Fame Grows, Ning Fengzhi Seeks Help

Morning.

Having stayed awake all night, Bibi Dong tried to numb her fear of seeing someone die before her eyes the previous night by making breakfast. Qian Xunling, on the other hand, had slept until now after tossing the female Evil Soul Master's corpse into a wormhole.

Bibi Dong patted her little cheeks, straightened her back, and widened her eyes. "Dong'er isn't scared! She was an Evil Soul Master, a mortal enemy of Spirit Hall. I couldn't afford to be softhearted."

With that, Bibi Dong knocked on the master bedroom door. "Martial Uncle, breakfast is ready."

The door opened, and Qian Xunling immediately smelled something burnt, mixed with the stench of oil and salt that had been curing and smoking for what seemed like a hundred years. He looked toward the dishes on the courtyard's only table.

"Ugh..." Qian Xunling covered his mouth.

Bibi Dong's little face flushed with embarrassment. "Martial Uncle!" she cried.

Bibi Dong wrung her hands, her toes squirming, and pleaded, "Martial Uncle, this is the first thing Dong'er has ever made. Won't you at least try it?"

"Like hell I will!"

Qian Xunling's angry shout gave Bibi Dong a fright, and she repeatedly bowed her head.

Just then, a large group arrived outside. They looked like the commoner Soul Masters from yesterday. The most conspicuous among them was Niu Dahai, who was being supported at the front, though they all wore smiles.

The weary Niu Dahai looked at Qian Xunling and said joyfully, "Young Master Ling, we succeeded in hunting-"

"Urgh!"

Before he could finish, Niu Dahai and the others stopped and hastily covered their mouths and noses. They stared dumbstruck at the plates of stuff giving off green fumes on the table.

"Is this nuclear waste?"

"It's my first time seeing food give off green fumes."

"Funny you should say that. Mine too."

Everyone chimed in at once. Bibi Dong's little face showed her grievance. She stamped her foot, ran over to carry the treasures she had created with her own hands back into the kitchen, and slammed the door shut.

Only then did everyone realize something was wrong, and their faces showed varying degrees of apology. Niu Dahai looked at Qian Xunling and said apologetically, "Young Master Ling, I'm sorry. I didn't know your daughter made it."

"What daughter? How old am I, and how old is Little Spider? She's my martial niece." Qian Xunling stared at them speechlessly.

"Sorry, sorry." Niu Dahai rubbed the back of his head, and the others apologized again and again. Qian Xunling paid it no mind and looked at Niu Dahai. "You came to me for treatment?"

"Yes. Last night, I got word from the brothers that the Swamp Giant Crocodile had been badly injured by one of its own kind, so I went to help while I was still drunk. I tried to show off a little and got hit by that giant crocodile. I might have broken quite a few ribs."

Even as he spoke, Niu Dahai's voice was hoarse.

Clearly, he was badly hurt.

Qian Xunling replied, "As long as you brought money."

"I did, I did." Niu Dahai smiled.

Qian Xunling nodded. Niu Dahai had the brothers leave, and Qian Xunling began treating him.

Meanwhile, inside the kitchen.

After throwing away the food she had cooked for the first time.

Bibi Dong's little face showed some displeasure, and she was a little angry too. She said quietly, "Everyone at the orphanage said a girl's first time was very important, no matter what it was. But Martial Uncle wouldn't eat what I made. It makes me so sad."

"Even if he wouldn't eat it, he didn't have to yell at me like that, did he? Could it be that Martial Uncle doesn't like me?" Bibi Dong began to doubt herself and squatted down, propping her cheeks in her hands.

"But I can tell that even though Martial Uncle is fierce with me, he always keeps me safe and cares about how I feel. Martial Uncle definitely likes me."

Bibi Dong recalled how her martial uncle had saved her last night.

He had worried she might get hurt and even threatened to cut the female Evil Soul Master into eight pieces if she dared touch her.

"Hee-hee." Bibi Dong began to giggle foolishly as she thought about it.

Only when she imagined the fierce Qian Xunling's expression changing as he checked her injuries with the utmost concern, and even asked if she needed him to hold her while they slept, did Bibi Dong's little face turn scarlet in an instant!

