Chapter 21: No Maiden Is Without Springtime (Seeking Follows, Seeking Collections)

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Rongrong, who was about to turn twelve, had already grown into a graceful young maiden.

On this day, having skipped the Spirit Master lessons arranged by the sect, she sat on a rock on the back mountain, gazing into the distance.

"That little boy, who exactly was he?"

The boy in Ning Rongrong's mouth was none other than Wu Qi from back then.

Because of the arrival of Qingluan Douluo, Wu Qi had been taken away before he could say his name.

Over these years, Ning Rongrong had always felt curious about this matter; of course, it was purely curiosity.

The other party's appearance back then was clearly that of a handsome youth, and she wondered what he looked like now.

Ning Rongrong let her imagination run wild.

She possessed extraordinary talent and was Ning Fengzhi's daughter, having long been established as the successor to the sect.

From childhood to the present, the only males she could come into contact with were Ning Fengzhi and the Bone Douluo. Every time boys from within the sect or from the outside world tried to strike up a conversation with her, they would be ruthlessly driven away by the guards.

It was no wonder she would be curious about Wu Qi's identity and background.

Putting away her thoughts, an idea suddenly occurred to Ning Rongrong.

Within the sect, her behavior was always subject to discipline; if she left the sect, would there be no one left to control her?

On the official road, the sun was setting.

Wu Qi and his companion sat leaning against the carriage, physically and mentally exhausted, their expressions dazed.

Noticing the sign for a roadside inn, the two increased the speed of the carriage and arrived at the inn's location in half a stick of incense's time.

The map in their hands did not mark the location of this inn.

This inn was a wooden structure, and its exterior looked brand new, clearly newly built.

Many carriages were parked in front of the door, and passing merchants had all coincidentally chosen to rest here.

After parking the carriage, Qiangu Changkong urged, "Brother Wu, let's go, I'll treat you to a big meal."

This place was only a few days' carriage ride from Tiandou City, and after sitting in the carriage and traveling for so long, their bones felt like they were about to fall apart; they truly needed a good rest.

Before setting off, their respective elders had given them quite a bit of pocket money.

Entering the inn, Wu Qi requested a private room to avoid the noise of the main hall.

Inside the private room, the waiter enthusiastically served the two food and tea.

Wu Qi released Xiao Lu from the Soul Guidance Device and fed it some exquisite forage.

"Finally, I get to eat something hot." Qiangu Changkong picked up his chopsticks, ready to start.

Wu Qi said helplessly, "If you hadn't been in such a rush to get to Tiandou City, we wouldn't have been bumping along the road for so long, would we?"

Along the way, they had passed many small and medium-sized cities.

Qiangu Changkong seemed to dislike the backwardness and slackness of small cities, his heart set only on witnessing the prosperity of Tiandou City.

As such, the two had not made any stops along the way, traveling day and night.

If not for this inn being here, they would have had to grit their teeth and persevere for the rest of the journey.

Just as the food was about to enter their mouths, the short horns on the head of the poisonous Flash-Horned Deer flickered with colorful light.

Qiangu Changkong was startled, and the food he was about to eat fell to the ground.

Seeing him about to flare up, Wu Qi pressed down on his arm and shook his head calmly.

The sky was growing dark, and the food in this newly built inn was poisoned.

The buffs were fully stacked, so to speak.

Wu Qi furrowed his brows; he had seen similar tropes in his past life. Could this inn be run by bandits, specifically to rob passing merchants?

Qiangu Changkong steadied his nerves, leaned over to Wu Qi, and whispered, "This place is not suitable for a long stay; shouldn't we slip away quickly?"

It was unlikely they could leave.

Wu Qi shook his head slightly.

The bandits had already set their sights on them; would they easily let go of the fat meat right at their mouths?

And they were not the only "lambs for the slaughter"; the scene would surely be chaotic later, and escaping during the chaos was the correct solution.

Not knowing the strength of this group of bandits, trying to escape alone would inevitably provoke their all-out encirclement.

The bandits had opened such an inn, which must be for the sake of making money; since they had chosen to act, they would certainly eliminate all risks.

Wu Qi gently stroked Xiao Lu's body, passing it over every dish of food.

With a large table full of dishes, it was impossible for every dish to be poisoned.

After Xiao Lu's investigation, it was finally determined that three of the meat dishes were poisoned.

Wu Qi put the meat from the plates into the Soul Guidance Device, then patted Qiangu Changkong's shoulder and whispered, "The rest isn't poisoned, eat without worry."

A quarter of an hour passed, and the waiter entered the private room under the pretext of delivering tea.

Seeing that the poisoned food on the table had been wiped clean, his breathing changed noticeably.

Wu Qi, who was sensitive to air currents, naturally noticed this, which simultaneously verified his guess.

The sky grew dark, and all the guests in the inn fell into a deep sleep.

Those who hadn't collapsed behaved like drunkards, unable to find their way.

The innkeeper clapped his hands, and a group of fierce men burst into the tavern, led by a woman.

Qiangu Changkong watched this scene through a crack in the door and said in a low voice, "Brother Wu, what should we do?"

Not being sure of the opponent's strength, a head-on fight was definitely the worst strategy.

Wu Qi took a packet of medicinal powder out of the Soul Guidance Device.

When in Wuhun Cheng, not knowing if Chrysanthemum Douluo truly believed he could produce seeds of the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, he gave him a great deal of information, including but not limited to Immortal Herbs.

Among them was the preparation for an antidote powder.

Since he was going on a long journey, it was inevitable he would encounter some trouble, so before departing, Wu Qi prepared the antidote powder.

"First, play dead, then find a way to scatter the powder onto those few people."

Upon entering, he had noticed several experts in the lobby; they would be the main force to resist the bandits once they woke up.

Seeing the few burly men approaching the private room, Qiangu Changkong lay casually on the ground, while Wu Qi rested his head on his right hand, pretending to have been struck.

Not long after, the burly men gathered all the guests in the restaurant lobby.

The woman in the lead had a sinister gaze and flicked her tongue like a snake.

"Search them for their valuables, and don't let those carriages outside go, either."

As she spoke, her tone shifted, "Those who have no value, send them to be reincarnated. Giving them a quick death is a mercy to them."

The burly men rubbed their hands together one by one, the greed on their faces undisguised.

"After finishing this job, I'll be able to buy Xiaoyu's freedom," the burly man muttered softly to himself, then bent down, intending to search Wu Qi for valuables.

Suddenly, Wu Qi opened his eyes, and the short blade hidden in his sleeve unsheathed with great Speed.

The blade sliced across the man's neck, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

The burly man clutched his neck, unable to make the slightest sound; in his terrified gaze, Wu Qi stood up with a cold expression.

"Oh? To think he was seen through."

The woman in the lead noticed this scene and gave a soft laugh, having no intention of offering any rescue.

The remaining burly men were attracted by the sound of the man falling, but they watched the scene just as coldly.

One less person meant they could get a larger share of the loot.

Since they had all come out to rob and plunder, how could brotherhood be more important than Gold Soul Coins?

The woman in the lead examined Wu Qi closely, her tone softening slightly, "What a handsome young man."

"Good-looking and smart, truly rare; big sister can't bear to kill you."

Wu Qi laughed inwardly.

Everything was going according to plan!

Qiangu Changkong was still "playing dead," but inadvertently, he began to slowly wiggle his body.

(End of chapter)