Chapter 194 Misty Rain Pavilion (Twenty-Two)

In the deep, cold forest, a small, fiery red beast darted swiftly among the branches. It resembled both a cat and a dog, with its four paws and the tip of its bushy tail being snow-white. It would stop only after a long while, carefully sniffing the air with its wet little nose.

It's almost there. The aura of Wei Feng's master is getting closer and closer, and there seems to be an even more familiar scent, but it can't remember where it smelled it before.

"Roar—" A spirit beast with an eagle's face and a tiger's body blocked its path, and slapped its dantian with one claw.

Utuo narrowly dodged, rolled a few times in the pile of fallen leaves, and landed on all fours with his fluffy fur standing on end, baring his teeth in a show of defiance, "Get out of my way!"

In order to travel faster, it did not conceal its aura. This spirit beast must be coveting the Yuan Dan on its body, which can already take human form. Not to mention that its memories of taking human form are already blurred, even if it knew how to take human form, it would never give away the Yuan Dan that it had painstakingly refined.

Although the spirit beast had not yet developed intelligence, its cultivation was extremely high. Wu Tuo was already injured in its attempt to escape, and soon it was at a disadvantage. Not wanting to get entangled with the other party any longer, it turned around and transformed into its original form to escape on a sword while the other party missed its target.

A boy of about ten years old, with bright red hair, flew past the spirit beast on his sword, even making a face at it provocatively, before disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Haha, you want to catch me? You'll have to wait until your next life!" He laughed as he flew forward recklessly, when suddenly a scorpion-shaped spirit beast appeared out of nowhere, its sharp, gleaming tail whipping towards his face.

Wu Tuo hurriedly bent down to dodge, but was still hit hard on the back of the head by the scorpion's tail, and immediately spat out a mouthful of blood and turned back into his original form.

The scorpion spirit beast impatiently swung its tail, trying to pierce its dantian. Wu Tuo rolled over to dodge, and even though it was still dark in front of him, he used all four claws to run forward desperately, quickly drawing a teleportation array and jumping in.

When it reappeared, it had already escaped that extremely dangerous area.

If only I hadn't chosen that shortcut... Its head was throbbing as if it were about to split open. It raised its two furry little paws and placed them on its forehead, howling in pain. Suddenly, many strange yet familiar images flashed through its mind.

It was lying on the tree and taking a nap. A cute child named Yuxue walked by under the tree. It flirted with the child, but was beaten up and formed a master-servant contract.

It stayed in a courtyard full of spirit pets for many years, eating and sleeping leisurely, and occasionally went on adventures in secret realms with its owner.

A handsome man in white grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, and it happily pounced on him, following him into the carriage...

In the secret realm, it and its master endured many hardships but were severely injured. On the verge of death, it prepared to commit suicide, but was stopped by a young man in red who stood in front of it, arguing with the man... The man reshaped its body and changed its fur color. Its happiness was short-lived, as its master-servant contract was forcibly terminated...

'I won't keep a disloyal spirit pet by my side.' The man looked at it coldly, his gaze devoid of warmth.

'Master, before sealing my memories... could you hug me?'

'There's no need.' The other party ruthlessly sealed away its memories.

Wu Tuo's snow-white paws were stained red with blood, and its big, round eyes were filled with tears. It now remembered whose aura it had shared with Wei Feng—it was that of its former master, Jiang Gu.

It sniffled sadly. It was fine if Jiang Gu didn't want it. It didn't care to be Jiang Gu's spirit beast anyway, since there were plenty of humans who liked it.

But when he thought of Wei Feng, who had been too busy to pay attention to him, and Xuan Zhiyan, who had been giving him the cold shoulder because Wei Feng held a grudge against him, his ears and tail drooped in frustration.

They're all bad people! They only know how to bully this one spirit beast!

It pounded the ground with its paws in anger, and finally its vision cleared up again. It wiped away its tears and ran forward as fast as it could.

Humans are heartless and ungrateful, but Wutuo is loyal and righteous. No matter which master it is, it will never betray them. It will find Wei Feng and Jiang Gu no matter what and ask them to save Xuan Zhiyan and Elder Yu!

——

In just two days, Wei Feng went out and killed many spirit beasts. When he dragged back a giant, injured scorpion spirit beast and was about to eat it, Jiang Gu finally couldn't bear it any longer and said, "Throw it out."

Wei Feng had just wiped the black inner core clean when he said in a serious tone, "Master, we need to hurry up and recover our spiritual power. Being picky about food is not good."

"You dare to try taking a bite." Jiang Gu's Crimson Snow Sword hummed in his hand.

Wei Feng swallowed hard, reluctantly tossing away the ugly scorpion. Holding the black inner core, he said, "Eating this is fine, it's just for refining, I won't put it in my mouth."

Jiang Gu frowned and reluctantly agreed.

Wei Feng asked curiously, "Master, do you dislike scorpions? What do you hate? Tell me, and I won't catch them next time."

