Where, exactly, had Wang Er gone?
Wenren Ying’s guess had been correct. It was Qian Shi’an who had taken him away.
That day, after spending quite some time making calculations, Qian Shi’an had finally managed to determine Wu Guanyue’s origins through the layers of obscuring mist. He then instructed Wang Er to trick Wu Guanyue into going to Red Pine Forest, where he intended to have his master’s disciple’s disciple, the Living Pine Tree, deal with her.
But who could have imagined that Wu Guanyue would actually return safe and sound?!
If she had returned safe and sound, then naturally the Living Pine Tree could not possibly still be alive!
By all rights, the moment she came face-to-face with the Living Pine Tree, there should have been no chance of her surviving. Could it be that cockroaches really did have a far more tenacious vitality than other insects?!
What was more, Wang Er had betrayed him, and Wu Guanyue now knew the whole truth!
Qian Shi’an was instantly drenched in sweat… Faced with such a formidable insect demon, there was nothing he could do. All he could do was scramble up the mountain and beg his master, Daoist Master Songfeng, to intervene!
Daoist Master Songfeng was a monster with a habit of eating people. Naturally, Qian Shi’an could not go to him empty-handed. Resenting Wang Er for betraying him, he relied on his miraculous concealment technique to steal Wang Er away from Wu Guanyue’s inn!
At that moment, in a secret grotto-heaven on Mount Huiming, an old Daoist was sitting in meditation with all five points of contact raised toward Heaven.
The old Daoist wore simple robes and looked vigorous and sharp-eyed. Every strand of his hair had turned silver-white, yet his back was as straight as a pine tree. A horsetail whisk rested in his hand.
Qian Shi’an’s voice came from outside the cave.
“Master, your disciple has come to visit!”
The old Daoist was none other than Daoist Master Songfeng.
Daoist Master Songfeng kept his eyes closed, his breathing long and even.
Only after a long while did he slowly say, “Come in.”
Qian Shi’an immediately entered, knelt down, and respectfully knocked his head against the floor three times.
Daoist Master Songfeng said slowly, “Go on, then. What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?”
Qian Shi’an’s eyes filled with tears. “Master! Your disciple has been wronged!”
He then poured out the whole story of Wu Guanyue to Daoist Master Songfeng, item by item, like beans spilling from a sack.
Qian Shi’an said, “That Wu Guanyue refused to repay her debt. When my men went to collect it, she actually humiliated them in public!”
Daoist Master Songfeng sighed. “Why can people under Heaven never let go of wealth and possessions—of these worldly things?”
Qian Shi’an continued, “That Wu Guanyue is cruel and ruthless. Her shop assistant was a witness to the loan her grandfather took, yet she actually wanted to beat him to death over it!”
Daoist Master Songfeng sighed. “Why do people under Heaven never understand the principle that those who share the same roots should not turn their blades against each other?”
Qian Shi’an said, “That Wu Guanyue, relying on her own abilities, even charged into Red Pine Forest and killed the Living Pine Tree!”
Daoist Master Songfeng sighed. “Why do people under Heaven always… Hmm?! Who did you say she killed?!”
Qian Shi’an replied, “The Living Pine Tree! Ah, if only you had seen the scene when I arrived…”
Daoist Master Songfeng leaped up from his meditation cushion like a monkey whose tail had been stepped on and began cursing furiously.
“How dare that little wretch?! What is she, to think she could kill my disciple’s disciple? Does she think I, Old Pine, don’t exist?!”
After cursing for quite some time, Daoist Master Songfeng finally asked, “What is Wu Guanyue’s origin? What is her background?”
Qian Shi’an hurriedly replied, “She claimed to be from the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect. As for her origins, she said she was the Handsome Cockroach Who Flies and Burrows. I made a divination, and I believe she is an insect demon.”
Daoist Master Songfeng snorted. “What Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect? There is no such sect anywhere in the entire Divine Firmament Prefecture! And an insect demon is even less likely. Any insect that encountered my grand-disciple would have no choice but to beg for death! You’re still a child and were fooled by her, but this old Daoist is not senile!”
Qian Shi’an nodded so vigorously that his head nearly fell off. “Your instruction is absolutely correct, Master. Your instruction is absolutely correct. This disciple was foolish and was deceived by that Wu Guanyue.”
Daoist Master Songfeng paid him no further attention and immediately began making calculations with his fingers…
But as he continued, his brows gradually knitted together.
Because he could not calculate anything either.
After a moment of contemplation, he asked, “Did that girl say anything else?”
Qian Shi’an frowned as he thought. “In answer to your question, Master, she did mention another name that I couldn’t understand at the time. It sounded like… Coca-Loca.”
