Chapter 48: Can the Sect Master Possibly Agree?

Facing San Shixiong’s astonished gaze, Zhou Qing could only say, “I forgot where I saw this thing—I was just asking out of curiosity.”

Yan Xiao Hu rose and explained to Zhou Qing, “This is somewhat obscure—it’s a rare tracking material, colorless and odorless; even a Nascent Soul cultivator might not notice if they accidentally come into contact with it, but black spirit hounds have an incredibly sharp nose.”

“To extract this from the beast Ling Ao, you need these black spirit hounds to track down their old nests…”

Hearing San Shixiong’s words, Zhou Qing’s heart tightened.

He looked again at the jade pendant.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing Zhou Qing’s expression, Yan Xiao Hu stopped speaking and leaned in curiously.

Zhou Qing said, “San Shixiong, my nose might be a bit more sensitive than an ordinary person’s. After what you just said, and combining it with what I know, if I’m not mistaken, Ling Ao fluid has been smeared on this pendant.”

At these words, Yan Xiao Hu stared at Zhou Qing in disbelief.

“Really?”

“Really?”

“But Ling Ao fluid is colorless and odorless—how did you smell it?”

“Didn’t you just say even the black spirit hounds can smell it? Why can’t I?”

“That’s right, that’s right—if true, your nose is incredible, even better than a dog’s. Let me check if your insides are different from mine—why can’t I smell anything?”

“San Shixiong, take your fat hands off! The point isn’t that—it’s the Ling Ao fluid!”

“Right, right, almost forgot the main point. This must be a planned operation—could it be Yin Xiao who kidnapped Cui Yingying and the others?”

【Heart Mirror Points +7】

Yan Xiao Hu’s note above his head instantly changed from 【Divine Little Brother】 to 【Little Brother Even Better Than a Dog】.

Zhou Qing’s face twitched.

Is this a compliment or an insult?

Yan Xiao Hu frowned, held the pendant up to the sunlight for inspection, then brought it close to his nose and sniffed hard.

Zhou Qing said, “Yin Xiao’s cultivation base is roughly equal to Cui Yingying’s. Even if he wanted to use force, he couldn’t make over two hundred people vanish without a trace—and brutally kill half of them.”

The two exchanged glances and spoke in unison: “Cangyan Dao Palace!”

Yan Xiao Hu sucked in a breath: “Could it be Cangyan Dao Palace’s master, Sikong Yan, who’s been unable to win the Xuan You Immortal’s affection and now plans to force her?”

Zhou Qing shook his head: “If that were true, Sikong Yan could have kidnapped her quietly—there’d be no need for Yin Xiao to secretly apply Ling Ao fluid as a tracking method.”

Yan Xiao Hu pondered: “That doesn’t quite add up. Qingyu Immortal Sect’s people left in batches; Cui Yingying and the others were likely the last group. So what exactly did Cangyan Dao Palace intend?”

“Can’t figure it out—headache. Lao Si, lie down and sniff again—see if there are any other clues?”

Zhou Qing turned and walked away.

Do they really think I’m a dog?

“It’s all for solving the case! If I had your nose, I’d climb onto the rafters and sniff right now,” Yan Xiao Hu said, full of envy.

Not long after, the two carefully searched other rooms once occupied by core disciples—but found nothing.

Now the only suspicion pointed toward Qingyu Immortal Sect and Yin Xiao.

“I’ll send the relevant clues to Master first—have them stay alert. As we get farther from Taiqingmen, communication will slow, even cut off entirely.”

Yan Xiao Hu finished speaking, pulled out his token, and reported their findings to Mo Xingjian.

Shortly after, he received Master’s reply: “Understood. Stay safe. Take good care of Lao Si.”

That night, the two stayed with several other true disciples at a decent inn in Yanlong City.

In the room, Zhou Qing fed two spirit stones to the old hen, then a knock came at the door.

As soon as he opened it, Yan Xiao Hu rushed in with paper and brush in hand.

“Quick, quick, Lao Si, help me—what are the two characters for that yuèzhuó beast bone soup we ate on the east street this afternoon?”

Yan Xiao Hu spread out his notebook and quickly handed over the brush.

Zhou Qing frowned, then looked at the notebook. Seeing every single meal and drink since leaving Xiao Ling Peak meticulously recorded, he was stunned.

“San Shixiong, what’s this?” Zhou Qing asked, puzzled.

Yan Xiao Hu said, “Public funds, of course. Look—finding people isn’t our job, yet we’re sent out risking our lives. Can we afford to waste our cultivation time and pay out of our own pockets?”

“If we find them, Qingyu Immortal Sect will thank the Sect Master. If we don’t, no one will care about our expenses. Who’s money grows on trees? Isn’t that right?”

Hearing San Shixiong’s words, Zhou Qing felt something was off—but couldn’t quite place it.

“But who are you submitting this to? All thirteen peaks have been dispatched—wouldn’t that mean the sect has to cover a huge expense?”

Zhou Qing casually wrote “Yuèzhuó” and asked curiously.

After getting the characters “Yuèzhuó,” Yan Xiao Hu stared at the many strokes and cursed under his breath.

Then he happily tucked the notebook away: “Of course I submit it to the Sect Master. Would I cheat my own Master? Besides, do you think Lao Mo would give me money?”

“The Sect Master would agree?” Zhou Qing was surprised.

Yan Xiao Hu’s small eyes instantly crinkled into slits.

“How could he possibly agree? But he couldn’t stand my pestering—no, I mean, I argued with righteous indignation, and in the end, he had no choice. Now, any public mission assigned by the sect gets me reimbursed.”

At this, Yan Xiao Hu beamed with pride.

Zhou Qing applauded in admiration.

“So the disciples from other peaks are also getting reimbursed?” Zhou Qing hadn’t expected the Sect Master to be so considerate.

Yan Xiao Hu shook his head: “Those guys are too shy to ask. They think I’m petty and embarrassing, so only I get reimbursed. Because of this, the Sect Master not only dislikes me, but even my Master was out of favor for a long time.”

Zhou Qing: “...”

Yan Xiao Hu chuckled: “That’s called clearly separating public and private. But I, Yan Xiao Hu, have always been precise—just now you saw, I didn’t overclaim a single coin.”

“No, no, San Shixiong is meticulous—I’m truly impressed!” Zhou Qing hurriedly said.

Yan Xiao Hu beamed: “Of course! Alright, I won’t disturb your rest anymore—tomorrow we leave early. Get some sleep.”

“You too, Shixiong!”

After seeing Yan Xiao Hu off, Zhou Qing couldn’t help but smile.

San Shixiong—how to describe him? His eccentric nature always seemed to hold endless amusement.

………

The next day, Zhou Qing yawned as he opened his door. As he descended the stairs, he froze.

“Zhou Shixiong, you’re awake? Come have breakfast—the tofu pudding’s still warm.”

Lu Yaoyao smiled warmly, inviting him.

【Heart Mirror Points +5】

Beside her, Li Daoxuan looked at Zhou Qing with disgust. Above his head, the note had changed again from 【Dog That Can’t Change Its Love for Shit】 to 【Sticky Like a Dogskin Plaster】.

Wait—was the meal at Yushantang last time free?

Who’s the dogskin plaster? Don’t you two know who’s who?

(End of Chapter)