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

Looking at the soft, harmless little girl in his arms, who held up her delicate little finger and called out "trash" in a childish voice, Ji Zuodao froze instantly, stiff as a weathered sculpture.

Holy crap!

His mind went blank.

He's corrupted the little girl!

Thinking back carefully, ever since I found Qiqi, I've basically carried this little one with me wherever I go.

And what kind of person is Ji Zuodao? Does he not know it himself?

He opens with "Holy crap!" and closes with "Damn it!", starts with an international friendly gesture, and his nationalistic cultural elements are seriously excessive.

Children are at an age when their curiosity is at its peak and their ability to imitate is at its strongest.

If you follow the example, then...

As the saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black."

But is Ji Zuodao "Zhu"?

He is clearly ink!

It's still that kind of old ink, pitch black, and the characters it writes have a kind of unruly, bandit-like air about them!

If this isn't handled properly, it could turn this innocent and clueless little zombie, Qiqi, into a "second-generation heinous villain"...

Just thinking about that scene sent a chill down Ji Zuodaoguang's spine.

Without exaggeration or bias, he has a very clear and objective understanding of just how much of a bastard he is.

But... but this is the first time Qiqi has imitated him so clearly, with an expectant expression on her face that says, "Brother, am I good at it? Praise me!"

The words of blame rolled around in his throat a few times, but looking into those clear, innocent eyes, he couldn't utter a single word.

In the end, Ji Zuodao could only manage a weak smile, reach out, and stiffly rub Qiqi's fluffy little head, squeezing out a dry compliment through gritted teeth:

"Hmm...you're...you're doing quite well..."

Qiqi immediately became happy, a bright smile blooming on her little face. She proudly raised her little head, like a triumphant little swan.

Ji Zuo said: "..."

hiss--!

My conscience suddenly aches terribly.

It felt like being pricked by a needle, chewed by a dog, or pierced through by Qiqi's little finger.

While Ji Zuodao was silently gasping for breath, clutching his non-existent conscience, the investigators from various branch offices felt even worse.

If they were crushed by that big black dog that could read minds, they could still comfort themselves by saying, "It's normal for cheaters to lose; it's not shameful."

Even though they were crushed by Li Shuwen, a literary cultivator who kept his abilities hidden, they could still grit their teeth and hold on, thinking, "Our majors are relevant, and we have an academic advantage, so it's understandable that we lost."

But now, he's being humiliated and trampled on the ground by a little girl who looks no more than seven or eight years old, speaks slowly, and is sitting in someone else's lap...

After rubbing herself, the little girl turned around and, facing them, made that classic gesture with her chubby little finger, uttering the harshest sarcasm in her softest voice...

Who the hell can keep this up?!

Several female investigators, who were either less mentally strong or naturally sentimental, had their eyes well up with tears and their noses sting. They barely managed to hold back the embarrassing tears from spilling out.

Also normal.

Being run over by a dog is at most a "non-competitive fault".

Being outshone by top students can be considered a sign of "insufficient skill".

But he was completely outmatched on a quiz by a little girl, and even subjected to psychological attacks as a bonus...

Who wouldn't be shaken to their core and question the meaning of life in this situation?

The fact that they didn't burst into tears and run out to find a ride on a highway is a testament to their strong mental fortitude and exceptional resilience.

On stage, Zhang Yucheng and Deputy Director Liu, who had been watching the scene unfold below, were desperately keeping their heads down, their shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

The two of them were so embarrassed by their laughter that their faces turned red and the veins on their foreheads were bulging. They had to keep their lips tightly closed, afraid that they might accidentally burst out laughing.

Zhang Yucheng took several deep breaths before he could barely suppress his surging laughter.

When she looked up, her face had already put on an apologetic expression that said, "My child is being immature, please forgive him." However, the satisfaction that was about to overflow from the depths of her eyes could not be hidden.

He cleared his throat, his voice trembling slightly.

"Oh dear, children say the darndest things! They're just kids, they don't know any better, they're just repeating what they hear... My colleagues are all seniors, all elites, with broad minds, they certainly won't hold a grudge against a little girl, right?"

Deputy Director Liu nodded in agreement and added in a serious tone:

"Yes, the child is still young and just thought it was fun, so he imitated her. He absolutely did not mean to insult anyone! I apologize on behalf of my child!"

He said he was sorry, but his slightly upturned lips and his sparkling eyes showed no sign of apology whatsoever.

