Chapter 377: Chapter 376: A List of Four, Balegan

In a blink of an eye, an hour had passed.

Li Jing, patiently waiting, finally felt the vibration of the phone placed on the coffee table.

It has to be said.

The timeliness of Black Butterfly was alarmingly precise.

The time of the message was exactly twelve hours after she had spoken to Li Jing the night before.

Not a second late.

This woman, Li Jing guessed, probably had some form of obsessive-compulsive disorder...

Li Jing thought to himself.

If he were to cooperate with her in the future, he would have to ask for immediate notification of any news.

If Black Butterfly could send messages so punctually, it’s obvious that she waited until the exact moment to send the message, even though she might have received the news earlier.

Shaking his head, Li Jing opened Black Butterfly’s message.

Black Butterfly didn’t disappoint him.

In the message, there were four names and their identities.

Qian Zhixing.

A person from the capital.

Cultivator at the Seventh Realm, resident of the Jiang family estate.

Former Director of the Discipline Inspection Office of the Capital Inspection Headquarters, now retired.

He was the one who accepted the anonymous report against Li Jing.

Zhou Wenlong.

A person from Zhoukou City, now living in the capital.

Cultivator at the Fifth Boundary.

A very famous big merchant at the Spirit Item Trading Market in the capital, with connections in both the underworld and the normal world.

In the underworld, he had a close relationship with a medium-sized force named "Owl Dragon" on Dark Street, being the secret boss behind them.

In the normal world, he was a sworn brother of Qian Zhixing.

The real person who anonymously reported Li Jing.

Balegan, Cultivator at the Sixth Realm.

Place of residence unknown.

An open world disciple of the Witch Gu Sect, currently residing in Xiyue City, serving as the leader of an elite team at the Xiyue City Management Bureau.

He had a close relationship with Lian Ningxin, and was suspected of being her lover.

Like Zhou Wenlong and Qian Zhixing, he had no clear connection.

Shan Meng, Cultivator at Sixth Realm.

Place of residence unknown, open world disciple of the Mist Hidden Door sect, now residing in the capital.

She worked as a neighbourhood director for a street office in the city center, demonstrating strong business capabilities. Although she held a peripheral position within the system, she carried out her duties well and kept her responsible area in order.

She had a close relationship with Lian Ningxin, and they claimed to be sisters.

Like Balegan, she had no clear connection with Zhou Wenlong and Qian Zhixing.

Note: Suspected member of the Sacred Association, but no credible evidence.

After reading the information of the four people, Li Jing frowned.

In four pieces of identity information.

The most eye-catching, without a doubt, was Qian Zhixing, the former Director of the Discipline Inspection Office of the Capital Inspection Headquarters.

Not to mention that he was the one who accepted the anonymous report against Li Jing.

He was also a resident of the Jiang family estate.

This person was worth talking to if necessary.

However, Li Jing felt.

He was likely merely a stepping stone for making the anonymous report against him, not the mastermind behind it.

If the mastermind was found this easily, the Sacred Association would be too inferior.

Moreover, according to the intelligence collected by Black Butterfly, the real person who reported him was Zhou Wenlong.

The chances were that Qian Zhixing was used, acting as a puppet for others.

When it comes to Zhou Wenlong.

This person, who had connections in both the underworld and the normal world, was a bit intriguing.

The chances of him being a member of the Sacred Association were small.

He is more likely a middleman.

However, there’s a high probability that he had certain connections with people related to the Sacred Association.

This guy, he must meet up with.

As for the two sect disciples who had a relationship with Lian Ningxin, needless to say, they needed to meet in person.

Four targets.

Three in the capital, one in Xiyue City.

Thinking for a moment with his phone in hand, Li Jing stood up.

"Smoke Eye."

Smoke Eye was still on the sofa enjoying the soap opera at this moment.

Hearing Li Jing’s call, she reluctantly turned her head and responded with an "Oh", turned off the TV with the remote control, and stood up, turning into a black light and slipping into his body.

Seeing that Smoke Eye was obedient, Li Jing looked inside himself at her on his Spiritual Platform, communicating with her mentally.

"Let’s deal with the important matters first, there’s plenty of time when we get back, you can watch whatever you want."

"Hmm."

Smoke Eye responded indifferently, and then fell silent.

It was a native spirit weapon that had just established a connection with him.

