"Young Master Song!"
Song Chengan turned around.
It was Zhao Yuan'er.
The Miss Zhao who had trembled with fright at demons and monsters several months ago now looked every inch a refined young lady.
"I did not come here today to throw my weight around."
"Whether Young Master Song came or not, we would have compensated Hu Lu with silver."
"Sister Guiyu was in the wrong over this matter."
She explained.
Song Chengan was somewhat surprised.
Naturally, he understood what Miss Zhao meant.
She meant that whether Song Chengan had come or not, they would not have used their power to bully others.
Song Chengan cupped his fists. "I trust Miss Zhao!"
Hearing Song Chengan say this, Zhao Yuan'er's face revealed a trace of happiness.
"There is one more matter."
Zhao Yuan'er gave a slight curtsy as she spoke. "On behalf of everyone in the Zhao family, Zhao Yuan'er thanks Young Master Song for saving our lives!"
"The Zhao family?"
Song Chengan was somewhat astonished upon hearing that.
"Miss Zhao, aren't you from Zhao Family Village?"
"How did it become the Rice Merchant Zhao Family?"
Zhao Yuan'er smiled faintly.
"The Rice Merchant Zhao Family is Zhao Family Village."
"My father is the Zhao family's clan chief."
As soon as Song Chengan heard this—
It really did seem to be the case.
The people of Zhao Family Village and the Rice Merchant Zhao Family were all One Clan.
"Young Master Song saved me twice and saved my Zhao family. I have already reserved a table of food and wine at the Eight Immortals Restaurant. I wonder if Young Master Song would honor me with your presence."
Song Chengan waved his hand.
"Miss Zhao need not concern yourself with the debt of gratitude for saving your life."
"As for the first time, when you were abducted, that was a misunderstanding."
"As for saving the Zhao family afterward... even if it had not been the Zhao family, but the Li family, Wang family, or Chen family, I still would have saved them."
"So there is no need to take it to heart."
"I still have some matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first."
Song Chengan cupped his fists and departed.
His head ached somewhat.
How was Zhao Yuan'er a member of the Rice Merchant Zhao Family?
If she had merely been from Zhao Family Village, they would never have crossed paths for the rest of their lives, and Song Chengan would not need to worry about anyone learning of his connection with that pack of monsters from Mount Luo.
Now that he had become a Demon Suppression Envoy of the Demon Suppression Division, he naturally no longer feared people learning of his relationship with the monsters of Mount Luo as much as before, but it was still somewhat troublesome.
There was no need to worry so much.
At least for now, this Miss Zhao seemed to be someone who understood reason.
Song Chengan shook his head and left.
Song Chengan paid no further attention to what happened with Hu Lu afterward.
He only heard people say that Hu Lu had separated from his woman, and the next day, she moved into Wang San'er's house.
Her eldest son, Hu Gou'er, went with her.
Song Chengan did not see him for quite some time afterward.
Neither did the others at the Noodle Shop.
He no longer came to the Noodle Shop.
Still, people occasionally saw him traveling back and forth among the villages below, continuing his business of castrating pigs.
"Have the insights been completed?"
Within the Void Heaven Mirror.
Song Chengan saw
that the four Phantom Body dummies were all seated cross-legged.
This meant that their comprehension of the various martial arts had been completed.
Absorb!
With a thought from Song Chengan,
the four clusters of Dao Fruit light were instantly absorbed.
Water Repelling Art! Mastery!
Fire Cloud Staff Technique! Mastery!
Southern Bright Illusory Fire True Qi! Comprehension complete!
Divination Art! Proficient!
Mastery?
It seemed there was nothing left to study, nothing left to comprehend.
The Southern Bright Illusory Fire True Qi had already been fully comprehended. Now, he only needed Earth Fire to learn this True Qi method!
The Divination Art was only proficient?
"Then continue comprehending it!"
Another Phantom Body condensed within the Void Heaven Mirror and continued comprehending the Divination Art.
Song Chengan felt that this skill should be quite useful.
