Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Ning Yuzhou saw her return and, disregarding the string of bleating Ice Pattern Sheep bound together, he asked gently, "Ah Cuo, did you get hurt?"

Wen Qiao shook her head. "Wen Tuttu gave a hand, so it wasn't difficult."

Despite there being nearly a hundred Ice Pattern Sheep, Wen Qiao was now in the middle stage of the Yuanming Realm. Dealing with a fourth-stage demonic beast was nothing to be afraid of. Moreover, she had the Stone Gold Python Whip. With one lash per sheep, she could also trigger the vines of the Stone Gold Python to ambush from underground. With both approaches, capturing these Ice Pattern Sheep was no issue.

As for the fifth-stage Ice Pattern Sheep that was sweeping the battlefield, it was left to Wen Tuttu. In front of the seventh-stage Wen Tuttu, it was like serving up food on a plate.

Thus, Wen Qiao fought effortlessly and even found it a little unsatisfying.

Ning Yuzhou couldn't miss the look of longing on her face and couldn't help but smile.

Although he had been speaking with Shang Honglang just then, his attention had never strayed from the battlefield. He naturally witnessed the cooperation between Wen Qiao and Wen Tuttu.

Shang Honglang glanced at the two of them and realized that Wen Qiao's cultivation level was similar to his own. He couldn't help but be startled and asked, "Young Master Ning, this young lady is...?"

Ning Yuzhou spoke calmly, "This is my wife. Ah Cuo, this is Young Master Shang Honglang."

Wen Qiao slightly nodded at Shang Honglang as a greeting, her face devoid of any particular expression.

Though she had become more outgoing recently, that was only in Ning Yuzhou's presence. At other times, Wen Qiao remained a relatively quiet and reserved young girl, with an aloof demeanor.

Shang Honglang looked at them in surprise, opening his mouth before forcing a smile and saying, "I see... so that's how it is."

He had initially assumed they were siblings or something alike.

Considering Wen Qiao's age, she seemed too young. Even though Ning Yuzhou wasn't much older, getting married at such an early age felt odd. It was uncommon for cultivators to marry in their teens; typically, they would form dual cultivation partnerships only after reaching a certain realm in their cultivation.

Wen Qiao paid him no heed and, pointing at the group of Ice Patterned Sheep, asked, "My husband, what do we do with these sheep?"

"I've heard that the Ice Patterned Sheep's meat is delectable. We should keep it for ourselves," Ning Yuzhou said.

Wen Qiao acknowledged his plan with approval. With a group of Hidden Scale Guards to feed, there was no such thing as too much meat. Besides, consuming the flesh of demonic beasts was beneficial to their health.

Shang Honglang, listening from beside, couldn't help but interject, "Are the two benefactors here to train on Cangwu Mountain?"

"Cangwu Mountain?" Ning Yuzhou's eyes flickered slightly, and he replied with a warm smile, "Indeed."

Wen Qiao looked at him quizzically before glancing up at the mountainous landscape. They had passed through that mountain path half a month ago but didn't leave immediately. Instead, they continued meandering in the mountains to further their training and search for spirit herbs not found in the space. Along the way, they also hunted demonic beasts as provisions.

So the other side of Lintai Mountain was Cangwu Mountain.

Relieved, Shang Honglang hastily said, "Thank you both for saving my life. If not for you two, I might've died here. Your kindness is unforgettable, and if there's anything I can do for you in the future, feel free to ask." His expression changed slightly as he recalled something. "My saviors, my sister is still over there, and she's injured too. I'll go look for her first and come back to find you two later."

Ning Yuzhou displayed a considerate demeanor. "Go ahead. We'll set up camp nearby. There's a valley about ten miles from here."

Shang Honglang smiled gratefully at him before rushing back to where he had come from.

Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou watched Shang Hongming's departing figure until he vanished from sight, then they turned to leave.

"Niao Niao, is it heavy? Do you need help?" Ning Yuzhou asked.

