing us a huge opportunity! I’ll immediately project my soul to the immortal realm. You guard my body. The Yuxu Sect is a major faction there. If I provide this information, they’ll surely reward me with several genuine immortal pills!”
The old man was overjoyed.
“What a despicable scoundrel!”
Shui Miao gritted his teeth, itching to kill the old man on the spot. But after a moment’s thought, he calmed down. He had changed his appearance, altered his aura, and used a fake name. If the old man went to the immortal realm, he’d only be inviting trouble. The Yuxu Sect’s chief steward might even eliminate him directly.
Now, he had to find another ally.
There were few vehicles on the street, and no taxis in sight, so Shui Miao decided to stroll around aimlessly.
As he walked, he suddenly spotted five young, beautiful women wearing sexy miniskirts. One of them was Xiao Hong.
“Ah! Shui Miao, it’s you! Are you here to see me?”
Xiao Hong was thrilled to see Shui Miao. She rushed over, grabbed his hand, and jumped with joy, waving to the other girls. “Come quick, come quick! This is the great magician I told you about, Shui—”
“Zhang Ling,” Shui Miao interrupted Xiao Hong. “That ‘Shui’ something was just a random name I used. My real name is Zhang Ling.”
“Okay, okay, whatever your name is, it doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you’re here. I’ll take you to see our troupe leader now.” Xiao Hong pulled Shui Miao along, giggling foolishly. “Now you can’t run away.”
The other girls, all around eighteen or nineteen years old, seeing that Shui Miao was young and handsome, also came over to tug at him. Shui Miao smiled awkwardly, thinking to himself that the identity of a magician seemed a bit fabricated, but it could work. Since fate had brought him and Xiao Hong together again, he might as while stick around for a few days.
The troupe leader Xiao Hong mentioned was also her master—a bald, dark-skinned, chubby middle-aged man.
The troupe leader’s surname was Wei, and his given name was Sheng.
Wei Sheng lived in a luxurious mansion, appearing quite wealthy.
Xiao Hong and the others rang the doorbell, and after a while, Wei Sheng answered the door, wearing an exaggerated pair of shorts and a white tank top.
Without waiting for Shui Miao to speak, Xiao Hong eagerly introduced him, boasting about his incredible skills as a great magician.
At first glance, Shui Miao could tell Wei Sheng was no good—his lecherous eyes kept sneaking glances at Xiao Hong’s thighs. Using his divine sense, Shui Miao detected two naked women in Wei Sheng’s room. They seemed young but had excellent figures. He also sensed that Wei Sheng’s ten safes contained vast amounts of cash, at least five million. But then, Shui Miao sensed something else, and his heart turned cold—beneath the yard of Wei Sheng’s house were buried the bodies of two women!
Was Wei Sheng a murderer?
Shui Miao frowned, immediately displeased.
Noticing that Shui Miao’s eyes held no respect and even seemed disdainful, Wei Sheng also grew irritated. He raised his hand, cutting off Xiao Hong, and spoke directly to Shui Miao: “You don’t look like a magician. Kid, are you using the magician excuse to pick up girls?”
“Actually, I’m a feng shui master, and a top-tier one at that. Magic tricks are child’s play to me.” Shui Miao grinned and shook his head dismissively.
“Such arrogance!” Upon hearing this, Wei Sheng sneered. “You dare try to fool me? Do you take me for an idiot? A feng shui master? You?”
“Words are empty; proof is in the seeing. Talent isn’t bound by age!”
Shui Miao continued to look at Wei Sheng with disdain.
Wei Sheng was nearly provoked to anger. He nodded heavily. “Fine, fine! You said it yourself. Read my villa for me. If you can identify any issues, I’ll hire you. But if you can’t… Hmph! I’ll make sure you spend half a year in the hospital.”
“Are you sure you want me to read it?” Shui Miao licked his lips, asking with feigned gravity.
Wei Sheng scoffed. “What, are you scared?”
“Why would I be scared? I’m worried that if I point out the problems, you won’t be able to handle the consequences!” Shui Miao stood his ground, intensifying the tension.
“Good! Read it!”
Wei Sheng dragged Shui Miao into the villa, forcing him to conduct the reading.
Xiao Hong and the other girls huddled together, too afraid to speak.
Shui Miao raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice. “Boss Wei, I think it’s better if we talk in private. There are too many people here; it’s not convenient.”
“There’s nothing inconvenient about it. If you don’t speak soon, I’ll call my men.” Wei Sheng, being a lecher himself, assumed others were the same.
