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

As dawn breaks, in front of the Zhao family villa.

Zhao Ping rubbed his hands together, his eyes still a little dark, clearly he hadn't slept well all night again.

He looked at Ji Zuodao, who was wearing a black trench coat and had a shy smile, then at Zhao Lingling, who was carrying a pink backpack and looked completely bewildered. He swallowed hard for a few moments before finally managing to squeeze out a sentence:

"It's just a small...trivial path..."

"Uncle Zhao, please speak."

Ji Zuodao stood ramrod straight with a smile, displaying the standard "please rest assured, leader" posture.

"Lingling... I'm counting on you."

Zhao Ping patted Ji Zuodao's shoulder hard, so hard that Ji Zuodao swayed.

"This girl lost her mother when she was little, and I've been so busy that I haven't spent much time with her. Now, with the situation at home... sigh, I'm really worried about her."

As he spoke, his eyes reddened further, and his voice choked with emotion:

"You saved her twice; you're her savior. I trust you more than anyone else! Keep a close eye on her on the way; make sure she doesn't get hurt."

"Uncle Zhao."

Ji Zuodao's smile faded, and he spoke with an unusual seriousness:

"Don't worry. Leave Lingling to me, I swear on my life. If she loses even a single hair, you can twist my head off and use it as a football."

These words were spoken with absolute certainty, without a trace of joking.

Zhao Ping was stunned for a moment. Looking into Ji Zuodao's clear and serious eyes, which were filled with unquestionable determination, the huge weight that had been pressing on his heart for so long finally eased a little.

He nodded vigorously, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just patted Ji Zuodao's shoulder heavily again, leaving everything unsaid.

"Lingling, come on, get in the car with your brother."

Ji Zuodao turned around, his "harmless" smile returning to his face, and reached out his hand to Zhao Lingling.

Zhao Lingling obediently walked over, took Ji Zuodao's big hand in her little hand, and softly called out, "Brother."

"Hey, that's a good girl."

Ji Zuodao led her to the car parked by the roadside, which was issued to 749.

It was a gray official vehicle painted with the words "Urban Management Comprehensive Inspection".

Zhao Ping followed behind, preparing to give a few more words of advice, such as driving slowly on the road and paying attention to safety.

Then he saw—

Ji Zuodao opened the back door, first helped Zhao Lingling into the car, then got in himself, and slammed the door shut behind him.

Zhao Ping: "???"

Wait, isn't this operation wrong?

Where is the driver?

He instinctively looked towards the driver's seat—

In the driver's seat, Dog stood upright, its two front paws on the steering wheel, and its hind legs awkwardly pressing the accelerator and brake.

It even went so far as to fasten its seatbelt, pawed at the rearview mirror to adjust it, then turned its head and, through the car window, gave the dumbfounded Zhao Ping a wide-mouthed dog-like smile that it thought was "professional and reliable."

Zhao Ping: "..."

He opened his mouth, but his mind went completely blank.

"drop--!"

Dog honked the horn as a farewell.

Then, it deftly shifted gears, released the handbrake, and stepped on the gas.

The gray government vehicle let out a low growl and drove off smoothly, merging into the morning traffic.

Zhao Ping was left standing alone at the villa entrance, bewildered for a full ten seconds in the cool morning breeze.

He slowly raised his hand and covered his chest, feeling his heart beating a little fast and his blood pressure a little high.

The worry that had just subsided is now on my mind again!

……

In the car.

Zhao Lingling curiously peeked out the car window, watching the street scene rushing past outside, her little face filled with wonder.

She rarely leaves home this early, and even less often has the opportunity to go shopping by car.

Ji Zuodao took out a small cloth bag from his bosom, opened it, and inside were several pieces of dried meat, dark red in color, with marble-like texture, emitting a rich meaty aroma and a faint spiritual aura.

"Come on, Lingling, try this."

He picked up the smallest piece and held it to Zhao Lingling's lips, his smile as gentle as a kind older brother next door.

"Dried monster meat tastes good and can also replenish qi and blood, helping you grow stronger."

Zhao Lingling sniffed it, her eyes lit up, and she took a big bite, chewing it slowly. A satisfied smile quickly spread across her face, and she mumbled:

"Delicious! Thank you, brother!"

"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it. I have more here."

Ji Zuodao watched her eat with a smile, a shrewd glint in his eyes.

