Chapter 221: Incredulous Advancemen
The elderly man from the academy did not say anything but just stroked at his beard as he looked at the red clothed youth, measuring him, his wise gaze thoughtful, seemingly considering something in his mind.
Seated in a half lotus position, Feng Jiu led the maniacally surging aura inside her body towards the dantian below the navel. The aura was highly ferocious and intense, bloating her meridians almost to the point of erupting with its surge. The meridians under her skin throbbed and bulged, intermittently rising and falling as it surged.
Perspiration poured out from her, the colour of her face changing between white and red, the agonizing pain coming from within her body almost knocking her unconscious from being unable to hold it in. But she knew at that moment, that if she was unable to contain it, she might very well be finished.
The four elderly ones crowded around the youth and watched, and one of them then said incredulously: "I had not thought that this youth would be able to last till now after having swallowed the blood of a seventh grade enormous python. But with the blood's Qi roiling in surge now, I'm afraid he will not be able to hold out anymore."
"It's hard to say. The fact that this youth had lasted to now, is enough to show that he is not any ordinary character." The elderly one from the academy stroked at his beard and then continued to say: "We should set up a protective array for him now! If he is able to pull through, his powers will definitely increase by leaps and bounds!"
Hearing that, the other three elderly ones nodded their heads in agreement, and sat themselves down a short distance away, to set up a protective array for the red clothed youth.
As time gradually passed, one of the elderly ones saw that the red clothed youth's spirit powers in his body was shooting up at an alarming rate, he could not help but cry out softly.
"Look! He has really advanced in level!"
"Shh! It's still increasing! At the Spirit Master's third level and still showing no signs of slowing!"
The hearts of the four of them were shocked and just a short moment later, they saw that the youth's Spirit Master level advancing from the fourth level to the fifth!
"How….. how come his advancement looks to be so easy? Just where had this youth come from?"
The few of them were speechless with amazement. It must be known that cultivation of spirit power is not the same as the cultivation of mystical powers. Many cultivators were not even able to breakthrough to the Grand Spirit Master stage their entire lives to become a Foundation cultivator and only by becoming a Foundation cultivator could one be considered to be a cultivator of Immortality, to gain for themselves a two hundred year lifespan.
And among every hundred Grand Sword Masters, only one or two of them would be able to successfully advance at most. To enter into the Golden Core stage from Foundation, it would be almost one in ten thousand, an encounter that one would be blessed with and not forcibly sought.
Some cultivators were already past a hundred years in age but they were only at the Grand Spirit Master stage but for this youth, at such a young tender age in his mere teens, his advancement was happening like a springboard, rising up level by level like this, how could they be expected to not be shocked by it?
Under the incredulous gazes of the four elderly ones, the red clothed youth sat there in his spot in the half lotus position for an entire three days and nights, his powers rising up a level by level in quick succession. It could be due to the fact that they had stared at the youth for three days and nights, but the four elderly ones were seemingly unable to recover their senses from their astonishment at the almost maniacal speed of the youth's advancement through the power levels.
Throughout the three days and nights, they had not slept not rested, but just stared unwaveringly with their eyes wide at the red clothed youth, thinking the same thought deep within their hearts.
No matter which sect this youth belonged to, they would have to do everything they could to poach him over into their sect!
"Look….. He….. he has advanced again….."
One of the elderly ones gulped, his eyes absolutely shining with unbridled excitement as he stared at the red clothed youth. That gaze, looking just like one who had not eaten for ten days or a fortnight and was staring at a slab of fat juicy meat, wishing that he could pounce forward and snatch the youth up to bring back to their sect.
"Oi! He….. he is shooting straight for the Grand Spirit Master stage!"
With his eyes bulging wide, the face of the elderly one from the academy was filled with incredulity. In the span of three days and three nights, this red clothed youth had actually advanced nine whole levels from the Spirit Master's first level, and was now even charging towards the Grand Spirit Master stage! This….. this was just completely maniacal!
Chapter 222: Specially Recruited Pupil
As the spirit energy in Feng Jiu's body continued to surge, the spirit power then exploded outwards, to form a thick and intense flare of spirit aura around her body.
And in the next moment, the swirling spirit aura was then completely retracted back into her body. As time passed, the spirit energies inside her body then gradually settled down, the spirit aura dissipating, like the scene before had not happened at all.
But her spirit power level, had leaped in one single bound to reach the cultivation of a third level Grand Spirit Master!
Feng Jiu blew out a breath lightly, and then slowly opened her eyes. Delightful brilliance was overflowing in her eyes, and at that moment, she felt that what she could see with her eyes had all become different. Moreover, her ears could even clearly hear the tiny sounds of the little insects around, her entire body feeling a continuous wave of spirit energy revolving within her body, that felt extremely comfortable.
Her gaze then looked towards the four elderly people seated in four different directions from her, and seeing them all staring dazedly at her, Feng Jiu could not help but reveal a smile on her face.