It's more like "absolutely awesome"!

These two old foxes felt incredibly clear-headed and comfortable at that moment, with every pore on their bodies radiating a sense of triumph.

A decisive victory in the verbal battle!

That was fucking awesome!

Back then, this step was always handled by the head of another branch office, who would pretend not to know, stroll over, pat Zhang Yucheng on the shoulder, and offer words of comfort tinged with sympathy and superiority.

"Old Zhang, don't be discouraged. Being number one in physical combat is still number one! The intellectual contest isn't important, really!"

"Exactly! Men from Jinghai, all they need is to be able to fight! What's the point of all that academic knowledge?"

"It's all about participation, it's all about participation!"

Now, the tables have turned!

Finally! It was the turn of the Jinghai branch. They straightened their backs, used the most "sincere" expressions, and said the most "humble" words to "comfort" the other branches!

This feeling...

It's like drinking a bucket of ice-cold plum juice on a sweltering summer day—refreshing from head to toe!

Awesome! High! Great!

"The first round of verbal duel ends in victory—the Jinghai Branch!"

Old Zhang's loud voice echoed throughout the venue, bringing an end to this brutal and one-sided crushing defeat.

"Kids, take a break, have some water, and catch your breath. We'll start the second round in fifteen minutes."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the dejected, life-doubting young investigators below the stage. A kind, experienced smile appeared on his face as he slowly added:

"Don't be arrogant in victory, and don't be discouraged in defeat. This is only the first match; there will be plenty of opportunities later. Temporary gains and losses don't matter. Cheer up!"

These words were spoken in a grand and solemn manner, with earnest intent.

But to the investigators who had just been repeatedly tormented by a dog, a top student, and a little girl, it sounded like, "Don't be discouraged, there will be plenty of opportunities to be tormented again."

After Zhang finished speaking, he turned his gaze toward the Jinghai branch, or more precisely, toward Ji Zuodao's direction.

A barely perceptible hint of surprise and amusement flashed in his old eyes.

Jinghai has really made something of himself this year.

They quietly accumulated such a winning hand.

However, what truly made him uneasy was that seemingly harmless, soft and cuddly little zombie.

"This is terrifying..."

With his sharp eyesight, he could see it clearly.

That girl was actually surrounded by a very faint yet incredibly pure dragon aura!

Although faint, it is by no means the national fortune or dragon energy of the present Han Dynasty.

It was not the legacy of an ancient dynasty that had long since vanished, but he would never mistake its unique aura of nobility, elegance, and dominance.

Mr. Zhang was very confident in his judgment.

After all, back when the Ming Dynasty was still in power, he had genuinely "made it" in the imperial court.

He climbed his way up to become the Grand Secretary, and he's very familiar with dragon energy; he'd never misjudge it.

"It's actually a little zombie with royal blood...tsk tsk, that's quite a rare background."

Old Zhang stroked his long, snow-white beard, his thoughts racing for a moment before he felt relieved.

Regardless of whether it's from the previous dynasty or somewhere else, the dragon's aura is now gone.

A sliver of remaining grace clung to a bewildered little zombie, but it couldn't cause any trouble for this imposing giant.

He squinted slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the clouds and reaching towards the higher, more distant sky.

There, in a place unseen by ordinary people, an enormous golden dragon of destiny, almost covering the entire sky, was quietly coiled, its majestic gaze overlooking the mountains and rivers below.

Its enormous size and overwhelming power made the Kunpeng Dharma form appear as small as an insect in comparison.

That is the manifestation of the national destiny of the Han Dynasty, the foundation of the state, and the god that will establish its rule!

Despite weathering storms, it remains prosperous, illustrious, and reassuring.

"OK……"

Old Zhang sighed silently, a trace of emotion and satisfaction that only those who have experienced the vicissitudes of life could understand flashing deep in his eyes.

"Throughout history, dynasties have risen and fallen, but in the end, our Han Dynasty is still the best."

He looked away and glanced at the audience again.

Those brats from Jinghai were huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

The black dog was pawing at the snack bag in Ji Zuodao's hand.

The little zombie sat obediently to the side, sipping sweet water that someone had handed it to him, and occasionally smiling with its eyes crinkling at whatever its brother said.

It's vibrant, lively, and fun.

Good.

Old Zhang's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, but he quickly returned to his usual calm and composed demeanor, closing his eyes to rest and await the start of the next exciting show.