novelapdf Chapter 67 This child... is a bit too hungry.
Chapter 67 This child... is a bit too hungry.
Xu Changqing reached out and picked up the blue jade bead. He felt it was warm to the touch, and there seemed to be a faint coolness flowing through it.
He looked down and examined it for a moment, but couldn't see anything special about it. A thought unconsciously popped into his mind.
"It would be unjust to take what the Taoist priest left behind while drunk. However, he is elusive and hard to find, so we will keep it for now and return it when we meet again."
Thinking this, he didn't pay much attention and casually tied the jade bead to the handle of the old, folded banner umbrella at his waist, treating it as an ornament.
After accepting the jade beads, he weighed the bulging brocade pouch in his arms, feeling a slight warmth in his heart. He then turned and headed towards the most magnificent and resplendent building deep within the market.
As Xu Changqing walked, his gaze swept over the flesh and blood materials. While walking, he secretly communicated with the strange altar in his sea of consciousness, asking the old ghost to help him take a look.
The items on these stalls were mostly a mix of good and bad, with only a few decent magical materials available. Xu Changqing, however, preferred to pick out the genuine and valuable items.
Seeing the pained expressions on the faces of those unscrupulous vendors, Xu Changqing felt exceptionally happy.
As I was walking, I passed a quiet alleyway where there were few people around and saw an old woman in tattered clothes huddled in the corner with an empty broken bowl in front of her.
Xu Changqing paused slightly, a sudden pang of reluctance rising in his heart. As if possessed, he bent down, took out a considerable amount of money from the brocade pouch, and gently placed it into the bowl.
The old woman raised her cloudy eyes and thanked her repeatedly.
After walking a few steps, I saw another child squatting by the roadside crying, saying that he had gotten separated from his family.
Xu Changqing frowned, then stopped and patiently asked questions. He then led the child to search the vicinity for a while and finally found the child's anxious parents.
The couple thanked him profusely. Xu Changqing waved his hand, turned and left, but felt inexplicably relieved, as if he had done something he was supposed to do.
In this way, within the short span of an incense stick's time, he either gave alms to the poor and weak, gave directions to people, or mediated a few minor disputes, thus performing several "good deeds" in succession.
Although it was all just a small favor and didn't cost much, this proactive and even natural act of "charity" was quite different from his usual character.
Xu Changqing suddenly stopped and stood under a relatively quiet eaves, his brows furrowed.
While I am neither a great villain nor a compassionate person, I am certainly not one to be so sympathetic.
In this treacherous and treacherous world of cultivation, he has always adhered to the principles of caution, self-preservation, and prioritizing his own interests. When has he ever been so kind and compassionate? Even if he occasionally has good intentions, he should never do so frequently or so without thinking.
"No..." he muttered to himself, a chill creeping up his spine.
He examined his own soul and dantian with his inner consciousness, finding no trace of external interference or mental confusion. So where did this inexplicable urge to "do good" come from?
With his mind racing, Xu Changqing's gaze finally fell on his waist.
On the handle of that banner umbrella, the blue jade bead swayed slightly with his movements, reflecting a warm and restrained luster under the glow of the market.
Xu Changqing's pupils contracted slightly. He reached out and untied the jade bead from the umbrella handle, holding it in his palm. The familiar coolness emanating from his fingertips sent a chill down his spine.
"It's this damn thing affecting me." His face darkened.
At this moment, he was unaware that the jade bead was influencing him. If he hadn't been highly alert and hadn't possessed a clear contrast between his own temperament and the influence, he probably would still be completely oblivious.
This thing is definitely not a good person. Xu Changqing didn't consider himself a good person. In the cultivation world where people eat each other without spitting out the bones, a sudden act of kindness is often more deadly than malice.
"After all, in chaotic times, the saintly mother is killed first. I wholeheartedly agree. If I can't defend against it, can't I at least avoid it? Here you go."
