Chapter 114: A Waste of Effort (Fourth Update)

Xu Yuan ignored the fleeing ghost infant, waited another incense stick's time, and only then collected Aunt Wang's spleen.

The Haikou Toad had already been crushed into a layer of meat paste, leaving nothing on its body but a layer of skin.

Fu Jingyu carefully inspected it; naturally, the thing he most hoped would remain was that eyeball.

But it had been thoroughly crushed.

"What a pity," Fu Jingyu lamented.

Lu Zhengyan came over, sliced open the Haikou Toad's skin with a great guan dao, and said, "Everyone gets a piece."

Although Xu Yuan felt that eating this skin would surely continue to strengthen his Skin Pill.

But thinking of the Haikou Toad's pus-filled body... he simply could not bring himself to take a bite.

In the end, he took only a piece of skin from the belly, intending to give it to his stepmother later to see what could be made of it.

He then asked the Eldest Young Master Fu for a "stinky wrapping" to hold it in, and the Eldest Young Master Fu readily agreed.

Yan Lao asked Xu Yuan, "What was burned inside the carriage?"

Xu Yuan opened the carriage to look and found that a tongue tendon had actually been left behind!

It clearly came from that one tongue of the Haikou Toad.

This thing was just right for strengthening the Sinew Pill.

Xu Yuan took it without hesitation: "It's mine."

Naturally, everyone had no objections.

"Alright, let's return to the town," Fu Jingyu let out a long breath.

When they arrived at the village, Bai Laoyan went back on his own; Xu Yuan made an agreement with him: "Regarding the Public Office matters, we will start organizing them upon our return. At that time, have Ah Guang come to notify the senior."

Bai Laoyan was still somewhat uneasy: "Do not break your word! Besides, you still owe us our reward..."

"I will have Ah Guang deliver it together."

Xu Yuan looked once more into the village gate; Zhang Sanba was not there: "Senior, please convey a message to Zhang Sanba that his reward will also be delivered together at that time."

Bai Laoyan nodded, wanting to say another matter, but after thinking it over felt it was better to wait until the Public Office was established before discussing it, so he swallowed his words.

Leaving the village, when passing the crooked-neck tree of the Wandering Mr., they saw the Wandering Mr. hanging from the tree, holding the small booklet Xu Yuan had given him, his long tongue turning the pages as he read.

Two elegant female ghosts were attending him on the side.

He was so engrossed in reading that he only came to his senses when Xu Yuan and the others greeted him.

Noticing Xu Yuan glancing at those two reading-companion female ghosts with a half-smile, the Wandering Mr. coughed dryly, waved his hand without changing his expression, and said, "You two may go down first."

The two female ghosts bowed and withdrew, sinking into the ground and disappearing.

"Are you all about to return?"

Xu Yuan nodded, dug up the mountain goods buried last time, and said, "We are returning. Thank you, Mr., for your righteous intervention this time; let us meet again next time!"

Xu Yuan had not walked far when he looked back and saw that the two female ghosts had indeed emerged again, snuggling on either side of the Wandering Mr.

That hanging ghost's tongue was getting restless again...

"Tsk tsk!" Xu Yuan said, "You scholars really know how to play."

Fu Jingyu looked utterly bewildered; although he was a Literary Cultivator, Fu Jingyu could indeed be counted as a scholar.

What did I do?

On the way, Xu Yuan took a detour: "We must go to Plum Blossom Pool to let those two foxes tell the family that we have killed the Haikou Toad."

Fu Jingyu then asked curiously, "How did you come to know those two foxes?"

Xu Yuan answered offhandedly, "Gathering firewood in the mountains; sometimes we met and chatted a bit, and gradually became familiar."

He had intended to mention the last time they joined forces against the Holy Maiden, but that would have brought up the Pingtian Society, so he stopped and said no more.

Fu Jingyu felt suspicious in his heart: Those two foxes were also evil spirits in the mountains; you were gathering firewood in the mountains and still went up to chat? Were you not afraid of death?

