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

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm golden glow on the signboard of Baicaotang Medicinal Cuisine Restaurant.

While Granny Su was talking to Ji Zuodao, the two little ones below had quietly completed their first "diplomatic contact".

Zhao Lingling had somehow gotten close to Qi Qi, her big, dark eyes looking curiously at the pot of jade-colored herbs in Qi Qi's arms, and then at Qi Qi's overly pale face and light purple eyes.

Who are you?

Zhao Lingling's voice was clear and crisp, with the straightforwardness unique to children.

"Are you holding a chalcedony leaf? I just learned about it today. It likes shade, and the leaves feel cool to the touch. I wonder if that's true."

Qiqi seemed a little bewildered by this series of lighthearted words.

She blinked her pale purple eyes, looked down at the flowerpot in her arms, then at Zhao Lingling, and slowly handed the flowerpot to Zhao Lingling, whispering:

"Here... let me touch it. It's cool and feels good."

Zhao Lingling stretched out her small hand and carefully touched the thick leaves of the chalcedony leaf.

"It really is! It feels so cool and comfortable!"

Zhao Lingling's eyes curved into crescents, then she remembered something, rummaged in her small pocket, and pulled out a brown sugar pill wrapped in oiled paper, emitting a faint, sweet medicinal fragrance, and handed it to Qiqi:

"Here you go! Grandma made this with licorice and mint; it's refreshing and delicious!"

Qiqi looked at the candy pill, then at Zhao Lingling's bright, joyful eyes, hesitated for a moment, then reached out her little hand to take it, whispering, "Thank...thank you."

Then, mimicking how Ji Zuodao had given out snacks before, she carefully broke the sugar pill in half and handed the slightly larger half back to Zhao Lingling.

"Together."

Zhao Lingling paused for a moment, then smiled even more broadly, taking the half-eaten candy: "Okay! Let's eat it together!"

Two little girls, one vibrant like the warm sun, the other serene and cool like the moonlight.

Standing there at the entrance of the medicinal cuisine restaurant, each of us munching on a small piece of sweet licorice mint candy, occasionally glancing at each other, one with a smiling eye and the other with a slightly curved eye.

The scene possessed a strange harmony and warmth.

Ji Zuodao noticed this scene, and the smile on his lips became much more genuine.

Dogye flicked his tail.

Grandma Su looked at the two innocent children, and then at the young, menacing man beside her, whose murderous aura had not yet dissipated, but whose eyes were gentle.

A mix of emotions welled up inside me, which ultimately culminated in a barely audible sigh.

This world is truly bizarre and wonderful.

"Lingling, go back with Brother Ji, don't be late." Granny Su said gently.

"Okay! Goodbye, Grandma!"

Zhao Lingling nodded obediently and took Qiqi's cold little hand that wasn't holding the flowerpot.

"let's go!"

Qi Qi was being led by her and didn't struggle, but she looked up at Ji Zuodao again.

Ji Zuodao smiled and nodded to Granny Su: "Then Granny Su, we'll take our leave now."

"Take care, Investigator Ji. I'm leaving Lingling in your care."

As the sun set, Ji Zuodao, with one hand held by Zhao Lingling and the other by Qiqi, walked towards the gray official car.

Dog had already jumped into the driver's seat, its tail wagging gently.

Grandma Su stood at the door, watching the car carrying the combination of evil spirits, children, zombies, and demons slowly drive away, disappearing into the traffic and twilight of Jinghai, remaining motionless for a long time.

It seems I need to send a message to the valley as soon as possible.

The landscape of Jinghai is likely to change completely because of this young investigator.

As night deepened, the moonlight shone like water.

When Zhao Lingling was taken back to the Zhao family villa, the two girls lingered at the door for quite a while.

Zhao Lingling held Qiqi's hand and chattered on about how she would take Qiqi to see the herbs she had planted the next day and teach her which leaves were the sweetest.

Qiqi listened quietly, her pale purple eyes appearing exceptionally clear in the moonlight. Occasionally, she would nod gently or whisper a "okay".

It wasn't until Zhao Lingling was gently urged by her nanny for the third time that she reluctantly let go of her hand, turned back every few steps as she entered the door, and even leaned out of the second-floor window to wave down.

Qiqi hugged her jade leaf and also raised her little hand, waving it in a very small motion.

Sitting in the driver's seat, Dog rolled his eyes and muttered, "That little brat is so clingy."

It ate a bit too much today, and even it needs some time to digest. Right now, all it wants to do is go back to its burrow as soon as possible.

Ji Zuodao didn't urge them. He leaned back in his chair, watching the two little ones say goodbye, a lazy smile playing on his lips.

After a busy day, with swift and decisive action, it would be a lie to say I wasn't tired.

Although Yue Junting's villa is nice, and it nominally belongs to him now, someone just died inside, and the bloodstains probably haven't been wiped clean yet, and the smell of Gu worms hasn't dissipated.

It's bad luck.

Although Ji Zuodao was an evil cultivator, he still paid attention to these things—

After all, the three masters had taught me from a young age that I could kill, set fires, and refine human pills, but the place I stayed had to be clean. Staying in an unlucky place for too long would affect my fortune and spiritual practice!

So, the gray official car turned the steering wheel and drove straight back to the single dormitory assigned by Bureau 749.

The room was small and simply furnished, but at least it was clean; no one had ever died there, and no one had ever raised poisonous insects.

Ji Zuodao practically kicked off his shoes and threw himself onto the not-so-spacious single bed, letting out a comfortable sigh.

After a long day of tension, my nerves relaxed, and sleepiness washed over me like a tide.

He wrapped his arm around Qiqi and pulled her into his embrace. His chin unconsciously brushed against the top of her soft, cool, light purple hair, and he mumbled a vague "sleep," his breathing quickly becoming long and steady.

Qiqi was held in his arms, her pale purple eyes blinking in the dim room.

She felt the warmth and presence of her brother embracing her, and listened to his steady heartbeat so close to her.

After a while, she slowly relaxed, and like Ji Zuodao, she buried her head in his arms and closed her eyes.

Long eyelashes drooped down, casting faint shadows on her overly pale face.

The pot of chalcedony leaves was carefully placed on the bedside table, its leaves emitting a faint jade-colored fluorescent glow in the darkness.

Dog was already fast asleep, sprawled out on the cushion.

Outside the window, the nightlife in Jinghai is just beginning, with neon lights flashing and cars flowing like a river.

In stark contrast to the tranquility here is the deputy director's office of the 749th Bureau Jinghai Branch.

The lights stayed on all night.

Deputy Director Liu rubbed his throbbing temples, looking at the task report that Ji Zuodao had submitted via the app on his desk.

Presenter: Ji Zuodao.

Subject: Report on the investigation and handling of the case of the Hehuan Sect in Yuehai District illegally controlling others and endangering public safety by using "Erosion Gu".

The format is quite standard, with a heading, body, summary, and suggestions all included.

The wording was also quite precise, including phrases like "received a tip-off from the public," "after preliminary investigation," "discovered strong suspicions," "took decisive action," "encountered violent resistance," and "was forced to subdue"...

A set of official documents was written in a very professional and authentic manner.

There are even standard procedure descriptions such as "protecting the scene", "preserving evidence", and "seeking meritorious personnel".

But as Deputy Director Liu looked at it, he felt a chill on the back of his neck and his scalp tingling.

He could almost see blood seeping out from behind every neat Song typeface on that electronic document.

At first glance, the words "procedural justice" and "handling according to law" are written crookedly on each page.

Deputy Director Liu couldn't sleep, so he carefully read through the pages for half the night before finally discerning two words written between the lines:

"Cannibalism!"