People Remained, Things Changed

The blazing stove emitted waves of heat, making the indoor temperature even more extreme than during the hottest days of summer.

Lu Gang stood with his chest bare, wiping away sweat. His physique was as robust and tall as ever, giving people a strong sense of security.

"Third senior brother, this is roughly what happened. There was too much Blood Ore, and it was all piled up in the cabin of the Fujian ship that I stopped at the dock. It was too much trouble to move it."

I had already spoken to the two guys at the Fishing Wharf beforehand. My senior brother asked a few people to pull the cart and bring everything down.

There's also Snake Gall Wine from the Martial Arts School; you can pick it up on the way, one jar per person, or wait Senior Brother Xiang Senior Brother Hu to send an apprentice over.

The embers burst open, sending sparks flying.

After listening quietly to Liang Qu finish speaking, Lu Gang burst into laughter.

His loud laughter drew the attention of all the apprentices and helpers around him.

Liang Qu asked, puzzled, "What are you laughing at, Senior Brother?"

Lu Gang shook his head. "I suddenly feel a pang of emotion. I remember when my junior brother became my disciple two years ago, I forged a Fubo for him. If I remember correctly, it weighed almost 100 jin. My junior brother couldn't use it flexibly when he picked it up. He had to use his waist and hips together to turn it."

When you go up the mountain to exterminate the Mountain Ghost, you must also be careful to guard them. In the blink of an eye, you will be surrounded by Wolf Smoke. I see that you, Fubo, have also cultivated several thousand pounds of spiritual power, and your spiritual sharpness is even greater than before.

Things change so fast... The Fahua Temple from back then has been completely demolished, replaced by the Kui Pavilion. Ping Yang Town has also been renamed Pingyang Prefecture. In just two years, everything has changed so much that I can't recognize it anymore..."

The usually taciturn Senior Brother Lu rambled on and on, saying quite a lot in one breath, and he really had a lot of feelings to share.

In the end.

"Most of the gifts your senior brothers gave you back then, Junior Brother Liang probably doesn't need anymore, right?"

Liang Qu shook his head and said seriously.

"We are using Master Yang's dagger, Senior Brother Yu's cloak, and Senior Brother Lu's Fubo, which have been of great help."

Senior Brother Cao always wore his Pure Jade pendant on his body, and he felt refreshed every morning when he woke up. Senior Brother Hu also often wore his belt.

Senior Brother Xu's Arm Guard, Senior Brother Xiang's Silkworm Garment, and Senior Sister Zhuo's Cloud Tiger Boots were all carefully stored away.

The gifts from his senior brothers were very thoughtful, and he naturally used them with the utmost care.

Lu Gang nodded and said nothing more.

The atmosphere was silent.

Liang Qu looked around and, seeing that Senior Brother Lu was silent, reminded him.

"Senior brother, remember to send someone to the dock to move the bloodstone."

"Good!"

evening.

Smoke curls from chimneys, filling the air above Yi Xing Town, while in the Great Marsh, the vast marshland shimmers with light.

The donkey cart moved slowly, swaying and rocking violently.

The donkey wasn't as fast as Red Mountain, but it allowed Liang Qu to enjoy a unique kind of leisurely ride.

The whip lightly lashed the donkey's rump, and the cart turned into the Chen Clan.

Xiao Shunzi was lying in the yard counting ants. When he saw Liang Qu, he called out "Water Bro" and grinned.

Liang Qu felt his pockets and found nothing, so he helplessly shrugged.

Xiao Shunzi's mouth was open in an "O" shape, his body leaned back, creating a long silhouette.

Sizzle~ A strong aroma of stir-fried meat wafted out of the window.

The A Di cooking in the kitchen caught sight of a figure and hurried out to greet her. She took the reins, untied the rope, led the donkey into the shed, and when she came out again, she suddenly noticed a large black jar lying in the cart.

She picked it up and lifted it by the shoulder.

It was wobbling and swaying.

Full.

He hurriedly called out to Liang Qu at the door.

"Hey, A Shui, there's a jar of wine left in the cart! You forgot to take it."

