Three Treasures

Someone called out to him from behind. Li Qi immediately turned around and looked at the person.

When he turned, he found that it was a traveling merchant.

However, this merchant's pack basket differed from those of the two merchant groups nearby. Like Li Qi, he seemed to be traveling alone.

That was rather strange.

Logically speaking, no one in this world traveled far alone.

After all, as had been said before, this world was dangerous.

There were exceptions, though—for example, people like Li Qi, killers fleeing for their lives, or those forced to leave their homes for some reason.

But Li Qi had never heard of a traveling merchant setting out alone.

Wasn't he afraid of dying?

"Um... big brother." The merchant walked over and sat beside Li Qi.

Li Qi was somewhat wary, but he did not chase him off. He merely sized him up. "Little brother, what is it?"

"Oh, it's like this. I saw that you were traveling alone too, so... I came over to say hello." The merchant looked a little nervous, but he said it anyway.

"So I thought, since we're both traveling alone, why not keep each other company? We could look after one another on the road." That was what the young merchant said.

"Travel together? Where are you headed?" Li Qi asked, while also assessing the other man's physique.

Traveling alone was dangerous. Having a companion truly was a good thing, but one must never lack vigilance against others. It was never wrong to be cautious.

"I'm going to Bi County. What about you, big brother? I see you came from that direction too. There's only one road here, no forks or anything. We should be able to travel together until Feng County. It's at least another fifty li from here to anywhere inhabited; at the very least, we can share fifty li of road." The merchant said.

"Oh, right, big brother, what's your name? My surname is Du. Just call me A'Du." As A'Du spoke, he set his snacks and tea on the table, then put down the leather-covered pack basket and sat down.

"My name is Li Qi." Li Qi did not hide his name. Looking at A'Du, he replied, "From the way you speak, you seem very familiar with this road. If you know it so well, why do you still want to travel with me?"

A'Du gave a bitter smile. "It's precisely because I know it well that I want company. To be honest, big brother, this road hasn't been peaceful. Look at the merchants around us—which of them sets out with fewer than ten people?"

"If I had any other choice, if I weren't in desperate need of money, I wouldn't want to haul goods out alone..." A'Du said to Li Qi with a helpless expression.

That was certainly a sufficient reason, but Li Qi still did not agree. He frowned slightly. "It hasn't been peaceful? Did something happen?"

At that, A'Du leaned closer and lowered his voice. "There are monsters on this road."

"Monsters? And people still dare to go?" Li Qi was startled.

While working at the docks, he had heard passing merchant associations and canal gangs mention monsters more than once. In his mind, monsters were terrifying beings that could easily kill more than a dozen people.

"It's only a rumor. They probably aren't real monsters, just wild beasts on the verge of becoming spirits. Those that are close to becoming spirits but haven't yet done so fear crowds and abundant Yang Energy, so traveling together is safest. As for people like us... we can only make do and trust our luck."

"Sigh, if life didn't force us into it, who would travel far alone..." A'Du sighed repeatedly. "Monsters are frightening, but there are far more things in this world that are scarier than monsters."

Li Qi deeply agreed.

The Mighty Gang had tried to kill him twice in a single day. He had barely managed to kill them in return, yet he still had to flee across the land to lie low. Even if monsters truly were here now, he had not the slightest desire to return. That alone proved how true those words were.

Seeing Li Qi nod faintly, seemingly agreeing with him, A'Du struck while the iron was hot and immediately pressed on. "Besides, Brother Li, it's not just that I saw you traveling alone and thought it was dangerous, so I wanted to keep you company. Look, your blood and vitality are robust, your Yang Energy abundant. Those little beasts that haven't become monsters yet fear people like you most. And I have experience as a merchant. Put the two of us together, and I guarantee nothing will go wrong!" A'Du was glib-tongued, his words coming in polished sets.

Li Qi looked at him and felt that he did not seem to be lying.

Besides, even if he was lying, as long as Li Qi did not follow his route or let him lead the way, there should be no problem.

And if there really were beasts on the verge of becoming spirits, having someone beside him would give him more of a sense of security. The other man was an itinerant merchant familiar with the roads; anyone able to travel through the wilderness surely had some skills. If they encountered a monster, he would not be entirely unable to resist.

Besides, in the worst possible situation, he would not need to outrun the monster. He only needed to outrun A'Du.

With that thought, Li Qi nodded. "In that case, let's travel together. I'm going to Feng County, so we can share roughly two hundred li of the way."

"Hehe, that's enough, that's enough. Once we reach Feng County, there'll be more people around. There are also local spirit mediums, the Demon Eradication Division of the authorities, and the Garrison Commander. Few monsters would dare make a move in a place like that. The most dangerous stretch is these two hundred li in between—no one manages it, the road is terrible, and that's exactly where demons, monsters, and ghosts are most likely to appear!" Having received an affirmative answer, A'Du relaxed and began joking around merrily.

"Brother Li, judging by the way you look, you probably haven't traveled far before, have you? We've got nothing to do while we drink tea anyway. How about this little brother tells you some interesting things about the road to pass the time?" Seated now, A'Du acted as though they were already old friends.

But the moment Li Qi saw his manner, he understood what A'Du meant.

A'Du had phrased it politely, even somewhat ingratiatingly, but Li Qi was no fool. He knew this itinerant merchant wanted to tell him about taboos and experience on the road. He simply feared Li Qi might be displeased because they were not familiar with one another, so he used that wording instead.

This man really knew how to conduct himself. No wonder he dared seek a companion in the wilderness.

"Sure. I really don't go out often, so tell me." Li Qi immediately replied. At the same time, he placed his plate of rice cakes beside the other man's, signaling for them to eat together.

That counted as acceptance.

A'Du did not stand on ceremony. He picked up a rice cake, poured himself a cup of tea, and began speaking.

"When doing business out on the road, you'll run into Mountain Spirits and Wild Monsters from time to time. But humans are different from Mountain Spirits and Wild Monsters. Humans are the spirit of all things, born with the Three Innate Treasures—things these beings could beg for and never obtain. So ordinary spirits and monsters do not dare touch us."

The Three Innate Treasures—there was that term again. Li Qi pricked up his ears and began listening carefully.

"The Three Innate Treasures are the human spirit, Qi, and Essence. These are things only those born with innate intelligence possess. Demonic creatures cultivate intelligence after birth, so they can never obtain them!"

Qi!

Li Qi heard another familiar term.