Chapter 30 Meeting Grandfather
Sun Hu had been waiting ever since he heard the news.
Over the years, he seems to have always been filled with regret.
She regretted not having her daughter experience more men in her early years, which made her easily bewitched by Zhong Guanlin.
After losing his daughter, he regretted not keeping a close eye on his wife's safety, which led to her falling off a cliff in a daze.
After losing his beloved wife, he regretted his despair and became completely despondent, leaving his youngest daughter to struggle alone and almost suffer the same fate.
As time went by, he gradually came to terms with it and even regretted taking his anger out on his grandson in the first place, realizing that he had never treated him well or given him enough love over the years.
Now, Sun Hu regrets not listening to his youngest daughter's suggestion to take the initiative to get closer to his grandson. Instead, he has made his grandson, at such a young age, understand his grandfather's feelings, not only giving their hunting group the opportunity to grow but also coming to visit them in person...
Sun Hu nervously rubbed his hands together.
He has never seen his grandson and doesn't know what his grandson looks like now.
My youngest daughter told me that her grandson is very well-born, has a good temperament, and is very lovable.
Sun Hu was even more excited.
·
After an unknown amount of time, Sun Hu saw the carriage slowly approaching.
It looked ordinary, but the materials were exquisite, and the quality was actually very high; the handsome young man and woman sitting on the horned horses pulling the carriage appeared to be accompanying servants; the man driving the carriage concealed his aura, but one could still sense the other's strength, which was much stronger than his own first level of the Palace Opening Realm, so he should be Wu Shaogan's man...
The carriage stopped.
Sun Hu's gaze fell on the carriage door.
The man driving the car got out and opened the door smoothly.
A familiar female figure came down first; it was his youngest daughter, Sun Liu, who smiled at him.
Sun Hu's gaze turned to what was behind Sun Liu.
The next moment, the boy in the blue shirt jumped down easily, his bright eyes looking straight at him, his eyebrows and eyes filled with a cheerful smile.
This must be Cherrie Ying! She's so beautiful!
She was a bit thin, but she was full of spirit and had a warm and pleasing personality that made people happy just looking at her.
Sun Hu's eyes were red.
Although she bears some resemblance to that playboy Zhong Guanlin, she is more like his Xi'er.
It's so lovable.
Sun Hu strode over to greet his grandson.
·
Zhong Cai spotted the old man in front of the camp at first glance.
He was very tall and robust, but his hair and short beard were already gray, his face had many fine lines, and his eyebrows were deeply etched, giving him a weathered look.
In his previous life, an eighty-year-old man who looked like he was sixty would have been considered very well-preserved.
But this life is different. Cultivators in the Palace-Opening Realm have a lifespan of three hundred years. Eighty is still very young. If they hadn't experienced many hardships and suffered many setbacks, how could they show such an old appearance?
This is his maternal grandfather.
Zhong Cai had never seen him before, but she could recognize him.
Grandpa came over quickly.
Zhong Cai saw the glimmer in his eyes, paused for a moment, and went to meet him.
Then, Zhong Cai was pulled into his arms and gently but firmly patted on the back—as if a thousand words could not express her feelings, and she could only express them through her actions.
When she was released, Zhong Cai looked up at the elderly man in front of her, who was still excited but somewhat at a loss, and greeted him with a smile, "Grandpa! I've come to visit you!"
The old man's face immediately broke into a smile.
·
Not far away, Wu Shaogan also got out of the car and stood quietly behind, not disturbing the meeting between the grandfather and grandson.
He also observed Sun Hu and developed a certain fondness for him.
Besides the fact that Sun Hu's emotions were genuine, it was also because Sun Hu and Zhong Cai were quite similar.
Wu Shaogan observed that although their expressions differed, Sun Hu and Zhong Cai's eyes were almost identical.
This is exactly what it means to love someone so much that you love everything about them.
Sun Hu couldn't contain his excitement and hugged Zhong Cai for a moment, but then restrained himself and let go.
After saying goodbye to Sun Hu, Zhong Cai immediately turned back to find him.
Wu Shaogan's gaze was very gentle.
·
Zhong Cai smiled and pulled Wu Shaogan aside, then came to Sun Hu.
"Grandpa, this is my husband."
Wu Shaogan smiled and, following Zhong Cai's lead, called out, "Grandpa."
Zhong Cai chattered away:
"Your aunt told you, didn't she? He's a close friend of mine, he's helped me a lot, and he's saved my life many times..."
