Chapter 43

"Harper." Xie Juanhan waved to his Companion Beast.

"Chirp!" Harper kicked off with her paw and came running over.

Xie Juanhan smiled and pointed to the collected vegetables, "Could you help me send some of these vegetables over to offer to the Pixie?"

Harper's eyes lit up. "Chirp!"

The other Companion Beast' eyes lit up too. "Chirp!"

Xie Juanhan personally selected the vegetables and fed them to the Companion Beast, letting them carry them.

The little Demon Wolf was in line behind, scratching at the edge of the field with its paws, looking like it wanted to snatch something too.

Xie Juanhan then placed a bundle of vegetables next to its mouth.

The little creatures grabbed the vegetables and ran off to find the Pixie.

Xie Juanhan looked at the remaining vegetables. "Let's go, let's go find the Water Demon to exchange for ingredients."

Telingewei looked at the vegetables lying in the field and asked, "Don't those need to be dealt with?"

"Never mind them for now," Xie Juanhan glanced at them. "Once they've wilted a bit, we'll send them to the compost."

Telingewei: "I'll come over and do composting with you then."

"Okay, but first I need your help to carry these vegetables into the Water Demon's territory."

Telingewei instantly transformed into a giant Black Dragon: "Put it on my back."

The Black Dragon was exceptionally large, and when it flew into the Water Demon's territory, the Water Demon spotted it immediately.

The Water Demon emerged from the lake, sizing up the Black Dragon and Xie Juanhan.

Xie Juanhan waved his hand. "I've brought the vegetables over."

The Water Demon waved and laughed.

They walked out of the lake and went to the shore to collect vegetables.

Xie Juanhan quickly unloaded the vegetables from the Black Dragon's back and piled them aside, signaling the Water Demon to inspect them.

He confirmed that he had carefully selected each vegetable, choosing only the best quality from the field, and that no one could find a problem with them.

The Water Demon will surely be able to complete the inspection soon.

However, as he continued unloading the vegetables, the Water Demon's expressions gradually changed.

They pursed their lips, their brows furrowed, and their faces showed unease.

When they saw Xie Juanhan looking over, they gestured.

Xie Juanhan couldn't understand their gestures at all, but he could sense something was wrong. "What's wrong?"

Telingewei transformed back into human form and walked over, standing in front of Xie Juanhan: "The vegetables aren't right?"

The Water Demon quickly made hand gestures.

Telingewei only recognized a few gestures. "Something's wrong?"

The Water Demon, seeing that they didn't understand, became increasingly anxious with each gesture.

"Thump--"

A Water Demon suddenly jumped into the lake, swam quickly for a few moments, and then surfaced again.

She held a gold coin and a piece of white clay in her hand.

After emerging from the water, she quickly wrote a few words on the gold plate and held it up for Xie Juanhan and Telingewei to see.

"The vegetables are of such high quality?"

"You can't source vegetables and seafood of the corresponding quality?"

Xie Juanhan hadn't expected this reason, and his heart softened. He said to the Water Demon, "It's alright, let's just switch them like this."

The Water Demon looked at Telingewei uneasily.

Xie Juanhan said, "Just try to pick out some good quality vegetables and seafood for me; it's just an exchange of local specialties to try."

Telingewei nodded. "Lord Silver Dragon has the final say on agricultural products."

The Water Demon looked at each other, pursed their lips, and were still hesitating.

Xie Juanhan's voice softened a bit. "Or you could give me more ingredients to make up the price difference."

The Water Demon's expressions turned troubled.

They gestured to each other and discussed it. The Water Demon who held the gold plate wrote a few lines and showed them to Xie Juanhan and Telingewei.

The main issue is that the availability of food in the water is relatively limited.

They are still running a restaurant on the lake, but they ran out of ingredients this year, and if they need to replenish them, they will have to wait until next year.

Xie Juanhan didn't mind. "It's alright, it's just some vegetables. You can give them to me when you have more money, or make an extra batch for me next time you're making sauce."

The Water Demon looked at the vegetables that Xie Juanhan and Telingewei had brought.

These vegetables are so fresh and juicy.

They couldn't bear to refuse, so they had no choice but to accept it for the time being.

Just as the Water Demon were about to nod, one of the little Water Demon suddenly patted his companion and made a gesture.

The Water Demon that was being photographed paused for a moment, then its expression visibly relaxed.

The Water Demon were exchanging messages with each other.

Soon, the Water Demon holding the golden plate raised it and showed Xie Juanhan and Telingewei the words she had written.

That's clearly an obscure word.

Xie Juanhan carefully examined the word, trying hard to recall it, and quickly determined that he really had never seen this word before.

"The Inner Land?" Xie Juanhan asked blankly. "What kind of place is that? You're asking me if I want to go to the Inner Land?"

