Chapter 56: The Constable and the Thief

"My Lu Clan Pictographic Fist is profound and extensive; it's beyond the grasp of someone with a single spiritual root like yourself."

"As the saying goes, the heavens are nine layers high and the earth is nine layers deep. Similarly, the Lu Clan Pictographic Fist is also divided into nine levels."

"Currently, I've only just reached the first level. Once I cultivate it to a profound stage, I can gain the power, spells, and even cultivation of the object I transform into. In the future, if I practice it to the ninth level, I'll be able to become a Tribulation Transcendence stage mighty cultivator with a single thought, and suppressing Senior Sister will be a piece of cake!"

Lu Yang spoke triumphantly, making Mang Gu believe him. Mang Gu quietly asked Meng Jingzhou, "Is what Brother Lu said true?"

Meng Jingzhou rolled his eyes. "True? What nonsense; it's clearly fabricated. If you want to hear it, I can invent eight different versions for you."

Mang Gu simply said "Oh," thinking that Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou's casual lies were quite impressive.

Several days passed since Lu Yang imbued the Pictographic Fist with its new meaning. The number of customers increased day by day, and some, thrilled by the food, even tipped spirit stones.

"Didn't we raise our prices? Why are there still so many people?" Lu Yang gritted his teeth and said. Just yesterday, the largest restaurant in Yanjiang County had even proposed buying their recipe.

He was the only one gritting his teeth; Meng Jingzhou and Mang Gu were both quite pleased.

Today, Mang Gu went upstairs to supervise Qin Yuanhao, while Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou came downstairs to work as waiters.

Suppressing the urge to perform a crosstalk comedy, Meng Jingzhou transmitted his voice, saying, "I heard that a few days ago, a table of cultivators ate here. After eating, they raved about it, praising our food as even better than what their known Spirit Chefs prepared."

"Like that, word spread from one to ten, then ten to a hundred. Now, many cultivators know about our restaurant."

Despite Dao Sect having Spirit Chefs aplenty, they are actually a very rare type of cultivator. In Yanjiang County, you can count them on one hand, with most being at the Qi Refining stage and only one at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Spirit Chefs focus on the mutual generation of the Five Elements, preparing food that is both delicious and capable of improving cultivation, thus unifying these two effects.

Mang Gu's grilled skewers certainly can't boost cultivation, but they excel in deliciousness. The cultivators in Yanjiang County felt that if they couldn't get cultivation-boosting food from Spirit Chefs, they could at least eat skewers that tasted even better than what Spirit Chefs made.

Even at ten times the price of regular skewers, they were considered a good value by cultivators.

"We're quite well-known among the upper-middle class in Yanjiang County. Many ordinary people who aren't short on money are also following suit and coming to eat here. It seems to be a talking point for showing off. Our business model spreading across the entire continent is just around the corner! Aren't you happy?"

"Happy about what?" Lu Yang rolled his eyes and welcomed the new customers.

"Boss, the first floor is full. Can't we go to the second floor?" a customer asked, seeing the lights on the second floor and thinking it would be a good spot.

"The second floor is currently under renovation and not open to customers. Please excuse us." Although he didn't intend to expand the barbecue restaurant significantly, Lu Yang still diligently worked as a waiter, without any thought of slacking off.

The customers had no choice but to obediently go and wait in line at the back.

"Haha, it's finally our turn! Boss, I've brought my brothers again!"

Several constables in black civilian clothes arrived at the barbecue restaurant. Their waists bore identity plaques and long sabers, which were quite intimidating.

Those standing behind them were unwilling to get too close, feeling an inherent psychological fear.

"Constable Wei, you're here."

Lu Yang said with a smile, seeming very familiar with them.

These men were constables from Yanjiang County. The leader, surnamed Wei, had a bushy beard and spoke with great authority, earning him the nickname "Iron-Faced Constable." His cultivation wasn't low; he was at the Foundation Establishment stage. Not just thugs and hooligans, but even members of demonic cults were reluctant to deal with them, fearing they'd be targeted and get into a lot of trouble.

The constables behind him were also not ordinary people; the lowest among them was at Qi Refining Level Six.

In a xianxia world, being a constable is impossible without some cultivation.

This was Constable Wei's fourth visit. Through these frequent visits, Lu Yang had become familiar with him.

