"Who did I think it was? So it was you?"
Ye Tong turned around, looked at Tong Kaishan's expression, and sneered. "A chance encounter? What a coincidence indeed! Coincidental enough for you to follow me all night? If I'm not mistaken, you've been behind me ever since I left the medicinal herb market, haven't you?"
Tong Kaishan fell silent for a moment, then nodded in admission. "That's right. I went to the medicinal herb market to buy herbs and happened to see you. Since I was curious about you, I followed behind you to see what you were doing. I understood when you went to the blacksmith shop, since I haven't seen you carry any weapon so far. But you went to the Miao Family Ancestral Grave and busied yourself for quite a while—that, I truly don't understand."
"Hehe..."
Ye Tong turned and walked as he spoke. "If your father hadn't had the foresight, the place I visited would not have been the Miao Family Ancestral Grave, but your Tong Family Ancestral Grave. I read your face and found that you can actually turn over a new leaf. You will have a life of wealth and honor in the future, so cherish yourself well. For your own sake, and for the Tong Family's."
"Yes!"
If it had been before, had Ye Tong dared to speak to him like that, he would likely have slapped him across the face long ago. Yet now, he could accept it with an open mind and maintain a humble manner. Tong Kaishan understood in his heart that although his cultivation exceeded Ye Tong's, Ye Tong was someone he could not afford to provoke.
After entering Cold Mountain City, Ye Tong did not say another word until they reached the vicinity of the medicinal herb market. He merely waved at Tong Kaishan with his back turned, then hurried alone toward the Precious Medicine Workshop.
"Phew..." Tong Kaishan watched Ye Tong's retreating back and secretly let out a sigh of relief.
What exactly had he gone to the Miao Family Ancestral Grave for? Why had he said that, if not for Father, he would have visited my Tong Family Ancestral Grave?
Precious Medicine Workshop.
After Ye Tong returned with the wooden box in his arms, he saw the Crippled Old Woman before the stone mill in the inner courtyard. She was hugging the Black Carbon Cudgel with her eyes closed, sound asleep. Though she had put on new clothes and Medicine Slave had arranged a room for her, she had never moved in, as if she had grown accustomed to sleeping rough in the open, curling up before the stone mill every night.
"Are you awake?" Ye Tong walked up to her and asked.
The Crippled Old Woman opened her eyes and looked at Ye Tong with some surprise, then nodded lightly.
Ye Tong crouched down and reached out to grasp the Crippled Old Woman's severed leg. As he took out the Dark Dagger and flicked his wrist, the empty trouser leg was torn open and cut away, exposing half of her remaining leg.
The Crippled Old Woman did not struggle or resist. Nor did she harbor the slightest concern that Ye Tong might harm her. She simply watched quietly as Ye Tong went about his work.
Ye Tong put away the Dark Dagger, then opened the wooden box and took out the prosthetic limb inside. As he fitted it onto the Crippled Old Woman's severed leg, he said evenly, "With one leg missing, you can never walk properly. I designed this prosthetic and found a decent blacksmith to make it. Once I put it on you, stand up and move around. See whether you can walk normally."
"This..."
The Crippled Old Woman's gaze shifted to the prosthetic. This was the first time she had heard of such a novel thing, and the first time she had seen one. She could clearly feel that, with Ye Tong's movements, the prosthetic had already been secured to her severed leg.
"Come, try it."
Ye Tong stood and stepped back several paces.
The Crippled Old Woman wore a strange expression. Could putting on a model really let her stand again? Could it really let her walk like an ordinary person? She felt that Ye Tong was merely being childish, yet even as she rose without any expectation whatsoever, warmth still filled her heart.
"Huh?"
The Crippled Old Woman took several steps forward. The cloudiness in her eyes instantly faded, replaced by brilliant glimmers of utter disbelief. Her leg had been lost in that calamity ten years ago. Although she had preserved her life and saved her two children, the fact that she had become disabled had been impossible to change.
But!
A model—or rather, a prosthetic fashioned like a mechanical contraption—had allowed her to walk normally without much difficulty, and without much awkwardness. The situation shocked her and left her unable to believe it.
Ye Tong asked, "How is it?"
The Crippled Old Woman's voice was somewhat hoarse. "Very good. Extremely good. It's still a little unfamiliar on the first use, but I'll get used to it later."
Ye Tong said with satisfaction, "That's good. Then I didn't wait ten days for nothing. Fine, walk a few more steps if you wish, or rest if you prefer. Do as you please."
The Crippled Old Woman asked, "You're going to the prefectural city tomorrow?"
Ye Tong said, "That's right. We'll set out early tomorrow morning. This Precious Medicine Workshop will be left to you and Ye Dingding."
"Alright!"
The Crippled Old Woman agreed.
Ye Tong was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "While we're away, if powerful cultivators come looking for trouble, don't clash with them. If they want to curse, let them curse. If they want to burn things, let them burn them. Possessions are not worth more than lives."
"Alright, I won't argue with them!" The wrinkles on the Crippled Old Woman's face eased, and her smile made her look all the more kind and benevolent.
At dawn, Ye Tong sat cross-legged on the rooftop, disappointment showing in his eyes. The purple qi arriving from the east could help him purge the toxins from his body, but the sky was overcast today, making the air feel stifling and oppressive.
"Young Master, we're ready to set out." Medicine Slave carried a bulging black cloth sack on his back, leaned on the Dragon Head Cane, and looked up at Ye Tong on the roof. He appeared to be having some difficulty.
