The trapdoor led me to a strange room made of stone, different from the wooden cabin. It was pitch-black, and I couldn't make out much, but my curiosity pushed me forward.
The tunnel led me to a door, revealing the things I did not want to see, yet the very things I had been searching for.
A stone altar stood before me, adorned with glass jars containing the missing organs from the recent murder. I also noticed peculiar drawings on the altar, consisting of circles with symbols.
Connected to another part of the room was a straight line, leading to a small meditation rug. It was evident that the lady had been utilizing the power of those organs to practice a meditation technique!
Indeed, it seemed to be a diabolical form of martial art, just as Kang Duyi had mentioned. I searched for any clues and discovered one—an ancient-looking scroll that exuded a powerful aura.
I paid no mind to whether the lady would notice the scroll's absence.
The technique, despite its malevolence, held great power. Even though I had no intention of studying it, keeping the scroll with me seemed like a wise choice for my own safety.
After acquiring the scroll, I meticulously searched the room for further evidence, but my efforts proved futile. Everything I needed to confirm my suspicions was already present. It became apparent that the red-haired lady I had been tailing was the culprit behind the killings.
Just as I was preparing to make my exit, I suddenly heard commotion from upstairs. Someone had entered the cabin! Panic gripped me as I frantically sought a hiding spot. Unfortunately, the room offered no objects to provide cover, leaving me with only the desperate hope that the intruder wouldn't venture down into the tunnel-like space.
In retrospect, relying on prayer seemed foolish given my streak of misfortune. Within minutes, the creaking of the rusty trapdoor resounded through the room. Someone was drawing nearer. My gaze darted towards the altar, and I realized it offered a potential hiding place. If the person decided to circle around it, my fate would be sealed, but it was a better option than being exposed in the open.
And so, I concealed myself behind the altar.
Time seemed to stand still as I concealed myself behind the altar, straining to control my breathing and remain unnoticed.
Images of my encounter with the red-haired woman in that very room and our ensuing battle flashed through my mind. However, to my disbelief, the person who descended into the room was not her but someone else entirely.
When our eyes met, astonishment washed over me. While I was well aware that people often concealed their true nature, having read countless cultivation novels, experiencing it firsthand was a whole new level of revelation.
To my utter surprise, the individual who entered the room was none other than Kang Duyi himself! It was difficult to fathom how someone I was beginning to trust, a skilled hunter who cared for the well-being of the village, could be involved. But why?
An overwhelming desire surged within me to rise from my hiding spot behind the altar and confront him, to seek the truth. Yet, Kang Duyi merely surveyed the room with a pensive expression before departing.
It dawned on me that Kang Duyi must have grown suspicious of me after I mentioned my intention to search the forest. Moreover, the red-haired girl must have been collaborating with him, indicating that he was also aware of the disappearance of the bloodstained kitchen knife.
I restrained myself from moving until the upstairs noises ceased, ensuring me that Kang Duyi was not around anymore.
The situation had become far more complex than my initial thoughts, with two individuals now intertwined in this diabolical technique and murder.
But why would Kang Duyi provide me with hints about devilish cultivation techniques? Was he attempting to play the role of detective while being the very murderer? Or could there be something else behind his demeanor?
Many questions flooded my mind as I walked away from the isolated wooden cabin, making my way through the forest back to my farm.
What should be my next move? Confront Kang Duyi and uncover the truth? I would do so if I were a naive little boy, but my knowledge extended far beyond naivety.
It was a dangerous situation. If Kang Duyi concealed his true nature, he might also be hiding his true power. What if he was more formidable than me?
Therefore, without succumbing to the urge of getting myself into trouble right away before acquiring more information, I decided to tend to my farm. The crops were growing rapidly, and I was confident they would be ready within three days!
Such a swift growth was remarkable, and I couldn't wait to see if any spiritual herbs, or rather, spiritual potatoes, would be among them. However, despite the crude effectiveness of spiritual herbs in enhancing cultivation, it was preferable to consume them in the form of pills, which meant I needed to learn alchemy!
The only predicament was where to acquire an alchemy cultivation technique. There were a few sects in the area renowned for their expertise in alchemy, although my former Cloud Sect was not one of them. Yet, I had no desire to join a sect at this point.
"Perhaps there's some kind of black market? I've heard rumors of a city for cultivators not too far from here," I murmured to myself, considering the possibilities.
An alchemy cultivation technique was not the only thing I needed. I also required a fundamental meditation technique that would accompany me through the higher realms, improving my chances of success.
I recalled from the cultivation novels that the main character often obtained powerful techniques bestowed upon them by the heavens. While my System could be seen as something divine, it didn't provide me with techniques directly; rather, it assisted me in acquiring resources.
"Oh, my good friend Big T, please help me," I uttered, gazing at the toad perched near the well.
As our eyes met, I detected a glimmer of knowledge and sensed Qi emanating from his body. Suddenly, a new notification materialized before my eyes.
[Beast Taming: Level 1]
[Bonded creatures have an increased likelihood of learning martial arts and cultivation. Developing the Beast Taming skill may even facilitate their evolution!]
"Big T, are you... are you a master cultivator? Please, teach me your ways!" I implored, bowing down before Big T.