“Since that’s the case, very well, I’ll speak plainly.” Shui Miao took a deep breath, pushed Wei Sheng’s hand away, and mysteriously made a few gestures while muttering incantations. “By the decree of the Supreme Elder Lord, grant me the divine talisman of the heavenly eye, aid me in opening the yin-yang sight, to perceive spirits and ghosts!” After this theatrical display, Shui Miao trembled, pressed his thumb to his forehead, and suddenly opened his eyes wide. He scanned the room, then pointed to the spot where the two women were buried, pointed at Wei Sheng, and held up two fingers…
At this moment, Wei Sheng’s face paled, his eyes glazed over, and his calves trembled. He quickly grabbed Shui Miao’s finger, stammering, “Master, Master, don’t say another word! Let’s go inside and talk, have a proper talk!”
Under his divine sense, Shui Miao sensed them retreat to a clock tower thousands of meters away, where they sat down on the rooftop.
At the end of the alley, many items were piled up. Shui Miao stopped beside a manhole cover, casually picked up a stick, and tapped on the cover. The sound was faint, intermittent, and completely without rhythm. After more than a hundred taps, the manhole cover finally moved. A disheveled, smelly old man wearing ragged clothes emerged from the sewer, carrying a large black rat nearly half a meter long.
Shui Miao took a few steps back and sat down on a three-legged stool, watching the old man.
The old man blinked, looked at Shui Miao for a while, then let the rat go down the sewer. He crawled out, closed the manhole cover, sat on the ground facing Shui Miao, and after a while asked, “What do you want from me? What’s your name? Why can’t I figure you out?”
“Hehe, my name is Zhang San. You don’t need to figure me out—I’m here to ask for your help,” Shui Miao smiled slightly. “To be honest, I received teachings from an immortal in my dreams and cultivated a martial art technique. As a result, I’ve become what I am now. Now I don’t know how to proceed with my cultivation, so I want to ask for your help.”
“Teachings from an immortal?”
The old man’s eyes lit up, clearly interested. But immediately after, he became wary and calmed himself down, shaking his head. “If you have an immortal master, why come looking for me? I don’t have such great abilities—I probably can’t help you with anything.”
“My master has lost contact with me. I know you can enter the Immortal Realm. Can you help me find her? I offended the Yuxu Sect in the Immortal Realm, so I dare not go back—I’m afraid I might never return if I do.” Shui Miao’s eyebrows twitched, and with a smile, he continued, “Of course, I won’t ask you to help for free. If you can help me find my master, I’ll ask her to grant you an immortal pill—how about that?”
“…”
The old man blinked. “You actually offended the Yuxu Sect…”
Shui Miao interrupted the old man, stood up, patted his pants, and prepared to leave. “It’s better not to ask too many questions about this matter—it won’t benefit you. Just help me find someone. Whether you’re willing or not is just one sentence. If you’re not willing to help, no problem—I have benefits to offer, so I won’t have trouble finding someone else to assist me.”
“Don’t leave, don’t leave.” The old man’s eyes turned, and he quickly stood up, laughing. “No problem, no problem. We cultivators should help each other. Please just tell me who you’re looking for.”
Shui Miao turned and looked at the old man. As the saying goes, appearance reflects the mind—he had a sly, rat-like face and didn’t look like a good person at all! To test him, Shui Miao nodded and said, “My master has a nickname in the Immortal Realm called Red Beard. It’s said he killed a hall master of the Yuxu Sect and slept with the daughter of the sect’s chief steward. You should be able to find him easily in the Immortal Realm. Remember, keep this a secret—he’s a most-wanted criminal of the Yuxu Sect. If they find out, the consequences will be unimaginable.”
“I understand, I understand. I know the rules. Red Beard—then who are you, sir?” The old man looked at Shui Miao with his small eyes, glancing around.
Shui Miao apologized with a smile, “I’m just an unknown person. People call me No Beard.”
“Uh… Hehe, okay, okay! I got it.”
The old man nodded repeatedly with a forced smile.
Shui Miao also nodded. “Alright, tomorrow night I’ll come find you, same time, same place.”
After saying this, Shui Miao hummed a tune and walked away.
Not far from there, Shui Miao sensed the old man excitedly diving back into the sewer, hugging the big rat and talking to himself, “Xiao Hei, fortune is finally turning our way. Our good luck has finally arrived. This kid is so naive—it’s a huge benefit given to me! I’ll immediately send my soul to the Immortal Realm. You guard me while I meditate. The Yuxu Sect is a major sect in the Immortal Realm. If I provide this information, they should reward me with several authentic pills at least!”
The old man was overjoyed.
“What a despicable little man!”
Shui Miao gritted his teeth, almost wanting to kill him immediately. But after thinking, he calmed down. He had changed his appearance, his aura was different, and he hadn’t used his real name. The old man going to the Immortal Realm would be like walking into a trap—he might even be eliminated directly by the Yuxu Sect’s chief steward.
Now he had to find another helper.
There were few cars on the street, and no taxis in sight, so Shui Miao started wandering aimlessly.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly saw five sexy young women wearing miniskirts. One of them was Xiao Hong.
