"I get it now!" The gardener exclaimed. "I actually wondered why a cultivator would decide to steal mortals' money. It would make sense if he stole spirit stones, or perhaps treasures, or the secret techniques of the Qing clan. This is akin to sneaking into a palace and deciding to steal a single rock from a fish pond. But that spirit stone finally clears it up. He didn't steal any money. He exchanged it!"

Liu Xing shook his head a little, feeling quite embarrassed to hear the old man reveal the truth with so much excitement, as if he were a scientist who had just solved the greatest mystery in the entire universe. However, it was not too bad.

Second Master Qing pinched his chin, then glanced toward the spirit stone still on the clerk's palm before looking at the gardener with a calculating mind. "I can believe your deduction. Although there are still some puzzling details, like why he would need to use this convoluted method if what he needed was merely mortal currency. He could have just gone to a bank or something."

"Your words are indeed correct, Second Master Qing, however, we can deduce some information based on what we know. First, this specific cultivator has a technique that can conceal himself. I heard from the patriarch that to learn a technique is to dedicate part of your life to it."

"He exaggerated a little bit, but it's correct. If you want to achieve peak mastery of a technique, you need to hone it for as long as you live."

"Indeed," the gardener nodded. "Since this mysterious cultivator went to the trouble of learning this concealment technique, we can deduce that he likely leads a dangerous life. Therefore, he needs a way to hide. The first thing that comes to mind is that this cultivator learned this technique to be a thief. But we know that's not true. He left a spirit stone in exchange for money. This means he doesn't just act to gain money or resources."

"What... are you trying to say?" Second Master Qing asked, his eyes narrowed.

Liu Xing was also curious about this gardener's deduction.

The old man closed his eyes for a moment. "I tried to see things from his perspective. If he can hide, yet doesn't steal money and leaves a spirit stone, it means a spirit stone is insignificant to him. This means he is wealthy." He inhaled deeply. "A wealthy man could throw his money around to smooth over many things. However, instead of using spirit stones, he decided to secure mortal money first. Why? Because spirit stones would draw too much attention. I conclude, therefore, that this mysterious cultivator needs to be discreet, which is likely why he didn't just go to the bank."

Liu Xing's eyebrows began to rise, and his heartbeat quickened. A bad feeling bubbled in his heart.

"This mysterious cultivator could be keeping a low profile for many reasons. However, since he needs mortal money, he must intend to mingle with mortals. So, instead of being a thief, this mysterious cultivator is likely a wealthy fugitive trying to hide among mortals."

Second Master Qing pinched his chin as he muttered, "Wealthy fugitive..."

"Second Master Qing, just recently, a rumor arrived on this island. The governor's and several officials' communication orbs lit up, carrying news about a cultivator from the Purple Moon Sect who seeks a heaven-defying treasure. It's news that is still being suppressed by the governor, but I suspect you have already heard the rumor."

"Indeed," he nodded. "Do you mean..."

"Yes," the gardener nodded. "It seems far-fetched, but it fits like a nice puzzle. What if they are one and the same? A disciple from a great sect would certainly be wealthy. And if he seeks a heaven-defying treasure, he would have every reason to hide his presence."

"What about the money? Why would he need to mingle with mortals if his goal is to find a heaven-defying treasure?"

"I don't know the real answer. However, if my deduction is correct and he is indeed inside our city, he would use that money to smoothen his operation. He would use it to secure accommodations, buy disguises, bribe people to dig up information, and many more."

Liu Xing, who observed the gardener from only several meters away, felt his eyes widen and his mouth open wider and wider, to the point that a fist could have fit inside. This gardener had initially been merely questioning whether the beggar had truly stolen their wages. He could never have imagined it would continue to the point that he could guess—and perfectly at that—his existence within this city.

It was so ridiculous that his brain could not believe what the gardener had just said. How the hell could he deduce his existence, his goal, and even his plan to gather information so easily? Was the gardener that smart, or were his own movements just that easy to predict? His heart beat frantically in his chest, and anxiety spread from his stomach through his whole body.

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"How sure are you about your deduction?" Second Master Qing asked.

"Around seventy percent. However, I advise you to verify it."

"How?"

"Look for someone unusual, especially in places where he could use the money he just got, like markets, hotels, stores, and so on. Ask around about people who ask weird or unusual questions. Additionally, since he is a cultivator, you need to employ methods to trace cultivators. I heard that every cultivator has some kind of unique sensation and presence that can be identified."

