Return

On the way back, Lu Li was in high spirits, his steps light and brisk.

This trip into the mountains had brought him an enormous harvest.

Not only had he obtained a precious herb, he had also gained a technique for controlling demons—and Hu Niu.

Each of these three rewards was worth a fortune.

He'd truly made out like a bandit!

Still, the Demon-Spirit Communion Technique wasn't much use to him for the time being.

That was because controlling a demon required planting a Gu worm inside its body.

Otherwise, merely communicating with a demon would be no different from letting it devour him.

He couldn't control a demon whose strength surpassed his own.

After coming down the mountain, Lu Li stepped onto the muddy road and let out a long breath.

"Phew, I finally made it out."

His clothes were tattered, and he was filthy from head to toe.

There was no helping it. The mountain was thick with branches and leaves, which easily snagged his clothes. And after all that fighting, it was only natural that he looked disheveled.

"I'd better go to the Huang Family first and hand over the medicinal herbs. I've been gone for two days, and some people are bound to get restless."

In this world, there were hardly any kind souls. Most people were jackals and tigers. If he didn't show up soon, someone might tear his house apart.

After entering the city, he avoided the vacant-eyed crowds and followed the flagstone path straight to Huang Mansion.

It happened to be the time for handing in medicinal herbs, and quite a few herb gatherers were at Huang Mansion.

"Huh, I haven't seen Lu Li today either. Could he really have gotten jealous after seeing how much Brother Niu earned and gone into the deep mountains too?"

"Even with all those people following him, Brother Niu still got into trouble. He himself barely made it back. What chance would Lu Li have all alone?"

Lu Li's absence for two days had caught people's attention, and they were talking about it.

They had little else to entertain themselves with, so they passed the time gossiping.

Just then, Niu Er hobbled over on a crutch, leaning heavily on it. He set the medicinal herbs from his back down in the courtyard, drenched in sweat.

He wiped his brow, his heart full of frustration.

The last time he'd gone into the mountains, he'd run into a savage White Tiger. If he hadn't run fast and left a few people behind, he might never have made it back.

Even so, he'd lost a leg.

Now he could only get around on one leg, which made everything difficult. Even going up the mountain to gather herbs was a challenge.

After a full day of hard work, he'd barely gathered half a basket.

It was nowhere near enough to meet the Huang Family's requirements.

He'd gotten sixty taels of silver, but he couldn't live off it forever.

Besides, getting a new medicine for his broken leg cost two taels of silver.

Money came fast, but it went just as fast.

More importantly, the herb gatherers he'd taken along on that profitable trip now avoided him like the plague. They kept their distance and wouldn't lift a finger to help him!

"Bah, a pack of ungrateful curs!" he cursed inwardly.

After resting for a while, he handed the herbs to Uncle Huang.

Uncle Huang glanced at them, then swiftly wrote "Unacceptable" on a piece of paper and coldly said, "If your work stays like this, your wages will be cut in half."

Niu Er didn't dare argue. He could only force a wan smile.

But the anger inside him burned hotter. When he heard people talking about Lu Li and learned that Lu Li had been gone for two days, his anger eased a little.

"At least I'm not the worst off. Lu Li went into the mountains too. He still hasn't come back. The demons up there have probably eaten him up by now."

"Pah, you coward. You think you can follow Brother Niu's example? Dream on!"

Suddenly, another man came hurrying over. His eyes swept anxiously around the courtyard. "Has Lu Li come back?"

Everyone shook their heads. He saw no sign of Lu Li either, and his heart sank.

He'd searched for a long time around the outskirts, but hadn't found any trace of Lu Li where he usually went.

Then he'd worked up the nerve to venture farther into the mountains, but still found nothing.

The answer was obvious.

His face flushed red with worry. Like an ant on a hot pan, he paced round and round the courtyard.

"How am I supposed to explain this to his father?"

"Pah, just kill yourself. Then you can explain it to him in the underworld," Niu Er sneered. He was in a foul mood.

