The way that things go for investigations is to find the most reasonable sources of information, to catch a whiff of corruption is to go hotbeds for rumors and information, another alternative is to find frequent locations where criminals gather.

Alleyways, Red Light Districts, Night Markets, Black Markets, Inn, and Wineries, some are more accessible than the others but these should be where they usually find themselves, unless they are the abstinent kind of bandits.

For criminals however, to live the life of crime to have temporary riches and pleasures go down their vanity drain but I'm not sure it always applies. These things are how they go but I might just be ignorant.

"Brother Yong, what will we do now?", Ruiyu Ai asks me as we casually walk through the streets.

"Well see how the outskirts are. Usually one can find out the situation of the city by finding out its populace. Try to take note of the cultivation that people have around us, alright?", I'm going to find out the lay of the land by looking for any slums and the mortal citizens of the city. While doing that, Ai can help me to keep track of the average strength and concentration of cultivators in the city. Honestly, the clans should hold statistics on this, this is the reason why foreign rogue and criminal cultivators can slip in so easily. Oh well, the economy is somewhat booming so people come in and out frequently and I'm not the best when it comes to management.

Hmm, I can see a good amount of homeless people but not at much as I expected... interesting. I can hear the cries and groans around. I glance at one of the children here, they were sitting around with bloodied rags, their hands were dirty but at least their faces were somewhat cleaned, it seems the parents with him also consider their child's hygiene... but on the other hand...

"P-please...money...I beg you...I'm hungry...", I look at a young and frail woman, a bit pretty but her body is a testament to her poor situation, hungered and homeless... hmm

"Sure, I'll give you something, if you can answer this. Do you know where Lily Village is?", I smile warmly at the beggar.

"??, Y-yes, Lily Village is just half a day away from the east gate.", She seems confused at first but then answers hurriedly.

I give her a tael of silver, "You've been begging in the streets. Do not have anyone with you?", She took the tael and thanked me a lot before answering, "No..."

Alright, that's all I need, "Let's go Sister Ai.", We went on ahead. Ruiyu asks me, "Was there something about her?"

I chuckle as I responded, "She's a dreg to society.", Ruiyu Ai widens her eyes and looks at me in confusion. I guess I'll have to explain it to her.

"If you know, life is really important but a life without a purpose is meaningless. These people in the slums are dregs, useless and don't contribute to society at all. In fact, they are just leeching off on the the middle and low class that try to make ends meet in day to day life.

There aren't much slum people and the environment there is bloody and dirty. Did you see the corpses lying around?", I ask her. To which she nods.

"Some of them died by swords or spears... cultivator or guards? I'm not sure specifically but their population is being kept under a certain point. Have you seen the child with bloody rags?", I couldn't be referring to any other as there was only one child among the bunch. Once again, she nods her head.

"The child is a cannibal, his clothes couldn't wash off the blood, you can see the stains such as blood dripping from the mouth. His parents were smart enough to wash his face, at least.

Remember the beggar girl begging to me? Although she is weak and hungry, she has the capability to walk. The area around here doesn't have any store for food and such. She doesn't want money for food because she could have gone somewhere else with more chances at gaining them.

Lily Village is just half a day away and there are the least amount of monsters in the direction of the east gate due to the bustling amount of cultivators in that direction. She's a prostitute, I could see some gloss on her mouth...", I enumerated everything I could find and reasoned out why I thought is the best explanation.

"Now I might not totally be correct but that's just how it is. The darkest part of society might just be out in the daylight.", Ruiyu Ai seems to have understood. Villages appear for a reason, the City did not want beggars but the latter insist on doing so, believing that they leech the people.

"Then again... mortals are but bugs and grass to the immortals and might more or less experience oppression, no matter their economic situation is stable or not.", I enter an inn with Ruiyu as I left it on that note.

