Upon hearing the noise outside the door, Yu Qing immediately lay down on the bed and fell soundly asleep.
Xu Fei felt embarrassed. He really could not compare with this person’s wilfulness. He had no choice but to open the door to welcome the guests.
“Brother Xu, we finally see you.”
“Brother Xu, we heard you went missing and it really scared us.”
“Brother Xu, surviving a great disaster must bring future blessings!”
“Is brother Xu’s body alright?”
After the group entered the room they all greeted him one after another.
While Xu Fei was forcing himself to keep up his spirits and accompany them, another group came uninvited. Leading them was the top candidate Zhan Muchun.
The room immediately became crowded.
Zhan Muchun, with a smile on his face, had already calmed his mindset. With the four from Su Yingtao pushing him, he could be said to have lowered his status and taken the initiative to come pay a visit.
Xu Fei felt a bit flattered. The other party was after all the top candidate who had earned it through proper skill. He was a figure who would be recorded in Lie Zhou’s literary history, and the possibility of him topping the golden list was very high. In front of Zhan Muchun he really did not dare to act big, so he quickly lowered his own attitude to reply.
After a few polite words, Fang Wenxian took Xu Fei’s arm to show closeness. “Brother Xu, not only did brother Zhan come personally to invite you, he also specially prepared a wine banquet for you. It is not the previous substitute with tea. It is real wine.”
“Wine banquet?” Xu Fei was surprised and looked a bit doubtful.
He knew the rules. After leaving Wen Hua Academy drinking was not allowed. Drinking harmed the body. The escort personnel feared candidates might have some accident from drinking on the way and did not want to take responsibility, so no alcohol was provided during the journey.
Su Yingtao patted his shoulder. “You do not know? To calm your shock, to welcome you back and wash away the dust, and also to celebrate your escape from danger, brother Zhan personally went to find the escort envoy Lord Fu, explained the situation and intention. Only then did Lord Fu specially grant mercy and allow us to have a few small drinks. The wine and dishes have already been ordered from the post station. We are just waiting for you to attend the banquet.”
Zhan Muchun waved his hand and said: “Brother Xu, the idea was theirs, and they also paid for the wine and dishes. I only moved my mouth a bit. It should not count as me hosting.”
The four from Su Yingtao immediately objected. Pan Wenqing said: “If not for brother Zhan coming forward to find Lord Fu, with just the few of us we would never have such face to make Lord Fu loosen his mouth. For this meal we are all benefiting from brother Zhan’s light.”
“Yes yes yes.” The group followed and echoed.
Zhan Muchun looked embarrassed and repeatedly cupped his hands to the crowd, looking like he was begging to be spared. He then looked around and said: “Where is brother Shi Heng? I heard Ah Shi Heng escaped danger and returned together with brother Xu. It is just right to welcome and wash away the dust for both of you and calm the shock.”
He had not known Ah Shi Heng before, and did not even know the name. How could the top candidate care who was ranked behind? He had only just heard it when people were talking about Xu Fei, remembered it and wanted to invite together. He at least had to cherish the top candidate’s reputation and could not let people say he treated one favourably and the other poorly.
He could still be considered quite graceful.
When the four from Su Yingtao heard this their expressions immediately became indifferent. They did not oppose the invitation from the top candidate, but they also did not speak to welcome someone to the banquet.
They really had no good feelings towards Yu Qing. The four had been hurt by Yu Qing’s words before and had almost turned against him on the spot.
Soon, everyone’s gaze focused on the masked man sleeping soundly on the communal bed.
Although Yu Qing had covered his face, Zhan Muchun had seen the clothing at the post station entrance before. The casually tied ponytail was obvious. He approached the side of the bed and called: “Brother Shi Heng?”
Yu Qing showed no reaction.
Xu Fei broke into a small sweat. Chong Er also stayed weakly in the corner. Both knew Yu Qing was pretending to sleep.
Zhan Muchun leaned over and pushed Yu Qing’s leg. “Brother Shi Heng, wake up.”
Yu Qing had wanted to pretend he could not hear and muddle through, but he had not expected the other party to be so sincere as to use his hands. It did not seem fake, so he immediately gave some face. With his eyes closed he said: “Thank brother Zhan for the good intention. The journey was full of rushing and I am really too tired, so sleepy I cannot manage. You all enjoy slowly. No need to mind me.”
Zhan Muchun was stunned. From this person’s answer he knew he had heard everything. The earlier calls with no response were deliberately done.
The four who were inseparable immediately could not stand it and got angry.
Zhang Manqu pointed at Yu Qing on the bed and angrily shouted: “Ah Shi Heng, do not be ungrateful for the face given. Brother Zhan is holding a banquet and came personally to invite you, lowering his noble status. What qualification do you have to put on airs in front of everyone?”
“An uncultured thing, how can you be considered human?” Pan Wenqing pointed and angrily rebuked.
Su Yingtao flung his sleeve and said: “Brother Zhan, this person is used to petty villainous behaviour and likes to put on a stinking airs to elevate himself. Associating with him will dirty oneself. No need to mind him!”
To stand up for Zhan Muchun, the inseparable four took turns to strongly condemn Yu Qing. The others who did not know the situation looked at each other, not expecting to see this scene.
These four again? Chong Er stared at the four somewhat unhappily. He clearly remembered these four had scolded Yu Qing back at Wen Hua Academy.
Xu Fei looked at the four with some astonishment and secretly worried for them.
Others did not know, but he had personally seen Yu Qing kill without blinking. In terms of ruthlessness, among the group of candidates it would be hard to find a second one.
Including Cheng Shanping who had not been seen again on the return journey afterwards, he even suspected whether he had been killed by Yu Qing.
