The moment Zhou Qing opened his eyes, he saw the doted-on Lu Yaoyao happily greeting the two of them.
Li Daoxuan and He Han followed close behind. Both had originally been beaming, but the instant they saw Zhou Qing, their faces fell.
Seeing that the lecherous scoundrel note above Li Daoxuan's head had not changed in the slightest, Zhou Qing could not even be bothered to greet him.
He simply continued pretending to sleep.
Yan Xiaohu, on the other hand, greeted her with great enthusiasm. "Junior Sister Lu, you're here to browse the Trade Fair too? Come, come, come. I've got a few good things here. Take whichever one catches your eye—everything's half price, guaranteed."
Li Daoxuan glanced at the junk on the stall and could not help saying, "Ahem, ahem, ahem. That's not how you fleece an acquaintance. Junior Sister, let's go browse over there."
Yet Lu Yaoyao raised her head to look at Zhou Qing, wildly imagining a shocking, earth-shattering drama in her mind.
Taiqing Sect's tender young grass, Zhou Qing, and Azure Feather Immortal Sect's old cow, Profound Abyss Immortal—just what sort of sparks would fly between them?
How exciting!
If it really is her, I'd better keep a close eye on things! Lu Yaoyao muttered inwardly.
Then she left.
Yan Xiaohu felt a pang of regret and casually picked up a bronze mirror from his stall to inspect himself.
"I'm such a dashing single-eyelid guy, and she doesn't like me. Why does she like Fourth Child instead? And Fourth Child barely gives her the time of day. Is this the legendary playing hard to get?"
Yan Xiaohu muttered to himself, then suspiciously looked at Zhou Qing, who was pretending to sleep.
"Get up. She's already gone!" Yan Xiaohu called.
Only then did Zhou Qing slowly open his eyes, sit up, and stretch lazily.
"Comfortable!"
Yan Xiaohu leaned closer and asked curiously, "I just don't get it. What exactly does that girl see in you?"
Zhou Qing suddenly slapped his thigh. "I want to know too! I don't even know where to start if I want to change it."
The two looked at each other, then sighed in unison.
Truly, the dry were dying of drought while the flooded were drowning in water!
By evening, after Yan Xiaohu packed up his stall, the two had a hearty meal before flying their swords back to the mountain gate.
That night, Zhou Qing heated a large barrel of water and tossed in the broken bones of the Crimson Flame Dragon Lion.
Then he slowly stepped into the steaming bath. Once he steadied his mind, he began circulating the cultivation mantra for Silver Dragon Hand.
"I wonder if what Second Uncle said is true." Zhou Qing was still somewhat doubtful.
There was nothing wrong with the bones; he just did not know whether the method was correct.
As time passed bit by bit, blood-colored bubbles actually began rising from the bones at the bottom of the barrel, synchronizing with the circulation of Silver Dragon Hand through his meridians.
"It works!"
Zhou Qing's face lit up with delight, and he sped up the circulation of his heavenly cycle.
Very soon, that blood-colored energy entered through Zhou Qing's palms. He could clearly feel a scorching warm current, like a tide, rapidly spreading through his entire body, blending with and echoing the spiritual power of the Silver Dragon Hand technique.
A moment later, a faint layer of silver light gradually appeared over his hands.
"This is way too fast!"
At the sight, Zhou Qing was stunned beyond measure. He dared not let his mind wander again and immersed himself completely in that wondrous sensation.
It was not until daybreak that he finally rose, still wanting more.
With a thought, his hands were instantly covered in a faint silvery sheen. Upon close inspection, he could even see tiny Dragon Scales.
"This bone should still last another two days. Then this Silver Dragon Hand will truly count as an introductory mastery!" Zhou Qing was overjoyed.
Although Second Uncle could be quite a cheat at times, his cultivation talent and unique understanding of techniques and divine abilities truly surpassed Zhou Qing's by far.
Otherwise, how could he have infiltrated so many major sects and even nearly become the next sect master?
