Chapter 71: I

"Greetings, Deacon Li."

Following the youth's appearance, the members of the Dispatch Department and the Water Diversion Department stopped what they were doing one after another, their expressions filled with awe. Some among them recognized the newcomer's identity and immediately bowed to him.

At the same time, Zhao Zhongheng’s figure walked rapidly out from inside the Dispatch Department; his expression shifted slightly, and he hurriedly bowed toward mid-air.

Upon seeing this scene, Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. He felt the astonishing fluctuations coming from the person in mid-air. Comparing him to the memory of the Jin Gang Sect ancestor, Xu Qing quickly felt that the newcomer seemed even more formidable than the Jin Gang Sect ancestor.

While Xu Qing was observing, Deacon Li in mid-air spoke with a cold expression.

"By order of the Elder, the disciples of the Dispatch Department and the Water Diversion Department who participated in this battle are fined three months' salary. As for the water diversion, the profit sharing remains as before!"

"And Zhao Zhongheng, the Elder summons you; come with me!"

As he spoke, Deacon Li’s gaze fell upon Zhao Zhongheng. Although his expression did not change, he felt some disappointment in his heart.

He knew the reason for all this was that the Elder’s grandson had acted foolishly. Clearly a core disciple with an incomparably noble status, he had actually managed to trigger such a mass incident while holding a temporary post.

"How could such a wise person as the Elder have such a foolish descendant?"

Deacon Li withdrew his gaze and raised his hand to grab. Immediately after hearing his words, Zhao Zhongheng, whose face was pale and eyes filled with terror, was snatched up by him and whistled away toward the Seventh Peak in the distance.

With his departure, the matter between the Dispatch Department and the Water Diversion Department was immediately resolved, but the blood covering the ground and the dead bodies meant that the conflict between the two sides was only temporarily suppressed; the murderous intent in each other's eyes was very obvious.

"Alright, the show is over, let's go too. That person just now is a favorite of Elder Zhao, Deacon Li Diling. Since he personally took Zhao Zhongheng away, Zhao Zhongheng is going to have a miserable time this time."

The Captain took out an apple, took a bite, and then stood up to walk outside.

The Sixth Team followed. Xu Qing turned his head, glanced at Huang Yan, who was surrounded by Water Diversion Department disciples and discussing something, withdrew his gaze, and slowly walked away.

At this moment, the sea breeze blew, lifting the long hair on Xu Qing’s forehead, revealing his slender eyes, and also revealing the clear-cut sense of gratitude and resentment within those eyes.

The patrol of this day gradually slipped away with the scattering of the sunset’s afterglow and the arrival of dusk.

Having finished his shift, Xu Qing walked through the twilight, tailing the mermaid youth, but unfortunately, he still found no opportunity, so he returned to the moored magic treasure boat and began his cultivation.

Life in the Seven Blood Eyes was far more colorful than in the scavenger camp, but the frequency of Xu Qing’s cultivation had not changed in the slightest; he knew very well that this was his foundation.

Moreover, his plan to go out to sea was also drawing near, following the imminent breakthrough in his cultivation base.

"Breaking through my cultivation base is not difficult; it’s just that I can’t afford the materials to upgrade the magic treasure boat to level seven yet," Xu Qing muttered, taking a wine flask from his leather pouch and taking a sip.

He didn't know when it started, but he had grown fond of the taste of wine. Drinking it now, he pondered whether he should go to Banquan Road again to earn money, but after thinking it over, he felt that before he had the certainty of finishing the other party off, he still shouldn't stir the grass and startle the snake too much.

So Xu Qing took another sip of wine, then shook the flask and found it empty.

But it was dark now, and Xu Qing didn't want to go out to buy wine, so he simply put the flask aside and closed his eyes to meditate.

Time passed, and soon the bright moon hung high. The moonlight spilled onto the sea surface, refracting the water in the harbor as if it had turned into a mirror in the dark night, possessing a rather mysterious beauty.

And in this night, Xu Qing, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes and looked outside the cabin.

Not long after, footsteps came from the shore. As they gradually approached the magic treasure boat, and a sharp glint appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes, a familiar voice came from outside.

"Brother Xu Qing, are you there? It’s Huang Yan from the Water Diversion Department."

