Chapter 60: Constable and Thief

My Lu Style Pictographic Boxing is vast and profound, far beyond what a singular spiritual root like you can ever hope to fathom.

As the old saying goes, the heavens are nine layers high and the earth nine layers deep; so too does the Lu Style Pictographic Boxing possess nine distinct realms.

Presently, I have barely crossed the threshold into the first realm. Once my cultivation reaches its apex, I shall command the power, the techniques, and even the cultivation base of whatever I choose to transform into. In the days to come, should I ascend to the Ninth Heaven of this art, a single thought from me will suffice to make me a grand master of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, and even suppressing Eldest Senior Sister would be a trifling matter!

Lu Yang spoke with such triumphant grandiosity that even Mangu swallowed it whole, prompting him to whisper to Meng Jingzhou, Is what Brother Lu says really true?

Meng Jingzhou rolled his eyes and scoffed, True my foot! Anyone can tell it is absolute rubbish. If you care to listen, I could fabricate eight entirely different versions for you right now.

Mangu uttered an enlightened sound, marvelling at how effortlessly Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou could spin such magnificent lies on the spot.

Several days had passed since Lu Yang bestowed this new definition upon his pictographic boxing, and the influx of patrons grew larger by the day, with some even tossing spirit stones as tips when their dining enthusiasm reached its peak.

Did we not just raise our prices? Why are there still so many people? Lu Yang grumbled through gritted teeth; just yesterday, the grandest restaurant in Yanjiang County had even approached them wishing to purchase their secret recipe.

He was the sole individual seething with resentment, while Meng Jingzhou and Mangu were both thoroughly delighted.

Today, it was Mangu's turn to head upstairs to supervise Qin Yuanhao, leaving Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou to go downstairs and serve as waiters.

Suppressing his urge to perform a comic dialogue, Meng Jingzhou sent a telepathic message, I heard that a few days ago, a table of cultivators dined here and praised it to the high heavens, claiming our food tastes better than any spirit chef they know.

And so, word spread from one to ten, and ten to a hundred. Now, many cultivators are well aware of our establishment.

Though the Dao Sect was teeming with spirit chefs, the profession itself was actually a highly obscure path among cultivators, and in Yanjiang County, they could be counted on one hand, with most being at the Qi Condensation Stage and only a single one reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Spirit chefs focused on the mutual generation of the Five Elements, ensuring their creations were not only delectable but also capable of elevating one's cultivation, bringing the two effects into perfect harmony.

Mangu's skewers certainly possessed no power to elevate cultivation, but they reigned supreme in flavor. The cultivators of Yanjiang County reasoned that since they could not obtain the food of a spirit chef to raise their cultivation, why should they deny themselves skewers that tasted even better?

Even at ten times the price of regular skewers, it was still considered an absolute bargain in the eyes of cultivators.

We have gained quite a bit of fame within the upper-middle echelons of Yanjiang County, and many wealthy commoners are following the trend to dine here, treating it as a sort of boasting right. The expansion of our business model across the entire continent is just around the corner, are you not pleased?

Pleased my foot, Lu Yang rolled his eyes and went to welcome the new patrons.

Shopkeeper, the first floor is completely packed. Can we not head up to the second floor? A customer noticed the lights upstairs and thought it seemed like an excellent spot.

The second floor is currently undergoing renovations and is closed to guests. We crave your indulgence. Although he had no desire to expand the barbecue shop into a grand enterprise, Lu Yang still dedicated himself to his role as a waiter without a single thought of slacking off.

Left with no alternative, the customers could only resign themselves to queuing obediently at the back of the line.

Haha, it is finally our turn! Shopkeeper, I have brought the brothers along once again!

Several bailiffs dressed in black civilian attire arrived at the barbecue shop, the identity plaques and long sabers hanging from their waists carrying an imposing air of deterrence.

Those queued behind them were reluctant to stand too close, harboring an innate trepidation in their hearts.

Chief Wei, you have arrived.

Lu Yang smiled, appearing to be well-acquainted with these men.

These individuals were bailiffs of Yanjiang County, led by a heavily bearded man surnamed Wei whose booming voice carried immense authority; he was known far and wide as the Iron-Faced Chief, possessing a formidable cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and not only common thugs but even members of the demonic cults preferred to avoid him, terrified of drawing his scrutiny and inviting endless trouble.

The bailiffs behind him were no ordinary men either, the weakest among them having reached the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.

To serve as a bailiff in a world of immortals and martial arts, one could hardly manage without a decent level of cultivation.

This was already Chief Wei's fourth visit, and through these frequent interactions, Lu Yang had grown quite familiar with him.

