Chapter 34: So Cute! Part 1

The next day, however, Feng Wu didn’t see the little cat demon on the Back Mountain at all. He even went deeper into the mountain to search, but still couldn’t find a trace of the little cat demon.

Should he go and ask Feng Xixing?

But after what happened back then, Feng Wu had sworn he would never set foot on Spirit Cloud Peak again.

Even though Feng Xixing’s residence was in the most secluded corner of Spirit Cloud Peak, it was still on Spirit Cloud Peak. So, in the end, Feng Wu could only stake out near Spirit Cloud Peak, trying to wait for Feng Xixing to come out so he could ask.

As a result, Feng Wu waited an entire day without seeing even a shadow, and finally returned to Spirit Beast Peak in a bad mood.

Lin Chuyun hadn’t intentionally stood Feng Wu up; Gu Jingshan had taken him to Spirit Herb Peak.

Although Gu Jingshan hadn’t detected any trace of the Soul-Dissolving Powder within Lin Chuyun’s body, the effects of this poison were simply too potent. To be safe, Gu Jingshan still decided to take Lin Chuyun to his third junior martial brother for a check-up.

The Peak Master of Spirit Herb Peak, Dan Li, was the Original Host’s third senior brother and also the only Peak Master the Original Host had never offended. However, Lin Chuyun strongly suspected the reason the Original Host didn’t dare offend Dan Li was fear of being poisoned by him.

Indeed, although he was the Peak Master of Spirit Herb Peak, Dan Li was actually more skilled at creating poisons.

Because Dan Li strongly disliked others entering Spirit Herb Peak, Feng Xixing couldn’t tag along and could only watch as Gu Jingshan took Lin Chuyun away. After the two left Spirit Cloud Peak, Feng Xixing also quietly went out.

…

Spirit Herb Peak was in the deepest corner of Star Point Sect, a place few people usually visited.

Every month, Spirit Herb Peak would submit a fixed quota of pills. Any additional pills required an exchange of spirit stones at the Spirit Herb Hall. Therefore, one could say Spirit Herb Peak was the wealthiest place in the entire Star Point Sect.

Remembering the Original Host’s empty Storage Bag, Lin Chuyun couldn’t help but tug at Gu Jingshan’s sleeve. “Eldest Senior Brother, are Third Senior Brother’s pills… expensive?”

Gu Jingshan was stunned by the question and thought for a moment. “They should be… not expensive?”

His tone was quite hesitant.

After all, Dan Li’s prices always followed his mood. Gu Jingshan, as the Acting Sect Leader and his eldest senior brother, naturally wouldn’t be charged too high a price. But if it was Lin Chuyun…

Gu Jingshan deeply suspected Dan Li might multiply the price by ten.

Lin Chuyun wasn’t comforted at all and followed Gu Jingshan to Spirit Herb Peak with a poor man’s lament.

Gu Jingshan had sent a Sound Transmission to Dan Li before arriving, so as soon as the two landed, a disciple was waiting at the side to lead them into the entrance of Spirit Herb Peak.

The entire Spirit Herb Peak had been transformed into Herb Fields. To prevent anyone from stealing Spirit Medicine, Dan Li had personally set up an Illusion Array at the entrance. The exit of the Illusion Array changed every month, and only the disciples of Spirit Herb Peak knew how to enter and exit.

The entire Illusion Array was shrouded in white mist. Beyond a certain distance, the figures of those ahead became invisible. Afraid of getting lost, Lin Chuyun practically followed right behind Gu Jingshan. However, after just blinking, the two people in front of him were gone.

Lin Chuyun: “…”

Here it comes, the familiar black pot again!

Lin Chuyun felt no surprise in his heart, only a calm acceptance of the inevitable.

The surroundings quieted down, leaving only the flowing mist.

Lin Chuyun silently calculated the time in his mind. Confirming that his remaining time in human form was ample, he calmly turned around, found a tree, and sat down beneath it.

Anyway, when Gu Jingshan went out and didn’t see him, he would figure out what happened.

Lin Chuyun was calm, but the person hiding in the shadows was growing increasingly displeased.

