Chapter 50: On-Site Registration

The ninth day of the first month.

Lifeng City’s acting city lord, Zhangsun Mingcheng, hurried out of the city riding an one-horned leopard.

There were more than a dozen cultivators following him out of the city. Most of these cultivators were in Yuan Ying period, and only two were in out-of-the-body period.

The group of people rushed out in a hurry, and their complexions were extremely grim, as if something major had happened.

The sun hasn’t completely risen yet, and many people who were partying all night were still asleep.

Yesterday when the citizens in Lifeng City enjoyed the fireworks, a small remote village less than ten miles away from Lifeng City was destroyed in one night. But none of the people nor powerful cultivators residing in Lifeng City noticed it.

That small village is called Ding’an Village, and the entire village only has 36 people in it.

Ding’an Village is located in remote and deep mountains, with a cliff on one side and dense forest on the other. Villagers living in Ding’an need to walk for about two hours to reach the nearest neighboring village.

In such a remote Ding’an Village, there won’t be people coming in and going out for a few months. If it weren’t for the Spring Festival, with many cultivators who came to visit, and a disciple who’s returning home at the nearby village, they’re afraid the news wouldn’t reach Zhangsun Mingcheng in just one night.

When Zhangsun Mingcheng and his party arrived at Ding’an Village, the place was already scorched and no colors other than black could be seen.

Everyone hurriedly got off their mounts, inspected the village and searched for any living people left.

Zhangsun Mingcheng was sitting on the one-horned leopard, his brows frowned tight, he didn’t utter a word.

“There’s a trace of demon cultivator. These black cinders weren’t created by fire, but corrosive ability.” A young man who has cultivated to Yuan Ying judged by inspecting the wood blocks that has turned into black charcoal.

“This corrosive ability is similar with the one in… Feiyun Valley.” Taoist Li, who has cultivated until out-of-the-body period, murmured. He wasn’t very confident after speaking, “But, this cultivation base is wrong. Isn’t the Demon Smiling Whitehead is in the middle stage of Demon Infancy? This demonic energy is clearly in the out-of-the-body period. Although the realm is still unstable, but it shouldn’t be long before his breakthrough.”

They all heard about Feiyun Valley.

At that time, Zhangsun Mingcheng and others were searching the traces left by demon generals and were alert to the Demon Lord’s movements, so they didn’t pay much attention to a wild demon cultivator that’s still in infancy stage like Smiling Whitehead.

It is said that because Feiyun Valley is too far away, the content of the report is seriously inaccurate. After many Liangji sect elders read the letter, no one is willing to take up the mission, which led to the tragedy.

Because there’s no elder to take it, Liangji sect’s head can’t even point a person to be punished, and can only let the matter go.

As for the Demon Smiling Whitehead, he was added into the bounty list without any dilemma. The bounty was impartially set up to 300,000 high-grade spirit stone, which was about the same reward as other demon cultivators who refines corpse in other villages.

But Feiyun Valley’s matter hasn’t even passed half a year yet.

In less than half a year, the Demon Smiling Whitehead broke through from the middle stage of Demon Infancy to the out-of-the-body period. No matter how anyone thought about it, they would only feel it was unbelievable.

“It must be the soul lamps! At that time, Liangji sect should’ve believed Feiyun Valley’s letter. It shouldn’t be underestimated because of the Demon Smiling Whitehead’s low-level cultivation.” Yuan Jianxiu, who’s wearing light armor, was livid, knowing this matter was left onto his responsibility once it happened, he couldn’t help but blame Liangji sect for their inaction.

Taoist Lu was very disgusted with Yuan Jianxiu’s act of shifting the blame, mocked, “Feiyun Valley has reported the incident. At that time, who was the one that saw someone’s distress letter and yelled absurd and nonsense?”

“You old donkey, did you thought you were better than me? Didn’t you also…” Yuan Jianxiu wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the acting city lord Zhangun Mingcheng.

“Shut up.” Zhangsun Mingcheng rubbed his forehead.

It’s already detrimental for something like this to happen during the Spring Festival.

