Chapter 503: Beauty, Will You Be My Mount?

Chapter 503: Beauty, Will You Be My Mount?

Outside Fongshan Prefecture, the landscape was a captivating blend of mountains and rivers, a sight to behold.

"This river is called Wei River, and during the rainy season, it spans sixty zhang wide, originating from Ye Mountain Lake."

On both sides, steep cliffs towered, with a serpentine path winding along the edges, and below, the Wei River flowed vigorously.

Thorns and weeds covered the path, some reaching waist-height.

Looking down at the Wei River, boats could be seen passing by from time to time.

"If I were a poet, I'd probably be inspired to compose a poem upon witnessing such a scene.

Alas, I'm but a cleaver, and all I think about is slaying fish."

Qi Yuan couldn't help but be moved by the scenery, expressing his own thoughts.

Of course, he wasn't homesick or lamenting his unfulfilled talent, so he couldn't write a poem.

"Fish meat dumplings must taste amazing!" Chen Kangbao exclaimed.

He was always thinking about food.

As he spoke, he gazed at the Wei River, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've heard that in Ye Mountain Lake, above the Wei River, there's a Water Lord whose true form is a giant fish. It must taste extraordinary."

"When the time comes, we'll catch it, find a good cook, and make fish meat dumplings for you." Qi Yuan casually replied.

Just then, a crisp voice, tinged with a hint of coyness, echoed through the air: "You're quite bold, sir. The Water Lord in Ye Mountain Lake has already reached the Earth Rank Apex. He commands the waters of Lord Mountain Estate and is invincible within the lake. Even a legendary Divine Mage Battle Master might struggle to defeat him."

As the words fell, two figures, one tall and slender, the other petite, emerged, both veiled, obscuring their faces.

The speaker was petite, well-endowed, and despite her youth, she already possessed a generous bust.

Her taller companion wore an ink-black dress, adorned with golden threads forming intricate patterns. The quality was exceptional, and her figure was voluptuous, with a slender waist and a curvaceous body.

Although her face was hidden, her exquisite figure rendered her appearance unimportant.

"Hmph! My young master is an incarnation of a heavenly deity. How dare this Water Lord act so arrogantly?" Chen Kangbao couldn't help but retort.

The petite woman's laughter rang like silver bells, crisp and delightful: "The Water Lord currently resides in Ye Mountain Lake. If your young master is so capable, why hasn't he gone to the lake to slay the Water Lord?"

"My young master will do as he pleases. He has his own plans."

"Hmph! I think you're just full of hot air!" The petite woman scoffed disdainfully.

"Junior sister, quiet," the tall woman spoke, her voice as cold as ice.

At that moment, Chen Kangbao felt a chill, as if an August frost had descended upon him.

This coldness penetrated both skin and bone.

If Zhishuang's coldness merely froze the skin, this woman's frigid aura froze both skin and bone.

Her voice alone was enough to evoke such a chilling sensation.

Qi Yuan couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of this extraordinary world.

Back in the mortal realm, he had heard enchanting voices—the alluring 'clipped tone,' the innocent 'young girl's voice,' and the mature 'big sister's voice'—but he had never encountered a voice that felt like solid ice, as if it could freeze everything in its path.

"Senior sister..." The petite woman pouted, but dared not argue with her senior sister, clearly intimidated.

At that moment, the tall woman turned to Qi Yuan: "If you two are determined to slay the Water Lord, why not participate in the upcoming Artisan Assembly?"

She extended an invitation, her voice still icy, making one almost forget the warmth of the sun above.

"Sure, I'll go when I have time." Qi Yuan yawned, feeling a bit weary from his recent busy schedule and lack of quality sleep.

The petite woman gave him a disdainful look, thinking he was all talk.

"Farewell." The icy woman's voice was like a frozen spring in the snow-capped mountains.

She turned to leave with her petite companion.

"Please wait, beauties!" Qi Yuan called out at that moment.

The petite woman's face reddened: "You flirt! Who were you calling just now?"

"You misunderstood. I wasn't calling you. I was addressing your companion."

"You!" The petite woman huffed, her face adorably flushed beneath the veil.

"Please, sir?" The icy woman's voice was polite, with a hint of detachment.

"I need a mount, and you seem... quite suitable. Would you consider becoming my mount?" Qi Yuan asked sincerely, his gaze fixed on the icy woman.

The air grew silent.

Chen Kangbao shivered, feeling a chill.

In the icy woman's eyes, the coldness intensified.

"What did you say?!" The petite woman was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode.

'Mount?' She was insulted on behalf of her senior sister.

"How about considering it? Five insurances, housing and meals provided, excellent benefits, ample room for advancement, and if you perform well, you might even become my bed warmer." Qi Yuan offered very attractive terms.

In the mortal realm, such conditions would likely attract eager university students.

The icy woman's gaze remained cold. She didn't respond but turned and walked away.

Seeing this, the petite woman hurried after her.

