Zhang Taoying dragged her weary body home and greeted the ordinary members of the underworld gang who had escorted her back, expressing her gratitude. As soon as she stepped inside, she saw her father, Zhang Lin, brewing medicine. She immediately asked, "Where's Chen Jing's sister? Why isn't she here?"
Zhang Lin said, "Those two siblings told me that their brother found them tickets to leave Ash City, and they immediately packed their things and left, even returning the wages you had previously paid them."
"This is too much! They didn't even say a word to me," Zhang Taoying complained. "They just ran away? We took them in at a very low price, how could they be so ungrateful?"
As she spoke, she walked over and helped Zhang Lin sit down: "Let me boil the medicine, Dad, you should rest."
“What’s so ungrateful about it? When you treated me, the house was almost mortgaged to Su Yuan, but they still redeemed some of the furniture you pawned, and the furniture was still there. It’s really good.”
“Dad!” Zhang Taoying continued to boil the medicine and tend the fire: “You still speak up for them? That Chen Jing, he knew we also wanted to leave Ash City, and he had a way to get tickets to leave but didn’t tell me. That’s too much.”
"I don't know how much the boat ticket costs. I've tried asking several people indirectly, but none of them know either. Only one person was willing to help me make a contact... but he died on his escape the next day."
Zhang Taoying became increasingly angry as she spoke.
The person he was referring to was Mo Wuge, the original team leader. After Zhang Taoying first met him, she took the initiative to show goodwill to Mo Wuge in private, and the reward she received was that she could walk in the middle of the team when they first went to scout ahead.
"He won't run away on his own, will he? The Black Hand gang's payment for the elixir was an advance payment. If he runs away too, it's fine if he gets hunted down, but it will be troublesome if he drags us into it."
"Tao Ying," Zhang Lin said, "Do you really dislike her that much?"
Zhang Taoying pouted: "It's all your fault. You told me to get along with him and have him take care of me. What can he take care of me? He's just a strange person who knows a little about swordsmanship. I'm a genuine beginner cultivator. Dad, you're old. I feel uncomfortable and sad when I see you begging him. Now you've seen his true colors."
“You’re a girl with no hunting experience. Chen Jing is a rising star in the hunting group, very talented at attracting monsters. Even if your cultivation is stronger than his, his experience can help you in many ways,” Zhang Lin said. “Your dad is getting old, and he just hopes you can have more truly reliable friends out there…”
"What's so great about a monster lurer? Only cultivators are truly excellent. In this respect, I am far superior to him. If he were to fight me one-on-one, I could beat him senseless from ten steps away."
Just then, Chen Jing, who was standing outside, overheard this series of conversations.
Chen Jing was unsure whether he should go in now. Although he had vaguely guessed it before, he didn't expect Zhang Taoying to think that way about him.
He had just come out of the dream world and returned from the experts' place. His mind was originally filled with the secret intelligence he had obtained, his analysis and reasoning about the situation, and what he needed to prepare for his next trip to Meijing City.
The injured area on his arm was still itchy, but Jasmine's treatment was showing results, and Chen Jing suspected that he would recover most of his strength after waking up.
Just as he was about to wait a while before entering Uncle Zhang's room to avoid embarrassment, a voice suddenly rang in Chen Jing's ear:
"Chen Jing, why are you outside and not coming in?"
The voice wasn't quiet. Chen Jing turned around and saw the frail-looking girl who had made the sound. She was none other than Jasmine, the one who had been treating Chen Jing.
"Why are you here?" Chen Jing asked, glancing at the suddenly quiet room.
"I found out your location by asking Sister Taoying. I came to give you another treatment and also to express my gratitude." Jasmine said softly, "Did I come at the wrong time?"
"No, it's nothing. I just got back here myself," Chen Jing said. "You can get treatment here."
“You need to lie down,” Jasmine said seriously.
“My bed is a mess,” Chen Jing said, having already seen Zhang Taoying come out, her face clearly showing a hint of embarrassment.
"Chen Jing, did you hear that? I was just too tired just now, I didn't mean to complain about you..." Zhang Taoying explained awkwardly.
"It's nothing," Chen Jing said. "I really forgot to tell you, and I'm sorry for the trouble."
"Sister Taoying, what happened?" Jasmine asked from the side.
"It's alright, it's alright, you go treat Chen Jing, I, I'll continue to brew the medicine..." Zhang Taoying said, not daring to admit what she had said in front of Chen Jing.
Zhang Taoying realized that if Chen Jing had a way to get the tickets, could he also help her and her father get the tickets?
But she doesn't dare to make the invitation now because she just spoke ill of someone in front of others, and she wants to wait until later.
Looking at Zhang Taoying's appearance, Chen Jing sighed inwardly and led Jasmine to his room.
"It's such a mess!" Jasmine said, and began to tidy up.
Chen Jing looked over and saw that it was indeed a mess. On the bed, blankets, clothes and other items were piled up in a mess, and they were very dirty and hadn't been washed much.
In Ash City, there's no running water for washing clothes, and it's impossible to go to the Song River to wash them—it's too dangerous. You can only find a dedicated laundry or use well water, but those options are either expensive or troublesome.
All that's left are the slightly larger clothes Chen Jing wears. There are only a few pieces in total. Among them are two pieces that were issued when he was a monster hunter in the hunting group, and one set that he received from the Black Hand gang after joining them. Since there is no wardrobe, these clothes are just messily placed together with the quilt.
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