They went quickly and returned just as fast.
Unlike when they returned from the Pill Palace, this time there was clearly no bright smile on Hua Ling's face.
She knew the time to part had come.
"Big Brother, did everything go smoothly?"
Hua Ling stood to the side in silence, while Old Foreigner asked the question.
Partridge Whistle walked over, squeezing out a smile as he replied, "With Taoist Qianhe there, that Ancient Yuan Dynasty Corpse naturally couldn't survive.
However, there was still no trace of the Muchen Pearl within the tomb chamber."
After a brief explanation, Partridge Whistle looked toward his junior sister with a trace of unnoticeable inquiry in his gaze.
Having spent over a dozen years together, Hua Ling understood what her big brother wanted to say and simply shook her head quietly.
Seeing this, Partridge Whistle sighed slightly, yet his expression remained unchanged.
He turned his head to look at Zhong Bai, who was walking over slowly, and said, "Daoist Qianhe, during this trip to Bottle Mountain, although we senior and junior siblings failed to find the Muchen Pearl, we also witnessed your Divine Ability Arts, Daoist.
This trip can be considered full of gains.
However, the mountains are high and the waters are long, and there always comes a time to part. We three senior and junior siblings still need to find that Muchen Pearl to lift the curse of the Ghost Cave Tribe.
So... let us part ways here!"
After Partridge Whistle finished speaking with a cupped-fist salute, Zhong Bai returned a faint smile in kind.
"Brother Partridge need not be so courteous. It is only through fate that we are able to meet. Today's parting, how do we know it is not for the sake of a better reunion another day?
Brother Partridge, take care!
Junior Sister Hua Ling, take care!
Brother Old Foreigner, take care!"
At this moment, Zhong Bai felt a stirring deep within his heart. The time spent together was short, yet sincere.
Seeming to think of something, Zhong Bai pulled three talismans and a jade pendant from the Cosmic Ring.
"Brother Partridge, these three talismans are called Blazing Flame Talismans. You only need to throw them out, and they can transform into a ball of raging flames.
They are somewhat useful for dealing with ghosts and evil spirits.
I hope Brother Partridge will accept them as a token of this poor Daoist's heartfelt sincerity.
After all, this poor Daoist took the demon core of the Six-winged Centipede, and the Furious Rooster followed this poor Daoist as well. I could hardly let you and the others return empty-handed, Brother Partridge."
Hearing this, Partridge Whistle felt a bit awkward, but he accepted them anyway, mainly because he hadn't contributed much beyond spending some effort to locate the tomb.
After speaking, Zhong Bai walked toward Hua Ling and gently placed the jade pendant around her neck.
"Junior Sister Hua Ling, these past few days, thanks to you chatting with this poor Daoist to pass the time, this is a Peace Buckle bestowed by my master. It cannot be considered all that precious, but it can calm the mind, ward off evil spirits, and ensure peace.
Today as we part, I present it to Junior Sister Hua Ling. The paths of the pugilistic world are long, let us bid farewell here..."
Whether it was the Peace Buckle or the talismans, neither was precious to Zhong Bai, yet they were the best gifts to conclude this cause and effect.
Hua Ling choked up slightly. At this moment, it had nothing to do with romantic love; this was the first time someone other than her senior brothers had given her a gift and wished her peace.
"Mm! Elder Brother Zhong, I will!"
Zhong Bai smiled, then took the cage containing the Furious Rooster handed over by Partridge Whistle. Slinging it onto his back, he strode off into the distance.
The paths of the pugilistic world are long. After this parting, when might they meet again?
On the mountain path leading to Zhong Family Village, once Zhong Bai had gotten far enough away from Partridge Whistle and the others, he directly put down the cage on his back.
"With outsiders watching, this poor Daoist didn't want to make things awkward for you, lest people say I was bullying a Furious Rooster like you.
Now, immediately, come out and walk by yourself!"
Zhong Bai continued with a hint of annoyance, "On this trip to Bottle Mountain, although this poor Daoist harvested Exorcism Points, almost all the good stuff was fed to you. Don't play dumb.
Back when we went up the cliff, this poor Daoist already sensed that you had formed a demon core and stepped into the realm of a demon soldier.
It's just ordinary traveling, humph, Partridge Whistle might not know your ways, but this poor Daoist won't indulge you!"
Speaking of which, this Furious Rooster was truly a rascal. Clearly capable of walking on its own, it had grown so used to being carried on Partridge Whistle's back that it refused to come out of the cage.
Zhong Bai wouldn't even mention how it had been listless after eating the Six-winged Centipede's demon core, but now that it had recovered and was still this lazy, Zhong Bai was certainly not here to raise some pampered master.
Faced with its overbearing master, the Furious Rooster drooped its head unwillingly. After coming out of the cage, it cast a somewhat resentful, petty glance toward Zhong Bai.
