Chapter 41

The pig's blood quickly filled the earthenware jar.

After Luo Qingchen carried the jar away, he did not return directly to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion.

He did not know if anyone was still tailing him at this moment.

After walking a distance along the street, he suddenly turned into a small alley on the right.

Then, he quickly vanished around the corner of the alley.

After waiting for a long time and seeing no one follow him in, he walked to a dark corner, set down the jar, and pressed his hand against its opening.

At this moment, he held his breath, his heart filled with tension.

Success or failure depended on this!

Hm?

Why was there no reaction?

Just as his expression began to change and he started to think this behavior might be insane—

"Swish!"

The Blood Absorption skill within his body actually responded!

The pig's blood in the jar began to flow rapidly along his palm and into his body!

He immediately looked at the second blood bar inside his body with impatience.

0%, 1%, 2%...

The blood bar was actually moving!

The blood was truly increasing!

Although the rate of growth was much, much slower compared to human blood, it was visible to the naked eye and was indeed increasing!

Pig's blood had actually turned into human blood!

He dared not be careless; he immediately suppressed the excitement in his heart, raised his head, and cast a vigilant gaze toward the corner.

At the same time, his palm remained pressed against the jar's opening to absorb the blood!

At this moment, he must not get carried away or let his guard down!

About half an incense stick's time later, all the pig's blood in the jar had finally been absorbed.

By this time, the blood in the second blood bar within his body had grown to 22%!

Although such a large amount of pig's blood only had the effect of one bowl of human blood, he was already very satisfied.

After all, this jar of pig's blood only cost one tael of silver.

A bowl of human blood, however, required a full fifty taels!

It was just that he did not know how the medicinal bath effect of this converted pig's blood would be.

He was impatient to go back and try it once.

For the sake of safety, he threw the earthenware jar into a pile of trash in the corner, stuffed it with garbage, and waited in the alley for a long time before exiting from the other end.

After wandering the streets for a while longer, he finally returned to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion.

Returning to the backyard and observing his surroundings, he entered the small stone hut, preparing to boil water and brew medicine.

Who would have thought that just as he finished filling the pot with water, Zhang Jiu hurried over. He sighed first before saying, "Brother Luo, Senior Brother Tian has returned, and it seems he is slightly injured. He is in the front courtyard now and wants you to go over."

Luo Qingchen's heart sank. Without saying much, he nodded and walked toward the front courtyard.

Zhang Jiu glanced at the pot and followed behind him, asking, "Is Brother Luo preparing to brew medicine?"

Luo Qingchen walked in front and nodded silently.

"Sigh..."

Zhang Jiu sighed again and said, "I understand Brother Luo's feelings. With Senior Brother Tian returning injured this time, I estimate that the need for blood will be even more frequent in the future."

Luo Qingchen soon arrived at the front courtyard.

Tian Feng was the same as before, wearing a black robe with a powerful aura and a cold expression on his face. Upon seeing him, he immediately took out a dagger and a blood bowl, ordering, "Come over, I am here to take some blood."

This time, Luo Qingchen did not say a single word; he lowered his head and extended his wrist.

The bowl was soon filled with fresh blood.

Tian Feng put away the blood, glanced at him, and said, "I will come again in seven days."

After speaking, he left coldly.

Luo Qingchen stood where he was, his face turning pale, his body growing weak, and his head spinning so much that he could barely stand steady.

Sun Ping and several girls in the pavilion watched with cold eyes.

In front of a window on the second floor, Qingmei also stood there, watching with schadenfreude.

Behind her stood another figure, one hand reaching into the clothes on her chest. He looked at the scene below and sneered, "Look, seducing that brat is not as good as seducing me. Judging by the current situation, that brat probably won't live for another month. Give all the money to me and help me collect blood; once I ascend, I will naturally take you up with me."

Qingmei turned her head to look at him. "Yang Guang, you must say the same things to the other girls in the brothel, right?"

Yang Guang smiled slightly, lowered his head to nibble on her ear, and whispered, "I am insincere with everyone else; only with you am I truly earnest."

Downstairs.

Zhang Jiu hurried over to support Luo Qingchen.

"Brother Luo, come, let me see you back to your room."

Supported by him, Luo Qingchen returned to his room in the backyard and lay down on the bed.

"Brother Luo, get some good rest. I'll have Zhou Yan and Sun Tong take your night patrol shift tomorrow."

Zhang Jiu sighed again, turned to leave the room, and pulled the door shut behind him.

Once outside, the look of sympathy on his face gradually faded. He glanced back at the third room before walking away with quick strides.

Luo Qingchen lay on the bed, his chest rising and falling slightly.

It's a good thing I accidentally discovered today that pig blood can be converted into the blood for my second health bar, otherwise, I'd be in danger right now.

After Tian Feng had drawn his blood, his body had fallen into a state of extreme weakness.

At this moment, he was completely powerless to resist.

Just now, when Zhang Jiu was helping him back, he seemed to have taken the opportunity to probe his vitality.

It seemed the man had not yet given up.

He didn't add any blood for the time being. Instead, he got up to lock the doors and windows, set up some precautions, and only then returned to the bed and closed his eyes.

A heavy wave of exhaustion washed over him, and he soon fell asleep.

He slept until evening.

Just as he was checking the health bars inside his body, a sudden knocking sounded at the door.

The voice of the maid, Xiao Cui, rang out: "Guard Luo, I've brought your meal."

Luo Qingchen forced himself to get up and went to open the door.

Xiao Cui held a tray in both hands, on which sat three steamed buns, two small bowls of meat, a bowl of corn porridge, and a dish of pickled vegetables.

"You were originally only allotted one bun and a dish of pickles; A-Yun paid for the rest herself. Seeing that you had blood drawn today, she was worried your body wouldn't hold up, so she asked me to check on how you were doing."

The young maid finished speaking quickly, thrust the tray into his hands, and hurried to leave.

Luo Qingchen said, "Please thank Miss A-Yun for me. I'm fine, and I appreciate her concern."

"Understood."

Having received his reply, the young maid ran off in a panic.

To her, this backyard was a man-eating place; every time she came here, she would have nightmares afterward.

Just as Luo Qingchen was about to carry the food into his room, a voice suddenly came from the side: "Oh, Brother Luo, slow down, let me help you carry that!"

Yang Guang appeared from the nearby corridor like a ghost. Without waiting for a reply, he snatched the tray from Luo Qingchen's hands and squeezed past him, walking straight into his room.

"Tsk tsk, Brother Luo, why have you set up so many iron nails in this room?"

"Huh? There's even a bear trap!"

Once inside, he scanned the room, exclaiming in exaggerated surprise.

Luo Qingchen stood at the doorway, staring at him with a gloomy expression.

Yang Guang acted as if he hadn't noticed his expression. After placing the food on the table, he paced around the room, observing everything while clicking his tongue, acting as if no one else were present.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the medicinal herbs for cultivation stored in the corner.