With a flick of her robe, she sat up straight on the ground, to clasp a hand over her fist to greet the four elderly ones as she said in a clear voice: "I thank the four Seniors for erecting a protection array for this lowly junior."
If not for the protective array from the four of them, throughout these three days and nights, it could not be predicted what might have happened. Afterall, if one was disrupted while his cultivation was advancing into another level, the consequences would be unthinkable!
Hearing that, the four elderly one then quickly snapped back to their senses, and they immediately strode with wide steps over to Feng Jiu to say: "Young man, would you be interested to join our Origin Sect?"
"Young man, join our Elegant Splendour Sect instead!"
"Joining our Green City Sect is better!"
"It's best for you to come to the Starry Cloud Academy! This old man can make you a specially recruited pupil."
The four elderly ones strove to outdo the others as they spoke, afraid that the prize would be snatched away if they were too slow.
Hearing their words, Feng Jiu was rather taken aback in surprise and she went on to say with a laugh: "I am deeply honoured that my Seniors here think so highly of me, but your junior still has some pending business on hand and I do not have any intention of joining any sects at this moment."
Seeing the brows of the four people furrowing up, Feng Jiu's eyes glinted and she continued to say: "But your junior has been thinking to enrol myself into the Starry Cloud Academy to further my cultivation, and have been waiting for the time the Starry Cloud Academy opens up for enrollment to go register myself."
Upon hearing those words, the other three elderly ones could not help but be disappointed, but they knew that the Starry Cloud, being a very famous academy in the Green Gallop Country, was an establishment their sects could never hope to even compare to. Many cultivators and pupils from many parts of the lands, all yearned to be admitted into the Starry Cloud Academy. So, the fact that the youth would choose the Starry Cloud was to be expected.
"Hahahaha! Good good good. It's great that you think that way." The elderly one from the academy said with a delighted laugh, the gaze he was looking at Feng Jiu with, filled with satisfaction.
He then pulled out a badge of authourity from inside his sleeve, and handed it over to Feng Jiu as he said: "This is the Star Badge from the Starry Cloud. You keep it with you now, and just bring it with you to go register yourself at the academy at a later date. With this badge in hand, you will be admitted without needing to go through any form of assessment, to become a pupil of the Starry Cloud."
Feng Jiu accepted the Star Badge and took a look at it, before keeping it away with a smile as she said: "Thank you Senior. Your Junior Feng Jiu still has not asked for my Senior's revered name."
"Hahaha! Feng Jiu? Alright, this old man shall remember your name, and have it placed in the register when I get back to the academy. This old man is surnamed Guan, and people call me Old Guan. I am the Starry Cloud's Vice Headmaster."
Hearing that, Feng Jiu was rather surprised and she immediately bowed in greeting respectfully as she said: "Greetings to Vice Headmaster Guan. Your junior will remember it." She had not expected that the teacher in charge of leading a team here would be the Starry Cloud's Vice Headmaster.
The other three elderly ones were all highly disappointed to see that, thinking to themselves that such a outstanding sapling had been snatched up by the Starry Cloud again. Sigh!
"Feng Jiu right? If you happen to change your mind, you can still come join our Origin Sect. If you join our sect, I will definitely have you be made an elite disciple!"
Hearing such a blatant challenge, Old Guan glanced at the other three elderly ones and said: "All of you can save your effort. With this young man, all of you will not stand a chance."
Chapter 223: What a Fat Horse!
However, the other two elderly men were not prepared to be too courteous about it as well and they similarly left words behind to make the same commitments.
Feng Jiu smiled to see that and she clasped her hand over her fist to say respectfully: "I am grateful for the generous affection of my seniors here and your junior has also committed all your words to memory. But as I still have pending business at hand, I cannot afford to stay long. My three seniors, Vice Headmaster Guan, your junior shall hereby take my leave."
"Sure sure sure, you just go on your way!" Old Guan waved his hand with his eyes narrowed with smiles, his heart fearing that if the kid remains here any longer, who knew what kind of tricks the other three old ones would come up with to fight for the kid, so he was only too eager to let him leave.
Seeing that, Feng Jiu was not about to tarry and immediately wiped oil under her feet to slip away.
Till that red figure disappeared from their line of sight, one of them suddenly slapped himself on the thigh and exclaimed: "Ah! See here! We forgot all about the real issue! We haven't even asked him clearly how he went into the rigorous training forest and we've let him go!"
Hearing that, the others then suddenly remembered it. But they had all been astounded by the red clothed kid's level advancement and had forgotten all about it. Now that the person was gone, there was no point continuing to harp upon it.
Only Old Guan from the academy was stroking at his beard thoughtfully as he stared off in the direction Feng Jiu had left, thinking to himself: [Why do I feel we've been played by that youth? Will he really come join his Starry Cloud Academy?]
On another side, Feng Jiu who had already reached the mountain path blew out a slight breath and with a big smile she said: "Luckily I managed to escape quickly, or I really don't know how I'm going to get myself out of that!"
