Drink, drink.

Zhao Jia made a gesture inviting his guest to sit, waiting for Five-Tong Lu Xun to take his seat before settling down himself.

The candlelight illuminated most of the courtyard, with moths and tiny insects swirling in the glow. He looked up at the sky; tonight, the moon was especially bright. He spoke slowly, "So it really is you."

He poured a cup of plum wine for Lu Xun from the jug, then filled his own cup. He raised it: "This is a local specialty from Meilan County, plum wine, homemade and a bit rustic—don’t mind the taste."

Lu Xun lifted the cup and drained it in one gulp. Tart and sweet, with a faint undertone of dryness and bitterness, the flavor lingered pleasantly, leaving his mouth refreshed.

From the mouth of Five-Tong Lu Xun, a deep, hoarse beastly growl emerged.

His golden, demonic eyes fixed on Zhao Jia.

Should he speak?

No.

No need.

Just like this—it was fine.

Lu Xun sat quietly upon the stone bench, took the wine jug, and poured a cup for Zhao Jia.

His rough beast claw grasped the cup.

Clink.

Two porcelain cups touched.

Man and monster drank together, admiring the moon in the courtyard.

Zhao Jia brought out a box of nanmu wood, placing it on the stone table and opening it.

Inside was a purple-blue armored skirt.

"It’s dead. I stripped this from its body," Zhao Jia said lightly. "Want to try it?"

Lu Xun took the skirt armor and tied it around his waist.

"This gourd is a treasure. The wine inside is extraordinary—it can quickly restore your internal energy," Zhao Jia handed him a palm-sized yellow gourd. "You probably call it magic power. The wine inside is perfect for cultivation, the medicinal strength comparable to the Small Elixir of the Earth Division."

Both treasures had belonged to the Five-Tong God.

Now, Brother Cat was the new Five-Tong God; it was only fitting that the items returned to their rightful owner.

Lu Xun raised his beast claw to stop Zhao Jia’s hand.

He dipped a demonic finger in the tea, writing a single character on the stone table.

"Keep."

He gently pressed Zhao Jia’s wrist down.

Zhao Jia hesitated, "But..."

Five-Tong Lu Xun nodded, indicating Zhao Jia should accept it. Even if he took the gourd, it would be useless for him.

He wasn’t one for slow cultivation.

Moreover, he might not be able to bring the gourd back to the modern world. Burying it somewhere would only let it gather dust. Better to let Zhao Jia keep it and use it well for cultivation.

As for the purple-blue armor skirt, it was much the same, but he needed to wear it; otherwise, he’d be exposed. Who would worship a bare-bottomed Five-Tong God?

Zhao Jia tried to decline, but Brother Cat was resolute. Keeping the gourd would allow him to quickly strengthen his internal energy, providing great aid in his cultivation: "I’ll shamelessly accept, Brother Cat. If you ever need it, just come for it!"

The monster nodded lightly.

"The court’s transfer order is coming soon. My master’s sea-eagle left me a message, saying I can be promoted to squad leader, a seventh-rank flag captain, with ten slots under my command. I plan to take Zhuangzi, Big Mouth, and Shorty, while Old Cheng will stay in the county for retirement. I’ll give him some money—he only came out of retirement to help his grandson, Cheng Yan, build his legacy."

"I’ll pick six trustworthy lads from the county constabulary."

At this, Zhao Jia looked at the Five-Tong Mountain Lord and spoke sincerely, "Brother Cat, come with me."

Lu Xun was momentarily stunned.

Then he shook his head.

Going to the prefectural city was good, but not for Lu Xun.

To fulfill the Five-Tong God’s obsession, he couldn't go to a big city.

The prefectural city had powerful heads of the Three Law Divisions, with more methods to deal with monsters. If he caused a misunderstanding, it could drag Zhao Jia down and ruin his prospects.

Besides, after fulfilling the Five-Tong Mountain Lord’s obsession, he would return to the modern world.