"Oh dear, these two are so impolite, leaving without even saying a word." Chen Kangbao spoke up for Qi Yuan.

"You're being too generous with your praise. People like me, with such high EQ, are a rare breed in this world."

Not far away, a petite lady nearly stumbled upon hearing this, filled with indignation.

After about half an hour, the petite lady sat on the boat, hands on her hips, "These two are truly over the top, not only arrogant and boastful, but also chatty. Am I not a beauty? If it weren't for you stopping me, I'd have hung them on a fishing hook!"

"There's no need to argue with madmen." The frosty lady's voice was cold.

"Madmen?" The petite lady paused, then suddenly remembered, "They were both madmen?"

Thinking of this, she was speechless.

It was irrational to get upset over madmen.

The frosty lady's voice carried a hint of doubt, "Looking at the direction they're headed, it seems to be towards Spirit Crossing."

"Spirit Crossing?" The petite lady furrowed her brows.

She and her senior sister disembarked from the boat and headed towards Spirit Crossing as instructed by their master.

According to their master, the Thorn Blood Cult had been very active recently, and she was concerned that something might be amiss at the spirit nurturing grounds. There was a spirit nurturing ground near Spirit Crossing in Fongshan Prefecture.

So, their master asked them to stop by and check on Spirit Crossing when they passed through.

The frosty lady and the petite lady went to Spirit Crossing and, after investigating, found everything to be normal.

"Could they be members of the Thorn Blood Cult?" The petite lady asked, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"Hmm, those old monsters from the Thorn Blood Cult have mostly abandoned their human bodies, neither human nor ghost. That madman from earlier... Though his words were rude, his appearance was quite handsome." The petite lady shook her head.

"Perhaps... it's just a coincidence." The frosty lady replied indifferently.

"Senior Sister, will you be staying the night at the manor this time?" The petite lady thought of something, her face filled with excitement, "I want to meet your husband... hehe."

"No, the situation at Ye Mountain Lake is severe. After seeing Father and taking the Gilded Profound Stone, we'll return to Ye Mountain Lake.

As for him, he should be at the manor now, so you can meet him." The frosty lady spoke up, her voice indifferent.

When she mentioned her husband, it was as if she were talking about a stranger.

After all, she had never met him.

Of course, her cold nature didn't make her nervous.

"I hope he... looks good, otherwise, it would be too easy for him!" The petite lady said, stealing a glance at her senior sister.

The senior sister remained silent, serene and beautiful.

...

Spirit Crossing.

The place was filled with water, a branch of the Wei River.

The aquatic plants were thriving, but their color wasn't a lush green; instead, they were pitch-black, making them even more terrifying.

It was as if human hair was constantly growing there.

"The 'Fongshan Prefecture Records' mention that in the seventh year of the Heavenly Yuan, a great flood occurred, and Spirit Crossing was submerged, with seventy-five households completely destroyed.

At first, everyone thought it was a natural flood, a heavenly disaster.

But later, when the spirit nurturing ground was exposed, people realized it wasn't a natural disaster but a man-made one.

The Thorn Blood Cult had created the spirit nurturing ground, raising demonic spirits and flooding Spirit Crossing."

Chen Kangbao narrated calmly, without joy or sorrow.

"So, the demonic spirits here were once the residents of Spirit Crossing?" Qi Yuan asked.

"Yes, this place was originally a ferry crossing, and most of the people living here were laborers working at the docks." Chen Kangbao continued, "The money they earned from a day's hard labor was barely enough for a family to get by, let alone afford a few extra meat buns. Alas, it's pitiful."

"It does seem a bit difficult to enter." Qi Yuan observed Spirit Crossing, sensing the presence of numerous demonic spirits within.

In a 16-character version, a 19-character version, and a 20-character version, there was not a single mistake!

Compared to Hongyun Village, there were many more.

The Spirit Crossing ahead was filled with various miasma and poisonous gases, making it inaccessible to ordinary people.

Hidden within the muddy terrain were various dangers.

Even an Earth Rank Armament Commander with an indestructible body might easily get trapped.

It was estimated that only a Divine Mage Armament Commander could enter with ease.

The miasma and poisonous gases inside were also very troublesome.

"It seems I'll have to craft some anti-toxin masks and large drones before entering." Qi Yuan commented.

At this moment, he wanted to enter directly, but it would be time-consuming and challenging.

"Young Master, you are so mighty!" Chen Kangbao continued to flatter.

"Let's observe a bit more and see what other dangers there are, and we'll deal with them together." Qi Yuan said calmly.

The biggest challenge at Spirit Crossing was entering.

He needed to use his eyes to carefully examine the obstacles he might encounter and then find solutions.

Finally, they would return to the Shen Mansion, gather the necessary materials, and forge a plan to deal with the situation.

After a few hours, the night deepened, and Qi Yuan didn't return to the Shen Mansion. Instead, he headed towards the Ghost Market.

After finishing his preparations, he continued to set up his stall.