She stared down the mountain path, the path seemingly stretching out endlessly. Seeing that, she could not help but mumble to herself: "In cultivation of Immortality, only after reaching the Foundation stage would one be able to command and control a sword, and with mystical powers only a Martial Ancestor could travel by flying sword. Though I possess both mystical and spirit powers, but I am not even able to command a sword to fly at this moment. If only I can get myself a flying magical artifact, then I will not have to walk everywhere."
Hence, she could do nothing but walk on forward, intermittently executing Cloud Tracing Steps to leap through the air as she moved…..
Until, she saw a strange scene before her on the mountain path ahead.
There was a white horse as fat as a pig slowly walking backwards, and upon the horse's back was a green clothed man who occasionally clasped his legs around the belly of the horse, trying very hard to negotiate with the horse as he held the reins in his hands.
"Old White, walk forward will you! When we reach the city in front, I will prepare a great big meal for you alright?"
'Tch!'
The horse shook its head and snorted out two streams of hot air. And because of the shaking of its head, Feng Jiu who was walking up from behind saw that it was not an ordinary horse, as on the head of that horse, sprouted to seemingly budding horns.
"Old White, let me tell you, if you continue to be so disobedient, I am going to beat you!"
The young man threatened with an intimidating look on his face, as he pulled out a soft whip hanging from his hip, pulling himself up like he was going to lash the whip down. However, his whip had merely snapped sharply in the air and had not even touched his ride when the hind legs of the horse kicked, throwing the young man off its back completely.
"AHH!"
The young man panicked and wanted to clutch his legs around the horse's belly, but as the force of the throw was too strong, he fell straight towards the ground and went: "Ow!"
"Old White! You dare to throw me off? You….. You wait and see! When we get to the city, I will have you sold off!" The young man said huffily as he climbed to his feet, feeling a stinging pain in his palm that had been scraped by the sand and stones.
Watching that scene, Feng Jiu could not help herself but laugh out loud as she walked forward, and patted the horse on its rump to say: "What a fat horse! And it actually learnt to walked backwards? It's so strange."
When the young man saw Feng Jiu, he was slightly taken aback and holding the reins in his hand tightly, he asked guardedly: "Who are you?"
And at that moment, the horse turned its head around, its eyes lighting up as it stared at Feng Jiu. It then actually sidled itself up against Feng Jiu, sticking its tongue out and wanting to lick her face, which startled Feng Jiu to quickly jump back in retreat.
"Whoa! I just stroked you once and you are thinking to take liberties with me! ?"
Chapter 224: Pursue the Entire Way
When she jumped aside to avoid it, the horse would lean to that side, stretching its long horse face forward with its tongue stuck out seeking to lick her face, which caused the young man to freeze in shock for a moment before he pulled back on the reins and shouted.
"Old White, he's a male!"
Following that, he turned towards Feng Jiu to say apologetically: "Old White is a little lecherous. I think when it saw that the Young Master is so good looking, it mistook you for a girl."
A corner of Feng Jiu's mouth tugged when she saw that the fat horse was still struggling to come forward and cosy up to her and she then asked: "What kind of a horse is that? Why does it have antlers?"
"Old White is a variant Spirit Beast. Because it has the looks of a horse, with the antlers of dragons, hence, it can be called a Dragon Horse. Other Spirit Horses can run at highly tremendous speeds but as Old White here eats too much and is just too lazy, it has then grown become so obese."
The young man even gave the Dragon Horse a helpless gaze as he went on to say: "I had actually not wanted to bring it out, but the people in my family said they wanted to slaughter it to turn it into food on the table and I could not bear to let them, so I brought it out. But we've just come halfway out here when it started acting up once again."
'Neigh! Neigh!'
Old White the Dragon Horse whinnied, its tail swishing as it attempted to go closer towards Feng Jiu.
Feng Jiu found it highly amusing and said: "This Dragon Horse really looks highly intelligent." As she spoke, she reached her hand out to stroke the horse's head and it nickered before immediately lying itself down onto the ground, it's four hooves kicking in the air looking like it was very happy.
Seeing that, Feng Jiu could not help but feel a corner of her mouth twitch as she thought to herself: [It's really a lecherous horse!]
"I'm called Bai Xiao, what about you?"
Feng Jiu cast a glance at him and replied: "It's just a meeting by chance, is there a need to ask for names?" Upon saying that, she clasped her hand over her fist in farewell and then continued to make her way forward. She utilised the Cloud Tracing Steps and hence, she moved at a very high speed, moving more than fifty meters away in the blink of an eye.
'Neigh!'
When Old White who had laid itself on the ground saw that Feng Jiu had left, it leapt to its feet with a loud neigh, and its hooves thumped right after her in pursuit.
"Hey! Old White, wait up! I have not gotten on yet!" Bai Xiao cried out in surprise, being dragged to run as he held on to the reins.
Hearing the commotion behind her, Feng Jiu glanced back behind her which made her want to sink her head into her palm. She immediately quickened her blazing pace but against all her expectations, Old White who looked to be as fat as a pig when it came to running, was in no way just mediocre, whom after chasing her the entire way, still could not be shaken off.
