A Truthful Report

"Long time no see. I've brought food." Lu Yang spoke with a genial manner honed entirely from his time at the barbecue shop. After more than a month of practice, Lu Yang's fake smile had reached a degree where it could pass for genuine. Even Meng Jingzhou had praised him, saying Lu Yang's smile looked every bit as real as his own. Chi Xulong, whose lips were still puckered, snapped his head around at the sound of Lu Yang's voice, fierce hostility blazing in his eyes. If this kid hadn't called the constables over for a meal, would he have ended up in this wretched state? "Why are you here?" Chi Xulong snapped in an unfriendly tone. From the very moment they met, this kid had impersonated an examiner to swindle him. Two days ago during their meal, he had dug another pit for him. The brat was brimming with nothing but malice and dirty tricks. Now he was hypocritically bringing food—he definitely had no good intentions! Compared to a ruthless executioner like himself who had slain countless people, Chi Xulong felt Lu Yang was far more of a scoundrel! Lu Yang had no intention of playing tricks on Chi Xulong in prison. They would need to cooperate in the future, so there was no need to make their relationship so strained. Besides, this was also the Branch Master's wish. It was only that Lu Yang's hearing was poor, mistaking Chi Xulong's words for asking whether he had become a deacon. "What? How did you know I was promoted to deacon? But don't be too excited. As long as you perform well, you can become a deacon too." Who would have thought Chi Xulong was so well-informed in prison? Having said that, Lu Yang pulled out his waist token to show off. The two characters for "Deacon" were exceptionally eye-catching. Chi Xulong's rage flared to the heavens. "The heavens must be blind!" Lu Yang offered comforting words again: "Don't be angry. The leader also told me to pass a message to you." Hearing that it was a message from Branch Master Chu, Chi Xulong calmed down somewhat, thinking that the Branch Master still held him in high regard after all, having specifically sent someone with a message. "What did his esteemed self say?" "He said you had better build rapport with me." Chi Xulong flew into a towering rage. The Branch Master truly favored this kid! "I'd rather die than get on good terms with you!" Seeing that Chi Xulong actually refused to heed the leader's words, Lu Yang sighed, left some food behind, and walked away. Catching the savory aroma of the food, the other criminals drooled. One could never eat such delicious fare in prison. Toward the others, Lu Yang's attitude was very pleasant. He encouraged them to reform themselves properly in prison and strive to turn over a new leaf after getting out to benefit the Central Continent, his words brimming with care and concern from start to finish. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were going to be locked up for eight to ten years. After leaving the prison, Lu Yang truthfully reported the situation to Branch Master Chu: "I took food to the prison to visit Chi Xulong and told him there had been some misunderstandings between us, that we're all fellow travelers on the same path and bound to deal with each other often in the future, and that building a good relationship would make future work easier. I placed special emphasis on the fact that this was your intention, Branch Master, and said that as long as he performed well, he could become a deacon just like me. "Who would have thought Chi Xulong would fly into a rage, hurling curses and saying that a certain someone was blind to make me a deacon, and that even if he died, he would never get on good terms with me. I don't recall his exact words, but that was roughly the gist of it." Branch Master Chu's gaze instantly turned chilling. "Who did he say was blind?!" Lu Yang hurriedly bowed, then raised his head to look cautiously at Branch Master Chu, replying with utmost trepidation, "That person's status is far too high. To say it would be utter disrespect. I dare not speak it." Branch Master Chu already had his answer. "Enough, I understand. You may go back." Lu Yang sighed, thinking to himself that Chi Xulong truly had no filter on his mouth, daring to blurt out just about anything. "I also ask that the Branch Master not mention that I was the one who said this. Perhaps my memory got mixed up; nothing is certain." Branch Master Chu waved his hand impatiently. Of course he knew how to handle such matters. After Lu Yang left, Branch Master Chu tapped his jade chair and gave a cold snort. "What a Chi Xulong! How dare he claim I was blind!" ... During the day, everything went on