Slender fingertips tapped lightly against his lips. The mist in the air began to condense silently, eventually coalescing into a human shape. The figure’s features were blurry, and from the back, it somewhat resembled Bai Linghan.

Dan Li waved his hand casually, and the white, human-shaped mist drifted out, starting to wander through the woods. Before long, it flashed by not far in front of Lin Chuyun.

The man waited leisurely for Lin Chuyun to take the bait. But Lin Chuyun merely glanced up, then continued to rest with his eyes closed, showing no intention of chasing after it.

“Eh?” Dan Li was slightly surprised. Unconvinced, he tried several more times. Eventually, the humanoid mist was practically standing right in front of Lin Chuyun, yet it still didn’t receive a single glance from him.

“Did he really change his ways?” Dan Li murmured, studying Lin Chuyun with suspicion.

And by this time, Gu Jingshan, who had been led away by him, had also realized something was wrong. He turned around and dispersed the Lin Chuyun that had been following him.

He looked around, then glanced at the disciple leading the way and said, helplessly, “Third Junior Brother, stop messing around.”

As his words fell, the surrounding mist gradually dispersed, and the forest became noticeably clearer.

Only then did Lin Chuyun realize he wasn’t actually far from Gu Jingshan, but he simply hadn’t been able to see him before. And on the small path not far from him stood a man dressed in white.

As soon as the man met Lin Chuyun’s gaze, he frowned, clearly dissatisfied with this visitor. But when he saw Gu Jingshan standing to the side, his expression suddenly softened.

The change in his expression… Lin Chuyun was utterly astonished.

“Eldest Senior Brother,” Dan Li saluted Gu Jingshan, then stared at Lin Chuyun. It was then that Lin Chuyun noticed the Original Host’s third senior brother had white-colored pupils.

Lin Chuyun was startled for a moment, but he quickly recovered and didn’t stare at Dan Li’s eyes any longer. Seeing Dan Li still looking at him, Lin Chuyun thought for a moment and also saluted him. “Third Senior Brother.”

Dan Li: “…”

He was now suddenly somewhat interested in Lin Chuyun. It had to be known that the previous Lin Chuyun would rather die than call him ‘Senior Brother’.

Lin Chuyun’s back prickled under Dan Li’s suddenly fervent gaze. He felt that if Gu Jingshan weren’t here, Dan Li might very well cut him open for a thorough study.

Having been called out by Gu Jingshan, Dan Li stopped bullying Lin Chuyun. He dismissed the disciple to go about their tasks and led the two to his own residence.

Unlike the sparse human presence on Spirit Cloud Peak, Spirit Herb Peak had a considerable number of disciples. However, most were ordinary disciples, only capable of tasks like tending the Herb Fields.

Inside the Medicine Room, there were two young-looking medicine apprentices obediently watching a pill furnace. Seeing Dan Li return, they excitedly rushed to greet him.

“Peak Master, Peak Master, it’s time to open the furnace!”

Dan Li glanced at the pill furnace and casually tapped one of the medicine apprentices on the forehead. “It still needs another hour. Don’t you dare slack off!”

The two medicine apprentices visibly wilted and, looking wronged, went back to squatting before the pill furnace.

“Speak,” Dan Li said, casually sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, one hand propping up his chin as he sized up Lin Chuyun. “If you want me to cure his brain, forget it. He’s fine as he is now; curing him would just leave him brainless.”

Lin Chuyun was exceptionally calm. After all, Dan Li was talking about the Original Host being brainless; what did that have to do with him?

Besides, the Original Host truly had been brainless.

Gu Jingshan rubbed his forehead and spoke helplessly, explaining the situation.

It was only when he heard that Lin Chuyun had drunk the Soul-Dissolving Powder in the Poisoned Tea that Dan Li’s expression turned somewhat serious. His brows furrowed slightly, and he gestured for Lin Chuyun to sit opposite him.

However, after a thorough examination, he still found nothing abnormal within Lin Chuyun’s body.

