My family tree hollow connects to the modern era : Chapter 4

Bai Zhizhi, who had arrived full of confidence thanks to his various magical treasures and cultivation level, was now looking a bit wilted.

When Jiang Lin came over again and saw his drooping ears, clearly not as energetic as before, he asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t like the food, or you don’t like this place?”

Bai Zhizhi looked at Jiang Lin. “You brought me here, are you planning to lock me up in a zoo?”

If this person dared to say yes, he would definitely find a chance to run away. Mere humans could not stop him.

Jiang Lin couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course not. Why would you think that? Regarding whether you stay or go, we will respect your opinion. Is this your first time in the human world?”

Bai Zhizhi nodded.

Jiang Lin: “Do you have any other clan members here?”

Bai Zhizhi shook his head.

Jiang Lin: “Can you read?” Bai Zhizhi wanted to say he could read, but he didn’t know the writing of this world, so he shook his head again.

No family, no friends, illiterate. Putting it all together, he wasn’t much different from that fox demon who had to sell his talents to survive.

Jiang Lin: “Stay with me for now. Once you have the ability to survive independently in the human world, we’ll make further arrangements. What do you think?”

As long as he didn’t have to sell himself at a zoo, Bai Zhizhi felt anything was fine, so he nodded reservedly. “Alright.”

Glancing at the information Bai Zhizhi had just registered, Jiang Lin said, “Let’s formally introduce ourselves. My name is Jiang Lin, I’m the head of the East City Division of the Folk Affairs Administration Bureau. Nice to meet you. Welcome to the human realm, Bai Zhizhi.”

Bai Zhizhi looked at the hand he extended. Although no one had taught him the customs of the human world yet, this was the kind of gesture that didn’t really need teaching.

Bai Zhizhi reached out and shook it back.

Unlike his ice-cold fingertips, this human’s palm was burning hot. The moment he was wrapped in that grip, it was an unfamiliar sensation.

Before he could carefully experience this feeling, Jiang Lin let go.

“This is the main headquarters of the Administration Bureau. Generally we don’t come here unless there’s something going on. Come on, I’ll first take you to where you’ll be staying so you can get your bearings. I’ll teach you the rest slowly. Someone should have already told you the general situation, right?”

Bai Zhizhi nodded.

Jiang Lin: “Other things can be learned slowly, but there’s one thing you must remember. You absolutely cannot lay hands on ordinary people. Remember, you must never use your cultivation to harm anyone. If someone bullies you, you can fight back, but you cannot use your demon powers.”

Bai Zhizhi: “What happens if I do?”

Jiang Lin: “It will damage your own cultivation. Spiritual energy is thin now, making cultivation difficult. Being able to transform into human form is already no easy feat. There’s no need to hinder your own cultivation over a moment of anger. Humans have short lifespans and don’t live long. As a demon cultivator, you have already received the fortune of heaven and earth, so don’t bother with petty humans.”

Although Bai Zhizhi knew Jiang Lin was saying this to coax him into not using his demon powers casually, he felt there was some truth to it. Mere humans weren’t worth him using his demon powers on.

All the required paperwork was filled out. The Administration Bureau would register and arrange a human identity for Bai Zhizhi. Jiang Lin prepared to take him away.

Lin Xiaoyang saw them coming out and cheerfully crowded over. “Brother Jiang, is everything handled?” He said, looking at Bai Zhizhi. “He…”

Jiang Lin: “He’ll stay with me until he fully understands human society. You all should look after him more too.”

Lin Xiaoyang agreed readily. “No problem!”

He then said to Bai Zhizhi, “When the time comes I’ll take you to eat good food and drink good wine. The human world is so much fun!”

Jiang Lin also said to Bai Zhizhi, “His name is Lin Xiaoyang, he’s also on our team. If there’s anything you don’t understand or anything you need, you can find him anytime.”

Bai Zhizhi nodded, looking like a good obedient boy who was fine with whatever they said.

Just as Jiang Lin was preparing to take them back, a group of people with rather arrogant auras walked in from outside.

The one walking at the front was very tall. Although he had black hair, he had a pair of blue eyes, and his looks were quite different from the humans Bai Zhizhi had seen since coming to this world.

However, the demon clan was full of all sorts of strange shapes to begin with, so Bai Zhizhi wasn’t too curious about other people’s appearances. But these people were simply too arrogant, even more arrogant than the heavenly tribe. Each and every one of them had eyes that seemed to grow on top of their heads, overbearing and haughty.

As this group walked in, the entire Administration Bureau office hall fell silent. What’s more, the expressions on everyone’s faces showed a few degrees of nervousness. Seeing this reaction, several of them became even more unrestrained in their arrogance.

Bai Zhizhi stood behind Jiang Lin, watching curiously. Sniffing the aura carried in the air, he tilted his head in confusion. The aura on these people wasn’t that of cultivators, but they weren’t ordinary people either, and there was no demon energy. Strange.

Jiang Lin had just walked out of the office with Bai Zhizhi, standing in a not very conspicuous spot, but the leader still spotted Jiang Lin at first glance.

