"Eh? You recognized it at a glance." Old Red Spear was slightly surprised. Snow Sand was a rare material, seldom seen on the market. Even experienced Beast Tamers often mistook Snow Sand for ordinary sea salt. He had just been about to ask Chu Yun how he'd identified it when he saw the boy grinning, palm outstretched toward him.
"Fine, you've surprised this old man once. Here!" Old Red Spear laughed heartily, pulled a pouch of stone coins from his robes, and placed it in Chu Yun's hand.
Chu Yun's expression shifted as the pouch landed in his palm. It contained at least fifty Earth-Fiend Stone Coins. He even guessed that they were the proceeds the old man had earned through all his hard work selling salt.
His heart stirred with gratitude, but he didn't refuse. He tucked the pouch into his robes. He was short on funds right now; once he rose to prominence, he would repay this drop of kindness with a surging spring!
"Oh, and remember to visit Old Monkey Qiao and Old Fish King. They've got good stuff." Before Chu Yun left, Old Red Spear winked at him and offered the mysterious reminder.
Chu Yun knew exactly what he meant and chuckled to himself, but his face still wore a look of bewilderment tinged with anticipation. He wasn't deliberately trying to deceive Old Red Spear; he simply found it charming to relive old memories and savor things all over again.
Old Monkey Qiao and Old Fish King had been comrades-in-arms with Old Red Spear. After leaving the ranks, Old Red Spear had opened a sea-salt field and run a salt shop in the village. Old Monkey Qiao tended a grove of Copper Bell Coconut Trees, making a living by selling their fruit. Old Fish King had become a fisherman, scraping by with the help of his aged Demon Beast, a Sea Spider that caught fish by spraying nets.
Chu Yun had known them since he was very young. More recently, after leaving Shu Family City and living in the fishing village, he had also benefited from the care of these Three Elders.
The Copper Bell Coconut Trees planted south of the fishing village were an extremely common sort of tree demon on Shu Family Island. Mild-tempered and three zhang tall, each tree bore exactly three Milk Coconut Fruits and fifteen Copper Bell Fruits—never more, never less. Only the Milk Coconut Fruits could be sold as goods; the Copper Bell Fruits were useless except as children's toys.
Thus, although Old Monkey Qiao tended a whole grove of Copper Bell Coconut Trees, he remained poor. Even so, he had given Chu Yun a waterskin filled to the brim with fresh coconut milk.
Next, Chu Yun went to Old Fish King's extremely rudimentary shack by the sea at the village's eastern entrance. Just as in his previous life, Chu Yun received a jade bottle containing Pearl Tear. This material was also exceedingly rare. It was gathered on nights when the stars and moon shone together, when Starlight Clams and Moonlight Clams—two kinds of Demon Beasts—floated in great numbers on the sea's surface, opening their shells to take in starlight and moonlight. The liquid essence was contained beneath the clam meat.
When this essence grew cold, it condensed into round, white pearls. When heated, it dried into pearl powder. Only in weather that was neither cold nor hot could these droplets be collected.
From this, it was clear how difficult it was to obtain a full jade bottle of Pearl Tear, and how precious it was. This material couldn't be bought in the fishing village—or even in Shu Family City.
Chu Yun silently kept these kindnesses in his heart. After taking his leave, he returned to the fishing village's marketplace and once again stepped into the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.
"Oh, my lord, you're back!" The moment Chu Yun entered, the shop assistant from before called out, his exaggerated expression brimming with fiery enthusiasm. In just a couple of long strides, he hurried over to Chu Yun.
Chu Yun glanced at him and smiled. "I remember you had Iron Vine Hemp Rope, a Mountain Chopping Blade, and a Fragrant Locust Wood Stick here, all for just ten Earth-Fiend Stone Coins, right?"
The shop assistant nodded repeatedly. He'd been thinking about Chu Yun's big purchase ever since the boy left, berating himself countless times in his heart. He'd even slapped himself, cursing his shortsightedness for chasing small gains and losing the big prize.
Chu Yun looked at him and chuckled.
The shop assistant's Adam's apple bobbed. Somehow, his palms were already sweating with nerves.
"You sell medicine for injuries here too, right?"
"Six stone coins a packet, my lord," the shop assistant replied cautiously.
