A small bag capable of pouring out so many items was undoubtedly similar to the one Counselor Sui You had held that day.
This was precisely what Chen Ku had dreamed of.
He had coveted it for a long time. With such a bag, he could carry his clothes and Weapons, sparing him the need to return home for them every time he went out.
However, Yang Luochen had told him that this item was crafted from the rare Bear Skin Stomach and worth Ten Thousand Gold; it was not something one could necessarily buy even with the money.
Unexpectedly, his brother, upon returning home for a visit, had given him one directly. This Storage Bag alone, setting aside everything else, was worth more than Chen Ku’s entire current fortune.
And there was more. Chen Ku looked down, gazing at the collection of items scattered on the ground.
They were a dazzling array of fruits, cosmetics, and spices, none native to Ji Country.
When Chen Ku spotted a round, green fruit with black stripes on the ground, he couldn’t help but gasp, Watermelon?
This fruit was a true luxury in Ji Country. Even in summer, it was unseen in Baojiao County; likely, only noble families in the Prefecture City possessed such a thing, let alone in the dead of winter.
Looking beyond the watermelon at the other items, there were cosmetics, a mink fur coat, and some small toys for children. A single glance revealed these were New Year’s gifts brought back by someone returning from afar.
Chen Ku packed these items into the Storage Bag one by one. These were everyday gifts, but there were also more valuable ones, to which Chen Xin had even attached notes.
"Ice Mountain Snow Lotus Seeds, Top-grade Precious Herbs, can be used to make soup for the elderly and children."
"Mysterious Jade Pillows, three pieces, treasures, cool and dreamless when slept on during the summer."
"Family Flower Seeds, plant in the courtyard in summer, no mosquitoes."
These were all treasures that only the extremely wealthy could afford.
Suddenly, Chen Ku spotted something else.
It was another Paper Man.
Chen Ku read the note on the Paper Man: "Injury-Substituting Paper Doll. If attached to the body, it can withstand a single attack from a Cultivator up to the Third Realm."
He was greatly startled. Substitute for an injury? To block an attack from a Third Realm Cultivator!
The utility of this Paper Man, upon careful consideration, was immense.
Sometimes, when Martial Practitioners clashed, a single crucial moment determined life and death. With his Inner Qi, if Chen Ku launched a surprise attack against an unprepared opponent, he could even kill someone at the Mystic Barrier level.
Imagine, with this Injury-Substituting Paper Doll, one could almost launch a successful sneak attack against a Third Realm expert.
This Paper Man from Chen Xin was tantamount to an extra life for Chen Ku, truly a lifesaver in a critical moment.
Gazing at this Paper Man, Chen Ku grew curious about the kind of Sect his brother had joined in Yuan Country. Be it the Paper Man clone or this Death Replacement Paper Man, such items were far beyond the comprehension of the Martial Path within Baojiao County.
He gently exhaled a breath of Dirt Qi.
Regardless, his brother had remembered to return and bring gifts for the family. He hadn’t forgotten their mother, his wife and son, nor Chen Ku himself... On this point alone, Chen Ku had to admit he truly was his brother.
Well, I’ve accepted the gifts, but he didn’t stay.
Chen Ku looked at the surging Dragon River and said, "When I get back, how am I going to explain this to the family?"
He had caught up, only to see his brother turn into a Paper Man and disappear. He shook his head, unable to think of an explanation for the moment.
As he gazed back at the rolling Dragon River, he thought, Since I’ve already made it to the Dragon River, there’s no rush to go back. I’ll go and wait for Senior Brother Jiang.
The New Year’s Eve dinner had already ended. He had agreed with Jiang Shaoyou to try his luck by the Dragon River, hoping to see if any Year Beasts would emerge from the water. Slaughtering a Year Beast and taking it home—that was the true "New Year’s celebration," a good omen for the New Year.
He fastened the Storage Bag to his waist and walked along the Dragon River towards the Little Manor Town ferry crossing, where he had arranged to meet Jiang Shaoyou.
The river wind was bone-chilling. Though Chen Ku could ward off the cold, his face was still whipped red by it.
He walked along the riverbank, quietly releasing the Volcanic Crow to circle overhead. This Demon, the Volcanic Crow, resembled an ordinary large, black-and-red crow when not absorbing fire. In the darkness, its coloration provided excellent camouflage, aiding Chen Ku in surveying the riverside.
If he could encounter a Year Beast along the way, that would be ideal. For this reason, he also kept his Fine Dog Sense alert to any unusual scents along the river. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel⟡fire.net
And so, he continued towards the Little Manor Town ferry crossing. Half an hour passed in a flash, and he was still a little under an hour away.
First, Chen Ku’s Fine Dog Sense picked up a scent. It was somewhat familiar, and almost instantly, he identified its source in his mind.
This smell... it’s the aftermath of exploding Talisman Paper... Peace Path!
He felt a sudden jolt. Peace Path.
Over a month ago, he had destroyed one of the Demon People’s outposts in Snake Fish Town, and he hadn’t interacted with them since. At most, he’d recently pretended to use their name, claiming Demon People had ambushed Zhao Chuanzu...
Unexpectedly, on New Year’s Eve, he stumbled upon these people again, about two miles downstream along the river.
Could it be... that they’re also hunting Year Beasts? The first thing that came to Chen Ku’s mind was this possibility.
With that thought, he sent the Volcanic Crow to fly ahead and investigate, while he followed closely behind.
Soon, he neared the location, having also discerned the approximate number of Peace Path Demon People by their scent.