Yin Ci looked at that eye.

There was only confusion in it. As soon as it saw the light, it sluggishly turned and stared straight at Yin Ci. Whether it was the stimulation of the light or residual consciousness, the eye slowly became moist, and tears shimmered on the surface of the deformed eyeball.

Unfortunately, the flesh god statue had no mouth, and the temple remained silent.

The eye contact was only a moment, but it felt incredibly long to Yin Ci.

As a popular religion of the Yun Dynasty, the Divine Emperor Wu's Shrine was considered an extremely sacred place. The greatest disrespect in the temple was the theft that Shi Jingzhi was currently trying to falsify by stealing some gold and silver, followed by a swift escape.

Even the most unruly thief would not dare to directly confront the statue of the god, fearing retribution.

In fact, the Yun Dynasty did not reject other beliefs. It also got along well with sects like the Jianchen Temple, which worshipped the Buddha. Yin Ci had also sought answers within the realm of the gods, but with thousands of different deities and Buddhas, he wasn't crazy enough to dissect each and every one of them.

Especially not the ones in bustling temples like this.

The Divine Emperor Wu's Shrine was perpetually crowded, and covered in the smoke and fire of the mortal world. Who would have thought it could be related to such strange occurrences?

[If I hadn't called you here, this would have been the place you would never have reached in your lifetime.]

For hundreds of years, he had stopped at countless shrines, but had never thought to investigate the statues themselves. Perhaps it was just another "unreachable place" that was close at hand.

Yin Ci ran his fingers over the crack, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Who could have imagined that after searching for a hundred years for an 'immortal', the first thing he found was a flesh god statue emitting a faint stench.

It was the only one of his kind to have lived beyond the lifespan of a mortal.

Underneath the statue, there were rows of cushions arranged peacefully, with offerings still moist and the fragrance of incense still lingering. Did the residents of this bustling city truly know what they were worshipping?

Was there a reason why someone had specifically placed the meat deity statue here?

Since the establishment of the Dayun empire, the number of Divine Emperor Wu's followers had been increasing. Thousands of temples had been built across the country, but how many of them had meat deity statues mixed in?

The process of creating living statues in the Yuanxian Village was not a quick one, but how many "Yuanxian Villages" were hidden throughout the Great Yun Empire?

It had been a long time. Yin Ci's blood seemed to freeze as he felt like he had touched a spider web in the darkness. He couldn't quite figure out if he was the prey, the spider, or just a strand of lost spider silk.

Noticing Yin Ci's lack of response, Shi Jingzhi picked up the package and squeezed in behind the statue.

He first saw Yin Ci's complex expression, then noticed the dry eye staring at him through the crack. The eye was fixed on Yin Ci and didn't move away.

Familiarity breeds contempt, and this time Shi Jingzhi didn't tremble from fear.

He took the fragments from Yin Ci's hand and mercilessly embedded them back into the crack. After making sure it was sealed, he used the Yang fire to fuse the crack, leaving only a slightly uneven mark that was difficult to detect even upon close inspection.

This person kept a straight face throughout and didn't show any signs of reluctance or hesitation.

"Ah Ci, let's go."

After finishing up, Shi Jingzhi didn't wait for Yin Ci to respond before hooking his waist and leading him out of the shrine.

Yin Ci closed his eyes and let him lead the way.

Outside the shrine, the moon was sparse and the early spring chill had passed. Despite not being late at night, the streets were still bustling with activity. Many people were still selling odds and ends and snacks from their stalls, while others were finishing work and carrying various strange tools or goods.

The two of them were dressed plainly and even with their hoods on, they didn't stand out among the crowd.

Even though Shi Jingzhi noticed something unusual about Yin Ci, he didn't press further and instead brought him to a secluded alley, melting the golden candlestick into small golden beads while silently waiting for Yin Ci to return to his senses.

Nowadays, Shi Jingzhi could easily control the Yang fire, and he gently held the melted gold in his palm, gradually forming it into small round beads.

Shi Jingzhi carefully melted them, while giving a slight glance at Yin Ci. He deliberately emitted an air of "I happen to have something to do", moving smoothly and calmly without any sense of urgency.

The shocking discovery left Yin Ci torn, but this considerate silence was like a ray of sunshine on a snowy day. He looked at the silent Shi Jingzhi and didn't pretend that everything was fine, but continued to ponder on his own.

