Chapter Forty: Following the Clues

After their morning cultivation, the four began taking on orders.

To advance from a Class C to a Class B sect, they needed to complete six hundred orders: sixty percent were Class D, thirty percent Class C, and ten percent Class B.

Bai Yujing accepted every order that came his way.

Whether it was escorting a pregnant woman with ruptured water to the hospital, delivering forgotten documents to a manager from out of town, investigating a girlfriend's loyalty, or helping a wife catch her husband's mistress—he took on every single task.

He was busy until dusk before returning to Qingyun Sect.

In front of the palace-like main building, the evening breeze stirred the branches of plum blossoms, making them sway like waves of white.

Tiya and Liu Shuangling waited there for him, their shadows stretching long in the setting sun.

He glanced around and asked, "Zhuying hasn't come back yet?"

"Haven't seen her," Tiya replied.

Bai Yujing checked the Exorcism App: today, they had completed thirty-three Class D orders and six Class C orders.

There was one remaining order still pending, marked as in progress.

He opened the details: the task was to help a family find their daughter who'd gone missing the night before.

It was a Class C order with a reward of one hundred thousand.

Bai Yujing put away his phone and said, "You two can go home once you've changed. I'll go check on Zhuying."

"Alright," Tiya and Liu Shuangling agreed readily; they both had their own affairs to attend to at night.

Bai Yujing’s body sent out an invisible ripple, rapidly sweeping through Shanghai City, locking onto Zhuying’s spiritual presence. In a flash, he silently appeared nearby.

He didn’t reveal himself—he wanted to see how Zhuying would handle this order.

...

The sunset’s afterglow bathed the street, and the neon sign of the Muxi Bar was already lit, though not yet dazzling as it would be at night.

Inside, the soft lighting glimmered on dark wooden decor, the air tinged with faint traces of alcohol and low music.

Behind the counter, the bartender leisurely polished a crystal goblet, its surface scattering flecks of light in the lamplight.

Tinkle~

The door opened, the wind chime rang softly.

The bartender looked up, his gaze falling on the woman who entered. First he was struck by her exquisite features and cool, striking aura—then his eyes fixed on the faintly raised horns on her forehead.

A half-demon...

The bartender’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but he quickly regained composure.

He was just an employee; the bar was open for business—everyone was a customer, not his place to judge.

He lowered his head, continuing to polish his glass as if he had seen nothing.

Zhuying strode to the bar, pulled a photo from the pocket of her white wide-legged trousers, and slapped it on the counter. "Have you seen this woman?"

The bartender glanced at the photo. The girl wore a school uniform, her jet-black hair shoulder-length, her features innocent—a model student.

"Sorry, we get a lot of customers every day. She doesn't ring a bell."

"Answer me seriously."

Zhuying's voice turned suddenly cold, an invisible pressure surging forth and blanketing the entire bar.

To the bartender, the half-demon before him seemed to transform into a savage dragon, those icy eyes looking down from on high.

His knees shook uncontrollably. The glass in his hand crashed onto the bar with a clang.

The noise caught the attention of the staff on duty. "Hey, don’t make trouble here. This place is looked after by the Green Gang."

"Shut up—I’m not talking to you."

Without looking back, Zhuying’s spiritual pressure swept over the security guard.

The guard felt as if an invisible mountain pressed down upon him; cold sweat broke out instantly. His legs gave way and he collapsed to his knees.

Some patrons in the bar watched the scene with curiosity.

Zhuying ignored their stares, fixing her gaze on the bartender. "Think again. Have you seen this woman?"

The bartender swallowed hard.

Legally, it was a crime for spiritual practitioners to use force on ordinary people.

But the law would only avenge him after the fact.

The half-demon before him could end his life at any moment.

He racked his memory at top speed, recalling last night’s guests.

At last, something clicked. He hurriedly said, "I have seen her. She was here drinking with someone, complaining about how strict her parents are—always making her study. She said she wanted to become a spiritualist, wondered why she had no talent. She went on and on, and then I remember she left the bar with Zhu Yu."

"Zhu Yu?" Zhuying narrowed her eyes. This order was turning out to be a real hassle.

At that moment, the bar door opened again with a jingle.

A man in a leather jacket strolled in, a roguish air about him.

The bartender seized the opportunity and shouted, "That’s Zhu Yu!"

The man froze for a second, then spun around to run. He hadn’t taken two steps before a cold hand clamped onto the back of his neck.

The next moment, his body was hoisted into the air, the world spinning wildly.

Bang!

Zhu Yu slammed into the wall in the alley behind the bar, dust trickling down.

The alley, dim and silent in the twilight, was now the stage. Zhuying shifted her grip to his throat, face expressionless. "Take a good look. Where did you take the woman in this photo?"

"I—I don’t know what you’re talking about," Zhu Yu tried to struggle, but Zhuying’s grip was iron.

His breathing quickened; sweat beaded on his forehead.

Zhuying’s pitch-black pupils began to swirl, blood-red mandala patterns blooming—a hellish flower from the underworld, both bewitching and dangerous.

For this small fry, she didn’t even need to invoke her throne’s forbidden arts.

She merely used the basic illusions of her Rakshasa Eyes.

The blood-red mandala spun before Zhu Yu’s eyes, his panic giving way to confusion.

His expression went slack.

"Tell me—where did the girl go?"

"I got her drunk, then passed her to Wu Yifeng."

"And what does he do?"

"He’s a broker—finds girls for rich men’s entertainment," Zhu Yu replied, dazed.

Zhuying released him. "Where do you usually make the handoff?"

"Usually in the bar’s back alley at night. I bring the girl out, he loads her in the van, then takes her to some rich guy’s house for their amusement."

"Good. Tonight, you’re going to point him out for me."

Zhuying resigned herself to working overtime for this order.

...

Night fell completely. The city’s neon lights flickered in the distance, but the darkness of the alley remained untouched.

Wu Yifeng and Ren Yan parked their battered van at the mouth of the alley.

Tonight, another client had ordered a girl.

These wealthy types were odd—they didn’t want willing women, but paid more for those who weren’t selling.

He was only in it for the money, so he made deals with people who watched for women coming to the bar to unwind.

They’d get the women drunk, then load them into the van and deliver them to the client.

After that, whatever happened was the client’s business.

Wu Yifeng didn’t feel guilty about it.

Those girls should’ve been aware of the risks when they went to a bar.

He wasn’t the one at fault—they were. If they’d behaved themselves and stayed away from nightlife, they wouldn’t have ended up like this.

Wu Yifeng got out of the van and had barely taken two steps when he saw Zhu Yu standing in the shadows. "Brother Zhu, I’ll be counting on you again tonight."

He stepped forward, reaching for a cigarette.

The next instant, Zhu Yu collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, hitting the ground hard.

Wu Yifeng jumped, his cigarette falling. "You—?!"

He started to speak, but then met a pair of eyes swirling with blood-red mandala patterns.

Those eyes were an abyss, devouring his consciousness; he froze on the spot.

"Tell me—where did you take this woman?"

Wu Yifeng could not resist at all and gave up the address.