Something's wrong with this demon.

"Brother, I'm so hungry..."

Just then, a little girl's innocent voice suddenly rang out from around the corner.

Luo Qingchen, who had raised his dagger, suddenly paused.

Then, another little boy's voice rang out: "Xiaoyu, don't worry, when we get home, your brother will cook for you."

Just then, a little boy and a little girl came out from around the corner.

The little boy carried a large burlap sack on his thin back, and held the hand of a thinly dressed little girl in his other hand.

Both of them seemed to be thinking about cooking dinner when they got home, and happy smiles appeared on their faces.

Suddenly, they spotted a man hiding around the corner with a dagger in his hand, and their smiles instantly turned to terror.

The little boy hurriedly put down the sack on his back, stretched out his arms, and shielded the little girl behind him. His eyes were panicked and fearful, his body trembled slightly, but he tried to be brave, forcing a fierce expression on his face.

It's like a small beast baring its sharp teeth to scare away its enemies when it encounters danger.

Luo Qingchen's gaze fell on the little girl behind him. She slowly sheathed the dagger in her hand, a gentle look appearing deep in her eyes as she asked, "Your name is Xiaoyu?"

The little girl looked at him with fear in her eyes and nodded.

"Xiaoyu, hurry!"

The little boy immediately picked up the sack on the ground, hurriedly grabbed the little girl, and turned to run out of the alley.

Luo Qingchen looked dazed and stood still.

After a long while, he gazed at the alleyway where the little girl had disappeared and whispered, "Xiaoyu..."

"Brother, when we're rich, we'll buy a big house and just the two of us will live there. We'll never live here again, putting up with Uncle and Aunt's disdain..."

"Brother, after you get married, will you leave me?"

"I'm really capable. I can do laundry, cook, serve tea and water, and even help you win over your wife, hahaha..."

Memories are like needles, each one piercing the heart, each one causing pain.

Out of the alley.

He wandered aimlessly down the street, pondering the remaining silver.

Ninety taels are still short...

He has nothing left to sell.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at Zhao Shi and his son's stall again.

Seeing the father and son dressed in tattered clothes, sitting in the cold wind in a daze, he couldn't help but laugh at himself, but still walked over.

"Uncle Zhao, Brother Shi."

He stepped forward to greet them, and without beating around the bush, directly stated his purpose.

"Do you have any extra silver left?"

Zhao Shi was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. Before he could answer, Zhao Laosan immediately said with a bitter face, "Where would we get any extra money? We don't earn much money selling vegetables at all. We rely entirely on A-Yun for help."

Zhao Shi sighed and said, "Ah Chen, if you urgently need money, you can ask Ah Yun. Maybe she has some left. She entertains customers every day..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Laosan subtly nudged him with his elbow.

Zhao Shi gave an awkward smile and stopped talking.

"It's okay, I'll go ask someone else."

Luo Qingchen didn't say anything more, thanked her, and then took her leave.

Behind them came Zhao Laosan's low, scolding voice: "You idiot, what will we do if A-Yun lends him the money? He's a cultivator now. If he refuses to pay it back, do you dare to ask for it back?"

Zhao Shi muttered, "Father, A-Chen isn't that kind of person."

Zhao Laosan then whispered, "Hmph, you can know a person's face but not their heart. People change. Didn't you hear what A-Tian said that day? This kid killed his sister with his own hands, just as ruthless as that little mute!"

Luo Qingchen pretended not to hear and left.

After walking on the street for a long time, seeing that the sky was beginning to darken, he had no choice but to turn around and head towards Baixianglou.

Tonight is the first night patrol, so I can't be late.

Let's just get through tonight first, and figure out a solution tomorrow.

When he arrived at the entrance of Baixianglou, he saw two men dressed in gray being led inside by Sun Ping, the manager of the building.

This was the first time he had ever seen guests at Baixianglou.

Just as he was about to enter the courtyard, he suddenly caught a glimpse of something lying on the ground at the corner not far to his right.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a gray money bag!