"And Tasteless Powder?"
"Also six Earth-Fiend Stone Coins a packet."
"Give me five packets of medicine, five packets of Tasteless Powder, a Mountain Chopping Blade, five zhang of Iron Vine Hemp Rope, and a Fragrant Locust Wood Stick. That's thirty Earth-Fiend Stone Coins in total, right?" Chu Yun's smile was tinged with mockery.
The shop assistant froze, meeting Chu Yun's teasing gaze. He was just about to say, "It should obviously be seventy stone coins," when a sudden flash of insight crossed his mind, and his heart began to race. A test—this was a test!
"That's right, my lord. You're absolutely right!" The shop assistant had overthought it and decided Chu Yun was still angry.
"Good. Then pack them up for me." Chu Yun tossed over the pouch he'd received from Shu Er that morning, containing exactly thirty stone coins.
The shop assistant hesitated. He knew he'd take a huge loss if he sold everything at that price. But the moment his eyes fell on the pouch on the counter, his pupils widened. He cried out inwardly, This pouch is so finely made, and it's even embroidered with the character Shu. This lord must be a member of the Shu Clan! That's it! It all makes sense!
His heart immediately settled. He carefully packed up everything Chu Yun had asked for. Chu Yun took each item in turn, his expression calm. He slung the coil of Iron Vine Hemp Rope over his shoulder, strapped the Mountain Chopping Blade to his back, and held the Fragrant Locust Wood Stick in his hand. Then he tucked the medicine and Tasteless Powder into his robes.
The shop assistant grew more and more uneasy. At last, unable to hold back, he cautiously asked, "My lord, is there anything else you'd like to buy?"
"No need," Chu Yun replied calmly.
In an instant, the shop assistant stiffened. He nearly rolled his eyes back into his head, so frustrated he could have spat blood. He was just about to shout when he happened to catch sight of the pouch of Snow Sand peeking out as Chu Yun gathered his things.
"Snow Sand! Did I see that right?!" His heart jolted.
He hurriedly asked, "My lord, would you sell that bag of sea salt?"
Chu Yun let out a cold laugh, gave him a long look, then turned and left.
"My lord! Hey, my lord, wait!"
Chu Yun didn't look back. The morning's scene played out once more. The shop assistant chased him to the doorway, but how could he possibly find Chu Yun?
He returned to the shop in a daze. Suddenly, he shuddered when he saw the person standing before him, and blurted, "Ah, shopkeeper, I..."
The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's shopkeeper was fat all over, his tiny eyes glinting with a cold, sharp light. He stared at the skinny shop assistant, the folds of fat on his face quivering. "Hmph! You were too clever for your own good! Take ten men and catch up with that brat. Kill him in secret. I want that bag of Snow Sand. Understand?"
The shop assistant went pale and trembled. "Shopkeeper, he's one of the Shu Clan."
"The Shu Clan? Heh! Will there even be a Shu Clan a month from now?" The shopkeeper lowered his voice and chuckled darkly. His smile vanished in an instant, and he glared at the shop assistant, growling, "What are you waiting for?!"
"Yes, yes!" The shop assistant scurried away in a panic. A short while later, he led ten burly men along the route Chu Yun had taken, asking passersby about him as they quietly followed his trail.
Shu Family Island was a city-level island, and Salty Salt Fishing Village lay on its eastern coast. At the island's center stretched a dense, shadowy forest. Within the forest stood a Nameless Volcano. That was Chu Yun's destination.
He left the village and headed west. The land gradually grew greener, and the vegetation thicker. Evening was approaching, and the sun was sinking in the west. The sunset clouds blazed like silk and fire. Flocks of birds returning to their nests flew over Chu Yun, circling gracefully in the sky as though reluctant to bid it farewell.
Chu Yun looked up and could make out the outline of the Nameless Volcano. Its dark, shadowy form stood firm in the depths of the forest. In an instant, his gaze turned hazy as he sank into memories of his previous life.
To hatch a Demon Beast egg, one first had to choose the right place. In his previous life, Chu Yun had mistakenly believed his egg was a Fire Fox egg, so he naturally had to find somewhere rich in fire energy. After learning of the Nameless Volcano, he'd charged into the forest with the boldness of a newborn calf unafraid of tigers.
