Wrongly practicing evil skills, imitating the laws of nature

It wasn't easy to find suitable accommodation within Qingcha City.

There were inns in the city, but staying in one would stretch Duan Yun's budget too thin.

After all, to achieve the complete destruction of the Xuan Xiong Gang, he would need at least two months.

Two months' stay, even in the cheapest 'earth-class' room, would be insufficient. Besides, inns were crowded and noisy, which would not only affect his cultivation but might also attract the attention of the Xuan Xiong Gang.

Thus, Duan Yun decided to rent a house.

Renting a relatively cheap house was necessary, as he still needed to live and eat for these two to three months.

Logically speaking, Duan Yun could be considered to possess extraordinary skills now. The Jade Sword Finger could easily create holes in people, and the Water Moon Sword Qi could cleave a person in two with a single strike, yet he still hadn't found an easy way to monetize these skills.

He couldn't possibly resort to killing and robbing, could he?

If he did, how would he differ from the Xuan Xiong Gang and the Red Mansion Fairies, who engaged in both murder and rape?

Duan Yun detested them and would not become like them.

Eventually, Duan Yun chose a bamboo hut in the suburbs.

The previous owner of this bamboo hut must have been a scholar, as there were some self-amusing calligraphies and paintings hanging inside.

However, the place seemed to have been unoccupied for a long time, with thick layers of dust and a dilapidated appearance.

Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might mistake it for a haunted house.

Duan Yun quickly decided to rent it.

Because it was indeed the lowest-priced house he could currently afford.

He was only renting for three months, and very few landlords were willing to rent for such a short period, or they would demand a high price.

After all, Qingcha City had a tea business, with merchants and peddlers coming and going, so houses in good locations were never short of tenants.

Moreover, his main goal was to avoid the Xuan Xiong Gang and focus on cultivation, so he needed peace and quiet. A crowded and noisy environment would be unfavorable.

Duan Yun took a turn around and found that, apart from a small graveyard not far behind the house, there was really nothing to complain about.

Five silver coins a month, what more could he ask for?

Duan Yun even liked the place quite a bit, mainly because there was a clear lake in front of the small courtyard, and the scenery was picturesque when viewed through the collapsed part of the courtyard wall.

This would be a lake-view property in his previous life.

At that moment, Duan Yun suddenly saw a broken stone amidst the weeds in the yard, with a face carved on it that was neither human nor beast.

"What is this?"

The landlord glanced at it and explained, "This is of course the Stone Guardian deity invited to protect the house. I told you before, there's a graveyard behind, and my nephew was concerned about that, so he invited this over."

The landlord had mentioned that the house originally belonged to his nephew, who later transferred it to him.

"I see," Duan Yun replied.

"Are you renting or not? Running back and forth for this little bit of silver is tiring me out."

It was evident that the landlord was impatient. To him, Duan Yun, a short-term tenant renting for only three months, totaling less than two taels of silver, was just a little extra income.

After all, he also ran a sizable tea shop, and this money could only be considered his secret stash from his wife, enough to spend on some frivolous pleasures.

Duan Yun didn't hesitate, signed the contract, and paid the rent.

After the landlord left, Duan Yun took another turn around and was still quite satisfied with the place.

Apart from being a bit old and dusty, it would definitely provide shelter from the wind and rain and keep mosquitoes away.

For the next two to three months, he would have to treat this place as his home.

The bamboo hut didn't have a well, but it wasn't far from the lake.

Duan Yun carried the large water vat, which had been sitting unused for who knew how long, towards the lake.

It was already afternoon, and the weather was slightly gloomy.

The lake water was clear, and many aquatic plants grew at the bottom, creating a lush green scene.

The lake water near the shore was clear enough to see the bottom, while the water in the distance was dark and murky, making it impossible to see the depth.

Duan Yun washed the dust off the water vat, grateful that it was still usable; otherwise, he would have to go to the market to buy a new one.

After filling the large water vat, he carried it back to the house.

Since cultivating the "Jade Sword True Understanding," Duan Yun's body had become much stronger than before.

Just last night, he had walked over a hundred miles in one go and still managed to cultivate for most of the night, which was unimaginable before he started practicing swordsmanship.

The benefits of sword practice were once again evident.

Afterward, Duan Yun cleaned the room and spread some dry grass on the bed, making the bamboo hut barely habitable.

Unknowingly, it was almost dusk.

He quickly went to the market to buy supplies, aiming to purchase enough rice, meat, and vegetables to avoid going out for several days, allowing him to focus on cultivation.

The market in Qingcha City was more bustling than the one in Linshui City, as merchants and peddlers needed to eat and live.

After buying some rice, meat, vegetables, and seasonings like salt and peppercorns, Duan Yun headed back home.

By this time, it was getting dark, and Duan Yun walked along the path by the lake, with wild grass growing on the banks and aquatic plants stretching out at the bottom of the lake.

As he approached his residence, Duan Yun suddenly looked in one direction.

In the lake water, there was a box.

A very large box.

Similar to the boxes used by镖师 (bodyguards transporting valuables) in TV dramas from his previous life.

Even larger.

The box was submerged not far from the shore, half-buried in the mud and half-exposed, with a lock on it.

Duan Yun looked around, feeling only curiosity.

Although the place he lived was in the suburbs, it wasn't far from Qingcha City, and there were some tea farmers living nearby.

When Duan Yun viewed the house at noon, he had seen some tea farmers passing by.

Yet this box was submerged there, not far from the road and the shore, and he was definitely not the first to see it.

But no one was curious?

No one had tried to pull it up to take a look?

Such a large box, even carved with intricate patterns and with a lock, didn't seem empty.

It might be filled with treasure.

Yet it was submerged in the water, as if it had been there for a long time, unattended, with some aquatic plants already entwined around it.

Frankly speaking, this thing aroused Duan Yun's curiosity.

However, he resisted the urge.

Yes, such a box might contain treasure, but it might also contain something else.

If others didn't touch it, he would also refrain from touching it for the time being.

Duan Yun returned to his residence, lit a fire, and prepared a meal.

This should be his first night in his new home, and it could be considered a new beginning, so he put half a strip of the newly bought smoked meat on top of the white rice.

It was important to eat well for the first meal.

The rice and meat cooked together, with the oil from the smoked meat mixing into the rice, preventing the smoked meat from being too greasy.

Afterward, Duan Yun used his sword to slice the smoked meat and began to eat heartily.

Compared to his previous life, the rice grains were much coarser, but the aroma of the meat was irresistible.

Holding the bowl and sitting on the steps, looking at the ancient courtyard overgrown with weeds, Duan Yun suddenly deeply realized that he was truly no longer in his original time and space.

This world was filled with many absurd and terrifying people, full of killing and rape, but it also had moments of peace like this before him.

He, Duan Yun, would definitely live a wonderful life in this world.

Well, at least more wonderful than living as a corporate drone in his previous life, like a walking corpse.

Even now, when he recalled his past life, Duan Yun couldn't think of anything that made him feel proud or deeply nostalgic.

This was perhaps another kind of sorrow.

He would definitely not live like that in this life!

Moonlight洒落 (splashed down) on the courtyard, Duan Yun picked up his sword and practiced under the moonlight.

He would become stronger here!