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

Ji Zuodao shook his slightly sore wrist, slammed the whip into the ground, and took a breath.

He didn't care at all whether the Tibetan fox on the ground was Ah Li or not.

Yes, that's even better. We're going to punish you, the one who dares to go against our 749th Bureau. We'll punish you until you learn your lesson.

No, you deserve it. A monster without a license dares to act like a ghost in the house. It wouldn't be unjust to beat you to death.

Do you really think the Department of Demon Management is playing house with you?

Ji Zuodao knew perfectly well that when that bastard surnamed Wei was the section chief, he made a mess of the Demon Management Section. Any demon could come and kick him, which was extremely frustrating.

Today, we'll show these monsters what rules are, what discipline is, and what the iron fist of Bureau 749 is.

"Alright, take a break."

Ji Zuodao tossed the whip aside. "What are you all standing there for? Take turns! Get familiar with the process and practice your skills!"

The monsters nearby were stunned for a moment, then became eager to try.

Especially Xiong Meng, who came up with his palms as big as palm fans.

"Alright, watch this!"

Ji Zuodao was still there giving a live lecture, pointing out the flaws of a retired cadre inspecting work:

"Take note! From now on, when enforcing the law, no matter what, and don't waste time with nonsense, just give them a good beating with a little whip, and you're sure to succeed!"

"That's called a show of force! It knocks down their arrogance, making it easier to ask them anything later!"

"Hey, Xiong Meng, use a finesse with your wrist, don't just use brute force! Make her feel pain, but don't actually kill her. We're enforcing the law in a civilized manner!"

"Yuan Xiaotong, did you skip dinner? Use some force! Yes, aim for the thickest part, avoid the vitals!"

"Ni Yu, don't just watch, come on, give it a try! Consider it getting familiar with the job!"

Good heavens, Ji Zuodao, the head of the Demon Management Section, has started a whipping training course on the spot.

Ahri, who was lying on the ground, could still scream in pain at first, but later, all that was left was muffled groans and twitching.

His clothes were long since tattered rags, mixed with the bloody whip marks, a gruesome sight.

Ke Ji Zuodao didn't even blink.

He even took out a cigarette, lit it, slowly took a puff, and exhaled a smoke ring.

Ahri's consciousness was becoming somewhat blurred.

humiliation.

An indescribable humiliation.

It's hundreds or even thousands of times worse than during previous live streams!

At that time, at least she was separated by a screen, and at least she had that carefully maintained beautiful appearance as armor.

What now?

She was brought back to her original form, her most ugly and real square-faced Tibetan fox appearance, surrounded by a group of compatriots, who took turns whipping her like a punching bag.

The monsters looked at her with no sympathy or pity, only curiosity, eagerness, or, like Ni Yu, cold disdain.

Ji Zuodao was even smoking and giving instructions on the side, as if he was enjoying some interesting performance.

Why...

Why should I?!

She, Ah Li, struggled her way out of the harsh highlands and now treads carefully, proceeding cautiously and prudently in this ruthless human city.

She has never killed anyone, nor has she done anything that would incur divine or public wrath.

She just wanted to live a better life, a more dignified life, and to live like a human being.

What did she do wrong?!

Those fox spirits who are born beautiful, like Su Xiaoxiao next to me, don't have to do anything. Just act cute and charming, and they'll be pampered and protected.

What about her?

Just because he has this square face, he has to toil in the mud, and he has to use every means possible, even resorting to illusionary arts that damage his foundation, in order to gain a little bit of false attention and reward.

She just wanted... just wanted to live a little bit easier!

Why is it so difficult?!

Why should we be treated like this?!

"Snapped!"

Another lash struck her back, which was taut with anger and resentment.

Burning pain.

But this pain is nothing compared to even a fraction of the pain in my heart.

"ah--!!!"

Ahri suddenly raised her head and, with all her might, let out a heart-wrenching, inhuman howl.

The voice was filled with resentment, bitterness, grievance, and despair, piercing the eardrums.

The fox spirit who was wielding the whip was startled, her hand trembled, and the whip fell to the ground.

Even Ji Zuodao, who was smoking, lifted his eyelids and looked over.

"Hit me! Hit me! You might as well kill me!"

Ahri, her voice already hoarse, scanned every monster in the room with her blood-red, squinting eyes, finally fixing her gaze on Ji Zuodao.

Tears mixed with blood and sweat etched several ridiculous furrows into her square face.

"What the hell gives you the right?!"

"What did I do to deserve this?! I just want to live a good life! What did I do wrong?!"

"Do you know how hard it was for me to crawl out of that godforsaken place on the plateau?!"

"Those monsters in the city, those with connections, backing, and good looks, they're born with everything! And me?!"

"I have nothing! Just this shabby face! Just this grayish-brown fur!"

Her voice trembled violently with excitement and pain, tinged with sobs, yet unusually loud, echoing through the dilapidated room.

"If I didn't use some tricks and schemes, I'd have starved and frozen to death in some stinking ditch long ago!"

"I didn't kill anyone! I didn't cheat anyone out of their money! I just... I just wanted to earn more tips! I wanted to rent a nicer place! I wanted to live like a human being!"

"Yes! I used charm! I lied! But in this world, do honest monsters ever have a good ending?! If I didn't use tricks and schemes, I'd have been skinned alive and made into a scarf long ago!"