Zhou Qing had just finished tidying up when he opened the courtyard gate and ran into Third Senior Brother, who had arrived on his flying sword.
After all, the two had agreed to head down the mountain together these past few days.
"Good heavens, did you fall asleep in the bath last night?" Yan Xiaohu asked in surprise as he looked at Zhou Qing's somewhat pale skin.
Zhou Qing wore an awkward expression.
Yan Xiaohu circled Zhou Qing once, clicking his tongue. "No, something's off. No wonder your skin is fairer than mine—you soaked yourself white like this. Is there some other secret?"
Speechless, Zhou Qing shook his head. "Hop around less every day and spend less time in the sun, and your skin will get fairer too. Let's go to the Fire Kitchen for breakfast before heading down the mountain."
Yan Xiaohu stopped dwelling on it, but just as they reached the foot of the mountain, they ran into He Han from Divine Peak.
"Junior Brother Zhou, do you have time right now? Junior Sister needs to see you about something," He Han said with a cupped-fist salute.
Zhou Qing was somewhat puzzled.
Why is she looking for me so early in the morning?
And she even sent her Second Senior Brother.
Something unusual must be afoot.
Not going!
"I still have something—"
"Good, having time is all that matters. Your reputation is bad, and I didn't want to take you to Divine Peak in the first place. But this is the first time Junior Sister has asked me for help, so I have to handle it beautifully. Come with me!"
After saying that, He Han grabbed Zhou Qing and leapt onto his flying sword.
Zhou Qing hurriedly struggled. "No, why are you forcibly kidnapping people? That wasn't your attitude at Jade Cuisine Hall last time... Third Senior Brother, save me!"
Before Zhou Qing could finish, He Han had already hauled him into the air, speeding straight toward Divine Peak.
Only Yan Xiaohu remained behind, blinking his small eyes. Once he came to his senses, his face was full of conflict and hesitation.
"Should I go set up a stall, or go check on Fourth Child?"
"They're all brothers from the same family. He should be fine."
"I should go see Fourth Child, but today is only the second day of the Treasure Exchange Gathering. I'll miss so many fat sheep. But if I don't go see him, won't I seem too cold and heartless? When he needs help most, I can't even appear at his side in time."
"Forget it. I'll leave everything to fate!"
Yan Xiaohu hurriedly picked a large red flower from nearby and began plucking its petals.
"Go, don't go, go, don't go, go..."
"I'm truly not human! Fourth Child just cried for help, and I'm still here plucking flower petals. Fourth Child, hold on! Third Senior Brother is coming!"
Yan Xiaohu tossed away the final petal, the one that meant "go," let out a roar, and charged straight toward Divine Peak...
"Hey! He Han, you dog—" When Yan Xiaohu finally found He Han, panting heavily, he was about to unleash a torrent of curses to save his brother. But he suddenly discovered that, besides He Han, all his other brothers were there as well, so he forcibly swallowed the last word.
Yet Li Daoxuan and the other five seemed not to notice Yan Xiaohu's arrival at all. They were all sprawled atop the courtyard wall, sneakily peering inside.
Confused, Yan Xiaohu also crept over. When he climbed the wall and looked inside, rage immediately surged into his chest.
This was the rear garden of the Welcoming Guest Hall. A lake lay within, like a clear mirror, its surface sparkling beneath the sunlight, with koi swimming merrily through it.
Jagged, steep artificial rockeries stood along the lakeshore in a pleasing arrangement, while winding corridors curled around them.
At that moment, in a pavilion within the corridor, a silver-haired beautiful woman was covering her mouth and laughing after Lu Yaoyao amused her with a few words. Beside them, Zhou Qing was eating a Spirit Food breakfast, smiling now and then and nodding along.
"I ran here hungry to save you, not even caring about making money, and here you are, eating and drinking to your heart's content. Have you ever considered my feelings?"
Yan Xiaohu cursed under his breath and turned to leave...
Before you continue