Food Immortal Master

At that moment, Pei Ye poured all of it into his legs, seeking an explosive attack powerful enough to inflict a serious wound.

The Wilderness People reacted just as quickly. The instant his hand was used as a brace, he let his arm droop, preventing Pei Ye from fully exerting his strength, while thrusting his right shoulder upward to knock the kick aside.

Pei Ye let his upper body drop with the motion, turning vertically upside down. Only after patiently drawing out and evading his opponent's counter did the blow stored in his legs truly erupt.

Inverted Golden Hook.

It struck squarely atop his Spirit. The Wilderness People's enormous body shuddered, and blood streamed from all seven openings of his head.

With the Dark Blue liquid sustaining him, this was indeed not a fatal wound. The Wilderness man swayed, then lunged viciously again.

But the damage had been done. The Wilderness People were still human, after all, and lacked Qiongqi's ability to fight to the death. With his head ringing and vision swimming, the man's reactions slowed another notch.

Pei Ye formed a seal with one hand and activated Quail Head.

In theory, he could use this ability indefinitely. Black Chi had opened an unobstructed passage for him in the wall of the immortal pool, but Pei Ye himself had only a small bucket. Using it for too long gave him a splitting headache.

Anticipating the relentless, intense fighting ahead, Pei Ye was extremely sparing with this crucial ability.

With Quail Head to rely on, the Wilderness man had no chance of turning the tables. Swiftly, viciously, precisely, Pei Ye targeted every opening, his attacks falling in an unbroken rainstorm.

Only when he had beaten the man into a boneless heap on the ground did this tenacious member of the race finally breathe his last.

The intent from the Cocoon of Light in his belly shifted from hostility to hunger. Before Pei Ye could direct it, several tentacles burst through his chest and abdomen.

The sudden agony made Pei Ye sway. He steadied himself and looked up to see the densely patterned tentacles pierce the Wilderness man's corpse and "prey upon" the light cocoon left without an anchor in his belly, drawing it back.

Once the tentacles burrowed back into his stomach, the Dark Blue liquid gathered, swiftly repairing the bloody holes torn through his abdomen.

Pei Ye watched the ghastly scene with a chill in his heart, understanding more deeply that this Cocoon of Light had never been a symbiotic source of aid.

It had instincts of its own. It would not obey its host's control. His body was merely a warm bed in which it dwelled.

They truly were "all the same."

An increasingly abundant sense of power welled up within him, nearly twice what it had been before. It was consuming and digesting its prey while feeding its host in return.

Pei Ye could feel that this was an elevation of its level. This palace was growing more luxurious and spacious. The next time its tentacles emerged, their patterns would surely be more intricate too.

There was little joy in victory. Pei Ye's heart only grew heavier.

What would become of me once it "matured"? How could I escape that fate?

The traces of destruction and the Purple-Robed Man's corpse might point to a window of opportunity.

Pei Ye walked out without betraying anything on his face. Behind him, the pearl above the arena began to operate. The Wilderness man's corpse was swiftly separated into strands of flesh and blood and drawn inside, then quickly transformed into that Dark Blue liquid and stored away.

Chapter 41: Abduction

"[Twenty-four] wins. Next pair: [Twenty-five], [Twenty-six]."

Pei Ye returned to Zhang Siche's side and sat down, holding out his hand. "Here, take it back."

He now understood that after killing an opponent, the reserves inside him would increase. He really could "lend nine and collect thirteen."

"Ah, I was joking," Zhang Siche said casually. "You've got another match after the first round. Keep using it for now. Give it back when it's my turn."

He added, "Well? Shall we continue the story?"

Pei Ye instead asked, "What if... we run into each other?"

"Then you'll have to give it back," Zhang Siche said gravely. "I won't go easy on you."

"..." Pei Ye gripped his arm and lowered his voice. "I mean, before we're pitted against each other, we need to find a way out."

Zhang Siche looked at him, and he looked back.

"The black-robed men outside have true qi," Zhang Siche said. "They can hear you."

"..."

A voice sounded directly in his ear. Though slightly distorted, its timbre was still recognizable. "Did you see the cliff collapse outside, and the casualties? Do you know what happened?"

