An Uncertain Stance

Hunting demons was nothing unusual on Compassion Mountain.

Though demon scourges were vicious, their bodies held many treasures. Not only could many of their organs be used in medicine to treat illnesses, certain parts could even be made directly into weapons. At worst, selling them to a butcher's shop still brought in a tidy sum.

Furthermore, for the peace of the surrounding counties and towns, Immortal Guest House often distributed demon-hunting subsidies in the name of the Suppression Envoy.

Over time, many Knight Groups and Sword Teams that made their living this way naturally sprang up around Compassion Mountain, so Meng's Cloth Workshop often received goods such as demon scourge corpses.

Killing Ape corpses did not appear often in Yellow Bamboo Town. These demon scourges possessed high intelligence; unless hunger drove them mad, they would not actively provoke the Knight Groups operating in the mountains. Likewise, ordinary hunting Knight Groups and Sword Teams generally detoured around such intelligent beasts when they encountered them in the mountains.

They were considered rare goods,

but unfortunately, demon scourge corpses did not follow the rule that rarity made things precious. Only a Killing Ape's two arm bones and shin sheaths had any real value.

Still, Killing Ape kidneys could apparently be used in medicine to strengthen the kidneys, and some people with peculiar tastes enjoyed collecting all manner of demon rods.

The lesson of fifty taels per garment made Qin Yi deeply wary of this unfamiliar young woman who loved taking advantage of him. He recalled everything he knew about Killing Apes, preparing to haggle.

Unfortunately,

this time, he seemed to have judged a gentleman's heart with a petty man's mind again.

Meng Peijiu stood beside the two Killing Ape corpses, covering her nose and mouth with a brocade handkerchief as she examined them for several breaths. Then she turned back, blinked at Qin Yi, and waved her slender hand.

"If you don't intend to sell those shin sheaths, then including the meat price, big sister will bundle these two Killing Apes together and round it off for you. Still fifty taels."

Killing Ape meat was among the lowest-grade meats, carrying an inescapable sour, stale stench. This price was not merely fair—it was even somewhat high.

Qin Yi blinked, then nodded obediently with a smile.

"Big sister, you're so generous~"

"Hehe~"

Meng Peijiu gave a soft, amused hum and happily waved her hand. Then she walked over to the large bag of weapons, reaching in to rummage through them as she began checking their quality.

Taking advantage of this opportunity,

Peng Jun, who had been standing to one side, suddenly stepped forward twice and came before Ruan Su. He took an object wrapped in oil paper from his robes and said with a smile,

"Little Su, I found this in your weapons bag this morning. I can't read the words on it, but it may be a martial arts manual. You should put it away first."

Hearing that voice, Qin Yi could not help glancing back at the middle-aged man.

This uncle counted as an acquaintance. Qin Yi had seen him several times after regaining consciousness.

Back when Ruan Su slaughtered a band of human traffickers, she had rescued the man's son along the way. Ever since, he had treated both her and Qin Yi well.

Apparently, this uncle had once wanted to teach Ruan Su internal martial arts. Unfortunately, Qin Yi had still been a fool then. By the time he regained his senses and learned of it, the boss had already put a stop to it. Even so, the man often sparred with Ruan Su and trained her practical combat ability.

Without thinking much of it, Qin Yi slowly walked over.

When Ruan Su carried out certain killing assignments in the past, she would occasionally obtain martial arts manuals like this. Most of the incomplete manuals that had made her practice until she coughed blood came from such sources.

Though last night's band of roaming bandits had not been particularly professional, they were still attached to a local wealthy gentry family. It was not strange for them to carry a martial arts manual. Yet when Qin Yi opened the oil paper wrapping, his brows still rose slightly.

The paper of the book inside had yellowed with age, clearly showing its years, yet its page corners had not curled in the slightest. Inscribed on the title page were words that did not belong to Ancient Shu.

Qin Yi ran his hand across the ancient book's surface. It was not rough beneath his fingers; instead, it possessed the smoothness of metal.

This was...

[Eh! I actually got kidnapped to Ancient Shu!]

The voice of an old acquaintance echoed by his ear.

That rich young lady's belonging?

This should have been taken from that rich young lady by the roaming bandits, then confiscated again after they died at his big sister's hands.

Qin Yi glanced back at Ruan Su.

He had once reminded this big sister that books could sometimes be more valuable than silver. Even if it was merely a local collection of strange tales, one could still draw useful knowledge of local customs and conditions from it. She had to value them.