“Ah! Shui Miao, it’s you! Are you here looking for me?”
Seeing Shui Miao, Xiao Hong was immediately overjoyed and ran over. She grabbed his hand, excitedly jumping up and down, then waved eagerly at the other girls, “Come quickly, come quickly! This is the great magician I told you about—Shui…”
“Zhang Ling.” Shui Miao interrupted Xiao Hong. “That ‘Shui’ name was just something I made up. My real name is Zhang Ling.”
“Okay, okay. What you call yourself doesn’t matter. Anyway, you’re here now. Let me take you to meet our leader.”
Xiao Hong grabbed Shui Miao’s hand and started pulling him along, giggling foolishly, “Now you can’t escape.”
The group of girls were all around eighteen or nineteen years old. Seeing that Shui Miao was young and handsome, they all came over and grabbed him. Shui Miao smiled awkwardly and thought to himself that this magician identity might seem a bit fake, but it could still work. Since he had such good fortune to meet Xiao Hong again, he might as well stay here for a few days and play along.
The leader Xiao Hong mentioned was actually her master, a bald, dark-skinned, chubby middle-aged man.
The leader’s surname was Wei, and his given name was a single character: Sheng.
Wei Sheng lived in a luxury villa, which seemed to indicate he was quite wealthy.
Xiao Hong and the others pressed the doorbell, and after a long while, Wei Sheng finally came to open the door. He was dressed exaggeratedly in just a pair of boxer shorts and a white undershirt.
Without Shui Miao saying a word, Xiao Hong eagerly introduced him, describing how amazing he was and calling him a great magician.
At first glance at Wei Sheng, Shui Miao felt he was definitely no good person. His lustful eyes kept sneaking glances at Xiao Hong’s thighs. With his divine sense, Shui Miao detected two naked young women lying in Wei Sheng’s room, who appeared young but had excellent figures. In ten safes in his house, there were piles of cash—probably at least five million yuan. But then, Shui Miao sensed something else, and his heart immediately sank. Under the yard of Wei Sheng’s house, there were actually two female corpses buried!
Could Wei Sheng be a murderer?
Shui Miao frowned, instantly feeling displeased.
Noticing that Shui Miao’s gaze showed no respect, and even seemed somewhat contemptuous, Wei Sheng also became displeased. He raised his hand, interrupting Xiao Hong mid-sentence, and directly said to Shui Miao, “You don’t look like a magician to me, kid. You’re probably using the name ‘magician’ as an excuse to flirt with girls, right?”
“Actually, I’m a feng shui master, and a top one at that. Magic tricks are too simple for me.” Shui Miao smirked, shaking his head disdainfully.
“What a big mouth!” Hearing this, Wei Sheng sneered coldly. “You’re trying to pull a fast one on me, huh? Do you think I’m an idiot? A feng shui master—just you?”
“Words alone won’t prove anything—you’ll have to see for yourself. Talent has nothing to do with age!”
Shui Miao still looked at Wei Sheng with disdain.
Wei Sheng nearly became furious. He nodded heavily, “Fine, fine! You said it yourself. Take a look at this villa. If you can find any problems, I’ll hire you. But if you can’t find anything, hmm! I’ll have you lying in a hospital for half a year.”
“You really want me to check it out?” Shui Miao licked his lips, asking with some seriousness.
Wei Sheng scoffed, “Are you scared now?”
“What do I have to be scared of? I’m more worried that if I do find problems, you won’t be able to handle the consequences yourself!” Shui Miao stood his ground, making the atmosphere increasingly tense.
“Fine! Check it out then!”
Wei Sheng grabbed Shui Miao’s hand and dragged him into the villa, forcing him to inspect it.
Seeing this, Xiao Hong and the others huddled together, too afraid to speak.
Shui Miao raised his eyebrows, lowered his voice, and said, “Mr. Wei, I think we should talk privately somewhere quiet. It’s inconvenient with so many people around.”
“That’s not a problem. If you don’t speak up, I’ll call people over.” Wei Sheng, being a lecher himself, assumed others were the same.
“Since that’s the case, then fine, I’ll speak directly.” Shui Miao took a deep breath, pushed Wei Sheng’s hand away, made a few mysterious gestures, and muttered incantations, “Lord Laozi, obey my command, grant me the divine eye talisman, help me open my yin-yang eyes to see ghosts and spirits!” After chanting mysteriously, Shui Miao trembled, placed his thumb on his forehead, suddenly opened his eyes wide, looked around, then suddenly raised his hand, pointing at the spot where the two female corpses were buried, then at Wei Sheng, raising two fingers…
At this moment, Wei Sheng’s face changed drastically. His eyes went blank, his legs trembled, and he quickly grabbed Shui Miao’s hand, stuttering, “Master, master, don’t say anything, don’t say more. Let’s go inside and talk, have a proper talk!”
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