Pei Ye turned in astonishment and stared at Zhang Siche.

Silent Sound Transmission?!

"Zhu Gaoyang did it-you must at least have heard of Zhu Gaoyang?"

Zhu Gaoyang found this place?! Shock and joy filled Pei Ye's heart, but an ominous feeling soon followed. Then... where was he?

As though he could hear Pei Ye's thoughts, Zhang Siche said, "Unfortunately, there are three top grandmasters here. Zhu Gaoyang was caught off guard. He killed one, suffered serious injuries, and escaped with barely a breath left in him."

"I'm only telling you this because I consider you one of my own," Zhang Siche said seriously. "That's my escape plan. When Zhu Gaoyang comes back, we slip out in the chaos-don't sleep too deeply tonight."

Zhu Gaoyang's life was hanging by a thread, and he would still come back?

Pei Ye gave him a questioning look.

"He will. You don't understand Zhu Gaoyang. Now that he's found this place, he absolutely won't give up, even with only one breath left. We don't know how he'll return, but it will definitely be before the final host is used. Remember to stay ready at all times. At the first sign, run."

"Got it?"

Pei Ye nodded.

"Then let's continue the story."

At last, the rain stopped. Exhausted in body but filled with joy, the scholar returned to town. Though darkness had fallen, he hurried straight to Wanxiu's home without a moment's delay.

Yet as soon as he dismounted his donkey, he saw a crowd gathered outside her door. He rushed over to ask what had happened, only to receive news like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

Commandant Gao had come to inspect the town that morning. Displeased with his reception, he spat that the tea was coarse and the meat rank. Hoping to please their superior, several subordinates went into the streets to find him some entertainment. They happened to see Wanxiu hanging laundry in her courtyard, and two or three soldiers barged inside and abducted her.

The scholar felt the heavens darken and the earth go black. His hands and feet trembled violently, and only after a long while did he remember to go inside and check on his father-in-law.

Fortunately, although his father-in-law had been beaten, he was sturdy and had suffered no serious harm. The two wept together and discussed the matter for a while, finally finding a glimmer of hope-the subordinates had acted on their own, after all, and Commandant Gao had never appeared. They could gather every valuable in the house and take them to beg Commandant Gao to return Wanxiu safely.

They could not afford the slightest delay. They gathered everything worth any money; his father-in-law even dug out the deed to his shop.

His father-in-law was injured, so the scholar drove the donkey cart to Commandant Gao's lodgings alone, his face pale and his mind distracted the entire way.

At the residence's entrance, he explained why he had come. The two guards first took a pair of jade cups, stripping him of two of his five valuable possessions at a stroke.

The scholar hastily tried to stop them, saying those were offerings for Commandant Gao, only to be kicked to the ground by both men.

"You dare bring this rubbish before Lord Gao and make a spectacle of yourself? For your own good, get lost."

Anxious and helpless, the scholar clung to their legs and begged desperately. Thinking of Wanxiu inside, he could no longer hold back his tears, and kept pleading through his sobs for a chance to see Commandant Gao.

The residence was small, and the commotion actually reached Commandant Gao.

The man had long eyebrows and a pale face. Draped in nothing but silk, his chest exposed, he was flushed and reeked of wine. He came over and leaned against the doorframe. "You're here to trade for her?"

Knowing he had finally found the man in charge, the scholar frantically explained and pleaded, pushing the cartload of valuables before him.

The man picked up two items and glanced at them. "You do seem sincere."

The scholar felt the invisible rope around his neck suddenly loosen. He was about to speak when the man casually tossed the items back onto the cart and curled his lip. "Too bad it's a pile of shabby junk."

The scholar hurried forward on his knees, saying urgently that anything would do, that he could raise the money and buy something more valuable.

But at those words, the man's expression chilled. His mouth twisted, and he turned and left.

The scholar hastily tried to follow, but the guards stopped him.

"Here's a lesson for you," one guard whispered, restraining him. "You stupid boy, you really don't know how to talk."

"If you volunteer an offering, that shows Lord Gao's prestige and standing. He won't blame you whether it's large or small. But saying that makes it look as though Lord Gao is hounding you for money. That's a disgrace."