Daoist Master Songfeng mused, “Coca-Loca…”
Qian Shi’an said, “Thinking back on it now… the first name Wu Guanyue gave was Coca-Loca. Only afterward did she hurriedly change her answer.”
Daoist Master Songfeng nodded. “Yes, yes… She must have let the truth slip at first, then hastily made up some nonsense to cover it up… Let me calculate it!”
With that, he began working out the divination once more.
Qian Shi’an held his breath and focused his attention. He could feel the Daoist energy surging around Daoist Master Songfeng, profound and wondrous beyond compare. Even if he studied for another hundred years, he would never grasp the essence of such divination skills.
“Ha!”
Daoist Master Songfeng suddenly let out a thunderous shout!
Qian Shi’an hurriedly looked over, only to see Daoist Master Songfeng with his hair standing on end, his rage soaring, his fury blazing, and his eyes glaring murderously… For some reason, his face even seemed to have turned an eerie red.
“You filthy bastard! You son of a turtle! You damned mongrel! How dare you toy with me… Take that!”
Daoist Master Songfeng was so furious that he struck out with one palm, sending the heavy hibiscus-frozen-stone table in front of him flying. With a loud bang, the stone table shot out of the grotto-heaven and directly crushed the bound Wang Er outside into Wang Er paste.
Daoist Master Songfeng, meanwhile, stormed away in a fury.
Qian Shi’an stood there dumbfounded, unable to recover for quite some time.
What… exactly was this “Coca-Loca”? How could it have enraged Daoist Master Songfeng so thoroughly?
Wang Er’s life had ended in such an inexplicable fashion, but in the end, it was the result of his own actions.
Wu Guanyue, naturally, knew nothing about what had happened in the shadows. She was still diligently carrying out her side quest—belike, asking every person she met whether they had seen her shop assistant…
That was because the side quest’s description still read: “Ask around and see.”
Wu Guanyue: Serious.jpg
Wu Guanyue: Earnest.jpg
That evening, when the inn was nearly ready to close for the night, a Daoist wearing robes and carrying a horsetail whisk suddenly walked in.
This Daoist was, of course, Daoist Master Songfeng.
After being driven into a fit of rage by that “Coca-Loca,” cursing furiously and swearing to teach Wu Guanyue a lesson, Daoist Master Songfeng had lost no time in coming to find her.
When he arrived at Flag Blossom Road, he saw a worn blue-stone path with a few scattered pedestrians walking along it. Several small shops stood on either side of the road, one of which was… that whatever-it-was inn.
Daoist Master Songfeng approached the entrance. Inside, the place was small and plain, with only six or seven elmwood tables. A handful of guests sat scattered around them—but they were all people of low cultivation, not worth a second glance from Daoist Master Songfeng.
Then he saw a young woman standing behind the counter. Her hair was tied into two high ponytails, and she was supporting her cheeks with both hands, wearing a vacant expression as though she were lost in thought.
Her cultivation… was actually nonexistent!
A mortal?
No, impossible. A mortal could never have killed the Living Pine Tree.
Very well. He would personally meet her and see what she was made of!
Daoist Master Songfeng snorted, swept aside his Daoist robe, and strode through the door.
Wu Guanyue heard the commotion and looked up—then immediately widened her eyes!
A… a star-rated guest!
Aside from Wenren Ying, the inn had finally welcomed its second star-rated guest… and he was also a three-star guest. Clearly, he was someone Wu Guanyue ought to treat with great enthusiasm!
Wu Guanyue immediately dashed over to the star-rated guest, came to a sudden stop, and stood up straight with impeccable poise!
Then, as usual, it was time to give him a round of gifts to raise his favorability!
Wu Guanyue began rummaging around in her sleeve—
【[Wu Guanyue] gifted [Salt-Baked Matsutake] to [???]. May your friendship last forever!】
【[???]: “…………?”】
The star-rated guest did not accept it. Instead, a long string of ellipses and question marks appeared above his head.
But that was fine. Through interacting with Wenren Ying, the player had already become very familiar with this process, so she calmly continued trying different gifts.
【[Wu Guanyue] gifted [Stir-Fried Pine Nuts] to [???]. May your friendship last forever!】
【[???]: “…………!!!”】
【[Wu Guanyue] gifted [Pine Frost Candy] to [???]. May your friendship last forever!】
【[Wu Guanyue] gifted [Pine Blossom Cakes] to [???]. May your friendship last forever!】
【[Wu Guanyue] gifted [Ever-Burning Pine Resin] to [???]. May your friendship last forever!】
Daoist Master Songfeng could only watch as Wu Guanyue rapidly cycled through the items in her hands, displaying each and every part of his disciples’ and grand-disciples’ corpses to him one by one…
Damn it! She was deliberately provoking him!
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