Shi Jingzhi continued to lower his head, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

By the time he had sorted out his emotions, Shi Jingzhi had already melted the entire golden candlestick into small golden beads, with no trace of its original appearance.

Seeing Yin Ci regain some vitality, Shi Jingzhi slung the bag over his back and asked, "Are you done thinking?"

"Let's go back." Yin Ci's tone had returned to normal. "The stove is free now, so I'll go back and make sweet and sour fish for Shizun."

Unexpectedly, Shi Jingzhi shook his head and grabbed Yin Ci's wrist, pulling him out of the dark alley and back onto the street.

"We're leaving for the north tomorrow, who knows when we'll be back in a city like this again. Ah Ci, let's take a stroll before we head back."

Seeing Yin Ci furrow his brows slightly, Shi Jingzhi added, "Your hands are freezing, at least let's have a hot meal first. It's an order from your master."

Although the content of his words couldn't be argued with, his tone was surprisingly gentle.

Yin Ci rubbed his forehead, thinking that this person must have had a sudden change of heart. "Alright, I'll go with you."

Shi Jingzhi's smile grew wider as he put on his hood and led Yin Ci to a wonton stand.

The dumpling stand was half-exposed to the elements, situated at the street corner and filled with people from all walks of life. The orange glow of the fire pierced through the white steam, bringing a hint of warmth to the chilly air. A group of robust men, having had their fill of alcohol, were bickering loudly at the stand. The steam from their words mixed with that of the hot food, making it difficult to discern the faces of most of the customers.

Despite being in the midst of a bustling city, this place had an air of secrecy and was surprisingly clean for a street vendor.

As always, Shi Jingzhi's eyes were sharp and discerning.

Even if he had taken the money from the offering box at the temple, he spent it without any sense of guilt. He ordered two large bowls of dumplings and asked the vendor to add extra meat and eggs on top before returning to his seat.

With the festive atmosphere and the heavy scent of fireworks, Shi Jingzhi's demeanor relaxed, making the frigid night seem warm and lively.

As he watched him, Yin Ci's gaze softened slightly.

The eyes in the gap faded away from his mind, replaced by a warm feeling. Sitting at this ordinary stall, the bone-chilling cold in his bones slowly dissipated, as if being pulled back to the world by an invisible hand.

The dumplings were served, and the fragrance wafted over.

The small dumplings had thin skin and little filling, just enough for one bite, with a simple and warm taste. Hot food on a winter night always has a special charm that makes people feel at ease.

Shi Jingzhi didn't immediately pick up his chopsticks. He lifted the soft veil in front of his hat and looked at Yin Ci with a smile in his eyes.

...He didn't manage to coax the other person, but instead, he was the one who got coaxed. Yin Ci was at a loss for words, not knowing what kind of feeling was stirring in his heart.

Shi Jingzhi knew very well that his origins were unclear, but his strength was astonishing and his aura was unyielding. His cheap master sat calmly across from him, releasing his goodwill without any hint of humility, as if it was natural.

It must be said that this unnatural goodwill had previously made Yin Ci wary, but now it made him somewhat fond of him.

"Ah Ci, if you keep staring at me, the wontons will get cold."

Shi Jingzhi took a sip of hot soup and let out a sigh.

"Take your time eating, get full. We still have a lot of work to do later - as for the money, find some places where beggars gather and leave it there. Gold is too eye-catching, we'll scatter it on our way back to the inn."

"What, Shizun, are you afraid of retaliation from the Divine Emperor Wu's Shrine?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Your master has at least fought against that thing before." Shi Jingzhi snorted.

Yin Ci: "..."

He understood now, this master was only scared of what he couldn't see or touch. No matter how illogical something may seem, once this man knows he can cut it, he will have no fear.

Yin Ci suspected that this "illogical thing" might even include himself.

Yin Ci always felt that his cheap master, who did not respect ghosts, gods, immortals, or elders, should not be called Shi Jingzhi, and should instead learn from Yan Budu to be called Shi Bujing*.

*T/N: The Jing in Shi Jingzhi is the character for respect. By changing it to Bujing, it instead means 'no respect'.

