The sun set in the west, casting long shadows of master and two apprentices on the bluestone pavement.
Qing Jun bounced and stomped on the sunset reflected in puddles, carefree and lively.
Zhiwei stared at the master's back, silently stepping on the shadow of his head.
The two apprentices were relaxed, but Chen Ye was suffering.
He gritted his teeth and gasped as his neck veins bulged, and sweat soaked his collar.
"So naive, too naive!"
He wished he could slap himself from that time,
while Chen Ye, buying supplies, was full of yearning as he shopped.
He thought of arranging the shabby little home properly, planning to fill the empty kitchen with food.
He indulged in fantasies and accidentally overlooked that he was no longer the strong man he was in his previous life.
Thinking of the long way home, Chen Ye nearly despaired.
Seeing the master's movements slow down.
Qing Jun suddenly slowed her bouncing, her gaze constantly on the master's shadow like a little hill.
After hesitating a moment, she tiptoed to steady the tilted bamboo basket, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz:
"Master, rest, rest for a while…"
The little girl hadn't finished speaking when steady footsteps suddenly came from behind.
"Brother Chen!"
The Dark Old Man's bronze back glistened under the sun, he said nothing and relieved Chen Ye of the rice bag on his shoulder, his rough hand weighed the bag and laughed:
"Brother Chen, be careful those skinny arms and legs don't break your back!"
With that, he lifted two bags of Spirit Rice and tossed them onto his shoulder, his bulging biceps straining the coarse cloth attire.
The honest voice of the Dark Old Man was especially comforting to Chen Ye.
Chen Ye was moved to tears, his whole body felt lighter:
"Dark Old… cough, cough, finally seeing a savior. Gen, you just got back from the Market?"
He noticed the beast-skin bundle on the Dark Old Man's shoulder, fresh bloodstains on the wrapping, faintly showing some silvery fur.
The Dark Old Man grinned:
"I should really thank Brother Chen. That Cyan Luo Grass allowed me to finally break through to Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer. So, just came by the Market to see if there's any beast-hunting work."
Demon Beasts are treasures all over.
You can sell their meat, skin them, extract blood, or craft with them…
For lower-level cultivators, hunting Demon Beasts is high reward, yet high risk.
Once cultivators reach the Middle Period of Qi Cultivation, their Spiritual Power can support them using lethal magic.
Therefore, usually only cultivators in the Middle Period of Qi Cultivation consider hunting Demon Beasts.
But Yunxi District is rich in resources, relatively peaceful, most cultivators don't want this bloodlicking profession.
Not because they fear hardship, but because it's truly dangerous.
As in Yunxi District, cultivators specializing in Demon Hunting are mostly under thirty years old.
It's a young person's profession.
As for why there are no older ones.... that's because they haven't lived long before dying in the mouth of beasts.
No matter how experienced a cultivator is, there are times they slip up.
This time the Dark Old Man had gains, but what about next time?
"Gen, you are a Body Cultivator in Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, you have great potential in the Market! Why do such bloodlicking business."
Chen Ye had a good impression of the Dark Old Man, he rubbed his sore shoulder, unable to resist advising.
The Dark Old Man wiped sweat from his forehead, new claw marks at his tiger's mouth still bleeding, making his face bloody.
He turned a blind eye, his expression calm:
"Brother Chen, did you know? The walls of Yunxi District were built with my father's blood and sweat, he died building Yunxi District. But my mother and I still live in the slums. No matter how good the location, it's just the slums."
"Since young, I knew, for a lower-level cultivator like me, staying complacent means forever stuck on a low level."
The Dark Old Man seemed honest, but at heart was never a content person.
Listening to this, Chen Ye couldn't help but feel self-mockery.
He had a golden finger, but ultimately still a shadow of his past life.
Only wishing to live contently with family, step by step.
Coming to this world, his family now became the two apprentices.
Of course, that didn't mean he already had feelings for the apprentices he met days ago.
But one feels too lonely living alone in a strange world…
Feeding two little ones can relieve loneliness.
Moreover, the two little ones will be first-rate big shots in the future,
if he doesn't cling to them now, it'll be too late later!
"Yes, but remember to be more careful, you still have your mother at home."
Thinking of Granny Li's care for the apprentices, Chen Ye suddenly said,
"You've made your decision, it's hard for me to block your path, but in the future… should there be a chance, I'll help take care of Granny."
The Dark Old Man seemed startled, as if surprised.
He paused, deeply bowing to Chen Ye: "Before, I misunderstood Brother Chen."
Chen Ye didn't expect his casual promise would elicit such a reaction from the Dark Old Man.
He just believed that good people should have good returns.