Wen Qiao dragged the string of Ice Patterned Goats with ease, flashing him a toothy smile that was childishly adorable. "It's not heavy at all."

Ning Yuzhou glanced at the linked Ice Patterned Goats and silently assessed his young wife's strength. Indeed, it was extraordinary. It seemed that after her transformation into a demonic form, her strength was the first to change.

Having more strength was a good thing—it meant she wouldn't be at a disadvantage in fights.

Ning Yuzhou took it in stride that his young wife possessed extraordinary strength.

"That Shang Honglang seems to have a good character and is one who repays kindness. It would be best if we could find someone to help us get familiar with the outside world when we're just starting out..."

Ning Yuzhou softly explained to his young wife about their rescue of Shang Honglang earlier.

Of course, it was actually Wen Qiao who had made the decision to intervene. She had merely passed by and noticed a group of Ice Patterned Sheep whose strength wasn't too formidable, making them suitable for practice. Saving Shang Honglang was an afterthought.

Ning Yuzhou had given him a healing spirit pill for a specific purpose. The top-grade Revitalizing Pill was also a test. If Shang Honglang was truly grateful, then that was great. If not, it didn't matter; they could treat it as a chance encounter. If he harbored ill intentions, Ning Yuzhou had ways to make him realize that his spirit pills weren't so easy to swallow.

As they walked and talked, the rumbling sound of the Stone Goldpython Vine sweeping across the ground mixed with the bleating of sheep as they returned to the valley where they were temporarily staying.

A few Scale Guards were left behind to guard the place.

This valley was naturally not the shortcut valley from the Scale Platform Mountain; it was very far away. It was only a shallow little valley that served as a decent temporary campsite.

Not only did Wen Qiao need training, but the other Scale Guards did as well.

There weren't any high-level demonic beasts in this area, so there was no need for the Scale Hunters to constantly stand guard. Ning Yuzhou gave them some spirit pills and talismans before instructing the Scale Hunters to arrange for the Scale Guards to find their own places to train. With Wen Tuzi, he and Wen Qiao could protect themselves in this area.

The Qianlin Guards watched as Wen Qiao dragged a string of Ice Patterned Sheep back, her expression wooden as she ran over to hand them over.

Recently, they had seen Wen Qiao daily return with various beasts, dragged by the Stonejin Python Vine. The seemingly frail young girl could lug around creatures that weighed hundreds of times more than her, making the Qianlin Guards feel a pang of inadequacy.

As men, they keenly realized that they were no match for Lady Xiaojia.

Not only in strength, but also in combat.

They wondered what kind of experiences the young lady had undergone to transform into this, completely different from when she first entered the Scale Platform for her trials in the Beast Valley.

After entrusting the Ice Patterned Sheep to the Qianlin Guards, Ning Yuzhou took out his alchemy furnace and began brewing soup with the ingredients prepared by the guards.

This soup was still for Wen Qiao.

Although her body had recovered, her fragile meridians remained a concern. Ning Yuzhou decided to approach the issue through medicinal cuisine.

His inheritance contained a complete set of knowledge on pills, talismans, and formations. After specially perusing the pill-related portion, he found a treatment specifically designed for fragile meridians, modified it, and perfected it. He then decided to start with medicinal cuisine to nourish Wen Qiao's body and gradually strengthen her meridians.

This was the gentlest method, albeit time-consuming.

While Ning Yuzhou was occupied, Wen Qiao sat nearby, cradling Wen Tuantuan and observing the scene.

She had always been a quiet person, except when she was with Ning Yuzhou, where she appeared more lively. Ning Yuzhou had no intention of changing her nature and, in fact, cherished it deeply, revealing that his outward gentleness was not just an act.

Wen Tuantuan nibbled on a spirit pill with great relish, as if savoring every bite and hesitant to finish it too quickly.

Wen Qiao, unable to bear its pitiful look, secretly retrieved a spirit pill from her storage bag that Ning Yuzhou had given her, and offered it to Wen Tuantuan.