The Water Demon floated in the water and nodded vigorously.

Telingewei understood and explained to Xie Juanhan, "It's another dimension. Legend has it that there's a body of water here that leads to the Inner Land. As long as you sink into that body of water, you can go to another world."

Xie Juanhan had never heard of this before. "Another world?"

"No, it's an alternate dimension," Telingewei explained. "It's still in our world, just not the same dimension. It's a bit like the dimension the Pixie in, only much larger."

The Water Demon holding the golden tablet wrote quickly:

That is the territory of the underwater king, Geapu.

- It is an ancient kingdom where Ancient Spirit and other special Elf exist.

However, King Geapu has been gone for a long time, and the Inner Land have been reduced to fragments.

-Our waters lead to one of the fragments, where there are many high-quality ingredients.

Another Water Demon took the golden tablet and quickly wrote:

There are dangers inside.

It's too dangerous for us Water Demon, at least. We haven't been in there for many years.

Lord Silver Dragon, if you are interested, you can give it a try. We will open the door for you.

Xie Juanhan had never heard of this world before and had no way of judging it.

He turned to Telingewei, his eyes asking in a questioning tone: Are you going?

Telingewei returned the look: Sure, it's not dangerous for us.

Xie Juanhan became interested. "Shall we give it a try? Can I go with Telingewei?"

The Water Demon nodded immediately.

The Water Demon with the gold tablet wrote:

It's best if only two adults go, and don't bring Companion Beast.

- It would be too dangerous for the Companion Beast if they encountered the Ancient Spirit inside.

We wish both of you well!

==========Author's Note:=========

See you tonight!

Chapter 43 [VIP]

The Inner Land the Water Demon spoke of only opens at dawn and dusk when the clouds and mist are reflected on the water's surface.

Xie Juanhan usually sleeps until he naturally wakes up, but this day he had to rush to the Inner Land very early, and he could barely keep his eyes open.

The Water Demon, dressed in layers of gauze robes and adorned with gold coin hair chains, walked in front.

The gentle morning light bathed them, making them look like forest fairies.

Xie Juanhan followed behind Telingewei, walking at the very back in a half-dreaming state.

As they walked, Telingewei suddenly stopped.

He didn't react at all and bumped straight into Telingewei's shoulder.

Telingewei quickly turned around and placed his palm on Trigger's forehead.

The touch of warm skin on his forehead brought him back to his senses. He stepped back and rubbed his cheeks. "What's wrong?"

As he spoke, another roar came from ahead, "Roar--"

The sound echoed through the woods, filled with anger.

Xie Juanhan looked up and saw a group of creatures that were half deer and half eagle drinking water at the spring.

The one that's roaring is one of them.

They spotted this place, flapped their wings, and rushed towards it, running and flying.

The Water Demon were so frightened that they scattered to the side.

The half-deer, half-eagle Demonic Beast ignored them and charged straight at Telingewei.

They were howling, as if they were determined to fight Telingewei to the death.

Telingewei stood there expressionless, exuding a somewhat menacing aura.

Just as the two sides were about to clash.

Xie Juanhan, finally somewhat sober, peeked out from behind Telingewei's shoulder. "Peryton?"

When the Peryton saw Xie Juanhan, they stopped abruptly, their hooves leaving scratches in the soft forest soil.

"It's you guys?" Xie Juanhan recognized the Peryton who had been pampered and cajoled by him.

"Huh?" Peryton and the others looked at Xie Juanhan.

Xie Juanhan yawned and said, "You guys are drinking water here? Telingewei and I are heading to the Inner Land, could you make room for us?"

Peryton and his companions glanced at Telingewei, hesitant.

Xie Juanhan simply stepped forward and patted the neck of Peryton, who was charging at the front. "Don't fight."

Xie Juanhan's photography of Peryton is similar to his photography of Little Demon Wolf.

The Water Demon looked at them curiously.

Xie Juanhan gave his subordinate, Peryton, a bit of Dragon Power and laughed, "How about you fight again next time? You can let it go this time for my sake?"

Peryton: "Ugh."

When they agreed, Xie Juanhan gave each of the Peryton a little Dragon Power, signaling them to make way.

The Peryton, including Pellidon, were very docile when they gave up their seats for Xie Juanhan.

When it was the turn of the later Telingewei, they quietly bared their teeth.

Telingewei stared at them, his fingers half-clenched, as if he were about to snap his fingers and unleash Dragon Flame upon them.

Xie Juanhan took a few steps forward, then turned back and grabbed Telingewei's shoulder. "Hurry, hurry, the sunrise is coming out."

The Water Demon looked up at the sky.

Sure enough, fiery red clouds had appeared on the horizon.

Wait a little longer, and the sky may be covered in clouds.