Chapter 72: The Quota

Jing Qing stood quietly by Shen Yu’s side, her cool and ethereal presence giving her an air of otherworldly grace.

Puzzled, she asked, “Then what is it all for?”

“She simply isn’t suited for cultivation. The human notions of good and evil have no place among cultivators,” Shen Yu replied. “Many have died in this stretch of the Canglan River. Zhao Da, the ferryman, did nothing wrong by wanting to protect his son. Yet, using this as an excuse, he caused the deaths of many innocent passersby. That is where he erred.”

“He clung to his sense of goodness and committed evil for its sake. So, is it good or evil? To me, it isn’t about good or evil—only right and wrong. The rules and principles of the world are just like that.”

Shen Yu glanced at the corpse lying on the ground and continued, “That’s why I stayed in his home for a few days. I wanted her to get to know this family, so that when the time came to act, she would better understand this principle. But things didn’t turn out as I expected.”

“You could explain it to her,” Jing Qing suggested.

Shen Yu shook his head. “Some truths are only useful when realized on one’s own.”

The cool artifact spirit smiled. “But it seems she’s misunderstood you.”

Shen Yu said nothing, for such things hardly mattered to him.

Jing Qing smiled faintly. Since becoming Shen Yu’s life-bound artifact spirit, she had grown ever more intrigued by her master. Sharing thoughts with him within his spiritual core, she could sense every fluctuation of his emotions.

What surprised her most was that Shen Yu’s mind was as calm as a still pond, unperturbed by life or death, by battle or breakthrough.

Though she did not understand the human path of cultivation, she knew the importance of temperament. To achieve such tranquility was truly remarkable.

“You have one more thing left to do,” Jing Qing remarked suddenly.

“Yes,” Shen Yu replied coolly. “The physiques of the demon race are peculiar; to kill them completely, it is not the heart that matters, but their demon core.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the corpse of the demon in the distance suddenly sprang upright. But in an instant, a sword pinned it mercilessly to the ground once more.

It was the blood-hued wooden sword.

Shen Yu reached out with a gesture, and the demon, failing even at feigning death, let out a blood-curdling howl—its agony a hundred times worse than when Lu Caiwei had pierced its heart.

A golden orb was forced from its mouth and flew straight into Shen Yu’s palm. The possessed corpse finally fell still and lifeless.

...

That afternoon, the two returned directly to Cloud Cliff City.

All the way back, Lu Caiwei did not utter a single word to Shen Yu, her expression cold and distant.

No sooner had they returned to the City Lord’s residence than Lu Caiwei disappeared into her own room, shutting the door tightly behind her.

Li Fugui, who had been enjoying himself earlier, suddenly acted as if he hadn’t seen Shen Yu in years—tears and snot streaming down his face as he rushed over, apparently seeking an embrace.

Shen Yu gave him a cold look. Li Fugui let out a miserable shriek and was sent flying.

Picking himself up, Li Fugui quickly offered tea and water, his voice thick with flattery.

Those among the servants who had witnessed Li Fugui’s power exchanged bewildered glances at this display.

Baili Xi strode in from outside, vibrant and energetic.

He had already learned from the guards about the incident at the little village by the Canglan River and understood the whole story.

“How did it go?” Shen Yu asked.

“I’ve already sent people to inquire,” Baili Xi replied with a smile. “The disciple recruitment for the Returning Cloud Immortal Sect is set for Cangmang Town, not far from here, in half a month.”

Shen Yu nodded.

Baili Xi bowed and said, “Since you are a cultivator from the Daoist sect, I will not adhere to worldly etiquette. Permit me to thank you most sincerely.”

Shen Yu replied coolly, “I’ll be taking one of the quotas here.”

“Of course,” Baili Xi agreed. “And if you have any friends who wish to join the Returning Cloud Immortal Sect, as for the Jiang family’s slot—since their young master has been seriously injured, I’ll do my best to secure it for you as well, so that you won’t be disappointed.”

Shen Yu gave him a look.

Baili Xi’s eyes were filled with expectation.

Shen Yu fell silent for a moment, then said, “Very well.”

Baili Xi, having served as City Lord for decades, was adept at reading people. Knowing Shen Yu was not one for many words and having received a satisfactory answer, he took his leave.

Li Fugui seized a moment and hurried over with another cup of tea, his face full of obsequiousness. “Sir, are you thirsty? Here, here, they say this is the finest Cloud Mist Tea in all of Cloud Cliff City. Please, sip slowly—it’s a bit hot.”

Shen Yu took a sip and remarked, “You’re a snake demon, not a dog demon.”

Li Fugui chuckled, scratching his head earnestly. “Sir, what are you talking about? I just thought you must be exhausted after all your hard work. Next time there’s demon-catching to do, let me handle it! I’m young, I don’t mind the effort.”

Shen Yu replied coolly, “You may have the demon core.”

Li Fugui suddenly hesitated, feigning innocence. “Demon core? I don’t know what you mean.”

“Then forget it,” Shen Yu said.

“Wait!” Li Fugui clung to Shen Yu’s leg, looking aggrieved. “Sir, I really feel like… this thing could be very useful to me.”

He had sensed the demon core’s aura from afar. Any spiritual object condensed from energy was a rare treasure for demonfolk, especially those who could take human form.

More importantly, he recognized a familiar aura within this demon core. Just being near it, he felt his cultivation and demon power slowly rising. If he consumed it, he might very well break through to the next stage.

With a flick of his sleeve, Shen Yu sent the perfectly round, golden demon core flying into Li Fugui’s hands.

Li Fugui stared dumbly at the egg-sized core, overwhelmed by happiness and the sheer suddenness of it all. After a moment, tears streaming down his face, he choked out, “Sir, you really are too good to me.”

“Off you go,” Shen Yu said calmly.

“Alright!”

In the next instant, Li Fugui swallowed the demon core in one gulp and scampered off gleefully, all traces of gratitude vanished.

Shen Yu watched, both amused and helpless.

In the days that followed, Shen Yu stayed in a courtyard of the City Lord’s residence, awaiting news from Baili Xi.

Lu Caiwei would occasionally step out of her room; whenever she saw Shen Yu, she acted as if he were invisible.

One day, as she brushed past him, Lu Caiwei remarked in a deliberately casual tone, “Such a lovely big courtyard, yet not a living soul in sight—how desolate.”

Shen Yu hadn’t expected this little girl’s temper to last so long. He was just about to speak when a heavy slam of the door echoed from behind him.

Late summer was giving way to autumn, and yellowed leaves covered the ground.

The once-grand courtyard now showed a hint of decay.

Gazing at the ancient ginkgo tree—likely several centuries old—memories flickered through Shen Yu’s eyes. He remained silent for a long while before finally murmuring, “Truly, what a crisp and lovely autumn day.”

A scornful snort sounded from the window.

“So pretentious!”

...

Three days later, Baili Xi returned to the courtyard, his expression a mix of indignation, helplessness, and anger—his emotions in turmoil.

Shen Yu said nothing, simply patted him on the shoulder, and then quietly left the courtyard alone.