“When I was cultivating, he picked out a lot of resources for me! I saved up all the gold my grandfather sent me, and I even took it with me when I went to the aftermath of my misdeeds…”
"He came out specifically to accompany me shopping this time..." he lowered his voice, "...and he's really busy. At the auction, he spent all the money he had saved up, and he barely managed to...now he's penniless, haha!"
Wu Shaogan did not interrupt, but listened with a gentle expression.
Sun Hu listened while secretly observing Wu Shaogan's expression.
Several times, Sun Hu was worried because of Zhong Cai's words such as "something happened" and "penniless"—no matter how good their past relationship was, it was not appropriate to expose his secrets like this.
However, Sun Hu did not see any resentment from Wu Shaogan. Instead, he kept his eyes on his grandson and looked very indulgent.
·
It's also because Sun Hu didn't know the truth. If Wu Shaogan had no hope of recovery, Zhong Cai naturally wouldn't have casually uttered words like "crippled." He was still considerate of his buddy's feelings and didn't want to upset him.
Even if Wu Shaogan remains disabled, he might be displeased when others bring up the matter. But Zhong Cai is not an outsider—Zhong Cai's actions speak for themselves. Doesn't he understand the sentiment behind it? He should cherish what he has, why worry about a momentary slip of the tongue?
·
Led by Sun Hu, Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan walked together into the camp.
Sun Liu would tell Xiang Lin where the carriage and wildebeest were, and would also tell Bi Cen and Qiao Hong how to collect resources and where to handle certain matters.
Xiang Lin, Bi Cen, and Qiao Hong listened attentively.
They all knew that their two masters would be staying here for a while, and they needed to figure these things out before they could act freely.
·
Along the way, many hunters spotted the group.
They were surprised to see that Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan were unfamiliar faces, but were astonished to see their commander's gentle and kind face.
A few well-informed individuals, however, shared the situation with their companions.
The hunters soon realized that it was the leader's only grandson who had come to visit. The leader hadn't met him much, and now that the opportunity was rare, he naturally doted on him…
·
Sun Hu, accompanied by his grandson and his wife, went straight to his residence.
Zhong Cai was still gesturing: "Last time we went hunting in the mountains, he was always walking ahead...and when we met other people, it was him too..."
Upon hearing this, Sun Hu felt both relieved and conflicted.
According to A-Liu and Cai'er, Cai'er and Wu Shaogan were good friends, and their marriage wasn't based on mutual affection. Yet now, Cai'er not only acts casually, but she also constantly talks about how good he has been to her—good in the past, good now, always good… While she seems very open, is it really necessary to praise him like this?
In Sun Hu's memory, when Xi'er fell in love with the playboy at first sight, although she would often smile shyly at home, she never kept praising him.
Or perhaps Xi'er did mention it, but girls tend to confide in their mothers, so he only mentioned it to his wife? But if that's the case, his wife would surely tease Xi'er a bit, wouldn't she?
His wife is lively and playful, and Cai'er is actually somewhat like her.
I wish my wife could see Cai'er too.
Sun Hu felt regretful and pushed open the door of the house.
"Cai'er, come in and sit down."
·
Because of Zhong Cai's warm attitude, Sun Hu's anxiety gradually dissipated as the other party reacted.
After chatting about the journey and everyone sitting in the main hall, the atmosphere between the grandfather and grandson became less awkward.
Sun Hu didn't seem to think things through or try to find topics to talk about as I had expected.
Zhong Cai took a sip of tea to moisten her throat.
Sun Hu said gently, "Ah Liu has already sent someone to prepare the meal. It will be delivered soon."
Zhong Cai smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, Grandpa. I'll have to eat more."
Sun Hu had a kind smile.
Zhong Caisun straightened his expression and said, "I heard that... my maternal grandfather took my mother away many years ago."
Sun Hu was taken aback: "Your stepmother said that?"
Zhong Cai nodded.
Sun Hu sighed deeply: "Your mother should have been cremated and then placed in the Zhong family's ancestral hall, but your stepmother came into the family too quickly. I was indignant and went to her house to demand your mother's ashes back." He closed his eyes. "Your father... gave them to me so easily."
—His resentment towards Zhong Guanlin has persisted for many years and cannot be resolved, and it is not just because of one or two things.
Sun Hu continued, “Your maternal grandmother could only feel at ease if she carried your mother’s ashes with her. Later, she also had an accident. I finally found her remains and cremated them, placing them together with your mother’s.”
