Chapter 122: Fatten Before Eating

Chapter 122: Fatten Before Eating

After the great earthquake on Kunlun Mountain, the mountain and the surrounding areas were in a state of disarray. Despite the swift and effective command of Sect Leader Xianyue, and the excellent capabilities of the esteemed Kunlun disciples, the situation was quickly stabilized. Rescue operations, repairs, and various other tasks were promptly organized without causing panic among the people.

However, the earthquake had a significant impact, causing walls and buildings to collapse in many places. While the Kunlun Sect itself did not suffer as much damage as Kunwu City below, the fact that the earthquake’s epicenter was deep within the mountain range caused major disruptions. Mountains shifted, rivers changed their courses, leading to many troublesome consequences.

One of the most severely affected areas was Liuxiangpu, the most important medicinal herb garden under the Baicao Hall of the Kunlun Sect.

What was once a flat expanse of the medicinal garden now featured numerous large cracks in the ground, along with bizarrely shaped mounds of dirt and rocks scattered everywhere. These were the results of the earth being twisted and compressed by immense forces during last night’s disaster.

In the face of such a natural calamity, countless precious medicinal herbs and rare spiritual plants in Liuxiangpu suffered greatly. Large swathes of valuable herb gardens were directly destroyed. Many spiritual herbs were either broken or damaged, had their fruits and leaves scattered, or were buried under overturned rocks and soil. The unluckiest ones were those growing right above the deep, bottomless cracks, vanishing entirely after the disaster, with no trace of their whereabouts.

Currently, the Kunlun Sect was busy with various tasks. Other halls had their own troubles and couldn’t spare resources for Liuxiangpu. The Baicao Hall, with its extensive foundation, was also short-handed and could only prioritize rescuing the most precious and rare herbs deep within Liuxiangpu. The outer areas had to be temporarily neglected.

At dawn, the black dog Ah Tu arrived at the outskirts of the Liuxiangpu garden. Compared to normal times, this usually well-guarded place looked quite battered. Although the high walls and fences were not completely down, they were full of collapses and cracks, rendering them practically useless.

Peeking through the cracks, the inside of the garden looked desolate, with overturned soil and fallen plants, resembling a wild field. There were hardly any people in sight.Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

Ah Tu peered around for a while, then glanced back at the distant mountain forest. Usually, the blue ox would often hide there, secretly watching Liuxiangpu, making strange movements and expressions.

After pondering for a moment, Ah Tu sneaked into the garden through one of the cracks.

Upon entering the garden, the scent of medicinal herbs in the air suddenly became much stronger, even more intense than usual. This was likely due to the scattered last breaths of the broken spiritual herbs and trees.

The scene was quite tragic.

Ah Tu carefully surveyed the surroundings and, after confirming that no one was nearby, began sniffing around as if searching for something.

In a medicinal herb garden like Liuxiangpu, the most abundant thing, of course, was spiritual herbs.

It didn’t take long for Ah Tu to find some of these precious herbs, although most were buried in the soil or were broken and wilted. Ah Tu examined them but seemed dissatisfied and continued moving forward.

The garden was quiet, but as time passed, birds occasionally flew in from the surrounding forests, feasting on the spiritual herbs they had longed for. It seemed that for the birds and animals on Kunlun Mountain, this earthquake was not such a bad event.

Ah Tu glanced at some birds pecking at broken spiritual herbs nearby, showing a hint of disdain, then barked at them. The birds flew up in fright but soon returned to continue their feast.

He stood up, looked around, and seeing no one was paying attention, he looked back at the footprints left by the thief. The more he looked, the more he shook his head, cursing under his breath, “Idiot, should have just killed and eaten you back then!”

With a cold snort, Lu Chen looked rather annoyed. He turned to leave but then suddenly muttered something to himself, turned back, and walked to the pit. He kicked some dirt over, covering most of the traces in the pit.

Then, he followed the black soil footprints, discreetly stepping around them, spreading the black soil everywhere, thus covering the strange footprints.

Having done all this, Lu Chen shook his head and walked toward the front of the herb garden, ready to report the loss, muttering to himself in a low voice that only he could hear.

“Hmm, fatten it up and eat it later! Fatten it up and eat it later...”

※※※

Crossing mountains and rivers, through forests and streams, a black shadow joyfully ran through the Kunlun Mountains after the great quake.

Ah Tu held a large ginseng in its mouth, its roots still clinging to dirt, and the top still bearing nine red ginseng fruits, fluttering in the mountain wind like a victory flag.

It ran with gusto, its dog eyes bright and full of hope for its future “dog life.”

Running and running, it saw Dog Head Mountain and approached this strange peak once inhabited by countless celestial birds and beasts.

Strangely, all the animals were gone that day. Dog Head Mountain looked desolate, and Ah Tu, puzzled, stopped and glanced around, confirming that all the celestial birds and beasts had indeed left. Only a large figure remained on the high peak, lying quietly as if asleep.

Ah Tu was excited, striding towards the mountain. Its slightly lame hind leg made its run seem laborious and somewhat comical, but it didn’t care, running all the way up Dog Head Mountain.

The green ox lay there, eyes half-closed, completely indifferent to Ah Tu’s arrival, seemingly still asleep.

Ah Tu cautiously approached, then gently placed the large ginseng in front of the ox’s head, stepped back, and wagged its tail.

“Woof! Woof woof!”

Ah Tu barked at the green ox a few times. (To be continued.)