Data-Driven Daoist

“I quit this stupid sect!” Bloodhound One shouted. He galloped on all fours like a beast, leaving dust in his wake.

White light surrounded his body as if air streams were parting to make way. He streaked past the dumbfounded Law Enforcers and appeared at the end of the road where it forked.

With each stomp, the earth cracked, mounds of dirt blasting up. He clawed the dirt, pulling himself forward. Accelerating with each beat.

If Bloodhound One left the area controlled by the Stormy Reef Sect, he could seek asylum with the Ten Thousand Poisonous Thunder Sect.

He knew too many secrets. They wanted those secrets.

For his safety, they would get those secrets!

“You dare lose me face,” a high-pitched voice said.

A man stood in the middle of the fork, one hand pulled back like a taut arrow.

“Move—” Bloodhound One shouted. His fingers clawed, sharp nails tempered with blood and poison aimed for the man’s throat.

The punch hit him first.

Bloodhound One blasted backwards, with speeds faster than his talisman had granted. He spun in mid-air, teeth and flesh fragments raining down with blood splattering in spirals.

His body crashed onto the ground. He slid, all the way until he was at Tan Ruoxuan’s feet again.

“Is he dead?” Li Yao whistled. “That’s a sad way to go.”

A Law Enforcer bound him in chains. This time, they used triple the amount.

“Check him for more talismans,” Tan Ruoxuan ordered.

She bowed to the Foundation Building Senior Brother who had stopped Bloodhound One. “This one thanks the Senior Brother for his timely help.” It was the same man who had demanded proof from them earlier.

“The Suppressing Evil Chains are supposed to negate Qi,” the man said with a scowl. “What trash are you using? Does the sect not fund you?”

He scoffed, then turned around, walking away.

Tan Ruoxuan remained bowed until the man was out of sight.

Seeing the drama ending, the crowd scattered. They left behind words of disregard or admiration. Some snooped around, hoping to know more of the inside story.

They were chased away by the guard.

The Law Enforcers stripped the captured Mad Bloodhounds near-naked. They found more talismans on Bloodhound One.

A few Earth Grade ones in fact.

“We return,” Tan Ruoxuan said. “Is your mission complete?”

Huang Niuniu hefted a bag filled with Lesser Nurturing Bloodferns. The rest were of course stored in Fang Zhao’s storage ring.

They passed through the Viridian Glade Gateway Village. All around them, disciples parted. Word of what happened had already spread.

On the other side of the Realm Crossing Passageway, they handed over 15 stalks of Lesser Nurturing Bloodferns to the reception desk manned by the Mission Hall. Three for each member in the group including Fei Rui. This was tax. Then they handed over 15 more stalks, the minimum amount they had to submit for the external mission itself. After Mistress Miao had eaten most of the stalks, there were barely fifty left. It was enough for their mission.

They received 30 contribution points in return, registering it with their tokens.

So including tax, the minimum submission is actually 30 stalks for five heads? The tax is 50%, jeez.

The sect didn’t, or rather, couldn’t tax a lot of what the disciples found in the Hidden Realm. Storage devices notwithstanding, it was hard to put values on artefacts. The minimum amount of submission and per head tax acted more like post-paid tickets to the Hidden Realm, one and the same with the mission passes.

Tax in the Outer Sect Marketplace, the Great Barrier City, and the various towns and villages were imposed more strictly, though the rate was much lower than 50% depending on the case. The Administrative Hall had a whole separate branch that oversaw this.

“Register your Mystic Cloud-Patterned Cat at the Heavenly Friendship Palace,” the senior sister manning the desk said. “Next time, you’ll have to pay tax for it too. That, or a fine.”

Mistress Miao meowed. She glared at the receptionist.

“I-Is it a Mystic Cloud-Patterned Tiger cub?” she asked.

“It’s a Mystic Cloud-Patterned Calico,” Fang Zhao replied.

Fei Rui strolled out of the Realm Crossing Passageway, followed by the group of four humans and one Mystic Cloud-Patterned Tiger.

Tan Ruoxuan met them again on the other side. She had taken the passage reserved for Law Enforcers.

“It’s better to go back to the Night Alchemists’ Yard,” she said. “I will meet you in the next few days. Be wary of the Liang Clan. They can’t target me, but for you, they certainly can make life harder.”

“Great,” Yu Han grumbled.

“It is lucky that the Jade of Moments didn’t record anything incriminating for the Liang Clan,” Tan Ruoxuan said. “It would be unusable otherwise.”

“So Law isn’t enforced?” Yu Han said. It came out with more barbs than he wanted.