Zhong Cai's expression darkened slightly, but she quickly said, "My father was always heartless, and it's good that my mother didn't understand when she was alive. Now that she's gone, it's better for her to stay with my maternal grandparents than to stay alone in the ancestral hall. It's a family reunion."
Sun Hu's mood improved somewhat after hearing Zhong Cai's words.
·
In this world, cultivators temper their physical bodies, and their corpses often have many uses.
Some cultivators who practice evil arts will scavenge the corpses of other cultivators for their own use, and many savage beasts—even some rare beasts with ferocious natures—will want to devour the corpses of cultivators.
Some cultivators were incredibly powerful in their lifetime, leaving behind some inheritance on their own remains. They could also set conditions to select cultivators of the same bloodline, from the same sect, or who met certain requirements to enter the sect, and give them the corresponding inheritance based on their compatibility.
Therefore, ancient clans and sects, with their vast territories, could set up heavily guarded forbidden areas to bury the remains of deceased clan members and disciples.
At the right time, the younger generation will be allowed to enter and seek opportunities.
But it's different for relatively smaller forces and ordinary independent cultivators.
Their people were unlikely to be powerful enough to leave a legacy on their bones, nor did they have a heavily fortified burial ground where the remains would not be damaged.
Therefore, these people often cremated the remains directly.
Families like the Zhong and Wu families would set up ancestral halls and store the ashes in special cabinets according to seniority, with their origins and brief biographical information clearly marked on the outside.
As for independent cultivators...
Those with shallow feelings will handle things casually, but those with deep feelings, like Sun Hu, will often put the ashes of his wife and daughters into their best mustard bag, carry it with them at all times.
·
Wu Shaogan listened to the conversation between the grandfather and grandson with a strange feeling.
When it was still uncertain whether he could be restored, A-Cai told him that he would put him in an altar and take him wherever he went... Now Sun Hu's actions are somewhat similar.
The only difference is that he is still alive.
Wu Shaogan couldn't help but think that, given his friendship with A Cai, if he didn't recover and died from exhaustion of his lifespan, A Cai would probably put him in an urn and then place him in the altar.
·
Zhong Cai said to Sun Hu, "Grandpa, I want to pay my respects to my mother and grandmother." He smiled nostalgically, "Although I don't remember them, I'm all grown up now, so I should let them recognize me."
Sun Hu was surprised that Zhong Cai had this idea, and nodded with some relief.
The group returned to their room.
Sun Hu took out two sealed jade bottles and placed them on a tall table.
—Judging by their quality, they are all level two Xuan artifacts.
The jade vases are engraved with the same pattern, but in different colors; the more lively one is his wife's, and the brighter one is his beloved daughter's.
Zhong Cai looked at the two jade bottles and walked to the front of the high table.
Wu Shaogan also came over.
Zhong Cai turned her head to look at him.
Wu Shaogan said softly, "Let them recognize me too."
Zhong Cai thought about it and agreed, so she pulled him along and stood next to him.
The two bowed to the two bottles together, then for some reason looked at each other, turned to Sun Hu, and bowed to him as well.
Sun Hu: "..."
At that moment, he felt as if his vision was blurring—the two urns seemed to have transformed into his beloved wife and daughter, while the two young people in front of him were bowing back and forth…it looked just like a wedding ceremony.
Sun Hu quickly offered a gesture of support, opened his mouth, but said nothing.
How should I say it?
...It looked more like a wedding ceremony.
·
Sun Hu quickly and carefully put the bottle back.
Perhaps because of the process he had just gone through, his wariness of Wu Shaogan lessened somewhat. Although something still felt off, he gradually began to treat him simply as his grandson-in-law.
Sun Liu quickly returned with the food.
The family sat around the table and began their meal in a lively atmosphere.
Wu Shaogan glanced across the table.
All the dishes served were suitable for the Heavenly Realm and tasted good. At first glance, they were not particularly eye-catching, but upon closer inspection, it would be clear that for a force like the West Tiger Hunting Group to prepare such a feast, they must have spent a great deal of effort, and probably had to start preparing several days in advance.
Zhong Cai didn't think too much about it. After taking a few bites, she picked out some dishes that she thought were good for Wu Shaogan and praised the food to Sun Hu and Sun Liu for its delicious taste and the chef's skill.
With Zhong Cai around, the atmosphere is never dull.
