Chapter 593 - 503: Tartar and Anomaly
Even diluted, the fine wine they received was still a tier-one, low-grade Spirit Wine, equivalent in value to several Spirit Stones!
The residents of Linyue Immortal City were overjoyed, grateful to the Drunken Moon Sect and full of praise for Fairy Miaoyue’s generosity!
However...
Amidst the city-wide revelry, a few people remained clear-headed, sensing that something was amiss.
...
「Linyue Immortal City.」
"Stop!"
"Fighting is forbidden within the Immortal City!"
Qin Yun, dressed in a green and white Daoist robe, shouted sternly.
With a quick hand seal, he summoned two golden ropes to suppress and bind the two brawling Loose Cultivators, who were already bloodied and bruised.
"Fighting and killing within the Immortal City disrupts public order and affects market trade."
"The fine is one thousand Spirit Stones, or ten years of hard labor in the Sulfur Mine."
Qin Yun announced the sentence, his expression stern.
He lowered his head and instructed the Law Enforcement Team, "Take these two into custody. If they can’t pay the fine, send them directly to the mines!"
"Yes, Mr. Qin."
The members of the Law Enforcement Team nodded hastily and bowed.
Watching this scene, Qin Yun’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
Seventeen years had passed. He had finally succeeded in Foundation Establishment, gaining a lifespan of two hundred years. In front of these Qi Refining disciples, he could finally bear the title ’Mr. Qin’!
As a newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator, his current assignment was to guard the Immortal City and maintain order.
This sect mission was not only easy and safe, with little danger, but Linyue Immortal City was also prosperous, offering plenty of opportunities for profit. It was a rare and lucrative post!
’In another two years, I’ll have gathered enough materials to refine my personal Spiritual Artifact...’
As Qin Yun thought this, his mood brightened. ’This is all thanks to Mr. Li!’
The Foundation Establishment Elixir Qin Yun had used was refined by Su Ye. Its effects were outstanding, allowing him to succeed on his first try.
Moreover, as the fame of Su Ye, the Alchemy Master, grew, Qin Yun’s close association with him brought many unseen benefits.
If not for that, how could such a cushy job as guarding the Immortal City have fallen into his lap?
’But...’
’Have there been a few too many violent incidents in the city lately?’
He watched the Law Enforcement Team escort the two brawling Loose Cultivators away.
A sliver of doubt surfaced in Qin Yun’s mind.
It seemed that after the Wine Stone Revelry, the number of violent incidents in Linyue Immortal City had increased significantly.
In the district under Qin Yun’s management, there were usually only two or three cultivator brawls a month at most.
But recently, there had been seven or eight incidents in just half a month, including one murder!
A Loose Cultivator had been killed and his body dumped. The murderer’s methods were extremely cruel—all of the victim’s internal organs had vanished without a trace!
Of course, Qin Yun understood.
Cultivators weren’t well-behaved children; fights and killings were inevitable.
But in the past, the Drunken Moon Sect’s authority was so profound that cultivators killing for treasure would maintain a tacit understanding to do so outside the city.
Even if they occasionally did the deed inside the city, they would clean up thoroughly, leaving no loose ends, so as not to cause trouble for Linyue Immortal City.
But this time, things had gone a bit too far...
’Sigh...’
’Perhaps the Old Ancestor’s generosity and Linyue Immortal City’s resulting prosperity have attracted some unruly, heretical cultivators from outside...’
At this thought, Qin Yun rubbed his temples. He felt a headache coming on. If this security situation didn’t improve, he would bear a heavy responsibility!
’Tsk...’
’I have to think of a solution...’
...
「Law Enforcement Team Headquarters.」
A sunless, black-iron prison.
TAP.
A toothless old man, holding an oil lamp, led the way for Qin Yun.
The temperature in the black-iron prison was much lower than outside. Combined with the pitch-black, lightless environment, it was enough to make one’s heart palpitate.
It felt as if some monster was hiding in the darkness, secretly watching them.
Hmm...
For some unknown reason, Qin Yun furrowed his brow.
"Sir, the person you’re looking for is in here."
The toothless old man stopped, smiled fawningly, and took out a string of keys to open the cell door for Qin Yun.
"Yes, you may leave," Qin Yun said with a nod, shaking off the strange sense of unease.