"Good Morning guest! We have 3 Silver Taels for one night. A meal is for a Silver Tael. We also give a large room with double beds for 8 Silver Taels.", A young and polite man greeted us I give a 8 Gold Taels, "We will stay in a double bed room for a week. Prepare for us 2 meals.", Finally, mortal meals, I hate every abstinent cultivator out there that just relies of food supplements... this is why they become stale, prideful, and narrow-minded.

Grounding yourself to the perspective of the mortal and raising yourself to the perspective of the immortals, to know both Heaven and Earth and the vastness in between... Only a few can know this and even Protagonists lose sight with their absolute power... I shouldn't be like them. But I also can't bring myself to be a truly righteous person. After all, people might believe in the might of deities but don't trust their benevolence, I'll be placing that as a personal preference of mine.

"We're new to Sky Fall City, tell me, who are the clans here?"

"Dear Guest, The three Shan, Ping, Xia clans watch over Sky Fall City."

"Oh? Tell me more. Which clan is on top the others?"

"That, sir, the clans are in a three-way peace relation."

"I see, they are similar to the Fei, Wang, Mo clans in Yellow Wine City, what is the situation like for those clans?"

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"Sister Ai, have ever drunk wine before?"

"No I haven't yet. Will I drink any?"

"No... well, you don't have to but we're going to a winery."

"I see. I prefer not to drink wine."

"It's alright, we won't be there for drinking after all...", I glance at the street vendors that are selling a lot of food, I also look at Ruiyu Ai, we've already eaten but she seems to want these.

"Would you like to eat some?"

"Really? Yes, Brother Yong!", Damn, the feeling of wanting to spoil her senseless has arisen. Is this the power of the Demoness? How terrifying~

"Alright, alright. We can get a lot of them for you.", Her eyes lit up, wait is she starting to salivate, wait, don't, your expression is making me have mixed emotions-

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"Drunken *hic* brother... this is the *hic* best wine I could afford.", I energetically inform my new source of information. 

"Brother, brother! *hic* this is the most expensive wine of the house!"

" *hic* The winemaker knows his stuff! Another jar!", I shout to the clerk.

"Ah~, It would be best *hic* to have a fair lady in a brothel to finish the dayyy~", I slur and sigh out my sentiments. I can just attune to vanity coming from my mouth.

"Don't you have the fine miss by your side?", He smiles and gesture to Ruiyu Ai by my side, oh, she's blushing, how cute.

"You must *hic* be kidding brother! This is my sister!", I dare not look at my side, did she hang her head down? Was her thought process interrupted and set in with disappointment? I'm not sure, I had a goal to focus on hand.

"Your sister is my sister too! I apologize Sister Ai!", He retracts his statement and changes his proposition.

"*hic* Brother, Lady Shengai is the the purest flower of Red Sky Brothel. I heard she *hic* hasn't lain down with a man yet.", That smells like some weird cliché, I'm sure a brothel is a money draining business, they wouldn't house a pure maiden just to slack off on the job...

"Tell me more about Lady Shengai, brotherr... *hic*", If I go into this direction then maybe...

"I warn you brother, you can't try to do anything funny to Lady Shengai, the Brothel manager is a Golden Qi Core and she won't like up forcing her workers.", I knew it! It's some plot armor! That girl is heroine, right? Some weird force of heaven's will or something??? Also a mysteriously strong manager is running a brothel? There is a lot to explore...

I make an ugly expression and give a cough, "Ah, my mood has been a bit ruined. Nevermind, brother. Maybe there's a place where I can buy or sell things that aren't so... orthodox?", I insinuate something with a hidden glint in my eye.

"Good, good, brother! I happen to know a place. I encountered a merchant there who promised a technique to improve your stamina and performance.", The crude man gestures and insinuates a double meaning. Done deal, a new side quest. I guess spending the afternoon with this guy will bear some fruit.

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"Brother Yong, what are those?", She points to wooden figures that were moved by the strings.

"Hm? Fascinating, aren't they? They're called puppets. People like him are called performers. Look, over there is a street dancer, he's also a performer.", It could be seen that a Qi Apprentice is performing with fire and water snakes coming from his mouth and creating a spectacle of smoke. It could be seen as a red and blue dragon dancing about in the clouds.

