Chapter 20: The Enemy

From the very first day she learned of the existence of transcendent beings, this question had been gnawing at her incessantly.

According to Li Yulan’s account at the meeting, Zhou Qing had never employed any supernatural means before. Yet, just a month ago, he suddenly killed several rogue cultivators passing through Liangzhou, which is how he came to the attention of the Sanitation Bureau.

Based on her impression of Zhou Qing, he was the type who would lie down rather than sit if he could—always looking half-asleep and lazy. Even if he possessed formidable abilities, it was hard to imagine he would take the trouble to eliminate just a few passing rogue cultivators.

“They weren’t just passing by,” Zhou Qing shook his head, answering calmly under her astonished gaze. “They came for me.”

“At that time, I was just about to leave for the duty station in the suburbs to get a stamp. When I reached a deserted spot, those few suddenly appeared around me. They radiated clear hostility; they must have had me in their sights from the very beginning.”

He had sensed their malice suddenly. Glancing at them from a distance, the moment their eyes met, the attackers’ minds shattered instantly; their primordial souls were annihilated on the spot.

“So you killed them…” Qin Jiajia murmured. After enduring so much, she no longer reacted sensitively to the word “kill,” focusing instead on the facts. “Could they have others backing them?”

“Maybe,” Zhou Qing was noncommittal.

Since fading out of the cultivation world, many had sought him out—countless with good intentions, quite a few with ill will.

Judging by their style, they were undoubtedly enemies. Yet, he had enemies scattered across the world, many of whom he hadn’t even heard of. If he listed all those who wished him harm, the text would rival the length of the entire Twenty-Four Histories.

But if one were to search that vast tome for an equal adversary, the result would be nothing.

Though his spiritual core was currently unstable and far from peak condition, it didn’t significantly affect the search results. He was too indifferent to bother checking his enemies’ list over such a trivial matter.

“Maybe? You’re being targeted! Aren’t you afraid they now know your whereabouts and might send someone to attack you in secret?” Qin Jiajia’s anxiety far exceeded his own.

“Shouldn’t you investigate the mastermind behind this and strike first to eliminate them?” she pressed.

“If I were a few centuries younger, I might do just that,” Zhou Qing said, reclining against the stone bench with one arm draped over the backrest. “But right now, I have more important matters to attend to. Entangling myself in this would be too troublesome. If they don’t bother me, fine; if they come, I’ll kill them then.”

“More important matters?” Qin Jiajia’s heart skipped a beat. What could be more important than tracking down the mastermind? Could it be related to the “great changes in heaven and earth” he mentioned earlier? Or perhaps...

“There’s a chess tournament in the community next week. They forced me to participate, so I’ve been practicing with someone these past few days.”

Could these things be mentioned in the same breath?!

Qin Jiajia felt a torrent of words choke in her throat. Looking at this figure sprawled lazily on the bench, memories long buried stirred, and an old appraisal returned.

He really had become a capybara.

Only occasionally would he swipe at the mosquitoes beside him, then roll over and lie back down.

“This can’t go on,” she finally said, unable to resist pulling at this capybara.

“I know you’re powerful... but as the saying goes, the skilled swimmer drowns in water, the expert fighter dies by the sword. If you keep ignoring this, what if you get ambushed someday?”

“I’ve seen many cases in the bureau where masters were caught off guard, even killed by cultivators of lower ranks. Injuries and deaths aren’t unheard of!”

Zhou Qing cast her a glance—this wasn’t wrong.

Back when he was at the Golden Core stage, a Nascent Soul cultivator once came seeking revenge. After a long chase, he found an opening and killed him with a single strike. Following the trail, he located the enemy’s sect and wiped them out in a single day.

Golden Core slaying Nascent Soul, Nascent Soul slaying Divine Transformation, Divine Transformation slaying Void Refinement... such feats were not uncommon for him.

Over time, major forces reached a consensus—to be wary of killing above one’s level.

“To be safe, you should at least check their movements... find out who’s behind them! Otherwise, no one can guarantee there won’t be surprises...” Qin Jiajia urged relentlessly.

Her own words seemed to frighten herself, her expression growing ever more serious, genuinely concerned for his safety.

She was always like this—maintaining a constant sense of crisis, never at ease without absolute certainty.

“If that’s the case, then you all can help me investigate,” Zhou Qing said.

“Help you investigate?” Qin Jiajia was taken aback, obviously not expecting this. “Well... I could request access to check the bureau’s cultivator database, but I just joined and can’t view high-level files...”

“Not you, you all,” Zhou Qing corrected. “The Sanitation Bureau sent you to ask what I need, right? Report this up the chain, have them open a special project to help me investigate. You’ll also be fulfilling your duties.”

“???” Qin Jiajia froze. Was that really allowed?

For the Sanitation Bureau to launch an investigation required three levels of approval—from department to province—and if it was classified, even headquarters’ leaders needed to review it. A moderately large project would involve various city departments and millions of funding.

Yet Zhou Qing spoke as if it were as simple as picking up scallions at the market—utterly natural.

Are cultivators really this casual?

Qin Jiajia fell silent, momentarily questioning whether her understanding of the world was flawed.

“Time’s up. Go report back to the Sanitation Bureau,” Zhou Qing said, tossing the empty plastic cup into the trash. “I’m going back to sleep.”

With that, he stood and headed toward the park’s entrance, as casually as every time they had parted after their walks.

Qin Jiajia stood frozen for a long moment before finally following his footsteps in silence.

Fifteen minutes later, the traffic restrictions within a ten-mile radius around Liangzhou Park were lifted. Over a thousand restricted surveillance drones resumed normal operation, the roads that had been bathed in red on real-time monitoring turned green within minutes, and the city’s highways once again thrummed with flowing traffic.

The roar of speed cut across the streets as several official vehicles merged into the bustling traffic, speeding toward the Sanitation Bureau.

...

Two hours later, at the Sanitation Bureau building.

“…Investigate the backgrounds of those rogue cultivators who attacked him before?”

Li Yulan leaned against the corridor wall, listening to the report from her subordinate, her expression subtle.

After several failed negotiations, she hadn’t expected much from Qin Jiajia’s latest operation, yet a major breakthrough had suddenly emerged.

Zhou Qing’s willingness to make requests to the Sanitation Bureau was a significant signal—it showed he harbored no hostility toward the authorities. With this alone, hundreds within the bureau could sleep easy.

That was the power of the strong. When he asked for help, those assisting should be the ones feeling grateful.

Moreover, his attitude during negotiations was worth noting.

A cultivation master who had lived for centuries wasn’t likely to form deep bonds in just a few years, but at least he showed goodwill toward Qin Jiajia, indicating he was not an extremist who despised mortals. That offered another layer of reassurance.

No matter what he had done in the past, he was now a gentle, unassuming presence, friendly to mortals. For the authorities, this was the best possible outcome.

The only remaining question was whether he had entanglements with other cultivation factions. This would require further subtle investigation.

“Captain Li, Special Agent Qin’s interrogation has concluded,” a subordinate reported as he approached.

“Good.” Li Yulan snapped out of her thoughts and headed toward the interrogation room.

She had already planned the next steps.