I Can Devour Spirits

After Duan Rong learned Xiong Yi’s secret, he didn’t linger and directly returned to his room.

In the darkness, Duan Rong slipped in from the window like a large fallen leaf, drifting in quietly. Though his speed was swift, his feet were soft as if boneless, gently landing without making the slightest sound.

Xiao Yu was still asleep on the bed, breathing steadily.

Duan Rong quietly walked over and lay down. As he lay down, he seemed to disturb Xiao Yu, who muttered softly and wrapped her arm around Duan Rong’s waist.

Xiao Yu pressed her forehead against Duan Rong’s ear and slept peacefully.

Early the next morning, at Duan Rong’s suggestion, they skipped breakfast and left Shen Garden.

Duan Rong mentioned wanting to return to Ruyang City for beef soup.

After the three had breakfast on the streets of Ruyang, they went to find Liu Shushan.

Seeing the three of them together at his door, Liu Shushan was overjoyed.

However, they didn’t stay at Liu Shushan’s mansion but instead wandered around Ruyang City, exploring almost all the famous spots.

After some sightseeing, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu soon found it monotonous; it was not much different from Yuanyang Prefecture.

After all, cities are mere replicas.

Actually, Liu Shushan’s family, though based in Prefecture City, runs a business that’s quite substantial, making them one of the few prominent powers.

But after a few days of leisure, Duan Rong gradually noticed that in the past three months of vacation, Liu Shushan hadn’t visited Shen Mizi at all.

It seemed somewhat illogical.

Their relationships were quite good; Shen Mizi’s father was the Inspector General, and many wanted to forge connections they couldn’t. Yet Liu Shushan completely gave it the cold shoulder.

Moreover, observing Liu Shushan and Shen Mizi talking and laughing these days, there clearly was no rift between them.

Duan Rong soon realized the underlying reason for this.

Perhaps the political landscape of Ruyang City’s Prefecture has formed certain factions.

The major forces in the Prefecture City evidently need to align, and Liu Shushan’s family is clearly not part of Shen Yanliu’s faction.

It seems not that Liu Shushan didn’t want to visit the Shen Family, but perhaps his family’s elders advised against it. Duan Rong could faintly sense that Liu Shushan seemed to have some feelings for Shen Mizi.

On this day, they were enjoying themselves at the lakeside Sunrise Pavilion.

The lake sparkled like scales, willow shadows swayed, and the scenery was charmingly beautiful.

At this time, Liu Shushan went to the street to buy some fruits, Xiao Yu went to get some tea, leaving only Duan Rong and Shen Mizi at the top floor of the pavilion, enjoying the view.

Gazing at the beautiful scenery, Duan Rong suddenly called her, saying, ”Mizi!”

”Hmm.”

”Don’t go spying in that garden. Even if you do see something, it won’t change anything—only add to your troubles.”

Shen Mizi was slightly stunned, looking at Duan Rong with some surprise. She hadn’t expected that Duan Rong had long seen through her sneaking into the garden that night; she had thought she was very discreet and unnoticed.

But Duan Rong continued to look at the distant beauty, without turning to face Shen Mizi.

Just then, Xiao Yu had already come upstairs with the tea. The two didn’t discuss the topic further.

This was Duan Rong and Xiao Yu’s last day in Ruyang City; the next morning, they left by carriage. Shen Mizi and Liu Shushan rode alongside them for five to six miles before parting ways.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu returned to Xianggu County. After a few days of rest, their three-month family visitation leave was completely over.

After their leave ended, they went to the Ministry of Communication’s liaison office to receive their sect-assigned tasks.

Receiving their tasks, Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan, and the other five briefly met and exchanged views on their individual assignments.

The first task was actually quite important; the completion of this task determined the level of subsequent assignments.

Perhaps because they all participated in Xianggu County’s infamous blood crime case, the tasks they received were quite decent.

At least none were mere trivialities, but rather legitimate cases.

Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan, and Liu Shushan received assignments to investigate criminal cases, while Xiao Yu and Shen Mizi were assigned to inspect cases.

Shen Mizi was somewhat disgruntled. ”Why are you three tasked with investigations, while ours are inspection tasks?”

Ximen Kankan blinked, looking at Shen Mizi, ”Why don’t we switch?”

Liu Shushan said, ”We can’t switch arbitrarily—it could cause problems.”

Shen Mizi said, ”Who’s switching with you?”

Ximen Kankan said, ”Isn’t inspection great? It’s much easier than investigation. I think you’re just complaining despite having the advantage.”

”You...”

”Alright.” Duan Rong interrupted Shen Mizi’s impending anger, saying, ”Outer disciples assigned to inspect cases, they’re either big cases or those the sect believes might have issues—perhaps they think you’re more meticulous, so they entrusted you. If you discover problems during inspections, it’s still a significant achievement.”

Seeing Duan Rong’s reasoning, Shen Mizi stopped speaking.

They merely exchanged views briefly before heading to their respective task locations.

Before leaving, Xiao Yu packed spare clothes for Duan Rong, repeatedly advising him, and the two reluctantly parted.

Duan Rong, possessing both the ability to Devour Artifact Spirit and the Divine Sense from the Fetal Concealment Scripture, though the case was rather tricky, solved it within two days of arrival.

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