But both Feiyun Valley and Ding’an Village are small and located in remote places with large number of mortals residents. Compared with the Demon Lord’s ambition to invade the Cultivator Continent, and compared with the fugitive demon cultivators who have done many heinous deeds, Ding’an Village isn’t really a high priority.

Even if he’s now filled with contempt, he’ll still be occupied by other new emergencies after returning to the city.

Everyone’s energy is limited.

What the vile perpetrators has commited in the short time of sticking incense requires multiple righteous cultivators to investigate for ten and a half months. Even if they find out the truth after a lot of hard work, everyone may won’t catch the murderer who has escaped.

Not to mention that cultivators believes in karma cycle.

People who believe in karma often use it to conceal their laziness, thinking that after a while, they can wait for the gods to clean up those harmful evildoers.

Therefore, even if there are many righteous cultivators, there’ll be more of them who can’t handle these matter. One goes after the other, and fewer people are willing to take on missions and run errands.

Zhangsun Mingcheng thought for a while before he decided to say: “Collect the demonic energy and report it to city lord Shangguan.” That is, Shangguan Zhuqing.

“Acting city lord Zhangsun, you have to think twice.” Yuan Jianxiu immediately objected.

“Right, please think twice.” Even Taoist Lu who was opposed with Yuan Jianxiu, tried to persuade him, “Even if the Demon Smiling Whitehead suddenly enters out-of-the-body period, but you’re still in the distraction period ah.”

If it got reported, it means that the acting city lord can’t handle a demon cultivator that has lower cultivation base than his own, and Lifeng City reputation will be greatly damaged.

The others also persuade Zhangsun Mingcheng to think twice.

“You don’t have to advise me, I’ve already decided on this matter.” Zhangsun Mingcheng knew everyone will began to doubt, so he went on to explain, “This incident just shows that the Demon Smiling Whitehead must have someone he rely on, since he dares to be so arrogant.”

“At that time, Smiling Whitehead was just in Demon Infancy stage while the Feiyun Valley Lord has broke through out-of-the-body period, he also has a very detailed understanding of the Demon Smiling Whitehead. Everyone thought that Feiyun Valley Lord was creating a fuss, exaggerating the situation for the sake of rescue.”

“And everyone should’ve known the result after.”

Hearing what Zhangsun Mingcheng said, the others were in contemplation.

Zhangsun Mingcheng continued: “I don’t think that Smiling Whitehead would be stupid enough to strike a rock with a pebble.”

“He made a move within the sphere of Lifeng City’s influence and left such an obvious traces of misdeed. Obviously he wanted to provoke Lifeng City and Liangji sect behind us.”

Zhangsun Mingcheng questioned everyone, “A demon cultivator, deliberately provoking a force stronger than himself, can there be no conspiracy behind it?”

“Reporting this matter will just bring shame, but if it’s not handled properly, it can become a major incident for the people of Lifeng City.” Of course, Zhangsun Mingcheng understand the humiliation it’ll bring him, but he has a faint sense of anxiety inside.

He has a hunch that if he didn’t report this matter, he’ll regret it for the rest of his life.

Even if this incident is extremely suspicious, they could report it as soon as possible, so the Shangguan family wouldn’t be in a passive state.

Not to mention, the incident with Feiyun Valley before, making Smiling Whitehead appeared in the demon cultivator bounty list. The monks specially raised by the Shangguan family will no longer turn a blind eye.

“Speaking of it, wasn’t there a survivor from Feiyun Valley? Let’s ask him about the incident.” Yuan Jianxiu said suddenly.

“It’s just a ten-year-old child with injured spirit root. How much can a child know? Do you want to waste time?” Taoist Lu objected.

If the child actually knows the internal matter of Feiyun Valley destruction, Liangji sect would’ve done something long ago, and they wouldn’t fell into this predicament.

Zhangsun Mingcheng also doesn’t feel the need to ask a child, “Now it’s the busiest time in Lifeng City, so there’ll be shortage of manpower. This matter should’ve been solved by Liangji sect. We can ask someone to get a record and go there.”

