Chapter 901: Seeking Chi Lin Again

"Including auxiliary medicine and refining fees, I'll wipe off the fraction for you; it's a total of 113,600 taels."

Liang Qu flipped his thumb, counting out the banknotes in his hand. He pulled out a stack, and the clerk counted them correctly, respectfully handing over a small medicine box the size of a palm.

"Please keep it safe."

Money and goods were cleared.

Ta-Ta Kai stepped out, leading the person out the door.

"Out of money again, huh."

Liang Qu sighed.

After the ore trade in Blood Stone County was settled, he had become rich, his savings once reaching a staggering 500,000. However, he hadn't saved money for two years, and buying two spirit seeds had cost him 300,000, leaving only 200,000 in savings. Afterward, he received a few months of salary, reaching the level of 220,000 or 230,000.

Today and yesterday, he had fallen back to the 100,000 level.

Money came fast and went fast, truly promoting the economic prosperity of the Great Shun.

The imperial court should issue him two great merits!

"Must seriously clock in!"

Liang Qu made a secret resolution.

He opened the medicine box.

A thick, strange fragrance surged out.

A pale yellow pill, the size of a human eye, lay quietly inside; it was exactly the elixir he had sought the Weng family to refine using half the head of a dog-headed fish!

In the past, for such a great elixir, he would have said he needed to adjust his breath for half a day, burn incense, bathe, and treat it solemnly.

Nowadays...

He took a sniff; there was no strange smell in the "Nose-Consciousness Method," so he threw it in his mouth and refined it in an instant.

The surging medicinal power rushed into the cloud sea.

Golden light shone, wind and clouds surged, and the cloud sea, which was twenty times the size of a normal Grandmaster's limit—the size of the Dragon Court Immortal Island—expanded by another half!

The Qi sea was active, circulating and cycling.

Skin, flesh, bones, and blood were washed one after another, swelling to half a finger's thickness, resembling "edema."

Heat waves steamed, expelling cold air, and his limbs and bones felt warm and comfortable.

"Phew!"

White gas spat out like a sword, the swollen flesh and blood re-adhered, and unknowingly, he became half a point stronger.

Water Essence +】

Water Essence: 193,000】

According to the agreement.

Liang Qu drew out 100,000 to reward the Fat Catfish.

Although the situation of the Great Huai Army hadn't been fully explored, at least he had touched seven or eight out of ten.

Can consume 550,000 Water Essence to evolve the Tiger-Jiaolong Catfish into a Black Tiger-Jiaolong Catfish.】

The Fat Catfish was only halfway away from being a Great Demon!

Apart from the Fat Catfish.

Liang Qu also drew out 20,000 each to reward "Cannot Move" and A-Wei.

Rewarding the two beasts for their great contributions on Mount Taicang.

Can consume 40,000...】

Can consume 90,000...】

Water Essence: 53,000】

Exploring the Eastern Domain was imminent.

For the next two days, Liang Qu didn't "mess around" with Long Long Eying again.

The two slept in separate rooms, maintaining their previous living state, conserving their energy.

"Crackling."

In Pingyang Prefecture, firecrackers went off, and red shredded paper danced all over the sky.

Ta-Ta Kai carried a food box in each of his two hands and darted onto the deck, sailing rapidly toward Jiangchuan County.

Frog tribe territory, on a lotus leaf.

Big Fatty and Second Fatty were coordinating and commanding, orderly, as plate after plate of hot dishes were placed on the table. Thick long worms were piled on the plates like noodles, and in the center was a huge deep-fried golden cicada.

"Is the roast goose ready?"

"Almost, almost."

The goose in the big fireplace was glowing red, dripping grease, making the frogs drool uncontrollably.

This was a delicacy they had managed to trade for from the Western Turtle with great difficulty.

Suddenly.

A powerful aura impacted the hearts of the big frogs.

Big Fatty and Second Fatty looked at each other abruptly.

"This is..."

"The Great King!"

"The Great King has come out of seclusion!"

"Frog Mobile Corps Commander!"

"Frog Mobile Corps Commander reporting! What are the Commander's orders!"

"Add ten more hot dishes!"

"Yes!"

The Frog Mobile Corps Commander carried a big anchor and splashed into the water with a thud.

The big frogs became even more enthusiastic, their bellies slapping like big drums, water splashing across the entire marsh surface.

Inside the Ice Crystal Palace.

"Quick, quick, quick, Liang Shidi, blow out the lamp, blow out the lamp, it's about to start!" After eating and drinking his fill, Xu Xu Zishuai placed the fried broad beans and melon seeds on the table, turning back to urge them.

"Coming."

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong blew out the candle, and the whole room suddenly became dim.

In the room, the Twenty Jiaoren played and sang, and the glowing light illuminated their faces.

Last time they only watched the first part of "The Palace of Eternal Life." Today was the New Year, so Liang Qu had asked Brother Quan Brother Quan Linghan for the second and third parts of "The Palace of Eternal Life." Taking advantage of the excitement, they watched it all in one go.

Long Long Eying snuggled into Liang Qu's arms, peeled a fresh orange, and picked off the orange threads to feed him.

Liang Qu supported her bottom with one hand to keep her from sliding down.

Year after year, as long as the people were there, there was never much change.

Halfway through watching "The Palace of Eternal Life."

Xu Xu Zishuai suddenly frowned.

"What is Cao Shixiong thinking about?" Xiang Xiang Zhangsong asked. "Do you also think the Great Great Qian Emperor is too stupid?"

"That's not it. I'm thinking, did we not say the New Year's greetings this year?"

