66: I am a body trainer.

“Tell me, what is it?”

Yuan Hong looked at Lu Ming, his tone considerably softer.

Lu Ming felt a bit unnatural under Yuan Hong’s scrutiny, worried his identity as a Corpse Puppet would be discovered.

However, he didn’t feel any unusual movement from the ‘divine sense talisman’, so he relaxed quite a bit.

He cupped his hands towards Yuan Hong, and with a righteous expression, accused.

“Reporting, adult, it was the Poisonous Dragon Gang who pawned off inferior goods, using broken Magical Artifacts to extort the hard-earned money from these suffering people.

Not only did they use threats and inducements, but they also tried to attack me, relying on the Poisonous Dragon Gang, which is simply disregarding the Immortal City’s rules and True Person Tianxing’s authority.”

‘Who doesn’t know how to frame someone?’

Lu Ming sneered inwardly.

Yuan Hong’s mouth twitched at the words; why did he feel this person wasn’t so honest?

However, he had seen Cao Da’s actions with his own eyes, and they couldn’t be faked.

He looked at Cao Da, his voice returning to its cold tone.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“I…”

Cao Da opened his mouth, wanting to explain.

But circumstances were against him; before the gang leader achieved Foundation Establishment, rashly clashing with the Law Enforcement Team would only lead to more losses than gains.

Now that he was in the wrong, he could only swallow his bitterness, but he would remember this grudge!

‘Han Feiyu, is it! I’ve got you marked. When the gang leader achieves Foundation Establishment, I’ll be the first to report this matter. I hope you’ll still be so sharp-tongued then!’

He thought fiercely inwardly, but his Face was fawning.

“This matter was handled improperly by our Poisonous Dragon Gang. I apologize to a few Fellow Daoists.”

With that, Cao Da bowed to Old Zhou and the others, as well as Lu Ming, and then took out some Spirit Stones as compensation.

Having been in the Immortal City for so many years, he was clear on how to conduct himself. Losing Face now meant he could reclaim it later.

Yuan Hong saw his actions and didn't say much. The other party had given him ample Face and respect.

Lu Ming also didn’t act clueless and hold onto the matter. He even gave all the Spirit Stones Cao Da offered to Old Zhou.

It was as if he had only stepped forward to right a wrong for Old Zhou.

However, this smiling tiger indeed had some skill, easily resolving the entanglement.

Those who didn’t know would truly believe he was sincerely apologizing.

“Heh, you can fool others, but you can’t fool me!”

Lu Ming sneered inwardly. This Cultivator in the Immortal Cave had already seen Cao Da’s name and the names of a few people behind him in the golden book.

‘No rush, let the bullet fly for a while. I hope your gang leader achieves Breakthrough quickly, so I’ll have three Foundation Establishment Cultivators to use in rotation as charging treasures!’

Six hours per person, rotating every two days. He only needed one more Foundation Establishment Cultivator to make a mahjong table.

Then it would truly be a perpetual motion machine, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about lacking consumables before Foundation Establishment.

Cao Da said nothing more, nor did he utter any harsh words. He quickly led his subordinates away.

Only a sinister glint flashed in his narrowed eyes.

And the stall owner quickly packed up the items on the ground, clutching his ancestral ‘treasure vase’, and followed after them sheepishly.

Yuan Hong saw this scene, sighed, and raised his hand to pat Lu Ming’s shoulder.

But from under his robe, a ‘thump thump’ sound of metal clanging emanated.

Yuan Hong looked at Lu Ming with a surprised expression. What kind of Physical Body was this!

Lu Ming gave a wry smile and explained.

“I am a Body Refining Cultivator…”

Yuan Hong suddenly understood, then it wasn’t strange. Although Body Refining Cultivators were rare, he had met a few.

However, it was rare to see one as accomplished as Fellow Daoist Han.

If Lu Ming knew what he was thinking, he would definitely say, ‘How could it not be rare? Besides a layer of skin on the outside, the inside of my body is filled with Magical Artifact Materials!’

Yuan Hong, seeing that the matter was resolved, was about to leave, but then he remembered something and turned back to remind Lu Ming.

“Fellow Daoist Han, Cao Da is narrow-minded and vindictive. You must be more careful in the future!”

Lu Ming solemnly cupped his fists and thanked him.

“Thank you for the warning, Commander Yuan. I, Han, will be careful.”

Yuan Hong didn’t say much more. He and Han Feiyu were merely acquaintances, and he reminded him because he found him pleasant and easy to talk to.

But he had already done his utmost. As for any trouble he might encounter next, he could do nothing more.

Without further conversation, he bid farewell and led his team away.

“This person is quite good, actually.”

Looking at Yuan Hong’s departing back, Lu Ming didn’t think much of it. He was contemplating the matter of the Poisonous Dragon Gang.

Suddenly, Old Zhou’s voice came from behind him.

“This old man thanks this Fellow Daoist for speaking up and helping us out of this predicament.”

Turning his head, he saw Old Zhou and his family bowing deeply to him.

“No, no, Old Zhou, you are too polite.”

Lu Ming felt a bit embarrassed and quickly moved aside. He truly couldn’t accept such gratitude.

He hadn’t had good intentions to begin with; it was more about what he could gain.

Moreover, he wasn’t worried about anything happening to himself, but Old Zhou might not be so lucky.

Now that Old Zhou’s family had offended a local tyrant as soon as they arrived in the Immortal City, their future days would probably not be easy.

“May I ask if Fellow Daoist is free? We would like to invite you to a banquet as a token of our gratitude.”

Old Zhou invited Lu Ming.

“That would be troublesome, then.”

Lu Ming thought for a moment and did not refuse. Talking here indefinitely was not ideal.

He had originally wanted to persuade Old Zhou to leave the Immortal City, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.

Although today’s incident was bad luck for Old Zhou’s family, who could say they wouldn’t encounter something similar elsewhere?

Each person has their own destiny. If one cannot change the environment, then one must find a way to adapt.

Although Lu Ming and Old Zhou didn’t have much of a friendship, this matter had, after all, used them. Cao Da might transfer his hatred for Lu Ming onto Old Zhou.

So, he should try to ‘restrain’ Cao Da and prevent him from causing trouble.

The group found a nearby tavern, ordered a table of spiritual dishes cooked with Yao Beast meat, and warmed a pot of spiritual wine.

It was clear they were famished, as they began to eat heartily as soon as the dishes were served.

Qi Refining Cultivators could not yet achieve Bigu, so they usually kept Bigu Pills for Cultivation.

For Cultivators to be so hungry, it showed how difficult their journey had been.

It was likely their Bigu Pills had been exhausted, which made Lu Ming even more curious about how they had managed to get here.

Among them, only one was at Qi Refining Level Seven; the rest were old, weak, sick, and disabled.

Old Zhou, seeing that Lu Ming hadn’t touched his chopsticks, realized that their behavior was a bit unseemly.

He said to Lu Ming with some embarrassment.

“I’ve made Fellow Daoist laugh.”

Lu Ming waved his hand, showing no sign of displeasure.

“No problem. I am Han Feiyu. May I ask who you all are?”

Old Zhou slapped his forehead, only then remembering that he hadn’t introduced them.

“It was my oversight, little old me. I am Zhou Yan. This is my son, Zhou Kang. That is his Dao Companion, Xu Li, and my grandson, Zhou Jiang.”

So, Old Zhou was named Zhou Yan. Lu Ming had only just learned this.

He hadn’t heard that he also had a son and grandson before.

Lu Ming greeted each of them, acknowledging them one by one.