Chapter 255 - 254: Stress Hiss
Chapter 255: Chapter 254: Stress Hiss
CLOP! CLOP! CLOP!—
Two figures on horseback ambled along a country path.
They were Wu Chen and Sun Yuting, who had just bid farewell to Master Liu in Water Town and were now on their way to Qinghe Town.
Wu Chen rode in front, silently pondering the matter of the Blood Slaughter Sect.
Behind him, Sun Yuting’s glistening eyes were fixed on the young man’s back.
’This guy... why is he so frightening...?’
Sun Yuting bit her lip, the slight sting helping to calm the wild, inexplicable pounding of her heart.
The young man had gone out last night and returned in the morning, and ever since, he exuded a strange aura that both drew her in and made her heart flutter for no reason.
It was as if he might suddenly transform into a vicious tiger, pounce on her, and shred every last piece of her clothing.
And she would be utterly powerless to resist, left to his mercy.
Yet, at the same time, she knew perfectly well that he would never do such a thing.
’Even if he did tear my clothes... he’d probably just be looking for Martial Arts manuals!’
’Pah!’
She tore her glistening eyes away, looking elsewhere to suppress her risqué thoughts.
Fortunately, the young man in front of her didn’t seem to notice, simply continuing to ride along at a leisurely pace.
They traveled in silence, and soon, the silhouette of Qinghe Town appeared on the horizon.
It would only be a short while before they arrived.
Just then, from a village of about two hundred households by the roadside, a figure who had been sunning himself at the village entrance suddenly shot out at incredible speed, blocking their path.
It was a filthy old beggar.
"..."
’I didn’t see him! He just jumped out! The blind spots are huge when you’re on horseback! I thought he was a roadblock!’
WHOA!
Startled by the sudden appearance, Wu Chen quickly pulled on his reins.
A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, but in the end, he simply took a few pieces of crushed silver from his robes and looked down at the old beggar blocking his way.
"Old sir, take this silver for a drink. Now if you’ll please step aside."
"No drink, no drink!"
The old beggar didn’t even glance at the offered silver, shaking his head disdainfully.
"I’m about to become an immortal! Soon I’ll be eating the mists of the clouds and drinking celestial nectar!"
"Silver is useless to me!"
’Become an immortal?! Is he crazy?’
Hearing this, the young man and the young woman beside him exchanged a speechless glance.
Wu Chen’s expression, in particular, was one of utter exasperation.
’Even with my great fortune, I’ve never dared to dream of becoming an immortal. Here I am, working my tail off for the Demon Suppression Bureau every day just to earn some merits.’
’And this beggar just pops out and claims he’s going to become one?’
’What a crackpot.’
Looking at the half-mad beggar blocking his path, Wu Chen figured he was just some ruffian who thought a few pieces of silver weren’t enough. He took out a handful this time.
"Sir, is this enough? I hope you’ll let us pass and make things convenient for us!"
The old beggar continued to shake his head. "I told you, I don’t want silver! I don’t want it!"
His attitude was firm; he truly seemed to have no interest in the money.
Wu Chen wasn’t angry. "Then what do you want, old sir?"
"I’m about to become an immortal, what else could I possibly want!"
The old beggar looked up at the two figures on their tall horses, his expression still wild as he flashed a yellow-toothed grin. "Are you two Rangers roaming the martial world?"
Sun Yuting raised the saber in her hand toward the old beggar and nodded. "Of course."
Upon receiving this response, the old beggar’s crazed expression suddenly turned sharp.
"Then may I ask, can one become an immortal through Martial Arts?"
’Immortality again!’
"Of course not."
This time, it was Wu Chen who spoke first. He smiled.
"Old sir, we only started practicing Martial Arts to strengthen our bodies. Once we gained some ability, we began to travel the world to see the beautiful sights this land has to offer."
"As for becoming an immortal through Martial Arts, that’s something we’ve never heard of, let alone dared to dream of!"
"Living a few extra decades is already an incredible feat! How could we dare to hope for immortality!"
