Shameless

The Medicine Slave known as Li Si only remained conscious for a brief moment before he began muttering like a sleepwalker, his head drooping and his body motionless.

The Gu children only dared to watch from afar, still too afraid to approach.

While they were still ruminating on the sight of the Medicine Slave looking like an eight-legged insect, two figures arrived one after the other.

"Fourth Senior Brother is here."

The Gu children recognized the newcomer at a glance; the one walking in front was none other than Liu Feng, followed by the Gu servant who had gone to summon him.

Shen Yushu's expression betrayed no hostility as he said in a calm tone, "Fourth Junior Brother, you and Third Senior Brother take the Medicine Slave to the valley entrance. I am going to see Master, and once I return, I will set out with you."

Liu Feng nodded, though he had not expected that they would be departing immediately after the Medicine Slave had just woken up.

Zhu Li stepped forward a few paces, handed over an ink-black Gu insect, and explained, "This is a Nightmare Gu Larva. We can use it to guide the Medicine Slave. The three of us will each hold one, and this one is yours."

"A carriage has already been prepared at the valley entrance. I will explain the arrangements for this trip to you as we go."

Liu Feng took the Gu insect, tucked it into his robes, and followed Zhu Li.

As the two walked and talked, Zhu Li's explanation was concise and clear, containing almost no wasted words.

It turned out that their journey would be quite perilous, as their opponents were a group of Taoist priests from the White Sun Sect.

The conflict seemed to have been stirred up by Eldest Senior Brother Pang Gang, who had seized some critical item, thereby provoking the pursuit of the White Sun Sect priests.

The site of the final clash between the two sides was located at Shao Mountain, situated between Shuiliang County and Xishou County under Danhe Prefecture.

The plan for the trip was clear: first, go to Shao Mountain to investigate the place where the Eldest Senior Brother was last seen; if no useful clues were found, they would seek out disciples of the Moon Refining Studio to divine their location.

Several dozen feet away, Leng Qiuyue and Li Xiang'er stood prettily under a tree.

When she saw Liu Feng pass by, Leng Qiuyue's small face flushed, as if she were thinking of the experience in the stone chamber two days prior.

She stared at Liu Feng's face from afar, unconsciously smoothing her clothes and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"What are you doing? He isn't even looking this way, and he's already walked far off." Li Xiang'er asked a question she already knew the answer to, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Leng Qiuyue stiffened her face and retorted with feigned anger, "Your cultivation isn't impressive, but your mouth certainly is. Sooner or later, you'll be devoured by your own Gu."

"I have plenty of Gu children bringing me insect medicine every day, and Gu servants teach me personally. The Gu I raise are definitely more obedient than yours..."

As the two girls bickered, a Gu child said in surprise, "Look, the Young Miss is coming over. Could it be that the Young Miss is joining us on this trip?"

Upon hearing that Insect Valley Young Miss Lu Yao had appeared, all the male Gu children hiding nearby felt their Adam's apples bob, subconsciously swallowing their saliva.

They had been in Insect Valley for nearly a month and had only seen the Young Miss appear a few times.

Whenever Lu Yao appeared, her unmasked, seductive demeanor always left these young lads feeling restless.

At this moment, under the gaze of the crowd, a tall figure in a flower-patterned long dress strolled toward the Third and Fourth Senior Brothers.

Compared to the young girls who were still growing, this Young Miss was in the prime of her twenties, and her graceful figure was naturally incomparable to theirs.

Lu Yao's face was charming, and she made no effort to hide her attire; as she walked, she revealed glimpses of fair skin, her eyes smiling, truly alluring.

"Third Senior Brother, Fourth Junior Brother, how about taking me along with you?" Before she had even walked close, Lu Yao stated her intentions.

Zhu Li and Liu Feng, who had already reached the valley entrance, heard her voice and kept walking with the Medicine Slave, Li Si, not wanting to be entangled by Young Miss Lu Yao.

"Wait for me, are you trying to run away?" Lu Yao's delicate brows furrowed as she took long, brisk strides.