After having a little something to eat, the group chatted as they ate.
Sun Hu asked with concern, "Cai'er, how long will you stay at Xihu this time? Stay a while longer."
Sun Liu agreed and looked at Zhong Cai.
Zhong Cai smiled and said, "About ten days or half a month. After that, Shao Gan and I plan to find a town or county to live in, so as not to disturb Grandpa and Aunt's busy schedule."
Sun Liu asked, "Have you decided where you'll stay? Is it convenient for me to come visit you?"
Zhong Cai said, "It's not decided yet. I'd like to borrow a map from my grandfather to take a look."
Sun Hu didn't hesitate and immediately took out the map and handed it to Zhong Cai.
"After you finish eating, take your time to look at the pictures. The ones circled are places that Xihu has been to. If you find any you like, Grandpa will tell you in detail."
Zhong Cai laughed and took it, putting it away.
"That would be wonderful, thank you so much, Grandpa!"
Wu Shaogan placed a piece of beef on Zhong Cai's plate.
Zhong Cai ate it without thinking.
Sun Liu said, "Your accommodations have been prepared. It's a small courtyard nearby with a few rooms. It's just that it's definitely not as spacious as your two homes; it's rather simple."
Zhong Cai said nonchalantly, "What's so simple about it? When we went out to train, we often slept in caves, and we weren't uncomfortable at all. Besides, the place my aunt and grandfather prepared for me couldn't be too bad."
Sun Hu and Sun Liu couldn't help but laugh.
The more time they spent with Zhong Cai, the more they liked him.
Wu Shaogan smiled and placed another piece of fish on Zhong Cai's plate.
·
The meal lasted for a good hour or so, and many things were explained directly.
Sun Hu and his daughter told Zhong Cai as much detail as possible about their plans for selling the pills later.
Zhong Cai casually said, "I trust you. Just run the business as you see fit. Every now and then, I'll send someone to secretly deliver the pills, which will save you a lot of trouble."
Sun Hu and Sun Liu both nodded.
Originally, what kind of pills were sold depended on the alchemist. If there was a shortage of pills, they could just wait for Zhong Cai's people to come and bring them up again.
On the surface, both sides can only have normal interactions.
·
After the meal, Sun Hu and Sun Liu personally escorted Zhong Cai and the other person to their accommodation.
This courtyard was indeed a bit simple compared to the Wu and Zhong families, but it was very clean and tidy, clearly having been carefully prepared.
Zhong Cai was very satisfied and thanked the two elders.
Afterwards, the two needed to wash away the dust of their journey.
Sun Hu and Sun Liu then bid them farewell and left, satisfied.
·
That night, Zhong Cai lay in bed, unable to fall asleep.
Wu Shaogan, noticing the commotion, turned over and asked, "Still excited?"
Zhong Cai nodded and then shook her head.
"It wasn't excitement, but rather a feeling of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders..."
Wu Shaogan raised an eyebrow.
Zhong Cai said, "But I never felt like I had anything on my mind before."
Wu Shao chuckled dryly, "I don't have much experience, but it's not a bad thing to hear."
Zhong Cai agreed: "That makes sense."
The two looked at each other.
Wu Shaogan reached out and covered Zhong Cai's eyes.
Zhong Cai hesitated for a moment, then said, "There's no need to cover your nose too."
Wu Shaogan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Zhong Cai glanced at him sideways and raised her hand to move his palm away.
Wu Shaogan still smiled and said, "Let's go out and have some fun tomorrow."
Zhong Cai immediately said "okay".
The two stopped fussing and closed their eyes, preparing to sleep.
Zhong Cai slowly slowed her breathing, but several images still flashed through her mind.
For a moment, they stood in front of the two urns containing ashes, and Old Wu and he bowed together...
It was time for him to enter the Wu family again, wearing a veil, and to bow left and right in the wedding hall.
How should I put it?
Compared to the casual, solo prayer when entering the Wu family home, this time, in front of my maternal grandfather, it felt more like a wedding ceremony.
Zhong Cai felt like scratching her head.
It's as if she really married Lao Wu...
No, that's not right. He was already married to Lao Wu!
Zhong Cai couldn't help but turn over.
What's wrong with me? The feeling of actually marrying Lao Wu suddenly feels so strong today.
Wu Shaogan glanced at the back of Zhong Cai's head and shook his head slightly.
Never mind, I won't bother him.
Go to sleep now.
·
The next morning, Wu Shaogan woke up first.
