"You're welcome." Yang Yunhai said casually, then continued eating the rabbit meat.
Not long after, the two finished their meal and resumed their journey.
By now, they were already within the ordinary hundred-year soul beast region. With their combined strength, there was nothing to fear, so their pace was steady and quick.
By the time the sun had dipped low but not yet set, they had already walked out of the Star Dou Great Forest.
As dusk approached, Yang Yunhai suggested they find a place to build a fire and eat.
"I'll go gather some firewood." Reaching a clearing, Yang Yunhai quickly set his things down and walked toward some dry trees.
Zhu Zhuqing quietly watched him leave. Then she glanced at Yang Yunhai's bundle on the ground, raised her hand to her ear, and took out a carpet from her soul tool. She laid it down neatly on the open ground. A moment later, she pulled out another and set it at a separate clean spot before sitting down to comb her long hair.
Ever since Yang Yunhai had dragged her out of the pool, her hair had remained loose, and during their travel she had no time to fix it. Now she finally did.
Before long, Yang Yunhai returned with an armful of firewood. When he saw the carpet laid out by his bag, he smiled. "Thanks."
"It's nothing." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was quiet.
Yang Yunhai nodded and said no more, busying himself with building a fire.
Soon the campfire was lit. Yang Yunhai brought over a Soft Bone Rabbit they had killed on the way and quickly skinned and cleaned it.
Before long, skewers of meat sizzled over the flames, sending out a mouthwatering fragrance.
After a while, he heard crisp footsteps. Yang Yunhai turned to look.
Zhu Zhuqing had finished tidying her hair. Unlike her animated image in his previous life, she wasn't dressed in leather, but her hairstyle matched exactly. The top was tied into cat-ear-like tufts, and her long black hair flowed down on both sides, covering her ears and the amethyst teardrop-shaped earrings she wore.
"Nice hairstyle, it suits you."
Yang Yunhai gave a small approving nod.
Her body stiffened ever so slightly, but she walked calmly over and sat across from him by the fire, her face composed and cold, revealing no emotion.
"Here." Yang Yunhai handed her a skewer.
"Thank you." Zhu Zhuqing finally broke her silence with a quiet voice as she accepted it.
"No problem." Yang Yunhai smiled.
She ate with refined manners.
Seeing this, Yang Yunhai didn't speak further and simply tore into his own portion.
Zhu Zhuqing, who had a smaller appetite, finished first. She rose gracefully and sat on the carpet with her eyes closed to cultivate.
'Diligent,' Yang Yunhai thought with a sigh.
He quickly finished the rest of the rabbit meat, packed his things, then sat on the other carpet to cultivate as well.
The night passed quietly. At dawn, they continued their journey.
Two hours later, they came upon a dirt road. Following it, they reached a human town by afternoon.
"Zhuqing, are you still planning to head to Suotuo City?" Yang Yunhai asked as they sat down in a tavern after ordering food.
Her eyes lowered almost instantly, and after a moment's silence, she gave a faint nod. "Yes."
Though disappointed, she knew what she had to do. Only by confronting certain things could she begin a new life.
Yang Yunhai nodded. "Then we'll part ways in Suotuo City. I happen to have business there."
Dragon Beard Needles—if possible, he did not want to leave them for Tang San. They might not be a great threat to him, but accidents could happen. What if one pierced his head or eyes? With his current spiritual power, something so fine might slip past his defenses.
And once infused with soul power, Dragon Beard Needles could explode on impact.
Even Zhao Wuji, with his formidable defense, had suffered against them. For someone like him, the risk was real.
Mechanical hidden weapons weren't much of a concern, but hand-crafted ones were dangerous. In the original timeline, it was made clear they could be fused with inner power or soul power. That alone was enough to make them unpredictable.
The Guanyin Tear had pierced Qian Renxue's heart, the Bodhi Blood had felled the Deep Sea Demon Whale King. Those were real feats.
'Until I reach the point where I can completely ignore them, I can't afford to be careless.'
Moreover, Suotuo City was along the way. No time wasted. Located in the southwest of the Barak Kingdom, the city was close to the Star Dou Great Forest to the south and directly connected to Heaven Dou City by the Jialing Pass to the north.
'I wonder if Tang San has already reached Suotuo City.' He smiled faintly, then added, "After Suotuo, I'll head north to Heaven Dou City to join a higher-level soul master academy. I definitely won't miss the Continental Soul Master Academy Tournament. Who knows, maybe we'll even face each other as opponents."
"Everyone says battle is the best teacher. If that day comes, I won't hold back."
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head slightly and nodded.
For the man who had done something improper yet saved her life, she truly didn't know how to respond, nor what to say.
"Guests, your dishes are ready!" the waiter called out cheerfully as he set the plates down.
They ate quietly. Afterward, Yang Yunhai bought some dry rations at the counter and suggested, "Let's go hire a carriage at the station by the city gate. That way we can cultivate while traveling."
"Alright." Zhu Zhuqing agreed softly.
A quarter-hour later, the wheels of a finely crafted carriage rolled out through the city gates.
Inside, Yang Yunhai sat near the door, eyes closed in meditation.
Zhu Zhuqing, seated across from him, opened her eyes briefly to study his face. Her gaze softened, and after a moment she rubbed her reddened eyes with the back of her hand before shutting them again, sinking into cultivation.
Time passed. Days blended into meals, rest, and silent cultivation.
Three days later, the driver's voice called out, "Young master, Suotuo City is ahead!"
"Good." Yang Yunhai opened his eyes and nodded. "Thank you."
He turned to Zhu Zhuqing, who was also rousing from her cultivation, and said as he stood, "Come on, let's go."
She nodded and followed him out of the carriage.
The afternoon sun leaned westward as they stood before the city gates.
"There's still some time before evening. I plan to look around the city and maybe buy some supplies. Want to come along?" Yang Yunhai asked with a glance back.
'And maybe cover for me if money's short,' he thought.
"Alright." Zhu Zhuqing agreed.
Together, they wandered the streets, occasionally speaking, browsing stalls and shops.
After some time, Yang Yunhai's eyes fell upon a shop with a circular crest on the signboard. Within the crest were three symbols: a sword, a hammer, and a dragon.
'It should be this one,' he thought, leading Zhu Zhuqing closer without a change in expression.
Once they were nearby, he stopped and pointed. "That shop has multiple soul power fluctuations. Looks like it sells soul tools. Zhuqing, let's go inside."
The shop's door stood open, the dim interior lined with scattered items. Most looked old and broken, hardly valuable.
But Yang Yunhai's eyes quickly locked on a dull yellow crystal.
'Still here.'
He stepped forward calmly, then turned his head toward the lounging figure of Flender and asked, "Boss, how much for this crystal?"
(End of Chapter)
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