The Netherworld Sect is considered the largest sect in the current cultivation realm, with thousands of followers. The righteous sects across the world all turn pale at its mention, and it is the target of everyone's disdain on the righteous path.

Unexpectedly, like a rat crossing the street, it is not afraid but instead openly recruits soldiers and horses in broad daylight.

"Old man... is this your granddaughter? Tsk tsk, her potential far surpasses yours. She's quite pretty too. However... I can put in a good word with the branch leader to let both of you join the Azure Dragon Association," the man said with a sly smile.

The master remained silent.

He was probably angry.

The master had said not to kill indiscriminately, but he never said not to hit people...

Little Yuan'er flashed forward, lifted her long leg, and kicked the slyly smiling man in the chest like a shadow.

The man flew out like a soccer ball, spewing blood into the sky, the force penetrating his chest, crashing through three stalls, and sliding back about ten meters before coming to a stop.

With one kick, he was left barely alive.

The surrounding people were first stunned, then retreated in fear.

Is there no law? No order?

But if she understood the law, she wouldn't be Little Yuan'er.

Perhaps they had seen such scenes often; not many people ran, and some even hid in corners to watch.

"Old man, is that what you call him?" Little Yuan'er put down her foot, huffing angrily.

The other two from the Azure Dragon Association shouted angrily:

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"How dare you hit someone?"

"This girl not only dares to hit but also dares to kill."

A faint vigorous qi emanated from Little Yuan'er.

The remaining two from the Azure Dragon Association widened their eyes: "A Profound Understanding Realm expert?"

The Body Refinement Realm is purely about physical strength.

Profound Understanding is about opening the five orifices, allowing vital energy to flow in and form vigorous qi.

Reaching the Profound Understanding Realm is the true entry into cultivation.

Thud!

The two knelt down.

"Spare us, great aunt!"

"Spare us, great aunt!"

Little Yuan'er shook her head and said, "Hmph, I don't care about you..."

Just as she raised her little fist.

Lu Zhou walked over and said, "Yuan'er, well done."

Receiving praise, Little Yuan'er smiled even more happily.

She said, "Hehe, they called you an old man, and I couldn't stand it, so I had to teach them a lesson."

Lu Zhou looked at the two kneeling on the ground, his peripheral vision scanning the surroundings.

He wasn't really concerned about the lives of these two, but doing this was a bit high-profile.

"Where is the headquarters of the Azure Dragon Association's branch?" Lu Zhou asked.

"North of Anyang Valley River, three miles."

"I... I have just arrived in Anyang, unfamiliar with the place. Go back and tell your branch leader that I will personally visit tomorrow."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

"Scram."

The two got up and dragged their severely injured companion away in disgrace.

Little Yuan'er whispered, "Master is so thoughtful, finding out their hideout to take them down."

Lu Zhou smiled and tapped her forehead, "Nonsense, I intend to use them to investigate the Ci Family."

"Master's lesson is right..."

"Yuan'er, you've been away from home for many years. Do you still remember where your home is?" Lu Zhou asked.

"I only remember there are two stone lions at my doorstep... Father loved playing with swords and spears, and Mother loved embroidery. Mother loved me the most," Little Yuan'er said.

Ji Tiandao took in disciples, some were forcibly taken, while others were sent up the mountain willingly.

Lu Zhou only remembered that when Little Yuan'er was sent to Jinting Mountain, she was very young, and he didn't know why her parents sent her up the mountain.

What parents in the world would willingly send their child into a wolf's den?

The Ci Family was not hard to find.

A prominent family with the surname Ci was rare. Anyang City wasn't large, and with a little inquiry, they confirmed the location.

When the two appeared outside the Ci Residence, Little Yuan'er was so excited she was like a rabbit, jumping up and down on the heads of the two stone lions.

"Master... it's these lions! I remember them so clearly..."

"You little girl, since you're home, don't be so naughty. Come down."

"Oh."

At this moment, Lu Zhou noticed that the quest panel had triggered an investigation event.

Creak—

The door slowly opened.

A middle-aged man dressed as a steward looked at the two at the door with a puzzled expression.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Where are my father and mother?" Little Yuan'er peered through the door crack, eager to see her parents immediately.

Upon hearing this, the steward frowned and said, "Where did this little girl come from? Your parents aren't here."

Slap!

Little Yuan'er slapped him, leaving him dizzy and in pain, spinning 365 degrees on the spot.

"Looking for trouble, get out of the way, don't block my grandfather!"

The steward clutched his face, trembling all over.

Lu Zhou couldn't help but laugh.

