Ling City. Fan Ting Bureau.

“Again?” The grouchy roar echoed in the bureau’s hall as a man with a long, narrow black mustache, whose ends tapered and drooped down to the chin, glared down from the judge’s desk with an annoyed face. “This is the third time this week! Do you think this granddaddy has idle time to play detective with you?!”

“Haha…” Manager Qin slyly rubbed his hand and squeezed out a smile, slipping over a handful of spirit rice as he placed the paper deed on the man’s desk. “Please calm your anger, my lord. There’s no need to ruin your health getting angry over a mortal.”

Proficiently sweeping the grains of spirit rice into the pot next to his desk, the judge’s angry face transformed into one with smiles. “Naturally. Naturally, how could I get angry with fellow daoist over such a trifling matter.”

Taking out a seal, the judge pressed it down on the paper deed with grace. Lifting it, the words "deceased" were printed on the deed over Liu Dafan’s name.

Handing the contract back to Manager Qin, the judge waved his hand, losing all interest. “Remember, your quota this season is gone. Next time, just directly bury it in your field. With the influx of all those outsiders, the number of mortal cases has spiked. I don’t have time to handle these small matters.”

“Understand. Understand.” Keeping the contract in his robe, Manager Qin politely saluted with his fists before turning around, leading Bubai and WeiWei, who had their heads lowered, out.

Watching their receding backs, the judge swept his gaze over Bubai before resting on WeiWei, his beady eyes squinting. “The male has no problem, but this woman… huh, it’s best I don’t get involved.”

He then lowered his head, unfurling the bamboo scroll detailing another recent case.

As he stepped out from the bureau, Bubai couldn’t help but glance back at the prestigious court with a drum and two cultivators standing guard.

The Fan Ting Bureau, a place for mortals to seek redress for their cases in Ling City.

However, in reality, it was a place for cultivators to civilly resolve conflicts between mortals.

Who did the court favor? Naturally, the cultivator with the bigger fist. As for the mortals… they were worth less than the ink on the stamp.

The only reason Manager Qin even paid some grains was to expedite the process to avoid filing a record for his adultery case. Most men would rather there be no official record of their green hat, right?

After coming down the stairs, Manager Qin gazed up at the sun, noting it was well past noon, already showing signs of evening. He turned towards the two of them. “Now that it's over with, let us head back. Remember, do less, say less.”

“Yes, Boss Qin.” “Yes, Qin Ge.”

Manager Qin then led the way down the street, passing by the many cultivators, some wandering alone, others gathered in groups.

Of those groups who occasionally threw a glance over, he enthusiastically introduced the groups to WeiWei in a soft voice, touting these cultivators in his own low-key fashion.

“...That's the Silver Lotus Clan. Known for their production of the unique Silver Lotus, which even had a healing effect on Golden Core cultivators… Even Foundation Establishment cultivators don't want to offend them!”

“The Cloud Peak Clan, a subsidiary of the Cloud Sword Sect, but don’t underestimate them. They are well known for being one of the largest suppliers of the circulating grains and their cloud manipulation techniques don’t lose out to the Cloud Sword Sect!”

“Those should be from the Shadow Sun Clan. Very secretive, very dangerous. But… a good friend told me they are known for their strange flesh puppet control technique, rumored to be able to perform as flexibly as humans and to have even assassinated a Foundation Establishment cultivator...”

It wasn’t known if Manager Qin went through these introductions willingly or due to other influences, but Bubai was happy to listen in.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Of course, Bubai took everything Manager Qin said with a grain of salt. After all, he was still able to gleam the truth in between his words: A herb growing clan, a grain growing clan, and... a flexible doll producer?

Well, even if his face continued to display interest, Bubai’s curiosity had long been drawn away, his interest secretly placed on those Manager Qin had deliberately avoided introducing.

Many of these individuals were found at a quiet or less populated spot, observing the streets from different angles. Manager Qin did his best to avoid them because many of these individuals were dressed in dark outfits with a veiled wide-brimmed hat, clearly not wanting to be known.

Suddenly, there was a ruckus on the street as many cultivators parted ways like a splitting ocean. Seeing this, Manager Qin also pulled the duo off to the side.

Pricking his ears, Bubai heard the discussion from around them.

“It’s the Cloud Sword Sect. Even they sent people to watch this fight!”

