txolops Chapter 49 Yin Soul Wood
Chapter 49 Yin Soul Wood
Shen Gongbao looked at Da Ya's pointing fingers as if they were the death warrant of Yama, the King of Hell.
His face was deathly pale, a fine layer of cold sweat seeped from his forehead, his legs involuntarily pressed together, and his body bent over like a boiled shrimp.
He wanted to explain, but the more anxious he became, the less he could say. All he could do was force a smile, both ingratiating and embarrassed, and stammer, "No...no...it's...it's..."
When Da Ya saw that he couldn't utter a sound for a long time, she felt that he was deliberately ignoring her. A feeling of grievance welled up instantly, and her voice rose three octaves.
"Are you mute?! The young master is asking you a question, who are you staring at with those dead fish eyes? Do you think I'm easy to bully just because I'm a maid? Let me tell you, the young master dotes on me the most, if you dare to dawdle like this again, I...I'll..."
Han Xiaoliu had been watching with great interest as Da Ya bristled like a fighting rooster, and then at Shen Gongbao's cowardly state of wanting to die but not daring to, he chuckled to himself: This little brat, she's asserting her dominance. He shook his head, a wicked smile playing on his lips, and finally spoke.
"Alright, alright, Daya, stop talking. Shen Gongbao is an honest man, don't keep bullying him."
Da Ya, who had been standing with her hands on her hips looking imposing, froze instantly upon hearing Han Xiaoliu's words. She turned her head in disbelief, her big eyes instantly filling with tears, her small mouth pouting like an oil bottle.
"Young...Young Master?"
Han Xiaoliu casually remarked, "It's such a small matter, why are you being so fierce?"
Da Ya's pent-up grievances instantly burst forth. Did the young master think I was being mean? Did he scold me because of that stutterer? Does that mean he won't love me anymore?
Her face turned bright red, and she couldn't hold back any longer. She burst into tears, and tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.
"Wow—! Young Master, you don't love me anymore! You scolded me because of this stutterer! Waaaaah... I knew it... Waaaaah..."
Shen Gongbao watched as Daya wailed and cried, and he trembled even more in fear. He stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay, his face filled with despair and a look of wanting to cry but having no tears left.
Han Xiaoliu sighed helplessly, took out a plain handkerchief from his sleeve, and gently wiped away the tears on Daya's face.
He leaned down slightly, looking directly into those tear-filled eyes, his tone serious: "Tell me, what happened? What did your mother whisper to you these past few days? It's making you act so strangely."
Upon hearing this, Daya lowered her head even further, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes with her two little hands until her fingertips turned white.
Her gaze wandered, sometimes looking at the ants on the ground, sometimes stealing glances at Shen Gongbao who looked completely bewildered, but she dared not look directly into her young master's eyes, which seemed to see right through people.
"If you don't tell me, I won't care anymore!" Han Xiaoliu pretended to be angry, stuffed the handkerchief into his clothes, turned around and pretended to leave, the soles of his boots making a "rustling" sound on the bluestone slab.
"Young Master!" Da Ya was startled and rushed forward, grabbing Han Xiao Liu's clothes tightly. Her small body swayed with his movements, like a frightened little quail.
She tilted her head back, her eyes brimming with fresh tears, her voice thick with nasal congestion and grievance: "Mother said... Mother said that the young master prefers girls with abundant spiritual roots, and doesn't like a stupid girl like Daya... She also said that she won't give Daya a name because Daya isn't worthy..."
In the end, her voice was barely audible, and a tear finally succumbed to its weight, rolling down her round cheek. It lingered on her chin for a moment before falling to the ground with a "plop," leaving a small wet patch.
Han Xiaoliu was stunned for a moment, then laughed in exasperation.
You, Jade Lady, so all that secretive "cricket-keeping" these past few days was just to dig this pit for your daughter? No wonder you ran back to the Soul-Guiding Banner to cultivate after saying that; you've dumped the whole mess on me.
He gently pinched Da Ya's still chubby cheeks with his fingertips; they felt soft to the touch. But he deliberately put on a stern tone: "Just for this? Silly girl, I've already thought of a name for you: Long Kui."
"Longkui?" Daya's eyes lit up instantly, as if two stars had fallen into them, and her previous grievances vanished.
She loosened her grip on her clothes, jumped twice, her skirt fluttering, and exclaimed with delight, "I have a name now! I'll be called Longkui! Longkui...it sounds so nice!" She repeated the two words over and over, as if trying to etch them into her heart, and a smile brighter than the spring sunshine bloomed on her little face.
Han Xiaoliu watched her excited expression, a smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips. In her heart, she silently added: "Don't let this name down, you must live up to these expectations. Of course, as for your figure, it could be a bit more 'domineering' than Shishi's."