Compared to Linglong and Qingfeng, who had been intimately connected with Li Jing since their birth, Smoke Eye clearly had a sense of alienation towards him.

Li Jing was not in a hurry to close the gap with Smoke Eye.

Although the power level of Smoke Eye, a pure auxiliary spirit weapon, had little significance, he wasn’t in a hurry at this point.

He would find some suitable strengthening materials for Smoke Eye when he had time.

There was no need to worry that she wouldn’t try her best.

Spirit weapons were much purer than humans, they would remember kindness shown to them.

...

A moment later, Li Jing activated the Silent Shadow and left the hotel.

After he returned last night, he no longer felt that vague feeling of being watched.

Obviously the person hidden in the shadows, after being deceived by his Silent Shadow had realized they had been discovered and chose to retreat, not watching him any longer.

There was no one watching him secretly anymore, but that was not a reason for Li Jing to slack off.

Now that he was in the public eye, he needed to be more careful with his actions.

Leaving the hotel and stepping onto the streets, Li Jing walked a stretch along the street, then turned into a bolt of lightning that soared upwards and quickly pivoted in midair, shooting towards Xiyue City.

This was daytime, finding those three from the Capital might not be a good idea.

It would be better to get things done under the cover of night.

Wait until the wee hours of the night, there’s no rush.

Besides, he just left the hotel.

Li Jing couldn’t be sure there weren’t others watching him in the shadows that he hasn’t noticed.

Caution is the parent of safety.

Being careful is always the right thing to do.

With the rule of Thunder Punishment in effect, no one below the Seventh Realm could keep up with his full speed using his Thunderbolt Skill.

More specifically, it had to be someone of the Seventh Realm controlling an Immortal Item.

Li Jing had three Immortal Items on him.

If anyone attempted to use an Immortal Item to tail him, he would know right away.

Unless, like Smoke Eye, they possessed a special Immortal Item capable of perfectly concealing their presence.

The probability of that was extremely low.

...

Using his Thunderbolt Skill to fly at full speed, Li Jing exited the boundaries of the Capital and reached Xiyue City in less than two minutes.

Landing on the outskirts of Xiyue City, Li Jing stowed his Bureau credentials and hailed a taxi to Balegan’s residence.

It was still early, there was no need to rush.

By stowing his Bureau credentials, he would no longer be able to fly, but his movements wouldn’t leave a trace. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Balegan was affiliated with the Xiyue City Management Bureau.

His position wasn’t high though.

He was just the leader of a small elite team.

As a Witch Gu Sect disciple who started his cultivation in the mortal world near the Capital, he was listed in the roster Jiang Liao sent to Li Jing.

Li Jing also confirmed this through the roster.

Balegan started his cultivation in the mortal world much earlier than Spirit Refining Heart, by a full nine years.

Spirit Refining Heart started her cultivation in the mortal world 25 years ago, whereas Balegan started 34 years ago.

This fellow... he’s quite something.

Typically disciples from the Sects who descend to the mortal world will have decent positions in the Earth Realm, outside the Capital. They would then perform feats in their posts to get transferred to the Capital, where they would then be placed in idle positions.

Spirit Refining Heart spent 25 years in Xiyue City, making a living as a minor official in the industrial area.

This could be somewhat understandable.

After all, she was tasked with monitoring the five Witch Gu Sect disciples imprisoned by Liu Shi.

During this period, it was very likely that not only did the Sacred Association play a part, but the Witch Gu Sect itself also needed to monitor, and gave her the task within the Sect.

Spirit Refining Heart mixed around in the industrial park in the outskirts of Xiyue City, which could appease both ends.

Balegan, however, was doing well.

After spending 34 years in Xiyue City, he was just the leader of a local Bureau’s elite team.

According to the roster provided by Jiang Liao.

Even after his descent to the mortal world, he already held this position.

A whole 34 years without any advancement in position.

If he wasn’t intentionally staying put, it could be said that he was a real "talent".

To be able to scrape by so miserably at the Six Realm, among all Sect descendants from hidden worlds, he might be on his own level.

Even in the roster provided by Jiang Liao, there was a clear documentation.

Balegan, a man with a realm but no talent to serve within the system.

The other Witch Gu Sect descendants mentioned in the roster are all much stronger than him, with the most proficient one having become the deputy director of the Management Bureau somewhere a dozen years earlier.