There was reason for the worry that Yu Qing would kill Cheng Shanping, and as a result Cheng Shanping had disappeared. How could he not suspect?
Fortunately Tie Miaoqing and the others still had a good relationship with Yu Qing, which dispelled his doubts.
He did not want to cause any more trouble that would implicate himself, so he quickly stepped forward to ease things. “Everyone, misunderstanding, it is really a misunderstanding. Brother Shi Heng was injured a bit on the way. After persisting to here he collapsed. He really has no strength to force his spirits for the banquet. Everyone please forgive.”
Seeing him step forward to help speak, the four from Su Yingtao had to give him face. They snorted twice and said nothing more.
Yu Qing also showed no reaction. He really did not want to bother arguing with these people. The important thing was not wanting to bring trouble to Ah Shi Heng. Otherwise his temper was indeed a bit wild.
Zhan Muchun was still fine. Upon hearing he nodded. “Since it is like this, then brother Shi Heng should rest well. We will not disturb anymore.”
The group took their leave. Xu Fei naturally accepted the invitation and went to the banquet.
Dinner time was almost here too. The others in the room also left one after another.
Only Chong Er who remained came to the side of the bed and tried asking: “Young master Shi Heng, if you do not want to get up, shall I bring food for you?”
Yu Qing opened his eyes and scanned around. “No need. I am not hungry.”
He really was not hungry. Almost half of that twenty jin of spiritual rice had been eaten by him alone.
Chong Er still wanted to persuade a bit. Yu Qing said impatiently: “Go out and close the door.”
“Oh.” Chong Er could only agree. He lowered his head and obediently left.
As soon as the door closed, Yu Qing immediately flipped over and got up. He reached into his clothes and pulled out a stack of folded silver notes. He quickly spread them open and counted.
There were four thousand taels from selling the spiritual rice. The rest were all scraped from Cheng Shanping’s body. The feel was quite thick. On the way there had never been a chance to be alone, fearing Tie Miaoqing and the others would discover money that did not belong to him and ask for it back, so he had never had the chance to see exactly how much there was.
Now he finally had the chance to count it.
It was better not to count. Once he counted he immediately became excited. There were fully an extra twenty four thousand taels in silver notes.
Adding the four thousand taels from selling the spiritual rice and his own few hundred taels, he now had almost twenty nine thousand taels on him.
When he left Ling Long Temple he had never dreamed that making this trip could get so much money. With this calculation he felt the adventure in the ancient tomb wasteland demon realm was worth it again.
Thinking that he still had valuable rainbow silk and demon spotting dew in his hands, he could not help swinging the stack of silver notes in his hand a couple of times to hear the sound. Raising his eyebrows he made up his mind. When returning to Ling Long Temple he must buy one hundred jin of spiritual rice to take back. At that time he must shock the three senior brothers so much that they hold their rice bowls and kneel on one knee shouting “Sect leader” at him!
Yes, no more begging little martial uncle for handouts with eager eyes!
Suddenly there were footsteps outside the door. Yu Qing was like a startled bird. He quickly pressed the silver notes to his chest, then smoothly lay sideways on the couch pretending to sleep.
His masked action, if seen by someone who did not know, would definitely make them think he was a thief.
The footsteps passed. It was not coming into the room. He took out the silver notes again and carefully put them away inside his clothes.
After that he flipped over and got up again. He untied the metal jar from his waist, twisted the air holes on the lid larger, and squinted one eye to observe the fire cricket inside.
For the You Ya task three fire crickets were enough. Tie Miaoqing had one extra on her hands which he had asked for.
He had asked for the earliest one caught, the one that was already wilted. The three more active ones Tie Miaoqing refused to give.
Because he really could not figure out what the fire cricket ate, and no one had experience raising them, they had tried feeding all kinds of things but it just would not eat. No one knew if it was refusing food after being caught. If it did not eat or drink, after a long time it would definitely lose vitality. It no longer made noise or called. It was not even certain if it could be brought alive to You Jiao Bu. Tie Miaoqing could only give him the most wilted one. The slightly more active ones could probably last longer on the way.
He, Yu Qing, did not want the fire cricket to raise for fun, but thought that since this was something You Ya issued a task to find, would it be very valuable? He guessed it would interest rich people. He planned to quietly try in the capital later to see if he could sell it at a high price.
Even if the price is not high it is fine, as long as it can be sold and earn a bit.
His current thinking was simple. The time out was limited, at most a few months. During the period returning to the temple, earning an extra sum was an extra sum.
Only the fire cricket in the jar right now looked wilted, with no more force in its banging sounds, giving the feeling it was about to die.
He was a bit doubtful whether he could bring it alive to the capital. He did not know if a dead one could still sell for some money.
The fire cricket lay motionless in the jar. He grabbed the jar and shook it hard a few times before looking inside again.
The little fellow was clearly provoked. Red light like cracks appeared on its body again, but it quickly extinguished once more.
He wanted to take it out to look, but feared the little fellow would suddenly exert force and run away. He had caught it personally and knew deeply how extremely fast this little thing could escape.
He also could not take it directly with his hand. Once the little fellow got angry, even this metal jar could burn the hand.
But this half dead appearance could not be ignored. If it was very valuable then the loss would be huge.
What to do?
Suddenly his eyes brightened. He reached into his chest and pulled out the bowstring twisted from rainbow silk. He peeled off a strand of rainbow silk from it, then tied a slip knot with this rainbow silk. He slowly unscrewed the lid, moved it to make a gap, and fed the rainbow silk slip knot into the jar.
After that he used his skill to control the silk thread in his hand, wanting to loop the rainbow silk slip knot around the fire cricket’s neck.
Only the fire cricket’s head was indeed a bit big, and it did not cooperate. While fiddling he muttered: “Big head, big head, quickly stretch your neck…”