[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h":3,"chapter-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-127":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Devouring Evil, Exterminating Demons Across All Heavens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2267072,4426,"Chapter 127: The Business That Begins in Earnest","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-127",127,"\u003Cp>At dawn, the light snow gradually ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pale streak of white appeared on the horizon, and soon after, a golden glow lit up, staining half the sky red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crimson clouds, half a blazing red sun floated at the edge of the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temperature remained just as cold, the snow still thick, but the shift in the sky’s hue made it feel far more bearable than night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu gazed out the window at the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The road was lined with vehicles, all moving slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along one side of the road stretched vast stretches of factories, their iron gates piled with snow, windows tightly shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side lay vast, flat expanses of snow, whether originally farmland or not, now buried beneath white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of power line towers stood within the snow, wires stretching overhead to connect to distant poles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early as it was, many power workers had already climbed the towers, wielding hammers and wooden poles to clear frozen ice and snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, the car turned onto a cement road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the earlier highway, the power poles beside this road were noticeably shorter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some old poles, seemingly abandoned, exposed their steel rebar inside, yet had not been removed, still leaning beside newer poles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both old and new wires were strung atop the poles, stretching into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many young people in blue-and-white school uniforms, wearing gloves, held wooden sticks to clear ice here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu noticed, on the left chest of their uniforms, two bold ink-stroke characters: “Golden Knife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the characters, red-thread-embroidered fire clouds added a splash of color against the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our martial arts school students have been taking turns outside clearing ice and snow, with a few temporary electricians giving basic guidance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Lianyong, gripping the steering wheel, smiled as he spotted the students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone here trains martial arts—strong bodies, no burden of heavy academic work like those purely scholarly schools, so they’ve got time to help out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Little White hadn’t been kidnapped and we didn’t have to chase after him, we’d probably be out clearing ice this morning too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu nodded. “The weather’s fine this morning, but my phone says more sleet is coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Lianyong pointed ahead. “We’re almost at the school.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car turned from the cement road onto a wide asphalt road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the asphalt stood a towering stone archway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four gilded characters “Golden Knife Martial Arts School” were carved into the arch’s lintel; on either side stretched long walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Lianyong leaned out and greeted the gatekeeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sliding iron gates opened, and several cars drove in one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow inside the campus had been shoveled aside and piled onto the grassy edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lush trees on both sides, though weighed down by snow, still showed their deep green hues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking ahead, a large stone-paved square came into view; the fountain pool in the center was frozen, and several buildings bore massive engraved characters on their sides, their purposes immediately clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teaching Building, Library, Cafeteria, Lab Building, Indoor Sports Hall…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further off, other buildings bore no visible names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since this is a martial arts school, the largest open area is naturally the outdoor training ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Lianyong explained, “The training ground is divided into several zones for different grade levels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Compared to ordinary schools’ playgrounds, ours has more sand pits, plum-blossom stakes, weapon racks, dummies, and straw bundles…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! It’s breakfast time—let’s head to the cafeteria.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled. “Perfect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the cars pulled up outside the cafeteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting out, Chu Tianshu glanced around and saw the principal and others had also exited, leaving only the captives inside the vehicles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the large cafeteria, tables and chairs were neatly arranged, but few people were present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thin, pale-haired man with light eyebrows, wrapped in a black fur coat, was pouring hot water from a thermos into his large teacup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him stood a woman in her thirties, short-haired, with a straight nose and full lips, dressed in casual pants and a top, wearing sports shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, with today’s industrial pollution, your melted snow water is worse than tap water.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired man remained unmoved. “Even scientifically, snow water contains less heavy water and more active components—it’s beneficial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, I’ve trained for fifty years—do you think I’d get diarrhea from snow water? Even if you slipped arsenic in, you won’t stop my habit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman clucked. “I just hate how you waste good tea leaves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua walked in and laughed heartily. “Old Yuan, Little Yuan, still at it with the tea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out two cans of cola. “Here, drink cola!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Yuan sighed. “My tea’s almost ready—I won’t drink this sweet nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Lianyong introduced from behind: “This is our vice-principal, Yuan Chongxiao; the young one is Teacher Yuan Zhonglu, who teaches Chinese.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu whispered, “Pi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan, Zhong, Lü.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Teacher Yuan smiled and stepped forward to shake hands. “The ‘Zhong’ and ‘Lü’ from the ‘Zhong-Lü Transmission of the Dao’—you must be Mr. Chu, the one Teacher Qi mentioned on the phone. Pleased to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chu Tianshu shook her hand, he sensed her body’s hidden resilience, her strength like a slender, taut bowstring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t tell if she practiced internal energy, but in strength cultivation, she was clearly an expert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She too sensed something, praising: “Your heartbeat echoes like the lingering tone of a bronze bell—Mr. Chu, your physique is remarkably clear and refined!