He recalled the "breast enhancement formula" that Lady Yu had mentioned mysteriously before, and couldn't help but mutter to himself: I wonder if it's reliable or not, and when I should find her to "discuss" it properly.
Black Serpent City, the largest shop is "Treasure Pavilion".
Despite being called the largest, it is actually just a giant wooden building occupying a vast area. The building is constructed of rough, unpolished black pine wood, pieced together in a crude manner, exuding a sense of wild and heavy grandeur.
The roof was covered with thick gray tiles, and several dusty lanterns hung from the eaves, making a creaking sound when the wind blew through them.
There are no dazzling arrays protecting this place, nor fragrant welcoming plants; only two stone lions at the entrance, their edges worn smooth by time, silently guard this small area.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, you are greeted by the smell of aged wood mixed with various mineral dust. The lighting in the hall is slightly dim, and the shelves are piled up to the beams, making it feel somewhat oppressive.
A young man dressed in a gray cloth robe walked respectfully to the counter with his head bowed. He presented a crumpled sheet with both hands and bowed deeply.
The shopkeeper behind the counter was idly fiddling with an abacus.
The man was thin and wore a faded blue Taoist robe with two inconspicuous patterns embroidered on the cuffs.
He had a lean face with slightly prominent cheekbones, and his triangular eyes were half-open, revealing a shrewdness and mercenary nature unique to businessmen. Although his aura was restrained, a discerning observer could detect the subtle spiritual pressure fluctuations characteristic of the early Foundation Establishment stage around him.
The shopkeeper casually raised his eyelids, glanced at the boy, assuming he was just a messenger from some big family, and casually took the order and glanced at it.
"Hmm..." The shopkeeper tapped his fingers lightly on the counter and said slowly, "Of the things you want, we don't lack ores. Flame Stone, Crimson Iron Gold, and Crimson Sun Stone are all in the warehouse. As for Yin-attribute materials, they are indeed rare on the market, but coincidentally, the shop happens to have a level four demon beast manta ray skin and a piece of two-hundred-year-old Yin Soul Wood on hand."
At this point, the shopkeeper put down the order form, his sharp gaze fixed on the flustered young man before him, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "However, this price is not cheap."
The boy seemed intimidated by the shopkeeper's imposing manner. He hurriedly pulled out another slip from his storage bag, handed it over, and stammered, "Please...please...shopkeeper...tell...the...price!"
It turns out he had a stutter.
The shopkeeper's expression remained unchanged, but his interest in testing the waters diminished somewhat.
He took the list, dipped his brush in ink, and wrote down the types of materials needed and their corresponding prices in a flowing, elegant style. Finally, he gave a total amount and handed the list back to the boy.
"Thanks!"
The boy felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He bowed gratefully, grabbed the list, and hurriedly left, as if some raging beast was chasing him.
After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, the boy jogged across two streets and arrived at a bustling open-air tea stall.
At a table in the corner of the tea stall sat two children, about seven or eight years old. The two children were swinging their short legs, watching the cultivators passing by on the street with a bored look in their eyes, revealing a composure that was beyond their years.
The boy ran to the table, panting, and respectfully handed the list full of prices to the child with both hands: "Young...Young...Young Master! I...I've...brought it!"
This child is Han Xiaoliu.
He took the form but didn't rush to look at it. Instead, he patted the boy on the shoulder and gently encouraged him, "Not bad, you spoke much more smoothly this time than last time. Practice more in the future, try to say two words at a time. Don't rush, you'll get better with time."
Sitting to the side was Da Ya—now known by her new name Long Kui—enjoying a plate of osmanthus cake with great relish.
Having a name made her feel much better, and the hostility she used to have for causing trouble had dissipated considerably. However, she occasionally glanced at the stuttering boy out of the corner of her eye, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.
Han Xiaoliu glanced down at the numbers on the form.
The total value of these materials is as high as 1,600 spirit stones.
This is a huge sum of money for an ordinary cultivator, but for Han Xiaoliu, it is still within an acceptable range.
However, places like the Treasure Pavilion often have inflated prices, so if you negotiate carefully, you might be able to save a lot of money.
But then he thought again that it would be a waste of time to haggle with that cunning old shopkeeper over a few dozen spirit stones.
Every moment he has now is precious.
"never mind."
Han Xiaoliu shook his head, took out a century-old spiritual herb that emitted a faint medicinal fragrance from his pocket, and handed it to the boy.
"Go again," Han Xiaoliu pointed in the direction of Wanbaoge, his tone calm but with an undeniable determination, "Go ask the shopkeeper if he'll trade this century-old herb for these materials. If he thinks it's a loss and refuses, then tell him I only want half of that stingray skin."