Upon hearing the news, Deng Wu couldn’t help but feel worried, but at the same time, he decided to let his friend rest and stabilize his Qi. Clearly, Yan Xiaobao didn’t want Deng Wu to know what had happened, and Deng Wu respected that. After all, both friends had secrets they could not share with others.
"Master Wu!" someone called from outside Deng Wu’s courtyard. "It’s time to meet with the Wang Family." Hearing this, Deng Wu ceased thinking about the Memory Stone and instead channeled his Qi through his body to his hand, where he crushed the Memory Stone with his energy.
As Deng Wu stepped onto the shattered pieces of the stone on his way to the staircase leading to the main hall, a crunching noise echoed.
"We all have our little secrets," he muttered as he strode past the servant who had summoned him. "Some secrets are bigger than others. Don’t hate me for this, Xiao Yue."
Back at the inn, after Xu Yue woke up from sleeping most of the day, he felt his body had grown taller than before. His movements were less fluid, and he felt like his head had been stomped on by an elephant. In many ways, Yan Xiaobao felt hungover again, reminiscent of experiences from his previous life.
Yan Xiaobao let out a deep sigh, sitting up in his tired body, only to be greeted by Sha Yun and a table piled high with food. However, as he looked at the table, the only things he could see were roots and red meat—a large quantity of both.
"What’s this?" he asked curiously, his stomach growling as a shy smile spread across his face.
"It’s packed with iron," Sha Yun said seriously, her expression stern. "It’ll help you regain your strength," the Snake Woman explained as she loaded a plate with vegetables mixed with several blood-red steaks.
Though Yan Xiaobao had been hungry before, his appetite vanished the moment he saw the steaks. They were charred on the outside but clearly raw in the middle—a roughness that was truly off-putting.
Looking at the roots, Yan Xiaobao could only sigh. It was evident Sha Yun had cooked for him, and while he deeply appreciated the gesture, he preferred his vegetables cleaned before being served.
Yan Xiaobao slowly walked down to the inn’s lower level, which housed a small tavern, and ordered a more carefully prepared meal, inviting her to dine with him. freewёbnoνel-com
For the rest of the evening, Yan Xiaobao did his best to entertain the Snake Woman, but no matter how much she asked, he continuously refused to tell her who had caused his injuries. Yan Xiaobao knew Sha Yun well; he knew she’d seek revenge on his behalf. Though Sha Yun was strong, she had never truly valued her cultivation, and as a result, she wasn’t as powerful as Yan Xiaobao. If this adversary had managed to leave Yan Xiaobao in such a precarious state, how easy would it be for him to turn Sha Yun into a snake-skin bag?
Sha Yun was easily distracted by Yan Xiaobao, and the two chatted idly into the night until Yan Xiaobao felt his wounds had healed enough. Yet, he still required more rest, and so he dragged his weary body to bed, letting himself enjoy another night of peaceful slumber.
Although Yan Xiaobao had slept a lot recently, it hadn’t been his usual habit as a cultivator. He often sought to use every hour in the day for cultivation. However, since Yan Xiaobao was now injured or had completely depleted his cultivation base, he allowed himself this night of rest to naturally replenish his body and Qi vortex. This would minimize stress on his body while stabilizing his Qi.
When morning arrived, Yan Xiaobao woke up once again, neatly unfurling the snake tail wrapped around him before heading to the kitchen, where he ordered two hearty breakfasts.
Today was the day they would meet Deng Wu to view a place that might become their new home. Sha Yun shared Yan Xiaobao’s excitement, and the two quickly finished their breakfasts before heading out the door, slowly making their way toward the Deng Family estate.
Greeting Yan Xiaobao with a smile, Deng Wu’s eyes gleamed with excitement. In his hands, he tightly held a Memory Stone, which he planned to use to unlock the mansion they were about to see. However, his excitement quickly faded, replaced by concern as he noticed Yan Xiaobao wasn’t his usual self.
Typically jade-white skin had turned gray. Eyes that once shone with vitality and resolve now carried an exhaustion. Walking beside him, Sha Yun supported him with her arms.
"Are you alright?" Deng Wu asked worriedly, looking for a response from the returning figure—who only gave a firm nod. Seeing this, Deng Wu grew curious about what could have happened to the young boy. Yet, try as he might, he could find no visible wounds or injuries.
"Let’s take the carriage," Deng Wu said, glancing at Yan Xiaobao again before signaling for the carriage drawn by his Demon Beast.
Sitting inside the luxurious vehicle, Yan Xiaobao gazed out the window for a while. The mansion they were heading to was located in a better part of town, though still far from the family estate. This mansion was built for smaller families, not large clans, and one of the houses was precisely what they were heading to.
As Yan Xiaobao stared at the bustling streets outside, his demeanor suddenly grew serious when he locked eyes with another man. The man was burly, with a wild beard and sharp eyes. Draped in a black cloak, the man raised his hand and slowly brought his fingers to his throat—a silent but menacing gesture indicating he was coming for Yan Xiaobao.