Chapter 94: Xiao Yan: Why Can't I Control This Hand?
Clip clop, clip clop...
On the vast plains of the Black Corner Region, two horses galloped swiftly. Medusa was wrapped in a black robe, her hood concealing most of her alluring face. Only her chin was faintly visible, though it lacked the captivating charm of her usual flawless appearance, now looking rather ordinary.
Like when Lu Bu first arrived in Jia Ma Holy City, Medusa wore a face altering mask. Unlike her, however, Lu Bu wasn't hiding his identity or appearance this time.
"Finally here..."
Looking at the patch of green in the distance and the massive black city rising within it, Lu Bu let out a long breath.
The oppressive and boundless blackness of the Black Corner Region plains weighed heavily on the spirit, but the sight of a human settlement was somewhat uplifting.
"Black Mark City... Why are you coming here?" Medusa asked indifferently. During the journey, Lu Bu hadn't shared much about his plans, only mentioning a worst case scenario where their enemies would be at the Dou Huang level, with no Dou Zong experts involved.
She had asked about his intentions once, but when he deflected with vague answers, she decided to stop asking altogether. After all, she already had the Soul Fusion Pill formula in her hands. If they encountered an unbeatable foe, she wouldn't hesitate to abandon him and flee.
"Do you remember what I told you before?" Lu Bu asked with a smile.
"What you told me before... Your goal is to ascend to Dou Di?" Medusa's lips curled into a faint smirk, her tone tinged with disdain. This brat had used his supposed ambition to become a Dou Di as an excuse when she pressed him for details about his plans.
Dou Di? It had been countless years since even a Dou Sheng had appeared on the Dou Qi Continent, let alone a Dou Di.
Medusa considered herself a proud individual, but pride was not the same as arrogance or blind self confidence.
"So you're coming to Black Mark City to look for something that will help you become a Dou Di?" Medusa asked.
"Not quite, but you're not too far off," Lu Bu replied with a light chuckle.
This time, Medusa didn't respond. Her expression remained cold as she spurred her horse toward Black Mark City. Arrogant brat, she thought. Just because your soul strength rivals that of a Dou Zong, you think you can truly contend with one as a mere Da Dou Shi?
With a crisp shout, Lu Bu whipped his horse and followed closely behind her.
Before long, the two arrived at the gates of Black Mark City. The enormous gates, like the gaping maw of a monstrous abyss, stood guard over the entrance, and a long line of people awaited their turn to enter.
The sound of their horses' hooves quickly attracted attention.
"Wow, what a pretty little boy..."
"Jie jie... What's wrong? Didn't you get enough fun last time?"
"Tch, those pretty boys aren't even as tough as women. A little fun, and they croak!"
"Speaking of women, look at the figure on the one next to him. Damn, she's better built than any woman I've ever seen..."
"Should we go check her out? One grope's worth it, two gropes are a bargain, jie jie jie..."
"...…"
Lu Bu's expression remained calm as he paid double the fee to skip the line and entered the city without issue.
"Tch, pretty boy..."
"Ha, ha, ha! Gutless pretty boy."
The crude men jeered and laughed loudly, finding amusement in such idle provocations. But the next second, their laughter was abruptly cut off, as though a hand had gripped their throats mid crow.
Nearby onlookers quickly noticed something was wrong. They backed away cautiously, instinctively keeping their distance.
Sure enough, just as they moved away, the offending men began to turn bright red. Black flames started seeping from their eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouths, accompanied by the acrid stench of burning flesh.
The black flames spread rapidly, consuming them from their organs to their skin, as though they were spontaneously combusting.
"Ahhhh! Ahhhhh !"
Before the bystanders could even scream, a strange fragrance filled the air. The men dissolved into puddles of shimmering liquid, their bodies melting away from the feet up.
By the end, only iridescent pools of liquid remained, gleaming under the sunlight.
"Hiss... hiss..."
The surrounding crowd recoiled in terror, leaping away from the mysterious liquid as though it were poison. Their horrified gazes turned toward the two figures now entering the city gates. It was clear this was their doing!
Inside the city, Lu Bu sighed lightly. This woman… Even after I made a move, she still had to interfere.
"Got something to say?" Medusa asked coldly, glancing at him.
"Nope."
She's even harsher than me...
"What's next?" Medusa asked.
"Find a place to stay. I need to gather some information," Lu Bu replied. He casually grabbed a passerby to ask about the best inn in the city.
As he spoke, a few wisps of flame flickered from his fingers.
The burly, fierce looking man immediately became meek and obliging, eagerly pointing them in the right direction. He even offered to personally escort them there.
It wasn't cowardice, he reasoned. He just didn't want to become the literal embodiment of "warm hearted."
Not long after, the two arrived at the best inn in Black Mark City. They rented two rooms Medusa went inside to cultivate, while Lu Bu headed out to gather information.
The reason for getting two rooms was to facilitate discussions and coordination, not for sleeping. Even if Medusa wanted to rest, Lu Bu wouldn't dare to share a room with her. Who knew if this woman might stab him in the middle of the night?