Originally, there were those who presumed upon their extraordinary status or cultivation to cut the line, but upon learning that Chief Wei frequently frequented this establishment for late-night snacks, they no longer dared to be presumptuous.

We just finished our patrol and changed shifts, so I brought the brothers over to your place for some skewers. I must say, your skewers really have something special about them; once you have a taste, you simply cannot forget it. Chief Wei smacked his lips, salivating at the mere thought of the shop's delicacies.

Official duties are indeed demanding, working a night shift every two days, Lu Yang remarked with sympathy as he escorted them into a private room.

Upon entering the private room, Chief Wei and his men shed their outer coats.

Ah, it truly is a vexation. I have no idea what has been happening lately, but a multitude of cultivators has been flooding into Yanjiang County, and none of them seem to be of a decent sort, putting quite a strain on public security.

The County Governor has repeatedly issued strict orders to ensure no disturbances occur. Left with no choice, I must lead the brothers on more frequent patrols, and once we finish, we come to your place to reward them.

Seeing that Lu Yang was rather occupied, Chief Wei did not converse further and began to place their order.

The usual selection from last time? Lu Yang inquired, as Chief Wei had ordered the exact same skewers during his first three visits.

Let us try something novel this time. I wanted to sample them during our last visit but the brothers held me back. Bring us ten skewers of grilled eyes, ten skewers of grilled silkworm pupae, and ten skewers of centipedes. Having spoken, Chief Wei immediately urged Lu Yang to prepare them, giving his subordinates no time to object.

A chorus of wails arose from his subordinates, for those items sounded entirely unfit for human consumption.

Look at how pampered and spoiled you all are! Just wait until the day I take you out into the wilderness for a fortnight's mission without any fasting pills, and let us see what you eat then!

Once the fine wine and skewers were served, Chief Wei and his men fell upon the food with gusto, devouring it with immense relish.

As the feast reached its height, several of his subordinates began to pour out their grievances, cursing and swearing.

Damn it, that band of petty thieves lurking around lately is far too slippery; they have not left a single shred of evidence behind at any crime scene.

It must be the handiwork of cultivators, otherwise even veteran thieves could never be so seamless.

I reckon it is that pack of outside cultivators.

Once we apprehend those miserable wretches, I shall personally flog them a hundred times over before locking them away in the water dungeon!

With the thieves stirring up trouble and remaining frustratingly elusive, Chief Wei felt he had lost face, grumbling, The County Governor even commanded me to solve this case within a month. Since he is so capable, why does he not do it himself! Today, that pack of scoundrels went so far as to rob the wealthy households of Li and Lü. Master Li happens to be a relative of the Governor, so tomorrow the Governor will undoubtedly pressure me again.

In the adjacent private room.

A patron bearing the air of a gang leader spread today's spoils across the dining table, saying, Today's venture was well worth the effort. As per the old rules, I shall take forty percent, and the remaining brothers will divide the rest equally.

The subordinates beamed with joy, acknowledging today as a magnificent harvest, Before coming here, I kept hearing tales of how fearsome Chief Wei was, even bearing the title of the Iron-Faced Chief. Now that I see him, he is nothing more than this, incapable of even catching our shadows!

Those words are far too harsh; at the very least, he is capable of eating our dust.

Those families surnamed Li and Lü are truly affluent, and particularly that fellow surnamed Ma; despite his mediocre cultivation, he possessed quite an abundance of fine treasures.

Come, come, come! Tonight we shall eat and drink to our hearts' content! It is my treat, and none of you are permitted to dissolve the alcohol with your energy; tonight, we brothers shall drink until we are utterly senseless!

The thieves drank joyously until they were thoroughly intoxicated. One of them stepped out to use the latrine, but upon his return, he inadvertently blundered into the wrong room, stumbling straight into Chief Wei's chamber.

Uh... Boss, how did your appearances change, and why have you all grown so hideous?

Where did this drunken madman come from? Begone, begone! a bailiff snapped impatiently, already troubled over where to find the culprits and thoroughly annoyed by a drunkard disrupting them.

Enraged, the intruder attempted to strike them, but he was no match for a room full of bailiffs, who swiftly threw him out in the blink of an eye.

The bailiffs discerned that the man possessed some measure of cultivation, but they paid it no mind, returning to their wine and grievances.

Feeling deeply aggrieved, the man stumbled back to his leader to cry foul.

The thieves were thoroughly inebriated, and upon hearing that one of their own had been mistreated, the alcohol rushed to their heads. The leader, full of misplaced righteousness, slammed his hand upon the table and bellowed arrogantly, Good heavens! To think someone dares to trample upon my head! Go tell those in the next room: if they have any mettle, let them come over here to face me, and whoever fails to show up is a miserable coward!