"I do live streams! I put on fake smiles! I say those sweet nothings that even I want to vomit! Do you know how hard it is for me?!"

"And what about you?! You fucking wear official robes, eat the government's rice, and talk like that without any remorse!"

"Do you know what it's like to find no food in a snow cave in winter?! Do you know what it's like to be called an ugly monster and driven out of your territory by other monsters?!"

Ah Li's voice grew higher and higher, shriller and shriller, carrying a kind of hysterical despair on the verge of collapse.

"All I want is to live a better life! All I want is to avoid going back to that kind of life!"

"What did I do wrong?! Huh?! Tell me, what did I do wrong to deserve this?!"

"Just because... I'm ugly?!"

She practically roared out the last four words, filled with endless grievances and resentment.

For a moment, the only sounds in the room were her heavy, labored breathing and suppressed, uncontrollable sobs.

The monsters who had been whipping the whips so vigorously just moments before looked at each other, their hands starting to tremble.

Even Xiong Meng scratched his head and said to Ji Zuodao in a muffled voice:

"Brother Dao, what she said... seems to make some sense, doesn't it? Winter must be really tough for those little demons..."

Ni Yu's cold face remained expressionless as she silently put down the whip.

Gui Wannian slowly pushed up his glasses without saying a word.

Su Xiaoxiao's eyes were a little red, and she tightened her grip on Ji Zuodao's sleeve, whispering, "Xiaodao, she seems to be really suffering..."

Ji Zuodao remained silent.

He simply stared quietly at the Tibetan fox on the ground, crying its eyes out, covered in wounds, and trembling with excitement and pain.

The smoke had already burned his fingertips.

He slowly threw the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it out with his foot.

Then, in Ahri's bloodshot, desperate yet faintly hopeful eyes, he slowly grinned, revealing his signature white teeth.

Laughed.

He had a rather friendly smile.

"Are you done talking?"

He asked, his tone even somewhat gentle.

Ahri stared blankly at him, sobbing, and nodded.

"Okay, that's all." Ji Zuodao nodded, indicating that he understood.

Then, the smile on his face gradually faded, his eyes turned cold again, and even showed a hint of impatience.

"so what?"

He tilted his head, his tone laced with undisguised sarcasm.

"You're pathetic, but you think you're right?"

"Are you poor? Are you wronged?"

"What the hell do I care which corner you crawled out of?"

"There are plenty of miserable monsters in this city, some even worse off than you. What, are you the only one who's special? The only one who deserves to be forgiven?"

Ji Zuodao stepped forward, squatted down, and looked Ah Li in the eye.

"Trying to play the victim with me?"

"It's no use."

"I've traveled all over the country and seen people ten times worse off than you. Being miserable is no excuse for breaking the law."

Ji Zuodao scoffed, stood up, and looked down at her condescendingly. His tone suddenly turned cold, filled with biting sarcasm:

"And you still say you're not wrong? Of course you're wrong!"

Your mistake was being stupid!

"Use charm? Go ahead and use it! These days, who doesn't have a few tricks up their sleeve? But why the hell do you have to be so blatant about using charm?"

"Everyone else uses it secretly! I always turn off the lights!"

He paced back and forth a couple of steps, then continued:

"If you're really that capable, you could use your charm to scam those Qi cultivators on live-streaming platforms. Even if you swindle them out of everything and shatter their Dao hearts, I, your humble Daoist, would still give you a thumbs up and praise you as awesome!"

"But what about you? You only dare to prey on ordinary people, swindling a few measly coins. Now that you're not skilled enough, you've gone too far and gotten beaten up. Who can you blame?"

"Blame the world for being unfair? Blame others for being lucky?"

Ji Zuodao leaned closer, staring into Ah Li's eyes filled with resentment and bitterness, each word piercing her heart:

"Let me tell you, this world has never been fair! If you don't want to be trampled underfoot, either accept your fate and obediently lie down, or you have to be more ruthless, smarter, and more shameless than others!"

"What a pity, you don't have either. You're not very capable, but you're arrogant, stupid and greedy."

"If you're not unlucky, who is?"

After he finished speaking, he straightened up, patted non-existent dust off his hands, as if he had just commented on an ant.

"Keep practicing. Keep drawing until she realizes what kind of person she really is, or until she runs out of breath."

"Perfect, let's use her as a sacrifice for our Demon Management Department to establish our authority."

"Let all those Tom, Dick, and Harry outside see who really calls the shots in Jinghai."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable coldness.

Xiong Meng and the others exchanged glances and raised their whips again.

And Ahri on the ground, the light in her eyes finally went out little by little, completely.

All that remains is endless emptiness and deathly silence.

Su Xiaoxiao watched from the side, blinked, and whispered to Ji Zuodao, "Xiaodao, it seems like she's having a spasm."

Ji Zuodao snorted: "Even if it's a bit rough, we still have to whip it. This is nothing. If the Demon Management Department wants to stand up for itself, it can't stand firm without being ruthless."

He paused, glanced at Ahri's miserable state, and lazily added:

"Besides, anyone can cry their heart out. In this world, who has an easy life? You can't get away with it by playing the victim. No way."

"Today, I'll teach her what rules and manners are."

"You're not happy? Keep it to yourself!"