Chapter 249 - Chapter 249: Chapter 242 Unpredictable Human Heart 1

Chapter 249: Chapter 242 Unpredictable Human Heart 1

It’s a pity that this time was so hurried, I didn’t get a chance to visit Shennong City.

Qin Niu made his fortune by raising Termites, but his greatest skill was actually in cultivation.

With the Everlasting Spring Technique and the Medicine King Sutra, he was even more formidable.

It was only because he was still in the early stages of gathering primitive forces, and also because he had the Ancient Banyan Tree, that he didn’t spend a lot of energy and time on cultivation.

Focusing on survival first and development later was his overall strategy during the early stages of his development.

Shennong City had been established for over a thousand years, making it an extremely ancient city. At the height of the Shennong Sect’s power, the Hundred-Refined Celestial Venerable even personally traveled to Shennong City to seek medicine.

Some said that the Hundred-Refined Celestial Venerable was not there to seek medicine, but rather because an important medicinal plant he was cultivating had encountered a problem and he had asked for a cultivation expert from the Shennong Sect to come and save it.

Whichever the case, being able to personally attract the Hundred-Refined Celestial Venerable certainly indicated exceptional true talent.

Qin Niu would one day go to Shennong City to broaden his horizons.

Throughout the journey, he mostly listened to the uncle’s conversation.

The roast chicken and braised beef he gave to the uncle worked wonders in bribing him. The uncle’s wariness towards him dropped to a low point, and he would talk at length about anything he knew.

After an hour and a half, the coach finally arrived smoothly at Tianshui Town.

This was a small trade town built along the water.

Before the warfare with the Black Tiger Gang, it swallowed up a large volume of goods every day.

Now, one could only see wharves along the river crowded with boats of all sizes, some workers or boat owners sitting on the docks, worrying.

In small groups, they discussed how much longer the war would last.

“Uncle He, thank you for bringing me all this way. Goodbye!”

Qin Niu hopped off the coach and waved goodbye to the uncle.

“Be careful on your way. In these chaotic times, if you can’t cross the river, you can always come back and find me. Later, once I find my sister, I can also ask someone familiar to help you out.”

He Zhizhou actually knew Qin Niu was planning to cross the river into the Black Tiger Gang’s territory.

“Mm, thank you, Uncle He! If there were no war, I could have invited you to be a guest at my home.”

Qin Niu, seeing that the uncle had seen through his identity, didn’t offer any further explanation or excuses.

Uncle He was kind-hearted and simple; knowing that Qin Niu was a subject of the Black Tiger Gang, he had no thoughts of reporting him. Instead, he hoped that Qin Niu would safely cross the Tianshui, back to the Black Tiger Gang.

Arriving at the dock, Qin Niu directly approached a boatman who didn’t look too sly.

“Uncle, can you take me across the Tianshui River?”

Qin Niu asked directly.

“Can’t do it. Both sides are at war now, and all our boats are out of commission. Once you go across, you might not be able to come back.”

The boatman shook his head repeatedly.

“I can pay extra for the boat fare. Just get me to the other side.”

Qin Niu pulled out a Tael of Silver.

This boatman, being earnest and simple, although he was tempted by the Silver Money, still shook his head in refusal.

“Paying a Tael of Silver for the boat fare?”

A muscular man with shifty eyes raised his head to inquire of Qin Niu. This man had been sitting not far off, chatting with several others.

Qin Niu’s inquiry about crossing the river had already attracted quite a few people’s attention.

Most people were just watching secretly.

“Yes, just take me across the river, and I’ll give you a Tael of Silver!” Qin Niu nodded his confirmation.

“Wait until it gets a bit darker, and then come find me here.”

“Alright!”

Qin Niu felt relieved that someone had taken the job.

Once across the Tianshui, he would be in the Black Tiger Gang’s territory. With his status as an Insect Master, in the Blackwater Gang’s territory, he wouldn’t necessarily walk around with impunity, but at least he could enjoy many privileges.

Once he crossed the river, he would be safe.

Qin Niu decided to take a stroll around the town first to familiarize himself with the terrain, which was always a good idea.

Uncle He had already disappeared, probably off to find his sister.

There were not many shops in the town but rather a lot of warehouses.

Grain stores could be seen everywhere.

Now, the doors of these granaries were firmly locked, and the residents of the town were mostly looking gloomy.

Qin Niu entered a tavern directly.

Inside, there were quite a few people drinking.

Many were burly men who, with nothing to do since the docks were shut down, gathered here to drink away their sorrows.

“Everything was going fine, and then suddenly we declared war on the Black Tiger Gang. No idea what the higher-ups were thinking?”

“Didn’t they say? Taking down the Black Tiger Gang means vast fertile land and the Black Tiger Gang’s beauties all go to us. By then, everyone will have a chance to become a landlord.”

“You actually believe that? If there were such good things, they would be taken by the elites first; what chance would we ordinary folks have?”

“The beauties from the Black Tiger Gang would be up for grabs, wouldn’t they? I heard that after the Nine Insect Gang conquered the Seven-Star Sect, they ranked people into three classes. Those at the top live lives more comfortable than emperors.”

“It’s true that the Black Tiger Gang has a large population and the women are really easy on the eyes. Their skin is so delicate that it seems you could pinch water out of it, and each one of them moves in an enchanting way, but the key is their exceptional aura. With the women of the Shennong Sect, only the daughters of big families have that kind of charm, whereas the women of the Black Tiger Gang, all of them are outstanding.”

