A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

Clutching his arms full of "offerings," he finally managed to escape the enthusiastic crowd and slip into the stairwell, where he bumped into Liu Ming, who was also leisurely carrying a bag of soy milk.

"Brother Liu!"

Ji Zuodao grabbed him, lowered his voice, and said, full of confusion.

"What's going on? Why are they suddenly being so enthusiastic towards me?"

Liu Ming was pulled so hard that he almost spat out his soy milk, but managed to swallow it down with great difficulty.

Seeing Ji Zuodao's "as if facing a formidable enemy" expression, I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Brother Ji, my dear Brother Ji!"

Liu Ming put his arm around his shoulder, grinning from ear to ear.

"You don't know yet? You've done a great service this time, saving our brothers from dire straits!"

"Me? To perform meritorious service?"

Ji Zuodao was even more confused.

"What merit did I achieve? I only disciplined a few disobedient monks!"

"Oh my, my living Yama, you're too modest!"

"You think about it, this time of year in previous years, near the end of the year, is the busiest, most chaotic, and most inhumanly difficult time for us in 749!"

"Why? Which sect, aristocratic family, or independent cultivator doesn't want to take advantage of the last bit of time before the New Year to boost their performance, make a fortune, and have a prosperous New Year?"

"Fighting, petty theft, turf wars, tax evasion... they've all come out in droves!"

"The brothers are constantly on their feet, putting out fires on one side and then another explosion on the other, like a fire brigade, so busy they don't even have time for a hot meal! When they get home, their wives and children don't even recognize them!"

"But what about this year?"

As Liu Ming spoke, his eyes lit up, and he pointed outside.

"Thanks to you, sir! Your fame has spread far and wide! In the entire Jinghai cultivation circle, who doesn't know your name, the Living Yama? Who doesn't know that when you deal with someone, you leave them nothing but their underwear?"

"Wow, the effect is immediate!"

"Not just your own Moonsea District, but also the neighboring districts—those usually troublesome scoundrels are all more docile than the last this year! They're more well-behaved than brides getting married!"

"Fight? I wouldn't dare, I'm afraid it would escalate and attract your attention."

"Stealth? I wouldn't dare. If I were caught by your discerning eye, which keeps a detailed record, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing a little money; it would mean going bankrupt and having to scavenge for rotten leaves at the market!"

"Even the 'Sect Tribute' that was usually the hardest to obtain was surprisingly easy this year!"

"Those sect leaders are incredibly polite to our investigators now, holding their account books up high and paying their taxes incredibly quickly, afraid that if they're even a step slow, they'll seem insincere and get on your bad side!"

Liu Ming became more and more excited as he spoke, and his spittle almost sprayed onto Ji Zuodao's face.

"You tell me, shouldn't the brothers thank you for this? It's because of you that we can leave work on time this year! It's because of you that we exceeded our KPIs! It's because of you that we have a chance to get a big bonus and have a peaceful New Year!"

"Let's not talk about them. My dad... cough, Deputy Director Liu, he's been humming a little tune while walking around these past few days, he seems to like everyone, and he's been much nicer to us than ever before!"

"Tell me, aren't you our company's greatest benefactor? Our savior?"

Ji Zuodao listened, opened his mouth, closed it again, opened it again, and remained silent for a long time.

He looked down at the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), soy milk, and melon seeds he was holding in his arms...

He looked up again at the stairwell and saw his colleagues, who were occasionally pretending to pass by and casting grateful and kind glances at him...

Then think about the bizarre scene Liu Ming described: everyone was busy like dogs at this time of year in previous years, but this year everyone was lying down...

He blinked.

It seems... that makes sense?

So his fearsome reputation as a living devil not only scared away bad guys, but also conveniently provided benefits for all his colleagues, giving them a holiday?

"So they're so enthusiastic because I've given them free time?"

"Bingo!"

Liu Ming snapped his fingers and patted him on the shoulder with a grin.

"You understand perfectly! And it's the kind of leisure that's incredibly pleasant and something to be grateful for!"

"Brother Ji, say no more!"

Liu Ming snatched a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) from his arms, took a big bite, and mumbled something indistinctly.

