Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 36 Surveillance
Since transmigrating to this world, Chen Li has become extremely self-disciplined. At first, it was just a lack of security, but he gradually got used to it.

Apart from a slight indulgence on the first night, his daily routine remained largely unchanged.

In the living room.

Chen Li practiced swordsmanship with his upper body bare.

The twenty-odd kilograms of black iron sword felt as light as a feather in his hands. The tip of the sword was like a venomous snake, sometimes blurring and emitting a chilling hissing sound.

Zhou Hong leaned gently against the doorway, watching Chen Li practicing his sword in the distance. A serene smile played on her lips. She was very satisfied with her current life—peaceful, joyful, and stable. In just a few days, her figure had become even more radiant and charming.

Chen Li stopped very quickly.

"Wipe your sweat, you must be tired." Zhou Hong stepped forward with a towel: "Lunch is ready."

Chen Li took the towel and wiped himself haphazardly: "Thank you for your hard work."

"I just don't know if you like it!"

"I love anything you cook."

The two walked to the dining table in the kitchen, where the food and dishes had already been set out.

"The Spirit Tiger Gang and the Giant Bear Gang have been fighting again these past few days, so it's best not to go out," Chen Li said.

“We have plenty of food at home, and I don’t usually need to buy anything. Even when we go out, it’s always the two of us,” Zhou Hong said with a smile.

"Okay, let's go to the market and have a good look around in a few days!" Chen Li patted her hand, feeling guilty.

The money Zhou Hong gave him a few days ago amounted to 24 mid-grade spirit stones. He thought about it and didn't refuse. After all, if they lived together, being too clear about money would only make them seem distant.

But he had already made up his mind that the money had to be spent on her.

……

"Qiao Guanyuan is going too far. He sent someone over today and actually wants me to join his Linghu Gang and refine pills for them. Fellow Daoist Chen, you have to put in a good word for me. Qiao Guanyuan will definitely give you face."

Lin Gui came again in the afternoon, looking worried and distressed.

Chen Li frowned upon hearing this, and remained silent for a moment:
“I also want to help you, but the interests involved are too great, and I'm afraid no one’s face will work, not to mention that I don’t have any real relationship with Qiao Guanyuan.”

The reason Qiao Guanyuan sought you out is because the demand for your Ascension Pill and Myriad Wonders Pill in the entire market is enormous. For him, this is a huge and stable source of income, a surefire way to make money... Even without Qiao Guanyuan, Zhao Guanyuan or Li Guanyuan would have come looking for you.”

"Slap!" Lin Gui slapped himself hard: "Serves you right for never learning your lesson. Sigh, this Ascension Pill is truly the source of disaster. I should have known better than to refine it... or sell it."

“Actually, it might not be a bad thing for you to go to the Spirit Tiger Gang to refine pills. With the way you were selling them before, I’ve always worried that one day you’ll end up dead in the street,” Chen Li comforted him.

Lin Gui slumped into his chair, utterly dejected. "Sigh, I only have myself to blame. Back then, I was so glorious. My master discovered that I had the aptitude for cultivation, and I was taken away from the village. I've already forgotten what that village was called."

My master always said I had talent and that I would definitely be able to reach the Foundation Establishment stage in the future. He was a down-on-his-luck old rogue cultivator, but a very kind person. Every time he saved up money to buy good things, he would be reluctant to eat them himself, but would give them to me to eat.

I lived up to expectations. After only six years of cultivation, I had already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining by the age of twenty. But I was still poor and couldn't even afford spiritual rice.

Until one day, by chance, I obtained a secret method of alchemy, and I began to try to make pills. Without an alchemy furnace, I used the traditional method. Without herbs, I went over mountains and valleys to collect them. Fortunately, I was making mixed pills, and in the end, I actually figured it out.

The excitement and exhilaration I felt when I sold the pills and earned spirit stones are still vivid in my memory… Sigh, I'm terrified of being poor. I love refining pills, I love earning spirit stones, and I love saving them.”

Lin Gui kept rambling on and on, from the talented young man of yesteryear to the drug-addicted old man obsessed with alchemy now, sighing repeatedly: "If I had worked hard to cultivate back then, I would be a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator now, if not already at the Foundation Establishment stage. I wouldn't be like this now, being forced to refine pills against my will."

"It's not too late to start cultivating now. You can cultivate until you're old!" Chen Li comforted him.

As they were talking, Zhou Hong lightly brought over some tea and placed it on the table, saying, "Have some tea." She then turned and left, closing the door behind her.

“Zhou…Zhou, you…you…you all…” Lin Gui stared wide-eyed at Chen Li.

“We’re together!” Chen Li picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Sigh, you're still young after all. Women are troublesome and tasteless. It's much better to take some elixirs of immortality. What's so good about them? How about I give you a few to try?"

Chen Li was speechless, inwardly cursing that he deserved to be captured and forced to refine pills.

……

Afterwards that evening.

Chen Li told Zhou Hong about this.

“Qiao Guanyuan is becoming more and more domineering. He wasn’t like this before.” Zhou Hong’s heart tightened, and she nestled in Chen Li’s arms. “Don’t misunderstand. He has a good relationship with… Gao Bo. I got to know him over time.”

"Don't worry, I'm not that petty," Chen Li said with a smile. "People change. After sitting in that position for so long, he's probably not the same person he used to be. But no matter how he changes, as long as he doesn't bother us, it's none of our business."

"Mmm!" Zhou Hong nodded gently, pressing her soft body even closer.

……

Another day passed, and Chen Li's scolding skills finally advanced to the proficiency level.

Both the incantation and the circulation of spiritual energy became faster, the activation became more covert, and the power seemed to be several times stronger.

Chen Li didn't dare to test it on Zhou Hong. He pushed open the door and looked around for a target to test on, trying to find a small animal. Suddenly, his eyes met those of a rogue cultivator standing in the distance.

The other person's gaze darted away, their expression flustered, and they quickly looked away.

Chen Li was slightly taken aback, then realized what he meant, his expression changed immediately, and he quickly walked towards him.

"Whose man are you, and why are you spying on this place?" Chen Li asked coldly.

"I don't understand what you're saying. I'm just passing by," the rogue cultivator said hastily, trying to remain calm.

“Lying? Why would you stand here if you were just passing by? I know everyone on this street. Which street are you from? What are you doing here?” Chen Li pressed closer, his body radiating murderous intent.

The rogue cultivator couldn't help but swallow hard, his hand instinctively reaching for the magical artifact.

"roll!"

The next moment, a soft shout interrupted his actions.

He was momentarily dazed and before he could come to his senses, Chen Li slapped him hard to the ground. At the same time, the magical artifact on his waist disappeared and landed in Chen Li's hand.

The rogue cultivator lay on the ground, his mouth full of blood from the beating, his ears ringing, and his vision blurring.

Chen Li raised his foot and stepped on his neck, applying slight pressure, and said coldly, "If you're not going to talk, then don't blame me."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."

Just then, another unfamiliar rogue cultivator strode over, his face full of obsequious smiles.

(End of this chapter)