“Really?”

“Of course it’s true. I’ve seen it with my own eyes when I was there. When they dance, they’re so flexible it’s like they have no bones, and when they sing, their voices are intoxicating!”

A group of drunken men discussed topics that interested men.

The things that attract men’s interest are nothing other than money, power, and beauties.

Having eaten and drunk his fill in the tavern, Qin Niu saw that it was getting dark outside and left the tavern.

He had been inside for nearly two hours and had heard a few useful things.

The Shennong Sect dared to wage war against the Black Tiger Gang because the high-ups were confident of victory.

It was possible that the Nine Insect Gang had given them some assurances.

Qin Niu’s overall impression was that everyone in the Shennong Sect, from the top echelons to the commoners, was very optimistic about the war.

They also believed the war could be ended in a very short time.

Two words, confidence.

After leaving the tavern, he headed straight for the docks not far away.

Before he reached the docks, a figure flashed out of the darkness, reaching out to grab him.

But Qin Niu, who possessed the Innate Realm cultivation, gave the person a cold look and was about to teach him a lesson for the sudden attack.

“Brother Qin, hurry and follow me!”

It was the voice of He Zhizhou.

He lowered his voice and pulled Qin Niu away.

“Uncle He, what’s happened?”

Qin Niu was full of suspicion.

His first thought was that something had happened to He Zhizhou’s sister, and He Zhizhou needed his help.

However, he quickly dismissed that idea.

“The boatman you hired to take you across the river has secretly reported to the authorities, and soldiers are lying in wait inside the boat, ready to capture you the moment you board.”

“That’s too despicable!”

Qin Niu never expected the boatman to be so malicious.

They had agreed on a ferry fee of one tael of silver, and if he wasn’t happy with the money, he could have asked for more.

“When traveling abroad, you must always be extra cautious! My brother-in- law happened to hear about this from a friend and brought it up during dinner at home. I guessed that they were probably after you, so I rushed to guard the essential path to the docks and, sure enough, found you.”

As He Zhizhou led him briskly forward, he explained softly.

“Uncle, knowing that I could belong to the Black Tiger Gang, why would you still help me?”

Qin Niu did feel quite moved.

Despite the fact that those soldiers lying in ambush were unlikely to pose a threat to him, avoiding a conflict was best.

“I’m just an ordinary citizen; I can’t concern myself with the affairs of the martial sects. All I know is that you are a kind and friendly young man. No matter which sect you belong to, to me you are like any other ordinary citizen.”

After leaving the town with Qin Niu, He Zhizhou checked behind to make sure no one was following, then led Qin Niu into a house.

The low house was as dilapidated as Qin Niu’s old home.

Tattered and worn.

A young woman clutched a one-year-old baby, accompanied by a lean young man.

The young man dressed sloppily, his hat askew, his shirt open, showing his belly—an absolute ruffian in appearance.

The young woman was not particularly pretty, just average looking, but her eyes were filled with spirit and resilience, clearly a woman who had been tempered by society.

It was hard to understand what she saw in such a rascal.

“Little sister, brother-in-law, this is Brother Qin Niu who I met on the road. Everyone comes across difficulties when they’re away from home. If we can offer help, we should do our best.”

Having closed the door, He Zhizhou introduced Qin Niu to the couple.

“Thankyou for the trouble!”

Qin Niu saluted them.

“Since Minmin’s big brother has already spoken, let’s not talk about trouble. I might be an idler who has accomplished nothing to make a name for myself, but when it comes to friends, loyalty comes first. Haven’t had dinner yet? Eat first. Later tonight, I’ll ferry you across the river in my boat.”

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

He Zhizhou’s brother-in-law might look like a rascal, but he was surprisingly righteous.

“I’ve already had something to eat at the tavern, thanks to Brother Lu’s kind intentions.”

Qin Niu glanced at the leftovers on the table.

Two plates of leftover greens, a salted fish, and several big steamed bread buns.

This family was indeed poor.

They probably only managed to prepare a salted fish because of the uncle’s visit, while on ordinary days, they likely ate just vegetables.

No wonder the couple were both thin.

“Madam, we still have eggs at home—boil a couple to serve Brother Qin Niu. I’ll go get the boat ready; I’ll come back to call Brother Qin Niu when it’s good to go.”

Lu Zhong spoke to his wife.

He was used to fooling around outside, so his observation skills shouldn’t be bad.

He noticed that Qin Niu might be disapproving of their homely meal, thus hesitating to eat at their place.

“Sister-in-law, no need, I really did eat, and I’m full. It’s not easy for you looking after the child; please sit and rest.”

Qin Niu hastily protested.

But she didn’t listen to him and went to boil the eggs.

For this poor family, boiling a couple of eggs was probably considered high hospitality.

The woman was insistent on going to the kitchen, and he couldn’t exactly drag her back.

Lu Zhong then opened the door and left.

Qin Niu was still on guard against this ruffian. After all, he had just been tricked and almost fell for it.

“Brother Qin, sit and rest for a while. I’ll accompany my brother-in-law to check on things.”

He Zhizhou noticed Qin Niu’s concern.

He was not very familiar with his brother-in-law either and was equally worried that he might secretly inform the authorities, which would put Qin Niu in trouble.

He followed, exiting the door, accompanying his brother-in-law to get the boat ready.

Both men seemed to trust Qin Niu, leaving him alone with the hostess and child at home.