Seeing that she was about to reach the city in front, she gradually slowed herself down as she blew out a breath, and glancing behind her, she immediately came to a stop.
"Sheesh! It's driving me nuts!"
Bai Xiao fell off the back of the horse, his entire person sitting on the ground as he gasped for air. When he saw Old White leaning itself close towards the red clothed youth, Bai Xiao's eyes bulged as he stared in speechlessness.
Feng Jiu's eyes were similarly staring at the lecherous horse who was salivating there right before her eyes. [How to put it in words!]
This Dragon Horse was not buff at all and was instead a whole lump of flabby fat, absolutely devoid of any sense of aesthetics to her eyes. Although the speed it was able to sprint was not slow, but she really didn't want such a fat horse following her.
"Hey, keep a rein on your horse. Don't let it continue to follow me anymore." Feng Jiu said as she looked at the young man on the ground. The moment her voice fell, her red figure flashed and she quickly sped in through the city's gates. It had been just a flash, before she disappeared within the crowd.
Old White was stunned a moment, and with a loud neigh, it picked up its hooves and with a leap, it continued with its pursuit.
Bai Xiao could only clench down on his jaw tight, his eyes glaring in anger as he shouted:'Old White! You damned fool! You continue to run and I will really not want you anymore!" The moment those words came out, Bai Xiao immediately got up to chase after the horse.
Chapter 225: Old White Shakes Its Rump
On another side, Feng Jiu went into an inn and shouted: "Waiter! Bring me a few of your best dishes and also a flask of wine!"
"Coming!" Waiting on the patrons, the waiters acknowledged in a raised voice, as he carried his water kettle and came over with a beaming smile on his face. "Sir, have some tea first and the food and wine will be served right up."
Feng Jiu was initially sitting by the window on the first floor. However, when she casually turned her gaze outside, she spotted that fat horse turning its head to search left and right the entire way, it frightened her to quickly shift herself to the back.
Until, when that fat horse passed outside, did she finally heave a sigh of relief and muttered: "Ran into a curse. Why is it following me so relentlessly?"
She picked up her teacup and blew lightly at the steaming cup of tea. As she sipped at it, she heard a commotion sounding out from the window.
'Neigh!'
She turned her head and immediately blurted out a cry: "AHH!" She lost her grip on the teacup for a moment and it toppled onto the table, spilling the tea all upon it.
She did not know when Old White had come to the window but just saw it sticking its head straight towards her and snorting two streams of hot air out through its nose, its mouth split in a sort of grin, its tail swishing while it shook its rump, seemingly saying: [See, I've found you again.]
"Like a relentless pesky ghost!"
She stared blankly at it, to see the fat horse lift its front hooves and laid them upon the window sill and refusing to budge, to stare straight at her which elicited snickers and laughter from the surrounding crowd of people.
"Whose horse is that? It's so fat!"
"The horse even has horns! It looks like it not just a regular horse."
"Look at that horse! It even knows how to plop itself on the window sill!"
Hearing the mocking ridicule from the crowd, the shop owner came running out in a huff. "Whose horse is this? Can't you let people continue to run their business? Bring it away! Bring it away!"
Following that, he said apologetically to Feng Jiu: "Sir, I'm sorry. I don't know whose horse that is that came disturbing our guest here. Why not we do this? Will you like to go sit on the second level?"
"No need no need. I'll just sit here."
Feng Jiu waved her hand dismissively to say, and then saw the young man running out from the crowd and panting heavily as he shouted: "It's my horse! It's my horse!"
The young man came running over huffing and puffing, to quickly grip the reins and berating the horse in rage: "What an outrage! Old White! I….. I will definitely sell you off!"
"I'll buy it!" Feng Jiu exclaimed as she toyed with the cup on the table, looking at the man and horse standing there.
"Huh? Wh….. What?" The young man was taken aback a moment, slightly stunned.
She curled up her lips and said: "I said I'll buy it. What's the price for the horse? Didn't you say you'll sell it? You can just sell it to me."
"This….. This….."
The young man scratched at his head and then said sheepishly: "I was actually just saying it, to admonish it a little. I have no intention of selling it."
"It is obvious this horse likes me a lot. Look. It has chased me all this way and you are not able to tame it properly. Isn't it better for you to sell it to me?" She asked as she looked at that fat horse plopped upon the window sill, an eyebrow raised up, the corners of her mouth curled up in a devilish smile.
"Old White, don't you agree? You'd want to come with me right?"
'Neigh!'
Old White lifted its head to whinny, and then raised its hind hooves to kick out towards the young man.
Seeing that, Bai Xiao quickly jumped out of the way, his face flushed a deep red, not known whether it was from embarrassment or anger. He then slapped the horse's rump and berated angrily: "Old White! You lust bitten fella! He is male and not female! What are you getting so excited for Heaven's sake! ?"
Watching that scene, Feng Jiu could not help but laugh out loud and say: "Sigh….. I had not really liked it at first. But now, I am growing to like it the more I look at it. What can I do?"