as usual. Meng Jingzhou went out strolling the streets, Man Gu exercised his body in the backyard, the chang ghost server threaded skewers, and Lu Yang did the laundry. Lu Yang's clothes were ordinary mortal garments, incapable of remaining spotless. "Curse it, why can't I learn the Clothes-Cleansing Incantation?" Lu Yang grumbled as he scrubbed his clothes vigorously. Out of the three of them, he was the only one who had to wash laundry. "Once I have money, I'm definitely buying clothes that don't need washing." A while ago, he had sought Meng Jingzhou to learn the Clothes-Cleansing Incantation. Meng Jingzhou didn't know it himself, but he had a book titled *Minor Spells for Daily Life*, secretly slipped to him by his younger sister before he left home. Recorded in that book was the spell known as the Clothes-Cleansing Incantation. The Clothes-Cleansing Incantation, just as the name implied, was an incantation that could turn clothes clean—simple and easy to learn. The three of them had gathered together to study it. Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu learned it first. As a wave of refreshing spiritual energy descended from above, their previously filthy clothes instantly turned snow-white, looking just like new. Both Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu were delighted. Working at the barbecue shop easily soiled their garments, which was a huge hassle. Given Meng Jingzhou's wealth, he naturally possessed clothes that had been specially refined—a dharma artifact that required no washing and automatically stayed clean. However, the quality of that attire was too high; one look and anyone would know he came from a formidable background, which was hardly conducive to undercover work in a demonic cult. Lu Yang's talent in spells was obvious to all. He learned it as well, only the result was rather unexpected. After he cast the Clothes-Cleansing Incantation, space warped for a moment, and a brand-new set of clothes appeared out of thin air. Back then, Lu Yang had remained silent for a long time, wanting to curse someone but not knowing where to begin. In terms of order, this was the first spatial spell Lu Yang had mastered, possessing immense significance. In terms of innovation, this was an innovation on the Clothes-Cleansing Incantation, equivalent to creating a whole new spatial spell. In terms of logic, there was no logic whatsoever. Looking at the label on the collar that read "For So-and-so," Lu Yang knew that these clothes were most likely finished garments from a tailor shop. Before the person who custom-ordered them could pick them up, Lu Yang had summoned them across space with his spell. "Why does the Clothes-Cleansing Incantation I cast summon a new set of clothes directly?! What kind of effect will happen if I cast the Body-Cleansing Incantation?!" Lu Yang fumed, feeling that heaven had decided he was far too talented and was deliberately placing constraints on his spellcasting gift. Naturally, such clothes couldn't be worn—they belonged to someone else. Yet Lu Yang had no idea who the owner was, so he couldn't return them even if he wanted to. Meng Jingzhou had also warm-heartedly offered to cast the real Clothes-Cleansing Incantation to help wash Lu Yang's clothes. After some trial, it ended in failure. The Clothes-Cleansing Incantation could only cleanse the clothes on one's own body. Lu Yang couldn't very well strip off his clothes for Meng Jingzhou to wear just to get them washed, only for Meng Jingzhou to take them off and hand them back once they were clean. With no other choice, he had to wash his clothes by hand honestly. After washing the clothes, Lu Yang wanted to hang them outside the window to dry. With a slip of his hand, the drying pole slid downward, seemingly about to strike a pedestrian right on the head. "Watch out!" Unexpectedly, the pedestrian was exceptionally agile, casually stepping aside to dodge the drying pole. Lu Yang hurried downstairs and discovered that the pedestrian was a new acquaintance—Lan Ting, the disciple of the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace who had helped him fight the tiger on Mount Song. Over a month had already passed; why was she still here? Lu Yang was puzzled. Lan Ting looked down at the drying pole lying on the ground, keeping silent. Her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were contemplating a deep question. Curious, Lu Yang asked, "What are you thinking about?" Lan Ting blurted out, "I was wondering why this drying pole fell toward the ground instead of falling into the sky. Is it possible that some invisible force is tugging at all things in the world?" Lu Yang: "..."