Avoiding the territory of some Head Monsters, they traveled through the mountains for half an hour before Xu Yuan climbed to a peak.

Looking down from here, he could see Plum Blossom Pool directly.

Moreover, the view was excellent; if hidden well, one could watch for an hour before the two foxes below would notice.

This was Xu Yuan's exclusive viewing spot from the beginning.

Even if the two foxes did notice, the distance here was sufficient; if they turned and ran down the mountain at full speed, the two of them would not easily catch up.

Thinking about it now, the two foxes might not have been unable to catch up, but rather, since they were at the bottom of the power hierarchy among the Head Monsters, running too far might lead them into another Head Monster's territory where they would suffer losses.

From the pool water below, a sound of a woman's delicate laughter drifted up, sounding quite pleasant and alluring in the silent great mountain.

Yan Lao and Lu Lao stuck their heads out from behind to take a look, then shook their heads and retreated.

Fu Jingyu was at the very back; he waited respectfully for the two elders to finish looking and move aside before stepping forward to look down.

Immediately, he covered his eyes with his hand: "Do not look at what is improper!"

Then he blurted out, "So Young Master Xu became acquainted with the two sisters in this manner."

Xu Yuan became flustered and stamped his feet: "How can you slander an innocent person out of thin air!"

Fu Jingyu was indeed a gentleman; without concrete evidence, I will not say it, but in my heart, I am convinced it is so.

Xu Yuan was about to shout down to them to stop burning, but then covered his mouth and thought, does today prohibit "shouting at the mountain"?

The two foxes had already seen him; with a "whoosh," they leaped out of the water, landed, and transformed into two yellow-furred foxes, shaking the water from their bodies:

"What bad luck, a complete waste of effort!"

"Uselessly letting that young man see our bodies again; what a loss!"

Fu Jingyu glanced at Xu Yuan; the victim's testimony had arrived right on cue.

Xu Yuan pretended not to see, descended the mountain, and arrived at the pool; suddenly, a pair of little foxes emerged from under the old plum tree.

Chirping softly, they looked at Xu Yuan with full expectation.

Xu Yuan awkwardly scratched his head: "This time we did not come from outside the mountain, so I did not bring you live chickens."

The two little foxes instantly filled with disappointment; their pitiful little gazes made Xu Yuan feel uneasy, so he suddenly pointed at Da Fu: "There's a goose—how about you take a bite?"

Da Fu: Huh?

The two little foxes were so frightened they fluffed up instantly and shot into the nearby grass, refusing to come out again.

The fox sisters complained: "You only pick on children."

Xu Yuan: "Enough. I've taken care of the Haikou Toad for you."

The sisters were startled: "Really?"

"Absolutely true!" Xu Yuan turned and walked away: "I just happened to pass by and thought I'd let you know—we're even. Farewell!"

After saying this, Xu Yuan stepped onto his Fire Wheel and left.

The fox sisters were still stunned; after all, the Haikou Toad was a formidable presence among the Monster Kind, and you, this little rogue, actually killed it?!

Such a pointless lie could only mean it was true.

Suddenly, the younger sister realized and shot out after Xu Yuan: "Don't run! Give back the Mountain Lord Stele!"

In just that short time, Xu Yuan was nearly at the peak!

Fu Jingyu and the other two had just been wondering why he'd left in such a hurry, even using his Fire Wheel!

Turns out he wanted to keep their thing.

Xu Yuan ignored the younger fox's shouts, but when he reached the peak, he saw a black-furred fox clad in dark robes, sitting like an old scholar, hands behind his back, a wine gourd beside him.

Xu Yuan stopped with a grin: "So you're here—I was just looking for you."

The old fox extended his hand: "Give it back."

Xu Yuan pulled out the fragments of the Mountain Lord Stele but did not return them immediately; instead, he said seriously: "You're an elder—should you behave this way?"

(End of Chapter)