"I also need to buy a pill furnace."
The last time Song Chengan went to the Ghost Market, he had originally intended to buy spirit herbs and a pill furnace.
But after buying the spirit herbs, he had left too quickly and forgotten to buy the pill furnace.
"I'll deal with the pill furnace later."
"I'll first find an excuse to request leave from Captain Wu, then make a trip to Mount Luo."
With that thought, Song Chengan went to the yamen.
When Captain Wu heard that Song Chengan had gained some insights in his cultivation and needed to enter seclusion for a time, he readily approved his leave and even asked whether he needed someone to stand guard for him.
But Song Chengan declined.
Mount Luo.
Once again, Song Chengan had not come in person.
"Song Chengan, are you going to the village?"
The Black Cat stood before Song Chengan with a mouse in its mouth and asked.
Song Chengan hurriedly nodded.
"Oh, then I'll lead the way for you."
Song Chengan followed behind the Black Cat and passed through the dense forest.
Watching the Black Cat, he suddenly said,
"Didn't you say last time that you would bring me something to eat?"
"Why didn't you bring me anything afterward?"
The Black Cat froze for a moment.
"Oh, I forgot."
"I'll bring you some next time."
"Make it half a month from now. I've been going out recently."
"Oh."
The Black Cat spoke as it left.
Its destination was that Mountain God Temple.
"It obtained a fortuitous opportunity within the Mountain God Temple."
"So it goes to worship Lord Mountain God every time."
"Speaking of which, among all of us, it has the brightest future."
"Senior Bai!"
At some point, First Boss Bai had appeared before Song Chengan.
"Mm."
"The monsters of Mount Luo don't seem to have names?" Song Chengan asked in confusion.
The monsters of Mount Luo had no names.
They called one another Grey Squirrel, weasel, bear, cat, and the like.
Only First Boss Bai and Second Boss Huang had names.
This left Song Chengan somewhat puzzled.
With First Boss Bai's abilities, it would not have been difficult to name these monsters.
First Boss Bai laughed when he heard this. "Because a monster's name is connected to karma."
"If monsters like us can receive names bestowed by an accomplished expert, it will bring immense benefits."
"So I have never named them. I hope that in the future, they may encounter a fortuitous opportunity and receive names bestowed by an expert."
Song Chengan immediately felt somewhat guilty upon hearing this.
It seemed he had given that stupid bear a name.
Did that count as cutting off its future prospects?
He immediately felt somewhat guilty.
"If you are interested, you may give them names."
Song Chengan immediately smiled awkwardly. "Senior, please do not mock me."
What Cultivation Level did he possess?
For now, he could only pray that the Black Bear would not come looking for trouble with him after learning of this.
"By the way, it is not yet time for lessons. Why have you come to Mount Luo?"
First Boss Bai asked curiously.
Song Chengan cupped his fists.
"It is because of the Southern Bright Illusory Fire True Qi!"
"Through my comprehension during this period, this junior has gained some understanding of this True Qi. I believe I can officially begin cultivating it."
"However, cultivating this True Qi requires the aid of Earth Fire."
"So I came to ask, Senior, whether there is Earth Fire anywhere nearby?"
"Earth Fire?"
First Boss Bai sank into thought.
"None of the counties near Spirit Mound have it, but Taixuan Commandery does."
"Taixuan Commandery?"
"Is it Taixuan Commandery, the seat of Liang Province?"
"Precisely."
"Outside Taixuan Commandery City, within Mount Luofeng, there is a volcano that has burned without extinguishing for several thousand years."
"It should be enough for you to cultivate this Southern Bright Illusory Fire True Qi."
"Thank you, Senior, for informing me."
"Don't be in such a hurry."
"Mount Luofeng is controlled by a sect called the Fire Refining Sect. If you wish to obtain Earth Fire there to cultivate this True Qi, I fear it will be somewhat difficult."
"It is no matter. This junior will go take a look first, then think of another way once I arrive."
"Very well."
Before you continue