CH 41

Currently it was already autumn. Many hibernating creatures had already begun to come out and move around.

Jiang Chao Ge saw many of those odd and grotesquely shaped beasts, occasionally seeing some normal mountain beasts and felt unusually amiable. They all tasted especially tasty.

These days Jiang Chao Ge couldn’t help but sigh. His body tensed at the thought of the bodies of those long snakes at the Gemini Peaks. It was not as if he didn’t discuss the matter of going back to collect it with Yu Ren Shu and Tian Rong before leaving. But in the end he was met with a roll of the eyes and could only be forced to give up. They should’ve already received the news at Qi Ling Feng’s end. Everything would be theirs for cheap.

However, at the moment there was something else that gave him even more of a headache. That was the fact that recently, Zhi Xuan and Zui You had suddenly become closer, often hiding at the side whispering about something. He wasn’t the only one that felt shocked and panicked, even Long Xiang also felt it was uncomfortable. However Long Xiang cherished his words like gold. Jiang Chao Ge had always thought that Zui You would lead Zhi Xuan astray. Later as soon as he saw them together he would carry Zhi Xuan off.

Da Liang City could still be clearly seen. They only need to cross a small mountain to arrive.

Halfway up the mountain, they encountered a girl hunting by herself. That girl was about ten years old. Her body was very dirty, small face somewhat tanned by the sun but her eyes were extremely bright. She held a bamboo bow and rode a black mastiff bigger than her and was currently chasing a deer. She hurtled past not far from where they were.

Jiang Chao Ge sighed: “Such a young child has to go out and hunt.”

Long Xiang said somewhat coldly: “A spirit weapon user that is born poor has to take on a lot of responsibility in the first place. If they formed a contract with a noble from a young age, then they practically have to work like an ox for the noble for practically their whole life. A spirit weapon user who trains from a young age can totally be ‘used’ at this age.”

Jiang Chao Ge asked curiously: “Where did you learn your cultivation techniques and martial arts?”

Long Xiang turned his head away silently, obviously not intending to answer that question.

Jiang Chao was also used to this child’s coldness and didn’t ask further. However he could make a rough guess. Most likely when he was sold to Tian Ling continent, the buyer discovered his spiritual power. A spirit weapon user was naturally more valuable than a simple ‘red haired monkey’ on display, therefore they started training him. After he’d become fully fledged, he escaped. After all he wasn’t a native of Tian Ling and was originally hateful towards it. He naturally wouldn’t have the mindset of honouring contractual obligations.

A short while later, the impetuous roar of a mastiff came from afar. The grove of trees ahead shook violently, almost as if something was coming. Following it came the mastiff’s roar and screams.

Yu Ren Shu frowned: “They might’ve run into something. Tian Rong go over and look.”

Tian Rong sped up, entering the forest in a few bounds. At this moment, they saw the mastiff that had run past them moments before and the girl atop it begin to frantically run back for their lives. It’s body was injured in many places with a mouth full of white fur and blood. Behind them, seven or eight huge white headed red footed ape like beasts swinging between the branches pursuing them at extreme speed.

“That is Zhu Yan.” Yu Ren Shu said: “Tian Rong chase them away.”

Suddenly, a Zhu Yan swung forwards borrowing strength from a branch and ferociously leapt onto the mastiff. The little girl wanted to raise the bow, but it was hard to maintain balance atop a fleeing mastiff. She was knocked off the mastiff by the Zhu Yan in an instant!

By the time everybody rushed over, it was already too late. Ruan Qian Xiu threw out Zheng Cheng crescent blades, bringing down the Zhu Yan on the mastiff’s body. Tian Rong dashed over and roared twice. Those Zhu Yan immediately scattered in all directions.

The mastiff crawled up from the ground, running to the little girl’s side with a bloodied body. It used its nose to nudge her unmoving body, pawing at the ground irritably, emitting a helpless and sad whimpering sound.

Everyone ran over and had a look. The little girl had been tossed out about a dozen metres. Her head was covered in blood, eyes tightly shut. The sight made one’s heart stop.