He muttered to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes. Rather than keeping this threat around, constantly on guard, it was better to get rid of it completely. He glanced around briefly and saw the Rong River flowing through the city not far away, its waters shimmering with a dark light in the night.
He strode to the riverbank, flicked his wrist, and the jade bead traced an arc before disappearing into the water with a "plop," barely making a splash. In the blink of an eye, it was swept away by the rushing river and vanished.
Looking in the direction where the jade bead sank, Xu Changqing's inexplicable impulse to do good indeed dissipated, as if an invisible shackle had been removed, and he felt much more relaxed.
"That's more like it." With a sway of his body, the blood lotus phantom beneath his feet flashed almost imperceptibly, and he glided into the bustling crowd like a fish. After a few turns, he arrived in front of the most magnificent three-story pavilion deep in the market.
The pavilions and towers have flying eaves and brackets, and the three gilded characters "Baibaoge" on the plaque shine brightly under the lights. Cultivators come and go in an endless stream, their auras mixed but all restrained, showing the discipline of this place.
Xu Changqing stepped inside.
The interior space was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, clearly due to the use of a spatial expansion formation.
As soon as he entered, a kind-faced middle-aged steward with three long tufts of beard came forward to greet him, cupping his hands and smiling, "Greetings, Master."
Xu Chang returned the greeting with a single palm and smiled, "Amitabha, may I ask if your esteemed establishment possesses any water-related treasures?"
The manager, surnamed Chen, led him to a private room to the side and said with a smile, "Master, you've come at just the right time. A batch of water-elemental spiritual materials was just transported from the East China Sea the other day, and they are of excellent quality."
Xu Changqing is now flush with cash and full of confidence. In addition, the White Bone Jade Hairpin has made a great contribution, so he deserves a good reward.
With a wave of his hand, he acquired a large number of water-based treasures, even obtaining a portion of Profound Yin True Water for the White Bone Jade Hairpin. This True Water, condensed from a deep-sea spiritual vein, is extremely Yin and pure, greatly beneficial to water-based magical artifacts.
Having just acquired those water-based treasures, the white bone jade hairpin, whose spiritual power had grown even stronger, was like a child who had smelled a delicacy, eagerly rushing towards the pile of water-based spiritual objects.
Xu Changqing smiled somewhat embarrassedly and bowed with one hand: "Amitabha, please forgive me, benefactor. This child... is quite hungry. He can't resist when he sees something that suits his taste."
Manager Chen came to his senses, his eyes filled with amazement, and clapped his hands in praise: "It's alright, it's alright, Master, this treasure of yours is truly remarkable."
Xu Changqing nodded with a smile, quite satisfied. Once the jade hairpin had absorbed enough spiritual energy, its radiance grew even brighter, before it contentedly transformed into a stream of light and disappeared back into his sleeve.
After the transaction was completed, Xu Changqing prepared to take his leave.
Just as he turned around, the old ghost suddenly trembled very slightly.
A vague guiding force came, pointing to a relatively secluded house.
Xu Changqing's heart stirred, and he stopped in his tracks. Following the direction, he looked up and saw that the light was dim, and there seemed to be some ancient objects on display.
"Esteemed benefactor," Xu Changqing withdrew his gaze, turned to Steward Chen who was about to see him off, pointed in that direction, and asked casually, "Where is that?"
Manager Chen followed the gaze and suddenly smiled, "Oh, Master, you mean over there? That's our Treasure Pavilion's 'Antiques Section.' It mainly displays ancient artifacts that are difficult to authenticate. Are you interested in that, Master?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing understood. The old ghost had suddenly moved, directing him to look in that direction; could it have sensed something special?
His expression remained impassive, still bearing a smile: "I see. This humble monk's practice is still in its infancy, yet I am quite curious about these ancient artifacts that bear the marks of time. Since you're here, why not take a look and broaden your horizons?"
"Please do as you please, Master." Steward Chen cupped his hands in greeting. "If you see anything you like, just call me."
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