Chapter Eighteen: Reunion with the Bearded Man

Little Die’s two ebony eyes spun round and round, fixed intently on Yun Yufeng’s hands. The sudden appearance of the large lunchbox piqued the little one’s curiosity, though she dared not act too boldly, merely watching as she tried to figure out how it had materialized.

“Die Shang, you’re back. Are you tired today? Yesterday you were so exhausted you could barely move. How could those young gentlemen ask you to carry their parcels? Ah, my poor child—it’s all your mother’s fault for not being capable enough. Cough, cough…” A sickly middle-aged woman’s voice drifted from the room, followed immediately by a fit of coughing.

“Mother, don’t say that. Just rest. I’ll bring you water to drink. You’re coughing worse than usual today. I’ll go see the doctor nearby to have you checked soon.”

“Child, don’t waste money. This is an old ailment of mine—a cough that comes and goes. Once the weather improves, I’ll be fine. Besides, it’s incurable. And who is this young gentleman? Aren’t you going to introduce him to your mother? Cough, cough…” The middle-aged woman, frail and sickly, leaned upon her bed, barely able to muster strength. Though only in her thirties, wisps of white hair already streaked her temples.

“Mother, this is the young master who hired me today. He just brought me home and came in to have a look. He’ll leave soon.”

“Such thoughtlessness—not even offering a cup of cool water to the gentleman.” She cast Die Shang a reproachful glance. “Thank you, young master, for bringing Die Shang back. She’s still so young, always wanting to venture outside. What if she met bad people? Ah…”

“Ha ha, Auntie, don’t worry. Die Shang is blessed by fate—she’ll be safe, and your illness will soon recover.”

“Cough, cough… You speak so well, young master. I’m grateful for your kindness. Unfortunately, I have nothing to offer you as hospitality, which is rather embarrassing.”

Die Shang brought over a bowl of cool water, handed it to Yun Yufeng, and hastily tucked the corner of her mother’s blanket.

“All right, Die Shang, I should be going. Come to the inn tomorrow and accompany me for a stroll. Auntie, farewell, please rest well.” With that, he walked toward the door.

“Sir, your gold notes—I haven’t returned them yet.” Die Shang clutched several banknotes and ran after him.

Yun Yufeng didn’t turn his head, merely waved his hand. “Use them to treat your mother’s illness first. What’s left, you can pay me tomorrow. I’ll return to the inn now.”

“Oh!” Die Shang replied, deeply moved by this kind-hearted gentleman, though Yun Yufeng’s domineering manner and refusal to allow argument made her pout slightly.

Yun Yufeng rode the carriage back to the inn as before. As for Die Shang, among all the people he encountered since arriving in this world, she was the one he had interacted with most. He could only wish her a better life.

Upon returning to his room, night had already fallen and lanterns shone brightly. Boats occasionally glided across the artificial lake, stirring the water with a gentle rush, indistinct voices drifting through the air.

He closed the window, sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, and prepared to cultivate. Suddenly, he recalled the bottles of Element Gathering Pills left by Ji Nanshan earlier that day. He took one and swallowed it; the pill, thick as a finger, melted instantly in his mouth, turning into nectar that slid down his throat. In a flash, his whole body felt comfortable, and the battle energy in his meridians grew lively.

Yun Yufeng calmed himself, his mind serene, hands forming seals as he operated the Purple Extreme Imperial Heart Technique. The battle energy in his meridians transformed into a violet hue. Vast amounts of elemental energy from heaven and earth converged upon him, permeating his skin and entering his body, joining the flow within his meridians.

The surging energy coursed at high speed through his meridians, swelling them until they threatened to rupture. Yet, under the flow of life energy, the rate of repair easily outpaced the damage. Yun Yufeng’s ability to absorb energy had always been faster than most, and with the aid of the pill, his absorption rate soared to another level.

Bits of fire element also entered his body, accumulating in his dantian. Violet droplets continuously fell into the dantian, their volume growing steadily, though slowly.

His hands and forearms, now like amethyst, underwent constant transformation. Black, foul-smelling impurities were expelled, adhering to the skin and turning it a strange black-violet.

The violet at his shoulder joints deepened, advancing toward his heart, gradually spreading across his chest. The deepest color settled at the heart, almost turning crystalline purple.

Having taken the Element Gathering Pill, Yun Yufeng’s cultivation speed increased dramatically—more than doubled. The energy from heaven and earth gathered around him, far exceeding usual levels and creating a local scarcity. This anomaly nearly startled several nearby cultivators into deviation. The sudden drop in ambient energy drew attention; many speculated that someone nearby was advancing to a new level, drawing in vast energies, but none guessed that Yun Yufeng’s ordinary cultivation was the cause. As the anomaly persisted, they realized it wasn’t a promotion, but something else entirely—though what, they couldn’t fathom.