Hearing this voice, the sharp glint in Xu Qing’s eyes retracted. He stood up and walked out of the cabin, seeing the little fatty standing on the shore under the moonlight, his gray robe pulling into circles of wrinkles over his belly.

Seeing Xu Qing, a smile appeared on the little fatty’s face. After the matter with the Water Diversion Department was resolved, he had encountered an extremely happy thing on his way back, so he had excitedly drunk some wine by himself at night. In his tipsiness, he remembered the scene from the day, so he inquired and found out Xu Qing’s name and berth, coming to express his thanks.

"Brother Xu Qing, thanks for today’s matter."

Xu Qing looked at the little fatty, nodded, and spoke with a calm expression.

"No need to thank me. You once gave me Spirit-Condensing Leaves at the apothecary that day."

"Ah?"

Huang Yan was stunned. After thinking for a moment, he seemed to recall such a thing, so he scratched his head and asked curiously.

"Because I gave you some Spirit-Condensing Leaves that day? That’s why you helped me today?"

"Not some, it was seven stalks," Xu Qing said seriously.

Huang Yan blinked and looked Xu Qing over carefully. As he looked, he began to laugh. Originally, he had come today just to express his gratitude and hadn't intended to have much interaction with Xu Qing, at most just giving enough gifts.

But now he suddenly felt that this Xu Qing before him was somewhat interesting.

So he took two palm-sized eggs out of his leather pouch. The shells of these two eggs were cyan-white, glowing with a crystalline luster under the moonlight.

"Brother, you are a very interesting person. I’ll treat you to an egg."

As he spoke, he threw one over. This egg was strange; it actually penetrated Xu Qing’s protective barrier.

Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. With a wave of his hand, a large number of water droplets appeared, densely shrouding the egg and making it float. He examined it carefully and found that the egg was very complete, without the slightest damage, so he looked up at Huang Yan.

"This is?"

"A little trinket."

Huang Yan smiled happily, raised his right index finger, put it in his mouth to moisten it with saliva, and pressed it onto the egg. He poked a hole in it instantly, swiped his finger inside for another circle, pulled it out, put the egg to his mouth, took a sip, and looked intoxicated.

As the eggshell broke, a delicate fragrance wafted out. Even through the protection, Xu Qing could faintly smell it. The cultivation base within his body began to circulate on its own, as if attracted by it. A feeling stemming from the instinct of life made him realize that this egg was not ordinary.

So after hesitating for a moment, he thought about it and also poked the egg with his finger. He found the eggshell to be extremely hard; even when he used a little force, he couldn't break it in the slightest.

This made Xu Qing feel strange in his heart, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes.

"You have to use saliva. This thing is very wicked; if you don't use saliva and use too much force, it will explode directly," the little fatty hiccuped.

Xu Qing hesitated for a moment, moistened his finger with saliva, and very easily poked a small hole in the eggshell. Immediately, a more concentrated fragrance spread out, causing the cultivation base in his body to circulate abruptly, and even his flesh and blood seemed to radiate a longing for a higher level of life at this moment.

Xu Qing’s breathing grew slightly heavier. He put it to his mouth and took a sip, his eyes narrowing instantly. He looked down at the egg and took another large sip.

The little fatty on the side sat nearby with anticipation, watching Xu Qing, as if waiting for Xu Qing’s evaluation.

But after waiting for a long time, Xu Qing remained silent.

"Um, how is this egg of mine? Is it good?" Huang Yan waited for a while longer and couldn't help but ask.

"Not bad."

Xu Qing nodded, feeling a warm current in his body surging through his whole body, and his forehead was faintly sweating.

"That goes without saying. I put a lot of effort into getting this egg. My Senior Sister loves drinking it the most; I’m letting you have a taste today."

Huang Yan looked proud. He looked at Xu Qing, having somewhat figured out Xu Qing’s personality in his heart, so he took a large sip himself and didn't speak again.

Xu Qing didn't speak either, drinking silently.

Time passed, and the two were very quiet. One on the shore, one on the boat, there was a faint feeling of not disturbing each other.