But considering last night's circumstances, Qin Yi did not blame this big sister for storing such a precious item together with swords and weapons.

Just as he was about to wrap the ancient book in oil paper again,

"Eh~"

Under the noon sunlight, a soft, surprised murmur came from behind him as a shadow quietly fell over Qin Yi's small figure. Long black hair scented with incense draped across his shoulders, brushing his neck with an itchy tickle.

Qin Yi froze instantly.

In the silence,

Ruan Su reached back and gripped the handle of the axe at her waist.

Though there were only a few steps between them, this woman had practically teleported behind Little Yi without making the slightest sound.

The dark-skinned woman called Meng Qi sensed Ruan Su's intent to attack and quietly stepped forward.

A moment later,

Meng Peijiu's crisp, pleasant voice descended from above, urging him along with a smile.

"This book seems rather interesting. Why not open it and take a look?"

Holding the book in both hands, Qin Yi slowly lifted his head and met those elegant eyes hanging above him against the light.

"Big sister, can you read this kind of writing?"

"This kind of writing..."

Meng Peijiu did not answer. With a faint smile, she stepped back, spun lightly in a circle, and by the time she arrived in front of Qin Yi, the ancient book had somehow changed places into her hand. Beneath the brilliant noon sun, she waved it at him.

"Little brother, are you selling this book?"

"Mm..."

Qin Yi first looked methodically at his empty hands, then shifted his slightly astonished gaze to her face, replaying and confirming the scene from moments ago in his mind.

The ancient book had teleported over.

At the instant she steadied herself and raised her hand, the book vanished from before his eyes without any warning and appeared in her hand at the same time.

This woman... was she also a calamity seed?

Or was her speed already too fast for his naked eye to follow?

Warm sunlight spilled across the silent little courtyard.

Peng Jun looked left, then right, staring blankly at the suddenly tense atmosphere in the courtyard. Just as he wanted to speak up and stop them, a childish voice rang out first.

"But I quite like reading, big sister."

Qin Yi spoke tentatively. He neither agreed nor refused, handing the right to speak back to her.

He first had to understand her purpose.

Just as with Old Dong that morning, recruiting Ruan Su was only a surface appearance. Her true core purpose was to continue expanding her influence.

Only by judging her central objective could he devise an appropriate response.

Meng Peijiu seemed not to have noticed the change in atmosphere within the courtyard. Hearing this, she gave an amused hum, raised three long, slender fingers, and said,

"Big sister can offer you a high price for this book! Three hundred taels."

Qin Yi turned the conversation toward the large man beside him.

"Uncle Peng, is that price suitable?"

Peng Jun coughed lightly and tried to smooth things over.

"Ahem, although most are valuable but have no market, a complete, respectable internal martial arts manual generally sells for around two hundred taels. Three hundred taels is already very high."

As he said this, Peng Jun caught sight of Ruan Su's little hand gripping her axe handle so hard her knuckles had turned white, ready to fight at any moment. His tone abruptly changed, and he stepped forward, forcing himself to press a hand against the saber at his waist.

"However, Miss Meng, when we buy things, we should respect the owner's wishes too, shouldn't we?"

"..."

Meng Peijiu casually glanced at him, paying no attention at all to Peng Jun's warning. Her skirt shifted slightly as she suddenly bent at the waist and leaned forward. Several strands of fragrant hair brushed over the boy's pale cheek as she leaned close to his ear and added in a breath as fragrant as orchids,

"I meant gold, you know~"

"..."

At those words, a flash of understanding passed through Qin Yi's eyes. He immediately retreated two steps as though embarrassed, giving Ruan Su's hand a slight squeeze to signal for her to relax.

Though he still did not know why this young woman surnamed Meng had approached him, he understood one thing for now.

This beautiful young woman called Meng Peijiu did not seem to truly want the ancient book. Rather, she was reminding him that this ancient book required the utmost attention.

As Qin Yi pondered this, Meng Peijiu suddenly giggled. She casually pulled open Qin Yi's cloth shirt, stuffed the ancient book inside, and patted his head.

"All right, all right. Since little brother doesn't want to sell it, I can't force you, can I?"

With that said,

Meng Peijiu turned around cleanly and decisively. Her skirt swayed, rippling with mysterious waves as she headed toward the courtyard gate.

"Meng Qi, haul the goods away! The remaining goods are beneath that ruined temple in the eastern part of town, right? I'll keep watch over the appraisal. Remember to come collect your money and clothes when the time comes, little brother~"