Daily life of a cultivation judge

After exchanging a few words with Duan Ting and his colleague, Liu Ying, Yang Qing stepped out of the building, the lady in blue trailing a few steps behind him.

Though she had spoken little since he returned her talisman, the fact that she chose to follow him outside hinted that she might be warming up to him. Of course, it was just as likely that she simply couldn't bear to remain in the same room as Duan Ting and Liu Ying any longer.

She, like Duan Ting, held the title of escort supervisor—specifically, the fourth escort supervisor. Although Yang Qing wasn't certain how many such supervisors the agency employed, he suspected their titles were tied to their cultivation realms.

During his previous visit, Duan Ting had introduced himself as the third escort supervisor. He was a tenth-stage core formation expert, while Liu Ying was at the eighth stage.

If his assumption was correct, it meant that the second escort supervisor was probably at the eleventh stage or at the peak of the Core Formation Realm. In contrast, the first supervisor was likely either at the peak of the Core Formation Realm or an expert at the quasi-Palace Realm.

Yang Qing had entirely ruled out the possibility of any of the escort supervisors being Palace Realm experts. To his knowledge, the agency had only one such cultivator—their founder, Bai Chen. Therefore, the only way the first escort supervisor could be at the Palace Realm was if Bai Chen himself held the position.

Outside the building, Yang Qing and the blue-robed lady stood in silence, waiting as Duan Ting and the other staff worked to clean up the aftermath of the clash. Judging by the state of their robes, a change of clothing was likely in order as well.

Standing outside in an uncomfortable silence, Yang Qing could sense that the woman in blue wanted to speak but couldn't summon the courage. Her lips parted and closed several times, and her shoulders alternated between tense and relaxed as hesitation kept her rooted in indecision. In the end, she chose silence.

Yang Qing sighed inwardly, hoping that once they reached the restaurant, she might feel at ease enough to open up.

Though she had shared little about herself, her actions spoke volumes, allowing Yang Qing to form a few tentative conclusions. Her nervous, almost compulsive scanning of the surroundings suggested she was either hiding from something—or running away.

Additionally, her display of abilities hinted at more. Despite having a cultivation base even lower than Liu Ying's, she managed to push both Duan Ting and Liu Ying back singlehandedly, despite them working together and having a higher cultivation base than hers.

She was at the eighth stage of the core formation realm.

For someone of her cultivation level to achieve such a feat, there were only a few possible explanations.

One explanation for her performance was that her opponents deliberately went easy on her. While Duan Ting and Liu Ying were indeed holding back during the skirmish, so was the lady in blue. Based on what Yang Qing observed, if all three had fought with their full strength, he was willing to bet that the lady in blue would have emerged victorious. The only way Duan Ting and Liu Ying might have turned the tide was if the Bluefin Spine-tailed Swift Escort Agency's building had a blue-grade array they could have leveraged.

Another, more likely explanation for the lady in blue's success lay in her foundation and cultivation technique. A practitioner with a lower cultivation level can often triumph if they possess a deeper, more refined foundation or if their cultivation technique is superior. The lady in blue, it seemed, had both advantages.

From the fluctuations in her qi during the fight, Yang Qing deduced that she likely possessed a blue-grade core, while the two escort supervisors probably had orange-grade cores.

As for cultivation arts, that was where Yang Qing felt even more confident in his assessment due to his deep fascination with the topic and his experience as a creator. He believed she practiced a middle-tier blue-grade art, whereas the two escort supervisors, despite practicing different techniques, were all at the top tier of the orange grade.

Given such circumstances, it was no surprise that Duan Ting and Liu Ying struggled. In truth, they were fortunate. Yang Qing could tell that the young lady's mastery of her middle-tier blue-grade art had only reached the emergent phase. Had her proficiency been higher, that fight wouldn't have been nearly as close—it would have been a decisive victory in her favor.

The combination of a middle-tier blue-grade art, a blue-grade core, and a palace realm talisman painted a clear picture. These were hallmarks of someone with a powerful background—likely from a rank three or even rank two faction.

However, there was another possibility: she might be a rogue cultivator who had stumbled upon a significant inheritance, perhaps the legacy of some reclusive expert. Yet Yang Qing found that explanation unlikely. Rogue cultivators carried a unique vigilance about them, born from constant life-and-death struggles. Their paranoia was raw and untamed, an instinct honed by the crucible of real-world experience.

In contrast, the young woman's cautious behavior felt different—familiar, even. Her vigilance carried a certain polish, as though it had been cultivated through deliberate training. It reminded Yang Qing of his own early years at the Institute, where his instincts were sharpened under the structured guidance of the Instructors rather than the chaos of survival.

The experience though horrifying and traumatizing, there was always that measure of control where the students however much they felt like they would die, they never believed they would truly die, no matter how harrowing the conditions and or circumstances. It wasn't like what rogue cultivators had to deal with.

This was why Yang Qing felt more inclined to believe she came from some faction of some sort, rather than her being a rogue cultivator. Her actions suggested as much.

A rogue cultivator, especially one as high-strung as she appeared to be, would never risk causing a scene like the one she had just been involved in—particularly if they were trying to maintain a low profile. Her lowered head, restrained aura, and wary demeanor all suggested an effort to avoid attention. Yet here she was, stirring trouble in a town under the Order's watchful governance.