The money bag looked bulging, as if it contained quite a lot of things.

His heart skipped a beat. He glanced around and, seeing no one was around, quickly walked over, picked it up, and stuffed it into his pocket.

Upon entering Baixianglou, he went directly to the backyard.

Just then, Chen Ju came out of his room. Seeing him, he said with his usual enthusiasm, "Brother Luo, I'm going to get something to eat first, and I'll come back to call you later. By the way, I've already put the magic stones and medicinal herbs you need for cultivation this month in your room. Please check them later to make sure nothing is missing."

Luo Qingchen thanked her.

Chen Ju smiled, waved his hand, and quickly left.

"It's been put in the room? Which room?"

Luo Qingchen watched his back walk away, then turned and went into the second room.

Sure enough, there was a package on the table in the corner.

Instead of looking at the medicinal herbs, he took out the gray money bag he had just picked up outside Baixianglou from his pocket, quickly opened it, and dumped all its contents onto the bed.

"Splash..."

It was all silver!

However, they were all small pieces of silver, not even a single large piece.

Some of the broken silver pieces were stained with black dirt.

Clearly, these pieces of silver were accumulated by the other party, one by one.

Luo Qingchen carefully weighed the silver pieces and found that there were about forty taels in total.

Overjoyed at this unexpected windfall, he carefully put it away.

"We're still short about fifty taels..."

He decided to think of a solution tomorrow.

After putting away the silver, he walked to the table, opened the paper package on the table, and found a black stone the size of an egg, as well as some dried medicinal herbs with roots attached.

"Is this the magic stone?"

He picked up the black stone and examined it closely.

When Tian Feng was brewing medicine in the cave, he only saw the medicinal herbs, but he never saw the magic stone.

Why does this magic stone react with blood?

He secretly wondered.

This is a question that most disciples of the Demon-Slaying Sect probably have.

"Once I've resolved my sister's matter, I'll begin my cultivation. Only by breaking through to the Blood Exchange Realm can I completely shed this identity as a medicine person who can be slaughtered at any time."

He held the magic stone in his palm and thought to himself.

After carefully storing the magic stones and medicinal herbs, he took out the "Strengthening Bones and Opening Mountains Fist" he had obtained from Zhang Dashan and began to examine it page by page.

The sky outside the window quickly darkened.

As he was studying the boxing techniques, a knock came at the door, followed by Chen Ju's voice: "Brother Luo, it's time. We should go on patrol."

Luo Qingchen put away her fist technique and went to open the door.

Chen Ju glanced into the room, a broad smile on his face, and said, "Brother Luo, have you checked all the medicinal herbs? Is anything missing?"

Luo Qingchen said, "Nothing is missing, thank you very much, Brother Chen."

Chen Ju smiled and said, "Let's go for a walk outside first, then go inside. There aren't too many guests tonight, so I don't think there will be any trouble."

Luo Qingchen followed behind him, listening to him talk about what was happening in the building.

"Most of the people who come here to spend money are poor people. They're not here for entertainment, but to satisfy their physical needs. The girls here are cheap, and there's free tea and pastries, so naturally they like it."

"However, poor people, when they drink, tend to brag and cause trouble, sometimes even beating up girls. Unless it goes too far, we don't really interfere..."

"If the girl is injured or the property in the building is damaged, as long as they are willing to pay compensation, everything is negotiable."

"Of course, if you want to freeload, then beat them to death without hesitation."

As Chen Ju spoke, he led him out of the gate and into the darkness on the right.

Luo Qingchen glanced at the cold darkness, paused, and fell back a step.

As soon as the two entered the darkness, Chen Ju suddenly turned around and smiled, "Brother Luo, did Chief Zhang tell you?"

Luo Qingchen asked, "What did you say?"

With a broad smile, Chen Ju said, enunciating each word clearly, "You cannot go out after dark."

Luo Qingchen's heart skipped a beat, and she stopped in her tracks.