Zhong Cai was still asleep.
The higher the cultivator's strength, the less they care about sleep, but for Zhong Cai, he still needs to be well-rested to have energy.
Wu Shaogan didn't disturb Zhong Cai, but quietly watched his sleeping face.
Even though this guy was still asleep, it somehow felt quite lively...
Zhong Cai stubbornly... didn't wake up.
He was too familiar with Wu Shaogan, so he had no guard up at all.
Even if the other person just silently watches him, he still won't wake up, even if they touch him.
·
Zhong Cai slept until the sun was high in the sky.
He didn't get up, and Wu Shaogan was too lazy to move either. He stayed in bed, just holding the two green dumplings in his hands and kneading them, in a very good mood.
Xiao Qingyu and Xiao Qinghui were both very well-behaved; even with their feet rubbed until they were upside down, they didn't utter a sound.
When Zhong Cai opened her eyes, she saw Wu Shaogan having a great time.
"Old Wu, what time is it?"
Wu Shao chuckled dryly and replied, "It's almost noon."
Zhong Cai exclaimed "Whoa!" and straightened up.
"It's so late already? I just got to my grandpa's house!"
Wu Shao chuckled dryly, "Neither Grandpa nor Aunt came, probably because they knew you were tired from the journey."
Zhong Cai slowly lay back down: "That's alright."
The two lay side by side.
Wu Shaogan waved his hand and opened the window.
Instantly, the entire room became bright.
Zhong Cai rested her head on her arm comfortably.
Wu Shaogan was lying on his pillow just like him, looking very relaxed.
The two of them still didn't rush to get up.
It wasn't until the afternoon that Zhong Cai yawned and got out of bed.
"Let's go out for a walk this afternoon and see how things are in this town. We'll come back later."
"good."
"I won't be refining pills for a while... Give me some of the Qi-replenishing pills I gave you before, and I'll just focus on cultivation while I'm at the base."
"OK."
"Don't forget to take your Soul Nourishing Pills, take them every hour."
"rest assured."
·
After a quick bite to eat in the courtyard, Zhong Cai pulled Wu Shaogan along to find Sun Hu.
Sun Liu was still handling the affairs of the hunting party, so she got up early. Especially in the past few days, she insisted on waiting for Zhong Cai, and many things hadn't been dealt with yet. After entertaining Zhong Cai, she was already too busy to handle anything else.
Sun Hu was talking while holding the mustard seed bag when he saw his grandson arrive, and he smiled.
Zhong Cai glanced at the mustard seed bag, said nothing, and instead told Sun Hu where the two of them were going.
Sun Hu naturally wouldn't stop his grandson, only instructing him to be careful, and then took out two tokens that allowed passage through the West Tiger's territory, handing them to the two men respectively.
Wu Shaogan was surprised to receive a piece and thanked him happily.
Zhong Cai hooked her arm around Sun Hu's neck and happily said goodbye.
Sun Hu watched the two figures leave, and couldn't help but touch the mustard seed bag.
"Madam, what's really going on between Cai'er and Wu Shaogan? Are they really just sworn brothers?"
“What you say is true, Madam. As their grandfather, I'll just observe how things unfold afterward and not say anything that might annoy others…”
“Madam, Wu Shaogan treats Cai’er very well, quite unlike Zhong Guanlin. Now that they are already married, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if things really work out in the future.”
"Don't worry, Xi'er. Cai'er is very promising now. Maybe she can cure her husband in the future..."
"Don't worry, Madam, I'll keep an eye on things."
·
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan walked side by side on the streets of Xiaolin Town without anyone else by their side.
Perhaps because two powerful hunting groups had previously settled here and often traveled in groups, the streets here are very wide, enough to accommodate five or six mounts walking side by side.
Zhong Cai looked around and would occasionally pull Wu Shaogan into different shops, sometimes just to look around and sometimes to buy something.
While strolling around, the two overheard a lot of discussions about the West Tiger Hunting Group.
·
West Tiger was originally similar to Golden Leopard, with over a hundred hunters.
However, after Jinbao's incident and Xihu's development, Xihu recruited many cultivators who had been wavering, adding fifty or sixty new members and bringing the total to two hundred.
Many hunters were quite disappointed—they had thought the Western Tigers would expand aggressively, but they hadn't expected them to play it safe and stop accepting new members after reaching a certain number. Those who hesitated even slightly lost their chance to join.