Logically speaking, even for a cultivator with profound cultivation, drinking Soul-Dissolving Powder would cause their soul to become unstable. Yet, not only was Lin Chuyun’s soul stable, it even felt somewhat stronger than before.

This was the first time he had seen someone drink Soul-Dissolving Powder and get the effect of a Spirit Medicine.

“How could this be…” Dan Li scrutinized Lin Chuyun. “Before you drank that tea, what Spirit Medicine did you consume?”

“…I didn’t eat any.” Lin Chuyun’s mouth twitched. The Original Host was so poor; how could he have any Spirit Medicine?

Dan Li touched his chin suspiciously, then with a flick of his wrist, produced seven Silver Needles.

Lin Chuyun had been afraid of needles since he was a child. Seeing the length of those seven Silver Needles, he instantly jumped up and hid behind Gu Jingshan, stammering out a refusal, “N-N-No, no, no, no! That’s not necessary!”

Seeing his fear, Dan Li’s eyes flashed, and the smile at the corner of his lips suddenly deepened. But instead, he produced a wooden box from his sleeve.

Lin Chuyun immediately had a bad feeling. Sure enough, Dan Li gave him a slight smile and opened the wooden box with one hand.

Three rows—upper, middle, and lower. From small to large, from thin to thick. Over a hundred Silver Needles in total, neatly arranged inside the wooden box.

Lin Chuyun felt that the Soul-Dissolving Powder might not necessarily dissolve souls, but after this box of Silver Needles, he could perform a live demonstration of Soul Scattering and Spirit Dissipation right then and there.

Seeing that Lin Chuyun’s face was turning pale with fright, Gu Jingshan couldn’t stand it anymore. He reached out and closed the wooden box, looking at Dan Li disapprovingly. “Don’t scare Junior Brother Lin.”

Dan Li pouted unhappily but obediently put the wooden box away. However, the initial seven needles remained. He tapped the stone chair opposite him and spoke irritably. “Hurry up, don’t waste time.”

“…” Lin Chuyun took a deep breath and decided to clarify first. “Just seven needles?”

Dan Li rolled his eyes. “Just seven. Who do you think you are, worthy enough for This Lord to use so many needles?”

Lin Chuyun wasn’t sure what the number of needles had to do with worthiness, but less suffering was better. Compared to the box full of needles, these seven suddenly didn’t seem so terrifying.

He obediently sat down opposite, placed his left arm on the stone table, and silently closed his eyes, trying his best to hypnotize himself.

Actually, he was a cat right now, basking in the sun on a stone table in the courtyard. His arm wasn’t being held down for needles. Speaking of which, those needles looked really long… would being stabbed with them actually pierce through his arm? Or maybe it was just a shallow prick, but what if it didn’t stick in properly… So were the needles going in or not!

Just as he was nervously waiting for what felt like an eternity without feeling any needle pricks, Lin Chuyun hesitated for a moment, then quietly stole a peek.

“…” Dan Li looked speechlessly at Lin Chuyun’s face, contorted in an expression of heroic sacrifice, feeling that his medical skills were being unbearably questioned.

However, Lin Chuyun didn’t notice his expression at all. His entire attention was on his arm, where the seven Silver Needles had already been inserted at some point and were now trembling slightly with his movements.

“Hey, you’re kidding, right?” Dan Li couldn’t take it anymore. “It’s just seven needles. Do you have to look like you’re about to die? Lin Chuyun? Are you even listening to me? Lin Chuy… Lin Chuyun?!!!”

He couldn’t hear Dan Li’s words anymore. His vision went black, and he fainted.

…

The moment Lin Chuyun opened his eyes, he saw Dan Li sitting by the bedside. The two stared at each other for a few seconds. Lin Chuyun silently closed his eyes again, pretending he hadn’t woken up yet.

“I’ll count to three. If you don’t open your eyes, all these hundred-plus needles will…” Before Dan Li could finish his sentence, Lin Chuyun flipped over and sat up.

However, after sitting up, he realized he had turned back into a cat. He looked down at himself, then looked at Dan Li. After a moment of hesitation, he quietly spoke. “Meow…”

Where’s Eldest Senior Brother?