A smile that didn’t reach his eyes appeared on his arrogant face. “Captain Jiang, what a coincidence.”

Jiang Lin responded calmly. “Mr. Heer, may I ask what brings you to the Administration Bureau today?”

Heer smiled disdainfully. “Your Chinese rules are simply too numerous. I am very uncomfortable and very unhappy living here. Regarding the distribution of spirit soil, I believe it can be renegotiated.”

As soon as these words came out, the already nervous faces in the Administration Bureau became even more anxious and ugly.

Jiang Lin’s expression didn’t change much, and he replied rather indifferently, “Then I won’t disturb Mr. Heer with your business.”

Lin Xiaoyang was somewhat anxious. Spirit soil distribution! Already because of the poor relations between the two countries, the amount they could get was pitifully small. Now there were new changes being demanded. This was truly bullying them too far.

Seemingly not expecting Jiang Lin’s attitude, Heer raised his eyebrows slightly.

The young man with light golden short hair standing behind him let out a soft whistle, his gaze landing on Bai Zhizhi, especially those ears, looking at them with great interest. “A Chinese demon? Quite pretty.”

Heer glanced sideways. Just now this person had been hiding behind Jiang Lin, blocked by Jiang Lin’s lackey, so he hadn’t seen him. Now that his face was showing, it was indeed stunning. But more importantly, this was actually a demon, a Chinese demon. They had only heard of them, never seen one.

A demon meant having a demon core, having demon blood.

Heer smiled meaningfully. The golden-haired one immediately understood his meaning and spoke directly. “The spirit soil isn’t completely off the table. As long as you make us happy, giving you a bit more is no big deal.”

Jiang Lin stepped forward half a step, completely shielding Bai Zhizhi behind him. “How spirit soil is distributed isn’t something a small team captain like me can decide. The director is inside, feel free.”

After saying this, Jiang Lin grabbed Bai Zhizhi with one hand, intending to take him away, but the group led by Heer directly surrounded them.

Lin Xiaoyang immediately stepped forward to block them. “What do you think you’re doing!”

Other people in the Administration Bureau also immediately stepped forward. “Mr. Heer, I have already informed the director of your purpose here. The director is waiting for you in his office.”

The golden-haired one clicked his tongue, looking impatient. “What’s the rush.”

He moved a bit closer in Bai Zhizhi’s direction. “Pretty Chinese demon, how about coming with us? Cultivation resources are scarce nowadays. If you follow me, next time I’ll take you into the spirit realm.”

Bai Zhizhi didn’t move, but asked Jiang Lin, “Are they ordinary people?”

Jiang Lin didn’t quite understand what Bai Zhizhi meant by this for a moment, and just explained following his confusion, “They are ability users, also a type of cultivator, just with a different cultivation system from ours.”

Bai Zhizhi made an “oh” sound. “So that means they’re not ordinary people, right.”

Jiang Lin had just made a sound of agreement when the next second a scream rang out. The golden-haired one was covering his face with one hand while instinctively shooting out a fireball with the other. Bai Zhizhi slapped the fireball away. This little bit of fire power wasn’t even as strong as his fire spirit stone toys.

After the fireball was scattered, Bai Zhizhi continued lunging at the golden-haired one, wanting to give him another claw swipe.

Jiang Lin’s eyes were quick and his hands were fast. He grabbed Bai Zhizhi around the waist with one arm while simultaneously raising his other hand to block Heer’s attack from the side.

Lin Xiaoyang was usually all jokes and laughter, but when it came to real fighting he didn’t mess around. Seeing them all fighting, what spirit soil or no spirit soil, fight first and talk later.

Not everyone in the Administration Bureau was a cultivator; there were ordinary people too. Those without combat ability immediately retreated to find places to hide, while the cultivators directly rushed forward to fight the people Heer had brought.

Jiang Lin held Bai Zhizhi tightly with one arm, afraid he would strike again, while using his other hand to block Heer’s attacks.

Seeing that the people Heer brought were recklessly using their abilities to cause large-scale destruction, Jiang Lin directly mobilized his spiritual power to suppress the ability energy, then kicked them over one by one, blocking several of his own side who were getting carried away with fighting. “Stop! Lin Xiaoyang, get back here!”

At the same time he looked at Heer with a hint of warning. “Whoever strikes again, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

There was still some gap between ability users and cultivators. Even though the ability users had numbers on their side, their odds of winning against Jiang Lin weren’t great right now, especially since they were on someone else’s turf. Heer was forced to stop.

Both sides stopped, only the golden-haired one was sitting on the ground covering his face, covered in blood.

Heer’s face was dark and cold. “Doesn’t Captain Jiang owe us an explanation for today’s matter?”

Bai Zhizhi, held around the waist by Jiang Lin, turned his head to look at Heer demanding an explanation from them. “Speaking disrespectfully and behaving frivolously, beating him to death would be letting him off easy.”

If he hadn’t just arrived and didn’t want to cause trouble, he could have ripped the golden-haired one’s head off with one claw!