Chapter 539: Is it you?

Early the next morning, Xue Tong squatted before Xuan Fu Weng, staring at his withered legs, silent.

Tuan Tuan lay on his back, her little head peeking from his shoulder; after waiting a while, she couldn't help but ask, "Master, can Old Grandpa's leg be healed?"

Xue Tong didn't turn around; after a long while: "The injury has lingered too long, the meridians have become stagnant."

A smile faded briefly on Xuan Fu Weng's face: "It's fine; I've long grown accustomed to it."

"Being like an ordinary person is difficult." Xue Tong stood up with Tuan Tuan on his back, "But if it's just to stand and walk normally, I can still manage."

Xuan Fu Weng suddenly lifted his head.

Xue Tong gave him a sideways glance: "What? Don't you believe me?"

"No, no." Xuan Fu Weng's lips moved, his voice trembling slightly, "Does Old Valley Master mean I can still stand up?"

"Not stand, but be able to walk." Xue Tong rolled his eyes, "But don't even think about practicing martial arts; I'm no immortal."

Xuan Fu Weng stared at him blankly for a moment, then burst out laughing.

His laughter grew louder and louder, until his eyes turned red.

"Enough, enough!" he murmured, "After sitting in a wheelchair for over ten years, being able to stand and walk—what more could I ask for?"

Tuan Tuan slid down from Xue Tong's back, crawled onto Xuan Fu Weng's legs, and wrapped her arms around his neck: "Old Grandpa! Master said you can walk! Don't worry!"

Xuan Fu Weng held the soft little Xiao Tuanzi in his arms: "Yes, it's all thanks to you, Grandpa's little Tuan Tuan."

Xie Guzhou watched, his throat bobbing: "Old Valley Master Xue, tell me what medicinal herbs you need; my Horse Gang travels far and wide—I can get anything for you."

Xue Tong waved a hand: "The rest is fine; I have everything, but I'm indeed missing one medicinal guide."

He paused: "It's century-old dragon's blood; that stuff is hard to come by, and I don't have any on hand."

Xie Guzhou blinked in surprise.

Daoba scratched his head: "Blood what thing?"

Xue Tong gave him a white-eyed look: "It's not just some thing; it's a medicinal herb."

"I don't need much—just enough as a medicinal guide, the size of a fingernail cap will do."

"But if we don't have it, even if the medicine is prepared, it might not be effective."

Xie Guzhou pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly: "I know where to get it."

Daoba's eyes lit up: "Who? I'll go get it right now!"

"Azure Cloud Gang."

Daoba's smile froze on his face.

"Azure Cloud Gang?" he shouted, "Those bastards? Gang Leader, we've always been at odds with our Horse Gang!"

Lu Qi asked: "Any grudge?"

Daoba nodded vigorously: "When they first arrived in Xibei, they ran a clinic; failing that, they tried to haul cargo, competing with us for routes, and our brothers cleared them out several times."

Xie Guzhou said: "That piece of century-old dragon's blood is exactly their heirloom, always kept as a treasure."

Daoba grew anxious: "If we go demand it at their door, will they give it? Dream on!"

Xue Tong frowned: "Only they have it? Isn't there anyone else?"

Xie Guzhou shook his head.

Several people glanced at each other, then fell silent.

A clear voice rang out: "I can go ask for it!"

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face from Xuan Fu Weng's arms: "I'm not with the Horse Gang, they've never seen me—I can just go, right!"

Xie Guzhou was taken aback.

Daoba scratched his head: "Little ancestor, you want to go? They're no pushovers."

Tuan Tuan slipped down from Xuan Fu Weng's leg: "I'll give it a try!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, then stepped forward together.

Xiao Er clasped his fists: "Gang Leader Xie, Miss is right; it's inconvenient for you to show yourselves, so we'll accompany Miss to give it a try."

Lu Qi nodded: "If it doesn't work, we'll think of another way. I don't know where the Azure Cloud Gang is located."

Daoba replied: "In the city. Little ancestor, you can't just go like that; I'll go find you clothes!" Having said that, he turned and ran off.

Soon, the three changed into common Xibei folk attire, and Tuan Tuan again dressed as a boy.

Xie Guzhou crouched, tidied her clothes, then looked up at Xiao Er and Lu Qi: "That's all we can do; we can't accompany you, so you must be careful."

Tuan Tuan grabbed Xiao Er and Lu Qi's hands and ran out: "Got it!"

After more than an hour, the three arrived at the headquarters of the Azure Cloud Gang.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi dismounted, gazing at the tall door lintel before them.

Lu Qi said: "Wow, quite impressive."

Tuan Tuan spread her little arms: "Second Uncle, hold me!"

Xiao Er lifted her off the horse, the two stood left and right, leading her to the front gate and gently knocked on the door ring.

A servant opened the gate and poked his head out: "What business do you have?"

Lu Qi clasped his fists: "Young man, please report this; we have an important matter and wish to see your gang leader."

The servant looked them up and down: "Who are you?"

Lu Qi replied: "Tianji Pavilion's Mystic Commandant and Mystic Envoy."

"Tianji Pavilion?" the servant frowned, "I'll go report."

Not long after, the servant returned, threw open the gate: "Please, come in." and led the three to the main hall.

After the three sat down, they waited silently for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick before a man about fifty years old slowly arrived and took the seat of honor.

"Who are you from Tianji Pavilion?"

"Our Azure Cloud Gang has had no dealings with Tianji Pavilion; I don't know why you've come today, what business do you have?"

Lu Qi was about to clasp his fists and speak, but Tuan Tuan already cut him off: "I came to borrow something!"

Xiao Er couldn't help but secretly smile; Miss is just as she always is—no pleasantries, straight to the point.

The Gang Leader's brows furrowed: "Borrow something? What?"

Tuan Tuan chirped: "Centennial Dragon's Blood!"

The Gang Leader looked at the boy sitting in the chair, swinging his legs, and chuckled: "Centennial Dragon's Blood?"

Our Azure Cloud Gang may pale beside Tianji Pavilion in the martial world, but that is our ancestral heirloom—you can't just borrow it with a sentence.

Tuan Tuan blinked, held up two fingers, and said: "Uncle, my grandfather's sick—just need a little bit, okay?"

I can buy it! How much silver do you need? I'll bring it right over!

The Gang Leader snorted: "Centennial Dragon's Blood is hard to come by—even that bit is worth at least ten thousand taels of gold."

Ten thousand taels of gold again?

Tuan Tuan's eyes shifted: "If that won't work, I'll just go gamble instead!"

She tilted her head, looking at the Gang Leader: "Sure! Wait for me—I'll be right back!"

"Second Uncle, where were the places we went last time? Hurry up, let's keep going!"

The Gang Leader listened, baffled: "What places?"

Tuan Tuan, excited, was about to slip off the chair.

A plump middle-aged man entered, bowed to the Gang Leader: "Gang Leader, you summoned me—what are your orders?"

Tuan Tuan saw him and brightened: "Uncle, how did you get here?"

The plump man startled, turned to examine Tuan Tuan closely.

How is he so familiar?

Suddenly, his face went pale: "Is it you?"