Hey, of course we have to feed you.

They also need to be fed well, fed meticulously, and fed scientifically.

A medicinal spirit! This is a living, self-growing, peerless medicine!

Now, lay a good foundation, feed your child until they are plump and healthy with abundant blood and energy. When you start cultivating in the future, their blood will truly be "fully effective"!

Investing in some monster meat now might yield life-saving blood that could even help you break through your limits in the future!

This deal is a great bargain.

As for where this dried meat came from...

In the passenger seat, Dog's ears twitched. Through the rearview mirror, his dog eyes were fixed on the bag of jerky in Ji Zuodao's hand, and he made a suppressed, dissatisfied "woof" sound in his throat.

That's its special monster meat quota for the month, specially provided by the bureau! It's its overtime pay!

That brat dared to withhold my food rations and use it to feed that little girl?!

And right in front of Dog Lord?!

"Woof! You brat! That's my meat!"

Dog Master finally couldn't hold back any longer. While keeping the steering wheel steady, he turned around and roared angrily.

"I know it's yours, but I'll borrow some."

Ji Zuodao remained unfazed, picked up a slightly larger piece, and continued feeding it to Zhao Lingling.

"I'll pay you back double. The condition is... watch your step! Watch your step! There's a car in front!"

"Holy shit!"

Dogman suddenly turned around and slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a stop just before the red light.

In the back seat, Zhao Lingling was propelled forward by inertia, but Ji Zuodao reacted quickly and caught her.

"Brother, the dog is such a good driver!"

Zhao Lingling was completely unaware of the danger; instead, she found it novel and clapped her hands.

"Yes, that's really impressive."

Ji Zuodao twitched the corner of his mouth.

……

Half an hour later, in Yuehai District, on a relatively quiet street in the old town.

"Brother, is this the place?"

Zhao Lingling pointed to a quaint two-story building by the roadside with a sign that read "Bai Cao Tang Medicinal Cuisine Restaurant" and looked up to ask.

The signboard is a rustic wooden plaque, and the storefront is decorated with a certain artistic flair. Through the glass windows, you can see that there are quite a few customers inside.

Most of the people there were middle-aged or elderly, slowly sipping their soup, with a faint aroma of herbs and food wafting through the air.

Ji Zuodao stared at the signs at the door that read "Nourishing Yin and Yang," "Regulating Qi and Blood," and "Medicine and Food from the Same Source," and at the bustling breakfast atmosphere inside, remaining silent for a full three seconds.

The Jinghai branch of Yaoxian Valley?

Disguised as a medicinal cuisine restaurant?!

And business is still booming?!

This is quite different from the ethereal, heavily guarded, and secluded cultivation sanctuary he had imagined.

"This should be...the place."

Ji Zuodao glanced at the location sent by Liu Ming, confirmed it was correct, and with mixed feelings, led Zhao Lingling through the door.

"Welcome to Baicaotang! How many of you? What would you like to eat? This morning's special medicinal porridge is Astragalus and Goji Berry Black Chicken Porridge, which nourishes qi and blood..."

A friendly middle-aged woman wearing an apron immediately came up to us, rattling off the names of the dishes with the practiced ease of a waitress with twenty years of experience.

"We're looking for someone."

Ji Zuodao cleared his throat and said in a low voice:

"Send Zhao Lingling here to report for duty."

The woman's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes suddenly sharpened. She nodded and stepped aside.

"Second floor, the stairs are over there."

Thank you.

Ji Zuodao led Zhao Lingling through the first-floor hall, which was filled with the aroma of food, and walked towards the wooden staircase in the corner under the curious gazes of several diners.

Dogye wagged its tail and followed behind with an old man's gait, its nose twitching constantly, clearly very interested in the aroma of medicinal food in the air.

The second floor is completely different from the first floor.

Quiet and serene, with a faint, pure fragrance of medicinal herbs wafting in the air.

At the top of the stairs stands a bronze mirror, as tall as a person, with an antique design.

A young girl, who looked about eighteen or nineteen years old and wore a light green cheongsam with her hair in double buns, was carefully wiping the mirror with a soft cloth.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and flashed a standard, sweet smile:

"Please register your auras first, I'll go and inform Su..."

Before she could finish speaking, her gaze casually swept over the bronze mirror.

Then, her smile froze on her face.

His eyes slowly widened.

The pupils suddenly contracted.