Chapter 25: Animal! Animal!!!

Zhou Qing opened his eyes to see Lu Yaoyao, doted upon by everyone, happily waving at the two of them.

Li Daoxuan and He Han followed closely behind; their faces had been full of joy, but upon seeing Zhou Qing, they instantly turned stern.

Seeing that Li Daoxuan’s head still bore the unchanged label: [Sleazy Loafer], Zhou Qing didn’t bother to greet him.

He might as well pretend to keep sleeping.

In contrast, Yan Xiaohu beamed with enthusiasm: “Little Sister Lu, you’re here at the Jiaoyi Society too? Come here, come here—I’ve got a few good items, pick whatever you like, I’ll give you half price.”

Li Daoxuan glanced at the junk on the stall and couldn’t help but clear his throat: “Cough cough cough, don’t cheat your own kind like that, little sister, let’s go browse over there.”

But Lu Yaoyao looked up at Zhou Qing, her mind already running wild with fantasies of a spectacular drama.

What kind of sparks would fly between Taiqingmen’s tender grass, Zhou Qing, and Qingyu Immortal Sect’s old bull, Immortal Xuanyou?

How exciting!

“If she really is her, I’ve got to keep a close eye on him!” Lu Yaoyao muttered to herself.

Then she left.

Yan Xiaohu sighed in regret, picked up a bronze mirror from the stall, and checked his reflection.

“She doesn’t like me, this handsome single-eyelid guy—so why does she like Fourth Brother? And Fourth Brother barely pays her any attention—could this be the legendary tactic of feigning indifference to lure her in?”

Yan Xiaohu muttered to himself, then eyed Zhou Qing suspiciously, pretending to sleep.

“Get up, she’s already gone!” Yan Xiaohu called out.

Zhou Qing slowly opened his eyes, sat up, and stretched out with a big yawn.

“Comfortable!”

Yan Xiaohu leaned over, curious: “I just don’t get it—what exactly does that girl see in you?”

Zhou Qing smacked his thigh hard: “I want to know too—I don’t even know where to start changing!”

The two exchanged glances, then both let out a synchronized sigh.

This was truly drought for some, flood for others!

By evening, after Yan Xiaohu packed up his stall, the two enjoyed a hearty meal, then flew back to the mountain gate on their swords.

That night, Zhou Qing boiled a large tub of hot water and tossed in the shattered bones of the Chiyan Longshi.

Then he stepped slowly into the steaming tub, stabilized his mind, and began reciting the cultivation incantation of the Silver Dragon Hand.

“I wonder if this Second Uncle’s claim is even true!” Zhou Qing still felt doubtful.

The bone was undeniable, but was the method correct?

As time passed, the bones at the bottom of the tub began to bubble with blood-red foam, synchronizing with the meridian flow of the Silver Dragon Hand.

“It works!”

Seeing this, Zhou Qing’s face lit up with joy; he accelerated the circulation of his Qi cycle.

Soon, the blood-red hues began entering through his palms; he clearly felt a scorching warmth surge through his body like a tide, merging and resonating with the spiritual power of the Silver Dragon Hand.

Moments later, a faint silver glow slowly emerged on his hands.

“This is too fast!”

Seeing this, Zhou Qing was stunned; he dared not distract himself, fully immersing in the wondrous sensation.

Only when dawn broke did he reluctantly rise.

With a thought, his hands were instantly covered in a pale silver sheen; upon close inspection, tiny dragon scales could even be seen.

“This bone should last two more days—then the Silver Dragon Hand will truly be mastered!” Zhou Qing was overjoyed.

Though this Second Uncle sometimes tricked him, his cultivation talent and unique understanding of techniques and spells were far beyond what Zhou Qing could ever achieve.

Otherwise, how could he have infiltrated so many major sects, nearly becoming the next Sect Master?

Zhou Qing had just finished packing and opened the courtyard gate when he met his Third Brother arriving on his sword.

After all, they had agreed to descend the mountain together these days.

“My god, did you fall asleep in your bath last night?” Yan Xiaohu asked, startled by Zhou Qing’s pale skin.

Zhou Qing looked embarrassed.

Yan Xiaohu circled him, clucking: “No, something’s off—no wonder your skin’s whiter than mine, you’ve been soaking like this? Any other secrets?”

Zhou Qing shook his head helplessly: “If you’d just stop jumping around and avoid the sun, your skin would turn white too. Let’s go eat breakfast at the kitchen first, then head down.”

Yan Xiaohu dropped the subject, but as soon as they reached the mountain base, they encountered He Han from Shenyue Peak.

“Young Brother Zhou, do you have time? Little Sister wants to see you!” He Han bowed respectfully.

Zhou Qing was puzzled.

Why is she looking for me so early?

And she sent her Second Brother to fetch me?

Something fishy is going on.

I’m not going!

“I still have some…”

“Good, you have time. Your reputation’s bad—I didn’t want to bring you to Shenyue Peak myself—but this is Little Sister’s first request to me, so I must handle it properly. Come with me!”

Before Zhou Qing could protest, He Han grabbed him and leapt onto the sword.

Zhou Qing struggled: “Wait, why are you kidnapping me? Last time at Yushantang you weren’t like this… Third Brother, help!”

Before Zhou Qing finished speaking, He Han had already lifted him into the air, heading straight for Shenyue Peak.

Only Yan Xiaohu remained, blinking his small eyes, his face twisted in indecision.

“Go set up my stall or go check on Fourth Brother?”

“We’re brothers—he’ll be fine.”

“Go check on Fourth Brother—but today’s the second day of the Yibao Gathering, I’ll miss so many easy marks. Not go? Won’t that make me seem heartless? When he’s most helpless, I’m not there for him.”

“Fine, let fate decide!”

Yan Xiaohu hurried over, plucked a large red flower, and began plucking its petals.

“Go, don’t go, go, don’t go, go…”

“I’m a monster—Fourth Brother just screamed for help, and here I am plucking petals. Fourth Brother, hold on, Third Brother’s coming!”

Yan Xiaohu tossed the last petal—marked “go”—and roared, sprinting toward Shenyue Peak…

…………

“Hey, He Han you son of a—” As Yan Xiaohu, panting, finally found He Han, ready to curse and rescue, he suddenly noticed all his other brothers were there too—and swallowed the last word.

Yet Li Daoxuan and the other five seemed oblivious to Yan Xiaohu’s arrival; all were crouched on the courtyard wall, peering inside furtively.

Yan Xiaohu frowned, crept over quietly, climbed the wall, and looked inside—then his anger boiled over.

This was the back garden of the Reception Hall: a lake like a clear mirror shimmered under sunlight, with colorful carp swimming merrily.

Jagged rockeries stood artfully along the shore, and winding corridors curved gracefully around them.

In a pavilion along the corridor, a silver-haired beauty was laughing behind her hand, amused by Lu Yaoyao’s chatter; beside her, Zhou Qing ate his spiritual breakfast, occasionally smiling and nodding in agreement.

“I ran here hungry, abandoned my chance to make money, and you? You’re here eating and drinking—have you even considered my feelings?”

Yan Xiaohu grumbled, turned, and walked away…

(End of Chapter)