"Hm? Has Sister Ai not seen these type of things yet?", the new friend we made poses an interesting question. Why HAS she not seen one of these things yet? Of course, the truth shouldn't be told. There needs to be a maintained status so that the other party won't look down on us.

"Brother Ki, Sister Ai has been placed in closed door cultivation by our master for a long time due to her talent. I'm actually bringing her around to see the sights.", I calmly weave in lies and truth. Indeed, I am a wandering cultivator with an ignorant and talented sister.

"I understand Brother Yong.", He gave me a firm nod and led us at the night market.

I look through the various amount of items being sold, there were some forms of recreation such as, board games, instruments, toys, art... oh, there are also tapestries, both for the house and for the body. I considered buying some things and consult with Ai, she likes the idea as she saw something she likes. Brother Ki volunteered to gift them to us, I didn't hold any formalities, after all, we are brothers.

I personally bought Ai a crimson pin in the shape of a flower, Who knows if there's some dark meaning but I just love the aesthetic.

I got Ai and Myself purpureus hanfu, the traditional clothing of the chinese, I prefer myself the Beizi specifically, a black loose coat on the outside with the purpureus color on the inside. The designer had even fit a falling night sky on my coat which was pur-fect!

Ai had chosen a purpureus Shenyi, which thick clothes were inlaid with rosy red embroidery, ah, she's not the flower but the whole garden! Please don't make me feel funny, I might actually become the entire circus!

...We found ourselves in a deeper part of the market, somehow, a separate space is blended in together in the night market, inconspicuous enough for people to notice but not enough to tell that this is an entirely different business.

"Evening customers! I have a variety of techniques and literature in my stall. Oh! Ha Ki, come back for some of my 'material'?", The stall owner knew his customer's interest very well as Brother Ki had an excited grin on him face before calming down, "Now right now Da Chu, I brought my brother to see some of your goods!"

"Alright then, what do you need? Remember that you didn't buy these from me.", He presented a different set of books inside another box.

I look through it and found a few things, as I went along, I also had a chat with the owner, after all, my goal weren't the books, but the people, they should be able to know a thing or two that people don't usually know about... Oh? So that's the situation of the three clans? That'll be useful. Praise the Midnight, he's a merchant, I finally got a certain direction to find the bandits.

Although there was a commission on the bandits, they were elusive as their operations happen irregularly and happen to be just about anywhere outside the city. I suspected that there is an insider among the businesses since they somehow have avoided particularly guarded caravans...

"This one is... is this real.", I make a strange face to the grinning merchant, "It's yours for 5 spirit stones." "!!!That's-" "Take it or leave it. I'm the only one that has it" "...Fine."

"Sorry Brother, Da Tu wrings people of their money. I couldn't even afford it.", Brother Ki wanted to cry but had no tears.

Honestly, I've been spending lavishly but the my fortune can be called significant. Usually whenever the people I help become Outer Disciples, they give me a few spirit stones. Unlike Trial Disciples, Outer Disciples gain a spirit stone every week and a pill every month. That is just how high Sister Wan valued me in our last goodbyes, she had given me a precious Bone Marrow Pill.

I'm really surprised in how I got to the point of being friends/followers of young masters but I can use that in the future to unite them or pit them against one another. either or, I have been dealt a good hand.

But it's not like I had too much as 100 Spirit Stones are incomparable to the cultivation world, but for the mortals... even 1 Spirit Stone is 100 Gold Taels or 1000 Silver Taels. Yep, that meant reaching 10000 Copper Taels.

"Da Tu... about those 'materials'"

"...", Da Tu remained silent as he wordlessly slammed down 5 books on the stall.

"Hehe~, thank you. Here.", He handed a spirit stone to the middle aged merchant and quickly took the books.