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you eaten yet? Join us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu didn’t refuse. “What’s on offer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Morning options are simple: soy milk, fried dough sticks, buns, tea eggs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Teacher Yuan paused. “And ginger-cooked cola.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Chongxiao said, “The principal took half a crate of cola last night and ran off—I figured he’d need more on the road, so I asked the cafeteria to prepare extra.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Turns out he arrived too late—the matter was already settled, no need for him to act. Saved a lot of cola.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu found this odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded as if Principal Feng needed to drink more cola the more he fought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Lianyong chuckled softly. “Just one of the principal’s quirks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short-haired girl and others seemed utterly unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Mei, who had been sleeping soundly in the short-haired woman’s arms, suddenly woke, meowed at Chu Tianshu, and leapt to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Chongxiao exclaimed in surprise. “Since Old Yang passed, Little White only became slightly more affectionate when he wanted snacks—why is he so eager with Mr. Chu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Teacher Yuan stepped back beside her father and whispered, “Wasn’t Uncle Yang the top strength cultivator in the school?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Chongxiao shook his head. “We’ve had other strength experts visit—maybe it’s just a matter of affinity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu gently lifted his foot, nudging the cat aside; it returned three times before he snapped his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let’s go get something to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked toward the cafeteria counter, Bai Mei trotting after him, alert and eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not knowing what the cat liked, Chu Tianshu ordered several tea eggs and fried dough sticks, and, out of curiosity, two portions of ginger-cooked cola.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After placing the tray on the table, he took a sip of the ginger-cooked cola.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nothing but ginger-sweetened water—no surprise at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bit into a tea egg and decided not to offer any opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was a school cafeteria—even the famed Golden Knife Martial Arts School only ensured nutritional value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for taste, the tea egg was merely salty and drenched in overly thick soy sauce—nothing else penetrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps his taste buds were just too sensitive, too picky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Feng had already mentioned “Li Guangzong,” “interrogation,” and “Ghost Market” to the vice-principal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Chongxiao looked regretful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, I’ll take him. The others, send them to the Special Captors’ juniors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Chongxiao picked up his large teacup and left the cafeteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Lianyong and the others were busy ordering and eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Feng walked over to Chu Tianshu and scratched Bai Mei under the chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Mei closed its eyes in delight, forgetting its fried dough stick, and without realizing it, was lifted into Feng’s arms and placed across the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taste’s pretty ordinary, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Feng smiled. “Everyone here burns a lot of energy—they eat and feel satisfied. But I find it bland; I rarely eat cafeteria food.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t like it, come to my office—I’ll get you something better?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu, halfway through peeling his tea egg, said, “I already ordered—wasting food isn’t good. I’ll just eat this for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Feng nodded lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, then—eating while talking is an old tradition. Let’s get to the business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua lifted another steaming bowl of ginger-sweet tea, took a sip, and spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lately, strange events have been frequent—several department heads have been sent to branch campuses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fewer people here can make decisions. I get sleepy when it gets cold, so let’s talk early—what exactly is this business you want to discuss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just blurted it out like that? Not a hint of a merchant’s tact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu, however, was perfectly at ease. “I’ve hit a barrier in my cultivation—I need a master steeped in lethal qi to speak the word ‘kill’ aloud while I train, to help purge my distractions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Feng’s eyes flickered with surprise: “From what you’re saying, did you encounter a bodily calamity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Virtue not matching one’s position inevitably brings disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the body cannot match the progress of one’s mind, it is called a ‘bodily calamity.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the mind cannot match the advancement of one’s martial art, it is called a ‘mental calamity.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a native martial arts term, with broad applicability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu said: “In my martial art, this is called the Mortal Body Barrier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Fomen term?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Feng pondered briefly, then nodded. “Indeed, that’s quite apt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your business, as you describe it, only requires someone to chant the word ‘kill’ for you—but the requirements are far from low.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled: “I think your previous killing intent was more than sufficient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his mobile banking app, pulled up his account balance, and placed the screen on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take a look—how long could these funds hire you to help me with this business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Feng glanced at it and chuckled: “Hmm, your wealth isn’t bad—but for me to chant the word ‘kill’ for you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man sipped ginger-sugar water, thinking for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here’s another option—I have another method. Come with me and see if it meets your standard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1755,"2026-06-19T20:45:51.976Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8f1a8cbf8b52a981acde72b9812707d13f0643270a5bdff36cac8a805ec0f641","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-128","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-126",155,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdevouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-cover.jpg"]