Ruan Qian Xiu knelt down hurriedly and checked her over, “Still alive. Send her to the city hurry.” She carefully picked the little girl up from the ground. The mastiff encircled her nervously, barking excessively. She forcefully returned the mastiff to that bow.

Everyone increased their speed to Da Liang City. As soon as they entered the city, someone recognised the little girl, telling them it was a child from a compound on the outskirts of the city. So they sent her towards the outskirts of the city.

The so called compound at the outskirts of the city, was actually more of an orphanage. They only found out once they got there, that there were more than forty parentless children living there, depending on each other for survival.

As soon as they entered, several children encircled them, all shouting ‘Sister Jiao Jiao’, close to tears with worry.

Just then, an old man greying at the temples walked out from a shabby bungalow. He said surprisedly: “Jiao Jiao? What’s wrong with Jiao Jiao?”

Jiang Chao Ge explained: “She encountered Zhu Yan while hunting and was injured.”

“Bring her in quick.”

Yu Ren Shu said in shock: “You’re a spirit priest?”

The old man glanced at him but didn’t have time to pay attention to him. He hurriedly called a few older children to help him prepare things.

Jiang Chao Ge was also extremely shocked. They were very respected in this world because their numbers were low but they were extremely useful. Usually they were also very rich. But this old man’s clothes were old fashioned and he lived in such a crude place with a group of street urchins. This was somewhat strange. Even if he was kindhearted and wanted help these children, there was no need for him to eat and sleep with them.

After Ruan Qian Xiu had placed Jiao Jiao in the house, the old man brought out a bunch of herbs. He first disinfected Jiao Jiao’s wounds, then stopped the blood and finally applied the herbs onto it. His old withered hands covered her head, eyes closed, muttering incantations under his breath. The palms of his hands emitted a faint light.

This was the first time Jiang Chao Ge had seen spirit priest treat a wound. It’s said that the best spirit priests has to have both medical expertise and a reserve of spiritual power. This kind of spirit priest could completely heal someone as long as they had breath left even if they’d lost their limbs.

However the more serious the wounds the more time it takes. Sometimes, saving someone on death’s door could take months. The spirit priest needs to consume an innumerable amount of energy and spiritual power. Therefore, spirit priests can treat small wounds and accidents. If it’s a severe wound it’ll depend on if the spirit priest is willing to heal it. For the most part it involved money and prestige. As a result a spirit priest’s status was normally high. Perhaps Yu Ren Shu had never seen such a disappointing spirit priest before and was thus unusually surprised.

Their luck was pretty good, running into a seemingly pretty skilled spirit priest as soon as they entered Da Liang City. This time they don’t have to waste the energy to search for one. They might as well start to wait outside.

After three hours, the somewhat tired old man came out.

Jiang Chao Ge said: “How’s Jiao Jiao?”

“She’ll be fine after a few day’s rest.” The old man wiped his sweat, bowing slightly, “Thank you sirs for coming to her rescue.”

“We aren’t sirs, only passing travellers.” Jiang Chao Ge pointed at Yu Ren Shu, “Our friend is wounded. We came to Da Liang City to find a spirit priest.”

The old man said: “No problem. However my spiritual power isn’t advanced at all. After helping Jiao Jiao heal her wounds, I have to rest for at least three days. There is another excellent spirit priest at the east of the city. I see that you sirs don’t lack money. You can go find him.”

Jiang Chao Ge thought, it was best to be as low key as possible. If they move around to much their tracks could be more easily exposed. His eyes met with Yu Ren Shu and found that Yu Ren Shu was also of the same opinion, thus he said: “No need. We’ll wait for you to recover. How should we call you?”

“You can call me Uncle He.”

“Uncle He, your compound is so large, would you be able to tidy a few rooms for us? We will pay you money.”

Uncle He hurried waved his hand, “No need no need. You saved Jiao Jiao. I should be thanking you. Please wait a moment.” He immediately sent people to tidy rooms.

Children of all ages in the courtyard all looked at them curiously, whispering to each other yet not daring to come near.