The little rabbit swiftly snatched it, stashing it away in its cheek pouch for later. It then stealthily glanced at the alchemist diligently simmering the soup, relieved when it realized it hadn't been noticed. This sight made Wen Qiao suppress a smile.

Ning Yuzhou, of course, had noticed but chose to ignore the little bunny's antics.

As long as the rabbit could be useful when needed, he wouldn't begrudge it a few spirit pills.

Halfway through the soup-making process, Shang Honglang and his sister finally arrived.

Following Ning Yuzhou's instructions, the Quiescent Scale Guards did not obstruct them, allowing entry into the valley's encampment.

Shang Honglang led his pale and breathless sister inside, somewhat embarrassed as he said, "Our benefactors, we apologize for the disturbance."

Shang Hongyue was strikingly beautiful and gracefully slender. Her injuries added a touch of vulnerability to her appearance.

Following her brother, she couldn't help but glance at the two saviors he mentioned, finding it hard to believe what he had just said.

Ning Yuzhou was understandable; her brother mentioned that he might be an Alchemist with only the Yuan Yu Realm cultivation. He didn't seem formidable at all, considering that many Alchemists were weaklings, primarily focused on refining pills and spending most of their time in alchemy labs. Consequently, they often neglected cultivation and lacked combat experience. An Alchemist could easily be overwhelmed by a peer in combat.

As for the other young girl, though still young, she was exceptionally pretty and seemed timid. It was hard to imagine her capable of whipping an Ice Patterned Sheep away, let alone dozens of them in one breath. Of course, it wasn't impossible to send one flying, but dozens would be stretching it.

However...

Observing the Quiescent Scales Guards dealing with the Ice Patterned Sheep nearby, Shang Hongyue silently withdrew her skepticism.

Regardless of her thoughts, Shang Hongyue kept her emotions in check and, together with her brother, thanked the two warmly for saving his life.

Even if they hadn't saved her directly, they had rescued her brother, and Shang Hongyue considered them her saviors as well.

Ning Yuzhou spoke warmly, "We happened to pass by, and it seems Young Master Shang was destined to survive."

As he invited them to sit, Ning Yuzhou glanced at Shang Hongyue and said to Wen Qiao, "Ah Chu, give Miss Shang a Rejuvenation Pill."

Wen Qiao silently retrieved a Rejuvenation Pill from her storage bag and passed it to Shang Hongyue.

Although Shang Hongyue knew that they had alchemists, the casual offering of a supreme-grade Rejuvenation Pill was astonishing. His hand trembled slightly as he held the pill, feeling even more grateful and fortunate for encountering such kind souls.

Shang Honglang was equally overwhelmed with gratitude. They had come seeking help because his sister's injuries were severe, and their stock of spirit pills had been depleted. Left with no other choice, they had mustered the courage to approach them.

Unexpectedly, before he could even propose purchasing spirit pills from their benefactors, they directly presented them with a supreme-grade Rejuvenation Pill.

"Little sister, thank you," Shang Hongyue expressed his gratitude sincerely.

Wen Qiao replied coolly, "No need to thank me."

With that, she ignored them, focusing on stroking Wen Tuttu's fur while sitting quietly beside Ning Yuzhou, listening to their conversation.

Shang Hongyue soon realized that this pretty little sister had a somewhat aloof disposition and wasn't fond of engaging in small talk. However, her delicate appearance and air of vulnerability evoked a natural inclination to protect and care for her.

After chatting with them for a while, Ning Yuzhou quickly grasped the siblings' situation.

Their cultivation levels weren't particularly high; Shang Honglang was in the late-stage Yuanming Realm, while Shang Hongyue was in the early-stage. Both were around twenty years old. The brother was kind-hearted, and the sister was bright and straightforward – both seemed to be people of good character.

They hailed from the Shang Family in Huaiyin City, a family that had built its fortune on alchemy. Most of their disciples were alchemists, and the Shang Family was well-known throughout the Huaiyin area. Many cultivators would seek out the family for their pills.

