Chapter 82: Truthful Report
“Long time no see, I’ve come to deliver food,” Lu Yang greeted warmly, a skill honed from working at the barbecue shop.
After over a month of practice, Lu Yang’s fake smile had reached a level of deception so convincing that even Meng Jingzhou complimented it as genuine.
Chi Xulong, who had been pouting, turned around sharply at the sound of Lu Yang’s voice, his gaze filled with hostility. If it weren’t for you inviting the officers over for a meal, we wouldn’t be in this mess. “Why are you here?” Chi Xulong asked aggressively. From their first encounter, where Lu Yang tricked him by pretending to be an examiner, to setting him up during the meal, Lu Yang had always been up to no good. Now, his offer of food surely had an ulterior motive. Compared to his own ruthless history as a killer, Chi Xulong found Lu Yang even more despicable.
Lu Yang had no intention of teasing Chi Xulong in prison; they needed to support each other in the future, and there was no point in souring their relationship further—a sentiment shared by the helmsman.
However, Lu Yang misheard Chi Xulong’s question about becoming an overseer: “What, how did you know I got promoted to overseer? But don’t get too excited; you could become one too if you behave well.”
Surprised by Chi Xulong’s well-informed state, Lu Yang flaunted his waist badge, the title of overseer prominently displayed. Chi Xulong was furious, “Heaven must be blind!”
Lu Yang tried to console him, “Don’t be angry. The helmsman also had a message for you.”
Upon hearing it was from Helmsman Chu, Chi Xulong calmed down somewhat, hoping the sect leader still valued him. “What did he say?”
“He said it would be best for you to bond with me.”
Chi Xulong erupted in anger, incredulous that the sect leader favored Lu Yang: “I’d rather die than get along with you!”Seeing Chi Xulong’s outright defiance of the helmsman’s wishes, Lu Yang sighed and left some food behind before leaving.
The prisoners drooled over the scent of the food, unable to enjoy such delicacies in their confinement.
Lu Yang was much kinder to the others, encouraging them to reform while in prison and contribute to the Central Continent upon their release, showing genuine concern.
To outsiders, it seemed they were destined for a long stint in jail.
After leaving the prison, Lu Yang reported to Helmsman Chu: “I visited Chi Xulong with food, trying to clear up any misunderstandings. We’re all in this together and need to get along for future endeavors. I emphasized this was your wish, mentioning that good behavior could earn him an overseer position like mine.”
“But Chi Xulong lashed out, cursing, saying something about the person who allowed me to become an overseer being blind. He said he’d rather die than associate with me. I can’t recall his exact words, but that was the gist.”
Chu Duemain’s expression turned cold: “He said what about being blind?”
Lu Yang, bowing deeply with a cautious lift of his head, responded with evident fear, “The person he mentioned holds too high a status; it’s a grave disrespect, and I dare not repeat it.”
Chu Zedao seemed to understand without further explanation, “Alright, I got it. You can go now.”
Lu Yang sighed internally, thinking to himself how recklessly Chi Xulong spoke his mind, “Please don’t say I was the one who mentioned this; maybe I misremembered,” he cautiously added, trying to mitigate the potential fallout.
Helmsman Chu waved him off, understanding the delicacy of the situation.
After Lu Yang left, Helmsman Chu pondered, irked by Chi Xulong’s remarks about blindness.
…
The day went on as usual: Meng Jingzhou went shopping, Barbarian Bone exercised in the backyard, spectres prepared skewers, and Lu Yang did laundry.
Lu Yang’s ordinary clothes remained stained despite his efforts. “Damn it, why can’t I master the Clean Clothing Spell?” he grumbled, vigorously scrubbing his clothes. He envied his friends’ ability to avoid laundry, planning to buy self-cleaning clothes once affluent.
A while ago, Lu Yang sought Meng Jingzhou’s help to learn a spell that cleans his clothes. Meng Jingzhou didn’t know one himself, but he had a book titled “Minor Magic Spells for Everyday Life,” sneakily given to him by his sister before he left.
The book contained a spell known as the Clean Clothes Spell. True to its name, this spell could make clothes clean, and it was easy to learn.
The three of them gathered to study together. Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone learned it first. As a refreshing aura descended from the sky, their initially dirty clothes instantly turned snow-white, as if brand new.
Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were both delighted. Working at the barbecue shop, their clothes would easily get dirty, which was very inconvenient.
Given Meng Jingzhou’s status, he naturally possessed clothes that had been refined into magical artifacts. These clothes, which remained clean without needing to be washed, were of such high quality that anyone could tell at a glance that he came from a background of profound resources, which would not be advantageous for hiding within the demonic cult.
Lu Yang, known for his exceptional talent in magic, also managed to learn the spell, but the outcome was unexpectedly different.
After he cast the Clean Clothes Spell, the space twisted momentarily, and brand new clothes appeared out of nowhere.
Lu Yang was silent for a long time, wanting to curse but unsure where to start.
Chronologically, this was the first space-related spell that Lu Yang had mastered, marking a significant milestone.
In terms of innovation, it was a creative take on the Clean Clothes Spell, essentially inventing a new space magic spell.
Logically, it made no sense.
Lu Yang, seeing a tag on the collar that said “for person xxxxx”, realized that this clothing was likely made by a tailor and had not yet been collected by its owner, summoned by his space magic spell.
“Why did my Clean Clothes Spell directly summon a new piece of clothing? What would happen if I cast a Clean Body Spell?” Lu Yang raged, feeling as though the heavens were deliberately limiting his magical talent because of his overflowing brilliance.
Of course, he couldn’t wear these clothes since they belonged to someone else, but Lu Yang didn’t know who the owner was, making it impossible to return them.
Meng Jingzhou even kindly offered to use a genuine Clean Clothes Spell to wash Lu Yang’s clothes, but after several attempts, they ended in failure.
The Clean Clothes Spell could only clean the clothes worn by the caster, making it impossible for Lu Yang to take off his clothes for Meng Jingzhou to wash, only for Meng Jingzhou to then take them off again to return them to Lu Yang.
Having no other options, Lu Yang resigned himself to washing his clothes.
After washing, Lu Yang attempted to hang the clothes outside the window, but the clothesline accidentally slipped from his hands, almost hitting a passerby below.
“Watch out!”
Unexpectedly, the passerby exhibited remarkable agility, deftly dodging the falling clothesline.
Rushing downstairs, Lu Yang recognized the passerby as a new acquaintance, Lan Ting from the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace, who had helped him fight a tiger in Song Mountain over a month ago. He wondered why she was still here.
Lan Ting looked down at the clothesline on the ground, her brows furrowed in thought, as if pondering a question.
Curious, Lu Yang asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Without hesitation, Lan Ting replied, “I was wondering why the clothesline fell to the ground instead of upwards. Could there be an invisible force pulling everything in the world?”
Lu Yang was speechless.
(End of the chapter)