"Thank you Brother Ki.", I pat his shoulder. He smiles at me, "No problem Brother Yong! You fulfilled my dream of drinking wine with spiritual medicine!", I seem to feel something inside of me, it was same feeling I had when I experience astrophilia, and it was also the same as when my blood pumped among the wild wolves. ah, I seem to have grasped something.

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"Ai, You should stay in the inn for the rest of the night, cultivate that thing over there, alright? And get some sleep too.", I gesture to the bag that we brought with us, it had to the corpse of the demonic cultivator, it would become a good material for her to drain the Lifeblood out of. Honestly, after having cultivated the Thousand Demonic Lifeblood, Ruiyu Ai didn't stop to cultivate at all as she followed me continuously to the city. It's best I have her rest, cultivate, and sleep.

As I walk outside the inn and towards the market again, I buy a festive mask, it was a black mask with silver and gold lines, making a wolf.

"Oh, the threat of horror, the hope of crimson cries!
One thing at least is certain—that this Life flies;
One thing is certain, and the rest is Lies;
The Flower that once has bloomed forever dies."

I feel cringe, the good kind, the part that the internet lost, the embarrassing but fun part.

That poem had my spirituality in it, although it didn't really do anything but I did feel like my emotion came through... Is that how a Midnight Poet is? I'll find out soon.

I bought a black Changshan with red embroidery and red gloves. I should make a Red Gloves Organization one day?

Hm, I probably look similar to that one martial art master in movies... I kind of forgot his name...

Whatever, I'm making my way to the brothel. I need to new techniq- I mean, I need to gather information...yes, that's it.

Once again, I review my strategy. Do not reveal the intention to gain information, Fool them into thinking you are of high status, Gain their favor, Make them want to return the favor/be in your service. Make it seems like the information is not important coax it out.

As for 'high status', it needs to be both threatening but benevolent. To the Inn owner, I am a Cultivator that is down to earth, eating the meal at his in. To Ha Ki, I am a Rich Brother with a Talented Sister who took the time to enjoy good wine with him. To the brothel, what am I? A mysterious playboy, if I can pull of enough charisma, that is my power, both a threat and a treat, after all, I can't match a huge establishment, let alone a Golden Qi Core cultivator, all I have is my... 'assets'.

But even if I don't get anything out of them, I can see this as another thing I'd do to leisurely pass the night by, I honestly wanna know if dual cultivation is the way to further my sequence, ahaHA! Thank Mid- uh... no, Thank the Demoness that STD doesn't exist AHAHAH!

My eyes constrict, It's midnight, and I saw someone carrying a human-sized bag in black clothing, its was very dark in this part of the city but I could see it. I could feel it, that the night was calling me into action, ok no that was a lie but I ran after the kidnapper.

Strategy one to completely bamboozle a runaway kidnapper. Get close enough where you think he won't notice you, Throw a spirit stone in front of him.

Immediately, the kidnapper couldn't help but glance at the spirit stone.

An object is falling in front of you.

It's a spirit stone.

It's not an attack? Wait it's a spirit stone!

Before you can even think about looking behind you, I get the jump on you. Too bad, L, Ratio, Greedy MF.

...Ok, I didn't actually think this would go so smoothly, I had thought over more countermeasure than just a distraction bait.

The bag... its moving, I open it up to see a... oh gosh it a minor? Oh wait, she's just flat...or a trap? I really just have Demoness PTSD right now...

"How dare you kidnap me?!", Oh well, misunderstanding number 1 here. I hope it doesn't worsen, I point my thumb toward the kidnapper on the ground.

She seems to have the urge to give me an earful to anything I say, the best way was just to make her see it for herself. Lo and behold, "I-is that my kidnapper?"

"Your welcome miss?", Break her rhythm and shot a question into her confusion.

"Xia Xiaochan, and who are you?", She answer as her real concern wanted to be answered.

"I guess you can call me Mr. Wolf", I give a fiendish grin, "I saw a suspicious guy in the shadows carrying a suspiciously huge back. You can say it was justified to pounce on the poor guy."