"Sigh, I need money, I need money!" Qi Yuan sighed, "If only there was a white moonlight that could provide both money and experience... that would be wonderful.

Qi Yuan couldn't help but sigh.

Demonic Spirits were all poor, only providing experience strips.

He lacked silver, desperately.

He needed to buy a bunch of materials, and his silver was already running low.

To earn some pocket money, he had no choice but to continue peddling his goods.

Unfortunately, his business was poor, and he hadn't encountered a wealthy fool like Tu San Gongzi.

"Old man, could it be that the magical tools I've forged are really... not up to par?" Qi Yuan couldn't help but ask in confusion.

In the TV shows, the male lead's fried rice sells for thousands of blocks per bowl, and because it's so delicious, the demand never ceases.

The male lead always has a sour face when dealing with customers, as if he were a god.

In contrast, he had changed the voice in the speaker to a sweet tone, yet no one came to buy his stuff.

"Young Master, the world is full of ignorant people who can't recognize true treasures." Chen Kangbao spoke matter-of-factly.

"You're not ignorant, so why aren't you buying?" Qi Yuan stared at Chen Kangbao.

"Cough, cough, Young Master, you're putting me in a difficult position. I'm not ignorant, and my wisdom is remarkable, but I don't have any money!" Chen Kangbao said, putting him in a spot.

"You're not ignorant, so why don't you have any money?"

"They're just lucky!" Chen Kangbao seemed to be saying, making excuses.

Just then, a surprised voice rang out: "Senior Sister, look, it's that crazy guy!"

As the voice fell, a faint fragrance lingered, accompanied by a cold chill, like a snow lotus,

On both sides of the Wei River, two women, one large and one small, appeared.

The petite lady curiously examined the items on Qi Yuan's stall, unable to hold back her exclamations: "You're an artificer... but your skills are lacking. What are these things you've crafted?"

Usually, when leaving the Shen Mansion, Qi Yuan would use his Thousand Transformations to change his appearance along with Chen Kangbao.

After all, he had to play the role of a concubine's husband, and if he showed off outside and was seen by someone from the Shen Mansion, wouldn't he become a laughingstock?

He played the role of a concubine's husband, not a laughingstock. Mixing it up would be bad.

So, in the Ghost Market, the petite lady recognized Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao.

She looked at the strange items on the stall, her eyes critical, but when her gaze fell on the speaker, her eyes flashed with interest: "This thing, it can emit sounds, it's quite interesting."

"Would you two like to buy some magical tools?" Qi Yuan, who was now a hero in a pinch, smiled at the customers, "My stall has only been open for three days, but business is good. On average, I sell three thousand taels worth of goods every day!"

Qi Yuan was skilled in using statistics.

"What, three thousand taels?" The petite lady exclaimed, "Are you trying to fool us?"

Three thousand taels was enough to buy Profound Rank magical tools, and not just ordinary ones.

On the stall, there were a bunch of magical tools, most without a grade, and not one had certification.

Adding up all these items, they probably wouldn't even amount to a thousand taels, yet he sold them for nine thousand taels?

"Hehe, this brother here isn't fooling you," the neighboring stall owner smiled.

Ever since he saw Qi Yuan setting up his stall in the Ghost Market again, he became even more polite and friendly towards Qi Yuan.

After all, on the first day, Qi Yuan earned ten thousand taels, which would surely attract the attention of those with ill intentions.

As a result, he was still setting up his stall, which meant... those with evil intentions had been dealt with by him.

Hearing the neighboring stall owner's words, the petite lady believed him and spoke up: "You really know how to scam! I wonder who the fools are, spending so much money on this junk."

With her discerning eyes, she could tell at a glance that all these items added up probably wouldn't even amount to a thousand taels.

"How much for this, this old lady will buy it!"

The petite lady pointed at the speaker, her tone grand.

"Ninety-nine taels!" Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

"A bit expensive..." The petite lady sniffed, but she still paid, "But this old lady has money, I'll buy it."

As she spoke, she took out the money and bought the speaker.

In truth, for this speaker,

Moreover, she felt that this speaker was quite interesting. If mass-produced, it could have great use, as it concealed a hidden business opportunity.

"Of course!" Qi Yuan was always respectful towards customers.

Beside her, the frosty lady remained quiet as jade, her brows scanning the magical tools on the stall, slightly surprised.

Just then, hurried footsteps approached.

"Senior, I didn't expect to see you here!"

The newcomer was none other than Tu San Gongzi.

He almost came to the Ghost Market daily, but not every time would he encounter Qi Yuan.

Seeing a big customer, Qi Yuan's smile became even more amiable: "What, do you want to buy the other two lightsabers too? Today, I'm in a good mood, there's a discount. Just 21,998 taels, and you can buy both lightsabers!"

Qi Yuan was very enthusiastic.

Beside him, the petite lady's eyes widened.

The fool has arrived?

Ten thousand taels... to buy a Yellow Rank magical tool?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end