The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 557 - 319: Mastery (Pink Additional - )_2
Ning Xiaoxian let out a long sigh, her face expressing regret as she said, "When I first entered the courtyard, I thought you were happily surrounded by a beautiful and tender wife, not wishing to disturb such perfect harmony." She didn’t argue with him about the truth of the matter, her gaze towards Mei Gu turning icy cold.
Just moments ago, she was chatting with this young girl with all smiles and endless topics, but now she abruptly turned her back on her as if she didn’t recognize her. Mei Gu was nothing more than a girl under sixteen, and the chill in Ning Xiaoxian’s stare made her shiver, the words of pleading reaching her lips. Suddenly remembering that He Lao would surely have a difficult time, she forcibly held back, though her eyes brimmed with tears. What she didn’t know was that this appearance, seemingly on the verge of tears yet not crying out ’Master, save me’, made He Lao’s heart ache a hundred times more.
Having seen much in his lifetime, including traversing the south and breaking through the north with the Immortal Bandits, He Lao, despite his anxiety, maintained an ever calmer demeanor on his face, and spoke gently, "I do not know anyone from Tianlan Courtyard, but whatever we obtained from this hunting trip has already been sold."
Ning Xiaoxian knew he would never admit to having killed people from Tianlan Courtyard, but fortunately, she wasn’t fixated on that point and only pursued, "Everything has been sold?"
"Yes."
"Sold to where?"
With a pained expression, He Lao said, "If I tell you, it would break the rules of our line of work; then we would no longer be able to stay in Kashna City." There are rules for everything, even the seemingly unruly Immortal Bandits must adhere to the unspoken rules upon entering Kashna City, or where else could they find a place to stay? If He Lao dared to reveal the receiver of stolen goods, it’s likely they would come after them in turn.
After weighing the pros and cons, he was troubled. Fu Yunzhang treated him well, and within their small group, he was respected by all. Yet as a Loose Cultivator in the Nascent Soul Stage, he was already aging and had considered retiring after a few more scores, settling down for good. Although he genuinely loved Mei Gu and did not wish for her to come to harm, she was after all a mortal. The world was full of beautiful young girls; why should he fixate on this one?
With these thoughts in mind, an idea began to form in his heart.
Seemingly oblivious, Ning Xiaoxian shook her head and said, "That’s your concern, I only want one item from the stolen goods."
He Lao hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth, "Fine. The location isn’t a secret; it’s the Artifact Refining Store on Purple Golden Flower Avenue, the largest storefront on the street. Go in and ask for Wu Liuzhi."
Tu Jin spoke coldly: "It doesn’t matter where it is, just take us there directly."
He Lao was not surprised by their request, and after a moment’s thought, he agreed, "Fine." He took a long, deep look at Mei Gu and then softly said, "Mei Gu, when I return, I’ll replace all this unsightly furniture with your favorite pieces from the Heavenly Workshop, including the sandalwood table and chairs, and the flower stands, okay? We’ll even use the newly cast water-blue tiles from Anmore City to make our home beautiful and bright!"
These were all things Mei Gu had asked of him, and he had never agreed to them before. Mei Gu nodded blankly, a look of joy spreading across her face, then she quickly remembered their current predicament and wondered why He Lao would say such things now. He Lao gave her a few more glances, his eyes shimmering, before he turned to Ning Xiaoxian and the others and said, "Let’s go." He abruptly turned and seemed ready to lead the way.
Tu Jin summoned an Earth Yin Child to watch Mei Gu. This ghostly creature might not have much fighting power, but it was more than enough to handle a defenseless young girl.
No sooner had they stepped out of He Mansion than He Lao suddenly said, "Miss, have we met before?"
Ning Xiaoxian’s steps abruptly halted. She was using a Blinding Technique now, so had she inadvertently given He Lao some clue to her identity? It wouldn’t be strange for the old man who had lived for hundreds of years to have a sharp eye. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Just as she was about to speak, He Lao suddenly shouted lowly, and the ground beneath Ning Xiaoxian and her companions cracked open, as dozens of bowl-thick vines burst out, coiling towards anyone they saw. The vines were an oily green with dark red patches that looked downright eerie, especially with their sharp thorns capable of piercing flesh. Most peculiarly, the tips of the vines were adorned with many egg-sized tumors, an unsightly sight whose purpose was unknown.
At the same time, He Lao’s sleeves flew, and he released more than a dozen Flame Burst Talismans that rapidly approached the trio. Without looking back, he took several Arrow Steps forward, not graceful but truly fast. A flash of silver light revealed his intent to escape with the help of his tame tool!
He did not need to look back to know that those Flame Burst Talismans must have reached their mark, as the sound of successive explosions began. The noise was loud, surpassing that of ordinary Flame Burst Talismans, likely loud enough to be heard across half of Kashna City.
The credit went to the tumors on the vines; they were filled with highly flammable solid black ointment, and once exposed to open flame, they ignited and exploded almost instantly. The noise was akin to that of a small grenade, and with at least three or four dozen such tumors on those vines, the dozens of explosions that ensued were immensely powerful.
The realms of the two men and one woman were unknown, and he could not afford to take them lightly. Clearly, the vine attack alone might not penetrate their Protective Gang Qi, but what if it was combined with such intense explosions? Surely they would be thrown into disarray, right? Most importantly, this was Kashna, the city of chaos; wouldn’t such an explosion bring people rushing to see what happened? If he could just put these enemies on the back foot, he would have his chance to run, find his companions later, and avenge Mei Gu.(To be continued. If you enjoy this series, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)