CREAK.
The cell door swung open.
The cell was reasonably clean, with no strange smells—just a wooden bed and a chamber pot.
The Loose Cultivator, wearing Demon-Banning Handcuffs and a prison uniform, sat on the bed. His face was filled with terror, and his eyes were bloodshot.
This was one of the two Loose Cultivators who had been brawling in the market that morning.
Moreover, he was the one who had started the fight.
At this moment, seeing Qin Yun enter, his eyes lit up as if he had seen a lifeline. "Mercy, Sir! I... I was just confused for a moment!"
"I’m begging you, Sir, please don’t send me to the mines!"
The environment in the Sulfur Mine was extremely harsh, full of toxic gases.
Ten years of hard labor would leave one crippled, if not dead!
"Silence!"
Qin Yun barked.
"I’ll ask, you’ll answer. If your answers satisfy me, the matter of the mines can be discussed."
"If I’m not satisfied, or if you interrupt me, you can mine until you die!"
The Loose Cultivator was terrified. He immediately shut his mouth and nodded frantically.
"Why did you attack a merchant in the market?"
"That swindler! He was cheating people! Every elixir was slightly smaller than a normal one. A bottle looked like it had the same number of elixirs, but the medicinal effects were weaker!"
"After I got ripped off, I went to confront him about it, but he was completely unapologetic. I got so angry I couldn’t hold back..."
The Loose Cultivator lowered his head and answered honestly, his voice still tinged with indignation.
’A swindler...’
Qin Yun mused. The reason seemed plausible enough.
"Before this, did you encounter anything strange, or did anything unusual happen?"
"Well..."
The Loose Cultivator’s brow furrowed as he tried hard to think.
"No."
After a long moment, he shook his head.
He was just an ordinary Qi Refining Loose Cultivator trying to make a living in Linyue Immortal City—nothing special.
As for unusual events, they were far removed from his life.
After questioning him for a long time, Qin Yun still hadn’t gotten any valuable information.
Feeling impatient, he flicked his sleeve and prepared to leave.
Just then, the Loose Cultivator grew anxious. "Sir, I’ve told you everything I know! Please be merciful and let me go!"
"You started a fight in the market. Sparing your life is already an act of mercy. Just stay put!" Qin Yun said impatiently.
He was a great Foundation Establishment cultivator; he had no interest in conversing with a mere Loose Cultivator like this.
Qin Yun left the cell, had the toothless old man lock the door, and departed from the prison.
However, what he didn’t know was that after he left...
The Loose Cultivator’s face twisted into a ferocious expression, his eyes bloodshot and filled with despair. "The Sulfur Mine... No! I don’t want to go!"
As his mind was gradually consumed by despair, his face, at some unknown point, began to change inexplicably.
The corners of his mouth stretched wider and wider, splitting open to his ears. The blood vessels in his eyes multiplied, turning them completely red. Even his skin began to transform, taking on a rubbery texture.
But fortunately, this change was fleeting.
A few breaths later, the Loose Cultivator’s appearance returned to normal, and he was completely unaware of the change he had just undergone.
"No!"
"Someone save me! I don’t want to go to the mines!" the Loose Cultivator wailed.
In truth, when Qin Yun was questioning him, he had omitted one thing: the Wine Stone Revelry from half a month ago.
Driven by the typical Loose Cultivator mentality of taking small advantages, he had disguised his identity and lined up multiple times to get several extra cups of Spirit Wine.
Of course, he didn’t consider this to be an unusual event.
’Would the Golden Core Old Ancestor of the Drunken Moon Sect intentionally harm them?’
...
「Several days later.」
「Night.」
The streets of Linyue Immortal City.
’Annoying...’
Qin Yun sighed to himself.
Normally, at this time, he should be holding a beautiful concubine and enjoying the nightlife.
But he had no choice. In the past few days, the number of murders had not decreased but instead increased, and the city’s populace was in a panic!
To curb the rise in violent incidents, Qin Yun, a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator, had no choice but to personally lead the Law Enforcement Team on night patrol in the district under his management!
Qin Yun’s Divine Sense surged, spreading out in a fan shape to patrol the area.
Just then, his expression suddenly changed. He summoned his Escape Light and flew off into the distance!