The Journey of Immortal Cultivation

Chapter 1032 - 564: Looted Goods (Part 2)

Ning Xiaoxian furrowed her brows slightly and ordered the Earth Yin Messenger to reply: "Do not report to the authorities!"

Both the whistle and Jiu Mo looked at her. She whispered, "Since these people dare to rob under such intense scrutiny, it shows they are confident that the Supervision Bureau won’t catch them. They might even hope we report it, causing the Hidden Stream and Ningyuan Hall to lose face across the land."

She thought for a moment, then summoned another Earth Yin Messenger, whispering a few words to it. As the little ghost disappeared underground, she stood up immediately, saying: "Return quickly." She tossed a silver ingot onto the table and left.

Central Capital was such a gigantic city that even though the place they dined was close to the Inner City, it took the Green Water Golden Eye Beast over half a two-hour period to reach Ning’s Ginseng Store. Manager Yang had already gathered all the clerks and guards in a private room, leaving the scenes of theft and fighting untouched, waiting for the boss to inspect them. Since Ning Xiaoxian said not to report to the authorities, he kept the front and back doors tightly closed. Even if the neighbors had sensed something amiss earlier, they couldn’t peek inside.

The front yard of the Ginseng Store sold small medicines, and the backyard had very wide gates, and the courtyard was large — all for the convenience of loading and unloading goods. Besides the critical storage area, there were several rooms for clerks and guards to live in. Strong barriers were set up outside the storage’s main door, not only serving as theft deterrents, but also alerting Manager Yang and others when breached. At this moment, the storage’s main door had been opened, and apart from the Spiritual Tea disappearing completely, everything else inside remained basically intact. The thieves seemed well aware of their valuable time and didn’t squander it on rummaging through boxes.

Seven guards, four were wounded, one seriously injured. However, they managed to kill an enemy. According to their account, the bandits’ attack was swift and unexpected, lasting only about ten seconds before all seven of them were knocked down. The most severely injured guard barely spoke: "Something was off, I felt like my Divine Skills couldn’t manifest fully during the fight."

Ning Xiaoxian’s expression changed as she grasped his wrist, transferring Divine Power into his body for a detailed investigation. She then realized: "Your instinct was right, you were indeed poisoned by Young Deer Powder. This drug is difficult to refine, colorless and tasteless, effective only on humans, yet cultivators can still be unknowingly sabotaged. Once poisoned, the body becomes as feeble as a newborn fawn, managing little strength, and the power of Divine Skills drastically reduced." Her expression darkened, "However, there’s only one point: Soft Deer Powder doesn’t spread through the air, it must be ingested through food or drink. Among you, there is a traitor."

When she voiced this conclusion, everyone seemed unsurprised. After all, anyone with common sense could guess that the gang of robbers knew the structure and personnel of the Ginseng Store like the back of their hands, suggesting there must be an inside man involved. Knowing is one thing; finding this person is another.

All the clerks and guards in the Ginseng Store were now gathered in one room. Ning Xiaoxian’s sharp eyes scanned each face. She utilized her Divine Skills, making everyone feel as if her eyes were piercing needles, causing them to avert their gazes helplessly. They heard her voice: "Who brewed tonight’s Spiritual Tea?"

Among the crowd, a clerk fell to his knees with a "thud."

As the weather turned cold, the first snow in Central Capital had already fallen early. Even if the room was warmed with a basin of charcoal, the clerk still broke out in a cold sweat, stammering, "It was me... but I absolutely did not put any drugs in the tea! I’ve never even heard of such drugs!"

Everyone immediately understood. Cultivators differ from mortals, often abstaining from food and drink, so they may not eat the three daily meals. Some, adept at fasting, can even go without food for half a year. The only way to ensure all the guards were poisoned with Young Deer Powder was to put it in something they would inevitably consume.

Like all large chambers of commerce, Ning’s not only paid the wages of the hired cultivators but also occasionally distributed small benefits. For example, an Artifact Refining Workshop might give employees some Fire Essence Charcoal Stones, while a fabric shop’s employees could receive discounted or even complimentary fabrics. Ning’s Ginseng Store brewed two pots of Spiritual Tea for the night guards every three days. Being in this line of business, the cost of brewing such a small amount of Spiritual Tea was actually negligible.

Indeed, only by mixing the Young Deer Powder into the Spiritual Tea could they ensure all guards were poisoned. The guards were accustomed to drinking tea and then practicing for a period to maximize the spiritual effect.

Everyone looked at the clerk as if seeing a dead man. Ning Xiaoxian stepped to his side in two strides, softly asking, "Do you have any last words?"

The clerk was just a mortal; no one expected bandits to let him in on more secrets. Hearing her words, he realized his time was up and, without knowing how to defend himself, trembled violently, unable to utter a single word.

Ning Xiaoxian sighed, "It seems there are none." She then kicked—

Aiming at a guard next to the clerk. The guard, who had a wounded arm, wasn’t expecting her sudden attack. With a loud crack, intense pain shot through his legs, causing him to stagger forward. Shocked, he attempted to summon a Magic Artifact, but her slender fingers reached out nimbly, and he found himself unable to dodge. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian [qidian.com] to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)