Su Wanning had originally just wanted to investigate a case.
But now, the Chiyan Sect had changed her mission to—
"Remain stationed in Qingyun Village long-term, and closely monitor target Lin Heng's every move."
She stood at the courtyard gate, sword in hand, watching as the gray cat inside was dragging a massive green python, half as tall as a person, toward the kitchen.
From inside, Lin Heng poked his head out. "Don't put that on my stove! It smells fishy!"
The gray cat flicked its tail, flinging the giant python to the ground, then casually patted the big black dog's head.
The dog let out a howl and charged into the forest — less than half a breath later, it returned with a golden-winged eagle over two zhang long, blood still dripping as it walked.
Su Wanning: …
Are you gathering food… or clearing out an entire small secret realm?!
Lin Heng wiped his hands. "Miss, want some meat? I'm making stew tonight."
Her grip on the sword faltered for a moment. "…Not hungry."
—
But she quickly realized there was no way to "just quietly observe."
[Day One]
Su Wanning was hiding under the eaves when a sudden boom shook the ground —
In the courtyard, the turtle (Lin Heng called it "Lao Zhong") slowly extended a claw and slapped the earth, instantly creating a pit half a zhang deep. At the bottom, time seemed to have been paused — fallen leaves hung suspended in the air.
Lin Heng covered his face. "Lao Zhong! Don't mess around in front of the house!"
Su Wanning stared blankly — One of the most coveted time-based Dao techniques in the cultivation world… and this turtle uses it for digging holes?
[Day Two]
She was about to write up a report when the bird suddenly took off, flapping its wings to whip up a gale that swept all of the cured meat from butcher Wang's drying rack next door.
Lin Heng ran after it shouting, "Jiji! Put it back!"
Jiji tilted its head with an "I did nothing wrong" look — and promptly tossed the meat straight to the big black dog.
Watching from the side, Su Wanning's mouth twitched — this was obviously organized crime.
[Day Three]
She finally couldn't hold back. "These pets of yours… where did they come from?"
Lin Heng blinked. "Huh? I picked them up. It was pretty cold in the mountains back then, and they came over to sit by the fire."
Su Wanning: "…"
The strongest, most terrifying beasts in the cultivation world… came to you because they were cold and wanted to warm themselves by your fire?
—
Just when she thought the past few days had been absurd enough, things escalated again.
At dusk, several unfamiliar cultivators stormed into the village, shouting about finding the "mysterious expert who slaughtered the Black Marsh Tiger last night."
Su Wanning instantly tightened her grip on her sword — but Lin Heng only strolled out with a smile. "Gentlemen, you've got the wrong person. I'm just a vegetable farmer."
They sneered. "A farmer? That Black Marsh Tiger was killed by the divine beast you've tamed, and you dare play dumb?"
Before the words had even faded—
From behind Lin Heng, the gray cat lazily stretched atop the stove.
The air froze instantly.
The cultivators' faces drained of color as their eyes locked onto those feline pupils — and in the very next moment, they turned and bolted, running faster than the wind.
Lin Heng was baffled. "Huh? Why'd they leave?"
Su Wanning took a deep breath —
Yes, they left. But me… I can't leave.