Since the elite team Balegan belonged to was not a permanent establishment of the Xiyue City Management Bureau and would be idle unless in case of emergencies or conscription, Li Jing decided to visit his residence instead.

Balegan’s residence was on the top floor of a luxury apartment in downtown Xiyue City.

In roughly an hour, Li Jing took a taxi to the neighborhood where Balegan lived.

After paying the fare and getting out of the car, Li Jing located the apartment and halted, raising his hand to form a series of handprint seals.

After several handprints, his Heavenly Eye between the eyebrows opened.

His gaze turning left and right to check his surroundings, Li Jing looked up.

The top floor of the apartment was filled with a dense cluster of beings in a light gray color.

These beings were not human-like, instead, they took the small forms of various bugs.

At a glance, there’s no doubt these were the Gu insects reared by Balegan in the apartment.

Gu insects are driven by Gu Skill, not Witchcraft.

But to rear Gu insects, one had to use Witchcraft Power.

Thus, the bodies of Gu insects would contain more or less Witchcraft Power.

Seeing a house filled with Gu insects, Li Jing’s eyes sparkled with greed.

Such a number of them, it’s impossible to count them all!

Even if each one only granted him a hundred Experience Points, it would be super satisfying to harvest all of them at once.

Balegan was pretty bold.

Something as dangerous as Gu insects was being left to roam freely in his apartment.

Wasn’t he afraid of disturbing his neighbors?

Considering the possibility that scattering Gu insects around the apartment might serve as a warning system, Li Jing found a gazebo in the residential area to sit and wait.

With one look through his Heavenly Eye, he saw no human forms among the gathered insects.

It was clear that Balegan was not at home.

If he went upstairs now, all those Gu insects might alert Balegan.

Against a room full of Gu insects, Li Jing might not be able to be on good terms with them either.

It’s best to wait for the man to return.

...

Li Jing ended up waiting for over three hours.

By a little after two in the afternoon, a human-shaped cluster of light gray power finally appeared in the apartment across the street.

Seeing the light gray human shape appear, Li Jing was all alert.

He has finally returned.

After confirming that there was no one nearby, Li Jing deactivated Silent Shadow, took out Smoke Eye and put it on, then had his clothes automatically replaced by his Wind King Mysterious Clothing with a thought.

Since starting his body refining, Li Jing has essentially stopped using the Wind King Mysterious Clothing.

The hastily activated Wind King Mysterious Clothing, provided a defense that was even weaker than his own skin.

At most, it was just an extra element of decoration.

However, the Wind King Mysterious Clothing did possess some ability to deflect attacks, so it could be slightly useful.

Li Jing didn’t bother using it unless necessary.

Even when necessary, he would not use the hastily activated version.

At the moment, he decided to abandon the Silent Shadow and adopt the Wind King Mysterious Clothing.

Li Jing’s main consideration was that the people might not necessarily be connected with the Sacred Association. It was possible that they had met before and parted on good terms, so it was not appropriate for him to reveal too much.

Letting them know that he possesses a magic skill such as Silent Shadow was not a good idea.

Li Jing didn’t have many decent clothes to begin with, basically alternating between a few sets.

By wearing the Wind King Mysterious Clothing, he could avoid having his identity tracked through his clothes.

Up to now.

Not many people had seen the Wind King Mysterious Clothing.

Those who had seen it were either acquaintances of Li Jing.

Or else, were already dead.

Wearing the Wind King Mysterious Clothing, coupled with the Smoke Eye mask to conceal his identity.

This boosted his factor of intimidation in mere minutes.

From head to toe, Li Jing became extremely mysterious.

Choosing to use the Smoke Eye to completely mask his aura, Li Jing, with a thought, cast a Spirit Whisper that ignored anyone else’s presence, casting an ignored impression on all the nearby people.

The Spirit Whisper’s impression was definitely less substantial than the Silent Shadow’s interference of perception.

But supported by his powerful Primordial Spirit.

Li Jing, with a single Spirit Whisper, influenced everyone including Balegan.

After completing the impression, Li Jing took out his mobile phone and contacted Xiao Ai.

"Xiao Ai, shut down all surveillance in the apartment where I am currently located, and restore it after half an hour."

"Received."

Xiao Ai responded instantly, followed by sending a message over.

"Done."