Before they could even exit the valley, Zhu Li and Liu Feng were intercepted by the Young Miss.

"We brothers cannot make that decision," Third Senior Brother Zhu Li shook his head.

Liu Feng had intended to remain silent and leave it to Zhu Li to handle, as he had only just become the Fourth Disciple and was not familiar with Lu Yao.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yao's eyes shifted, and she leaned in close, radiant and smiling, "Fourth Junior Brother, I also want to see the methods of the White Sun Sect. You are so capable, why not take charge and bring me along?"

"My strength is meager, I cannot make such decisions, and I certainly couldn't bear the blame if something went wrong," Liu Feng said, waving his hands quickly.

A smile appeared on Lu Yao's beautiful face as she stepped even closer, her slender fingers tugging at the corner of Liu Feng's robe, her red lips leaning in to whisper into his ear.

Zhu Li did not intervene, having long since grown accustomed to Lu Yao's various antics, leaving only Liu Feng to stand there in embarrassment.

One was the Fourth Senior Brother, the other the Insect Valley Young Miss; their intimate appearance immediately caused the Gu children in the distance to whisper among themselves.

"Shameless," Leng Qiuyue spat under her breath.

In her eyes, this Insect Valley Young Miss dressed lewdly and behaved without regard for the boundaries between men and women; she was simply shameless.

Moreover, Liu Feng was only sixteen, while this Young Miss was in her early twenties—several years his senior—and she was clearly acting in a way to tease the young lad.

Li Xiang'er quickly advised, "Do you have a death wish? I heard from a Gu servant that the Young Miss only looks easy to talk to; her methods are actually extremely ruthless."

The onlookers all wore amused smiles, assuming that the wanton Insect Valley Young Miss was whispering flirtatious words to Liu Feng.

Over there, Lu Yao leaned close to Liu Feng's ear, her breath as fragrant as orchids as she said, "I heard from my father that you are the most formidable one in recent years. You were inside for less than half a stick of incense, and you acted all on your own."

Liu Feng's heart jolted, his body stiffening; he felt no joy at being praised.

At the time, he had intended to stall for time, but the girl surnamed Chen had seen through some of his ruses, forcing him to strike ruthlessly.

"Young Miss, please do not make things difficult for me!" Liu Feng said dismissively, stepping back a few paces.

Lu Yao showed no sign of anger; the smile on her beautiful face only deepened, and her gaze toward the young lad grew increasingly interested.

"Fine, I won't make things difficult for you. Liu Feng, I am giving this to you on behalf of my father as a reward. Remember to bring me back some good things when you return."

"That is only right." Zhu Li cupped his hands in a salute.

"Certainly." Liu Feng took the wooden box Lu Yao handed him, offering a strained smile.

Watching Lu Yao's swaying figure retreat into the distance, Liu Feng felt the hand holding the wooden box grow cold, his heart heavy with an immense burden.

He cracked the lid open just a sliver, his pupils constricting; inside the box lay a translucent Insect Crystal!

A reward from her father? Is this her own intention, or does it come from Lu Huai?

If it was Lu Huai's instruction, why would that old ghost give me an Insect Crystal? Liu Feng's thoughts raced, pondering any flaws he might have left behind.

"What are you standing there dazed for? Get in the carriage; we're going to settle accounts with those monsters from the White Sun Sect." Shen Yushu strode over.

Zhu Li's gaze turned profound as he looked toward Liu Feng, who remained frozen in place clutching the box, and said indifferently, "Fourth Junior Brother, get in the carriage first."

Outside the poisonous miasma, the carriage and driver were already prepared; the ones responsible for driving were hunters from outside the mountains.

"My four lords, please board. Everything inside has been cleaned up. It's a long journey, and my grandson and I will be driving this trip."

"Just call me Old Huang, and this is my grandson, Little Fuzi. Hurry up and pay your respects to the four lords..."

The three men and one Medicine Slave entered the carriage.

The people within Insect Valley watched as the carriage departed, the poisonous miasma at the valley entrance slowly closing, cutting off their line of sight.