Chapter 55: Cao Yang
Lin Jiang came back from the bustling market and saw a person standing at the door.
The person saw Lin Jiang returning and immediately squeezed out a smile, coming forward and saying, "Taoist Friend Lin, you're back!"
"What's the matter, Taoist friend Liao?"
"Ah, it's all because of my younger brother. Today, he was practicing magic in the courtyard and lost control. He almost broke through the protective formation of your house. I've come to apologize for it."
"Again?"
Lin Jiang's face darkened instantly. The person in front of him was called Liao Wengui, one of the three brothers in the family. He had a younger brother named Liao Lianggui and a third brother named Liao Fugui.
The three brothers rented a house next to Lin Jiang and became neighbors. In Yunzhong City, it is very common for small families like theirs to live together. Being with their own people makes them feel safer compared to outsiders.
The youngest of the Liao family, Liao Lianggui, is an enthusiast of the art of cultivation. He spends all his time practicing cultivation and even holds a record of not eating for five years, relying only on the Inedia Pill. If this was a world of martial arts, he would be considered a fanatic.
However, Lin Jiang prefers to call him the "Hard-working King". This guy is too devoted to his cultivation that Lin Jiang has ever seen countless diligent cultivators, but he has never seen someone so dedicated like him.
"I'm sorry, Taoist Friend Lin, it's just a small token of appreciation, please don't refuse."
Liao Lianggui brought out a tray of pastries, which he made himself. He makes a living from selling these pastries and setting up stalls at the big market. Business is quite good for him.
"No need, just make sure he's careful in the future and doesn't play like this again. Not everyone has my patience. If he encounters someone with a bad temper, the guards can have him expelled."
Lin Jiang's expression turned cold. He didn't take what he offered. Lin Jiang doesn't easily accept food from others.
The actions of the youngest of the Liao family are also very dangerous. Whether intentional or not, he has repeatedly touched the defensive array of someone else's house, which can be seen as an act of aggression. It can be reported to the guards and he might be expelled.
"Yes, yes, I will definitely educate him properly. Thank you very much, Taoist Friend Lin."
"Hmm, one more thing, in the future, when you make a mistake, let your younger brother apologize personally instead of always apologizing yourself as the older brother."
Lin Jiang said, then he walked into the house. He wasn't familiar with the Liao family, who had moved in six months ago. They were a large family, but he wouldn't have known them if Liao Fugui hadn't occasionally practiced his spells and accidentally attacked their house.
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In the evening, Lin Jiang was drawing symbols. With the increase in living expenses, he needed to earn money faster, so he would work extra hours every night, draw two more symbols, and then go to sleep.
Suddenly, Lin Jiang sensed movement outside the door. This immediately made him alert. Cultivators didn't have pests like cockroaches or mice at home because even if they did, they would be detected by the cultivator's spiritual awareness and exterminated physically.
Lin Jiang touched his body and made sure he was wearing his protective armor. He felt much safer. Then, he adjusted the positions of his storage bag and Spirit Beast Bag, put down his brush, and waited for the important guest to arrive.
But after two hours, there was still no movement outside the door. This made Lin Jiang uneasy. Could it have been an illusion earlier?
"You're quite vigilant, very good."
Just as Lin Jiang hesitated whether to go out and check, he heard a voice behind him. Lin Jiang quickly turned around and saw a person standing in front of him.
Lin Jiang felt scared and sweaty, is this the strength of an assassin? If the other person wanted to kill him, he might already be done for.
"Cao Yang, it's not very polite to suddenly barge into my house."
"It is quite impolite, my wife doesn't like this."
"Are you here to kill me?"
"A few years ago, I wanted to kill you, but not anymore. After all, you saved my wife's life. My family owes you a favor."
Cao Yang said that a few years ago, he had a strong desire to kill Lin Jiang. One reason was that he knew Lin Jiang was rich, and the other reason was that he suspected Lin Jiang was Jiang Lin from back then. His mother used to do business in the marketplace and, due to being alone and helpless, had to do whatever it took to survive. This was a great shame for Cao Yang, who had a strong sense of dignity, so he punished anyone who took advantage of his mother.
"So, what are you here for? Did you have a fight with your wife and came to hide here?"
"Haha, you're quite amusing."
"Did I guess correctly?"
"Wrong, coming here was to ask for your help."
Cao Yang rolled his eyes, who are these people? How can their minds be so small-minded, don't they have any broader perspective?
"You say, I'll help however I can."
"You know my identity, right?"
"I know, otherwise how could I save your wife."
