Chapter Seventeen: The Qi User

Shen Chang'an and Zheng Xin quickly found an inn and checked in without delay. Before they could even set down their luggage, Zheng Xin couldn't help but ask, "Daoist, why exactly can't we eat that food?"

Shen Chang'an sighed, took out the food box, retrieved a piece of braised pork rib, and carefully scraped the sauce off before handing it to Zheng Xin.

"Here, try it."

Zheng Xin looked at Shen Chang'an suspiciously. "You're not going to trick me again, are you? Are you going to tell me, after I eat it, that it was actually a toad?"

Shen Chang'an smiled. "If that were so, didn't we already eat it earlier at the restaurant?"

"That's true..." Zheng Xin thought for a moment and then put the rib in her mouth.

As soon as she took a bite, her expression changed. She chewed a few more times but couldn't endure it, and spat it back out.

"This... this thing..."

"It has no taste, right?"

Zheng Xin nodded, her expression odd. "It's like chewing a lump of dry flour... no, even flour has flavor. This is like chewing ash..."

"That's why I said the essence has been drained from it. Grains and food contain their own vital energy; when humans eat, they digest this essence to nourish the body. But the food here, its essence has already been consumed beforehand..."

"Then what happens if people here keep eating this kind of food?" Zheng Xin asked.

Shen Chang'an chuckled. "What do you think? Have you seen beggars? They eat people's leftovers every day. What happens to them, happens here..."

"But I don't see the people here looking like beggars," Zheng Xin said, puzzled.

Shen Chang'an snorted. "That's because merchants keep bringing in supplies, so they can still eat some food with essence. Also, these meals aren't entirely devoid of essence. For example, the rib's sauce still has taste, or else others would notice. The sauce covers up the lack of flavor in the food itself. Even if someone noticed, they'd just think the cook was careless, not that the food's essence had been stolen."

"Then, who is consuming this essence?" Zheng Xin pressed. "Or, who has the ability to steal the essence from food?"

Shen Chang'an sighed. "It's not uncommon. Have you ever made offerings to gods or buddhas? If the food you offered lost its flavor afterward, it's because the deity consumed it."

"That... I think I've heard of it, but it's rare."

"Of course. Grain essence isn't just pure to the gods; it carries impurities. Gods don't eat mortal food, they subsist on essence. Only if the devotee is extremely devout, imbuing the food with conviction, would a god partake."

Zheng Xin pondered for a moment. "Daoist, you don't eat either—are you a god? Do you live on essence alone?"

Shen Chang'an smiled wryly. "You're half right. I indeed can live on essence, but I'm no god."

"Then can you teach me? I want to live on essence too!"

Shen Chang'an shook his head gently. "I can't teach you that. Living on essence is an innate talent of mine; I don't even know how I do it."

"Hmph, stingy," Zheng Xin pouted, clearly unconvinced. Still, she understood it was probably a closely guarded Daoist secret, so she didn't dwell on it.

"Fine, if you won't teach me, you won't. But aside from gods, are there other things that can consume the essence of food?"

"Of course," Shen Chang'an said, taking out the Jade Talisman of Zhonglong and waving it to make sure there were no strange presences nearby, before continuing in a low voice, "Other than gods, there are also ghosts. But in Fangcheng, the scale of essence disappearance suggests it can't be the work of ghosts or spirits."

If a deity lingered in the mortal realm for too long, it would cause chaos, and ghosts don't continually devour food essence, unless it's a hungry ghost escaped from hell. But a single ghost, or even a few, couldn't cause the widespread depletion seen here.

If not gods or ghosts, then it could only be demons or monsters.

"Among demons, there's a species that's especially numerous and fond of consuming the essence of food—rat demons."

When Shen Chang'an said this, Zheng Xin suddenly recalled mention of a rat infestation in Fangcheng.

"So the rat infestation was real? Are those rats still here?" Zheng Xin asked in surprise.

Shen Chang'an nodded softly. "I came to deal with the rat infestation because they're still here."

"Excellent!" Zheng Xin became excited. "Daoist, if I find the root of the rat problem before you do, does that mean I win?"

Shen Chang'an quickly replied, "I've already been bested by you, Miss Zheng. You've won enough as it is."

Zheng Xin snorted. "No need for flattery. When I rid this place of rats, let's see if you dare deny my abilities."

Shen Chang'an could only shake his head. Did she think this was a sightseeing trip? Those rat demons were a real threat, and even he wasn't sure he could handle them, yet she was eager to prove herself by vanquishing them.

"If you find the rat demons before I do, you win. But let's agree first, this is dangerous business. If you discover anything, inform me immediately—don't try to handle it alone."

Zheng Xin nodded. "Don't worry, I'm not a fool."

In the past, Zheng Xin would never have listened to Shen Chang'an's warnings, but after witnessing the tree demon's power in the deserted village, she knew her own abilities were no match for such monsters.

Seeing her agree, Shen Chang'an handed her several talismans for protection, safety, and monster detection. "If things go badly, run. These will activate if you're in danger and protect you for a short while. But if you face a powerful demon, at most they can block one or two attacks."