Jiang Gu remained silent for a long time. Just when Wei Feng thought he wouldn't speak, a cold voice rang out in the cave, "Those with scales, feathers, beaks, horns, soft and boneless, without eyes... all those ugly things that are unbearable to look at."

As Wei Fengyue listened, he felt as if the speaker was talking about him, and his heart felt like it had been pierced by several arrows. He forced a smile and said, "This is too broad a reference. Why don't you tell me what kind of spirit beast I like, Master?"

“Red Snow.” Jiang Gu said succinctly.

"..." Wei Feng's smile almost turned into a ferocious expression. He only regretted that when the white-haired beast was discovered, it was just a skeleton, and the remaining spirit on it disappeared too quickly. Otherwise, he would have chewed it to pieces.

Although Chi Xue had given up on the path of ghost cultivation, Jiang Gu still remembered the debt that Wei Feng had swallowed Chi Xue's remnant soul. He even deliberately conjured up ears for him to touch. Although this guy cunningly never revealed any form of Chi Xue again after realizing that he cared about her.

“It’s already dead.” Wei Feng’s head was practically steaming. The newly formed ghost markings were still quite unruly, baring their fangs and throbbing restlessly because of their master’s emotions. “Even if I don’t eat its remnant soul, it won’t last long before it turns to ashes.”

Jiang Gu looked at him expressionlessly.

Wei Feng's eyes reddened with anger, "Why can't you like me the most?"

“…” Jiang Gu paused, “You’re not a spirit beast.”

“I am, I have scales, feathers, ram horns on my head, no black eyes, and soft, sticky, boneless ghost patterns.” Wei Feng explained to him one by one, “I am an ugly thing that is unsightly.”

Jiang Gu fell silent for a moment, looking strange. When Wei Feng asked him about the spirit beasts he disliked, he hadn't thought of Wei Feng at all, but every single characteristic he mentioned matched Wei Feng's original form... He twitched his eyebrows slightly, feeling a headache coming on as he wondered why he was discussing such a boring and time-wasting thing with him.

But Wei Feng was clearly furious. Countless tiny ghost patterns stood in the air, and his face was gradually covered with them, making him look ferocious and terrifying.

Jiang Gu sighed, "Come here."

Although Wei Feng was angry, he still went over after being called.

Jiang Gu raised his hand, letting the tiny ghost marks on his face wrap around his fingers and spread to his wrist, disappearing into his wide sleeve. He ignored the sticky, slippery, and eerie touch of the ghost marks, wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes with his fingertips, and explained, "I wasn't talking about you."

The ghostly markings on Wei Feng's back instantly subsided. Although he knew Jiang Gu was trying to comfort him against his will, at least Jiang Gu did not refuse the touch of the ghostly markings.

Tiny ghostly patterns affectionately wrapped around Jiang Gu's neck, even trying to disappear inside his clothes. Jiang Gu could no longer bear it and said in a deep voice, "Enough."

However, he was still recovering from serious injuries and couldn't control his breathing. His voice sounded trembling with suppressed emotion. Wei Feng remembered the muffled groans that had inadvertently escaped when he was healing Jiang Gu while he was unconscious. His throat felt dry and parched, and his gaze toward Jiang Gu became even more profound.

Jiang Gu coldly tore off the sticky ghost tattoos from his neck and arms.

Wei Feng didn't dare to provoke him any further, so he obediently put away the ghost pattern and said seriously, "So, Master, your favorite person and spirit beast right now is me."

Jiang Gu ignored him, put away the magical artifacts and talismans at the entrance of the cave, and walked forward without looking back.

Seeing that he didn't refute, Wei Feng's smile widened, and he quickened his pace to catch up, "Master, wait for me!"

Jiang Gu didn't touch the dark Yuan Dan, but Wei Feng took advantage of his inattention and stuffed it into his mouth. They had now recovered some of their spiritual power and could use some basic spells. At least they no longer had to suffer from hunger and cold, but they still couldn't fly on swords and could only slowly walk southeast.

This region is teeming with spirit beasts. Jiang Gu was cautious and always carried a concealment talisman to help them avoid being hunted by ferocious beasts to the greatest extent possible. However, they still occasionally encountered spirit beasts with higher cultivation levels.

As evening approached, the master and apprentice worked together to kill a high-level spirit beast, hurriedly dug out its inner core, and moved away from the beast's corpse. Soon, several other spirit beasts followed the scent of blood and came to devour the enormous beast's carcass.

"Master, are you alright?" Wei Feng helped Jiang Gu up.

"It's alright." Jiang Gu casually tore off his sleeve and haphazardly applied a few hemostatic talismans to the wound on his arm. His other arm was also injured, and he did the same to stop the bleeding. Wei Feng next to him was in an even worse state, with his bare upper body covered in wounds, his pants torn and tattered, and his face splattered with the spirit beast's blood.