He didn’t know when he’d return, or if he ever would, and occupying a constable slot would only weaken Zhao Jia’s force.

Zhao Jia didn’t press for the Five-Tong God’s answer.

All feasts must end; gatherings and partings are the way of the mortal world.

"Let’s drink."

Clink.

Their cups touched again.

Zhao Jia sighed, "Back at Clear Spring Temple, when Brother Cat twisted off the toad monster’s head, I didn’t think much of it. Later, on the boat, when you shot down the fierce tiger, the tiger’s corpse also had no head. With Big Mouth shouting your name, I gradually pieced everything together. After killing the Five-Tong God, I was finally certain."

"I suppose the headless water bandit lost at Narrow Dragon Wharf was your handiwork too."

Lu Xun nodded silently.

Zhao Jia was a bit drunk, holding the wine jug: "Humans are not like monsters. Monsters, even when evil, are pure in their ways. Human evil—you can’t imagine it."

"I’ve dealt with those headless corpses and never spoken of it to anyone. With my master’s insight, he’s probably guessed, but he doesn’t meddle. Big Mouth and the others likely know something."

"Be careful in all things going forward."

"After taking the head, destroy the body."

He produced two thin booklets from his chest: "I learned to read at three, began martial arts at five. Twenty years of external training broke three barriers, finally reaching the threshold of internal energy."

"Brother, the Five-Tong God may be mighty and skilled in sorcery, but his martial arts are mediocre. If he meets a true master, he’s doomed."

"This first book is my Martial Arts Essentials, compiled over twenty years. The second is my copy of the Earth Division’s Internal Energy Manual, detailing cultivation and circulation of true energy."

"Use them as reference."

Lu Xun accepted the books without protest.

He had long realized the problem: relying purely on instinct in battle wouldn’t last. He needed to study martial arts properly.

"This is one hundred fifty taels of silver."

Zhao Jia produced a small bundle containing three silver ingots.

As the saying goes, a penny can stymie even a hero; monsters need silver too.

Lu Xun picked up a silver ingot, his rough beast claw gently snapping it into three pieces, then did the same to the remaining two.

"Let’s drink!"

Man and monster became thoroughly drunk.

Night fell.

Five-Tong Lu Xun awoke from the stone table, opposite the drunken, snoring Zhao Jia.

He took a portion of the silver from his waist pouch and placed it in Zhao Jia’s money bag.

He looked up; the moon was bright.

He spread his hand.

"Water play."

Summoning mist and water vapor, he rode the clouds, light as a swallow, leaping onto the roof.

His golden, demonic pupils swept over the county, silver-gray fur fluttering in the night breeze, his monstrous form darting away with sure purpose.

No one noticed a great monster running through the county.

...

On the outskirts.

A brooding hen clucked and huddled, the watchdog’s barking ended abruptly after a single howl.

The thatched hut was so dilapidated it couldn’t keep out wind or rain. An old woman woke from the disturbance, a young child peered through the door crack into the moonlit yard.

The child’s pupils contracted sharply, and he quickly covered his mouth.

He saw a large, robust ‘man’ like a small mountain, stroking Ah Huang.

The ‘man’ rose and walked straight to the hut.

Whoosh.

The thin door opened slowly.

The old woman clutched her grandson and knelt, pleading, "Great lord, I’m over sixty. My son and daughter-in-law went out to trade and died, leaving only this half-grown child. There’s nothing valuable here, but if you don’t mind, please take the only hen that lays eggs."

The golden beast eyes fell on them.

Standing in the doorway, he was like a thick wall.

The ‘man’ drew something from his waist pouch and handed it over.

Under the moonlight, it gleamed.

It was a large piece of silver.

Knowing the old woman and child couldn’t spend such a big chunk, he broke it into five equal pieces, each over three taels, and spread them out in his palm.

The old woman was astonished.

The furry hand pushed it forward again.