"...I see, thank you. I will now return to the clan, if you want a reward to rescuing me then you can give my name in the clan.", I thought she was the spoiled type, fortunately or unfortunately, she's more of the independent type. Oh well, roll with it, "Well, it's best to stay for now. Who knows if there are others after you or waiting in ambush at...right, where were you kidnapped?", I pose a question to see how to go from here.

I crouch down to the knocked out body and search him, oh? It seems he was commissioned to kidnap the Xia Clan's miss... My eyes constrict. My instinct flare up. The meeting location is here, fuck, so that's why plan A worked.

I don't have any time. I take Xia Xiaochan and run for the nearest open window and jump in. I covered her mouth and duck down.

Outside, there suddenly came a floating figure with a cloak over itself, it then gazed at the knocked out body of the alley.

"..."

"Disappointing. It has not gone to plan."

"Disintegrate."

AHHHHH! I feel my soul screaming at me to run! I'm doomed, I'm dead! I should just run out and tear the wall in front of me and run into the night! Suddenly hearing murmurs and whisper, I think I can eat the girl in my hands before I inevitably die. Pray to the stars! The stars are watching me! I'm naked, I'm scared! My mind is in turmoil.

I'm no one, don't look at me, I'm not human, I'm not-...I have sharp nails? No no no no I'm losing control? But isn't it better to just transform into a monster and get out of this situation? I'm God after all...no no no

Cogitation, quickly, meditate, calm down. I should have Cogitated at the start, I didn't think I need it since the murmurings disappeared after I left the sect...

Cogitation is a method of meditation to connect spiritually and collect the thought into one, becoming rational.

Blank. Not Black, Not Dark, Not Void. Imagine nothing...then imagine something that does not exist. The darkness dripped like liquid like a painting, the stars tore like holes from the inkish painting, concealed limbs extended from the stars, some clawed, some palmed, reaching down from the nightmarish night, for me it was artistic, emotional, and beautiful masterpiece....

...

Good, I think I've pieced myself together. Replace the image with something else, an item, Silver Wash came to mind, it's silver in the night is like clear water and its shape, crescent and sharp but likens to the gibbous phase of the moon....

...

I open my eyes and breathed out, I lick my lips, I think I bit into my lips, my teeth are sharp by the canines... My hair is a bit messier in style... I can work with this. I don't feel like that expert is here anymore, I remove my hand from  Xia Xiaochan, "I'm terribly sorry. I... practice an unorthodox technique that turns me in a bad state at times like these...", I sheepishly smile, emphasis that the wolf smiled sheepishly.

She also seems shaken up in fear as she also felt the strength and oppression from the expert a while ago, "It's ok, but why are you telling me this?", hah, she's confused on why I'm showing weakness now. I'm already pathetic, I should just reveal even more and make her see that I'm harmless enough to not antagonize. Even now, it can be seen as someone weak who saved someone strong, I mean, what kind of stranger would do this? Don't answer that question, Protagonists are blatantly obvious.

"How should I say this... miss, you won't reveal it to others?"

"No..."

"Then that's all I need to hear, yes?", Make it obvious I'm hiding something and make them chase after these answers. Unlike those back on Earth, I'm sure those on this plane have more interest in the mystical and can't help sticking their nose everywhere; There had to be reason why the line, 'Courting Death' exists, oh Midnight, I just thought of an unconventional title.

"First, we need to get out of here. but not back to the place where you were kidnapped, and definitely not on the way back to your clan, we don't want to encounter that... was that a Golden Core?", I turn to Xia Xiaochan.

"Yes, that is the strength of a Golden Core... I was kidnaped on the way back to my clan...", heck, that's scary... maybe there was an insider because the process took place mid transport?

"We'll sort out the things later. We should find a good place to hide. I know just the place.", She nods as I make my way out the window. The body is gone, as if it didn't exist. I still have the evidence though...wait, my precious spirit stone! It's gone!

"Right, before we go, are you uncomfortable with sensual scenes?", I give Xia Xiaochan a wolfish smile.