Uncle Zhao had mocked him when the demon bit off his leg. They'd only been arguing, but the words had turned out to be a prophecy.

Niu Er had been harboring a grudge for a while, and he blamed Uncle Zhao for part of what had happened.

"Niu Er, stop talking nonsense. Did you run into a demon last time? I remember Lu Li went into the mountains the same day as you," Uncle Zhao asked urgently.

Niu Er snorted.

"Hmph. What's it to me where he is?"

"Instead of worrying about Lu Li, you'd be better off worrying about yourself."

"Your wife is a money pit now. Three doses of medicine a day—can you afford to keep her?"

"Can you pay the Black Tiger Gang's protection fee next month?"

Every word Niu Er spoke was like a boulder pressing down on Uncle Zhao, leaving him utterly helpless.

Uncle Zhao clenched his teeth, struggling to keep his tears from falling.

He had never felt so powerless!

Lu Li was missing. His wife needed medicine. There was the protection fee...

His eyes reddened. With no other way out, he could only sell himself into servitude in exchange for some silver.

But even after selling himself, he'd still have to go into the deep mountains once. What if he found Lu Li?

Having made up his mind, a look of determination flashed through Uncle Zhao's eyes.

Just then, Lu Li walked in, drawing startled cries at once.

"Lu Li, you... you're not dead?"

Lu Li glanced at him and snapped, "Tie Zhu, if you can't talk properly, shut your mouth."

Uncle Zhao froze, then his heart leaped with joy.

He covered the distance in three quick strides and examined Lu Li from head to toe.

Lu Li's clothes were dirty and disheveled, but he was otherwise unharmed. Only then did Uncle Zhao's heart settle.

He clasped his hands together. "Thank heaven!"

Then his expression turned stern. "You little rascal, where have you been?"

Lu Li rubbed the back of his head and gave an awkward grin. "I went into the deep mountains."

Uncle Zhao's face changed dramatically.

But before he could say anything, Lu Li hurried over to Uncle Huang and held out a medicinal herb. "Uncle Huang, could you take a look at this?"

Uncle Huang had been dozing with his eyes closed. He opened them slightly, then his eyes suddenly widened.

His eyes lit up. "Well, well, a Red Sun Fruit! It can stir up your qi and blood, treat deficiency, and let an old tree bloom again. What a treasure!"

The moment he said this, the whole courtyard erupted.

Lu Li had found a precious herb!

Uncle Zhao was startled, then broke into a smile. The weight in his heart vanished in an instant.

Niu Er's eyes widened in disbelief. His bloodshot pupils betrayed his resentment.

Uncle Huang examined the fruit and nodded. "I'll give you seventy taels for it."

He was about to write a receipt when Lu Li interrupted him. "Uncle Huang, I want to learn martial arts."

Uncle Huang's hand paused. His expression shifted from indifference to interest as he studied Lu Li. "You really want to learn martial arts?"

Lu Li nodded firmly.

Uncle Huang gave a slight nod, his gaze turning appreciative.

He still swiftly wrote out a receipt and handed it to Lu Li. "My Huang Family can still pay you these seventy taels."

"The family is in need of fresh blood. If you join the Huang Family, you won't have to pay tuition to learn martial arts. You'll also get a bowl of medicinal soup every day, and every meal will include meat and fish, all free."

"Too bad there's only one Lu Li who can join my Huang Family."

He seemed to say it casually, but everyone understood he was mocking Niu Er.

Uncle Huang had offered Niu Er a chance too, but Niu Er had turned him down.

"What?" When Niu Er heard the terms, his heart twisted with regret.

The resources were free, and he'd even get free meals. If only he'd known, he would've given it a try too.

Every time he caught the smell of meat on the Huang Family servants, his mouth watered.

And they'd still pay him for the herbs!

But he'd thrown away the opportunity himself!

In no time, his heart had taken three more stabs, leaving it riddled with wounds. His bloodshot eyes brimmed with envy and hatred.

Lu Li was also a little surprised when he heard the terms.

Why was the Huang Family being so generous?