After receiving the reply, Li Jing didn’t delay and leisurely stepped into the apartment building where Balegan resided, and took the elevator upstairs.

Before long.

He arrived at the penthouse and extended his hand to ring the bell of Balegan’s apartment.

"Ding Dong."

A soft sound.

Having just returned not too long ago, Balegan quickly opened the door.

Due to the prior impression effect.

Despite Li Jing standing right in front of him, the completely affected Balegan perceived him as if he was invisible.

In his line of sight, there was no Li Jing.

Seeing no one after stepping out, Balegan knitted his eyebrows and checked both sides.

Li Jing took the opportunity to enter and sat down on the sofa.

Just as he settled down, Balegan, filled with doubt, retreated back into the room. Before closing the door, he released a few bug beasts outside the door.

It must be said, sometimes the Gu Skill can be quite convenient.

Seeing Balegan return to the room and close the door, Li Jing, with a thought, lifted the impression on him.

As the impression was lifted, Balegan instantly froze.

Although he hadn’t turned around at this moment, after all, he was a member of a sect with a cultivation level of the Sixth Realm, and this room was filled with his Gu insects.

The instant unfamiliar presence in the room gave him immediate alert.

Cold sweat imperceptibly seeped from Balegan’s forehead.

He didn’t know when Li Jing had entered.

But he could guess.

The one who rang the doorbell just now must be Li Jing, undoubtedly.

Someone had entered his house right under his nose.

Yet, he had no awareness of it at all.

Not only that, none of his Gu insects in the room were aware either.

Balegan was not stupid.

He quickly realized.

Li Jing let him be aware now because the former hoped he would.

The method employed was a spiritual level technique!

The ability to influence him so easily indicated a gap of at least one large realm between the two.

Seventh Realm!

With a forceful swallow, Balegan slowly turned around.

Confronted by Li Jing, in a green robe and a ghostly mask, Balegan felt a chill in his heart.

Although he could clearly see Li Jing’s form now, he felt no aura at all. It was as if what sat there was not a person, but a void.

In normal circumstances.

Balegan would have taken action a long time ago.

Even though he was only the captain of an elite squad from the Xiyue City Management Bureau, he was still a member of the official establishment.

If someone entered his house without his permission, he could kill them without repercussions.

However, at this moment, he didn’t dare to move a muscle.

Seeing Balegan turn around without daring to breathe, and the Gu insects that were previously crawling around the room now all huddled up, Li Jing was somewhat disappointed.

Everything else was fine.

He was mainly craving these Gu insects.

Balegan’s intense desire for survival made it inconvenient for him to exterminate these insects.

With a quiet sigh, Li Jing waved his hand and pointed at the spot next to him, his voice husky.

"Sit, I have a few questions to ask you."

Balegan hesitated upon hearing this, then silently walked over and sat down.

Then, he carefully sized up Li Jing a couple of times.

Seeing that the person did not appear to have clear malicious intent, he plucked up the courage to laugh dryly.

"Senior..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Jing shot him a casual glance.

"I ask, you answer, no nonsense."

Balegan immediately shut his mouth, his will to live intense.

Looking at him behave like this, Li Jing concluded that he was unlikely to be a member of the Sacred Association.

Lian Ningxin’s death was a fact of yesterday.

As a fellow disciple, Balegan must have received the news.

If he were a member of the Sacred Association like Lian Ningxin, he should have been able to draw some conclusions.

If there were conclusions, he would not just sit by waiting for death.

With a preliminary judgment in his mind, Li Jing spoke.

"Was Lian Ningxin involved with your lover?"

At the sudden utterance of the name "Lian Ningxin", Balegan’s pupils contracted and his face gradually cooled.

"Are you involved in Ningxin’s death, senior?"

In response to the counter-question, Li Jing rudely sent over a shock version of the Spirit God Whisper.

Balegan immediately felt a sharp pain in his head, his witchcraft power scattered for the most part, surprising him into trying to stabilize his cultivation.

"I ask, you answer, and don’t make me repeat myself for a second time."

Li Jing said, his voice low and neutral.

This time, Balegan dared not to resist and responded in a low voice.

"I and Ningxin are not lovers, we just grew closer because we both study under the same master."

Upon receiving this answer, Li Jing nodded.

"You know of Lian Ningxin’s death, presumably from a notification. What do you know about her death?"

"I only received news of her death, I never even saw her body."

