92: Hiding a mistress in an alley, she eventually revealed her true colors.

Qi Yuan held the warm Communication Talisman, his Spiritual Sense sinking into it, as the information within gradually aligned with what he had secretly commissioned Qi Xuanqing to investigate over the past two years.

These four individuals had already been experts at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining over ten years ago, with their fierce reputations known far and wide.

According to the investigation, they were all valiant Loose Cultivators drifting around the Yunliao Prefecture area in their early years, who by a stroke of Destiny obtained a rather profound combined attack technique.

When the four joined forces, their power multiplied, making them difficult for Cultivators of the same rank to withstand; thus, they became sworn brothers, established a lair on Xuan Mountain, and were known as "The Four Fiends."

Over the years, they had occupied Xuan Mountain, plundering those passing by, while secretly manipulating "professionals" like Ling Qi to eliminate targets and annex properties, accumulating abundant resources.

Relying on these ill-gotten gains and the support of the fused Yuhuang Mountain Spiritual Vein, all four of them had actually achieved a Breakthrough to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining!

Their strength was even greater than before.

Qi Yuan understood clearly that it wasn't that the strength of "The Four Fiends" had truly reached a point where the three Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans of Yunliao Prefecture were helpless.

The root cause was that Xuan Mountain was a desolate place with limited profit, and the four were all desperate outlaws who were alone and without attachments, acting ruthlessly with a strong desire for revenge.

If they couldn't be wiped out with thunderous force and completely eradicated to remove future troubles, they would surely retaliate frantically and persist in their harassment.

After weighing the options, the three clans perhaps felt that making a big fuss and taking risks for a remote, small Spiritual Vein and a few solitary bandit Cultivators was not worth the loss, which led to this subtle state of "indifference"... A few days later, Yunliao Market.

Qi Yuan met Ling Qi again. The location was an inconspicuous private room in a teahouse on the edge of the market city.

After two years, Ling Qi's aura had become much more solid, reaching the Late Stage of the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining; clearly, she had not wasted these two years, working hard to Cultivate even while under another's control.

"Congratulations, Fellow Cultivator Ling, on your progress in cultivation."

Qi Yuan nodded slightly, his tone indifferent.

Ling Qi did not dare to be arrogant at all, quickly performing a respectful bow with a humble posture:

"It is all thanks to Family Head Qi's mercy back then in returning my storage Magical Artifact that I had the resources to continue my cultivation."

She knew clearly that her life depended entirely on the other party's whim.

That wisp of Life-Soul Essence Blood sealed in jade was equivalent to completely handing over her life and death.

A Blood Oath was different from a spirit contract, which still had room for maneuver; once concluded, the master-servant relationship was clear, with no chance of escape.

For the past two years, she had been walking on eggshells, on one hand working hard to complete the investigation tasks Qi Yuan had secretly assigned, and on the other hand Cultivating desperately, hoping to show greater value.

She hoped to secure a relatively stable future under this unfathomable Family Head.

Qi Yuan was fairly satisfied with her attitude. Only with awe and fear could one be driven.

Over these two years, he had also confirmed through several indirect tests that Ling Qi had at least on the surface recognized her situation and acted dutifully.

"What is the reason for this message?"

Qi Yuan got straight to the point.

Ling Qi perked up and lowered her voice:

"Reporting to Family Head, as you instructed, I have continuously used the 'Qiluo Fragrance Mark' secret technique combined with my daily observations, and finally achieved results.

The fourth of those 'four friends,' named Wen Ren, is the most philandering and has several fleeting affairs in the prefecture, one of which... seems particularly different."

She paused and continued:

"That woman lives in the 'Outer Alley' and has borne a son for Wen Ren, who is already eight years old.

Although Wen Ren visits secretly, my Cultivation Technique is special, and I have been intentionally watchful, so I finally found the exact location."

...Yunliao Market, "Outer Alley."

This place was vastly different from the clean and orderly core area of the market city; the houses were low and crowded, and the alleys narrow and winding, mostly serving as a place for low-level Loose Cultivators with empty pockets and rootless drifters to stay.

An inconspicuous, even somewhat dilapidated small courtyard was the place Ling Qi had pointed out.

Qi Yuan and Ling Qi, disguised as an ordinary father and daughter, silently walked past the entrance of the alley.

Qi Yuan's gaze swept over the closed courtyard door, his Spiritual Sense brushing past like a light breeze, confirming there were indeed two weak auras inside, one large and one small, with one belonging to a young child.

"A Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator actually lets his Dao Companion and offspring live in such a place?"

Qi Yuan did indeed have doubts.

Even for the sake of hiding, he could have chosen a slightly better secluded place.

Ling Qi responded in a low voice:

"Family Head may not know.

That Wen Ren made many enemies in his early years, and none of the four brothers have any open descendants.

If the arrangements were too luxurious, it would instead easily attract attention and bring disaster.

This Outer Alley looks chaotic, but in fact, people come and go, making it easier to hide.

And if they need to Cultivate, they can also spend Spirit Stones to rent a cultivation room; it's not a complete waste of time."

Qi Yuan understood.

The path of a Loose Cultivator is full of thorns, especially for those like "The Four Fiends" who have enemies everywhere; they must walk as if on thin ice.

Hiding one's weakness in an inconspicuous corner is indeed the way of an old hand in the Jianghu... That night, the moon was hidden and stars were sparse.

A figure wearing a bamboo hat and looking slightly bloated silently slipped into that small courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, a woman with a pretty face but looking somewhat haggard and impatient came forward, her tone full of complaints:

"You are now... such a figure, why do you still make me and Lianger huddle in this kind of place?

Living in fear all day long, yet you don't even dare to show your true face!"

The disguised Wen Ren took off his bamboo hat, revealing an ordinary face, a flash of helplessness in his eyes as he said gently:

"Don't shout, the brothers made these arrangements for a reason.

We brothers are as one, practicing a secret technique together; there are some rules... that must be kept."

He clearly did not want to discuss the details.

"Where is Lianger? How has he been lately?"

"How else could he be? He talks about his father all day."

The woman's tone softened slightly, but still held dissatisfaction. "You rarely come, are you going to leave after just one look?"

Wen Ren sighed, walked into the inner room, touched the hair of the sleeping boy on the bed, and a rare softness appeared in his eyes.

After a moment, he left some Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills and turned to leave, but the woman grabbed his sleeve, her eyes reddening as if she were about to cry.

"With my Low Grade Five Spiritual Roots Aptitude, Cultivating was already difficult; if I hadn't damaged my Origin Qi to bear Lianger for you back then, why would I be struggling so much to even Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Middle Stage now?

Even though you later got a realm-breaking pill, it's still... still hard to condense Spiritual Sense!"

The more the woman spoke, the more aggrieved she felt.

Guilt and irritation mixed on Wen Ren's face as he whispered:

"I was injured by someone years ago, my Foundation was damaged, and having children was difficult... you know this.

Placing you here is truly for your safety.

Within the market city, it is safer after all.

As for Cultivation, just take it step by step; being anxious is useless."

"Safe? What's safe about this dump? I want to go to the Inner Alley and rent a small courtyard with rich Spiritual Qi!"

The woman muttered, with some of the arrogance of a Young Miss from a decent family.

Wen Ren rubbed his brow, feeling weary in his heart.

This woman was someone he had saved during his early travels and introduced to the path of immortality; there was affection, but her Heart-Nature had never truly adapted to the cruelty and endurance of a Loose Cultivator.

He said no more, gave a few instructions, and then silently departed just as he had come.