Chapter 1223 - 1114: Using Blood as Oil
“How about it, young lady, do you have any clues about where my disciple is?”
Li Fan asked Shui Qingling.
Upon hearing this, Shui Qingling’s heart tightened, and she dared not lie, saying:
“The younger generation… should know.”
Li Fan nodded upon hearing this, that’s good!
“Good, then I’ll have to trouble you, young lady, to lead the way.”
Shui Qingling hesitated for a moment in her heart… Did she really have to go back to the Waterway Imperial Court?
For her now, the Waterway Imperial Court… was nothing but a place of heartache.
Being the Saintess of the Waterway Imperial Court, yet betrayed and used as a pawn, her heart was already cold.
But in the end, she took a deep breath and said:
“Alright, the younger generation will do their best!”
If it weren’t for Dugu Yuqing and the others, she would have long been dead; she was not someone ungrateful.
“By the way, Master,”
At this time, Dugu Yuqing spoke up, saying:
“This time we went out and hunted quite a few large birds. The villagers have gathered and are ready to set up a feast.”
Li Fan’s heart leapt with joy; it had been a long time since they had a feast.
“Good, let’s have a look.”
He immediately picked up Xiao Bai and, together with Dugu Yuqing, Gong Ya, and others, left the small courtyard.
Shui Qingling quietly followed behind them.
…
Meanwhile.
Outside the small village.
“Are we really going back?”
In the woods, Ao Wushuang’s face became increasingly ugly. He really did not want to go to that cursed small village!
“Stop your nonsense! We don’t go, we die!”
The two Rotten Slaves coldly stated.
Ao Wushuang was in utter despair, the first time he ever felt so hopeless.
After all, although he was very afraid of the small village in the past, those who forced him to go to the village had enmity with it, so… there was a sliver of hope while leading the way!
But this time, these two Rotten Slaves seemed to be in cahoots with the small village…
Isn’t this just courting death…
Finally, the three of them could see the small village ahead.
“The cursed small village… Old Ao, can’t I really escape your clutches….”
Ao Wushuang lamented as he moved forward.
But as he walked, he suddenly smelled a rotting odor.
He glanced around and saw the Corpse Wrapping Cloth on the two Rotten Slaves slowly decaying, their putrid body fluids oozing, and chunks of flesh falling to the ground and then dissolving away!
“Huh… what’s going on here?”
Ao Wushuang was startled. Could it be that the power of this small village was restraining these two Rotten Slaves?
Weren’t these two fellows in league with the small village?
What’s key is that these two Rotten Slaves, at this moment, stared straight at the small village, seemingly completely oblivious to the changes happening to themselves!
“There’s hope!”
Ao Wushuang’s heartbeat quickened, carefully following without alarming the two Rotten Slaves.
He was already prepared. Once the two Rotten Slaves had completely melted away, he would run for his life.
Step by step, he approached the small village.
Finally, he was near the village entrance.
The closer he got to the entrance, the more nervous he became, and the two Rotten Slaves beside him now almost completely reduced to a sinister black skeleton.
Why haven’t they fully disintegrated yet…
Ao Wushuang gritted his teeth and took another step forward.
Crack!
A crisp sound ensued, and at last, the skeletal remains of the two Rotten Slaves that had escorted him all along completely shattered.
At the spot, only two streams of pure black mist remained. In these deep black mists, Ao Wushuang even felt they were purer than the dark energy he encountered when he first entered this realm!
Second only to the one inside his Path-Scenic Land.
However, Ao Wushuang didn’t dwell on it, taking advantage of the Rotten Slaves’ death, he turned to run!
But just as he turned around, an aged voice came from behind him, saying:
“Eh? Young man, wait a moment!”
Upon hearing this, Ao Wushuang’s body stiffened instantly!
It was over, he was discovered!
He instantly broke into a cold sweat; he hadn’t expected that his escape would still be thwarted.
