When they returned, Yenaier had already washed up and was sitting in the hall, drinking morning tea with the fellow who looked like a coachman but was actually a baron's guard.
As soon as the two appeared, Yenaier said, "Honestly, you two! You really are master and apprentice. You went to the market without inviting me. Did neither of you sleep?"
The two exchanged a glance, and Zeng Mu said, "We got up very early. You were still sound asleep then, so we couldn't bear to disturb you."
"How are the medicinal ingredients coming along?"
"Between the herbs for the poultice and the catalyst ingredients, we're still missing a dozen or so kinds. If we're lucky, by the end of today, the Three-Stripe Purple Tiger Claw will be the only thing left." As Qidunston spoke, he headed toward his room, clearly intending to pack.
"Don't bother, Uncle Kiddon. I've already packed all the luggage. Rest your feet and sit down for a bit. Once you've had a cup of hot tea, we can set off."
Ten minutes later, they left the waystation and headed toward a hunter village fifty li away along their route.
The day before, they had expected to leave sometime after noon. But collecting the medicinal ingredients at the market had gone so smoothly that the two had returned early. Yenaier had not been idle either, packing all their luggage as soon as she got up. Thus, they mounted their horses and set out that morning, expecting to arrive shortly after noon.
Things rarely went as expected. After three hours of riding, as noon approached, they stopped to rest their horses. While drinking water and eating a simple meal, they happened to discover signs of an Elemental Beast.
It was a small, hedgehog-like Elemental Beast whose name