Little Frog sat on Chen Luo's shoulder. Small pills kept spilling from the little backpack on its back. It flicked out its long tongue and hooked one into its mouth, sucking on it only twice to dissolve the crystalline coating, then casually spat out the pitch-black pill inside.
"What are you eating?" Chen Luo asked offhandedly, casting it a glance.
"Gua... (Blood Refining Pills, pills that can help this great master refine his bloodline.)"
"What did you spit out? Can't you eat those?"
"Gua... (Those are the Blood Refining Pills. The outer layer is candy coating. This great master only eats the coating...)"
Chen Luo was rendered speechless!
If this guy weren't the son of a wealthy family, Chen Luo would chop off his own head and kick it around like a ball!
"Sis Xuan, there's news about Young Master." Ji Zhong charged into the rear courtyard like a gust of wind. Hearing Ji Zhong's voice, Chen Xuan hurriedly stood up and ran toward it. Xiao Huan quickly followed behind her. "Miss, slow down..."
"Xiao Ji, how is my little brother?" Chen Xuan asked nervously. Ji Zhong hurriedly caught hold of Chen Xuan as she rushed over and said, "Sis Xuan, don't worry. Young Master is fine!"
Only then did Chen Xuan let out a sigh of relief. It had been only two days since Chen Luo was seized by Lian Ai, yet Chen Xuan had already lost a great deal of weight, and her formerly rosy face had grown increasingly haggard.
Seeing Chen Xuan like this, Ji Zhong was filled with self-reproach. He had repeatedly vowed to repay Chen Luo for saving his life and volunteered to be his guard, yet only a few days later, Chen Luo had been captured right before his eyes. How could he not feel guilty?
"Then where is Young Master?" Xiao Huan asked.
Ji Zhong gestured for Xiao Huan to help Chen Xuan to a chair before explaining everything in detail.
"After Great Scholar Wei returned to Wenchang Pavilion, he asked Minister Wen to perform a divination. Minister Wen confirmed that Young Master had been swept down somewhere in the vicinity of Zhili Prefecture, and that his life was not in danger for the time being. The Town Profound Division office in Zhili Prefecture has already mobilized and is searching the entire region for Young Master."
Xiao Huan patted her chest and looked at Chen Xuan. "Miss, you can relax now, right? I told you, Young Master came back to life even after dying last time. He'll definitely be fine this time too!"
"Xiao Huan!" Chen Xuan could not bear hearing such ominous words now and hurriedly cut her off.
Ji Zhong quickly comforted her. "Sis Xuan, Zhili borders Central Capital. Whether in the Confucian or Daoist path, there are countless experts there. That demoness is injured to begin with, so she probably won't dare make too much of a commotion. Young Master is no ordinary person either. He'll definitely return safely."
Chen Xuan nodded. "I hope so..."
At that very moment, on the bank of the river Chen Luo had long since left, space suddenly twisted. Two demons were then "spat" out of it.
"Urgh..." The two demons sprawled on the ground and vomited violently. In the end, they even threw up bile.
The two demons swayed as they rose to their feet, one large and one small. They turned out to be a Weasel Demon and a Squirrel Demon. The Squirrel Demon took several deep breaths, then looked at the Weasel Demon. "Third Brother Huang, this teleportation talisman packs way too much punch..."
The Weasel Demon glared at the Squirrel Demon. "Brother Song, if we had money, we could have taken a teleportation array straight to Floating Cloud Market. Who would want to suffer through this wretched teleportation talisman?"
The Squirrel Demon called Brother Song hurriedly nodded. "Third Brother, that's not what I meant. Quickly, take a look. Are we in Floating Cloud Mountain's territory?"
Third Brother Huang swept his gaze around and said, "That's right, this is Floating Cloud Mountain. See that valley? It's called One Line Gorge. This place is a little far from Floating Cloud Market, but our luck's not bad. It's actually quite close to Qingsha Black Market."
As he spoke, Third Brother Huang walked forward, and the Squirrel Demon hurriedly followed. "Third Brother, what kind of place is Qingsha Black Market?"
