Chapter 38: Quest Reward

Name:Blossoming Path Author:
Chapter 38: Quest Reward

There was copious amounts of alcohol during the celebration. It made me wonder how such a small village like Qingmu could possess that amount. Nevertheless, it made for a great time.

They had their own recipe using honey, rice, grapes, and hawthorn fruit. Whatever it was, Tianyi enjoyed it. She kept drinking from her own cup, and I swore that she consumed enough to get a refill or two while I wasn't looking.

Feng Wu, as well as Xu Ziqing, held themselves in a dignified manner throughout the entire celebration. The same couldn't be said for the third-class disciples, who were being somewhat rowdy during the celebration. Since they weren't taoists, I suppose they didn't need to abstain from alcohol like Feng Wu.

I had eaten my fill ten times over. Hua Lingsheng followed me around and acted as my servant for most of the night; whenever he noticed my plate was empty, he'd come back with another dish. If my cup wasn't full, he'd return carrying another jug. It was all too much, really. After two hours of that treatment I quietly begged him to stop.

Now here I was, staring up at the ceiling with a pounding headache and a bloated stomach. Honestly, I don't even know where that food went. My body felt much better though. The constant ache that lingered around my upper body was now reduced to a negligible sensation. Getting all that food in me was a blessing in disguise. I should thank Hua Lingsheng later.

Reward calculation completed.

Huh? The hell is this?

Your reward is marked by a yellow, glowing orb, only visible to you.

I got up out of bed and looked outside the window. There was no glowing orb in the vicinity.

But the system wouldn't lie to me! It had to be somewhere close by! I knew it! The system wouldn't just give me knowledge about the Wind Serpent for completing the quest! There had to be something more, like a martial technique! Or even a divine weapon! Oh, I could already imagine it; a blade imbued with the power of the wind, each swing capable of releasing gusts of devastating force. Or maybe a book filled with ancient martial techniques, passed down through generations, just waiting for someone like me to unlock its secrets!

My mind swirled with excitement, but I knew I needed to keep a level head. The reward was in the area, but it wasn't visible from my room. I would have to explore Qingmu village to find it.

I hurriedly dressed, making sure not to disturb Tianyi who was still in a pleasant slumber, probably dreaming about more of that delightful brew she'd taken a liking to. I glanced at the butterfly one last time, assuring myself that she would be fine, then headed out into the crisp morning air.

The village was quiet, with only the faintest hints of movement as people began their daily routines. I made my way toward the inn's entrance, where the innkeeper was already up and about, tending to his tasks.

"Ah, Disciple Kai, you're up early!" he greeted me cheerfully. I didn't bother reminding him that I wasn't a disciple of the Verdant Lotus sect. It was an easy mistake to make.

"Yes, I have some errands to run," I replied, trying not to betray my excitement. "Have you seen Feng Wu or Xu Ziqing and the Silent Moon sect?"

The innkeeper's face brightened with recognition. "Ah yes, the Silent Moon sect left early in the morning, before the first light. As for Feng Wu, I believe he mentioned himself to be meditating outside."

I thanked the innkeeper and made my way outside, but not before I felt a tug at my sleeve. I turned to see Hua Lingsheng, the innkeeper's child, looking up at me with curious eyes.

"Are you leaving, Elder Brother Kai?" he asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Not yet, Lingsheng. I'm just looking for something," I assured him, patting his head gently. "Thank you for taking such good care of me last night."

His face lit up, and he nodded energetically. "It was my pleasure! If you need anything else, just ask!"

With a warm smile, I continued towards the garden, thoughts of the mysterious glowing orb fueling my anticipation.

Once I reached the outside, I found Feng Wu seated in a meditative pose, his face calm and serene. I decided not to disturb him and instead focused on exploring the village.

"Hey, Hua Lingsheng!" I called out, waving and smiling as if I didn't have a care in the world.

"Kai!" the young boy cheered, running over to me with bright eyes. "You look different. Happier! Did you find what you were looking for?"

I chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Perhaps I did, little friend. Perhaps I did."

With a wink and a promise to see him again, I made my way to the inn, the weight of the egg in my pocket both a physical and emotional reminder of the responsibilities I had taken on.

Once inside my room, I carefully laid the egg on the bed, my hands trembling with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. I began to draw on the knowledge I had gained from the Heavenly Interface, focusing my effort on creating a warm, nurturing environment for the egg. I wrapped it loosely in layers of the blanket, before placing it between my legs and keeping firm hold on it. The egg twitched, responding to my efforts, and I felt a surge of pride and connection.

That's when Tianyi, my trusty companion, fluttered awake, her wings shimmering in the sunlight. I believe the party had been an aid in her recovery, as the color in her wings seemed to return. She landed on my shoulder and turned her eyes towards the egg, tilting her head as if asking a silent question.

"It's the Wind Serpent's egg," I explained softly, feeling a sudden lump in my throat. "I found it, and... I want to take care of it. The parents tried to kill us and all, but this little thing shouldn't suffer from it."

Tianyi seemed to understand my intent. She floated down and landed softly on the egg, her wings gently caressing its surface. I watched in awe as she infused some of her energy into the egg. I couldn't directly explain the effects of her Qi Infusion skill on a snake egg, but I don't think it could be a bad thing. Perhaps it would hasten the hatching?

We were so engrossed in this silent communion that we didn't notice Feng Wu, looking particularly refreshed, entering the room.

"Kai, are you ready to depart?" he began, then stopped short, his eyes widening as he spotted the egg. "What in the Heavens is that?"

I turned, caught off guard, but quickly regained my composure. I turned myself slightly, showing the egg wrapped in a bundle between my legs. "Oh, that? It's a Wind Serpent egg. Found it outside the village. I thought I'd take care of it, you know, raise it and all."

Feng Wu's face went through a series of expressions: shock, disbelief, confusion, and finally, resignation. He massaged his temple, letting out a deep sigh.

"Patience is a virtue," he muttered to himself, then looked at me with a forced smile. "Kai, why don't you start from the beginning? And please, take your time."

I grinned, launching into the quest completion, the glowing orb, and the egg itself. Feng Wu listened with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, his eyes occasionally drifting to Tianyi, who was still perched on the egg, infusing it with her gentle energy.

When I finished, Feng Wu shook his head, a bemused smile playing on his lips. "You never cease to amaze me, Kai. Just when I think I have you figured out, you surprise me with something like this."

I shrugged, my eyes twinkling with mischief. "Life would be boring if it were predictable, don't you think?"

The man chuckled, his stern demeanor softening. "Indeed. But taking care of a Wind Serpent's egg? That's a responsibility of a different magnitude. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

I looked at the egg, feeling the warmth and connection that had already begun to form between us. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. The Heavenly Interface gave me in-depth knowledge about the species."

Feng Wu nodded, touching the egg and caressing it lightly. "Then let's get moving. Crescent Bay City awaits, and who knows what other surprises you have in store for us."

I spent the entire time as we packed up guessing what sort of shenanigans I'd get up to in Crescent Bay City. If my hunch was right, I'd bet there was a chance of me meeting an arrogant young master in real life. Or perhaps a jade beauty would come and notice me hiding my true abilities and fall in love?

"BWAHAHAHAHA!" Feng Wu's raucous laughter seemed to shake the inn.

"You dare laugh at me?! This humiliation will be repaid ten-fold!"

The second-class disciple only laughed harder, as we continued to pack up our goods and prepare for departure.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.