Ye Tong leaped down. Smelling the fragrance drifting from the kitchen, he asked, "Aren't we eating before we leave?"
Medicine Slave said, "The Dragon Lion Eagles from Cold Mountain City to the prefectural city only come twice a day, and each one can only carry sixteen people. If we arrive late, we may have to wait until tomorrow."
"I understand. Then let's go now." Ye Tong nodded. After straightening his clothes, he nodded at Ye Dingding and the Crippled Old Woman, who had stepped out of the kitchen, then strode outside.
Cold Mountain City Relay Station.
On the broad plaza, crowds surged around dozens of carriages. Shouts and cries filled the air. Adventurers and traveling merchants hauled goods on and off, some about to journey far away, others having only just arrived.
Following behind Medicine Slave, Ye Tong soon reached the fence in the southwest corner. Looking at the dozen-odd Dragon Lion Eagles, enormous in build and fierce in appearance, he secretly found it strange. He had seen Dragon Lion Eagles before but had never ridden one. Looking at the beasts, three or four meters tall, he still doubted whether a single Dragon Lion Eagle's back could seat eight people.
"Two people." Medicine Slave took out two banknotes, each worth one hundred taels of blue silver, and handed them to the burly man at the fenced entrance.
The burly man said in a deep voice, "Only one seat remains."
Medicine Slave's expression changed as he turned to look at Ye Tong.
Ye Tong fell silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "Five hundred taels?"
The burly man was taken aback. He carefully sized Ye Tong up several times, then nodded in satisfaction. "If everyone squeezes together, one more person won't matter."
Very soon, Ye Tong and Medicine Slave were led into the fenced area, where six people were already waiting. Each of the six wore luxurious robes and carried themselves with extraordinary bearing.
A plump-faced middle-aged man dressed in silks and satins cast a sidelong glance at Ye Tong and Medicine Slave, then shouted at the burly man, "Isn't each Dragon Lion Eagle only supposed to carry eight people? Other than you, why have another two come?"
The burly man said blandly, "How many people we carry is decided by the Baishun Merchant Guild. If you are dissatisfied, you may travel to the prefectural city by other means."
"You!" Anger flashed across the wealthy middle-aged man's face, but when he considered the Baishun Merchant Guild's influence, he ultimately swallowed his anger.
"Alright. Since we have enough people, let's set off."
The burly man shot into the air and landed atop the Dragon Lion Eagle in an instant. Grabbing the chain fastened around the Dragon Lion Eagle's thick neck, he shouted in a deep voice, "Get up here, quickly."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Figures swiftly and lightly climbed onto the Dragon Lion Eagle's back, including even the wealthy middle-aged man.
Up! Ye Tong and Medicine Slave did not hesitate. They quickly climbed onto the Dragon Lion Eagle's back and discovered that even with nine people aboard, there was still ample room.
"Aang..."
A resounding cry rang out. Everyone felt their bodies jolt and their vision blur as the Dragon Lion Eagle carried them soaring into the clouds. A transparent curtain of light appeared around its back, enveloping them all within it.
The city they had once occupied grew smaller and smaller in their sight, while the ground receded farther and farther from Ye Tong.
Two days later.
After several brief rests, the Dragon Lion Eagle landed atop a majestic mountain. There were blue-brick houses, a level plaza, and dozens of men and women dressed in Battle Robes scattered around the area, clearly standing guard.
As the light barrier vanished, the burly man jumped down from the Dragon Lion Eagle and called loudly, "We need to rest here for one night. We'll continue our journey tomorrow morning. Lodging and food are provided here. Those willing to spend money, follow me. Those unwilling can find a place nearby to settle down as they please."
"Young Master?" After following Ye Tong down to the ground, Medicine Slave cast him a questioning look.
Ye Tong walked toward the blue-brick houses, though vigilance remained in his eyes. From his observations, he had noticed that something about this place was off. The dozens of men and women responsible for standing guard all had formidable auras, and although they were trying hard to conceal them, there were still places on their bodies they had failed to cover, revealing wounds.
They were fresh wounds!
That meant they had experienced battle within the past half day.
After paying twenty taels of blue silver, the two were led to a house. The woman who guided them also told them that they could later go to a designated place for a meal. The room was not large, only around ten square meters, but it was enough for two people to stay in.
"Did you notice?" Ye Tong asked in a low voice after casually shutting the door.
Medicine Slave nodded. "Those guards are wounded."
Ye Tong asked, "What do you think?"
Medicine Slave pondered for a moment, then said, "There are two possibilities. First, the guards here kill people for their goods and fought with guests who temporarily landed here to rest, which is why they were injured. Second, this place is not safe, and powerful fierce beasts are causing trouble nearby. I observed the guards here. Their auras are not weak, and three of them are Innate Realm experts. Those three seem to have suffered the worst injuries."
Ye Tong narrowed his eyes and said thoughtfully, "You mean that if it's the second possibility, the fierce beasts harassing this place have to be at least Level Three or Level Four?"
"That's right!" Medicine Slave nodded and slowly said, "And there won't be only a few of them."
Ye Tong was silent for a moment before saying, "Since we're here, we might as well make the best of it. We'll watch how things develop and be ready to fight at any moment. I think the second possibility is more likely."
Medicine Slave slowly nodded and said nothing more.
A Level Three Fierce Beast posed no threat to him, and even a Level Four Fierce Beast would find it extremely difficult to kill him. But when encountering such fierce beasts, Medicine Slave could only protect himself. He did not yet possess the strength to ensure Ye Tong's safety.
Before you continue