Record of a Demon’s Cultivation

 

Translator: Cinder Translations

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The next day.

 

Upon returning to Donghua City, Song Wen was just about to push open the gate to his small courtyard when he was suddenly struck with a look of surprise, which quickly turned into a somewhat displeased expression.

 

He discovered that a female cultivator was practicing swordplay in the small courtyard across from his.

 

The female cultivator, at the 7th level of Qi Refining, was repeatedly wielding a three-foot-long blue sword, diligently practicing her sword techniques.

 

What irritated Song Wen was that the courtyard across from him was rented by him, paid for in full, and had a Qi Condensation Barrier Formation and a first-level corpse beast.

 

Song Wen quickly realized the reason behind this situation.

 

This must be Zhao Dapeng’s doing.

 

He was in charge of the rentals for the more than a hundred courtyards in this alley.

 

The female cultivator’s bold appearance and her practicing swordplay in the courtyard across from him clearly indicated that she had rented the place from Zhao Dapeng.

 

After Song Wen had rented the courtyard across, he had only entered it a couple of times initially, and then never again.

 

This must have led Zhao Dapeng to mistakenly believe that the tenant had met with some misfortune, which gave him the courage to rent out the courtyard again.

 

After a moment of hesitation, Song Wen turned around and knocked on the door of the courtyard across.

 

“Creeeak!”

 

The female cultivator opened the door and, seeing an unfamiliar face, asked, “Who are you?”

 

Song Wen smiled and said, “Greetings, senior. I am Zhang Cheng, your neighbor across the street. Seeing that we have a new neighbor, I came to say hello.”

 

While speaking, Song Wen’s gaze assessed the female cultivator.

 

The female cultivator had a delicate appearance and was not particularly outstanding among the many beautiful cultivators.

 

However, her physique was quite notable. She was over five feet tall, not much shorter than Song Wen. Perhaps due to her long-term sword practice, her figure was exceptionally well-proportioned and tall, giving off an impression of grace and vigor.

 

The female cultivator’s expression was cold, and she did not greet Song Wen with a smile despite him being the first neighbor to come and be friendly.

 

“I am Ji Ruxue. I just moved in yesterday.”

 

Her tone was indifferent, giving off a sense of distance.

 

Song Wen, seemingly oblivious to the coldness in her tone, continued with a warm expression, “Since we are neighbors from now on, please take care of me, Senior Ji.”

 

Ji Ruxue replied, “If you have no other business, please leave. I still need to practice my sword.”

 

Without waiting for Song Wen’s response, she pulled the door shut.

 

Despite Ji Ruxue’s cold attitude, Song Wen didn’t mind. During their conversation, he had taken the opportunity to observe the condition of the courtyard and house, finding everything intact.

 

Moreover, through the array plate in his storage ring, he could sense that the Qi Condensation Barrier Formation was still functioning normally.

 

This indicated that Ji Ruxue had likely not discovered the presence of the Barrier Formation.

 

Song Wen turned and was about to return to his own courtyard.

 

As he turned, he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that Ai Kun's figure appeared at the corner of the alley, accompanied by a woman in her thirties, lightly made up. They were chatting and laughing together.

 

Song Wen had seen this woman before; she was probably one of Ai Kun’s old acquaintances.

 

Ignoring Ai Kun’s business, Song Wen pushed open his courtyard gate and entered.

 

Not long after sitting down, Ai Kun knocked on the door from outside.

 

Song Wen opened the door, and Ai Kun, in high spirits, entered the courtyard and took a seat on a chair.

 

Ai Kun pointed to the courtyard across and asked in a low voice, “You wouldn’t be interested in that female cultivator, would you?”

 

It was clear that Ai Kun had seen Song Wen talking to Ji Ruxue.

 

Song Wen shook his head and denied, “How could that be?”

 

“Then why did you go over to say hello? I’ve never seen you make an effort to greet other neighbors. I advise you, you’d better not provoke that one across.”

 

“Why? Is there something special about her?” Song Wen asked.

 

Ai Kun whispered, “It is said that she is a discarded disciple of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect. Those who are expelled from a major sect carry too much karma. It is best not to get involved.”

