The items in Ma Chunliang's arms were the last of the nonmetal, nonwood objects he had managed to gather by exhausting all his personal connections—things suspected to be Fragmented Maps.
If none of these contained a Fragmented Map, then there was likely nothing more he could do. He could only continue dragging things out.
Such a fine opportunity lay before him. There was no way he could possibly give it up.
Gradually...
The sun slanted westward.
He arrived at Qin Jiuge's residence within the imperial city.
Two rows of willow trees stood outside the residence, while a locust tree grew in the courtyard.
It was the season when the locust tree blossomed. Pinkish-white locust catkins danced through the air, carpeting both sides of the courtyard wall. Faint strands of fragrance seemed to linger in the air, making for a most pleasant atmosphere.
It was as though, upon arriving here, even Ma Chunliang's restless mood had been stirred anew, his state of mind undoubtedly rising to another level.
Ma Chunliang shuddered from head to toe and thought to himself, I had ultimately fallen into a Mist Barrier.
Had he not come in person today, his future cultivation might very well have carried the risk of deviation.
Ma Chunliang could not help feeling secretly relieved.
Then, naturally, he carried those items straight into Qin Jiuge's courtyard.
He untied the bundle in his hands and took out the entire pile of objects, hoping that fortune might favor him as well.
Qin Jiuge was drinking clear tea at the time. Beside him sat a fine tea set crafted from Hetian jade, which Ma Chunliang had also sent over in hopes of currying favor with Qin Jiuge.
Qin Jiuge had used it and found it quite comfortable, so he had gone along with this mortal