At this moment, his mind raced, and then biting the bullet… he turned back to look towards the village.
Running now would probably result in certain death by the village’s doing; better to see first… if he could bluff his way through.
He lifted his eyes, only to see an old man with a walking stick already standing at the entrance of the village, smiling as he watched Ao Wushuang!
At this moment, the two strands of black mist left behind by the disappearance of the Rotten Slaves suddenly drifted towards the old man.
Seeing the black mist approaching, Second Elder waved his hand casually and, in an instant, the two strands of black mist dissipated directly.
Seeing this, Ao Wushuang was surprised.
This old man… he’s fiercely powerful!
He knew that in this world, black mist was definitely one of the most dangerous things.
Yet this old man could destroy it easily, not taking it seriously at all.
No wonder this small mountain village is even more mysterious than the black mist!
However, he was suddenly puzzled. Weren’t those two Rotten Slaves said to be in league with the small mountain village?
In the end, just as they got close to the village entrance, they vanished completely, leaving behind two strands of black mist that were extinguished with just a flick of the hand…
This feeling… could it be that the darkness thought the villagers were on their side, but in reality, the villagers were not?
It seems the darkness has got a bit of the cold shoulder treatment…
While he was lost in his thoughts, Second Elder was already looking at him with a smile and said:
“Young man, have you brought something for me?”
Bring something?
Ao Wushuang was momentarily confused, but he then remembered… those two Rotten Slaves had told him to deliver the lamp from Path-Scenic Land…
Could it be that this old man really wanted that lamp?
Feeling uneasy, he suddenly sensed an extra item in his sleeve. Stretching out his hand, indeed, there was the lamp!
This lamp… it actually came out on its own?
He was surprised; this thing… was definitely mysterious, and it seemed to be connected to the small mountain village.
Without any hesitation, he offered the lamp with both hands, saying:
“Yes… I have come to deliver this to you.”
Second Elder, somewhat puzzled in his old eyes, said:
“It really is a lamp…”
He casually took the Bronze Lamp and examined it closely, saying:
“This lamp must be powered by kerosene, with such a black flame…”
“Um… elder, may I, may I leave now?”
At this moment, Ao Wushuang was nervously looking at him.
Upon hearing this, Second Elder looked up and said:
“You’ve troubled yourself, young man. If there’s nothing else, come into the village and have a meal before you go.”
Ao Wushuang hastily shook his head, saying:
“No, no thank you… I still have things to attend to, many things!”
Second Elder said:
“Is that so… then all right, I won’t keep you,”
He fished out a Black Coin from his pocket and handed it to Ao Wushuang, saying:
“I don’t have much money, this copper coin has been with me for many years, I don’t know if it can still be used outside… Take it as a memento.”
Ao Wushuang, however, was frightened inside and said:
“No, that’s not necessary… One should not show gratitude through words; there’s no need to be so polite!”
But as soon as he spoke, he realized he had said the wrong thing and hurriedly added:
“No, no, no… It’s a trivial matter, a trivial matter!”
Second Elder laughed upon hearing that. This young man… he’s not bad.
But with a stern face, he said:
“What? Is it too little? If I tell you to take it, you take it!”
Saying so, he passed the money over.
Fearful upon seeing Second Elder’s stern look, Ao Wushuang didn’t dare to refuse any longer and took it immediately, saying:
“Thank you, elder. Then, I shall take my leave now?”
Second Elder nodded and said:
“Go ahead!”
“Have a safe journey.”
Upon hearing this, Ao Wushuang turned and ran, as fast as he could!
Watching his retreating back, Second Elder couldn’t help but nod in approval, praising:
“Good lad!”
After that, he picked up the lamp in his hand, and examining it once more, he wondered aloud:
“The Divine Jumper said to use blood as fuel to burn for this thing, could that be reliable…”
“Never mind, let’s head back and start the feast!”
He immediately took the lamp and headed toward the open space in the village where the feast was to be held.
…
Goodnight