Chapter 136

Fang Yue wanted to open the parchment to see if there'd be danger leaving the village the day after tomorrow, but there was no Black Ember; the parchment just said, 【Big pauper!】, and ignored him.

Damn it! The parchment is getting more and more arrogant—I need to find a way to rein it in!

If I really go into the wild, the parchment is almost my only reliance.

Compared to combat, the unknown dangers in the wild are the most terrifying.

No good—I must get some Black Ember, or the parchment won't work for me.

"Lin Ge, got any Black Ember?"

Lin Ling shook his head: "None left. What I gave you yesterday was the last."

"What? But you just said you'd trade me 10g of Black Ember for a Wu Mu fruit!"

"I was just saying that—if you agreed, I'd figure out how to gather some."

Lin Ling clearly sounded guilty saying this.

Fang Yue eyed him suspiciously: "Gather? How?"

"Some people in the village have Black Ember. As far as I know, the Blood Hunters have plenty. I don't know how they got it—I asked for some before, but he refused."

Blood Hunter?

Fang Yue immediately thought of the team member's description of the Ghost Hunter 【Giant-Headed Blood Dog】.

This Blood Hunter must be someone important in the village, with some real clout.

As if sensing Fang Yue's thoughts, Lin Ling said coolly: "Don't bother asking him—he won't give it to you. The most reliable way to get Black Ember is still to kill the weirdities."

"Alright."

But Fang Yue hadn't given up.

He planned to ask Jing Yan, the Blood Hunter Apprentice, to feel him out tomorrow.

What if the Blood Hunter was willing to sell Black Ember? At Lin Ling's former conscience price, a 1:1 exchange—trading 10 days of lifespan for 10g of Black Ember—wouldn't be a bad deal.

Also, from what Lin Ling implied, other villagers probably hoard some Black Ember too—people like Hong Dafu or Ma Tiejiang might have stockpiles.

The day after tomorrow, I'm escorting An Shenyi out of the village—I've got to prepare, or I'm genuinely afraid I'll die out there.

After asking Lin Ling about who else in the village might have Black Ember, Fang Yue suddenly remembered another question.

"By the way, Lin Ge, besides me, how many others are escorting An Shenyi back?"

"Besides you as Captain, the village will assign five Deputy Captains, ten squads, plus over a dozen stonemasons to inspect the stone purchases, plus villagers going out on errands—add it all up, roughly a hundred people."

So many people traveling together?

Fang Yue felt this mission had suddenly become even more dangerous.

"Lin Ge, isn't such a large group too obvious a target?"

"There's definitely risk, but with so many, we can handle any incident."

"Also, you'll be traveling along the village road…"

Seeing Fang Yue didn't understand, Lin Ling explained: "The village road, according to records, was built many years ago when our neighboring villages first migrated here, to ensure mutual support between villages."

"These rural roads, built with inferior materials compared to the Official Road, aren't as safe as those constructed by the Qing Guo Government, but they're far safer than wandering the wilds, and they provide direction and landmarks."

"I've walked this route several times a year—I've only encountered low-level weirdities, so it's fairly safe. Don't worry too much."

"Also, according to the route, on the first day you must reach Man Shui Cun before nightfall to spend the night."

"In Man Shui Cun, people will meet and care for you, so you can rest well at night—that's an unspoken agreement among our allied villages."

"If other villages' Guard Teams pass through our village on their way somewhere, they can also stay here, and we must offer them equal protection."

"From my personal experience, as long as you don't stray from the village road, nothing serious should happen. Of course, leaving the village means anything could happen—I can't guarantee anything. Just prepare well."

Lin Ling, though occasionally moody, sometimes rude, and fond of yelling threats like "I'll kill you,"

is still dependable when it really matters.

These details gave Fang Yue real reassurance—he was no longer as anxious as he'd been at first.

He pressed for more details, and Lin Ling answered each one.

"You're a refugee, unfamiliar with the wilds. Logically, as an elder, I should go with you. But the village is short on hands—you're on your own. I'll assign you reliable Deputy Captains—they've walked the village road with me before and have some wild experience. Listen to them out there; you won't go wrong."

Saying this, Lin Ling headed toward the Guard Station to arrange personnel.

He'd come here not just to inform Fang Yue, but primarily to organize the team.

Though he himself wouldn't escort An Shenyi to Mo Cun, the miscellaneous tasks still fell to him as Chief Captain.

After all, Fang Yue had only been in the village four days—counting tonight, five days total.

Even if promoted fast, he still knew little of Gu Yue Cun—this task had to be handled by someone like Lin Ling.

If Chen Mu hadn't died, or if Hua Wuye hadn't been injured, they could've replaced Lin Ling. Now, only Lin Ling was in charge.

"Wait! Lin Ge, I have another question."

Lin Ling stopped.

"Speak."

"You know my Internal Energy Heart Method is already maxed out. I want to know if the village has any Second-rate Realm Internal Energy Heart Method scrolls I can train to break through."

Lin Ling had nearly calmed down from the An Shenyi matter.

Now, hearing Fang Yue bring this up, jealousy flared instantly—he darkened and snapped: "Don't know. Get out!"

"No no no, Lin Ge, when I soar, you soar; when you soar, the village soars; when the village soars, Lord Han is happy; when Lord Han is happy, he passes on his legacy!"

Fang Yue spouted it all like a script, as if Lin Ling were an idiot—Lin Ling's temple veins throbbed visibly.

"Shut up! Honestly—I swear, Gu Yue Cun has no Second-rate Realm Internal Energy Heart Method scrolls. Maybe Lord Han has some—you can ask him yourself."

Saying this, Lin Ling stormed off—but after two steps, he stopped.

"What?"

Fang Yue asked, puzzled.

"Hmph! You'll find out anyway once you meet Divine Doctor An, so it doesn't matter if I tell you now."

"Earlier, when Divine Doctor An was shouting about going back to the village and urging me to set up an escort squad, I asked him whether he had any precious medicinal herbs or fruits that could increase cultivation."

"Divine Doctor An said he didn't, but he told me a very valuable piece of news!"

(End of this chapter)