This feeling made Huang Yan feel very novel, and his body and mind couldn't help but slowly relax. The drunkenness also silently covered his eyes at this moment, making Huang Yan’s gaze gradually hazy. Under the moonlight, he swept over Xu Qing’s incomparably handsome face and couldn't help but comment.

"Xu Qing, your looks aren't very favorable for when you pursue the person you like in the future. It makes people feel too insecure. Someone like me is what makes women feel at ease."

Xu Qing didn't speak, sitting there sipping the egg, one mouthful after another, not letting a single drop go to waste.

Not caring about Xu Qing’s silence, Huang Yan simply lay down on the side, hands behind his head, pillowing on the moonlight, looking at the bright moon in the sky, as if thinking of someone in his heart, and sighed.

"Xu Qing, do you have someone you like?"

Xu Qing now also faintly understood Huang Yan’s way of speaking; the other party seemed to be the type with a very casual and easygoing personality, so he shook his head.

"See, I told you. With your looks, it’s very hard to pursue women. I’m different. Let me tell you, I’m extremely happy today, not because the Water Diversion Department got the reward back, but because I discovered that my Senior Sister actually still cares about me, so I drank a bit more tonight."

"Do you know, Xu Qing? All these years I’ve been constantly sending my Senior Sister various things. Today she finally had something she wanted and even specifically asked me to send it to her as soon as possible. I was especially moved; I discovered I like her even more."

Xu Qing hesitated for a moment. He didn't have anyone he liked and didn't know how one should express liking someone, but he faintly felt that the other party’s words were a bit off.

So he scanned Huang Yan, who had an intoxicated look on his face, with suspicion. After confirming that the other party wasn't saying the opposite of what he meant, he fell silent.

In his mind, he recalled what the apothecary shopkeeper had said about the other party bitterly pursuing a female disciple for seven or eight years.

After a long while, Xu Qing felt he should say something, so he took a sip of the egg and said seriously.

"Congratulations."

Hearing this, Huang Yan was even happier and patted his belly.

"Xu Qing, I can tell that you mean this sincerely, you’re different from others!"

"I, Huang Yan, repay kindness with kindness. You helped me today, and I won't let you help in vain." After finishing, Huang Yan rummaged through his belongings and took out a leather pouch to hand to Xu Qing.

"There are a few magic treasure boat materials in here; consider it a meeting gift."

"I’m off, let’s meet again later."

As he spoke, Huang Yan climbed up, his head swaying. While walking outside, he took out a jade slip and began to transmit messages incessantly...

Xu Qing wanted to say something but stopped. Watching the other party’s act of transmitting messages while giggling foolishly, he felt it was better not to disturb him at this moment. So, after watching Huang Yan go far away, Xu Qing turned and walked toward the cabin.

At this moment, the sea breeze blew, brushing past his body, passing through his black hair, carrying the scent on him, and drifting toward the main city of the Seven Blood Eyes under the night.

It blew past building after building, passed street after street, and witnessed the alternative prosperity in the night. The remaining force of the wind dissipated somewhat, and finally, in the sixth mountain peak in the southern part of the city, it landed on a person who was climbing the mountain at that moment, lifting a few strands of long hair on this person’s forehead, revealing an aged face.

If the wind had a soul and could bring this scene back to Xu Qing, Xu Qing could recognize at a glance that this person... was exactly the Jin Gang Sect ancestor.

At this moment, the Jin Gang Sect ancestor was walking silently on the mountain steps.

Under the moonlight, the wrinkles on his face were even more numerous.

It was as if every fold contained deep sorrow, and after piling up together, it made the Jin Gang Sect ancestor look bitter to the extreme.

He walked silently until he reached a cave dwelling in the middle of the Sixth Peak’s mountain body and stopped his steps.

The stone door of the cave dwelling was arched, hanging closed. The surrounding grass was lush and green, and above the door, there were three characters written in a bold, flowing style.

Idle Gate Cave.

Looking at the name, one could see that the person living in this cave dwelling should be calm and elegant, taking the charm of spring grass closing the idle gate.

Outside the cave, the Jin Gang Sect ancestor took a deep breath and cupped his fists in a bow.

"Fellow Daoist Xianyun, an old friend has come to visit, may I see you?"

Two chapters, 8000 words~