Chapter 34: Pear City Part 2

Xiao Kun said, “You’re too lazy even to ride a horse?! Master!”

Xiang Xian seized the moment, leaped over, and landed steadily on the horse behind Xiao Kun. The Sweat-Blood Treasure Horse bore the extra weight without issue. Now free from controlling the reins, Xiang Xian hugged Xiao Kun’s waist and dozed against his back.

Xiao Kun: “…”

A Huang flew back and said, “There’s a huge lake ahead. We’re almost there.”

“We’re here!” Hulü Guang said. “That’s Bohu Lake!”

In the evening, they arrived at the eastern shore of Bohu Lake. Hulü Guang set up camp and tethered the horses. Wu Yingzong built a fire and prepared food. Chaosheng cast Spells in the watery area, instantly filling the air with immortal energy. Strange flowers and grasses sprouted from the ground, and the Sweat-Blood Horses gathered around, lowering their heads to graze.

“This is your Immortal Technique,” Hulü Guang said from the side, his eyes full of admiration.

“Mm,” Chaosheng explained. “But the soil needs to be suitable, and there must be a nearby water source to make the flowers grow.”

The two watched the horses together. Hulü Guang added, “This one’s a male. The others are females. See?”

“Huh?” Chaosheng and Hulü Guang examined one horse’s underbelly together. Chaosheng was shocked. “The horse… is actually so…?”

Hulü Guang said, “It’s not mating season yet. In two more months, it will…”

“Don’t teach him strange things,” Wu Yingzong said. His mood had improved considerably along the way.

Hulü Guang quickly apologized and asked Chaosheng’s age. Learning he was nine years younger, he dropped the topic. Xiang Xian beckoned him over, signaling not to disturb Wu Yingzong and Chaosheng, and sent him to fetch water and prepare for cooking.

Even Hulü Guang, who was guileless, could see it—they didn’t want him getting too close to Chaosheng, and Wu Yingzong remained ever vigilant. So he tactfully went to fetch water.

A Huang returned, bringing a small Emerald Bird with him. They both landed on Wu Yingzong’s shoulder. Wu Yingzong was preparing food while Chaosheng whispered to the horses on one side of the camp, stroking their necks and naming them one by one. The horses crowded around eagerly, pressing their heads into his hands like they were vying for affection.

A Huang stretched his wings and yawned. “I want naan. Give me naan, housekeeper.”

Wu Yingzong said, “You always just eat the sesame seeds on top. Such a waste. Who’s this?”

“Don’t know,” A Huang said. “It’s been following me the whole way.”

The Emerald Bird chirped.

Wu Yingzong placed a piece of naan covered in sesame seeds on a rock for A Huang and the Emerald Bird to peck at as a snack. Over these past few days, Wu Yingzong had clearly been distracted. His eyes lingered on Chaosheng in the distance. Sometimes he glanced at Xiang Xian to avoid missing a call, and other times he watched Hulü Guang’s movements.

“That guy has no designs on your Immortal Fruit,” A Huang said. “Stop being paranoid.”

Wu Yingzong, his thoughts exposed, felt uneasy. “Nothing like that. Don’t talk nonsense.”

A Huang pecked some sesame seeds and fed them to the Emerald Bird. This gesture of goodwill delighted the bird immensely. It forgot about eating and nuzzled close, using its beak to preen A Huang’s neck feathers.

Wu Yingzong looked at Chaosheng and recalled how he had embraced the White Deer, a scene much like him now hugging the horses’ necks.

“You’re not jealous of horses too, are you?” A Huang said.

“Keep up the sarcasm, and no more naan,” Wu Yingzong warned, though his eyes stayed fixed on Chaosheng in the distance. He asked A Huang, “How do you know?”

A Huang replied, “When you like someone, you can’t help watching them all the time. Hulü Guang treats Chaosheng well but doesn’t steal glances at him constantly.”

On the other side of the camp, Xiao Kun watched Xiang Xian intently crafting Magic Treasures, his gaze reluctant to leave him for a moment.

“You’re making this too complicated,” Xiao Kun said. “Have Chaosheng burn Hulü Guang’s Deed of Sale and give him his freedom. Done.”

Xiang Xian whispered back, “This has nothing to do with Hulü Guang. You’re misunderstanding. I want to give Old Wu a reason to go to Kunlun. Otherwise, following us forever—what future does he have?”

Xiao Kun understood immediately. Though Xiang Xian never voiced concern for Wu Yingzong, he truly hoped for him to gain an opportunity—ideally to cultivate immortality, or at least become a spirit beast.

Xiang Xian assembled a Magic Treasure from purchased materials and sat cross-legged with Xiao Kun.

“Difficult?” Xiao Kun asked, observing Xiang Xian’s expression.

“Not really,” Xiang Xian said. “But materials are short. I can only make two.”

“Let me see?” Xiao Kun’s gaze finally shifted to the Magic Treasure. “No need to make them so ornate. Too beautiful.”

Xiang Xian said, “This will do for now. A Huang! Lend me your beak.”

Using coiled gold wire craftsmanship, Xiang Xian made a dragonfly and a Phoenix Butterfly. A Huang flew over and used his hard beak to bite through the gold threads for him.

Xiao Kun took the dragonfly and examined it. Xiang Xian explained, “The Echoing Voice Insect’s eyes are gems. Inject Spiritual Power into it, and when one side lights up, you can communicate.”

Xiao Kun stepped away a few paces. “Can you hear me?”

The Echoing Voice Insect emitted a strange sound, faintly recognizable as Xiao Kun’s voice.

“Perfect!” Xiao Kun walked farther. “You try?”

Xiang Xian gestured for him to return. “This kind of Magic Treasure can be disrupted by Heaven-Earth Veins flows. It fails easily in sandstorms, heavy snow, or torrential rain.”

“No problem,” Xiao Kun said. “As long as it works normally.”

“There’s another use.” Xiang Xian held the Phoenix Butterfly, opened his palm, and the gold-wire butterfly fluttered up, flying toward Wu Yingzong and Chaosheng by the lake. It lightly landed behind Wu Yingzong. By then, the three were at the campfire—Wu Yingzong starting dinner, Hulü Guang helping.

Xiao Kun understood at once. The Echoing Voice Insect could eavesdrop! The dragonfly’s emerald eyes lit up, transmitting the conversation between Wu Yingzong, Chaosheng, and Hulü Guang.

“Old Wu, are you going to Chaosheng’s home?” Hulü Guang was asking questions, trying to fit in.

“That depends on Chaosheng,” Wu Yingzong replied.