No matter the circumstances, a rogue cultivator on the run, in hiding, or both would have done everything possible to avoid unnecessary attention. For those hardened by the brutal realities of life outside factions, self-preservation always came first—a survival instinct deeply ingrained by the unforgiving world they navigated.

"What could push someone so fearful of being noticed to act out like that?" Yang Qing wondered, his gaze shifting back to the Bluefin Spine-tailed Swift Escort Agency.

At that moment, the agency's doors swung open, revealing Duan Ting and Liu Ying stepping out. Both had changed into fresh robes, their earlier disheveled appearances now replaced by an air of neatness and composure.

As they approached, Duan Ting and Liu Ying offered polite thanks to Yang Qing for his patience. Whether by conscious choice or subtle instinct, they moved to stand on Yang Qing's left side, purposefully avoiding the right, where the lady in blue robes remained rooted.

The tension between the two sides was palpable. Yang Qing caught the subtle signs—a slight clench of the young woman's fists and the flicker of anger in her eyes as Duan Ting and Liu Ying stepped closer. Her hostility was unmistakable. Duan Ting, on the other hand, showed more than just caution; there was a shadow of remorse in his gaze as he glanced at her.

Deciding not to prolong the unease, Yang Qing motioned for them to follow him toward Dreamscape Swallow's Nest's restaurant, which was just a short distance away. The walk took no more than three minutes.

As the restaurant's building came into view, Duan Ting finally broke the silence, his tone polite but tinged with hesitation.

"Is this where you're taking us?" he asked, his expression betraying a mix of reluctance and concern.

Liu Ying's face mirrored his unease, her guarded eyes darting between Yang Qing and the grand establishment ahead.

Seeing their reactions, Yang Qing couldn't help but smile as he patted his chest where the violet VIP card was nestled comfortably. A sense of power surged within him as he confidently strode to the restaurant, leaving behind the words, "Yes, we are..."

Duan Ting and Liu Ying exchanged glances and shared bittersweet smiles before walking in helplessly, feeling the envious looks of passersby upon them.

Both Duan Ting and Liu Ying had admired this restaurant from afar many times before. The building was a marvel, standing as one of the finest structures in Gold Eagle Town despite the competition from other establishments backed by equally powerful organizations. Its very presence was a testament to its renown.

The restaurant's exterior was crafted entirely from blue cosmos driftwood, a medium-grade ascendant material revered for its ethereal beauty and subtle energy. The deep blue hues of the wood seemed to shift and ripple like a boundless ocean of stars, creating an illusion of endless space. The most captivating feature, however, was the faint glimmer of shooting stars that streaked across the wood's surface, as if the cosmos itself had been captured within the material.

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was just as breathtaking. Potted plants were carefully positioned around the floor, creating a grounded sense of nature. Duan Ting might have appreciated this ambiance if it weren't for the fact that all the plants were all of monarch-grade quality.

The beauty of the place was staggering. The walls were adorned with vivid paintings that seemed almost alive. Duan Ting wasn't the only one to feel this sensation—Yang Qing, with his higher cultivation realm, experienced it even more acutely. The richness of the dao embedded in these works gave them their lifelike qualities.

If he had to guess, the artist was likely someone on the verge of reaching the domain realm. Had a domain expert painted them, the impact would have been far more profound—so much so that Yang Qing and the others might have struggled to distinguish the painting from reality.

He had heard stories of cultivators whose mastery of the dao of painting was so profound that their artworks functioned like mysterious realms or hidden grottos, capable of supporting life and even aiding in cultivation.

Yang Qing noticed that even the lady in blue seemed taken aback by the restaurant's atmosphere. A soft gasp of astonishment escaped her lips before she quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed upon realizing Yang Qing had noticed.

Fortunately, the lady in blue was spared further embarrassment when a staff member approached them. She was a young woman in her mid-twenties, breathtakingly beautiful. However, it wasn't her looks that drew shocked reactions from Duan Ting and Liu Ying—it was her impressive cultivation base.

The attendant was a peak-stage core formation expert, and she wasn't alone. Every other attendant on the floor shared the same level of cultivation. This revelation sent shockwaves through the two escort supervisors.

Individually, these attendants may not have had the strength to walk across the continent without concern, but they were still formidable enough to be considered powerhouses in many organizations around the continent. And yet, here they were, serving as attendants.

"Hello, esteemed guests. My name is Mei Yu, and on behalf of the Dreamscape Swallow's Nest, I welcome you all," the young lady said with a warm smile. She made a welcoming gesture, placing one hand across her chest and bowing slightly, while pointing toward the rest of the floor with her other hand.

"Thank you, Miss Mei Yu," Yang Qing replied warmly, returning the gesture with the traditional rogue cultivator greeting—his right palm placed over his left chest, near his shoulder.

The others expressed their gratitude too, including the quiet young lady in blue robes, whom Yang Qing observed appeared much more comfortable inside the restaurant than she had been outside.

Choosing to set the matter aside, Yang Qing reached into his chest pocket and retrieved the violet card Wei Shen had so generously gifted him. He relished the flicker of surprise in the attendant's eyes as he took it out.

"Miss Mei Yu, may I have a private compartment, please?" Yang Qing asked, handing her the card.