Yuan Jianxiu said with persistence, “Acting city lord Zhangsun. You said the Demon Smiling Whitehead must have a backer behind him. Liangji sect didn’t took this incident seriously, so they won’t care about the orphan.”

“There’s also the fact that Feiyun Valley exaggerated the letter, making people to doubt the content. And when life is at stake, everyone would’ve written their need of assistance with seriousness, but how exaggerated is the letter to make Liangji sect glossed over this incident?”

“I believe that it’s very necessary to take this trip.” Yuan Jianxiu said with a solemn attitude.

“It makes sense.” After listening, Zhangsun Mingcheng nodded and arranged a plan: “Then Hall Master Yuan should go.”

Mo Shulin drank his morning medicine before leaving the clinic with Bai Yuming.

They walked on the busy street full of clamor with their shoulders close. But after yesterday’s stomachache accident, Mo Shulin felt every food were poisonous to him.

Except for Bigu Pill, Mo Shulin refused to eat any other foods.

Even if Bai Yuming coax him that a small sip wouldn’t hurt his stomach, Mo Shulin still resisted with full resolution.

Without Mo Shulin’s sympathy, Bai Yuming only felt the fun had been reduced by half.

Although he could eat and drink, nothing has changed.

Lifeng City is very active in encouraging men and women to marry.

Along the way, Bai Yuming found three or four activity areas targeting young men and women.

Like the lantern riddle area he saw yesterday, there are also the wishing tree filled with the wishes of male and female disciples, or guessing games where there’s a pair of mask as a reward, and answer game to understand the question’s objective.

Mortals usually insisted on matchmaking after they got affected with the concept of loving one person for a lifetime, but they also won’t oppose someone having free love.

It’s just that mortals have a limited life expectancy. If they can’t find their true lover when they’re young, parents and the city lord will take certain measures to promote marriage and childbirth.

Bai Yuming watched an answer game twice and found it simple and fun. Anyone that got full score will be rewarded with 20% discount on the top floor of the most famous Quanjia restaurant in Lifeng City. With this quota, you can also order food that you can’t normally book in this place.

Bai Yuming was instantly conquered by the foods written in the menu on the side.

This event is limited to one man and one woman, and they must be on stage in person to answer the questions in front of the whole crowd.

Women can use a veil or hats, but they must use the unmarried girl’s bun to ensure everyone they don’t have a partner. And the man must show his face so that everyone can see who he is on the stage.

Under everyone’s gazes, it would be embarrassing to answer the wrong question.

Not to mention, if the two of you didn’t get married in the end, there’ll be a quarrel at the end of this game.

Therefore, no matter how generous the reward is, true couples that are in love are still a minority.

But because of the rich rewards, there’s many fake couples who come up in order to get it.

At first, Zhangsun Mingcheng wanted to withdraw the event, but later discovered that some fake couples actually expressed their true feelings because of their personal problem, and accidentally formed several pairs. And some real couples want a fig leaf, got married with other person in the future. There’s also an excuse for fake couples to brush rewards.

In the end, Zhangsun Mingcheng didn’t cancel the event.

The main reason is that the activity cost isn’t high.

Bai Yuming read the rules of the event, then he set his sights on Mo Shulin, who was only ten years old beside him.

“Do you want to go?” Mo Shulin felt Bai Yuming’s stare, asked in confusion.

Bai Yuming nodded, with a little expectation in his eyes.

He and Mo Shulin are both close, they’re also familiar after getting along with each other days and nights. If he didn’t do this event, then those roast duck, spicy tender tofu, Lifeng vinegar fish, Huangfu steamed meat pie, etc. won’t be in his mouth.

Mo Shulin raised his head and gestured to one of the rules, indicating that this activity requires a man and a woman to participate.

“Don’t worry. A rabbit demon has it’s own tricks.” Bai Yuming showed a firm smile.

After a stick of incense.

A handsome young man dressed in dark blue attire while holding a sword, and a beautiful girl dressed in white, with a white veil covering half of her face, quietly arrived to the scene and signed up.