The elders didn't give the newlyweds any hard time; instead, they guided them step by step, helping them quickly adapt to the atmosphere.
While not exactly a complete makeover, Xihu has certainly gained a lot of prestige.
It is said that several highly skilled hunting team captains would specially lead newcomers into the mountains to search for suitable horned tigers in the outer areas, bring them back to tame them, control them with talismans, and make them the newcomers' mounts.
However, none of these newcomers had ever worked for Golden Leopard before.
That night, after the Golden Leopard's accident, the cultivators who had fled hid for a while before returning to try and extract resources from the Golden Leopard's ruins. Some even considered switching sides and joining the Western Tiger's camp.
But Xihu looked down on those people's behavior and didn't confiscate it at all.
Xi Hu didn't intend to exterminate them all; he didn't take them in, but he didn't drive them out of the town either. However, those people were restless and instead gathered together, forming several small hunting groups. They started clashing with each other as soon as they settled down, making the surrounding area chaotic.
So the people in the neighborhood went to Xihu to complain, and it took Xihu a lot of time to resolve the matter.
As a result, Xihu's reputation in Xiaolin Town grew, and he became even more desirable.
More and more hunters are considering joining, hoping that the current Siberian tigers will quickly integrate and expand their population.
When Xihu recruits again, they will be eager to join!
·
Zhong Cai listened with a smile, occasionally pulling Wu Shaogan aside to say a few words.
Wu Shaogan looked at him with a smile, readily agreeing with him.
Half a day isn't enough to explore the whole town. Zhong Cai goes back home in the evening to have a meal with her grandfather, then leaves again in the morning and returns home in the evening.
For three or four days in a row, Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan's itinerary consisted of aimless wandering.
Zhong Cai saw only excitement and heard almost nothing but praise for Xi Hu; how could she not be in a good mood?
When Zhong Cai was in a good mood, Wu Shaogan was also in a good mood.
·
The two left early and returned late, having little contact with the hunters.
However, the hunters were very curious about the two.
They didn't know the specifics of the two, but they generally knew that the group leader's grandson had come with her husband, and that the two had a very good relationship.
The couple never interfered in the hunting group's internal affairs; they just came to have some fun... so the hunters naturally didn't have any ill feelings towards them.
·
After finally exploring the entire town of Xiaolin, Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan did not venture out again.
The two sat cross-legged facing each other in an empty room.
Wu Shaogan took out a box of top-grade Qi-replenishing pills and handed it to Zhong Cai.
Zhong Cai was even more decisive. She opened the box, placed it in front of her, took out a pill, and popped it directly into her mouth.
The next instant, the rich medicinal power flowed into his abdomen, transforming into a surge of profound energy that rapidly penetrated his flesh and blood.
Zhong Cai guided these mysterious energies to further temper his skull.
There is no danger anymore, but it's a long and arduous process... However, with a large supply of Xuan Qi from top-grade pills, it can be accelerated even further.
In the fifth and sixth stages, Zhong Cai planned to temper his bones as quickly as possible.
After that, he mainly focused on refining Soul Nourishing Pills. Once his friend's aptitude recovered, he would start thinking about Heart Protecting Pills—the sixth to seventh layers are for tempering the heart.
Zhong Cai is particularly careful about her heart condition.
In my past life, I died from a heart problem, and I almost died in the same way in this life.
Zhong Cai felt quite lucky; his adoptive father happened to have some unused low-grade herbal pills. Hearing from the doctor that the father had a heart problem, the father hadn't hesitated to give them to him. Otherwise, he would have remained weak until he met Old Wu and asked him to help him obtain more pills. However, the low-grade pills were still a bit lacking; Old Wu later gave him a lot of tonics, which is why he was so lively and energetic.
·
While Zhong Cai was cultivating, Wu Shaogan, who was still incapacitated, quietly drew talismans on the side.
Stock up on as much as you can, even if it's something you can actually use...
·
A few days later, Zhong Cai successfully completed the refinement of the skull.
Zhong Cai checked his condition and said proudly, "Old Wu, these pills of mine are really good. I take one every day, and in such a short time, I've already reached the peak of the fifth level!"
Wu Shaogan smiled and praised, "You're not only skilled at alchemy, but also at cultivation."
Zhong Cai deliberately thought for a moment and said, "Then alchemy is more powerful."
Wu Shaogan couldn't help but chuckle.
Zhong Cai smiled and said, "I've been thinking that we've been staying at Grandpa's for almost ten days now, so it's time for us to leave."
