Chapter 31: Black Goat Takes a Bath

I'll look for another chance to get a few high-level treasure chests, see if I can get something good out of them.

Hearing Li Qingxuan's words, she instinctively leaned forward half a step and embraced him: "Your body…… why not rest a while longer, wait until you recover before looking for treasure chests." She still couldn't relax; her worry was clear in her eyes.

"We must go." Li Qingxuan's tone left no room for doubt; he gently squeezed Li Feifei's hand, both reassuring and resolute: "The city wall still needs to be built as soon as possible. While we're at it, let's check on the black goat and the Yinhuai tree—last night I didn't get a good look."

He took a deep breath, feeling the power replenishing in his body. Although he was still a ways from his peak, movement posed no great hindrance: "Come on, I'll go see how they're recovering."

He stepped toward the doorway, his movements crisp and decisive, as if his previous grave injury were merely an illusion.

"Hey, wait!" Li Feifei instinctively grabbed his wrist, her fingertips exerting an irresistible force.

Even seeing his condition improve, her anxiety wouldn't instantly fade. "Just woke up and you're already running around, not even watching yourself…" Her gaze swept over him quickly, confirming his earlier movement hadn't tugged at the wound, then her voice softened: "…At least let me fetch you a coat; it's windy outside the stone house."

Li Qingxuan halted his steps and turned to look at her.

In the candlelight, she pressed her lips tightly; that stubborn concern in her eyes warmed his heart.

He didn't struggle, merely giving a slight nod: "Okay."

Only then did Li Feifei release her grip, striding quickly to the simple rack in the corner of the room and taking down a thick coarse‑cloth coat.

She shook out the coat, carefully helped Li Qingxuan put it on, her fingers deftly arranging the collar; the motion revealed a natural, unspoken rapport.

"All right." She stepped back, gave him a thorough once‑over to make sure he was properly dressed, then walked back to his side: "Let's go, I'll accompany you."

The two exited the bedroom one after the other; outside the stone house, the wind howled like a beast, carrying a piercing chill that struck their faces, bringing the unique cold and dryness of the wilderness.

Above them lay the fortress's heavy dome; beneath their feet stood solid stone walls, temporarily shielding them from direct external threats.

Li Feifei pushed open the door, staying close at Li Qingxuan's side; he didn't pause, merely quickened his pace toward the direction she indicated.

Finally, that gruesome scene unfolded before their eyes without obstruction—

What should have been a massive Yinhuai tree, looming like a giant beast to guard the area, now remained only a stout trunk standing defiantly, a few remaining thick branches drooping weakly, as if the years had sucked out its vitality; the black leaves that ought to have shimmered with a faint light were now sparse and dim.

The entire ancient tree no longer bore its former solemn, powerful, gloomy aura; instead it looked as though it had endured a raging storm, appearing listless and enfeebled.

Li Qingxuan carefully sensed the spiritual fluctuations emanating from the Yinhuai tree, feeling that the tree suffered no serious harm—only that many branches were broken, and the prior exertion had been large; given time it would recover.

However, the puppets he had previously accumulated were completely expended; he needed to seek out weird creatures.

After a moment's thought, Li Qingxuan decided: when he went out during the day, the Yinhuai tree would guard the home, and he would hand over the night to it for free hunting.

He shared this idea with Li Feifei, who also agreed: "Daytime is safer; at night we'll leave it to the Yinhuai tree—this arrangement works well."

The two left the Yinhuai tree and headed toward the black goat.

The air was thick with a stronger stench of blood and an indescribable oppression unique to powerful weird creatures; the closer they got, the more suffocating it became.

The massive black goat lay still on the cold stone ground, like a silent, menacing black hill, exuding an undeniable presence.

The fine wounds on its huge body had healed completely, the injury on its hind leg fully closed—no trace of harm remained.

However, the strong bloody and foul odor on it made both of them reluctant to draw near. Li Qingxuan furrowed his brows: "I'll take it to the river to wash up; this smell is too overpowering—I'll be back soon."

He turned, whistling a short, low note toward the huge silhouette lying in the shadow of the corner, and at the same time issued a mental command.

The black goat's massive head shot up, its ears covered in black curls twitching slightly; its eyes, like obsidian, flashed bright in the dim light, locking precisely onto Li Qingxuan.

Its huge body rose abruptly, a deep, thunderous rumble rolling from its throat, as if in response.

Li Qingxuan told Li Feifei to hurry back inside; after speaking, he didn't hesitate and turned to leave.

The biting wind tried to rush into their clothes, carrying the wilderness' distinctive dry dust and a hint of decaying earth.

The black goat's sturdy limbs supported its heavy frame; each step it took caused the ground to tremble faintly.

Li Feifei stood by the fortress, watching the human and beast disappear, then returned to the fortress and closed the iron gate, shutting out outside light and most of the wind.

The black goat's reeking mix of foul stench and blood, already nauseating, grew stronger as it moved, making Li Qingxuan instinctively cover his nose.

Li Feifei turned back to the upstairs master bedroom, began clearing the wooden tray and ceramic bowl Li Qingxuan had left after breakfast, her movements somewhat absent‑minded, her ears always attuned to any sound outside the door.

Outside the fortress, a pallid light blanketed the barren land; the wind lifted dry dust and fine grit, striking their faces with a slight sting.

Li Qingxuan led the black goat toward the river; the goat's massive body was like a moving small hill, its shadow nearly covering him completely.

It followed obediently at Li Qingxuan's side, its steps heavy yet steady; occasionally it would lower its head, using its enormous, spirally twisted horns to push aside obstructing dead branches or rocks.

After less than twenty minutes of walking, the river appeared at the horizon, its water winding through jagged rocks and reflecting the cold sky.

Having drawn near, Li Qingxuan halted, pointed at the water, and gave the black goat the command: "Go down."

The black goat's lava‑like eyes glanced at the murky river, then at Li Qingxuan, seeming to hesitate a moment; its huge body stood at the river's edge, it lowered its head to lightly sniff the surface, and once again let out that low gurgling sound from its throat.

After a moment, it lifted its sturdy leg and stepped into the river.

The icy, murky water immediately surged over its sturdy hooves, submerging the thick black‑fur‑covered calves. As its massive body entered the water, it stirred up the riverbed silt, making the already turbid flow even fouler.

Li Qingxuan didn't go in; he stood on a relatively dry rock at the bank, took out a water bucket, exerted force with his arm, and flung the whole bucket at the black goat!

"Whoosh—!"

The murky, icy water poured down like a waterfall, scouring the huge body coated in black curls, caked with blood clots and dried mud.

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