"Put on your clothes," Jiang Gu said.

"It's gone." Wei Feng wiped the blood from the tip of his nose and leaned against the tree trunk to look at the ferocious spirit beasts outside.

"There are still some in the storage bag." Jiang Gu vaguely remembered that there were a few pieces of clothing. Just as he was about to take them, Wei Feng grabbed his hand.

His back was pressed against the tree trunk, his eyes slightly lowered as he stared at Jiang Gu, his breath carrying a hot, bloody scent. "No red clothes."

Just as Jiang Gu was about to complain about his fussiness, he heard the fellow say without changing his expression, "Master, you like me to wear red the most. I don't wear any other colors."

Jiang Gu looked at him, bewildered. "When did I say that—"

Before he could finish speaking, Wei Feng suddenly leaned over, raised his hand, and gently wiped his lips, placing the golden, translucent inner core near his mouth. He smiled and said, "It's clean now."

He was very close, so Jiang Gu took half a step back, removed the inner core from his mouth, and looked at Wei Feng with hostility. "Although I have lost my spiritual power, I still have ways to deal with you."

Wei Feng's lack of boundaries and even somewhat aggressive behavior displeased him.

"It was just blood on the corner of your mouth." Wei Feng's voice softened instantly, and he said aggrievedly, "Master, I didn't mean anything by it."

"You'd better be," Jiang Gu said coldly.

Wei Feng looked at him innocently, raised his hand to show his innocence, and said sincerely, "Although I harbor some filthy and unspeakable thoughts about you, Master, I dare to swear to Heaven that I only dare to think them in my heart, and absolutely not—"

boom--

A bolt of lightning grazed him and split the ancient tree behind him in two.

Wei Feng was startled, but instinctively pulled Jiang Gu into his arms. Jiang Gu, his face dark, tore him off and shielded him behind him. Amidst the sweltering heat, he looked up at the rolling thunderclouds in the sky.

The thunderclouds, tinged with a dark purple hue, seemed poised to unleash a tribulation lightning strike, but they had to abandon the attempt because the cultivators had almost no spiritual power left and their cultivation had plummeted. It took a long time for the thunderclouds to slowly dissipate.

Wei Feng looked solemnly at the charred ancient tree.

"They weren't after you," Jiang Gu said. "They must have sensed that I'm about to break through to the Tribulation Realm."

Wei Feng raised an eyebrow.

"Although I don't know exactly how you managed to deceive the Heavenly Dao, it's best not to make any more solemn oaths about the Heavenly Dao in the future." Jiang Gu glanced at him.

"Master, how did you know I could—" Wei Feng looked at him with some surprise, then suddenly remembered something, "Could it be that you guessed it when I swore an oath to the Heavenly Dao last time?"

Jiang Gu sized him up with his arrogant and contemptuous gaze, and sneered, "Stupid thing."

Despite being scolded, Wei Feng didn't feel frustrated. Instead, a strange sense of pleasure welled up inside him. He followed Jiang Gu's footsteps and said, "Master, you're amazing. You can even tell that. Do you know what method I used? Master, Master, say something... Master, are you angry?"

Don't be angry, I won't lie to you again next time. Besides, not everything I said was a lie. It's just that the six desires are too wicked, and even someone as strong-willed as me sometimes can't resist them. But as the saying goes, judge by actions, not intentions. Who doesn't have some dirty thoughts in their heart? Master, you said you also have desires. Haven't you ever thought about—"

Clang—The sharp tip of the Crimson Snow Sword stopped just inches from his mouth.

Wei Feng immediately shut his mouth.

"No matter what method you use, don't try to help me withstand the tribulation lightning." Jiang Gu threw the tiny ghostly patterns that Jiang Gu had secretly approached while they were talking to him, wrapped around the Crimson Snow Sword. "Heaven's will is not so easily fooled."

Wei Feng gripped the ghostly patterns and looked up at him.

"Also, listening to your rambling doesn't distract me. Next time, think of a smarter way." Jiang Gu said without turning his head, "You're extremely noisy."

Wei Feng awkwardly touched his nose, then shamelessly caught up with him and asked curiously, "Master, have you ever thought about getting closer to me?"

Jiang Gu wanted to cleave him in two with a sword, but before he could act, a fiery red shadow suddenly darted out from the dense forest beside him. Wei Feng immediately dropped his cheeky and irritating expression and shoved the thing away.

The thing crashed heavily into the tree trunk, letting out a painful howl, and then transformed into human form.

Wei Feng frowned and looked over. He saw a boy of about ten years old curled up on the ground, clutching his stomach. He was wearing a tattered pink and blue robe. His fiery red hair and drooping cat ears made him look like a demon cultivator. The end of his low red braid was strangely white, with a small golden bell hanging from it. It jingled as he moved.

"Heh, where did this blind little beast come from?" Wei Feng's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he grinned and said, "Master, he has already transformed into human form, so his inner core must be even more nourishing."