Within just two days, Master Ji's swollen face had returned to normal.
Although her cultivation level wasn't that impressive, merely at the entry-level of the Qi Refining Realm, her skills were plentiful, and treating bruises and injuries was a piece of cake for her.
Which Cultivator that wanders the world has not suffered a beating? Without some medical skills, one might very well lose their life on the road.
At this moment, Master Ji and her little apprentice stood in front of the Hu Family's residence.
These past two days, rumors of a fox demon causing trouble at the Hu Family had spread. Upon hearing this, Master Ji immediately brought her apprentice over, ready to perform Demon Extermination.
The little apprentice was worried: "Master, are we really going to take on this business?"
He had developed PTSD towards the demon fox, and just hearing the two words made his butt clench. The events of that night two days ago were an indelible trauma in his life.
"What do you know?"
Master Ji was very dissatisfied with her apprentice's cowardice: "Now is the perfect opportunity to take on this business, any later and it would be too late."
That night after escaping from the Wang Family, Master Ji had personally seen several demon foxes being chopped up like vegetables by the lady in white.
It was impossible for two lairs of demon foxes to exist in one city. Since the demon foxes were already dead, the situation at the Hu Family was without a doubt worry-free, and the people of the Hu Family definitely weren't aware that the demon foxes were dead.
This was simply a golden opportunity where one could make money just by bending over. Master Ji hurried over with her apprentice, aiming to secure the deal before the lady in white found out.
It was also fortunate that the Wang Family had been too busy these past two days to spread the word that Master Ji was a fraudster.
Master Ji herself didn't consider herself a swindler. She did have real abilities, it was just that her luck had been particularly bad.
Under Master Ji's urging, the reluctant little apprentice stepped forward to knock on the door and explain their purpose.
Soon, the master and disciple were welcomed into the Hu Family, and a middle-aged man dressed in brocade met with them.
Before coming here, Master Ji had already inquired about the Hu Family. The Hu Family ran a restaurant business, was exceedingly wealthy, and unusually, it was a man who took charge of household affairs, his abilities even sharper than a woman's. This was a curious matter even in Qingde City.
Hence, upon seeing this middle-aged man named Hu Zhaici appear, Master Ji didn't show even the slightest surprise.
Master Ji repeated the same tactics she'd used on Wang Fulai on Hu Zhaici and promptly gained his trust.
Hu Zhaici recounted to Master Ji the recent occurrences at the Hu Family: his daughter falling ill, and a demon fox causing chaos in the residence, having injured several people.
"Do not worry, Head Hu. As Cultivators travel through the mundane world, besides honing our bodies and minds, it's also our duty to eliminate demons and benefit mankind."
Master Ji confidently stated, assuring that she could set up the altar and eliminate the demon fox tonight.
"It's said that the Wang Family also encountered a demon fox recently, and it was exterminated by two young masters. Does Master Ji know them?"
Hu Zhaici cautiously inquired.
Master Ji opened her mouth and nearly blurted out the words 'sworn enemies', but ultimately managed to swallow them back with strong willpower, and smiled: "Without hiding the truth from Head Hu, those two from the Wang Family are my junior fellow disciples. Their cultivation is inadequate, and since making their debut, they have caused a bit of a comedy of errors. Please forgive them."
Hu Zhaici was overjoyed: "So it is! Then we will trouble Master Ji."
After arranging for the housekeeper to take Master Ji down to rest, Hu Zhaici's smile on his face gradually faded.
He stepped outside the door and instructed his servants: "Prepare some gifts, I'm going to visit the Wang Family."
...
When Fang Zhou arrived at the main hall, he saw Wang Fulai and Hu Zhaici chatting away merrily.
Fang Zhou was here in place of Ling Xiaoyue because he had heard that there was business, no, a victim seeking help, so he came to have a look.
Seeing that Hu Zhaici was a man, Fang Zhou felt as if a ray of sunlight had finally broken through the gloomy sky.
It wasn't easy to finally encounter a man who could call the shots.
The Wang Family and the Hu Family were business partners, one selling drinks and the other running a tavern; it would be a real surprise if they had no business dealings, so their relationship was quite good.