"It's not that simple, but something like that could be done." After a moment, Second Master Qing continued, "Is there anything else you've deduced?"

"No, not at the moment, at least," he shook his head. "However, I wonder what we are going to do now."

Second Master Qing looked to the side, toward the clerk still holding the spirit stone. The clerk, upon seeing his expression, took several steps forward and offered the spirit stone to him. "You need to be punished. However, the one who will punish you is not me, but the patriarch. Prepare yourself."

"Yes!" the clerk nodded frantically.

"As for this beggar," he spat to the side, "she is innocent."

At that moment, the beggar pushed herself up from the ground, the marks of the pavement etched on one of her cheeks. The guards did not prevent her from rising, instead taking steps back until they were behind Second Master Qing. Their faces looked calm, but Liu Xing could see they were slightly red, as if they felt humiliated for being wrong.

The dirty woman began to smile and sing praises to Second Master Qing for being just and generous. However, Liu Xing let her words enter one ear and exit the other. He was more focused on reining in his emotions and thinking about what he needed to do.

Suddenly, his plan, still in its initial phase, was in ruins, and there was a chance that news about him would spread like wildfire. It would spell trouble, making it hard for him to move, gather information, and would announce his presence. If the news spread, the Mirror Tide Empire, even the Nether Lotus Sect, could make a move and hunt him down. His mind thought about silencing this clan, and the only way that came to mind was to kill each and every one of them, which was something he could not do.

At that time, the beggar finally finished her words. "Since the matter is finished, this little beggar asks the Kind and Just Second Master Qing for permission to go."

Liu Xing expected him to nod and let the beggar go. Instead, he shook his head.

"This matter has suddenly spiraled into something big. We need to conceal the existence of a Purple Moon Sect disciple from the masses. Disciples from great sects are dangerous. The fact that he is from the Purple Moon Sect, which backs the Nether Lotus Sect, makes him even more dangerous. However, his presence here means that the heaven-defying treasure he is looking for must be here or nearby. That means we have a chance to get it first. We have an advantage. We know he's here, but he doesn't know that we know. We need to maintain that edge, which means nothing he said can be leaked." Second Master Qing pointing to the gardener. Then, he swept his eyes around as he cycled his qi to intimidate the workers and servants. "For the servants, it's easy. They are loyal to my clan, and they live within the compound. You, on the other hand, are an outsider."

"W-what do you mean?"

"We also need a solid excuse to explain this matter, so that when people ask what happened here, we will have a good answer. After all, many people saw two of our guards drag you here." The man raised his right hand high and began to cycle his qi, making it glow blue once again. "Even though you were just unlucky enough to be dragged here by accusation, you're still a disgrace to the Qing clan. You're still a thief, as several trustworthy servants have said." He snorted. "You're lucky. You consider yourself part of the Qing clan, so you should be happy knowing your death will be useful to us."

The man then swung his hand down, targeting her forehead as if he were casually trying to split a watermelon with his bare hand.

At that moment, Liu Xing's eyes narrowed, a dark gleam shining in them. He pressed his lips down and clenched both of his hands. He was aware that this clan was a threat. Their words could cause him so much trouble.

As with any threat, his first thought was to eliminate them. He conjured many excuses to do so; one of them was the Second Master Qing. Initially, Liu Xing had judged him to be a reasonable man. However, when he decided to kill the beggar, his niece, to "protect" the clan and maintain his edge, he decided that the Second Master Qing was not quite a reasonable man. However, since he was aware of his tendency to eliminate people based on perceived threats, he reined in his emotions and held his judgment.

Liu Xing moved. In an instant, he stood in front of the beggar, whose eyes were wide and body frozen, as if the shining hand had the ability to paralyze. Compared to a mortal, the attack was fast, but in front of Liu Xing, it might as well have been a snail. He flicked his hand, hitting the man's wrist and deflecting the attack to the side. Instantly, a gust of wind shot down, hitting the ground, rousing a cloud of dust, and creating a cute little gash in the pavement.

Second Master Qing blinked several times, as if he could not comprehend what had just happened.

At the same time, a huge explosion rocked the compound from behind. Liu Xing turned around and saw a huge swirl of wind and water break through a roof, scattering tiles and debris everywhere.

Upon seeing this, he knew the old man had successfully advanced to the Core Splitting realm.

The timing was perfect.

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