Balegan responded, gritting his teeth.

"They say the murderer was an inspector, but the inspection bureau has not provided me with clear identity information."

Li Jing looked at him and asked,

"Do you want to avenge Lian Ningxin?"

"Yes."

Balegan nodded without hesitation, then looked straight at him.

"But I really want to know why, why he had to kill Ningxin."

Meeting his gaze, Li Jing clearly felt Balegan’s rage boiling under his eyes.

This was someone truly obsessed with the cause of Lian Ningxin’s death.

Possibly if Li Jing told him now that Lian Ningxin had died in front of him, he might instantly turn hostile and fight with him to the death.

The two of them were not lovers.

But it seemed like they were just one step short of it.

Shaking his head slightly, Li Jing said,

"You know the news of Lian Ningxin’s death, so you should know that besides her, there were five other disciples of the Witch Gu Sect who died from Gu Skill?"

Balegan was slightly startled when he heard this, and then his face turned extremely ugly as if realizing something.

Obviously.

He knew about the situation of those five people who had been imprisoned by Liu Shi and Lian Ningxin was in charge of watching over them.

However, he didn’t receive the news that those five people were already dead.

Understanding this, Li Jing narrowed his eyes.

If the Inspection Bureau reported it, there should be no omission.

Although those five people had been wasted by Liu Shi, they were still people from the Witch Gu Sect after all.

If the Inspection Bureau had reported Lian Ningxin’s death to Balegan, there was no reason why they would have omitted those five people.

Therefore.

Balegan got the news from someone else.

That person should know his identity, but for some reason didn’t dare to say it too directly, simply pointing Balegan in a direction.

Looking at Balegan’s current unpleasant expression, it was clear he wasn’t a fool.

He had realized that Lian Ningxin’s death was not simple.

At the same time, he was also aware.

The death message he received contained some of the sinister calculations of certain people with ulterior motives.

Not seeking to ask directly, Li Jing asked,

"It seems that you knew Lian Ningxin was in the distant suburb Industrial Park to monitor those five people, and part of it was commissioned by the Witch Gu Sect?"

Balegan nodded silently, indicating it was indeed the case.

Getting a positive response, Li Jing said in a low voice,

"From what I understand, Lian Ningxin didn’t die from being attacked, but committed suicide because she failed to resist arrest. If it was simply commissioned by the Witch Gu Sect, there might have been room for turning things around, it seems there are other reasons involved. In this matter, do you know..."

Before he could finish speaking, Balegan sighed.

"I have a rough idea why you are here, senior, I’m sorry I can’t provide much useful information. Since you could find me, you should know that I haven’t made much substantial progress over the years I’ve been in this world. It’s not that I didn’t want to progress, but that I was powerless to adapt to the dog-eat-dog environment of the mortal world. I don’t like that, and because of my temperament, I’m hot-tempered and easily irritable, so to avoid making mistakes, I try as much as possible not to get involved in those things."

Having said this, he revealed a weary expression and continued.

"I know a little bit about what Ningxin was doing behind the back of Witch Gu Sect. After all, we both grew up together from a young age, you could say we were childhood sweethearts. I know she got involved with some strange sect disciples, and in addition to her, there were some other disciples of our Witch Gu Sect involved, they were trying to gain some power in the secular world. Ningxin once tried to pull me in, but I chose to refuse. I knew what not to do and tried to dissuade her, but she never wanted to listen."

Listening to Balegan’s narrative, Li Jing fell silent for a moment, then rose silently.

"Sorry to disturb you."

Saying this, he was about to give Balegan a Spirit God Whisper so he would forget having seen him.

But before he could act, Balegan, anticipating what he would face, stood up and spoke.

"Senior, please show mercy, let me understand."

As he spoke, he added,

"As an exchange, I won’t pursue who the inspector who caused Ningxin’s death is. Besides, although I don’t know exactly who Ningxin was involved with among the disciples of various sects, I know that among the disciples of the Witch Gu Sect, there’s another who was with her, and he’s the one who told me about Ningxin’s death."

Li Jing turned his head upon hearing these words.

"Tell me, who is it."

"Wo Lingzhu."

Balegan responded coldly.

Li Jing nodded and said,

"Hopefully everything you said is true. Otherwise, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will still find you. Remember, you’ve never seen me."

With that, he turned and left.

...