The path to immortality through martial arts begins with being forced into marriage!

Cui Yi's direct superior, Jin Hui, has already been chosen, so there's no point in him staying in this small courtyard any longer.

Seeing that the four were still standing there, Song Ziwei simply raised his hand to dismiss them: "Alright, stop loitering around here!"

"These individuals hold important positions; how many files are awaiting investigation within their departments? How many bounties remain unsolved? How many areas require patrol and defense?"

"If everyone were as idle as you, only knowing how to vie for newcomers, how could our Demon Suppression Division share His Majesty's burdens and quell the demonic strife for the common people? Go back to your duties!"

This straightforward dismissal made the three Jin Huis stiffen. Together with Cui Yi, the four of them quickly bowed and left the courtyard one by one.

The courtyard gate closed gently behind him, blocking Song Ziwei's view.

As soon as they left the courtyard, Han Xue and Luo Gang, who had managed to maintain a composed demeanor in front of Song Ziwei, suddenly lost their composure!

Han Xue gritted her teeth, her phoenix eyes practically spitting fire, her full chest heaving slightly.

"Why?! This time, the magistrate is showing far too much favoritism towards Old Xie!"

"In terms of seniority and ability, I, Han Xue, am outstanding in every way!"

Luo Gang was relatively calm, but his lean face was also full of regret.

"The master's arrangement has its own profound meaning, it's just a pity that a good talent is missing."

As he spoke, Luo Gang walked over to Cui Yi, patted him hard on the shoulder, and grinned with a slightly bitter smile: "Kid, putting everything else aside, those words you uttered at the Questioning Heart Pass, those words about establishing a moral compass for heaven and earth, I loved them!"

"Remember, if you're unhappy or frustrated at Lao Xie's place, come find me, Luo Gang, anytime!"

"I can't guarantee anything else, but if you want to come, I'll find a way to get you here, even if it means losing face!"

"Go away! Go cool off somewhere else!"

Xie Yunfeng, who had been silently observing, suddenly moved. He shifted his feet and moved like a ghost between Luo Gang and Cui Yi, forcefully separating the two.

"I will discipline my people."

"As long as he's here with me, you two had better put away those inappropriate thoughts."

"snort!"

Upon hearing this, Han Xue gave a heavy snort and strode away into the distance.

Luo Gang jogged a few steps and followed.

In the blink of an eye, only Xie Yunfeng and Cui Yi remained, and the atmosphere became somewhat quiet.

"Cui Yi, Qingshuifang is your residence, so I will give you my first task."

"Just a few days ago, a farmer's entire family was brutally murdered in Qingshuifang."

"The preliminary investigation by the authorities found very few traces left at the scene, with no signs of a struggle; it's as if it vanished into thin air."

"Just now, after our Demon Suppression Division's steward went to the scene to investigate, it has been confirmed that the person who did this was not an ordinary person, but an evil cultivator."

"Heretical cultivation?"

In an instant, Cui Yi's mind flashed back to those cultivators who would summon their Soul Refining Banner at the drop of a hat, shouting that they could refine it in an instant.

What made Cui Yi most gratified was that the murderer was someone else.

That little guy who was wanted should be fine now.

"Heretical cultivators are a very small group. Their main cultivation method is to refine their qi and blood, rather than to improve their cultivation by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, like ordinary cultivators."

As Xie Yunfeng spoke, the disgust in his eyes was undisguised: "Every advancement in the cultivation level of an evil cultivator means the fall of countless lives."

"The main criterion for judging whether a practice is a heretical cultivation is the attribute of its true qi."

"The true energy of heretical cultivators is mostly blood-colored; the higher the cultivation level, the deeper the color."

"Your mission is to use this as a starting point to secretly investigate Qingshuifang and the surrounding area, search for any possible clues about the evil cultivators, and pinpoint their activity range and even their identities."

"Once a concrete lead or suspicious target is discovered, it must be reported immediately; no unauthorized action is permitted."

Xie Yunfeng didn't hesitate and immediately assigned any tasks to Cui Yi, repeatedly reminding him that his mission was to investigate, not to suppress.

After all, the methods of evil cultivators are bloody and gruesome, and ordinary cultivators simply cannot fight them alone.

Moreover, Cui Yi's cultivation level is relatively low among those with the Silver Badge.

"Yes, sir!"

Having received his mission, Cui Yi slipped away from the Demon Suppression Division.

The so-called patrol and inspection is nothing more than running around aimlessly, hoping to strike it rich.

On his way back, Cui Yi pondered Song Ziwei's words, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips.

Is the strength of the soul constant?

Before the Refining Spirit Technique, the strength of the soul is not constant!

No wonder he felt his cultivation speed had increased so much; it turned out that it was because his spiritual strength had improved!

Before he knew it, Cui Yi had arrived at Qingshuifang.

The streets were somewhat languid in the afternoon, with sunlight filtering through sparse clouds, warming the cobblestones even though the winter temperature was low.

Most of the residents in the neighborhood had finished lunch and were resting, or busy with their own work at their doorsteps.

There were significantly fewer pedestrians on the street than in the morning. Occasionally, a peddler would stroll by slowly carrying his wares, and one had to be careful of children chasing and playing, lest one slip and fall.

Cui Yi did not wear the uniform of the Demon Suppression Division, but changed into a more ordinary dark gray cloth robe, and carefully kept the Demon Suppression Division's deacon token close to his body.

He only wore an ordinary steel longsword at his waist as decoration, making him look like an ordinary martial artist.

He had no clue about the matter of heretical cultivation, so he simply wandered around aimlessly.

If you start by asking around the streets, you're too likely to alert the enemy.

Anyway, his divine sense is quite sharp, so he should be able to detect any fluctuations in true energy immediately.

This slow-paced lifestyle allowed Cui Yi to relax both physically and mentally.

Unbeknownst to him, he had walked from the middle of the neighborhood to near the end of the neighborhood.

Most of the people living here are poor, so the alleys are narrow and winding.

Cui Yi didn't intend to search here any longer. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a small figure huddled in the shadow of a pile of tattered baskets in the corner.

Cui Yi paused, his mind stirred, and his divine sense instantly enveloped the area!

The scent seemed familiar, and Cui Yi subconsciously thought of the little beggar he had met yesterday.

He didn't know many people in Qingshuifang, but the little beggar was one of them.

Only after Cui Yi got closer did they realize that they had indeed guessed correctly.

Right now, the little guy looks worse than he did yesterday.

He was still wearing the same clothes, but there were several new abrasions on his body.

There was also a noticeable bruise on his forehead, and several areas of torn skin and flesh on his bare forearm and knee. Although the wounds did not look very deep, they looked painful.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Mu Yangyan tried to curl up even tighter, but accidentally aggravated his wound, causing him to gasp in pain.