Since he was capable, he saw no reason not to lend a helping hand to his apprentice by settling this karma.
"No, no, no, Gen, you're strong and sturdy, there's no chance for me to help,"
Chen Ye hurriedly tried to help the Dark Old Man up, but the grains behind him wobbled, almost toppling over.
The Dark Old Man acted quickly, taking the basket off Chen Ye's back and carrying it on his own:
"Haha, I saw earlier that Brother Chen couldn't move it, so I figured I could help take it back on my way. Carrying two bags of rice is the same as one, might as well carry it all!"
As a Body Cultivator, carrying these grains was easy for the Dark Old Man.
Chen Ye hastily pulled out ten pieces of Spiritual Sand, "That won't do, that won't do! How can I ask someone to work for free? To tell you the truth, Gen, I was planning to hire labor to help, so take these ten pieces of Spiritual Sand as your payment."
In the Market, if a laborer was already heading out of town, ten pieces of Spiritual Sand was a fair price.
The Dark Old Man's eyes, like bronze bells, widened in disbelief:
"Brother Chen, are you trying to embarrass me? This is a neighbor helping out a neighbor."
Though he said this, his calloused hand gripped the Spiritual Sand tightly.
Chen Ye saw this and comforted him:
"How could I let you waste your strength in vain? In these times, every bit of strength and Spiritual Power is crucial for survival."
"Alright then! Brother Chen, my legs are fast. I have to go home to serve my elderly mother, so I'll be off first."
The Dark Old Man no longer declined, waved, and bid farewell to Chen Ye and his group.
He moved swiftly, his steps light, and soon disappeared from Chen Ye's sight.
Once he left the city,
the Dark Old Man suspiciously took out the Spiritual Sand from his pocket, examining it repeatedly. After confirming its authenticity, he couldn't help but mutter:
"Did that fool really change his nature? I thought he was just trying to con me into free labor."
He suddenly thought of what Chen Ye had said before.
After some hesitation, he took the Spiritual Sand out of his money pouch and put it in a separate pocket.
...
When the sun was setting in the west, he finally reached the shantytown area.
Upon returning, he didn't see a trace of Taoist Zhang. Who knows where that asshole went to enjoy himself this time?
As soon as he entered, Chen Ye collapsed against the door frame, groaning, while his two young disciples lay curled up on the musty-smelling straw mat like puppets without strings.
His two disciples were even more fatigued than Chen Ye,
although they didn't carry anything, they had never walked outside for so long.
Just walking was exhausting enough for them.
"So tired..."
Chen Ye's hands were sore, his legs numb. He unbuttoned his sweat-soaked shirt, his calves twitching furiously. Only by continuously massaging them did he feel a bit better.
Exhausted, terribly exhausted!
The Dark Old Man had already beaten Chen Ye back and neatly stacked the transported items inside the house, but he himself was nowhere to be seen.
That Body Cultivator sure was swift with his legs.
Chen Ye sighed with relief, happily gazing at the pile of various supplies, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
He was someone who needed adequate food reserves at home to feel secure.
But soon, a heaviness settled in his heart.
The house had been robbed!
Before leaving, he had intentionally left some markers at home, which would be disrupted if anyone tampered with things.
Could it have been the Dark Old Man?
The Dark Old Man had come to his house ahead of time and had the opportunity to commit the crime.
Chen Ye quickly dismissed this thought.
In the original game's storyline, when the Dark Old Man searched for his previous self at night and discovered his death, he only rummaged through the body's resources.
He didn't touch the things at home, intentionally leaving something for the two little girls, giving them a chance to survive.
This showed that the Dark Old Man still had some integrity.
Without explaining to his two apprentices, Chen Ye dragged his weary body and frantically searched through the hidden compartment under the bed.
His expression changed.
The Spirit Medicine Ointment left by the previous owner had vanished!
The only valuable thing in the room was this Spirit Medicine Ointment.
Though much of it had been used, the remaining ointment was still worth a fortune, valued at three Spirit Stones!
"Master?" Zhiwei seemed to notice something and softly asked.
Chen Ye forced a smile, "Nothing, just looking for something."
The two girls were too easily frightened, so Chen Ye decided not to worry them for now.
He quickly went to the storeroom, the door already open.
In the storeroom, the traces of rummaging were even more evident.
Fortunately, nothing was missing, but there wasn't anything particularly valuable to begin with...
The only somewhat valuable Iron Sword was still there, although the cloth wrapping the hilt had been turned over.
Whoever it was either didn't deem it worthwhile or thought it was too conspicuous to steal.
"Damn it, damn it!"
Chen Ye was furious; this was the only time he had left the house in days.
And as a result of that outing, the house got robbed!