“That is reality,” Tan Ruoxuan said. “We can only work within it. And change comes slow.”

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The ponytailed policewoman took her leave.

On the way back, Fei Rui acted as a guide for Mistress Miao.

“Why is it called the Banana Moss River?” The cat dipped a paw in the water.

「It has Banana trees on two sides and lots of moss?」

When they passed by the Grotto of Three Old Frogs.

“Who are the Three Old Frogs?”

「I think it’s this one, this one, and that one.」 Fei Rui pointed at three colourful toads. They were no doubt poisonous.

They reached the Night Alchemists’ Yard by midday.

“Frowning boy,” Mistress Miao said. “What do we do now?”

Huang Niuniu rushed to the spirit compost pits to check if Feral Spot was there.

Yu Han would relax at the hot spring. Li Yao and Fang Zhao followed.

“Frowning boy, what do we do now?” Mistress Miao asked.

They relaxed for a few hours.

Wen Liujie joined them midway through. The young man looked a lot more healed.

They chatted about the Mad Bloodhounds.

“In the grand scheme of things, they aren’t important.” Wen Liujie scooped up water with a ladle and poured it on Fei Rui’s shell. “As long as you don’t directly cross the Liang Clan, it won’t matter. The nobles are watching their steps because of the Sect Master. As for the Liang Son-in-law, it’s your bad luck if he’s the petty type. Overall, it’s good riddance.”

“This is giving me a headache,” Yu Han complained.

“Frowning boy, what do we do now?” Mistress Miao asked.

“This is the men’s side,” Fang Zhao said. “Pervert.”

“You’re a boy, not a man,” Mistress Miao said.

Fang Zhao splashed her with water. She deftly dodged and jumped up on the dividing fence.

“Why are you always frowning?” she asked. There was genuine curiosity in her voice.

“I am not,” Fang Zhao said. His teeth made griding sounds. He splashed more water.

“When looking at me,” Mistress Miao dodged again.

Fang Zhao’s hand stopped. He punched the hot spring.

“Ignoring her won’t solve anything,” Li Yao shrugged. “Better be a man and set some boundaries.”

“I know,” Fang Zhao said. He sank into the hot spring until only his eyes were above water and blew bubbles.

Fei Rui joined him.

Wen Liujie looked at the interactions and shrugged. “I’m off. Remember to register the cat in the Heavenly Friendship Palace if you have agreed on an accord. Talking cats are rare, Qi Speak before level 11 is rarer. She’ll be a great employee to the night soil collectors.”

Tan Ruoxuan dropped by that evening.

“Only two years left,” she said to Wen Liujie. “Until we are 30.”

“Marriage is an overrated construct—,” Wen Liujie said.

Tan Ruoxuan unsheathed her sword.

“—but of course, that’s the opinion I’ve read from a strange book written by a dimwitted fool.” He waved his hand.

“Two years.”

“… she said with a menacing voice,” Yu Han narrated.

“Stop with the menacing voice,” Wen Liujie told his fiance.

“… he said while cowering,” Yu Han continued.

“I’m demoting you!” Wen Liujie threw him out of the study.

Yu Han walked away while cursing the man. Having a time limit must have really made him twitchy.

It’s really not easy for Common Talents, is it? Yu Han was level 2 now. How long would it take for him to reach Level 11?

Wen Liujie at least had two years. But Yu Han had less than one.

In ten months, the Rookie Tournament would be held.

There were three options. One, he ‘took care’ of Sima Yan before that. Two, he became so strong he could slug Sima Yan (and hopefully his backers) to the cesspool. Three, even without martial prowess, had made himself so valuable that not even Inner or Core disciples would dare to touch him.

“We confirmed that the Mad Bloodhounds really did traffic two disciples with wisp-type bloodlines to the Verdant Blade Sect,” Tan Ruoxuan said.

“Was there any doubt?” Yu Han asked.

“It is nevertheless proper to confirm,” Tan Ruoxuan said. “They had disguised it as death. Their ploy was clever enough.”

“Is the sect going to do something about it?” Yu Han asked.

“For two outer sect disciples of Common talent,” Tan Ruoxuan frowned. “Even if the sect elders confront the Verdant Blade Sect, we have nothing to go off other than the involuntary confessions by our own misdeed-conducting disciples.”

“Not even the sect master can help?”

“Even he has to prioritize long-term gains versus immediate returns,” Tan Ruoxuan said. “Two Common disciples. It really is not worth it to disturb regional peace for their sake.”