When Old White heard that, its rump started swinging left and right, a look of delight coming onto its horse face as it curled up its tongue and seeked to lick her again.
Chapter 226: Exchanging Gifts
Bai Xiao held covered his eyes and turned his head away, truly unable to continue to watch as he mumbled: "How embarrassing….."
It was his own horse, but it was shaking its head and rump and trying so hard to win the red clothed youth's favour.
It was his own horse but it refused to let him ride it and had even kicked out at him, to come chase this red clothed youth the entire way.
He had already told the horse, that the red clothed youth was male, but it was still excitedly nudging itself towards him. From when had Old White's appetite changed to being open to both men and women?
"Hahaha, this horse is rather fascinating. It seems to under human language."
"That's right, although a little too fat, it's rather adorable."
"If that red clothed youth had not said it, I would have thought that the horse belonged to him! Look, that horse is leaning itself forward so excitedly, from the way it looks, it couldn't possibly be thinking wanting to kiss the lad could it? Hahaha!"
When those joking words came out, everyone inside and outside erupted into guffaws, because that was truly a scene that was rare to see.
At that moment, Bai Xiao came in from outside, and walked over to Feng Jiu's table and sat down as he said: "Old White is not a piece of goods, we can forget about selling it to you. But since Old White likes you so much, I can give it to you as a present instead."
Hearing that, Feng Jiu lifted an eyebrow. "You're giving it to me?"
"Mm." Bai Xiao nodded his head and then continued to say: "I have kept Old White for quite a number of years already, and on most days, this fella is either eating or sleeping. I brought it out this time because I did not know what else I could do. I can see that Old White really likes you alot, and so, I am giving it to you."
"If that is the case, then thank you." Feng Jiu laughed brightly, and then turned two cups over upright, to pour wine into them before saying: "This cup is a toast to you."
Bai Xiao picked up the cup and took one small sip before putting it down. "I am not used to taking alcohol."
"Then have some food." Feng Jiu said with a smile and shouted out: "Waiter, bring another two dishes of food and a serving of soup."
"Coming up!" The waiter answered, speedily attending to the order.
"Can you tell me what is your name now?" Bai Xiao asked as he looked at Feng Jiu.
Feng Jiu smiled and replied: "I am called Feng Jiu."
"I am called Bai Xiao, which I have told you before." He said with a smile, and after pausing for a moment, he continued to say: "Old White is actually very easy to keep. You only need to prepare ten catties of small fishes or shrimps for its every meal and that will do."
'Cough cough!'
Hearing that, Feng Jiu immediately choked on her wine and starting thumping herself on the chest before she asked in shock: "What did you say? You do not just let it eat grass but feed it fish and prawns?"
Bai Xiao nodded, his face serious as he said: "Mm. Old White is not any regular horse. It is a dragon horse and a variant Spirit Beast. So it is not a herbivore. It only eats meat."
"Feeds on fish and prawns? It eats much better than humans ourselves! No wonder it is all covered in fat."
She stole a glance at Old White at the window who was listening to them talk and she thought to herself whether she was courting trouble for herself.
After the meal, Feng Jiu paid up and came outside before she said to Bai Xiao: "I still have business to attend to and I shall take my leave first. If we have the affinity to meet again in future, I will buy you another good meal."
"Alright, watch yourself on your journey." Bai Xiao clasped his hand over his fist in farewell, and looked at Old White who did not even give him a glance before he shook his head as he said to Feng Jiu: "I'll have to depend on you to look after Old White well from now on."
"Heh heh. Set your heart at ease. I will train it well." Feng Jiu said with a devilish smile brewing on the corners of her lips, to glance at Old White who was swishing its tail.
After bidding farewell, Feng Jiu flipped herself onto the horse's back, riding it towards the outside of the city gates. However, they had just walked a short distance and Old White had already stirred up trouble for her…..
Chapter 227: Irresistible Charm
Seeing Old White going about with its head lowered, and blowing out two streams of hot air through its nose to lift the ladies' skirts, Feng Jiu was completely speechless as she covered her eyes and turned her head away.
Old White had made lechery into an art…..
"AIEEE!"
A shrill scream suddenly sounded, as a young lady dressed in a pink blouse and skirt pushed her hands down upon her skirt that had been blown up by the wind, her face red as she turned herself around.
And just as Feng Jiu was going to come down off the horse and apologize, she saw Old White curling up its tongue and giving the young lady's face one good lick, smearing her face full of saliva, scaring the young lady so badly she stood there frozen with her face completely pale.
Seeing that scene before her, a corner of Feng Jiu's mouth twitched, and she once again felt like palming her face.
[Why….. Why was this rascal so lecherous?]
"Young Miss!" A young servant girl quickly held the young lady, busily wiping away all that saliva with a handkerchief from her face.
The man beside them then seemed to recover his senses from shock as he stared at the fat horse who threw a lazy glance at him and his face turned into rage as he scolded loudly.
"Audacious animal!"