The other said, "Don't say we took your two cups for nothing. Come back to speak with Lord Gao once you've got both appearances and substance sorted out."

Even with two extra brains, the scholar could not have understood all these twists and turns. He only knew that Commandant Gao thought his offerings were worthless.

In his daze, he suddenly remembered the luminous pearl he had pawned. Hope rose in his heart again, and he pushed the cartload of valuables there, gasping for breath.

By the time he arrived, the proprietor was already asleep. The scholar hammered on the door until it shook, waking him to redeem the pearl.

Fortunately, the pearl was still there. The proprietor was a longtime resident of the town. Hearing what had happened to Wanxiu, he did not quibble over the payment, accepting the deed and several pieces of gold and jade before returning the pearl.

The scholar tucked the pearl into his robe and dragged his weary body back toward Commandant Gao's residence.

When he returned, the moon was already high overhead, and the guards were leaning against their posts, dozing.

The scholar woke them and asked them to announce him.

This time, he suppressed his fear and anxiety, standing as neatly and respectably as he could before the entrance to avoid another embarrassing scene. He did not realize that, covered in mud, with tangled, sweat-soaked hair and red, swollen eyes, he could not possibly look like an ordinary guest.

This time, the guard went inside and there was no sign of movement for a long while. Just as the scholar was about to lose patience and enter himself, Commandant Gao finally emerged, still tipsy. Now his upper body was bare, with only a length of silk carelessly wrapped around his waist.

He stepped outside and looked down at the scholar, impatience creasing his brow.

The scholar hastily clasped his hands and offered the pearl, reciting the flattery he had rehearsed over and over in his heart. "Lord Gao, this humble commoner... happened upon a precious pearl. Treasures belong with heroes. I thought that only upon Lord Gao's person could this pearl shine all the more brilliantly..."

Commandant Gao took it and turned it over. Seeing its translucent, creamy luster and the intricate coral-like light within, his brow relaxed a little. "Mm... this really is a fine thing."

Joy stirred in the scholar's heart, and he dropped to his knees. "My lord, then... Wanxiu..."

"Mm." Commandant Gao nodded in satisfaction. "Give him back the corpse."

Smiling, he pointed to the bloody cut on his lip. "See that? She bit me. If not for this pearl of yours, that stinking bitch would have gone straight to the dogs. Now I'll let you collect her body intact."

The scholar heard nothing after that. He stood frozen and vacant as the world spun, everything before his eyes receding into unreality, until that naked, bruised corpse was thrown at his feet.

Chapter 42: Chi Talk

Xi Wuchou met the scholar for the second time at the town's tavern. The polite, shy young man from that day now had disheveled hair and a filthy face, his long robe so grimy it had turned blackish brown. He sat propped against the tavern entrance, begging for scraps from the waiter.

Both his legs had been broken, leaving him to crawl on his elbows, while his writing hand, which had borne half a lifetime's ambitions, had been twisted like a braided dough stick.

Only when he recognized Xi Wuchou did an expression appear on his vacant face. Tears poured down, and his mouth opened wide as he gradually broke into soundless sobs.

Xi Wuchou asked for the whole story. Before finishing a single cup of wine, he set it down, took up his sword, and went out.

In less than an hour, he returned carrying four heads: those of the soldier-thugs who had abducted her and broken the scholar's limbs.

The scholar wept bitterly and bowed in thanks. He had never dared hope that this swordsman he had met only once could kill a military officer with real authority like Commandant Gao, who commanded two hundred soldiers. In truth, even killing these four men was enough to bring fatal trouble upon him.

Yet Xi Wuchou said, "Take this silver and get your injuries properly treated. That Gao fellow has gone to Yin City. I'm going to kill him."

It turned out that Commandant Gao's brazen arrogance, and the eagerness of civil and military officials alike to curry favor with him, rested not on his middling rank as commandant, but on his intimidating family background.

Commandant Gao's name was Gao Muzhen. He was the illegitimate son of Gao Zhigong, the Prince of Zhenbei. Gao Zhigong was old and had few sons; the others had fallen in battle one after another, leaving this sole young shoot. He had summoned him now precisely to enter him into the family genealogy and cultivate him properly, preparing him to become his heir.