As cultivation continued, the pill’s effects gradually dwindled and Yun Yufeng’s absorption rate returned to normal. He exhaled a long, turbid breath.

The noble, exquisite violet faded; the rich hue at his heart vanished fastest, restoring his skin to its original color, leaving it oddly pale against the lingering faint purple.

By dawn, the inn was abuzz, everyone discussing the strange events of the previous night. As for Yun Yufeng, the center of it all, he seemed entirely unaware, calmly finishing breakfast as he waited for Die Shang to arrive.

He watched from afar as Die Shang, bathed in morning light, approached. Yun Yufeng rose and walked out of the inn. Today, Die Shang was no longer dressed as a boy; she wore a white dress, fluttering like a startled swan, unadorned yet graceful and elegant.

“Sir, you’re up early. Here—these are wild fruits I picked by the roadside.” Die Shang tossed a green fruit to Yun Yufeng. “They’re a little tart, hope you don’t mind. I wonder if young masters like you can stomach such things.”

“Ha ha, don’t lump me in with those pampered nobles who live in luxury every day. I’m no different from you. Come with me to the Mercenary Guild—I want to find a mercenary group. I’m thinking of heading home.”

“You’re going to leave Muzha Camp already?” Die Shang’s mood visibly dipped. Though they’d only spent a day together, Yun Yufeng’s care for her was real, leaving the girl reluctant to part, never before having been treated so kindly.

“What, you can’t bear to see me go? Your expression gives you away.” Yun Yufeng grinned, his clear laughter echoing.

“Ha ha, not at all, you’re joking.” Die Shang, infected by his laughter, giggled as well. “We’ve only met for a day—how could that be possible?”

“That’s good. I was worried I’d be accused of seducing an underage girl.”

“Please, as if! Is seducing an underage girl such a serious crime? I’ve never heard of it. They say some high-ranking officials with peculiar tastes even keep young girls.”

“Ha ha, many things aren’t as glamorous as they seem. Come on, let’s take a carriage.”

“Mm.”

Before long, they arrived at the Mercenary Guild. Alighting from the carriage, Yun Yufeng looked up—the guild’s building was the tallest in all of Muzha Camp.

It was a spire, not a cylindrical tower; its base was broad, surrounded by clusters of smaller spires. At the top, a massive pearl gleamed in the sunlight, dazzling all who looked.

The Mercenary Guild was bustling, with countless mercenaries coming and going, accepting and submitting tasks.

“What should we do, sir?”

“We? Find a table and drink tea,” Yun Yufeng replied with a smile. Time was ample; there was no need to rush. Besides, mercenary groups meeting his requirements weren’t easy to find, and he couldn’t very well swagger in and hire a whole team just to escort him.

Naturally, the best method was to join a mercenary team escorting a merchant caravan and tag along. Moreover, perhaps some restless souls would take an interest—dangerous light flashed in Yun Yufeng’s eyes.

The two found a spot near the entrance and leisurely drank tea, like travelers watching the hurried flow of people.

Suddenly, Yun Yufeng sat up straighter. He spotted two familiar faces—the bearded man and the girl in the red dress from yesterday’s arena. The pair approached the task board, checked the postings, and accepted one.

Yun Yufeng was too far to see which task they’d taken. After accepting, they headed out. The girl in red glanced at Yun Yufeng, tugged at the bearded man’s sleeve, and pointed with her chin. The two walked over.

“Uncle, we meet again,” Yun Yufeng stood.

“Young man, enjoying tea here—such refined taste.”

“I’m planning a trip home and want to find a suitable mercenary team, so I won’t be too lonely on the road.”

“Young people are always restless. Where are you headed, young brother?”

“Northeast, to Willow Poplar City—a fair distance from here.”

The bearded man laughed heartily. “We truly are fated, young brother. I happen to be escorting a merchant caravan to Willow Poplar City. Would you care to join us?”

Hearing Yun Yufeng was headed to Willow Poplar City, the bearded man warmly invited him along. He was a bold, generous man, known for promoting talented young mercenaries regardless of seniority. Thus, his team possessed a driven spirit.

Yun Yufeng smiled. “If I refused, wouldn’t I be quite lacking in manners?” He could tell the bearded man was genuinely warm-hearted.

“Excellent! You’re straightforward and cheerful, young brother. Tomorrow morning, let’s meet at the east gate. We’re off to shop for supplies.”

Yun Yufeng nodded lightly and left with Die Shang. He had little interest in mercenary life; if not for his own needs, he wouldn’t have come to the guild at all.

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