Mo Cheng did not return overnight. As days passed with no news, both Yun Leng and Gu He had already guessed the outcome. They appeared indifferent on the surface, but only they knew what they were truly thinking.
Especially on the fourth day, when the royal family wiped out the Mo Clan in Yancheng with thunderous efficiency, they couldn't help but wonder: was this a warning?
Many people turned their attention to the Misty Cloud Sect. The Mo Clan had been affiliated with them, after all. Even if the royal family acted with righteousness, exposing the clan's dirty deeds to the applause of the people, it was an undeniable slight to the Sect's authority. As the saying goes, one must consider the owner before striking the dog—a truth even more profound on the Dou Qi Continent.
But what was unexpected was that the Great Elder Yun Leng, a man who always prized his reputation and projected an image of strength, expressed no opinion. He simply echoed Yun Yun's official statement to the outside world.
"For those like the Mo Clan, who do evil under the banner of the Misty Cloud Sect, simply inform us next time. We will clean up our own house and give everyone a satisfactory explanation."
To this, Yao Ye offered a simple, two-word reply.
"We'll see."
On the other side of the empire, Chen Guan and his companions had once again arrived at the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a place that held vivid memories for all of them.
"Young Master, here is the Fire Fox you requested."
The Wang brothers, Wang Yan and Wang Dalang, returned, each carrying their prey, a look of mild confusion on their faces. Is this thing really so delicious? The last time they had protected him here, they discovered his strange fondness for Fire Foxes. It was an odd habit.
As two three-star Dou Lings, they were already considered top-tier experts in the Jia Ma Empire, surpassing ninety-nine percent of its practitioners. Originally, they had felt quite powerful, but after witnessing the Mo Clan's First Elder get dismantled like a child's toy, they realized that being a Dou Ling might not be so impressive after all.
Compared to the truly strong, they were lacking. Compared to the weak, they were more than enough. It would have been fine elsewhere, but following their young master, there was no room for them to display their talents. Their only real purpose was to help with chores.
Chen Guan took the prey with a smile. "Thank you for your trouble."
He skillfully slaughtered, skinned, and marinated the meat, placing it over a charcoal fire he had already prepared. Soon, a rich aroma filled the air. He moved with such practiced ease that one might wonder if he had done this thousands of times. The two brothers exchanged a look, suddenly feeling like they were falling short even at doing odd jobs.
"Brother Wang," Chen Guan said, "you don't have to stay with me tonight. After we eat, please head into town and buy some supplies we'll need for the desert. I'll meet you at the inn after I've handled my own affairs."
After roasting a whole Fire Fox and putting it away, Chen Guan walked into Qingshan Town and went straight to Wanyao Zhai.
The two brothers nodded silently. They knew his purpose as if looking into a mirror. It's good to be young.
Ten Thousand Medicine House.
Chen Guan first found Manager Chang and informed him that he would no longer be purchasing Coptis Essence. He had been willing to let the agreement run for another month, but the manager was more sensible than he'd thought, immediately agreeing to terminate the contract. It was hard to refuse such courtesy, so he let it be.
Arriving on the second floor, Chen Guan saw at a glance that the Little Fairy Doctor's 'clinic' was full. He didn't go up to join the crowd, instead taking out the Seven-Colored Poison Sutra to read while he waited outside. From the cursing conversations of the mercenaries, he understood that the Wolf Head and Mad Lion mercenary groups had clashed last night.
Shaking his head slightly, Chen Guan didn't care. In the original story, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was just a stepping stone for Xiao Yan. But in this reality, they had never provoked him. Because he had acquired the Poison Sutra first, the Little Fairy Doctor had never encountered the treasure-filled cave, and thus no conflict had ever arisen between her and the mercenaries. Everyone had lived in peace. He had no interest in wasting energy on meaningless squabbles. There were too many mercenary groups like them in the empire, their hands rarely clean. They were like weeds, impossible to completely eradicate. It was simply the law of survival.
His attention returned to the book. This wasn't the first time he had read the Seven-Colored Poison Sutra, but with each reading, his understanding deepened. He noticed that some of the poison formulas were remarkably similar to an alchemist's pill formulas. He even thought that with slight adjustments—or by replacing ingredients with herbs of opposite properties—some poisons could be refined into potent medicinal pills.
It doesn't cost money to use your imagination. He let his thoughts run wild, strange and brilliant conjectures emerging in his mind.
In the blink of an eye, more than an hour passed, and the mercenaries finally left one by one.
The Little Fairy Doctor walked out, stretching languidly, making one worry that her slender waist might just snap. When she saw someone sitting outside, she quickly put her hands down and regained her gentle, calm appearance.
"Chen Guan?!"
Just as she was about to call out, the young man raised his head. He recognized her at once, and a happy smile bloomed on his face.
To have a friend come from afar is a great pleasure.
Infected by her joy, Chen Guan also laughed heartily, feeling particularly relaxed. The feeling the Little Fairy Doctor gave him was different from anyone else. When he first met her, he was surprised and delighted. Even after spending so much time with her, he still felt a sense of wonder. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that they were each other's only true friend.
"Are you here for training again?" she asked casually as she led him into her consultation room.
Chen Guan felt no shyness at all. He pulled over a chair and sat down faster than she did, then took out the dinner he had prepared.
"No, I'm going to the Tager Desert. I went out of my way just to see you. How about that? Am I a good enough friend?"
The Little Fairy Doctor sat across from him, skillfully taking a shiny dagger from a drawer and beginning to divide the food. She was quick and clean, portioning two plates of Fire Fox meat in less than a minute. She picked up a piece with her fingers and popped it into her mouth, her face a picture of pure enjoyment. It was the familiar recipe, the familiar taste.
"What are you going to do in the Tager Desert?"
"Seize an opportunity."
"That's quite dangerous, isn't it? I heard the Snake-People live there. Are you going alone? Didn't Princess Yao Ye send anyone to protect you? By the way, I was curious when you disappeared last time… what is your relationship with Princess Yao Ye?"
It seems women are naturally drawn to gossip. That the usually quiet and ladylike Little Fairy Doctor could say so much at once was proof enough.
"She's my sister."
"A real sister?"
"Not by blood, but better than one."
It seemed her curiosity was satisfied—or perhaps it was something else. In any case, after hearing his answer, the Little Fairy Doctor felt pretty good.
Hmm. The meat in my mouth seems to taste even more fragrant now.
***
(End of Chapter)
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