The man berated in anger, and at the same time, he threw a punch straight towards Old White's face, never expecting that the punch he threw would be blocked by a hand.
"Young Master, no need to get angry."
Flipping herself off the horse, Feng Jiu blocked the man's fist with one hand and said apologetically: "I am sorry, this horse of mine is just a little lecherous and it definitely did not mean to take liberties with the Young Miss. I ask for the Young Master and the Young Miss to not place any blame upon the horse."
"Lecherous? Hmph! I think you're the lecher! You must have goaded your Spirit Beast into committing such a shameless deed!" The man shouted fiercely, and retrieving back his fist that had been blocked, his gaze sharp as he stared at the handsome looking Feng Jiu dressed fully in red.
[Spirit Beast?]
When the surrounding people heard those two words, they quickly began to look with measuring gazes at that fat horse. Seeing the two horns sprouting out from the top of its head, they could not help but began to debate in lowered voices.
"The horse is not the same from the regular ones. Is it really a Spirit Beast?"
"I heard that Spirit Beasts are worth quite a bit, and Spirit Beasts that could be ridden upon in place of walking have all been tamed by Beast Tamers."
"But isn't this Spirit Beast a little too fat! ? Looking at it, I don't even know if it can run at all!"
"But I do know that eating the flesh of Spirit Beasts can strengthen the bodies of regular people like us and cultivators of Immortality can absorb spirit energy. It's great stuff."
Hearing the words from the crowd, Feng Jiu smiled. Seeing the man staring at her with an unfriendly face, she then smiled and looked at the dainty young lady whose face had turned pale from fright as she went before her. Feng Jiu then showed a devilishly enchanting smile upon her handsome face, eyes overflowing with an alluring sparkle as she looked at the young lady with a gaze oozing with gentleness.
"Young Miss, I am deeply sorry. I am to blame for not controlling my mount properly, which caused the Young Miss to be startled."
Her voice did not have the soft gentleness of a female nor the robust masculinity of a male, but was instead like clear water, refreshing and comforting, tinged with traces of a slight raspiness and hidden allure, where upon reaching one's ears, it felt like a feather was tickling their ears, numbing the senses right into the heart.
The dainty young lady gazed upon the red clothed youth and seeing his clear eyes spilling over with that alluring sparkle as they looked at her, the pair of eyes that felt like they could talk immediately caused her cheeks to flush red, her heart to thump rebelliously, and her entire being to become so nervous that it made her lower her head.
"It's….. It's alright."
The young lady's voice came out gently, tinged with nerves, sounding rather bashful but she could not help but raise her head slightly to look at the handsome red clothed youth before her eyes.
When the man beside them saw that, his face darkened and he glared furiously. He was just about to speak when he saw the red clothed youth laughing in a low voice.
Chapter 228: Six Path City
"Young Miss is not only adorable but kind and magnanimous enough to not hold a grudge against my steed and my humble self thank you for it."
She clasped a hand over a fist and bowed, and saw the young lady's dainty countenance turn red as an apple. The smile in her eyes then deepened, one hand holding Old White's reins as she said: "With this, allow my humble self to take my leave."
"Oh, alright. Stay safe Young Master." The young lady said, having been hopelessly captivated by those few sentences and that electrifying gaze from Feng Jiu, an answer purely having been lead by Feng Jiu's words.
Seeing the red clothed youth apologising trying to amends, the man beside them felt there wasn't anything more for him to say. Afterall, his cousin had not said anything more about it, much less for him. If he were to continue to find trouble with the youth, then it would seem like he was just picking on him.
Until Feng Jiu swung herself up upon her horse and she had rode Old White slowly tread their way out past the city gates when the young lady finally regained her senses and said: "Ah! I forgot to ask the Young Master for his name!"
Seeing his cousin face filled with so much regret, the man's face darkened and with a flick of his sleeves, he said: "Let's go back!"
— Two Days Later —
Feng Jiu led Old White to enter through the Six Path City and once past the city gates, she saw the flourishing and bustling scene where her heart could not help but sigh as she thought: [As expected of a sixth grade country. From the architecture to the shops and such, they were all things that the Sun Glory Country were unable to compare with.
"You heard? The Ghost Doctor who has recently risen in fame had come to out Six Path City and it was said that it was the City Lord who received him personally."
That couldn't be possible right? I heard that an accident occurred during the Medicine Grading Big Meet and the Ghost Doctor was abducted by people from the Hell's Palace."
"It was heard that he had been released quite a while ago. Or otherwise, why had all those medicines appeared in various parts of the land recently? There hasn't been that much medicines appearing at the auctions but every bottle that did was a most precious treasure among treasures. It was said that the Six Path City's City Lord was fortunate enough to successfully win the bid for a bottle of the Ghost Doctor's medicine and after taking the medicine, the City Lord had broken through to the bottleneck that he had not been able to breakthrough all this time! The matter had spread throughout the upper class family clans and I had only come to know of it after I heard about it from my cousin who works at the City Lord's residence.
