Chapter 131: Meng Shushu, the Spirit Herb Seeker

Chapter 131: Meng Shushu, the Spirit Herb Seeker

Meng Chong watched as Meng Shushu hurriedly drove away in her carriage, his brows furrowed in thought. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should follow her.

"Never mind, we've already settled our business. There's no need to dwell on it anymore. I should focus on figuring out how to earn Spirit Crystals to buy spirit herbs. I wonder where my senior brother has gone."

With that in mind, Meng Chong turned to leave.

However, he soon saw Meng Shushu rushing back.

"Brother Meng, would you help me deliver this hammer to a certain place?" she asked anxiously.

Meng Chong's eyes lit up, and he eagerly asked, "How much for the escort fee?"

Meng Shushu took out a spirit ticket, her face pained as she said, "How about a hundred spirit crystals? I don't have many left on me."

"No problem!" Meng Chong readily agreed, taking the spirit ticket.

"Brother Meng, meet me here in three days, and I'll give you additional thanks!" Meng Shushu quickly informed Meng Chong of the meeting place and then hurried off, looking flustered and anxious.

"I wonder what's hidden inside this hammer," Meng Chong mused as he climbed into the carriage and began driving slowly toward the location Meng Shushu had indicated.

He took out the three eighth-grade spirit herbs and examined them, but couldn't identify them. Although Su Lingxuan had introduced him to spirit herbs, his knowledge was still limited.

Moreover, there was always a gap between a verbal description and the actual item, unless it was a highly distinctive spirit herb.

"I wonder what would happen if I consumed these eighth-grade spirit herbs to cultivate the Great Sun Golden Body?" Meng Chong pondered, but ultimately decided against it. "It would be a waste to consume them directly. I should bring them back and have my junior sister refine them into pills."

Three days later, Meng Chong arrived at a small town.

Just as expected, Meng Shushu had left a mark on a wall in a corner of the town. Following the directions indicated by the mark, Meng Chong made his way to a small mountain peak just outside the town.

"So secretive. I wonder who she's hiding from," he muttered to himself.

Meng Chong drove the carriage to the mountain and parked it at the foot of the peak. Carrying the two large hammers, he began climbing the mountain path.

The path was rugged and the trees towered overhead, but these posed no challenge to Meng Chong. With light, quick steps, he soon reached the summit.

At the peak, there stood a solitary tree, thick enough for three people to encircle with their arms, its branches and leaves shading half the summit.

As Meng Chong climbed up with the hammers, he spotted Meng Shushu hiding in the tree. Just as he was about to greet her, a sudden figure streaked toward them from behind.

The figure exuded an incredibly powerful aura, filled with murderous intent. Without hesitation, they launched a fierce attack.

"Hand it over!"

It was a Master Warrior.

"Watch out!" Meng Shushu shouted from the tree, leaping down to intercept the sudden attacker.

But Meng Chong didn't move a muscle. The attacker's strike landed squarely on his back, and their other hand reached out to grab one of the hammers.

Boom!

As Meng Shushu flew toward them, her expression changed. But what happened next shocked her even more.

The attacking Master Warrior, who had just landed a blow on Meng Chong's back and grabbed one of the hammers, was about to take the other hammer when Meng Chong seemed to react.

With the hand that had lost the hammer, Meng Chong swung a punch backward.

Thunder rumbled, and golden light radiated from his body!

Boom!

To Meng Shushu's astonishment, the sneaking Master Warrior was instantly blown into pieces.

In the next moment, Meng Chong, like a human beast, waved his hand, and the sound of thunder rippled through the air. Fierce and violent power swept forth, turning the fragmented corpse into ashes in an instant.

Gulp.

Meng Shushu swallowed, her face pale with shock.

That was a Master Warrior, and with just one punch, he had been blown to pieces?

And then he was reduced to ashes. Just how fierce was this man she had found?

She felt her heart pounding with unease.

"Where did this enemy come from, daring to sneak attack me? Are they tired of living?" Meng Chong grumbled, picking up the dropped hammer and turning to Meng Shushu.

"Why did that guy want to kill me? I haven't offended anyone, as far as I know. These enemies with unclear backgrounds, they need to be wiped out completely, turned to ash," he said, his tone indignant.

Meng Shushu, still reeling from the display of power, managed to ask, "Brother Meng, are you alright?"

That was a strike from a Master Warrior, and it had landed solidly, yet Meng Chong seemed completely unharmed. Just how tough was his body?

"What could happen to me? It's just an itch," Meng Chong replied nonchalantly. "Now, who was that attacker, and why were they so ruthless? I turned them to ash; do you think I did the right thing, cousin?"

Meng Chong strode over to Meng Shushu, still grumbling.

Meng Shushu's face was pale, and her breath was a bit unstable, indicating that she had been injured in the skirmish.

"Brother Meng, to be honest, his enemy... wasn't you. It was me," she confessed, her voice tinged with guilt.

