As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life

Li Che's eyes flickered, regardless of whether it was Qin Haonan, the Temple Control Bureau, or the Gold Split Gate.

In fact, what they cared about was not Qin Yuqing's death, or seeking revenge for her.

More so, they were wary of that mysterious cultivator who could kill a strong man from dozens of miles away.

As long as Horse Face remained unidentified, many people would have sleepless nights, worrying that one day they might become the hunted.

Who would willingly taste such constant fear?

"So, you want to start by targeting people around me, force me to act, and then frame my identity?"

"Now, they restrain themselves because of my status as Heavenly Oversight Guest Official, but once it's confirmed that I am the Bull Demon, or even reveal my identity as Horse Face, I will surely face thunderous retaliation and be attacked by all."

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

The candlelight flickered gently, illuminating Li Che's suddenly smiling face.

"Today they moved against my cousin Li Zhengran, tomorrow... will they target my uncle, my wife, and then my daughter?"

"Step by step, taking things further and further..."

Li Che closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were utterly colorless.

"So all of you really want to meet the Bull Demon?"

"The Bull Demon doesn't show up... and you're not satisfied?"

"Since that's the case..."

"As you wish."

Li Che was a low-profile, reserved person who only wished to live a peaceful life.

But the Bull Demon was not.

...

...

Down the long street, inside the Fragrant Pavilion.

In a private room, Qin Haonan sat quietly, sipping the finest wine of the Fragrant Pavilion, cup after cup.

In the room opposite him sat two Divine Envoys, wearing the Temple Control Bureau's red cloud-patterned robes.

It was the same two who had initially taken Li Che to the Temple Control Bureau, Hong Yong and Shi Lei.

The two parties had an unspoken agreement not to meet, even though their job seemed to be the same: keeping an eye on Li Che.

But there were no conversations between them.

Qin Haonan's eyes twinkled; he had been watching Li Che for half a month now but hadn't caught even a slight slip-up.

"Really cunning... leading such a regular life, working at the Qintian Observatory during the day, and carving wood at the purchased small courtyard workshop after work..."

"For half a month, almost the same routine every day, extremely dull and boring!"

"Not going to Yunfang Boat, just a warm bed with his wife and kids every day..."

"Could such a person be the ruthlessly brutal Bull Demon known for mercilessly killing people as described in the intelligence?"

Qin Haonan held his wine cup, looking somewhat lost.

This was his first encounter with such an incorruptibly pure cultivator, self-disciplined and stable, never causing trouble, living a life with a fixed routine.

"That old thing from the Gold Split Gate... He took so much advantage from Qin Yuqing, and now that Yuqing is dead, he doesn't even think about revenge!"

"Yuqing's taste in men, as always, poor."

Shaking his head, Qin Haonan downed the wine in his cup and slowly exhaled.

"This Li Che... it now seems there's an eighty percent chance he isn't the Bull Demon."

"The Bull Demon is probably the master of Li Nuanxi, which is why he has a close relationship with Li Che's family."

"But Li Nuanxi can't be touched... a Supreme Spiritual Child designated by the Divine Sect, untouchable."

Qin Haonan shook his head.

"A Void Aspect Cultivator, yet his spirit was crushed by a blow from Li Qingshan's Ram Horn Hammer, useless."# Qin Haonan's eyes flashed with disdain.

"It seems the Black Snake Gang... might be planning to make a move on Li Che's family."

Qin Haonan narrowed his eyes, noting the changes among the vendors and customers in Listening Flowers Lane over the past half month.

Apart from the Qin Family and Gold Split Gate, are there other powers planning to make a move?

"Black Snake Gang... not one of the gang powers under the control of the Five Great Clans, but from the Fishing Gang..."

Qin Haonan poured himself another drink while thinking.

"The Fishing Gang, the Black Jiao Gang, and the Beggars' Sect, the three big gangs of Golden Light Prefecture City... overall power inferior to the Five Great Clans and the Five Great Sects, ranked as the third tier of power."

"But we can't manage their internal affairs... Why would the Fishing Gang have a local gang targeting Li Che's family?"

"What's the reason?"

As a strong contender to be the next Patriarch of the Qin Family, Qin Haonan was well-versed in various powers.

The details of the Black Snake Gang had long been investigated by him; its backing power wasn't the similarly named Black Jiao Gang, but the Fishing Gang.

The Fishing Gang, located next to Nine Dragons River, is intimately connected with most of the region's water products and is the most influential of the three gangs.

However, he hadn't figured out the specific reason the Fishing Gang had the Black Snake Gang keeping an eye on Li Che's family.

Suddenly.

A glint flashed in Qin Haonan's eyes.

He seemed to have thought of something...

The wine in his cup trembled slightly.

...

...

As the night deepened, the bright moon hung high.

In the night air, a spring breeze stirred the willow branches.

Temple Control Bureau, within the tea room.

Amidst the swirling tea aroma, Divine Envoy Shi Lei was reporting back to Chief Zhang Lianhao.

"Li Che today, as usual, worked during the day, carved in the evening, and returned home at dusk... as regular as always."

Shi Lei stated solemnly.

They say the guest officials of the Qintian Observatory like to indulge in pleasure quarters, but Li Che clearly isn't that kind of person, purely devoted to his wife and daughter.

Zhang Lianhao raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Oh? It's been like this for half a month? He is indeed a disciplined person. If he isn't a genuinely straightforward person, then he must be extremely formidable."

"Sir, should we continue to surveil him?"

Shi Lei asked.

It had been half a month... Watching the same daily routine, not only was Li Che unbothered, but he was also growing weary of it.

"Keep an eye on him for another half month. The words spoken by Zhang Xiangyang might just be one man's word and not entirely credible, but the feedback from people sent to investigate in Fei Lei City largely aligns with what Zhang Xiangyang said..."

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