"Is it true or not? It's that good?"
"Of course. Let me tell you. The Ghost Doctor's medicine is said to be more effective than an elixir from a Pill Cultivator and even with loads of money, you might still not be able to buy one. Haven't you seen that quite a number of people from out of town had come to our Six Path City? They must have received the news and had all come here for the sake of the Ghost Doctor."
Hearing the conversations from the few people at the tea stall, Feng Jiu arched up an eybrow slightly, a dark glint flashing across her clear eyes as she lead Old White to continue walking forward.
After having walked for a distance, she came before an inn named Cloud Top as she stopped in front of it. The waiter then immediately came rushing out in greeting from inside.
"A customer's here!"
The waiter shouted towards the inside as he accepted the reins that Feng Jiu held out and then said: "Our customer came just at the right time. There is still one room on the second floor of our inn and it enjoys great light."
"Mm." She tossed a gold coin to the waiter and ordered: "Prepare for me ten catties of small fishes and shrimps and the change left over is a tip for you.
The waiter said smilingly: "Thank you customer. Our customer can rest assured that my humble self will carefully look after our customer's steed."
The waiter who had come out in greeting from the back lead Feng Jiu to the front desk and after Feng Jiu paid up, he led Feng Jiu up to the second level.
After instructing the waiter to prepare hot water and she took a bath, she changed out of her red clothes and into a white robe, her ink black hair tied up high. She then tempered down the wildful devilish charm within to turn into a suave and refined young master.
Seeing that the sky was showing it to be still early, she then sat in a half lotus position upon the bed to moderate breath and cultivate, till when it was evening and the colour of the sky was turning dark gradually before she got up and walked out from the inn, intending to roam about to enjoy the Six Path City's night scene, and to find herself some food.
Unknown to her, the Hell's Lord who had also heard the news had come here to the Six Path City as well…..
Chapter 229: Night Market in the City
In a residential courtyard somewhere, Grey Wolf came rushing in a hurry into the back courtyard. Seeing his Lord sitting there and sipping on tea, he went forward to bow in greeting.
"My Lord, your subordinate gathered in my investigations that the Ghost Doctor in this Six Path City is eighty to ninety percent an imposter."
The Hell's Lord glanced at him and said: "Why do you say that?"
"The time he appeared does not match. The Ghost Doctor in this Six Path City already appeared in here seven days ago but at that time the Ghost Doctor was still in our tower, hence I say that this Ghost Doctor is an imposter."
"Since it's an imposter, find a chance to go expose him." The Hell's Lord said in a low voice and paused a moment before he went on to ask: "The Black Market has no news of him as well?"
Grey Wolf was taken aback a moment. Realizing that the person his Lord was talking about was the Ghost Doctor, he then replied: "There is still no news currently but just that the attendant at the Ghost Doctor's side had followed the people from the Black Market here upon hearing about news of the Ghost Doctor."
[Still no news of her? Where could she have gone hiding into?]
The Hell's Lord thought to himself in his heart, his fingers tapping gently upon the stone table, his lips stiffened and his brows slightly furrowed, which caused Shadow One and Grey Wolf to exchange a glance at the side, before both of them lowering their heads at the same time.
The Lord had left the Hell's Palace's affairs unattended to and come rushing all the way here the moment he heard news of the Ghost Doctor. Caring so much about it, if the target had been a girl, they would have been very happy about it but alas! The Ghost Doctor's male! And it was one that was badly disfigured. How could they possibly begin to feel any happiness about this?
Grey Wolf thought about it for a while, and then raised his head to look at the Hell's Lord before carefully suggesting: "My Lord, the night scenery in this Six Path City is considered to be one of a kind, why not, go out to take a stroll?"
"Mm." The Hell's Lord answered briefly, and with a flick of his sleeves, he went walking outside.
When Shadow One and Grey Wolf saw that, the quickly went to follow behind.
As night descended, the shops, inns and restaurants on both sides of the wide street quickly lit their lamps, the endless lanterns lighting up the darkness of night, like specks of stars under the night sky, dazzling and mesmerizing.
Upon the street with people coming and going, friends in groups of threes and fives walking together, couples in pairs and children running around in play, their faces shining with delighted smiles. Hawkers hawking their wares in loud voices, the shop assistants entertaining their customers, the myriad sounds blended all together, to form into a bustling and highly lively scene.
And on one side of this busy and bustling street, at an unremarkable looking little stall, Feng Jiu who was dressed in a full white robe was eating a bowl of red and oily splash noodles, so spicy that quite a bit of perspiration had formed upon her forehead, her vermillion lips turned slightly red from the hot and spicy oil, looking highly alluring, causing several men who were similarly eating the splash noodles at the side and a couple of ladies at another table to stare, completely captivated.
"Boss, I'll have another bowl!" She raised her voice to shout, finishing up the noodles and pushing the spicy soup left behind aside, and pouring a cup of water to gulp down.
She had initially only wanted to just have a taste of what was said to be the local famous speciality, the oil splashed noodles, who knew that downing one bowl of it would have the spiciness from the oil bring out her appetite, making her order another serving of it.