One sentence shocked the dreamer; everyone whispered to each other, indeed not remembering reciting the greetings. Long Long Eying quietly sat up from Liang Qu's arms. Xiang Xiang Zhangsong slapped his thigh: "Strange, how did we forget this this year?"

"King Xu Yue didn't come this year, the Great Master isn't here, just us left, the Master should say it," Hu Qi asked.

"Right, it's not midnight yet, Master, you make up for it!"

Yang Yang Dongxiong shook his head: "Let Old Nine do it this year."

"Master, how can I do such a thing? Even if it were a disciple, it should be Second Cao Shixiong." Liang Qu sat up straight; he was the youngest in seniority here, so it shouldn't be his turn to propose the greeting.

"You entered Perfected Form this year, so it's breaking a precedent."

"That's right!"

Everyone felt it was reasonable.

Entering Perfected Form, living for three hundred years—a major event.

Ninth Liang Shidi was the big protagonist this year.

Liang Qu couldn't refuse anymore. He racked his brains, trying hard to recall; he really didn't put much thought into these New Year's greetings on weekdays.

"Liang Shidi, why have you been thinking for so long? Aren't you usually full of them?"

"Don't urge me, don't urge me; the more you urge me, the less I can remember."

"If you can't think of one, just make one up!"

After a while.

Liang Qu had a flash of inspiration.

Everyone looked expectant.

"Eyebrows like green hills, faces always red. No day in the back hall without spring breeze. Next year will surely be stronger than this year, and there will be bright pearls in the palm!"

"Ha, this is not bad!"

"This is good!"

Ta-Ta Kai took the wine pot and juice, pouring wine for everyone one by one.

"Come!"

The cups clinked.

Wine, tea, and juice mixed together.

"Eyebrows like green hills, faces always red. No day in the back hall without spring breeze. Next year will surely be stronger than this year, and there will be bright pearls in the palm!"

"Hahaha!"

"Great perfection!"

The beginning of the second month.

The posters for the Jiangchuan Grand Theater were posted in the prefecture city, and pictures could be seen everywhere.

In front of the prefecture government office, the thick paint was not yet dry. Under the white walls and black tiles, a big Heavenly Maiden was painted on a wooden board nearly ten meters long, running upward as if ascending to immortality, giving people a strong visual impact.

Ordinary commoners usually saw at most the door gods outlined in cinnabar; where had they ever seen this kind of art form? Immediately, a large crowd gathered.

"Jiangchuan Grand Theater?"

"What is it? Singing opera?"

"This chest, white, is this a proper place to listen to opera?"

"Proper or not, it's not a place for us poor people to go."

"There is..."

"Fellow villagers, don't panic, no boat fare!" Li Li Libo beat the gong and drum. "If you want to watch, you can also lie on the wall and watch! No money either!"

Today, Li Li Libo was working part-time as a publicist, entrusted by the Twenty Jiaoren to earn five taels of silver.

"Really no money?"

"Really no."

Winter was already the slack season for farming and fishing, and having a free amusement made people's hearts move.

"Brother Li, where is the boat?"

"Go to the Long River mouth, someone will put up a sign, go there and look!"

The villagers looked at each other.

"Shall we go and see?"

"Go, go, together, together."

Pingyang Prefecture opened a new chapter.

Ningjiang Prefecture.

Waves hit the shore. Liang Qu used "Water Travel a Thousand Miles," crossing Chizhou, and asked people on the shore for directions. In a moment, he found the location of the Ningjiang King's Mansion.

Pavilions and towers, rockeries and ponds, armored guards stood long with halberds. He simply showed his identity waist token, and without reporting, he entered the mansion directly. He didn't see King Xu Yue in the middle, but saw his apprentice first.

"Master!"

Wen Wen Shi Yun rushed forward, the maid behind her lifting her skirt and chasing quickly.

"Little Stone! You've grown taller again!"

Liang Qu pressed her little head. Having taken her as an apprentice for three years, eight-year-old Wen Wen Shi Yun had grown a circle larger, running around like a whirlwind, full of energy, slowly entering the age where people hated her and dogs disliked her. The maids behind were all panting.

Walking quickly to Liang Qu, the pretty maid in the lead tried hard to stop her panting, her face flushed, and she bowed.

"Qing'er pays respects to Earl Baron Xingyi!"

"Mm."

"Where is Master's Dragon Spirit Gauze?" Wen Wen Shi Yun pulled on Liang Qu's hem, looking left and right.

Liang Qu laughed loudly, grabbed his collar and pulled, and the whole garment drifted down into Wen Wen Shi Yun's arms.

"I guessed you'd want it. It's a pity I wore two pieces this morning, but the boat boss didn't come today, so there was no sound."

"No matter, no matter."

Wen Wen Shi Yun was so happy she almost jumped off the ground.

Liang Qu pulled a stack of drawing paper from his bosom and handed it to the maid behind. "Let Little Stone teach you how to use it."

"Yes!"

"Woohoo, hurry, hurry!"

Wen Wen Shi Yun got the object, led the maid, and left like a whirlwind.

Liang Qu shook his head and laughed.

He followed the guard to King Xu Yue's study.

"Liang Qu? Not staying in Pingyang Prefecture for the New Year, what are you doing in my Ningjiang Prefecture?"

"First, it is to invite the Teacher to visit Jiangchuan County to see the scenery, and second... Teacher, are the several big snakes you captured before still there?"

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 902 =====

"Teacher, are the few large snakes you captured earlier still around?"

(End of chapter)