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

Ahri did indeed feel for a moment just now that life was meaningless and her heart was dead.

But those bastards really went all out when they wielded the whips!

The whips lashed her flesh, like red-hot wire branding her skin, making her feel as if her soul was about to leap out of her throat.

That sense of despair, the feeling of "nothing is more tragic than a broken heart," was completely dispelled by this excruciating pain.

These bastards weren't trying to scare her.

They really wanted to beat her to death right there!

This realization was like a bucket of ice water mixed with chili powder, poured over her already numb "what's the use of giving up" attitude, making her hair stand on end and screaming at every whip mark.

Do not!

I don't want to die!

I can't die!

I finally managed to crawl out of that godforsaken plateau, settled down in this Jinghai city, lived in an apartment, became a livestreamer, and saved some money...

I haven't enjoyed any happiness yet! I haven't lived enough!

Damn it! Think! Think now!

How can they survive? What do they want? What they want most is...

correct!

Ahri's narrowed eyes, which had been unfocused by pain and fear, suddenly flashed with an almost insane light.

Suddenly, she strained her already hoarse and cracked voice, and with all her might, she let out a piercing scream:

"I have dirt on the Monster Protection Association! I know all the dirty things they've done!!!"

"Snapped!"

The whip stopped.

The final, sharp crack of the whip echoed clearly in the suddenly quiet room.

Ah Li collapsed to the ground, like a fish out of water, gasping for breath. Each breath aggravated the numerous whip marks on her body, causing her to convulse in pain.

Blood and sweat mingled together, soaking a small patch of the floor beneath her.

Ji Zuodao strolled over slowly, squatted down, and looked with great interest at her square face, which was distorted by pain and excitement.

Then, he grinned, revealing a set of white teeth that were incredibly glaring to Ahri.

"That's fantastic."

His tone was light and cheerful, even carrying a hint of praise that the student was "teachable."

"You finally said something sensible... no, you spoke some demonic language. Instead of continuing to wail and complain about God's injustice."

Ahri turned her head with difficulty, spat out a mouthful of saliva tinged with blood, and tried to sit up.

But her injuries prevented her from succeeding after several attempts. She could only lie half-prone, looking up at Ji Zuodao, her voice hoarse:

"Why...why didn't you just ask?"

"Ask?" Ji Zuodao tilted his head, seemingly thinking for a moment, before a wicked smile, full of amusement and scrutiny, bloomed on his face.

"It's so pointless to just ask directly."

"Compared to those messy scandals, I'd rather see if you'll remain stupid to the end, stubborn to the end, and be turned into a pile of mud, or if you'll finally have a moment of clarity and find a way to survive."

He reached out and gently tapped Ahri's blood-stained cheek with the whip handle, a gentle gesture that carried a strong sense of humiliation.

"Looking back now, you're not entirely hopeless. Although you were a bit late to the game, and almost ruined yourself with it."

"Alright, enough with the nonsense."

Ji Zuodao stood up, looking down at her with disdain. The smile on his face faded, and he reverted to his usual businesslike indifference.

"Come on, tell me. What's this 'dirt' on the Yokai Protection Association you're talking about?"

Ah Li took a deep breath, ignoring the pain in her body, and spilled out everything she knew like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

The so-called Monster Protection Association, on the surface, is supposed to protect the rights of monsters, but in reality, it's a cancerous tumor that plays both good and bad cops.

A gang specializing in bullying and exploiting weak monsters with no background or connections in various parts of Jinghai, seizing territory, and collecting "peace fees" using any means necessary.

Another group appeared in time under the banner of the association, pretending to "uphold justice" and help the bullied monsters. In reality, they were trying to win people's hearts and minds, recruiting those monsters who were afraid of being bullied into the association, making them grateful and loyal to the association.

With this combination of "slapping and sweetening," coupled with the fact that the Demon Management Section had been indifferent and even somewhat indulgent in the past few years, the power of the Demon Protection Association swelled up like an inflating balloon.

Now, any monster that wants to make a living in Jinghai, whether it's seeking refuge with relatives or friends or working to earn money, the first thing it does is register with the Monster Management Department.

Instead, one must first pay a visit to the Monster Protection Association, paying a hefty membership fee and monthly allowance, euphemistically called a mutual aid fund.

To put it bluntly, it's protection money.

Ji Zuodao listened, stroking his chin, his face expressionless, only occasionally clicking his tongue and nodding, as if listening to some interesting gossip.

After Ahri had finished speaking, he thoughtfully began to speak:

"I knew it..."

"I think I overheard those two mascots muttering something about having to pay some kind of membership fee every month. I thought those two idiots were just bored and had joined some pet club or weight loss class."

He paused, his tone suddenly turning somewhat displeased:

"So, they went to pay protection money to this damn monster protection association?"

"Damn it, doesn't this mean that while we in the Demon Management Department are working hard to find jobs, arrange accommodations, and maintain order for the demons, your crappy association is just sitting back and reaping the benefits?"

"So, after all this time, our 749th Bureau's Demon Management Division is just working for the Demon Protection Association for free?"

Ahri lay on the ground, not daring to respond.

Ji Zuodao glanced at her and suddenly asked:

"How do you know all this so clearly?"

Upon hearing this, Ah Li managed to force a smile—a mixture of mockery and smugness—on his scarred, square face, though it looked worse than crying.

"A male creature, after all..."

Her voice was hoarse, and her tone carried a hint of the "vicissitudes" of someone who had been through it all.

"Whether they are human or demon, as long as you give them a little something sweet, stroke their hair, and pour a few mouthfuls of bewitching soup, the little things in their minds will be poured out like beans from a bamboo tube, completely cleaned up."

"I've been a livestreaming host for so many years, and I didn't learn these 'Eighteen Techniques for Chasing Men' and 'Thirty-Six Strategies for Winning Hearts' for nothing."

She had barely finished speaking—

"Whoosh!"

Behind Ji Zuodao, the fifty fox spirits that had been standing or sitting and seemed lazy suddenly had their ears perk up at a speed that was almost imperceptible to the naked eye!

All those fox-like eyes, which were originally alluring, innocent, or languid, were now wide open.

It shimmered with an almost tangible, verdant light, brimming with curiosity and a sense of wonder!

Dozens of gazes, like searchlights, instantly focused on Ahri, who was lying on the ground in a disheveled state.

The look in his eyes was like that of a cat that hadn't eaten for three days, suddenly spotting a grilled fish that could flip itself over and was already sprinkled with cumin and chili powder.

Scorching hot.

Scalding hot.

It was filled with silent cries of "Sisters, tell us more!" "Tell us more!" "What kind of hand? How many tricks?"

Even Ni Yu, who had been aloof and indifferent, subconsciously leaned forward slightly.

Su Xiaoxiao grabbed Ji Zuodao's sleeve, her face flushed with excitement, and whispered, but loud enough for everyone to hear:

"Hello, hello! That 'Eighteen Techniques for Chasing Men' she mentioned... it sounds amazing! Does our department have it in their database? Can we borrow it to take a look?"

Ji Zuodao, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, glanced back at his fifty fox spirits who had instantly entered "study mode," and his lips twitched.

have to.

It seems that in the future, in addition to guarding against Li Shuwen stuffing "professional books" into the Demon Management Department, we will also have to be wary of certain extracurricular reading materials of unknown origin.