After quite a while, Bibi Dong quickly shook her head, stood up, and patted her cheeks, suppressing her emotions. But once those fantasies had started, she couldn't control them.

After all, Qian Xunling was even more handsome than he was in her fantasies.

It wasn't until Bibi Dong smelled the food she had thrown away that she covered her mouth and nose and came back to her senses. "Could it really be that my cooking was too terrible?" she muttered.

"No, no. Martial Uncle saved me, so I have to repay him properly. I need to practice my cooking until he's satisfied."

Bibi Dong nodded and clenched her fists. "That's right. That's what I'll do."

Bang.

The kitchen door was pushed open.

"Huh?" Bibi Dong looked back nervously.

Qian Xunling rolled his eyes at her. "Go with Niu Dahai and the others and bring back some breakfast. Hurry."

Bibi Dong said anxiously, "Martial Uncle, you don't want me to cook anymore?"

"You can cook if you want, but I won't be eating it again," Qian Xunling said.

Hearing this, Bibi Dong felt as though her fantasy had been punctured, and she immediately tried to mend it. "No, Martial Uncle! I'll work hard to improve my cooking. I'll definitely make something you'll think is delicious."

Qian Xunling narrowed his eyes, unable to understand why she had suddenly become so full of fighting spirit. He waved a hand. "Suit yourself, but first you need to go bring something back."

"Got it." Bibi Dong was delighted. Martial Uncle hadn't completely dismissed her cooking, so she still had a chance. She followed Niu Dahai.

Qian Xunling glanced at the things inside the kitchen and shut the door in fear. He had thought that no matter how bad someone's cooking was, it couldn't possibly poison anyone to death. But now that he had seen this, he realized he had been too conservative.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, anyone gravely injured while hunting Soul Beasts, pursuing Evil Soul Masters, or even in accidents was referred to Qian Xunling as long as they were still alive. As a result, Qian Xunling's fame continued to grow.

At first, the people who came were all commoner Soul Masters. But as word of Qian Xunling's formidable healing abilities spread, higher-level Soul Masters also chose to try his treatment, and the results were even better than they had imagined.

Just as everyone felt things were getting better and better, Qian Xunling, in his little courtyard, made a decision: he would run away.

"Little Spider, have you finished packing?" Qian Xunling urged.

Bibi Dong came out of the second bedroom with a bundle on her back, but her little face was downcast. "Martial Uncle, once we leave, what will happen to the people who come here for treatment? They'll be very reluctant to see us go."

Qian Xunling flicked Bibi Dong's forehead again. "Wait, have you forgotten why we came out here? I came to enjoy the mountains and rivers and travel across the continent. I only planned to stay here for a while because I had no money. Now that I have money, of course we're leaving."

"But... but..." Bibi Dong stared at Qian Xunling.

"But my ass. If you want to stay here, then stay. I'll leave on my own," Qian Xunling said speechlessly.

"No, Martial Uncle, don't leave me behind." Bibi Dong hurried to Qian Xunling's side and tugged at his trousers.

Qian Xunling used his Seventh Soul Skill, and a wormhole appeared before them.

Just as the two were about to leave.

A visitor's voice came from outside.

The man's voice was warm and gentle. "I am Ning Fengzhi. Might I ask if the Golden Martial Immortal is home?"

"Ning Fengzhi?" Qian Xunling looked toward the entrance.

Bibi Dong asked in confusion, "Martial Uncle, do you know him?"

"No, no. Hurry, let's go." Qian Xunling stepped into the wormhole with one foot, only to hear Ning Fengzhi speak again from outside. "Please lend me your aid, Golden Martial Immortal. I am willing to pay ten thousand Gold Soul Coins for the treatment."

"Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins?" Bibi Dong was the first to exclaim in surprise.

Qian Xunling frowned and looked at Bibi Dong. "Forget it. It won't be too late to leave after one more job. Take the things back."

"Oh, okay." Bibi Dong nodded and ran back to the second bedroom with their belongings on her back.

Qian Xunling walked toward the front gate.