60: The girl and the old man

Rui De Ward

Around noon, walking on the bustling street, Han Yi felt a bit awkward.

There was no particular reason, it was just that the Xuan Tie Sword on his back was too eye-catching.

"It would be great if there were so-called storage bags or spatial backpacks..."

Han Yi felt quite helpless. He was truly envious of the treasures in novels from his previous life that could store items and be used whenever needed.

Fortunately, there were many Martial Artists in An Yan City, and the common people were well-informed. Compared to strange-looking weapons, Han Yi's Xuan Tie Sword was just slightly larger than ordinary swords. Most people would glance at it and then pay no further attention.

Near the County Yamen, in front of a tall pavilion.

Han Yi looked up at the Tianji Mirror, bathed in sunlight and shining brightly.

He didn't hesitate and stepped through the threshold.

The Bureau of Unusual Matters was still busy, and perhaps because it was daytime, it seemed even noisier than when Han Yi had visited at night last time.

Still, no one came to greet him, but Han Yi, familiar with the way, walked to the task posting area. He planned to see if there were any suitable tasks.

'Qing Xi River, Yin energy gathered, suspected appearance of a Red Marrow Frog Girl. Villagers reported it, requesting investigation of details. Minimum Late Refining Bone Stage, requires two people to go together. Reward: Mid-Grade C Merit, or Jade Bone Pill...'

'Mountain forest near Caomi Store Village, infected by Yin energy, mutated wolf You, nicknamed Old Blind Eye, cunning nature. Requires killing this fiend. Minimum Refining Blood, requires four people to go together. Reward: High-Grade C Merit...'

'Qingfeng Mountain, Old Fox in ancient tomb, assist Mystic Armored Guard in killing. Requires minimum Late Blood Refinement Stage, familiar with local terrain, preference for those familiar with Feng Shui. Unlimited number of people. Reward: Grade B...'

Han Yi scanned the tasks on the task board from top to bottom. The Bureau of Unusual Matters' outdoor tasks were generally divided into three categories.

One category was investigation and search tasks. When the Tianji Mirror detected an increase in Yin energy somewhere in An Yan City, but the reason was uncertain, investigators were needed to search and investigate. These tasks were the most numerous and the simplest, but the rewards were also relatively small;

The second type was cleanup tasks, where investigators would take action to eliminate various Yins in An Yan City and its surrounding villages, fortresses, and strongholds that might endanger the safety of the common people or had already caused deaths and injuries;

The third type was assistance tasks. Usually, when the Yin was extremely powerful, or suspected to be a You, the Mystic Armored Guard would be responsible for the extermination.

Investigators mostly came from small sects and factions; their strength might not necessarily be very powerful, but they often possessed some unusual techniques or skills that could be useful. However, these tasks were often quite dangerous, hence the generous rewards.

But what left Han Yi speechless was that perhaps considering the safety of the investigators, the tasks listed here basically required multiple people to form a team.

What Han Yi wanted were solo tasks.

After all, if he teamed up, he couldn't use the System to absorb Yin energy openly. In that case, his biggest advantage would be completely gone!

However, there was only one type of task without restrictions on requirements, and that was the recycling task.

Recycling tasks had no requirements for time, location, or number of people, only a recycling list, which indicated the recycling of various Materials infected by Yin energy and xuan yin stones of various grades.

xuan yin stone, Han Yi had obtained a piece on a Black Market stall before. Its appearance was oval, with a deep, strange pattern in the middle.

According to the recycling list, a stone with one pattern was a first-grade xuan yin stone, two patterns were second-grade, and three patterns were third-grade xuan yin stones.

Regarding recycling rewards, just one first-grade xuan yin stone was worth a High-Grade C Merit, and a third-grade xuan yin stone could even be equivalent to a Low-Grade B Merit!

Han Yi calculated in his mind: a High-Grade C Merit could be exchanged for a 'Pulse Breaking Pill' which increased the success rate of breaking through to the Tongmai Stage. The value of one 'Pulse Breaking Pill' was about five hundred taels of silver, and it was still scarce in the market.

In other words, the first-grade xuan yin stone that Han Yi had absorbed before was worth at least five hundred taels of silver!

This completely dispelled Han Yi's idea of buying xuan yin stones at a high price from others. His total assets right now were only about three hundred taels of silver!

Of course, even if Han Yi had enough money, he couldn't buy them in large quantities.

xuan yin stones, in the hands of ordinary people, looked no different from useless stones, yet the Bureau of Unusual Matters was spending a large amount of money to recycle them long-term...

This indicated that xuan yin stones must have important uses that Han Yi was unaware of!

If someone were to buy xuan yin stones in large quantities for no reason, it would likely arouse the suspicion of the Bureau of Unusual Matters and invite unwarranted trouble!

With Han Yi's current strength, he was undoubtedly just a tiny ant compared to the Bureau of Unusual Matters, which had branches in cities all over the world and even had its own armed forces!

My strength is still not strong enough. The matter of xuan yin stones must be pursued slowly, no need to rush!

Han Yi stood in front of the task board, his mind constantly thinking, the sharp light in his eyes growing deeper.

"Hey, you big dummy, you're not taking a task, and you've been standing here for half a day without moving. Aren't you annoying!"

A soft but fiercely childish voice sounded from behind him.

Han Yi turned around to look.

Behind him, he saw a bright young girl wearing a goose-yellow ruqun, puffing out her cheeks, tilting her head back, and glaring at him fiercely.

The girl was not very tall, only reaching about Han Yi's chin, but her pair of eyes were sparkling, as bright as stars in the clear summer night sky.

After Han Yi turned around and saw the girl's eyes, he was first startled, then showed an apologetic smile. He realized that he was blocking someone's view. He was just about to explain...

"Qian Xue, how can you be so rude!"

An Old Man with white hair and a youthful face, wearing a green robe and a square scarf on his head, looking like an immortal, walked over.

"But, he was clearly blocking me..."

The girl named Qian Xue lowered her head innocently, her two index fingers constantly circling, her bright eyes looking as if they were filled with mist, feeling extremely wronged.

"Ah..." The Old Man first sighed, then turned to Han Yi and said, "Little friend, I apologize, this girl is used to being spoiled and is ignorant when outside..."

"It's fine, it's fine, I was indeed blocking her just now." Han Yi showed a hint of an apologetic smile, then moved away from the spot.

He planned to look for someone who wanted to form a team. Since he was already here, it would be a shame not to experience it.

Although when teaming up, he couldn't openly use the System to absorb Yin energy.

But killing Yins could also provide information, experience, or potentially yield xuan yin stones from the Yins, which was also a way to increase his Yuan energy value!