He'd been lucky. By a twist of fate, he'd stumbled clear of the many Demon Beasts hunting in the forest and successfully hatched the Heavenly Fox Egg atop the Nameless Volcano. But cracks had appeared in the egg, and too much of its vital essence had leaked away. As a result, the Heavenly Fox that hatched was congenitally weak. It seemed no stronger than an ordinary Fire Fox, and Chu Yun didn't gradually discover the truth until much later. By then, it was already too late to make things right.
In his previous life, Lady Shu had been vicious and cruel. First, she'd used a pouch of Earth-Fiend Stone Coins to humiliate Chu Yun and provoke him. Then she'd seized the chance to "rightfully" teach him a lesson. As the four Beast Tamers beat him, they had taken special "care" to damage the Heavenly Fox Egg in his arms. Only after it was covered in cracks did they stop.
But in this life, after being reborn, Chu Yun had calmly accepted that pouch of Earth-Fiend Stone Coins and successfully seen through Lady Shu's scheme. The Heavenly Fox Egg in his arms now was intact, its innate vital essence undiminished, its shell smooth and whole...
"I can hardly wait!" At the thought of hatching a perfect Heavenly Fox, Chu Yun clenched his fists. His heart raced, and an odd light flared in his eyes.
I'll make up for every regret from my previous life! Not only will I hatch the Heavenly Fox, I'll also pass all three trials as the top candidate at the coming coming-of-age ceremony. I'll make sure Father is no longer disappointed!
The "Father" Chu Yun spoke of was his adoptive father, Shu Tianhao. Shu Tianhao had raised him and showered him with affection. Chu Yun also loved and respected him deeply.
In truth, defeating Shu Da and Shu Er fair and square meant more than that.
Taking first place in the trials would earn him a recommendation for admission to Heavenly Song Academy.
Heavenly Song Academy was the most renowned sacred ground for training Beast Tamers in these waters. Every year, its instructors traveled to every island to enroll the recommended youths.
In his previous life, Chu Yun had yearned to attend Heavenly Song Academy. But after Lady Shu's treachery, he could only watch his dream shatter in despair. He was driven away and forced to scrape by among the lowest ranks, wasting many precious years struggling to survive.
In this life!
He absolutely could not lose at the starting line.
Chu Yun clenched his fists in secret. Getting into Heavenly Song Academy would greatly advance his grand plans.
After being reborn and accepting this reality, Chu Yun had found himself full of ideas, nurturing countless ambitions. That was only natural.
What he had to do now was seize every opportunity, make up for his regrets from his previous life, and realize his ambitions in this one.
"A true man should stride across the world, battle every hero, and behold all its wonders! I have twenty years of memories, and the world's tides are clear to me. I mustn't let such a golden opportunity slip by!" His heart surged, but his feet never stopped as he ventured deeper into the forest.
A short while later, following the tracks, the shop assistant and ten burly men with vicious eyes arrived at the edge of the dense woods.
"Damn it! That brat can really run. Is he looking to die, entering the forest this late?" Looking at the darkening forest, the shop assistant cursed helplessly.
"Strange. What's that little bastard doing out here?" A cold voice sounded beside the shop assistant's ear.
The speaker was a man with cruel, narrow-set eyes. Tall and lean, he had a long, bare arm and a green leather pouch tied at his waist. Standing off to one side, he gazed at the forest, lost in thought.
"Who gives a damn! Quit standing around and hurry after him, or we'll be in trouble if he gets deep into the forest!" A bearded man with a savage look bellowed. A broad-bladed ghost-head saber was strapped to his back, and a black leather pouch hung at his waist.
The shop assistant didn't dare say anything. He glanced nervously at the two men, then immediately flashed a fawning smile when the bearded man glared at him. These two were Beast Tamers, far stronger than the rest. Without the shopkeeper's orders, he'd never have been able to command them.
"There are fresh tracks here—someone's stepped on this spot recently." Soon, someone spotted Chu Yun's trail again.
"Move out." The shop assistant wanted to deal with Chu Yun as quickly as possible, so he took the lead and headed into the forest. The silent man with the triangular eyes followed, along with the bearded man, who kept cursing under his breath. The other eight burly men brought up the rear.
Before long, their figures faded into the forest.