A Happy Ending

Ge Family Courtyard.

Hearing the commotion outside, Ge Ling and Yuan Ailan hurried out of the house, only to see Ge Changyuan leading Su Qing inside.

Ge Ling's eyes lit up at once, and she happily ran to Su Qing's side.

"Brother Su, you finally came! I knew you'd definitely come. It's just that those uncles and elders wouldn't listen to me. They kept questioning me whenever they saw me—so annoying!"

"Ling'er, don't talk nonsense!" Ge Changyuan stopped Ge Ling, then cupped his hands to Su Qing. "The villagers are narrow-minded. I hope Fellow Daoist won't take offense. It's no major matter; this old man can handle it."

Without needing to ask, Su Qing knew what Ge Changyuan's family had gone through these past few days. He hurriedly bent at the waist in salute and said:

"This matter has caused Fellow Daoist hardship on my account. Once this deal is completed, I will certainly repay you handsomely."

Ge Changyuan repeatedly waved his hands. Once this deal was done, the village would have Lizard Warriors patrolling it, which would benefit him as well. He truly did not feel Su Qing had anything to thank him for.

Especially after the display Su Qing had put on just now, Ge Changyuan was deeply grateful.

Living in a village was different from living in the Living Area.

The Living Area was filled with Rogue Cultivators from every corner of the world. None of them had family ties or connections with one another. Some who disliked socializing might not even know whether their next-door neighbors were men or women.

If they were unhappy with the place, they could turn around and move elsewhere. Naturally, they did not care much about saving face; earning Spirit Crystals was what mattered most.

But in the village, everyone was related by blood or friendship. They saw one another day in and day out. Here, face was more important than Spirit Crystals. Without face, one simply could not go on living.

Ge Changyuan felt that Su Qing had given him face today, and that was more substantial than any thanks.

Su Qing did not see it that way, but he said nothing more for the moment.

While waiting for the village chiefs to arrive,

he took the chance to ask about the village's recent situation.

Ge Family Village lay at the outermost edge of the Market and was closest to the Hunting Grounds. They knew the situation there better than anyone.

"It hasn't been peaceful. Those Rogue Cultivators have killed quite a few demonic beasts, but the beasts haven't diminished at all. The more they kill, the more there seem to be.

"This old man also heard that a Black Mountain Tiger appeared a few days ago. After swallowing more than a dozen Rogue Cultivators, no one knew where it vanished to.

"That was a Tier 2 Demonic Beast. Other than a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator, who could afford to provoke it? These past few days, quite a few Rogue Cultivators have been scared out of the Hunting Grounds and retreated back."

Hearing that Su Qing would soon be heading to the Hunting Grounds as well, Ge Changyuan laid out everything he knew in full detail.

Su Qing nodded at this. Hundred Beasts Mountain stretched north and south for countless thousands of miles. Even Cloud Mountain Sect perhaps did not know how many demonic beasts were hidden within.

With Tier 1 demonic beasts pouring down from the mountains and Tier 2 Demonic Beasts darting out to harm people, this descent of the demonic beasts was hardly surprising.

If Not For the news of Tier 2 Demonic Beasts, why would Hundred Treasures Pavilion send people over?

"Also, more than ten days ago, a young Body Cultivator had his right leg gnawed off by a demonic beast. He asked this old man to find you to forge him a Spirit Lotus Leg.

"Unfortunately, it was already deep into the night. Ever since this old man encountered that Headless Evil Spirit, I haven't dared walk at night.

"I only told him to wait one more day, but he lost patience and limped away on one leg."

Ge Changyuan spoke with some regret. That Fellow Daoist had been a decent person, one who understood courtesy and propriety. He had hoped he could help him.

After all, he had seen the benefits of a Spirit Lotus Leg clearly enough on his own daughter.

It was just that Fellow Daoist had seemed as though someone was pursuing him. He could not wait at all, and this old man had no choice.

Su Qing did not mind. Instead, he reminded Ge Changyuan:

"Big Brother did the right thing. Things haven't been very peaceful around my place lately. It's best not to go there unless necessary."

"Understood, understood!" Old Man Ge nodded repeatedly.

Su Qing then looked toward Ge Ling and listened to the little girl chatter away about the amusing things that had happened recently.