To this, Zhong Bai demonstrated that there was nothing a single kick couldn't fix.
With a kick straight to the Furious Rooster's plump backside, the rooster's eyes instantly cleared up. Well, it became obedient too.
Over here, after parting ways, Zhong Bai intended to head toward his own Daoist practice grounds and garrison in Jiuquan Town.
Meanwhile, the three senior and junior siblings of Partridge Whistle were not in a rush to leave Bottle Mountain.
"Sigh, Junior Sister, have you really thought this through? This decision cannot be made casually."
Partridge Whistle wore a grave expression as he looked at his junior sister. In his eyes, there was no anger, no sorrow, only thick, lingering worry.
"Big Brother, Hua Ling has already thought it through. Hua Ling doesn't want to live her whole life being so ordinary. Hua Ling wants to go and try!"
As she spoke, Hua Ling's tone was resolute, something neither Partridge Whistle nor Old Foreigner had anticipated.
"Since it's like this, then Big Brother and your Second Brother will accompany you to make a trip to Mount Mao!"
That's right, the decision Hua Ling had made was to go to Mount Mao to seek a master!
She clearly knew the uncrossable chasm that existed between her and Zhong Bai. Without making any effort or change, Hua Ling would never have the courage in this lifetime to utter the two words I like you.
Of course, the decision to head to Mount Mao was not solely for the purpose of standing calmly before Zhong Bai in the future; she also wanted to change her own destiny.
Divine Ability Arts, Daoist adepts, seeking immortals and asking the Dao, immortality—who wouldn't want these?
Perhaps, at this moment, even Hua Ling herself could not clearly say whether her decision to head to Mount Mao was for Zhong Bai or for herself...
But, no matter the reason, Mount Mao was a place she had to go!
Seeing her junior sister's attitude be so resolute, both Partridge Whistle and Old Foreigner were deeply supportive.
Actually, there was something Partridge Whistle had kept bottled up in his heart that he could never voice: the matter of searching for the Muchen Pearl was simply too perilous.
Just like this trip to Bottle Mountain; had they not encountered Zhong Bai, goodness knows if they and their junior siblings would have had any chance of surviving against that Six-winged Centipede.
The taste of licking blood off a blade was hardly pleasant. Since his junior sister wanted to go to Mount Mao to seek a master, Partridge Whistle naturally supported her.
Even though Old Foreigner felt reluctant to part with her, he understood that letting his junior sister go to Mount Mao was a very good choice, so he supported it as well.
Seeing that both of her senior brothers were so supportive of her decision, Hua Ling wept tears of joy for a moment.
"Don't get too excited, Junior Sister. With this trip to Mount Mao, we don't even know if Mount Mao will accept you!
In the event that Mount Mao looks down on you, humph, you'll just have to continue wandering the four directions across the country with us.
However, Big Brother believes in you!"
"Right, Second Brother believes in you too!"
Old Foreigner's gaze carried a fierce hope—hope that the little junior sister he adored would get her wish, be freed from the curse of the Ghost Cave Tribe upon her body, and live out her life peaceful and smooth...
Perhaps, liking someone was just like this: wishing for them to be safe and smooth.
Zhong Bai knew nothing of Hua Ling's decision.
We shall leave this matter aside for now.
After half a month of traveling, the man and the rooster finally arrived within the borders of Ping'an County, where Jiuquan Town was located.
After half a month of arduous travel, Zhong Bai hadn't changed much, but the Furious Rooster had visibly slimmed down by a full circle.
However, the supernatural aura between its brow and eyes had grown even better!
Originally, the Furious Rooster stood about a meter tall, but now having achieved the state of a demon soldier, its height had grown quite a bit over these dozen days, reaching nearly one meter twenty or so.
Its plumage, already bright and colorful, was now evolving further toward the direction of a multicolored phoenix.
Well, it looked thoroughly eye-catching.
On the streets of Jiuquan Town.
Although Jiuquan Town was situated at the Three Fiends Position, one had to admit that besides gathering baleful Qi, wealth Qi was likewise mixed in and converged there.
The entire Jiuquan Town could be considered a large town. From what Zhong Bai saw, the population was at least several thousand, if not over ten thousand.
A place like this, even if somewhat inferior to a county seat, could still rightfully be called prosperous.
Walking down the street and looking at the bustling townsfolk of Jiuquan Town hawking their wares, Zhong Bai's expression didn't change much.
It was just that nearly everyone's gaze fell upon the Furious Rooster closely following behind him, unwilling to look away for a long time.
Hehe, continuing to ask you respected reader bosses for monthly tickets, read-throughs, and investment rewards and collections. Your tiny support, respected reader bosses, is the source of my inexhaustible drive. Thank you, thank you!
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