Originally, some people, relying on their superior status and cultivation, tried to cut in line. But upon learning that Constable Wei frequently came here for late-night snacks, they no longer dared to be so presumptuous.

"Well, my shift just ended, and it's time for a change, so I brought my brothers here for some skewers. And I must say, your skewers are really something special; once you've had them, you can't forget them." Constable Wei smacked his lips, salivating at the thought of the restaurant's skewers.

"Being a constable isn't easy, is it? Working a night shift every two days." Lu Yang remarked sympathetically as he led them to a private room.

Once in the private room, Constable Wei and the others took off their outer robes.

"Sigh, it's quite annoying, to be honest. Lately, for some unknown reason, quite a few cultivators have been flooding into Yanjiang County. And they don't seem to be up to any good. This has put a significant strain on public order."

"The Prefect has repeatedly ordered us to ensure there are no disturbances. I have no choice but to take my brothers on more patrols. After patrolling, we come here to treat the brothers."

Seeing that Lu Yang was quite busy, Constable Wei didn't say much more and began to order.

"The same set as last time?" Lu Yang asked, as Constable Wei had ordered the exact same skewers on his previous three visits.

"This time, let's try something new. I wanted to try it last time, but my brothers stopped me. Give me ten grilled eyeballs, ten grilled silkworm pupae, and ten grilled centipedes." As soon as Constable Wei finished speaking, he told Lu Yang to quickly prepare them, giving his brothers no chance to react.

His brothers groaned collectively; these items didn't sound edible.

"Look at you all, so pampered! Just wait until I take you on a half-month mission in the wilderness without allowing you to bring Grain Cessation Pills. Then we'll see what you eat!"

After the good wine and skewers were served, Constable Wei and the others ate heartily, savoring every bite.

As they ate with relish, a few of the brothers began to vent their grievances, cursing and complaining.

"Damn it, those petty thieves who've been stealing everywhere lately are really slippery. They haven't left a single clue."

"It must be cultivators doing it; otherwise, even experienced thieves wouldn't be so clean."

"I reckon it's that bunch of foreign cultivators."

"Once we catch those bastards, I'll whip them a hundred times, and then throw them into the water dungeon!"

The thieves were causing trouble, yet they couldn't be caught, making Constable Wei feel disgraced. "The Prefect even ordered me to solve this case within a month. If he's so capable, why doesn't he do it himself?! Today, this group of petty thieves also robbed the homes of Master Li and Master Lu. Master Li is even a relative of the Prefect. Tomorrow, the Prefect will definitely pressure me again."

In the private room next door.

A guest, who looked like their boss, placed the day's haul on the table. "Today's take was worth it. Same old rules: I take forty percent, and the rest is divided equally among the brothers."

The brothers were beaming with joy; it was truly a great haul today. "Before coming here, I heard how formidable Constable Wei was, even nicknamed 'Iron-Faced Constable.' But now that I see him, he's nothing special; he can't even catch a whiff of us!"

"That's a bit too harsh to say; at least he's capable of something."

"Those Li and Lu families are truly wealthy. Especially this Master Ma, whose cultivation isn't high, but he has a lot of good stuff."

"Alright, alright, today, let's eat and drink to our hearts' content! My treat. No one is allowed to dispel the alcohol; tonight, brothers, we'll drink until we drop!"

The thieves were drinking heartily when one of them went out to use the restroom. On his way back, he accidentally went into the wrong room, entering Constable Wei's private room.

"Huh—Boss, how did you change your appearance, and become uglier?"

"Where did this drunkard come from? Get out, get out!" a constable said impatiently. They were already troubled about where to catch the culprits, and now a drunkard was causing trouble here.

The man flew into a rage and was about to throw a punch, but how could he be a match for a group of constables? They quickly threw him out.

The constables noticed that the man had some cultivation, but they didn't pay it any mind. They went back to drinking and complaining.

The man felt wronged, and went back to complain to his boss.

The thieves were completely drunk. As soon as they heard their brother had been bullied, the alcohol went to their heads. Their boss, being righteous, slammed the table and arrogantly declared, "Well, I'll be! They dare bully my men? Go tell them next door, if they have the guts, they should come here. Whoever doesn't come is a grandson!"