“How could they not? They have been facing off against the Sun Furnace Sect for decades. Where there is one, the other will appear. I heard it was because their suzerain-”

“Shh! That’s not something we can talk about, lest we invite their wrath. After all, these big sects are all the same…”

“All these big and small sects are here. There are even rumors of some notorious cultivators, such as the faceless demon, hiding in Ling City- Sigh, I hope Ling City doesn’t turn into a battlefield this time...”

Following the crowd’s gaze, Bubai recognized the familiar outfits donned by the group in question, most with their hair styled in a topknot bun.

Hanging from each of their waists was an emblem engraved with a skyward sword positioned in front of a cloud, one he had hoped to hang on his own waist for eight years but with no success.

At the forefront, a young sword-bearing man Bubai didn’t know led the group, but he recognized his emblem with two swords crossed on top of the identical cloud, a signature of Cloud Sword Sect’s foundation establishment cultivators.

Following him were many disciples that had cold or arrogant faces, with some puffing their chests with pride. Only a couple in the back of the group sported shy smiles under the gaze of the crowd.

Bubai recognized some in this group as his senior brothers and sisters from the same batch as him. Instinctively, he shifted his steps, obscuring himself from the incoming group with Manager Qin’s body, bowing his head.

When the group of disciples finally walked past, Bubai let out a soft sigh of relief, looking up just to meet WeiWei’s playful face, clearly showing interest. In the end, she didn’t say anything, refocusing her attention on testing Manager Qin’s patience.

As the packed crowds gradually dispersed, Manager Qin wiped off some nonexistent sweat from his forehead, grabbing the naughty WeiWei’s hand and marching off. “Let’s go, let’s go, hurry back. It’s best not to stay in a place of right and wrong like this one.”

On the way back, Manager Qin seemed to be much more hasty than before, as if his emotions were out of control after seeing the big scene. His hands also roamed on WeiWei, clearly wanting to vent after going through a tense ordeal.

“Well, Xiao Chen, I still have important matters to handle and will return to the farm first with my dear WeiWei-”

Hearing Manager Qin mentioned leaving him behind and rushing back, Bubai almost jumped in excitement. Go, go, please do!

"Hehe, Qin Ge, why the rush?" WeiWei playfully grasped Manager Qin's arm, bringing his steps to a halt.

"Oh?" Manager Qin raised an eyebrow, his eyes bearing a hint of bloodshot intensity. "Is WeiWei delaying because she doesn't want to accompany me?"

"Hehe… WeiWei is always ready to accompany Qin Ge, but... if Qin Ge can resist the urge…” WeiWei leaned in, whispering in a soft tone that held a mischievous allure. “WeiWei swears to take Qin Ge to heaven tonight."

Manager Qin gasped, drawing in a breath filled with surprise and anticipation. "Good. Good. I will wait. I will wait. But you better not lie to me! If I’m disappointed..."

“Hehe, when did WeiWei ever lie to Qin Ge…”

One man was excited, but the other felt the excitement drain from himself.

Doggone Manager Qin! You are a late stage qi-refiner; have some backbone!

Alas, Bubai could only curse inwardly because he didn’t have a say in this situation due to being the weakest of the trio.

So, he could only watch the fox play with the dog the entire way, suppressing his urge and ignoring the glances, full of temptation, thrown his way.

By the time they returned to the farm, it was already night.

Manager Qin waved for Bubai to retreat as he coiled his arm around WeiWei’s waist, leading her towards his residence, clearly unable to hold back.

Hearing WeiWei’s coquettish giggle fade away, Bubai kept a straight face, heading towards his hut.

Passing by Old Liu’s hut, he noticed the unhinged wooden door and the mess within, clear signs of being rummaged through. So much for camaraderie.

Entering his hut, Bubai scanned the undisturbed hay before shutting the door, settling down on his hard wooden bed, ready to meditate for the rest of the night.

Thanks to Manager Qin, he could finally cultivate peacefully.

The next morning, Bubai walked out of his hut with his hoe over his shoulder, a refreshed smile on his face. However, when he saw the crowd gathering in front of Manager Qin’s residence, his lips couldn’t help but twitch.

“Did something happen again?”

The Feng Shui of this farm must be really bad.

Heading over, he found his new field neighbor, Ah Ji, in the crowd and patted him on his shoulder. The middle-aged, dark-skinned man jumped, turning his gaze to see Bubai.

Feeling unlucky from being patted on the shoulder, he brushed it a couple time as he asked in an annoyed tone, “What is it?”

Bubai nodded towards the residence. “What happened?”

Ah Ji shook his head. “Not too sure. This morning, Miss WeiWei came out and told us that Manager Qin is sick.”

Manager Qin is sick?! How is that possible?!