Chapter 41

The pig's blood soon filled the clay jar.

After Luo Qingchen left with the jar, he didn't head straight back to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion.

At this hour, he didn't know whether anyone was still following him.

After walking some distance down the street, he suddenly turned into a narrow alley on his right.

Then he quickly disappeared around the corner.

He waited a long while. When no one followed him in, he went to a shadowy corner, set down the jar, and pressed a hand over its opening.

He held his breath, his heart tight with nerves.

Whether it worked or not depended on this!

Hmm?

Why wasn't anything happening?

Just as his expression began to change and he started to think he might have been crazy to try this—

Whoosh!

The Blood Sucking Skill inside him actually responded!

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

He immediately looked at the second Blood Bar inside him, unable to wait another moment.

0%, 1%, 2%...

The Blood Bar was actually moving!

The blood inside it was really increasing!

It was growing much more slowly than when he absorbed human blood, but he could see it with his own eyes. It was truly increasing!

The pig's blood had actually turned into human blood!

Not daring to let his guard down, he quickly suppressed his excitement, raised his head, and warily watched the corner.

At the same time, he kept his palm pressed against the mouth of the jar, absorbing the blood!

Now was absolutely not the time to get carried away and let down his guard!

After about half an incense stick's worth of time, he finally absorbed all the pig's blood in the jar.

By then, the blood in the second Blood Bar inside him had reached 22%!

All that pig's blood had only had the effect of one bowl of human blood, but he was already very satisfied.

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

A single bowl of human blood, on the other hand, cost a full fifty taels!

He just didn't know how effective the blood converted from pig's blood would be in a medicinal bath.

He couldn't wait to go back and try it.

To be safe, he threw the jar into a rubbish heap in the corner and stuffed it full of trash. Then he waited in the alley for quite a while before leaving by the other end.

After wandering around the streets for a bit, he finally returned to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion.

Back in the rear courtyard, he looked around, then entered the Small Stone Hut to heat water and boil his medicine.

But just after he had filled the pot with water, Zhang Jiu hurried over. He sighed before saying, "Brother Luo, Senior Brother Tian's back. He seems to be hurt. He's in the front courtyard now and wants you to come over."

Luo Qingchen's heart sank. He said nothing, merely nodding before walking toward the front courtyard.

Zhang Jiu glanced at the pot and followed behind him. "Brother Luo, are you getting ready to boil medicine?"

Luo Qingchen walked ahead, silently nodding.

"Ah..." Zhang Jiu sighed again. "I understand how you feel, Brother Luo. Senior Brother Tian came back injured this time, so I reckon he'll need blood more often from now on."

Luo Qingchen soon reached the front courtyard.

As before, Tian Feng wore a black robe and had a powerful aura and a cold expression. When he saw Luo Qingchen, he immediately took out a dagger and a bowl, ordering, "Come here. I'm going to take some blood."

This time, Luo Qingchen didn't say a word. He lowered his head and held out his wrist.

His blood soon filled a large bowl.

Tian Feng put the blood away and glanced at him. "I'll come again in seven days."

With that, he left without a trace of warmth.

Luo Qingchen stood where he was, his face paling as his body went weak. His head spun, and he could barely stay upright.

Sun Ping and several other girls in the pavilion watched coldly.

At a window on the second floor, Qingmei stood watching too, gloating.

Behind her stood another figure. One hand had slipped inside her clothes at her chest as he watched the scene below with a sneer. "Look at that. You seduced that kid, but you'd have been better off seducing me. From the looks of things, he probably won't last a month. Spend all your money on me and help me get blood, and once I make it up there, I'll take you with me."

Qingmei turned to look at him. "Yang Guang, is that what you say to all the other girls in the pavilion, too?"

Yang Guang smiled faintly, lowered his head, and bit her ear. "I'm just pretending with everyone else. You're the one I truly care about."

Downstairs.

Zhang Jiu hurried over to support Luo Qingchen.

"Brother Luo, come on. I'll take you back to your room."

With Zhang Jiu supporting him, Luo Qingchen returned to his room in the rear courtyard and lay down on the bed.

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

Zhang Jiu sighed again, then left the room and closed the door for him.

Once outside, the sympathy on his face gradually faded. He glanced back at this third room, then quickly walked away.

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

It was a good thing he'd discovered by chance today that pig's blood could be converted into blood for his second Blood Bar. Otherwise, he'd be in danger now.

After Tian Feng took his blood, his body had sunk into extreme weakness.

At a time like this, he was completely helpless.

When Zhang Jiu had helped him back just now, it seemed he had taken the opportunity to check Luo Qingchen's blood and vitality.

It seemed the other man still hadn't given up.

For now, he didn't replenish his blood. He got up, locked the doors and windows, and made a few preparations before returning to bed and closing his eyes.

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

He slept until dusk.

As he was checking the Blood Bars inside him, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

The maid Xiao Cui called from outside, "Guard Luo, I've brought you your meal."

Luo Qingchen forced his exhausted body out of bed and went to open the door.

Xiao Cui held a tray in both hands. On it were three steamed buns, two small bowls of meat, a bowl of corn porridge, and a plate of pickles.

"You normally only get one steamed bun and a plate of pickles. The rest was bought for you by Miss A-Yun. She heard they took your blood today and was afraid your body wouldn't be able to handle it, so she asked me to check how you're feeling."

The little maid quickly finished speaking, put the tray in his hands, and hurried to leave.

Luo Qingchen said, "Please thank Miss A-Yun for me. I'm fine. Thank her for caring."

"All right."

After getting his answer, the little maid immediately hurried away in a panic.

To her, the rear courtyard was a place that devoured people. Every time she came here, she had nightmares afterward.

Luo Qingchen was about to carry the food inside when a voice suddenly rang out beside him. "Hey, Brother Luo, take it easy. Let me carry that for you!"

Yang Guang appeared from the corridor like a ghost. Before Luo Qingchen could say anything, he snatched the tray out of his hands and pushed right past him into the room.

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

"Huh, you even have a Beast Trap!"

Once inside, he looked around, loudly exclaiming in surprise.

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

Yang Guang acted as though he hadn't noticed Luo Qingchen's expression. After putting the food on the table, he walked around the room, inspecting everything and clicking his tongue as though nobody else were there.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on the medicinal ingredients for cultivation in the corner.