Meng Chong snapped his fingers, realization dawning on him. "That makes more sense! I was wondering why an enemy would suddenly appear out of nowhere. So, it was your enemy all along, cousin."

"He came to kill you, didn't he?" Meng Chong asked, a smile spreading across his face. "Since he was targeting you, and I helped you by killing him, it's as if I saved your life. So, you owe me your life, am I wrong?"

Meng Shushu's eyes widened in disbelief. How did she end up owing him her life?

"Brother Meng, listen to me," she said, a hint of sweat forming on her brow. "He came to kill me, and although you killed him, is it possible that even without your intervention, I could have handled it myself?"

This thick-browed, burly man was surprisingly cunning.

If she really had to owe him her life, she would probably have to pay a hefty sum to buy it back.

Money didn't grow on trees!

Meng Chong glared at her, his eyes narrowing. "Cousin, do you have the ability to handle someone of that caliber? You should know that even I, Meng Chong, with my formidable strength, took a hit and nearly suffered a severe injury. Could you have inflicted the same level of damage on me with your abilities?"

"If you couldn't have dealt a severe blow to me, how could you have handled that attacker? Moreover, if I'm not mistaken, you're injured. How much of your strength can you even muster right now?" Meng Chong's eyes widened, and his fierce aura made Meng Shushu's heart race. It felt like he could explode her with a single punch.

The memory of him obliterating a Master Warrior with a single punch was still fresh in his mind.

"Come on, cousin, let's spar. If you can last three hundred rounds with me, I'll believe that you could have dealt with that attacker, and I won't count it as me saving your life. How does that sound?" Meng Chong said, striking a fighting stance.

Meng Shushu's face darkened, and he hastily replied, "No, no, don't bother. Just tell me how many spirit crystals it will take for you to kill a Master Warrior!"

He strongly suspected that Meng Chong had intentionally avoided dodging the attack to make it seem more dramatic. It was all a ploy to emphasize the strength of the assailant and make himself look indispensable.

Meng Chong wrapped an arm around his cousin's shoulder. "Cousin, what are you saying? Do you think I only care about spirit crystals? Fine, I'll give you a discount because we're family. Instead of a whole life, you just owe me half."

"Can't I not owe you at all?" Meng Shushu asked weakly.

"I saved your life," Meng Chong insisted, his tone turning serious. "I'm giving you a discount because we're family. You owe me half your life. Can't you accept that?"

"Fine, I admit it!" Meng Shushu conceded, reaching into his pocket. "Here, Brother Meng. Take these five hundred spirit crystals."

Meng Chong's expression turned solemn as he pushed the spirit ticket back into Meng Shushu's chest. "Since you, my cousin, value your life at only five hundred spirit crystals, then I'll take these crystals and take half your life in return. That way, we're even."

"Wait! Wait!" Meng Shushu exclaimed, his face paling in fear. "How about one seventh-grade spirit herb? No, make it two seventh-grade spirit herbs! I can't give any more than that; I don't have many left."

Meng Chong's face lit up with a broad smile. "Cousin, you're too kind! That's more like it. How can a spirit herb compare to a life? Let's make it two seventh-grade spirit herbs, then. It wasn't easy for me to kill a Master Warrior, so I can't just do it for free!"

"Of course," Meng Shushu agreed, nodding. He took out a Tianbao Pavilion storage receipt and handed it to Meng Chong. "Also in Qinglin City, two seventh-grade spirit herbs. These are the last of my spirit herbs."

"Alright, then we're square." Meng Chong nodded, tossing the hammer to the ground and taking the receipt. "I've delivered the hammer as promised. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

"Take care, Brother Meng!" Meng Shushu called out, relieved.

"Goodbye!" Meng Chong turned and strode away.

"My cousin sure knows how to stir up trouble. There were even Master Warriors after her. I, Meng Chong, stepped in and killed one of them, so getting two seventh-grade spirit herbs in return is a fair deal," he muttered to himself as he quickly descended the mountain.

Since he had already intervened, he couldn't just do it for free. The enemy was targeting Meng Shushu, and by helping her, he deserved compensation.

Glancing at the carriage below the mountain, Meng Chong decided to dismantle it and ride off on the horse instead.

"Let's go to Qinglin City and retrieve the spirit herbs," he said, mounting the horse.

As he rode back to Qinglin City at a leisurely pace, he suddenly looked up after traveling a few dozen miles.

"A Master Warrior?" he murmured.

Most warriors below the first rank probably wouldn't even notice, but Meng Chong had spotted a figure flying through the air—undoubtedly a Master Warrior, and not a novice one at that. This warrior was at least a mid-level Master Warrior.

"They're heading toward Meng Shushu," Meng Chong muttered, hesitating for a moment. Instead of turning back, he continued on his way to Qinglin City.