“So what now?” Yu Han didn’t expect the sect to doggedly pursue justice on behalf of two long-forgotten disciples. But of the two kidnapped wisps, didn’t one have a lover still searching in the Hidden Realm And the other one’s sister entered the Inner Sect. “Would the inner sect disciple care?” He asked.

“Not all inner sect disciples are direct disciples,” Tan Ruoxuan said.

“Difficult.” Yu Han scratched the wooden pillar.

“I must admit my own dissatisfaction. I am powerless, and the feeling is not pleasant.” Tan Ruoxuan handed him a pouch. “Even if the sect can’t confront the Verdant Blade Sect, they’ll offer reimbursements to the victims’ loved ones. If not, how can they ensure loyalty? This fiasco had too many witnesses.”

“And let me guess, this pouch is reimbursement for the victims that didn’t get victimized properly?” Yu Han opened the pouch. There was a Sea of Gold Commerce token. “Money?”

Tan Ruoxuan shook her head. “In a few days, the Mad Bloodhound’s assets will be tallied. What can be will be stored in the Sea of Gold Chamber of Commerce. Pick them up with the token. Divide them among you four—six, how you see fit. Parts of it will go to the close ones of the other two wisps. The Liang Clan will also throw in something extra for everyone.”

“So that we don’t make a bigger deal out of it?” Yu Han said. He wanted to smirk, but what good was it showing to Tan Ruoxuan? They wanna buy our silence.

“Do what you will at your own peril,” Tan Ruoxuan said.

“I have ten months until Sima Yan and his Inner Sect backer comes for my ass.”

“You need not be afraid,” Tan Ruoxuan said. “As I mentioned earlier, not all Inner Sect disciples are direct disciples. I looked him up, and Sima Quanqing is only an indirect disciple of Elder Shu Wangli, who is an Early Core Formation Body Cultivator. In fact, Sima Quanqing isn’t a body cultivator himself, and is far from receiving the Elder’s personal tutelage. He is more of a servant than an actual disciple.”

“He still had Gong Muhua at his beck and call,” Yu Han said. “Don’t cultivators care about face? Would Elder Shu Wangli be offended if I dared to defy his indirect disciples?”

“Elder Chang values you. As does Worm Daoist Feral Spot,” Tan Ruoxuan said. “Wait here.”

She dragged Wen Liujie from the study. “Gong Muhua was here recently, was he not?”

“The fool wants us to unclog his outhouse,” Wen Liujie laughed, failing to unclasp Tan Ruoxuan’s grip on his collar. “The Night Soil Collectors collect night soil from cesspolls and ghouls. We don’t fix outhouses.”

Tan Ruoxuan nodded.

“No disrespect to Elder Chang and Feral Spot,” Yu Han said. “They’re still Foundation Building. Shu Wangli is a Core Formation Realm powerhouse.”

“Elder Chang’s Master is the Nascent Soul Elder in charge of the Alchemy Hall. A Core Elder,” Tan Ruoxuan said. “Elder Chang is a direct disciple. He has Core Formation senior brothers and sisters.”

“Oh.”

“Worm Daoist Feral Spot is one of the three direct heirs to the Gorge Crawling Earthworm Tribe,” Tan Ruoxuan continued. “His ancestor is the current God of Underground Spaces of this part of the Sunken Mountains Peninsula. Also Nascent Soul, a Spirit Beast with both Spiritual and Divine Cultivation. Feral Spot thinks Huang Niuniu is his pet. And you all are his grandpets.”

“He thinks what?”

“Pretty sure Huang Niuniu thinks Feral Spot is her pet,” Wen Liujie said. “Funny how this works.”

“The Sect Master’s youngest disciple, Young Dragon Duan Xiaolong visited the Outer Sect Law Enforcement Hall today.” Tan Ruoxuan had a subtle glimmer of respect in her eyes when she mentioned Duan Xiaolong. “The Liang Clan’s people were there, causing a scene. They wanted to intervene in the investigation. He made them back off.”

Duan Xiaolong, Yu Han hadn’t expected that name to pop up again.

“Many people have their eyes on you and Huang Niuniu. Why are the Verdant Blade Sect so adamant on gathering wisps?” Tan Ruoxuan said. “Not to mention the exiled heir of the Trueforge Fang Clan. It’s not you who has ten months. It’s Sima Yan.”

Yu Han didn’t know how to reply.

Tan Ruoxuan and Wen Liujie left him alone. They might have had romantic things to talk about.

Yu Han fiddled with the token.

He looked inwards, expecting to feel the dread coming from the one-year deadline that had been hanging over his neck like a Damocles Sword.

It’s gone? Just like that?