The two of them were busy, and every night they would select places to stay on the map. After they had chosen a place, they would ask Sun Hu about the situation of those places while having dinner with him.
After careful consideration, the two decided to go to a small town near a large county with beautiful scenery and a large population.
In a large county like that, the highest level of cultivators that can be supported is the Suspended Illumination Realm, while the highest level of cultivators that can be supported in nearby towns is only cultivators who have just entered the Palace Opening Realm.
Wu Shaogan can rest assured that his qualifications have been restored in the small town.
If the two wanted to make a deal, it would be very convenient to go to the big county, and there was even a level 5 city not far from that big county.
·
Suddenly, Xiang Lin requested an audience.
Wu Shaogan frowned slightly and invited the man in.
Zhong Cai asked, "What's wrong?"
Wu Shaogan said, "You've been focusing on your cultivation these past few days, and your maternal grandfather and aunt have both come to visit you."
Zhong Cai nodded. "And then?"
Because his maternal grandfather and aunt cared about him, what did his buddy do?
Sure enough, Wu Shaogan said, "I guessed you probably wanted to leave, so I sent Xiang Lin out to investigate and see if Xihu still had any hidden enemies."
Zhong Cai understood and frowned as well.
"The reason Xiang Lin is coming here now is because he has discovered the enemy."
Wu Shaogan nodded: "Xiang Lin, you speak."
Xiang Lin calmly reported: "There are still a few former members of the Golden Leopard Hunting Group in the town who are unwilling to accept their fate, but they are not capable of causing any more trouble. Even if there are any unusual movements, Xi Hu can handle them smoothly."
"There is an undercurrent of dislike for Xihu's style of doing things, but Xihu also has the ability to resolve it."
Both of them listened. Since these two issues weren't major, then it must be other issues.
Xiang Lin said, "Recently, a stranger has been inquiring about the West Tiger. Unlike ordinary people, he wants all the information related to the West Tiger, down to the smallest detail. For example, the past members and their origins, the new members and their origins, their detailed past experiences, and so on. This person is very secretive and has spent a lot of money on it. If I weren't much stronger than him, it would be difficult to find any clues."
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan both had slightly solemn expressions.
It's normal to ask for information, but it's definitely not normal to want to know everything.
If someone didn't have designs on Xihu, why would they know such details? The bigger the scheme, the more information is needed to thoroughly understand Xihu and make it easier to take action.
Zhong Cai narrowed her eyes: "Can you tell who that person is?"
Xiang Lin said, "I can only roughly tell that the other party's bone age is not high, and he should be at the Heavenly Guidance Realm." He thought for a moment, "In Xiaolin Town, he is very confident, and it is more likely that he is at the peak of the Heavenly Guidance Realm."
Zhong Cai gave a soft hum.
Wu Shaogan gave the order directly: "Tomorrow we'll find a secluded place in the mountains, and you go and capture him."
Zhong Cai agreed: "Who cares what his intentions are? Just arrest him and interrogate him, and we'll know."
Xiang Lin readily agreed.
·
In the town, in the alleyways.
Ji Boping fled swiftly, several talismans on his body flashing with light, increasing his speed several times over.
The speed of the Palace Opening Realm is more than twice that of the Heavenly Guidance Realm. He would have to use multiple Swiftness Talismans to surpass his opponent.
However, at the same time, his Xuan power was also greatly depleted. If it weren't for the rare and precious herbs in his mouth that were constantly replenishing his energy, he probably wouldn't have been able to hold on and would have been overtaken.
Ji Boping couldn't understand why anyone would seek him out like this.
What's even more terrifying is that this person is clearly a powerful cultivator at the Palace-Opening Realm!
·
Ji Boping spent a lot of time figuring out the distribution of powerful individuals in the town, and even used a mysterious artifact capable of detection.
No force could hide from him; he knew very well how many people in the town were stronger than him, and he would avoid these people when he acted to avoid any mishaps.
Unfortunately, each time that mysterious artifact is probed, it costs a Mystic Pearl.
Ji Boping didn't have many Xuanzhu beads, and he dared not waste a single one—if the plot of the West Tiger Hunting Group hadn't changed so drastically, he wouldn't have wasted any time in Xiaolin Town.
Now Ji Boping regrets it.
He shouldn't have been so stingy. How could he have been so sure of himself just because he'd found all the experts in the town? There might still be newcomers! He shouldn't have been so complacent!
