Chapter 71

“What black shadow monster?” Su Jian’s previously relaxed and lazy expression instantly turned serious.

He brought Su Jin out to practice extracting wood essence, not to get himself killed.

If it’s truly dangerous, he should take Su Jin back.

What if something happens and Su Jin gets hurt? Uncle Tang would kill him!

“No one knows for sure whether that black shadow monster even exists. Nor can anyone confirm whether the recent series of massacres were truly caused by some real monster.

But three days ago, this case was already transferred to the Xiancheng Police Inspectorate.

I heard yesterday, the Xiancheng Police Inspectorate already sent people out of the city to investigate. You know how powerful those people are. If that black shadow monster truly exists, they’ll catch it for sure.

Now everyone is watching and guessing when the monster will be caught.

Everyone guesses it won’t take more than seven days.” Su Hanlin, Su Jian’s fat, black-haired friend, chuckled.

The Xiancheng Police Inspectorate’s personnel are all elite disciples from the sect.

Not only are they incredibly swift in action, but their combat and investigative abilities are also formidable.

They’ve solved every major case within Xiancheng.

They’re practically the protectors of Xiancheng’s residents!

“I heard the person leading this investigation for the Police Inspectorate is also from our Su family—and his name is one everyone knows well, especially you, Su Jian.” Another slender, pale young man also smiled.

“What name should I know better?” Su Jian looked at them blankly.

He thought to himself: I don’t recall knowing any big shots in the Police Inspectorate.

Hearing that the Police Inspectorate was finally stepping in to deal with the black shadow monster, Su Jian’s tense heart immediately eased.

No wonder so many people still dared to go outside the city to extract wood essence—someone was finally taking responsibility.

“Ha! Su Jian, do you remember Su Huchen? That big guy you picked up from outside the city years ago?” the fat Su Hanlin asked with a grin.

“Of course I remember! I stumbled upon Su Huchen badly wounded. Since we were from the same clan, I carried him back. Later, he repaid that life-saving favor by helping me with several major favors.

Without him, I never would’ve gotten into the sect as a lowly laborer disciple.” Su Jian sighed: “We used to get along well, helping each other out. But after he joined the sect, he completely cut off contact with me.” Su Jian spoke with regret.

He joined the sect as an outer disciple—how could he compare to a lowly laborer like me?

Besides, Su Huchen entered the sect before me. My entry was thanks to the favor he left behind.

When they learned of my background as Su Huchen’s old friend, they let me in out of respect for him.

Otherwise, I might’ve had to take the entrance exam for years!

Don’t think becoming a sect laborer disciple is as easy as buying cabbage at market!

My promotion from laborer disciple to outer disciple was a gauntlet of trials!

“The person leading this investigation is named Su Huchen. I heard he originally came from our Xiancheng. He was severely wounded outside, damaged his foundation, and returned to heal. That’s why he was reassigned to our Xiancheng Police Inspectorate.” Su Hanlin said.

“Even severely wounded, he still comes back to work for the sect? Wow, our sect really knows how to exploit people. They’re literally working him to death.” Su Jian said blankly.

“I heard Su Huchen is extremely powerful—even wounded, barely alive, he still handles cases in Xiancheng, hunts down demonic spies, and deals with monsters outside the city with ease.” The pale, slender young man Su Yu said.

Someone truly too injured to get out of bed wouldn’t be reassigned to the Police Inspectorate, would they?

“That’s too impressive,” Su Jian couldn’t help exclaiming.

“Isn’t it?” Su Hanlin, the fat man, grimaced. “If it’s really that big guy from back then, he’s only in his twenties, right?”

“No, he’s my age. Thirty-five.” Su Jian couldn’t help saying.

The childhood friend buried deep in his memory had become so powerful—Su Jian felt a strange, fleeting sense of time slipping away.

“But it might not be your old friend Big Tiger.” The pale, slender young man Su Yu said.

He didn’t want Su Jian to be disappointed.

But what if it wasn’t the same person after all?

“It doesn’t matter. If it really is Big Tiger, I’m happy for him—he’s gotten stronger than ever. If not, we’ll just reminisce about our childhood friend.” Su Jian laughed heartily.

Hearing her brother’s laughter, Su Jin tucked the Blood-Crimson Spider back deeper into her sleeve.

This morning, when Su Jin announced she was leaving the city, the Blood-Crimson Spider immediately insisted on coming along.

Fine, come if you want.

Su Jin assumed the Blood-Crimson Spider just wanted an outing.

After all, she and Su Jin had never been outside the city before.

But Su Jin didn’t want her brother’s friends to know about the Blood-Crimson Spider’s existence.

So she’d concealed it all along—even her brother didn’t know she’d brought it out.

The Blood-Crimson Spider was shoved back into the sleeve, and now it grew quiet.

But as the ground-hugging carriage, flying half a foot above the earth, moved farther from the majestic Xiancheng, the surrounding hills grew thick with trees.

The Blood-Crimson Spider stirred again.

Something outside seemed to be drawing it.

If Su Jin hadn’t constantly forbidden it from leaving, the little thing would’ve already jumped out and run away.

Su Jin had seen how her younger sister Su Shen vanished during last year’s Lantern Festival—gone without a trace, nearly giving their father Su Yan a heart attack.

Only because she knew her sister’s aura so well did she lead her trembling father through winding alleys until they found Su Shen, who’d been mooching off some little boy’s snacks and didn’t want to go home. She clung to the boy’s robe, begging to follow him. Only when their mother caught up and smacked Su Shen’s bottom did they finally drag her back.

When they found Su Shen, she’d eaten so much she didn’t want to leave. She grabbed the little boy’s robe and tried to follow him home. Their mother had to chase after her, smack her bottom, and carry her back.

Su Jin always thought her father Su Yan had too much emotion—he didn’t seem like a cultivator at all.

So yesterday, she’d made her decision: the Blood-Crimson Spider could come out to play, but she must never let it wander far—even at the forest field, she’d warn it to stay only within a hundred zhang around her. Wherever she went, it had to follow!

The Blood-Crimson Spider didn’t know its ancestor had no intention of letting it roam free.

It still looked forward to its wonderful mountain outing.