[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-398":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Nothing Is Taboo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310783,4514,"Chapter 398: Too Picky","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-398",398,"\u003Cp>Xu Yuan was within the “five-li” range, and Fu Songyu idly asked, “Are you interested in Xu Yuan’s body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Hongyu: “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Songyu could now be certain that Xu Yuan had never secretly practiced the Dragon Transformation Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two brothers returned with the puppet dragon and rejoined the younger disciples: “Rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the mountains, Xu Yuan deliberately relinquished the role of guide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli took over and led everyone to waste two days wandering in the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time was deliberately set aside for the Bureau to send word to Bai Laoyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Laoyan also needed time to contact Gao Guanzi and Tian Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, Xu Yuan led them toward Wangxiang Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he looked up, he saw several corpse sparrows circling high in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning his head again, a ghost infant’s head rose like a gourd from a stream a hundred zhang away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Official Xu nodded silently—he knew Tian Jing had been reached, and Tian Jing and the dragon had made all preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only uncertain factor in the entire plan was that Xu Yuan did not yet know what method the Fu family used to reveal those who practiced the Dragon Transformation Art within a certain range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Yuan secretly observed and deduced: neither Zhu Zhanlei nor Gao Wanli knew its secrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for two hours, a sudden splashing sound erupted from a mountain stream ahead—as if some water demon or evil spirit were fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei immediately perked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Dragon Sickness upon him, his strength surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had greatly enjoyed these past days of feeling like a “great expert,” and he charged forward at once: “An evil spirit is causing trouble! Let this young master crush it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan silently shook his head—he must keep a close eye on this fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pampered scion raised under the protection of a major clan had no idea of the dangers beyond the civilized world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Xu the Official himself, in these mountains, avoided any anomaly whenever possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei had won a few minor victories yesterday and now looked down on the mountain’s evil spirits—his arrogance would surely lead to disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Mi Yu’s future brother-in-law, Zhu Zhanmei’s younger brother—if anything happened to him under my watch, I could not answer for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan followed closely and was startled to see several ghost infants tearing at a slender, elongated evil spirit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clearly… a Dragon Evil Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan turned back to glance—Dragon Evil Spirits were almost certainly tied to the Fu family’s secret method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ghost infants still held the upper hand, tearing the Dragon Evil Spirit into segments, each biting down on a piece and sinking into the stream, soon vanishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei arrived too late to act, looking deeply disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan dared not let him out of sight again, staying close at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By evening, they finally reached Wangxiang Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan and Bai Laoyan went through the motions of exchanging words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Bai Laoyan heard they wanted him to betray Gao Guanzi, he immediately rose to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He declared plainly: “He is my brother, my dearest friend!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan appealed to righteousness, repeatedly explaining the stakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Laoyan refused outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli grew impatient: “Why waste words with him? Kill him and interrogate his soul!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her hand, she pulled out a cannon as thick as an arm, its barrel carved with the face of a demon from the Biyan Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The muzzle was aimed at Bai Laoyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, a glow like molten lava flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Laoyan showed no fear, gripping his hatchet and sneering: “Interrogate my soul? Try it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan frowned and rebuked Gao Wanli: “You understand nothing—don’t interfere! The souls of mountain dwellers are tainted; if they die, their souls immediately return to this mountain—interrogation is impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kill him, and all our leads vanish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this vast Ghost Witch Mountain, finding Gao Guanzi is like searching for a needle in a sea!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli sheepishly put away the cannon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei, growing impatient as he listened, let his scion nature surface: “I’ll pay more!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Name your price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Laoyan’s attitude shifted instantly: “How much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei grinned, swaying his head with smug delight: “I knew it—this young master has never met a brother who couldn’t be bought…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei personally negotiated the price with Bai Laoyan, agreeing to depart at dawn the next day to lead them to Gao Guanzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli despised this transaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men—always calling each other brothers, swearing oaths to heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as soon as the profit is high enough, they discard those brotherhood vows without hesitation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellencies, stay the night in our village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Laoyan warmly invited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei and the others were about to enter when Xu Yuan stopped them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan quietly recounted the strange events he had encountered on his first visit to the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei and Gao Wanli were unconcerned—they thought even if the villagers were odd, they could handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the other three Hejian Captains felt a chill run down their spines!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Xu the Official, for the warning!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their opinion of him improved greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This official was worth cultivating a close relationship with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei had to stay outside the village, but after days of eating dried rations, he told Bai Laoyan: “Have the village prepare some good meals and send them over—I’ll pay extra.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning, Bai Laoyan soon had Zhang San’s father bring several village women with steaming dishes and rice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei caught the enticing aroma from afar and beamed: “Bring it here for this young master to taste! I’ve eaten countless delicacies, yet even this rustic fare tastes astonishingly good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when the steamer lid was lifted, the food was indeed food—but each dish contained worms and snakes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the steamed rice was mixed with woodlice and other insects!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei’s stomach churned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli gagged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San’s father glared: “You ordered the food—you must pay even if you don’t eat it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei waved his hands frantically: “Pay! Pay! Take it away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San’s father carried it off, but halfway there, Da Fu blocked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a feast—and you refuse to enjoy it?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Fu looked down on Zhu Zhanlei: You, young master, are far too picky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Fu shoved his head straight into the wooden tub of food and ate with great relish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San’s father’s eyes lit up—he wanted to praise Xu Yuan’s goose for being so plump…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But suddenly, for no clear reason, a flicker of warning came—he must not say that aloud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San’s father quickly took a few puffs of his pipe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally understood what was wrong: Why would Xu the Official bring a goose into the mountains?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei, needing Da Fu’s favor, saw how much it liked the food and hurriedly said: “Give it all! Let it eat its fill—if you need more, cook more—I’ll pay!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he crouched beside Da Fu, whispering shamelessly: “About that thing I asked you before…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1177,"2026-06-20T12:07:24.624Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","182b0d8de3158a1a18022a6b3dc181ff4ff53587736ef8c47247c9aa832c1024","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-399","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-397",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]