"But the money was donated by ordinary people. If we spend it without permission, won't we be betraying those devout believers? Anyway, the money will end up in the pockets of the shrine. Why don't I make things easier for the Divine Emperor Wu and use the money to help the needy? I'll only take two bowls of wonton soup as my reward."

Shi Jingzhi spoke with great righteousness.

"These are the wontons plucked from the hands of the gods. Eat more, Ah Ci."

Yin Ci had no choice but to stuff a large bowl of wontons into his stomach. When he put down his chopsticks, he even had a bit of sweat on his nose.

"Ah Ci, I understand. You have been following me without any complaints until now, and the matter you are investigating is probably related to this flesh god statue."

After Yin Ci finished eating, Shi Jingzhi spoke lightly.

"Acting is very tiring, and I know that very well. Ah Ci, in the future, you don't have to deliberately hide yourself in front of me. Even if I want to figure you out, as long as you're not willing to share, I won't force you."

He smiled even more happily.

"Just like we agreed before, this is a fair competition."

Yin Ci laughed, "Shizun, are you still thinking about that 'competition' to investigate each other's backgrounds?"

"Of course."

Shi Jingzhi reached out and adjusted Yin Ci's veil.

"I hope you are even stronger than I imagined, and can investigate me thoroughly... Find me as soon as possible and come to my side."

"If that's the case, why not just tell me all the information?"

"If Ah Ci is only strong in martial arts and has no connections, it's better not to get involved in this matter. To be honest, I really don't want to let go of your help, but I also don't want to involve you in something you can't handle."

Shi Jingzhi smiled and shook his head, the ease in his expression fading slightly.

"Let's go, we'll each place a copper coin. After three sticks of incense, we'll meet outside the city gate."

"Okay."

After they parted ways, Yin Ci did not immediately hide the copper coin, but went straight to the post station.

Before approaching the Buddha's Heart Formation on the mountain, he released a request to investigate Shi Jingzhi. According to the original agreement, the grey pigeons would deliver the letters to Yongsheng City. Even if Shi Jingzhi didn't come over on his own initiative, he would also have come secretly.

Now was a convenient time.

Unfortunately, as Shi Jingzhi said, his background was not easy to investigate. Yin Ci combined several letters and only got one clue.

Sun Huaijin, that old man, had seven descendants with the surname Shi still alive. They all looked ordinary, the wealthy ones were not extravagantly so while the ones who were poorer were not destitute either. They were all simple and honest, like crops born and died in the fields.

No matter how you looked at it, none of them would have such a strange relative as Shi Jingzhi.

However, there was still a harvest - the record of one of the deceased caught Yin Ci's curiosity.

Sun Huaijin had a granddaughter named Shi Chongyu.

Shi Chongyu's father was a somewhat famous merchant and had two sons and two daughters. Shi Chongyu was born with a beautiful face and was talented in both literature and martial arts, making her quite exceptional. Unfortunately, her father was conservative and only wanted to marry her off early.

Shi Chongyu was a tough and stubborn person who refused to accept her fate, so she broke ties with her family and set out on her own.

Her journey proved to be quite eventful.

Shi Chongyu was a fierce and skilled fighter, earning the nickname "Broken Jade Spear". Despite her young age, she had already made a name for herself and caught the attention of Taiheng, who took her in as a disciple. However, the world was vast and full of people coming and going.

After five or six years of being active as "Broken Jade Spear", Shi Chongyu disappeared without a trace. She had achieved success through self-study, but had spent too much time outside to be considered a top disciple of Taiheng. In a world where talented individuals were constantly emerging, no one cared about her disappearance.

The only thing left behind by Shi Chongyu in the martial arts world was a rumor that she had died young. And that rumor was from over twenty years ago.

Yin Ci folded up the letter and burned it in the nearby brazier.

According to Sun Huaijin's bloodline, Shi Chongyu was the most likely person to be connected to Shi Jingzhi. Since they were passing through Taiheng, this clue was worth investigating.

He had to figure out what had happened during the twenty-four years between "little mute" becoming his "cheap master".

...Not to mention that Shi Jingzhi wanted him to find him.

Even if Shi Jingzhi didn't want to be found, Yin Ci would tear through the years of fog and go to his side.

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Finally, the fox learned how to be kind to others in a serious way, and it resulted in a critical hit. Meanwhile, Demon Lord Yin continued to soften his heart.