After coming to his senses, w.a.n.g Ling was in a very good mood – it felt like the depression of idling away at home during the summer break had been swept away by this move. However, he was as expressionless as ever. It could only be said, as expected of Odd Zhuo as his disciple. This was indeed a promising talent; taking Odd Zhuo in as his disciple back then hadn't been in vain.

The shopkeeper looked astonished when he realized that his punch had been blocked. He was the first to attack, but the other party's reaction was very quick. Before he could fully demonstrate his strength, the other party had already stopped him.

Actually, Odd Zhuo wasn't as strong as the shopkeeper, and his strength was purely thanks to w.a.n.g Ling giving him upgraded equipment previously. Despite their ordinary appearance, the leather fingerless gloves which Odd Zhuo was wearing weren't any common thing.

w.a.n.g Ling had made the gloves with the leather from his family's "genuine leather sofa." He had also enchanted this leather sofa, which now had the ability to automatically regenerate its leather, so it was fine for w.a.n.g Ling to cut off some of the leather material.

But it took time for the leather to regenerate, so w.a.n.g Ling could only cut out a piece from an inconspicuous spot, otherwise Father w.a.n.g would thrash him.

The shopkeeper broke out in a cold sweat. He had always been the impulsive sort. His punch hadn't been successful, but he knew he was now guilty of attacking a police officer. He stared heavily at Odd Zhuo. "Go ahead, cop, how much do you want?"

"Is there some misunderstanding… I'm not here for money."

Odd Zhuo felt that the shopkeeper had definitely misunderstood him – actually calling him "cop" to his face…

"I know I was wrong. I was too impulsive and attacked an officer. I'll pay however much you want – let's settle it quietly." The shopkeeper cracked his knuckles.

Odd Zhuo sweated. "I'm not a cop… You didn't attack one…"

It looked like the man recognized him, but he seemed a little biased.

"You're not a cop?" The shopkeeper was unconvinced and looked Odd Zhuo up and down with a suspicious expression. "During the demon rampage six years ago, you were the one who defeated the demon king, weren't you? Several months ago, you were the one who caught the Old Devil, weren't you? That biggest dark force Immortal Mansion fell because of you, and you also played a key role in the capture of Evil Sword G.o.d. I've seen you on TV, there's no mistake."

w.a.n.g Ling: "…"

Odd Zhuo: "…"

Erm…

For a moment, Odd Zhuo felt like he couldn't defend himself at all.

First of all, he really wasn't a police officer…

But…

He indeed was the one who had caught those people…

Odd Zhuo dropped his forehead into his hand and felt like there was no way to explain it.

There were too many things nowadays that couldn't be explained – this was how the Yellow River was washed for visiting.

Hearing this, w.a.n.g Ling and Odd Zhuo were silent.

It looked like this shopkeeper was also a man with a story.

The shopkeeper: "I remember it very clearly. When she didn't show up, I looked for her for a very long time before I gave up. That was when I was feeling depressed, which is why I sold it for so cheap at 998 HNY. This sword is made of solid wood, and would have been of the best quality back then.

"In those days, peach wood swords sold like hot cakes, and to save on wood costs, merchants started to make hollow peach wood swords and fill them with sand."

w.a.n.g Ling and Odd Zhuo: "…"

The shopkeeper gave the phone back to Odd Zhuo. "Why are you asking about this sword?"

"We want to know where its scabbard is."

"I put the scabbard away. My fiancée was a carpenter; she made the scabbard and I made the sword. Only by combining the two would the peach wood sword be complete. This was our mutual love token. Do you want to buy the scabbard?"

The shopkeeper waved his hands. "After so many years, I still haven't found any news on my fiancée; there's no meaning in me keeping the scabbard. I can even give it to you for free. But, I have one condition."

Odd Zhuo smiled lightly. "Let us hear it."

"Business is poor, and my shop won't stay open for much longer. You know, my Shop No. 83 is the oldest in the whole flower and bird market." The shopkeeper said sadly, "This is a family legacy which I can't give up so easily. Thus, I signed up for the exorcism compet.i.tion this year. There is a prize, which will be enough for me to expand my shop twenty times and revamp it a hundred times over."

Odd Zhuo: "So?"

"There are a lot of experts at the exorcism convention this year. My chances of winning are very low. I want you to take part with me in the exorcism compet.i.tion! Since you were able to apprehend the Old Devil, the Master of Immortal Mansion and that Evil Sword G.o.d, I believe you aren't weak."

Saying this, the shopkeeper gave w.a.n.g Ling a look. "Is that pretty boy behind you your disciple? A youngster's skills should be pretty good. Then, he can also take part. It just so happens that each group which signs up for the exorcism compet.i.tion has to have four members; just nice, the four of us can form a team."

w.a.n.g Ling: "…"

Odd Zhuo: "Boss, may I ask, what is your name?"

"Jin Ke."

"…"

"Jin from gold, Ke from section chief."

"…"This is adapted from the colloquial phrase 'Even jumping into the Yellow River won't wash you clean,' meaning that there's nothing a person can do to remove whatever stigma is on him.