Chapter 30: Eyes Fixed on the Flying Swan

Every one of these black-robed figures was tall and sturdy, their black robes covering their entire bodies and wrapping around their heads, making it impossible to discern their specific features.

Yet, the coldness revealed in the gazes that occasionally peeked out from within those robes caused the scavengers and outlaws watching from the surroundings to tremble in their hearts.

The eyes of these black-robed figures carried an indifference toward life, devoid of the slightest color of humanity, as if they were merely machines used for slaughter.

Even just standing there, they seemed to invisibly disperse the heat of June, leaving the area outside the grocery store in a chilling cold.

As for their identities, Xu Qing had already learned them from the hushed discussions of the scavengers nearby the moment they arrived.

"It's the Litu Sect's Law Enforcement Team!"

"The Litu Sect... that's a group of lunatics. They rarely appear in scavenger camps. Why have they come here this time?"

"I heard they're looking for someone. They've already searched every city and scavenger camp in this region."

The surrounding voices fell into Xu Qing's ears. He narrowed his eyes, and with a flip of his hand, an iron skewer appeared. He looked coldly toward the grocery store, and just as he looked, three people walked out from within.

The two in front were one tall and one short.

The tall one had a straight posture, like a drawn, blood-stained sword.

His attire was the exact opposite of the Litu Sect Law Enforcement Team outside; his robes were blood-colored, and the sun pattern upon them was black. At this moment, his head was uncovered, revealing a head of black hair and a face with sharp, distinct features.

That was a young man.

The moment he stepped out, all the black-robed Litu Sect Law Enforcement members outside moved in unison, all lowering their heads and kneeling on one knee.

Watching this scene, Xu Qing's eyes tightened. The aura radiating from the other party gave him the feeling of encountering a powerful, ferocious beast deep in the jungle.

As for the short one beside this young man, it was the little girl.

At this moment, an unprecedentedly happy smile appeared on her face as she gripped the young man's hand tightly.

Judging by their ages, it seemed the other party was her brother, and the coldness on the young man's face became incomparably gentle when he lowered his head to look at the little girl, though the sorrow in his eyes that could not be melted away remained very obvious.

It was as if he were mourning the loved ones lost in the catastrophe.

Behind them was the owner of the grocery store, who followed with a fawning expression, speaking in hushed tones.

Watching all this, Xu Qing silently put away the iron skewer and touched the small stone in his leather pouch, feeling somewhat hesitant.

At the same time, the little girl who had walked out of the shop also saw Xu Qing in the crowd.

She hurriedly said a few words to the young man beside her, and then, as the young man's scrutinizing gaze gathered on Xu Qing, the little girl let go of his hand and ran toward Xu Qing.

The scavengers around Xu Qing instinctively retreated, allowing the little girl to run smoothly to Xu Qing's front to bid him farewell.

"My brother has come to pick me up, Brother Kid. Do you want to leave with me?"

During this farewell, the little girl looked at Xu Qing with some anticipation.

Xu Qing shook his head.

Upon receiving the answer, the little girl's mood became somewhat dejected. She glanced at Xu Qing, then revealed a smile on her face once more.

"It's okay. When I grow up, we can still meet. Brother Kid, I said I would repay your life-saving grace; I will definitely be able to do it."

"I'm going to follow my brother now. My brother is so good to me; he gives me whatever I want. Do you have a brother too?"

The little girl had much to say. Just as she was speaking, the young man outside the grocery store called out to her.

"I have to go, Brother Kid."

The little girl looked at Xu Qing. In the two-plus months she had been in the camp, the only person she was familiar with was the one before her, and at this moment, she felt some reluctance to part.

Xu Qing glanced at the little girl, took a small, seven-colored stone from his leather pouch, and handed it to her.

"This stone can remove scars. A gift for you."

The little girl was stunned. She held the stone and looked at Xu Qing, wanting to say something but stopping. As her brother called out again, the little girl finally took a deep look at Xu Qing, gripped the seven-colored stone in her hand, and returned to the young man's side, departing surrounded by the group of black-robed figures.

On the way, she turned her head once and waved at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing waved back. Watching the little girl, who seemed to always have a happy smile, walk far away, he felt that it was right for her to leave this place.

"Wishing you... peace."

After saying this, Xu Qing turned and walked toward his dwelling.

Life was the same as before: silently cooking alone, silently eating, silently tidying up, silently meditating, silently attending class.

Time passed, and this kind of life continued for seven days.

Xu Qing had also completely returned to his slum state, and he had already realized that Master Bai... would likely not stay in the camp for long either.

Regarding this point, Xu Qing had already guessed it from the fact that Master Bai's caravan had begun packing up over the last two or three days.

Master Bai had once told him that they came from the Purple Earth, and the Purple Earth... Xu Qing had heard many people mention that it was the center of the Eastern Wanggu Continent.

Until this morning, when Xu Qing arrived at Master Bai's tent, he saw no guards there, nor did he see Chen Feiyuan or Ting Yu.

Inside the tent, there was only Master Bai.

Xu Qing already had the answer in his heart.