…
Thousand Medicines Pavilion, the largest medicinal store in Black Mark City. Though called a store, it was actually a massive building, grand and imposing, even larger than the Nalan family's estate in the Jia Ma Empire.
If I'm not mistaken… Lu Bu's eyes flickered with thought. In the original story, there was a Thousand Medicines Pavilion during the battle for the Bodhi Transformation Saliva, but that was in Black Emperor City, under the Black Emperor Sect. Could this pavilion also be part of the forces in the Black Corner Region?
As he pondered, Lu Bu stepped inside the Thousand Medicines Pavilion.
"Jie jie jie... This customer looks unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting the Thousand Medicines Pavilion? What medicinal ingredients are you looking for?"
A warm voice greeted him as he entered. The speaker was an elderly man, likely an employee of the pavilion based on his attire.
Lu Bu took out a piece of paper and handed it over. "Can you gather all the ingredients on this list?"
The list contained the materials for the Po Zong Pill and the Soul Fusion Pill. The Po Zong Pill was intended for Yun Yun, though she wouldn't need it now, it would come in handy later.
The old man chuckled, thinking this young man clearly didn't understand the reach of the Thousand Medicines Pavilion.
But as soon as he looked at the list, his pupils contracted sharply. Some of the listed ingredients were ones he'd only ever heard of, and he didn't even know their properties!
This man isn't ordinary. The old man swallowed nervously. "Sir..."
"Whatever you can find is fine," Lu Bu said with a slight nod.
Just then, the main door was pushed open, and a cold, oppressive aura filled the room. Lu Bu frowned slightly as his sharp senses instantly identified the source a pale faced young man with a slightly unsteady gait, followed by a few individuals in blood red robes.
"Old Li, is the order I placed ready?" The pale faced young man asked in a tone of arrogance and authority.
"Ah, it's Young Sect Master Fan Ling," the old man said with a bow before hurrying into a back room to retrieve something.
Fan Ling... Lu Bu's expression remained neutral, though his mind stirred. This must be the same Fan Ling from the original story, the one who clashed with Xiao Yan and inadvertently provided him with treasures like the fragmented map, the Yin Yang Mystic Dragon Pill, and the Three Thousand Lightning Movement technique.
Lu Bu glanced at Fan Ling briefly before looking away. He didn't like trouble. If possible, he hoped to obtain the map fragment without unnecessary complications.
Soon, a clerk approached Lu Bu carrying several jade boxes. "Sir, these are the ingredients we could find."
"Bill me," Lu Bu replied.
On the other side, Fan Ling had begun sizing Lu Bu up. He had noticed the stranger as soon as he entered the room.
Beyond Lu Bu's appearance, there was something about him that sent a chill down Fan Ling's spine, as if his instincts were warning him to stay far away from this person.
Fan Ling curled his lips in disdain and was about to look away when the clerk's words caught his attention.
"The Thousand Medicines Pavilion only has these ingredients? Interesting..." A faint smirk appeared on Fan Ling's face. Perhaps it would be fun to test this person.
…
Wutan City, Xiao Clan.
Xiao Yan had been taking his time returning home after the conclusion of the Three Year Agreement. He wanted to enjoy a slower paced life for a few days. However, news from Wutan City had abruptly shattered his plans his Xiao Clan had been attacked!
Rushing back in urgency, Xiao Yan eliminated the Gali family and Oba family responsible for the attack. Yet, his father, Xiao Zhan, was already missing.
In his powerless fury, Nalan Yanran unexpectedly arrived, helping him stabilize the clan's affairs. This allowed Xiao Yan to leave and investigate the site of the incident, but he found no clues.
According to Yao Lao, the incident was linked to the Hall of Souls. Xiao Yan was furious, but there was nothing he could do. He had already witnessed the Hall of Souls' power, which was far beyond his current capabilities. His frustration drove him into a period of depression.
With Nalan Yanran's encouragement and Yao Lao's analysis, Xiao Yan regained his determination. He began reorganizing the clan while Nalan Yanran brought in resources and guards from her family to aid the Xiao Clan's reconstruction.
The Xiao Clan members were uneasy about accepting help from Nalan Yanran, given her history with Xiao Yan. They weren't sure whether to accept her assistance.
After deliberating for a few minutes, Xiao Yan ordered the clan to accept the Nalan family's help. This was no time for pride. Only by growing stronger could they secure their survival.
He vowed to repay the Nalan family's kindness himself, shouldering all the consequences.
Xiao Yan also sent messages to his two older brothers, who were away, urging them to return and take over the clan's affairs.
With the help of the Nalan family and military forces, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li quickly arrived from Rock Desert City with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group to assist in rebuilding the clan. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan boarded a griffin with Nalan Yanran to travel to Jia Nan Academy.
"Xiao Yan..." Nalan Yanran's face flushed. Sharing a single griffin meant they were pressed close together. The feeling... wasn't bad.
Xiao Yan's eye twitched. Why… why can't I keep this hand under control?!
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