"Hot pot tonight, it's on me! It has to be on me! You're our bureau's... well, peace ambassador! Mascot! Pshaw, I mean, the pillar of stability!"

Ji Zuodao stood in the stairwell, holding the remaining offerings, watching Liu Ming stroll away, the faint sounds of his colleagues chatting and laughing outside still echoing in his ears.

He slowly lowered his head and looked at the thing in his hand again.

Although the path to making money has been a bit bumpy.

But his popularity...

How come it seems like a blessing in disguise, things have inexplicably gotten better?

"Tsk," he shook his head, took a bite of his roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), and mumbled indistinctly, "What kind of mess is this..."

But the matter wasn't over yet. A few days later, another little tail appeared behind Ji Zuodao.

That's right, Qiqi, who had only been in school for a little over a week and hadn't even warmed up her textbooks yet, was given a month-long winter vacation and immediately joined the "street hustler luxury package".

Now, the 749 Bureau mascot trio has officially debuted!

Ji Zuodao swaggered ahead with his hands in his pockets, while Qiqi tugged at his clothes and followed behind with her big, innocent eyes. Dogye was dragging along at the very back.

It's like a mother hen taking her chicks to the market.

Ji Zuodao realized that he no longer had to worry about Qiqi's food.

Now he only needs to hold Qiqi's hand and slowly stroll from the first floor to the top floor of the 749 Bureau building, and then stroll back down from the top floor.

Just one lap, really, just one lap.

His hands, his arms, and even the little backpack that Qiqi carries can be stuffed full of all kinds of "loving feedings", directly achieving snack freedom.

Their enthusiasm, their sincerity, and their uncompromising attitude left Ji Zuodao no chance to even utter a polite refusal.

If he hesitates for even half a second, the other person will immediately put on a tearful face that says, "Are you looking down on me?" or "Not answering will break my heart."

This is not finished.

When he led Qiqi, followed by Dog Master whose belly was almost dragging on the ground, on his routine patrol of the Moon Sea District—which was actually just a casual stroll—it was a different story.

That scene would be even more spectacular.

From one end of the street to the other, you'll find every shop that's open for business.

Whether it's selling spiritual herbs and elixirs, repairing magical artifacts, or setting up a breakfast stall selling soy milk and fried dough sticks, the owners treat it like welcoming the God of Wealth.

"Master Ji! You've arrived! Quick, here are some freshly fried dough sticks, still piping hot, let your sister have a taste!"

"Yan... cough, Investigator Ji, you've worked hard on the patrol! Here are some dried spiritual fruits I made myself, just a little something to snack on!"

"Little Qiqi, look at this windmill, do you like it? It's yours!"

"Dog Master! Dog Master, would you like some? The braised spirit beast trotters are so flavorful!"

After a round of "inspection," Ji Zuodao's storage bags were stuffed so full that they almost couldn't be closed.

His uniform pockets were particularly badly damaged, stuffed with all sorts of snacks, toys, and even spirit stones that someone had stuffed into them, making them jingle as he walked.

Ji Zuodao held Qiqi's hand, whose face was covered in smears from eating candied hawthorns, with one hand, and supported his waist, which was about to collapse from the offerings, with the other. His expression was extremely complicated.

Three parts helplessness, three parts innocence, and the remaining four parts are all Versailles.

"Tsk, look at the mess this has made..."

He pushed away the hand of the magic item shop owner who was trying to stuff spirit stones into his other pocket, and sighed as he looked at Qi Qi, who was also stuffed with a cloth tiger and looked completely bewildered.

"Qiqi, do you see that? This is what it means to be caught up in the ways of the world, this is what it means to be powerless to control one's own destiny."

"I really didn't mean to ask for anything, I was just put on the hot seat by the enthusiasm of the crowd!"

"This is forcing me to make a mistake, testing my party principles... Oh, I don't have that thing, then it's fine."

Dog was standing to the side, slowly licking his shiny paws. Hearing this, he lifted his eyelids and let out a burp that smelled of meat.

His eyes were filled with "Look how cocky you are" and "You'll eat your fill."

And so, Ji Zuodao, along with his mascot tour group, began his daily routine of slacking off between Bureau 749 and Moon Sea District.

They lived a life of luxury and decadence.