In order to not to attract attention, Tian Rong and Zui You both returned to their weapons. Only Zhi Xuan absolutely refused to go back, nestling in Jiang Chao Ge’s lap and playing with his hair. Ever since Zhi Xuan refused to allow Jiang Chao Ge to cut his hair, Jiang Chao Ge could only secretly snip a little every time. He still wasn’t used to long hair after all. But even like this, the hair had visibly reached his shoulders. Zhi Xuan laid on his shoulders and could just about bite his hair, swinging it back and forth. Jiang Chao Ge had the feeling of bringing a cat everywhere, “Little Zuzong, why do you always bite my hair?”

Zhi Xuan said gloomily: “Its satisfying.”

“Is it because you’re unhappy again because I don’t allow you to speak with Zui You?”

“Nonsense, you are a servant. No need to always control me.”

“Don’t you hate annoying fox?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you…..”

“But he knows many things.”

Jiang Chao Ge cast a sidelong glance at him: “Like?”

“Don’t feel like telling you.” Zhi Xuan tilted his head to the other side, resting it against Jiang Chao Ge’s shoulder.

“What can he say that’s useful? If you want to hear stories, I can tell you about the other world.”

“No, you don’t even know how to kiss.”

Jiang Chao Ge choked, “How do you know?” He thought, I wouldn’t use it on you even if I knew.

“If you could, then it should be comfortable the fox said.” Zhi Xuan snorted coldly: “Trash, never mind if your spiritual power is weak, why can’t you even do something humans should be able to do?”

Jiang Chao Ge actually had no words to respond.

At that moment, Jiao Jiao came out from the house. Other than no longer having blood on her face, her whole person also seemed pretty good. The wound on her head was also healed.

A child yelled: “Sister Jiao Jiao, grandpa said you’re not allowed to get up.”

“It’s fine.” She felt her head and walked towards Jiang Chao Ge’s party, and said weakly yet somewhat shyly, “Sirs, were you the ones that saved me?”

Jiang Chao Ge pointed at Ruan Qian Xiu: “It was her.”

Jiao Jiao looked at Ruan Qian Xiu unblinkingly, smiling bashfully: “Big Sister, thank you.”

Ruan Qian Xiu looked at her bright eyes and couldn’t help but lift the corners of her mouth, “You’re welcome.”

Yu Ren Shu asked: “Could it be that this compound relies on your hunting to survive?”

Jiao Jiao shook her head and sighed: “We mainly rely on grandpa. However grandpa’s spiritual power isn’t high at all and can’t afford much supplementary medicine. He is also unwilling to sign a contract with nobles so he can’t earn much money.”

“It’s really my first time seeing such a poor spirit priest.” Yu Ren Shu frowned, “No matter how weak their spiritual power is, spirit priests should be able to live a very plentiful life.”

Jiao Jiao opened her mouth but in the end still didn’t say anything. She paused and said: “Sirs, please take a good rest here. Jiao Jiao will definitely remember this lifesaving favour.”

Jiang Chao Ge suddenly remembered Old Meng. Wasn’t Old Meng always pretty poor? Only then, his spirit priest cultivation was really too weak, to the point he practically couldn’t practice medicine. This Uncle He wasn’t just a little bit better than Old Meng. This Jiao Jiao seemed as if she was about to speak yet stopped. There was obviously some inside information, but it didn’t concern him anyway. Thinking of Old Meng, he immediately remembered his other objective in coming to Da Liang City. He immediately asked: “Jiao Jiao, is there someone called Wang Qin in Da Liang City? Most likely someone with spiritual power.”

Jiao Jiao thought for a moment, “Wang Qin….. haven’t heard of him.”

Jiang Chao Ge also didn’t think they’d be able to immediately find him. He planned to rest for a while, then properly investigate for a while.

After Uncle He had prepared rooms for them, he also presented them with a comparatively average meal. Jiang Chao Ge looked at Yu Ren Shu’s frowning expression and decisively fished out a few silver coins to give to Uncle He, allowing them to eat something better these coming days.

They’d found a temporary place to rest their feet at Da Liang City