"It's a black market—a place where they buy and sell things that can't see the light."
The Squirrel Demon was astonished. "This place borders Central Capital, yet there's actually a place like that? Doesn't the Great Xuan court care?"
Third Brother Huang patted the Squirrel Demon's head with an expression that said he knew the ways of the world. "Are you stupid? It's precisely because it borders the capital and is so prosperous that there are so many things that can't see the light. Besides, do you think black markets are run by demons like us? There are powerful figures behind all of this!"
The Squirrel Demon looked enlightened. "So that's how it is..."
Now that Third Brother Huang was in full flow, he said, "I say, Old Song, you worked as someone's guard for ten years and saved up quite a bit of wealth. What was it all for?"
The Squirrel Demon gave a simple-minded smile and scratched his head. "My bloodline is inferior, so I wanted to buy a few Blood Refining Pills. I heard those immortal pills can help us demons purify our bloodlines! Once I enter the Blood Refining Realm, my children will have a greater chance of developing intelligence. That would bring honor to my ancestors!"
"Isn't that exactly what this is about?" Third Brother Huang nodded. "Floating Cloud Market sells Blood Refining Pills, and so does this black market! They might even be cheaper."
"Really?" The Squirrel Demon's face lit up with delight.
"Of course." Third Brother Huang smiled smugly. "If we trace things back, our ancestors from eight generations ago were brothers. Would I lie to you?"
"That's right, that's right." The Squirrel Demon hurriedly smiled obsequiously. "You and I, Third Brother, are true brothers. If I, Song Shuhang, can enter the Blood Refining Realm this time, then whenever you need me in the future, Third Brother, just say the word. I won't have a second thought!"
As Squirrel Demon Song Shuhang was speaking, his foot accidentally stepped on something. A medicinal fragrance rose from the sole of his foot. Song Shuhang lifted his foot in confusion and saw a black, dirt-like substance stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
"Wait..." Third Brother Huang's nose twitched. He noticed it too, and stepped forward to pull Song Shuhang's shoe off his foot. He held it to his nose and sniffed. His expression changed.
"Third Brother, what's wrong?"
Third Brother Huang swallowed, staring at the sticky substance on the sole. "Old Song, what did you say you came to Floating Cloud Mountain for?"
"Didn't we just say? To buy Blood Refining Pills!"
"You don't need to buy them anymore."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Because this is..." Third Brother Huang handed the shoe to Song Shuhang.
Song Shuhang: (*)
A thought flashed through Third Brother Huang's mind. He beckoned to Song Shuhang. "Look around some more. A convoy transporting pills must have passed by earlier and accidentally spilled some. Let's see if there are any more nearby!"
Song Shuhang caught on and hurriedly widened his eyes. He and Third Brother Huang split up, carefully searching the ground...
"Third Brother, I found another one!"
"Mm, good. Keep looking ahead."
"Third Brother, there's another one here!"
"We've struck it rich, we've struck it rich! Quick, keep searching ahead!"
"Brother Song, I found one too..."
"Third Brother, stop talking nonsense and hurry up. Keep searching ahead."
"Pfft." Little Frog spat out another Blood Refining Pill stripped of its candy coating, then turned sideways and leaned against Chen Luo's neck, exposing its snow-white belly.
"Gua... (Human...)"
"What is it?" Chen Luo asked.
"Gua... (I feel the bug smell on you is getting stronger and stronger. Did you wash yourself clean in the river just now?)"
Chen Luo raised his hand and sniffed it. "I washed myself clean. I even threw away the dirty outer clothes."
Little Frog shook its head in puzzlement and did not pursue the matter. The smell of some bugs really could linger for a long time.
What neither man nor frog knew was that the closer the master came, the stronger the aura of the Tracking Gu became!
I watched the game till dawn, beer glass in hand; just as I raised it to drink, the pipa urged me onward.
I watched the game too late, so the update was late too. But before the book goes on sale, there will still be two updates a day.
Please show your support—monthly tickets, collections, and recommendations are all welcome.
Frog son pays his respects to everyone.
Before you continue