This lesson, Master Bai taught in great detail, and Xu Qing listened very earnestly, but time still flowed by rapidly. Soon, it was time for the lesson to end. Looking at Xu Qing, who remained silent there, Master Bai sighed softly.

"I am leaving."

"Before I go, let me impart to you some knowledge that will truly be of help to your future life. Bound by an oath, I cannot tell you directly; whether you can grasp it depends on your own fortune." Master Bai looked deeply at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed as he looked at Master Bai.

The instant their gazes met, Master Bai's faint words echoed within the tent.

"Kid, if you take the herbs I explained to you on the third, seventh, eleventh, fifteenth, seventeenth, and nineteenth days—these six days—and combine them with an equal amount of Seven-Leaf Grass in a one-to-two-to-four ratio, then refine them continuously under high heat, you can refine the... Bai Dan, which is equivalent to spirit coins and needed by countless people in this world!"

As the words left his lips, Xu Qing's eyes widened, and his breathing became rapid.

At this moment, he was no longer the person who didn't understand herbs as he had been before; nearly two months of listening to lessons had made him very clear about the value of elixir formulas in this world!

They were extremely precious resources held in the hands of great families and great powers!

Especially... the Bai Dan, which belonged to the basic hard currency; the value of its formula was indescribable, and it was simply impossible for it to be easily leaked.

And having mastered the method of making the Bai Dan, he wouldn't even need a high cultivation base; relying on this formula alone, he could live very well.

This was a great favor!

Xu Qing's body trembled slightly. Looking at Master Bai before him, looking at the white hair at his temples, looking at his gentle gaze, scenes from the past two-plus months surfaced in his mind.

From eavesdropping outside the tent to listening to lessons inside, the other party's earnest teachings caused the thousands of words in his heart to transform into deep gratitude and reluctance to part.

Finally, he lowered his head and performed a grand salute, bowing deeply to this old man who appeared strict but was kind-hearted within.

"Thank you... Teacher."

If it could be said that Lei Ting had given him the feeling of family, then this Master Bai before him was like a master, giving him an extremely important survival skill in this world.

Master Bai watched Xu Qing perform the grand salute, a smile appearing on his face. He also noticed Xu Qing's emotions, so he smiled.

"Kid, I treat you this way because you are eager to learn and have aptitude. As for those in this world who dictate that elixir formulas must not be leaked, I despise them."

"But sometimes, my status leaves me unable to act as I wish. However, you are not the first person to whom I have imparted the way of herbs and elixir formulas. I have traveled the Eastern Wanggu, imparting to many. The herbal way of our human race must not decline because of status barriers."

"Finally, between us... you must know that heaven and earth are the guesthouses of all living things, and time is the traveler of the past and present. As long as one does not die, one will eventually meet again. I hope that on the day I see you again, you will have become a talent."

These words of Master Bai were very profound, especially the last sentence, which was the most meaningful statement Xu Qing had heard in all his years. He remembered it firmly.

That day, Master Bai's caravan left. Before leaving, Master Bai left Xu Qing a thick herbal pharmacopoeia so he could study on his own afterward.

Xu Qing followed them all the way outside the camp, staring blankly at the departing caravan. He also saw Ting Yu's figure in the caravan, constantly looking back at him.

In the dusk, they drifted further and further away.

Under the setting sun, the youth's shadow was stretched very long. He stood there for a long, long time, then slowly turned and returned to the camp.

The camp would not be any different because of the departure of a few people.

There was no change; it was still filthy, still filled with all sorts of people from all walks of life—the scolding of old men, the crying of children, the loud laughter of burly men, and the low gasps of women.

In the setting sun, the myriad states of life seemed to have condensed into a microcosm within the camp.

Xu Qing walked among them. He didn't return to his dwelling immediately but instead walked unconsciously to the grocery store. Looking at the new clerk who had taken over for the little girl, he bought a bottle of wine.

Carrying the wine, he returned to his dwelling. That night, Xu Qing did not eat.

He looked at the empty room, sat there lowering his head to gaze at the wine pot, and after a long while, picked it up and drank a large gulp by his mouth.

As the spicy sensation flowed down his throat into his stomach and exploded, spreading through his whole body, Xu Qing suddenly felt that this wine, which hadn't tasted very good before, seemed to have some flavor today.

Thus, he drank another mouthful.

One mouthful, another mouthful.

In his slightly tipsy mind, images of the slums from the past six years surfaced, the figure of Lei Ting walking into the city gate surfaced, Master Bai's departing caravan surfaced, and the scene of the little girl walking far away surfaced.

The sentence the other party said before leaving also surfaced.

"Do you have a brother too?"

"I also have a brother, but I can't find him." Xu Qing held the wine pot, leaned against the wall, looked up at the moon outside, and muttered in a low voice, his tone very light.

Outside his room, the purple-robed old man and his servant stood there, listening silently until the youth's murmurs drifted out from the room.

"Heaven and earth are the guesthouses of all living things, and time is the traveler of the past and present."

"As long as one does not die, one will eventually meet again." ===== CHAPTER 31 =====