Daily life of a cultivation judge

"We will be leaving in a few minutes so eat up. Once we are done here we will go together to one of my evaluation sites and later I'll have you picked up by someone from one of the branches who will arrange for your transportation back to the Order," said Yang Qing as he went about wolfing down his share.

Ideally, the best and fastest option would have been to have them sent to the Yellow plains county branch which was the closest and also the only branch within his quadrant with a domain expert. However, after his potential little problem with the Golden bamboo pavilion that he left them with, he didn't have the cheek to also dump the two siblings on them.

"Mmh the Deer Mountain Kingdom branch is the closest one from here I can have them pick them up at the evaluation point close by," muttered Yang Qing as he recalled the map he had been going through on the flight over.

"By the way do you two know the black viper gang?" Yang Qing suddenly asked when he remembered the shady hawk-nosed person who was tailing them on their walk over.

Both Zou Yi and Zou Liqin flinched once they heard that name.

"Big brother, why do you ask?" Zou Yi shakily asked.

"I discovered one of their members tailing us earlier, him," said Yang Qing as he used a mystical art to reproduce an image of the hawk-nosed person.

"It's Shu Wei," said Zou Yi as he gritted his teeth. Zou Liqin had a deep frown and a look of disgust when she saw that image.

"No wonder I've been feeling uneasy all day like trouble was lurking right around the corner. Why is he following us though? It can't be for anything good," Zou Yi as he pensively bit his nails deep in thought.

"Most of the members of the black viper are scary people but I always get a slimy dangerous feeling from him every now and then when there's no one around," said Zou Liqin as her frown grew deeper. She never liked anyone from the black viper due to their ruthless personalities but Shu Wei was the one who made her skin crawl even deeper than the rest.

"He has always felt off like the Shu Wei we see is a mask hiding a hideous monster underneath. There are times he scares me more than even Lei He despite his subservient attitude when in the black viper's lair," Zou Yi fearfully added.

"Luckily we are leaving, so their plans don't matter anymore but what about grandpa and grandma Wang. They may get targeted after we leave. With their foundation-level cultivation base they won't be able to stand against even some of the upper members like iron tooth who has a peak foundation-level cultivation base let alone Lei He who I heard may be at the fourth stage of the core formation realm," Zou Yi worriedly muttered as he bit his nails with greater intensity.

"Big brother can you help Grandpa and grandma Wang. They are good people maybe they can even be cooks at the Order. Their food is delicious right?" said Zou Liqin as she made a hopeful plea for them.

"If only they knew the people they are worried about are peak core formation experts who would defeat a hundred people like Lei He easily. The black viper is nothing more than a fly to them. But these kids are something, they managed to notice something off about that hawk-nosed person or did he purposely let his guard down when in their presence?

Considering the aura surrounding him, it wouldn't be strange," thought Yang Qing as his eyes narrowed toward a figure hiding within the shadows of a building.

"A blood fiend cultivator. He must have an impressive artifact on him to hide his true look and maintain his sanity," Yang Qing playfully mused before he turned his gaze back to the two siblings.

"The leader of the black viper gang is the one who sent him after you. He is to continuously monitor your movement throughout the day until later when someone else is sent to come pick you both up. The person in charge of collecting you is called Iron teeth if I'm getting the name right. You will then later be delivered to someone from the Mo family. who seems to be the commissioner of the whole thing," Yang Qing calmly explained the situation to them.

"This?!!!" the Zou siblings faintly shivered as their pupils froze when they heard all that.

"It would have been over for us had we landed in the Mo family's clutches. There have been appalling stories floating around about the fate of those who end up in the Mo family crosshairs within the city. At the capital, they may be reserved but here they lord it over like kings. And that bastard Lei He!! Even after all the money and information we gave him over the years, he sold us out," said Zou Yi as he ground his teeth.

"It seems I need to add the Mo family into my investigations along with the royal family of the Red Maple Empire. Just to cover the bases I think placing all the major families under investigation would be more prudent," muttered Yang Qing.

"As for the black viper gang…," Yang Qing's eyes narrowed before they glowed with an idea.

…

Kitchen of Wang's restaurant.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but can you come over for a second, please? I have something to discuss with you, it concerns the Zhi siblings."

The old couple was hard at work preparing the meals when they suddenly froze from hearing a voice sound in their minds.

They stared at each other and they both could see the fear in each other's eyes.

"What do we do?" fearfully asked grandma Wang as she tightly clenched the knife in her hands.

"What can we do other than go," Grandpa Wang bitterly said as he undid his apron and fixed his robes. He glanced at the ladle for a second before he decided to leave it.

Grandma Wang noted his actions but didn't say anything as she too undid her apron and fixed her hair up a bit before they made their way out together.

"If he asks about our background, I have no intention of hiding it. We have already sacrificed too much including our sons' cultivation life. This time I'm putting our family first," Grandpa Wang solemnly said as he made his way out the door.

"It's good you're sensible. I planned on doing the same though it's surprising hearing that from an old dog like you. I expected you to bleed for the empire to your dying breath," Grandma Wang said as she chuckled.

"What do you know? I'm already old, these old bones stopped producing blood ages ago," grandpa Wang said as he harrumphed.

"This is it," said Grandpa Wang.

"Are you scared?"

"Of course,"

"Me too"

The old couple smiled at each other as stepped on the last step up the stairs. Their eyes focused on the green-haired youth waving them over with a calm smile while by his feet laid a pale-faced person who was currently kneeling with the most fearful expression they have ever seen.