 

Song Wen nodded, acknowledging the warning.

 

Ai Kun spoke with a tone of someone who had been through such matters, earnestly advising Song Wen.

 

“Some women are okay to approach, but some you must avoid at all costs; otherwise, the consequences will be dire.”

 

Seeing Ai Kun’s contemplative expression, Song Wen replied,

 

“Why don’t you take care of yourself? It’s obvious to even a fool that you were flaunting yourself when you just came in. And that woman at the end of the alley, is she another of your old flames?”

 

Ai Kun, looking somewhat lecherous, said, “I dare not say too much. I don’t have any special relationship with her. However, in the past, I took care of her business a few times when she was working at a brothel. Now, it seems she has turned over a new leaf, found a decent spirit herb farmer, and got married.”

 

Song Wen’s face showed a wry smile: It seems that in every world, it’s always the honest ones who end up dealing with things.

 

“So, she’s married now. Why are you still looking so pleased?”

 

Ai Kun raised his eyebrows and his smile turned somewhat lecherous. “The Hehuan Sect’s brothel is about to open soon.”

 

......

 

After Ai Kun left, Song Wen disguised himself and went to Zhao Dapeng’s residence.

 

He had two purposes for this visit:

 

To rent a courtyard. To investigate Zhao Dapeng. As a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who had provoked a Foundation Establishment cultivator like himself, Zhao Dapeng would have to pay the price.

 

Song Wen didn’t plan to deal with Zhao Dapeng within the city. Zhao Dapeng had the Beastmaster Sect backing him. Killing Zhao Dapeng in the city would attract severe scrutiny from the Beastmaster Sect, and then, the tenants of the alley would inevitably become the focus of investigation.

 

There was no need to create trouble for himself!

 

If he wanted to deal with Zhao Dapeng, it would be better to do so outside the city.

 

“Knock, knock, knock!”

 

After knocking a few times on the courtyard door, Song Wen waited quietly outside.

 

After a moment, Zhao Dapeng, looking impatient, opened the door. Seeing Song Wen was a stranger with only the cultivation of the 5th level of Qi Refining, he asked bluntly.

 

“What do you want? Speak quickly.”

 

Seeing Zhao Dapeng’s unpleasant demeanor, Song Wen didn’t bother with pleasantries and said coldly,

 

“Renting a house.”

 

Zhao Dapeng reached into his waist pouch and took out a map, which showed the many courtyards in the entire alley.

 

He handed the map to Song Wen and said,

 

“Take a look. Courtyards without names on the map are unoccupied.”

 

Song Wen glanced at the map and noticed that the courtyard next to Sun Daxiong’s was marked as vacant.

 

After Sun Ru went missing, Sun Daxiong seemed to have lost his will, and it was unclear where he had gone.

 

Pointing to Sun Daxiong’s courtyard, Song Wen said, “Courtyard No. 36, I want this one.”

 

Zhao Dapeng replied, “The rent is ten spirit stones per month and must be paid on time, or you will be evicted.”

 

Song Wen nodded and handed over thirty spirit stones. “I’ll pay for three months in advance.”

 

“What’s your name?” Zhao Dapeng asked.

 

“Guo Tao!”

 

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dapeng infused the map with a bit of spiritual energy.

 

The map immediately changed, showing the name Guo Tao over Courtyard No. 36.

 

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from the courtyard.

 

“Ah... Brother, it hurts so much! It hurts!”

 

The sudden voice immediately drew the attention of both people at the door.

 

Song Wen instinctively looked toward the sound.

 

He saw Zhao Dapeng’s foolish younger brother in the courtyard, gritting his teeth and looking pained.

 

A trace of panic flashed across Zhao Dapeng’s face as he hurriedly pulled the door shut, blocking Song Wen’s view.

 

“Go to Courtyard No. 36 yourself. If you can’t find it, ask someone. Just inquire about the courtyard formerly occupied by Sun Daxiong. I have something urgent, so I won’t accompany you.”

 

With that, Zhao Dapeng didn’t wait for Song Wen’s response and quickly closed the door.

 

(End of the Chapter)

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