But he also felt that handling it this way wasn't entirely inappropriate.

Being overly polite can sometimes greatly affect efficiency.

Little Yuan'er, like a considerate little cotton jacket, obediently supported Lu Zhou as they entered the Ci Residence.

The Ci Residence was empty, with no servants or maids.

It seemed somewhat desolate, even the furniture had been moved out.

Lu Zhou said calmly, "It seems your Fourth Senior Brother's information was accurate."

Little Yuan'er angrily pointed at the steward and said, "You, come here!"

"Ah?"

"Where are my father and mother?"

Asked like this, the steward was naturally bewildered.

A young woman changes greatly, and Little Yuan'er was now vastly different from her childhood appearance, so how could the steward recognize her at once?

Lu Zhou asked, "What's your name?"

"I... I am the steward of the Ci Family, Wang Fugui," the steward stammered, clutching his face.

"Where is the Ci Family's steward, Ci An?" Little Yuan'er only remembered this person, as it was Ci An who went to Jinting Mountain the first time she was kidnapped.

"They, they were all, all taken away."

"She is Ci Yuan'er of the Ci Family," Lu Zhou pointed to Little Yuan'er.

"Ah?"

Wang Fugui swallowed hard, looking Little Yuan'er up and down. After a moment, he suddenly understood and knelt down with a thud, kowtowing and crying, "Miss! You're finally back! I am Wang Fugui!"

"Wang Fugui?" Little Yuan'er scratched her head.

"Let's talk inside."

In the main hall of the Ci Residence.

After Wang Fugui's account, the two learned that most of the Ci Family members had been kidnapped by a gang called the Linhu Gang. No one knew the background of this gang, who was behind it, or even their whereabouts.

The Ci Family had been kidnapped twice in a row... who would dare continue working for the Ci Family? The remaining servants and staff took the Ci Family's belongings and fled. Only Wang Fugui remained.

"Why didn't you report to the authorities?" Lu Zhou asked.

"We did, but the authorities couldn't find anything. On the day of the incident, all the Ci Family members except those working outside were kidnapped. I was lucky to escape because I was in the outhouse."

"Then why didn't you run?" Little Yuan'er asked.

"The Ci Family has treated me well. I, Wang Fugui, will live as a Ci Family person and die as a Ci Family ghost."

Lu Zhou smiled and said, "You are indeed loyal. Fortunately, Yuan'er didn't hit you too hard."

Wang Fugui's face hurt, and he said awkwardly, "It's only right for the master to hit me."

"Keep Yuan'er's return a secret. I will investigate the Ci Family's kidnapping myself," Lu Zhou said.

"Ah?"

Although Lu Zhou had become much younger, he still appeared old and frail, seemingly weak and easily toppled. Wang Fugui only knew that the master had sent the young lady away, but he didn't know where or for what purpose, let alone that Little Yuan'er's master was the old demon.

"Go now."

Wang Fugui dared not question Lu Zhou, even if he was an old man. Little Yuan'er's attitude towards him was evident. So he repeatedly agreed and retreated.

"Yuan'er."

"Disciple is here."

"Tomorrow morning, go to the Azure Dragon Association at Valley River and have them investigate this so-called Linhu Gang," Lu Zhou said.

"Disciple will obey."

"Remember, don't reveal your identity."

"Disciple understands."

Just after issuing the task.

Lu Zhou heard the system prompt—

[Ding, completed task to support Duanmu Sheng, reward of 200 merit points.]

Ming Shiyin had completed the support and should be repairing the barrier.

Looking at the task changes on the system interface, Lu Zhou frowned slightly. When he left Jinting Mountain, he had tasked the two of them with repairing the barrier together, but the task panel showed only Ming Shiyin... there was only one possibility, the third disciple was injured.

Meanwhile.

Jinting Mountain.

Ming Shiyin and the bedridden Duanmu Sheng looked bewilderedly at the letter Little Yuan'er had left.

"Master actually went down the mountain! What is he thinking?"

Cough, cough.

Duanmu Sheng coughed and said, "Maybe he's been cooped up on the mountain for too long and wanted to go out for a change, without wanting anyone to know his identity."

"You have a point... Master has been acting unpredictably lately, and I can't quite grasp his thoughts," Ming Shiyin sighed.

"...In the past, Master had absolute strength and didn't bother to use his brain. All schemes were meaningless struggles in the face of absolute power."

"Perhaps."

"The task of repairing the barrier will be hard on you alone, junior brother. My injuries won't heal for three to five months."

"Dream on!"