"I haven't forgotten!" Liang Qu waved his hand. "A specialty of Fragrant Town, very nourishing! Remember not to drink too much a day, just half a bowl. Drinking too much will make you feel hot and dry! You'll get a nosebleed!"

After saying that, A Di tried to call out again, but the person had already disappeared.

"That kid."

A Di shook her head, used to Liang Qu's mannerisms, and picked up the wine jar to go back into the house.

"Shunzi, stop playing, wash your face, wipe your nose, and eat!"

Xiao Shunzi sniffed twice, swatted out two puffs of dust, and went into the house.

Arrived home.

Su Guishan was loitering at the kitchen door, with a large tortoise crawling around at his feet.

After burning firewood once at noon, Aunt Zhang dared not let the master of the house's uncle come into the kitchen to help.

Liang Qu patted the head of the Oolong that had rushed over, washed his hands in the well, and felt content with his life.

Ah, life... Liang Qu lay down on the recliner, dozing for a moment, when Oolong swung its tail and bit his trouser leg, calling him to eat.

At a glance, there are stir-fried beef with yellow peppers, boiled sliced pork, a bowl of rustic delicacies, fish head with chopped chili peppers, crispy roast duck with garlic, braised beef tendon, steamed ribbonfish, and several stir-fried seasonal vegetables.

The aroma is enticing.

The meal consisted of twelve dishes, each with a very large portion, all served on large platters, making it exceptionally lavish.

Liang Qu specifically asked Aunt Zhang to add it.

One Wolf Smoke Expert, two Grandmaster, and another who loves food—that's more than enough.

Su Guishan took the chopsticks and, without the slightest affectation, ate his rice with gusto, finding it exceptionally pleasant.

The dishes on the table, while not as exquisite as the delicacies served in the mansion, possessed a rustic charm and a rich, spicy, and savory wok aroma...

This is perfect with rice!

A hearty, satisfying meal, with oily lips and a feeling of complete fullness filling my stomach, brought a surge of joy to my heart.

Eat well.

Su Guishan sipped strong tea to cleanse his palate, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

What should we eat tonight?

"Tonight?" Liang Qu was puzzled. Hadn't they just had dinner?

"I'm talking about late-night snacks."

"You're still having late-night snacks?"

Liang Qu was stunned. He hadn't expected that Su Guishan wasn't satisfied with three meals a day and was even thinking about having a late-night snack.

I don't even have this habit myself; I rise with the sun and rest with the sunset.

Only Grandmaster have the habit of "staying up late".

"Hmm, no?"

Aunt Zhang chimed in from the side, "Boss, don't blame me for being nosy, but Uncle has come all this way, so let him eat whatever he wants. I'll come back again, it's no trouble!"

Liang Qu: "..."

"How about this," Su Guishan said, "You arrange a meal for me to enjoy, and I'll give you a Treasure Plant in return. It's indeed not easy to find Similar Yet Dissimilar. I heard that your Fate Standard associated with water, so I'll give you a water-related Treasure Plant?"

Liang Qu's eyes lit up.

That's great! Your uncle should have said so earlier.

But as for late-night snacks...

"Does your uncle like to eat things with shells?"

"You mean crabs? I do like them, but it's only May..."

"It's not a crab, it's a crayfish!"

"Crayfish?" Su Guishan pondered. "Oh, you mean crayfish?"

"Yes! Crawfish! It's May, and their meat is plump and full."

Su Guishan nodded. "I've tried crayfish tofu before, and I thought it was pretty good. You can give it a try."

"Aunt Zhang, please work a little harder tonight. Make one serving of garlic sauce, one serving of spicy sauce, and one serving of fried chicken, and also two servings of milk drink. I'll give you a bonus this month, just three taels."

Aunt Zhang was delighted to hear about the pay increase, but then hesitated again.

"Boss, whether I get paid or not doesn't matter..."

"Aunt Zhang, if you have something to say, just say it. We've known each other for so long, are you afraid of me?"

Aunt Zhang boldly spoke up, "Master, do you need anyone else in this courtyard? I have a maid, but she doesn't have any proper work..."

"Alright, let her do the work." Liang Qu understood halfway through the conversation and waved his hand. "She can help you with the housework, tend the fire, and tidy things up around the house, dust off the ash, and boil water for anyone who comes to make tea."