"Well said! How could practicing Martial Arts possibly lead to immortality!"
The old beggar nodded, then took a few steps closer to Wu Chen. He looked at the young man and woman and lowered his voice.
"So... would you two like to become immortals?!"
’Immortality! Bringing it up over and over... is this man a lunatic?’
Wu Chen’s eyes narrowed. He sized up the secretive old beggar, his mind racing.
’Could it be? Have I stumbled upon a reclusive master who holds some ’Immortal Scripture,’ and I just so happen to be the fated one?’
Wu Chen shook his head slightly. He knew that was impossible. Rather than indulging in such fantasies, it was far more practical to investigate the situation in Cold Rain City, resolve it, and then return to Cangwu City to collect his reward.
His expression remained unchanged. He wasn’t repulsed by the sour stench coming from the beggar below, nor did he show any displeasure. With a gentle smile, he asked:
"Then may I ask, old sir, what must I do to become an immortal? Please, show me the way!"
THUMP! THUMP!
Seeing the young man finally ask the important question, the old beggar’s face lit up. He slapped his own chest, raising a cloud of dust.
"Kid, you’ve finally asked the right person! As long as you’re willing, I’ll save a portion of this immortal opportunity for you!"
Wu Chen maintained a confused expression as he pressed on, "Old sir, don’t keep me in suspense. Tell me the specific method to become an immortal!"
"Fine, it won’t hurt to show you the way to immortality!"
As he spoke, the old beggar rolled up his sleeve, revealing a grimy, dirt-caked arm. He pointed to a dark ink-like mark on it and said with a chuckle:
"The path to immortality lies right here!"
"This is the mark left on me by an immortal envoy! He said he’ll take me to the heavens in a few days!"
"From then on, I’ll never be hungry or cold again! I’m going to live the life of a god!"
"If you want to live like a god, kid, I’ll put in a good word for you with the immortal envoy when the time comes. Bring you along for the ride!"
The old beggar spoke with great excitement, as if his ascension to immortality was just around the corner.
But he failed to notice that after he revealed the mark, the expressions of the two riders on horseback had turned grim.
Wu Chen was relatively composed as he looked at the dark mark, merely frowning in silence, though a hint of cynical amusement flickered in his eyes.
Sun Yuting, however, shuddered violently. The moment she saw the mark, she had a visceral, panicked reaction.
SHIING!
Her fingers instantly gripped her saber’s hilt. She whipped her head around to look toward the village the beggar had come from, her eyes flashing with killing intent.
She had suffered because of that mark before and knew exactly what it did!
This wasn’t the path to becoming an immortal—it was the path to becoming a ghost!
But before she could make any sudden moves, a gentle hand pressed down on her shoulder. She turned to see the young man signaling for her to remain calm.
Then, the young man turned back to the beggar and smiled.
"Old sir, I think I’ll leave this matter of immortality to someone more fated for it."
"What if that immortal envoy of yours decides to test me, but won’t allow this young lady by my side to become an immortal too?"
"What if I don’t pass, but he forces me to ascend anyway..."
"How could I ever bear to leave such a beautiful young lady behind!"
Wu Chen laughed heartily, ignoring the burning blush on the young woman’s cheeks as he tossed the handful of silver at the beggar.
"Old sir, take this silver. Filling your stomach before you become an immortal is more important than anything!"
Seeing the young man refuse, the beggar started to say something more, but when he saw the silver pieces raining down on him, he couldn’t help but bend over to pick them up.
After all, the young man had a point. Immortality was something for the future; an empty stomach was a problem for right now.
What if he starved to death before that day came?
The priorities were obvious.
He still needed the silver for now.
"Tch, that guy... he doesn’t even want to become an immortal!"
"Once you’re an immortal, there are plenty of celestial maidens in the heavens. What’s so great about a mortal woman that’s worth clinging to!"
By the time the old beggar had gathered all the silver and looked up again, the two figures on horseback were already far in the distance.
He shook his head speechlessly.
"If you don’t want to become immortals, then I will!"