Suddenly, he looked to the left and spotted another figure in the distance.

Another Master Warrior.

"There's someone else over there. Three Master Warriors, all heading toward Meng Shushu. Are they her enemies?" Meng Chong frowned, deep in thought. He abandoned his horse and rushed back toward the mountain peak at breakneck speed.

"Cousin seems to come from a wealthy background. It wouldn't be unreasonable for me to ask for one of her storage bags as a token of gratitude for saving her life, would it?"

Boom!

A battle had already erupted on the mountain peak. A figure with incredible speed darted through the forest, their agile movements allowing them to dodge the enemy's encirclement.

Meng Chong didn't immediately join the fray. Instead, he quietly hid behind a large tree, using the leaves to conceal his presence.

"Tian Jin, you betrayed me?" Meng Shushu glared at one of the three Masters, her eyes filled with anger.

"Brother Meng, I didn't want to either. But the people you offended are too powerful and influential. They found me, and if I didn't cooperate, I would've been finished," Tian Jin explained as he continued the pursuit, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "And sixth-grade spirit herbs... who wouldn't be tempted by them?"

"Brother Meng, just give up. There's no point in running. You're a spirit herb seeker, and your ability to locate spirit herbs is among the top five in the Inner Realm. They won't kill you; they might even offer you protection if you join them," Tian Jin reasoned.

"I, Meng Shushu, would never stoop to being someone's lapdog! Besides, those people are heartless and cruel. The slightest dissatisfaction, and they'll torture you. Why would I ask for such trouble?" Meng Shushu retorted furiously.

One of the other two Master Warriors besieging Meng Shushu spoke up, his voice deep and stern. "Meng Shushu, hand over the location of the sixth-grade spirit herb, and perhaps I'll turn a blind eye and let you escape."

"Yes, tell us where the sixth-grade spirit herb is, and we'll let you go," the other one added.

"Hmph, do you think I'm a three-year-old child?" Meng Shushu scoffed, a cold smile playing on her lips.

With her agile movements and incredible speed, she weaved through the dense forest, trying to break free from her pursuers. However, she was still injured, and the three Masters were no weaker than her, one of them even stronger.

Just as she managed to create some distance, they quickly closed in again, making it impossible for her to shake them off.

Meng Shushu grew anxious. The longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it became for her. If the stronger members of their group arrived, she would have no chance of escape.

Meng Chong overheard every word of their conversation, and his eyes lit up at the mention of the sixth-grade spirit herb.

This was the highest-grade spirit herb in the Inner Realm, extremely rare and thus, immensely valuable.

"Could it be that the sixth-grade spirit herb is inside those two hammers?" Meng Chong wondered, quietly trailing behind, not yet ready to make his move.

"So, Meng Shushu is a spirit herb seeker, and she's ranked among the top five in the Inner Realm? That means she has extensive experience in locating spirit herbs and knows where they can be found. My junior sister needs spirit herbs for her pill concoction, and having a spirit herb seeker to procure them for her would mean a steady supply," Meng Chong thought excitedly. "This Meng Shushu's life is now mine to save! No one can stop me!"

"No wonder she has so many spirit herbs. So, she's a spirit herb seeker. This time, she owes me a life. I wonder how many spirit herbs it will take to buy her life back?" Meng Chong's excitement grew.

He didn't care about offending Masters. With his strength, he could easily punch them to death; they posed no threat to him.

As for the force targeting Meng Shushu, Meng Chong wasn't concerned either. Compared to the value of having a spirit herb seeker like Meng Shushu, offending that force was insignificant.

Even if they had a Grand Master sitting at their headquarters, he wasn't intimidated. At worst, he could just run away.

Moreover, once his strength increased, he would eventually be able to crush even Grand Masters.

"The Sword Sovereign Cliff is one of the top forces in the Inner Realm, and Brother Xie's name should carry some weight," Meng Chong mused.

He continued to trail behind, biding his time and waiting for the right moment to make his move. Meng Shushu wasn't in imminent danger yet, so acting now would be premature.

"These three Masters are too weak. Although Meng Shushu can't shake them off for now, she won't be in any real danger," Meng Chong frowned.

Meng Shushu's agile movements and speed, coupled with the dense forest, meant that she could easily create distance and potentially escape.

Moreover, she was heading deeper into the forest, an area known for its dense vegetation and towering trees.

"My cousin won't be able to escape, will she?" Meng Chong furrowed his brows. If Meng Shushu escaped, how would he find an opportunity for her to owe him her life?

Suddenly, his eyebrows lifted as he looked up into the sky. A figure had suddenly appeared, descending towards them.

"A powerful Master!" Meng Chong's heart skipped a beat. This person's strength was no joke, and with his current abilities, he might not be able to take them down with a single punch.

Perhaps two punches would do it!

Meng Shushu's expression changed drastically as she witnessed the arrival of this new opponent—a peak Master!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end