Aunt Zhang had to do both cooking and tending the fire, which was quite troublesome, especially when there were many dishes, as she had to multitask.

Now, the yard is cleaned by Scarface River Otter and the clothes are washed by Aunt Li. It seems like there's no shortage of people, but in reality, we're short of someone to do odd jobs to fill the gap.

Especially with the increasing number of various animals and people in the house, I really don't dare to bring them home casually without proper background.

Aunt Zhang was a disciplined worker and an honest person, and she left a deep impression on me, especially after I inquired about something.

As the saying goes, a daughter looks to her mother.

Mother is good, daughter will not be bad.

"However, the wages will still increase, three taels a month. As for Aunt Zhang's daughter, she will start with eight hundred cash a month."

"Okay, thank you, boss!"

Aunt Zhang thanked her repeatedly.

For a normal woman to work, 600 coins a month is considered good, and 800 is already quite a lot. Aunt Li, who washes clothes, now only earns 1.2 taels a month.

If you do well, the price can be raised even further.

Night fell.

The Old Turtle lay still, enjoying the moonlight.

There were no croaking Old Toad today. The pond was a bit small, but the environment was quite peaceful.

Splash! Liang Qu jumped into the water.

An endless, pricking sensation invaded him from every corner, causing him to furrow his brow.

The oppressive feeling brought by the Flood Dragon was not as strong as that of Yang Dongxiong, but it was full of malice and killing intent, which was different from simply applying pressure. Especially with its own status, just imagining it made people's nerves tense.

"Give it a try."

The Liang Qu shone with a bluish light, and a great blue dragon coiled around it.

Yang Dongxiong's training this morning was quite effective; hopefully, Flood Dragon won't disappoint.

An hour and a half later.

Liang Qu, who had sunk to the bottom of the pool, did not rise to the surface to breathe even once, and his breathing remained steady.

The Old Turtle was slightly surprised and poked its head out. "This kid is good at holding his breath. Could he have learned the art of tortoise breathing?"

The Wolf Smoke Martial Master Qi Concealment his mind and spirit, did not exercise, maintained a peaceful state of mind, and held his breath for half an hour. Holding his breath for an hour was not a difficult task.

But an hour and a half would be much more difficult.

It is something that cannot be done by normal physical limits. In addition to being born with extraordinary talent, one must also practice some special Dharma Gate, such as the turtle breathing technique, the breath-holding technique, or even more profound internal breathing techniques.

Liang Qu knew the Old Turtle was watching, but he wasn't in a hurry at all, because he clearly sensed that his Azure Dragon True Aura had increased by one point! It was useful!

At the same time, it spans north and south.

Near Fragrant Township County.

The Fist focused intently on mining, its carapace growing ever more vibrant red, exuding an extraordinary sense of intimidation.

Mining, in particular, has become increasingly easy for him; the ore is not much better than tofu.

Although no Blood Gemstone were found, several medium-grade Blood Ore were discovered, making it a very fruitful haul.

Underwater.

With its Round Head and tireless efforts, it ventured alone into an unfamiliar Great Marsh.

Throughout the day, a total of fifteen River Dolphin followed behind him, some carrying various items on their backs and others in their mouths. Invisible waves spread out in layers, and each of the River Dolphin porpoises looked comfortable, even the larger "leader" among them.

It effectively subdued an entire wild River Dolphin colony in just one day!

However, Round Head was dissatisfied with his slow efficiency.

According to prior reconnaissance by his men, there should be two wild finless River Dolphin tribes in the vicinity of Fragrant Township County, with a total of thirty-two individuals.

It had planned to finish the task today, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, but for some reason, one of the River Dolphin tribes disappeared!

It was completely empty, as if they had moved out overnight.

Round Head is trying to find them again.

During the search, one of the fifteen henchmen suddenly stopped and called out to Round Head.

Round Head followed his little brother's guidance and landed on the water, noticing the change in terrain.

Several crisscrossing paths, seemingly endless, stretched into the depths of the dark waters...

It's hard to imagine what a gigantic creature the Water Beast that emerged from this path must be.

Compare body types.

Round Head was greatly surprised.

Another Snake Demon?