"A few days ago, my daughter fell ill, and we sought a physician's diagnosis, who said she was weak and overindulged in pleasures. Moreover, these past few days there's been a demon fox haunting our residence, disturbing the peace of my home. Having heard that a similar incident occurred at Old Sister Wang's, I had no choice but to muster the courage and seek help; I hope Old Sister Wang doesn't take offense, for I really am at my wit's end."
Hu Zhaici bluntly stated his intention, wishing to invite Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou to the Hu residence for Demon Extermination.
"Why would you say that, Brother Hu? The Wang and Hu families have been close for generations, and you and I are just like siblings; why act like an outsider?"
Wang Fulai empathized with Hu Zhaici's plight, knowing that if not for their good fortune in finding two great masters, her own Wang Family might well have been destroyed.
Although she was eager to make a decision right away, Wang Fulai was well aware that she was not the one to call the shots on this matter.
With an apologetic look, she said to Hu Zhaici: "I wish I could personally come over and help, I truly support the idea, but we must leave the final decision to the two masters."
Saying this, she turned her gaze to Fang Zhou, who had been silent all this time. Hu Zhaici also looked at Fang Zhou with a smile, his black eyes twinkling keenly.
Fang Zhou, who had been cultivating idly, looked up at the two of them and didn't know what to say at first, but then spontaneously uttered: "Rest assured, Benefactor Hu, we Cultivators travel the mortal world not only to temper our bodies and minds, but also to perform Demon Extermination and bring benefits to the Human World."
Right after speaking, he immediately felt embarrassed; it was all Ling Xiaoyue's fault for always saying that phrase, to the point where it had brainwashed him.
Hu Zhaici was overjoyed, promptly bowing and saying: "Thank you, Master, for extending your helping hand; Zhaici is immensely grateful."
"Uh... about that... the sponsorship..."
Fang Zhou, after all, cared about his face and couldn't, like Ling Xiaoyue, take advantage of others' misfortune to demand a high price and yet sound righteous.
But this matter had been specifically assigned by Ling Xiaoyue, and he couldn't forget to ask for payment no matter what; gratuitous labor was out of the question, not in this lifetime.
However, Hu Zhaici was shrewd and quickly realized what Fang Zhou was hesitating about, promptly stating: "We shall bear all costs as we did with the Wang Family, and upon successful resolution, a generous reward is assured."
Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief: "So when would your family be available?"
"No time should be lost, I earnestly request the esteemed masters to grace the Hu residence tonight, where Zhaici will await your arrival."
And so it was settled. After Hu Zhaici left, Fang Zhou turned to look for Ling Xiaoyue.
Seeing Ling Xiaoyue looking like she was waiting to count money, Fang Zhou couldn't help but remind her: "There's something off about Hu Zhaici; the Hu estate might be a fox demon's den."
Ling Xiaoyue was a bit surprised, "Oh, tell your master how you figured it out?"
Fang Zhou spread his hands: "Aren't fox demons usually named Hu? I've asked people from the Wang Family; in Qingde City, theirs is the only prominent Hu household. And Hu Zhaici's name, phonetically it's like 'Hu Zai Ci,' which sounds like 'fox is here.' Is that not obvious enough that they're afraid people won't see it if they're blind?"
Ling Xiaoyue suddenly laughed out loud and patted Fang Zhou's shoulder: "Good job, my apprentice, you have improved. It's true that fox demons are often surnamed Hu, haha, that's a novel angle. But what you've said is not wrong."
Fang Zhou was puzzled: "I can't believe you wouldn't have noticed it, so why still take on this job? Why didn't you just directly take down Hu Zhaici before and raid his house?"
Ling Xiaoyue rolled her eyes at him: "Of course, it's to make money. Kill him, and who knows where he's hidden his fortune. You must realize that Cultivation is very expensive, especially maintaining a sect. Without earning a lot, are we supposed to wait around to be blown away by the north wind?"
Fang Zhou was a bit moved, he had not expected Ling Xiaoyue to work so hard for the sect and perhaps had misjudged her before.
Ling Xiaoyue consoled him: "Don't worry, apprentice, tonight we're going to take both the money and the fox, not letting either escape."