"Coming up! A piping hot bowl of oil splashed noodles. Young Master be careful it's hot." The middle aged man said loudly, bringing another bowl to her.
Feng Jiu moved her chopsticks, and starting eating again. The people at the side looked on seeing that she was not afraid of the spiciness as she polished up one bowl after another and they could not help but helplessly swallow a gulp of their saliva before they went on to shout: "Boss! I'll have another bowl too!"
"I'll also have another one!"
Seeing that, the stall owner was absolutely beaming till his eyes could not be seen as he busied himself bring the orders to everyone where in the end, he delivered another small dish of food to Feng Jiu saying: "This is just a dish I made myself. I'm giving it to the Young Master to have a little taste."
"Alright, thank you….."
She raised her head up with a smile to express her thanks, but before she could finish her sentence, she spotted that familiar figure out of the corner of her eye, frightening her to block her face with her hand, half sprawling herself upon the table.
Chapter 230: Seated at the Same Table
She discreetly brought her hand up to cover half her face and was half sprawled upon the table as she peeked at that black robed man like a crane standing among chickens. That air around him and that oppressive aura, who else could it be but that secretly amorous guy? And he had Shadow One and Grey Wolf following right behind him!
[But, why had they come to the Six Path City? They couldn't have come running here to capture her upon hearing news that the Ghost Doctor was here right?]
[Tsk! That's really being too petty.]
At that moment, she didn't even think about who was really being petty. Running away and even making off with people's thousand year old ginseng.
"That's right! He seemed to have never seen what I really looked like!"
She only recalled at that moment that messy scars had been all over her face and after that she had always applied the medicinal salve on it, so none of them had ever seen her face after her looks had been restored!
Even if she stood right in front of them now, it was thought that they wouldn't be able to recognize her right?
Thinking about that, her mouth split into a wide smile as she straightened her back with a slight cough, before she continued to eat her oil splashed noodles.
"My Lord, this oil splashed noodle is a speciality of this Six Path City. Does my Lord want to have a taste of it?" Grey Wolf asked the Hell's Lord in front of him as he pointed at the little stall whose seats were filled with many people.
The Hell's Lord was just about to shake his head when he spotted the white clothed youth seated there with his head lowered while eating oil splashed noodles. For some unknown reason, his feet were already striding over, and he sat himself down right across the white clothed youth.
Feng Jiu was enjoying the little dish with her oil splashed noodles and thinking to finish up so she could quickly leave as afterall, the Hell's Lord was viciously sharp. It might still be fine if she did not meet him face to face as if they did, she really didn't know whether he would be able to recognize her.
Hence, she did not even raise her head up at all but just buried her head down and ate. Who would have known, as she was halfway done with her meal, she noticed that someone had sat down right across her and just from the air that person exuded, she did not need to even ask before she knew that it was that darned Hell's Lord.
[Could he have really recognized me? That's not possible right?]
[Or could it be that he wants to eat oil splashed noodles as well? Tsk! The path truly runs narrow between enemies! Meeting him everywhere she went!]
"Boss, a bowl of oil splashed noodles." Grey Wolf hollered, as he stood together with Shadow One behind the Lord guardedly.
"Yes yes."
The stall owner saw that the air around the three men was highly absorbing and he subconsciously felt rather fearful of them. He quickly brought over a steaming bowl of oil splashed noodles and then said: "For the Lord, be careful not to scald your mouth."
The Hell's Lord creased up his brows and stared at the devilishly red bowl of oil splashed noodles oozing with oil and then looked up to see the youth slurping on his noodles. He paused a moment before he asked: "It's very good?"
The deep voice was tinged with query as he looked at the youth who kept his head lowered all this time, never lifting it up once since he sat down. [Could it be the youth does not dare to look at him? Could it….. really be her?]
When that thought came to her mind, his mood suddenly greatly improved. As his deep incisive gaze saw the youth's mouth that had been slightly scalded to become slightly swollen, a smile rose up within him helplessly.
However, Grey Wolf who did not fully understand the situation thought that the Hell's Lord was asking him instead and he took a step forward with a grin split across his face to say: "My Lord, this oil splashed noodles is good only when it's spicy enough. You'll know what I mean after you have a taste of it. But be careful that it's hot, the spicy oil is very….."
Before he had even finished his sentence, he saw the Lord's cold and icy gaze sweeping onto him, which confused him greatly. He paused for a moment before he asked very carefully: "My Lord, what….. what's wrong?"
Standing behind the Hell's Lord, Shadow One threw Grey Wolf a glance and then rolled his eyes in utter speechlessness.
[The Lord was clearly asking that white clothed youth, when had the Lord asked him anything? What is he trying to prove stepping up so eagerly to go give his answer? What a dolt! Can't even read the signs properly.]
"Boss, the bill!"
Feng Jiu shouted, purposely lowering the pitch of her voice and lifting her head up at the same time, revealing that handsome countenance…..