Qingping Palace did have better protective talismans, but Shen Chang'an's current level was too low, or the texts only mentioned them in passing, with no detailed instructions. He wondered where Qingping Palace actually was—he truly wished to see their collection of books.

"That's enough. Now, let's rest. Tomorrow, we'll ask around and meet at noon to decide what to do next."

Zheng Xin readily agreed, and after that, Shen Chang'an went to his own room.

Once alone, a heavy expression crossed Shen Chang'an's face.

He hadn't told Zheng Xin the whole truth. The so-called rat infestation was just a cover. Shen Chang'an knew he was up against more than just rats—it was snakes, insects, rats, and ants.

The rats had appeared, but there was still no sign of the snakes, insects, or ants.

Based on the pattern he had seen, the 'insect' referred to flies. Of the four—snake, insect, rat, ant—only the rats had shown up, with no trace of snakes, and as for the flies and ants... How could those two cause a disaster?

"Insect plague... I just can't figure it out."

If there had really been an insect plague, there would have been rumors of foul stench or ants gnawing through houses. But even the rat infestation had only leaked out accidentally—the ants and flies hadn't even been seen.

"No help for it. I need to gather more information before I can do anything else," Shen Chang'an thought. With insufficient intelligence, even racking his brains would bring no answers.

He closed his eyes to rest, but the Jade Talisman of Zhonglong had not yet been deactivated, and a faint fragrance suddenly drifted to his nose.

"Hmm?" Shen Chang'an's heart skipped a beat—the scent was all too familiar.

Without thinking, he suddenly raised his hand, striking the bedboard, sending it flying into the air, and leapt upwards. Immediately after, there was the sound of something striking the bedboard.

A soft swishing noise followed as a flexible sword curved around the bedboard and darted straight toward his face.

Lying on the bed, Shen Chang'an could not dodge. He mustered all his strength and blew a gust of wind from his mouth.

The flexible sword was blown aside, missing his body and stabbing into the bed.

With a powerful kick, Shen Chang'an sprang up, delivering a palm strike toward the source above.

A white shadow flickered, dodging his attack and leaping to the side.

"Well, well, I wondered who it could be. Turns out it's you lot, the dregs of the underworld," Shen Chang'an said darkly, his face turning grim.

It was none other than the person who had lured him out of Nanshan City at night; her fellow disciple, a bandit, had been killed by Shen Chang'an's staff, and another had come for revenge, only to be slain before her eyes.

They were now sworn enemies.

"My, Daoist Shen, your prowess is undiminished and your skills admirable," the woman said softly, her voice as sweet as a nightingale's song.

Shen Chang'an sneered. "If you think flattery will save your hide, you're far too naive."

"Daoist Shen is confident, but would you be as sure if you were up against the Demon-Purging Division?" she asked.

Shen Chang'an laughed. "You, a little monster, can command the Demon-Purging Division? If you really had that power, would you have needed to become a bandit?"

The woman replied calmly, "Of course I can't command them. But if they knew you killed one of their flag officers, what then?"

Shen Chang'an's expression shifted, but he remained composed. "You think anyone would believe you? I have a good relationship with the Demon-Purging Division—why would I kill one of their men?"

The woman in white smiled faintly. "Really? Does Daoist Shen truly believe that the events of that night, when you killed that flag officer in desperation, went unnoticed? I admire you; back then, you didn't have your current skills, but used your wits to kill a flag officer."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. If you want to slander me, go ahead," Shen Chang'an replied coolly.

"Let me be frank, then. Not all of my White Lotus Sect died that night. Someone used a secret technique to hide and witnessed your actions. Do you understand now?"

Shen Chang'an's brow twitched—White Lotus Sect? That was unexpected. But then, considering they used orthodox cultivation techniques for such despicable deeds, it made sense.

The White Lotus Sect's doctrines were a patchwork—a fusion of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Their mantra, "True Void Homeland, Unborn Mother," reflected this mishmash. Their cultivation methods were varied, each practitioner's studies different.

But regardless of their doctrines, their techniques were rooted in the three great traditions, making their cultivation orthodox. Yet, for all their orthodoxy, White Lotus Sect remained a notorious cult.

In the current chaotic era of Great Qian, such cults thrived. The suffering poor didn't care which god they worshipped—as long as they were fed, that was the only god they needed.

Thus, the White Lotus Sect flourished, growing strong, with rumors even of their followers infiltrating the imperial court.

"So you're with the White Lotus Sect? Perfect. If I take your head to the Demon-Purging Division, I could collect a bounty."

With that, Shen Chang'an gave her no chance to respond. He lunged, attacking with his palm.

The White Lotus Sect, notorious for acts of cannibalism, was hated by all. Shen Chang'an had no intention of wasting words. Even if they knew he had killed a flag officer, so what? Did they have evidence?

After all, the only witnesses were himself, Wuyouzi, the flag officer, and the White Lotus cultists. If they accused him, with what identity? As cultists? The Demon-Purging Division would have to be mad to believe them!