"Wang Ergou from the neighboring village—his dad took him riding an Iron Horse to hunt demonic beasts. They killed a Tier 1 demonic beast and came back looking so impressive!

"I asked my dad to get me one too, so I could go kill demonic beasts, but he absolutely refused. Every day, all he knows is making me braid ropes."

"Your father did the right thing. Demonic beasts aren't so easy to kill. With your little bit of skill, going after demonic beasts would be sheer nonsense!"

"What's there to fear when there are lots of people? I'm much more capable than Wang Ergou. Look, Brother Su, this is Gale Slash. It's a Yellow Grade Mid-Grade Daoist art! It's just that I don't have enough mana yet, so I can only activate it once."

"That's already good enough. Your Brother Su is nearly thirty, and he still hasn't figured out Gale Art!"

"That yellow dog looked so imposing."

"It's just a stupid dog."

Talking with Ge Ling was completely different from talking with Guo Qiao Lian. Guo Qiao Lian was one of the same path, a Fellow Daoist, so he had to speak with a measure of caution.

But Ge Ling was like the little girl next door whom he had watched grow up. As they spoke, even his mood relaxed somewhat.

While he was talking with Ge Ling, Yuan Ailan brought over a pot of Spirit Wheat Tea.

The warm tea carried a rich wheat fragrance. After Su Qing downed a large potful, he saw Ge Changyuan lead several elders inside and hurriedly rose to cup his hands in salute.

"I am Su Qing. Greetings, Fellow Daoists."

The elders were all villagers from several nearby villages, most of them around the Mid Qi Refining Stage. Facing a Puppet Master like Su Qing, none dared put on airs, and all cupped their hands to return the salute.

Among them was Ge Shu, the Ge Family Village Chief, who had dealt with Su Qing before. He was the first to speak.

"Fellow Daoist Su, they said the Puppets they commissioned from you have all been forged. We old fellows would like to see Fellow Daoist Su's craftsmanship as soon as possible. The village has been in too much chaos lately, and everyone wants to put these Puppets to use sooner."

"I'll take them out for everyone to inspect right away, but this courtyard is too small to spread them out. Let's go outside instead," Su Qing said slowly as he set down his cup.

When everyone came outside, the villagers had not dispersed. Instead, more and more had gathered. After they made room,

Su Qing patted his Storage Bag, and one Puppet after another leaped into everyone's sight.

Thirty Iron Horse Puppets stood clad in silver armor, powerful and imposing.

Fifty Wood Ox Puppets had sturdy limbs and broad backs.

Most eye-catching of all were the twelve Lizard Warriors. Green-skinned and red-eyed, with long tails and sharp claws, they were like twelve icy killing machines, stern and forbidding.

After the village chiefs stepped forward in turn to test several Puppets each, they all nodded in satisfaction and showered Su Qing with another round of thanks.

"Fellow Daoist Su's skill is truly superb. Even these ordinary Iron Horses and Wood Oxen are far better than those forged by others!"

"Fellow Daoist Su stayed in our village for a time. Back then, he always used ample materials and never cheated anyone. Otherwise, I would never have had you come with me to seek out Fellow Daoist Su!"

"The Lizard Warriors are good too—truly good. How could those Rogue Cultivators bear to make such fine Puppets self-destruct?"

The village chiefs praised him without end. Su Qing smiled and modestly said a few words before he had no choice but to interrupt.

"Fellow Daoists, to be honest, Hundred Treasures Pavilion has invited me to handle some matters in the Hunting Grounds this time. The team is still waiting for me in Hao Family Village, so I dare not delay here too long. What do you think...?"

"Quite right, quite right. Since Fellow Daoist has matters to attend to, let us complete the transaction quickly!" Hearing that even Hundred Treasures Pavilion had invited Su Qing to work for them, Ge Shu regarded him even more highly and quickly replied.

After the village chiefs handed over the remaining twenty-three thousand-plus Spirit Crystals to Su Qing before all the villagers,

Ge Changyuan smilingly saw them off. Yet when he returned home, Su Qing was nowhere to be seen.

There was, however, an extra Heavy Armor Lizard Warrior in the courtyard.

"Fellow Daoist Su thinks too highly of this old man!"

Old Man Ge stroked the Lizard Warrior's smooth chest and felt that his decision to bring Su Qing home years ago had truly been utterly correct!

This child.

He was truly kindhearted!