While thinking, Ji Boping slapped another speed-enhancing talisman on himself, further increasing his speed.
He quickly discerned the road and rushed desperately out of town.
Let's go to the mountains! Let's go to the mountains!
The mountains are very deep. Once he gets inside, the pursuers might not dare to go any further, and he can escape even faster!
·
Ji Boping is still reflecting and speculating.
Could it be that his secretive inquiries about Xihu led to this disaster?
But as far as he knew, and based on his recent investigations, the West Tiger Hunting Group could not possibly have such a powerful individual.
Or perhaps, in the process of inquiring, he violated some taboo of this powerful figure? Did he stumble upon something that warranted being killed to silence him? Otherwise, since he had already escaped, why would this powerful figure have any reason to pursue him? Wouldn't that be a waste of time?
Or was this strongman simply unwilling to accept defeat? He was annoyed that such a small ant dared to escape, and he had to catch him no matter what.
Countless thoughts raced through Ji Boping's mind, but his pace of escape did not slow down in the slightest.
Ji Boping is very experienced and can always replenish the luster of a talisman in time whenever it begins to fade.
That's why he can always stay at the forefront.
However, the pursuers were too strong, and even with his best efforts, he still couldn't completely shake them off...
Finally, Ji Boping rushed into the nearby mountains.
There is hope!
Hopefully, the forests in front will be denser and provide more cover, thus obstructing the view from behind.
·
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan arrived at the mountain, at the meeting place they had agreed upon with Xiang Lin.
There is a waterfall here.
The pool was clear and tranquil, with plenty of fish swimming around. You could catch a few and grill them; they tasted pretty good.
The two sat in front of a rock, sheltered from the wind, built a campfire, and ate grilled fish together.
As Zhong Cai ate, she wondered, "It's just a Heavenly Guidance Realm cultivator, so why hasn't Xiang Lin brought him back yet after so long? Could there be something else lurking around?"
Wu Shaogan said, "That man was acting suspiciously, and even Xiang Lin was almost fooled. It's normal that it will be a bit of a hassle to catch him."
Zhong Cai nodded: "You're right."
The two continued eating the grilled fish.
After they finished eating, Xiang Lin still hadn't returned.
The two decided to take a walk in the neighborhood.
Not long after entering the forest, Zhong Cai spotted several medicinal mushrooms and went over to pick them with great interest.
Seeing this, Wu Shaogan stood guard beside him.
Suddenly, there seemed to be a rustling of grass in the distance.
Wu Shaogan's expression hardened, and he drew his bow—and an arrow flew out!
·
Ji Boping had tried his best to penetrate deep into the forest, but he still couldn't shake off his pursuers, and his Xuan Qi was greatly depleted.
He gritted his teeth, determined that even if he used up all the resources, he absolutely could not be caught!
But at this moment, Ji Boping suddenly felt an extremely strong warning, which made his scalp tingle and his hair stand on end!
A matter of life and death!
Ji Boping's pupils contracted sharply, and without the slightest hesitation, he took out his protective treasure—
A level 2 defensive jade pendant, activated quickly!
The next instant, sharp arrows came hurtling towards them, carrying a chilling wind and terrifying killing intent.
A transparent defensive shield stood upright in front, and the tips of the arrows met it, emitting a piercing whistling sound.
In the blink of an eye, the defensive jade pendant could no longer withstand the attack and shattered with a crisp sound.
The arrow's residual force remained fierce, and it continued to shoot straight towards them.
Ji Boping reacted quickly and took the opportunity to roll out!
The arrow whistled and struck the large tree behind him, blasting a large hole in the trunk and producing a tremendous roar.
Ji Boping was absolutely furious.
Who shot that arrow? It's terrifying!
Was the level-two jade pendant he found a piece of junk? It could only hold out for such a short time?!
·
At this moment, Ji Boping's mind was racing, frantically searching for a way to survive.
The pursuers are closing in, and there's still danger ahead. But he hasn't offended anyone in front of him; maybe it's a misunderstanding. He wonders if he can use those in front to block those behind...
Just then, a young man with a cold expression and a bow strode out from the woods ahead.
The young man, dressed in brocade and jade robes, was extremely handsome, yet he was looking at him with the eyes of someone staring at a dead man.
The moment Ji Boping saw this person, his face turned deathly pale and he felt a chill run through his body!
Wu Shaogan? How could it be Wu Shaogan?!
Wasn't he already crippled?!
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