"Hmm, I am an assassin from the Dark Night Organization. I recently took a big job and if I fail, I'll die. Even if I succeed, there's still a 50% chance I'll die. If I don't die, I have to escape."
"You wouldn't want to entrust your wife and child to me, would you?"
"Smart."
"I'm afraid that won't work."
Lin Jiang said. Young man, aren't you afraid of me becoming a villain? Does anyone really do things like this?
"Even if it's not okay, it has to be okay. Besides, I won't let you suffer. I have also saved you once."
"What do you mean?"
"Did a family move in next to your house half a year ago?"
"The Liao family, what happened to them?"
"The Liao family is on my side. They are also members of the Dark Night Organization, but they are younger generation. Our organization has been undercover for many years. They are extremely poor, so they have resorted to doing bandit activities. They are planning to attack and kill you. The third son of the Liao family, Liao Fugui, is a fanatic in practicing martial arts, but he's not foolish. He used the pretext of practicing secret techniques to test the strength of your defensive formation. At the same time, he wanted people around to get used to such disturbances."
Cao Yang looked at Lin Jiang and slowly said, Lin Jiang's face became completely ugly, and there was a surge of resentment in his heart. After all these years, Lin Jiang has been low-key and kind to others, yet there are still people targeting him. It's simply unfair.
"Tsk tsk, such strong killing intent. Not bad, not bad, a trace of courage."
"Thank you so much."
"No need, I will help you solve the problem for the Liao family."
"Do your own work, take revenge for yourself."
"Haha, this is also my business. Their other task is to monitor me. I just helped you on the side, no need to thank me too much."
"Let me ask you another question. Are you really at ease entrusting your family to me, who is at a lower cultivation level than you, in the Building Foundation Period while you have a higher cultivation level than me, even your wife?"
"Haha, Lin Yang, Lin Yang, guess how many times I have been to your house."
"You..."
Lin Jiang suddenly was dumbfounded. How could he forget about this? This guy must know many secrets about him, like the Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao.
"Why are you in a hurry? I won't expose you."
"You're ruthless."
"I like being straightforward. My wife is no longer as decisive as before. Things changed when we had children. If I leave or die, you must take good care of them. Otherwise, our family will be informed, and you will also be in danger."
Cao Yang said, he revealed one of Lin Jiang's identities. Aurora falcon is very unique, not many people in Yunzhong City can raise them, and he had two of them. With just a little investigation, you can find out that He Yunwei, the young master of the He family, was killed.
"Okay, I promise you. Even during the Building Foundation Period, or later, if we engage in direct combat, I have the ability to protect myself."
Lin Jiang immediately said, but this statement is also vague. What does it mean to engage in direct combat? What does it mean to protect oneself? Hehe, no explanation.
"Alright, I'll go now."
"Wait a moment."
"Is there something else?"
"I want to ask, how did you break through my family's defense formation? My control token didn't respond. Does the neighboring Liao family have this ability?"
There is a special spiritual tool called Breaking Array Cone. It requires unique materials and refining techniques. This Breaking Array Cone can cut a small opening in formations that are below second-tier quality. As long as it's done quickly, the formation will not react.
I don't know how it's made or what materials are needed. I just got it unexpectedly. The Liao family next door can't do this, so don't worry. They are just minor characters.
"Thank you."
Lin Jiang bowed and thanked him, jotting down the name. He wanted to try it out in the future, as it is an essential tool for home and travel, a weapon for killing.
Cao Yang smiled and then walked out of the room. He made a gesture on the formation, and a gap appeared. Cao Yang jumped through the gap into the neighboring room.
"Liao family, do they think I'm an easy target? Can anyone just watch me?"
Lin Jiang looked at the neighboring room on the left and coldly said. He hated being watched like this. After being followed by Shi Tong for so long, he couldn't relax for years. He had to stay on high alert. And now this?
"Shadiao, it's time for dinner."
Lin Jiang summoned Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao, feeding them the Demon Core fragments. He hadn't given them any before because he was afraid they would become too powerful and hard to sustain. But now he needed them to enhance their strength for self-defense.
The Demon Core had a deadly attraction to the demon beasts. Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao swallowed them in one bite. Lin Jiang waited for an hour, relieved that they didn't fall into a deep sleep. He was afraid that if they slept for several years, the food would go bad, and the grass on his grave would grow several yards tall.
However, Lin Jiang discovered the next day that Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao couldn't eat anymore. He guessed that the Demon Core's energy was too strong and had filled them up. That way, they could save some money on food.