However, Shang Honglang and his sister didn't possess great alchemy talent. Their hearts lay elsewhere, so they often ventured out to search for various alchemy ingredients for the family. This time, they had brought along some family guards to Cangwu Mountain in search of rare spirit herbs. Unfortunately, after entering the mountain, they had offended someone for some reason. Their guards either died or were injured, leaving only the siblings behind.

If not for Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou's timely rescue, the pair might have met their end here as well.

Shang Honglang paused, then continued, "My sister and I are immensely grateful for the Ning couple saving our lives. If you ever need anything in the future, feel free to visit the Shang Family in Huaiyin City."

Shang Hongyue chimed in, "Yes, if you ever come to Huaiyin City, we'll make sure to treat you warmly." She added, slightly embarrassed, "By the way, consider those spirit pills as purchased by us. We'll pay one-tenth above market price."

Ning Yuzhou smiled and replied, "There's no need for that. Consider it a gesture of friendship."

The Shang siblings were deeply moved by these words. Apart from expressing their gratitude for saving their lives, they had also intended to explain the situation to prevent any trouble from their enemies affecting Ning Yuzhou and his wife.

To their surprise, instead of making demands, the couple offered friendship, showcasing their integrity and nobility, far from being despicable characters.

When traveling, one's greatest fear was encountering such dishonorable people, who were unpredictable and hard to guard against.

Though they wished to repay their saviors immediately, their resources had been depleted during their recent escape, leaving them with empty pockets. They could only express their gratitude once they returned home.

As they spoke, the broth in the alchemy furnace had finished cooking, filling the air with an incredibly potent fragrance.

Shang Honglang and his sister watched curiously as Ning Yuzhou poured out a bowl of soup from the furnace. They were both astonished; it was their first time learning that an alchemy furnace could also be used to cook soup.

The aroma of the soup was simply irresistible. The siblings felt that this was no ordinary broth. Coupled with the superior-grade spirit pills they had seen earlier, they began to suspect that Ning Yuzhou's group had extraordinary origins.

Could he be a disciple from some prominent sect or clan?

They mentally ran through the famous young disciples of various factions on the Holy Martial Continent, but despite having heard of many, Ning Yuzhou's name didn't ring a bell. As for "Ah Chu," it sounded like a pet name, implying that Ning Yuzhou might not wish to disclose his wife's real name to them.

Could there be some hidden reason behind this?

There was only one bowl of soup, which Ning Yuzhou passed to Wen Qiao. Seeing the siblings watching them, he explained, "Ah Chu has been unwell since she was young. This soup is to help nourish her body."

Upon hearing this, Shang Honglang's gaze at Wen Qiao became even more peculiar.

Sure enough, a frail yet domineering lady?

Wen Qiao drank her soup quietly, her eyelids slightly lowered. Her long, thick eyelashes cast a shadow on her fair skin, giving her an ethereal aura.

Ning Yuzhou gave her a gentle glance before continuing his conversation with Shang Honglang and his sister. Unbeknownst to them, he had gleaned quite a bit of information about the outside world from the siblings, which helped him formulate a rough plan for the future.

As twilight approached, the Qianlin Guards returned one by one, beginning to build fires for roasting meat. Tonight's meal would consist of Ice Patterned Mutton.

Ning Yuzhou suggested to the siblings, "It's getting late. Why don't you two stay here for the night?"

Shang Honglang replied, "I think we'd better not. What if we bring trouble to you...?"

"Nonsense," Ning Yuzhou said warmly. "It's just one night."

After some hesitation, Shang Honglang glanced at his exhausted sister and eventually agreed. He couldn't discern the cultivation level of the guard named Qianshu, but he sensed that the man was incredibly powerful. Staying for only one night should be harmless. His sister had been severely injured earlier, and while the Spring Revival Pill had mostly healed her, the ordeal had left her drained. Rest was indeed necessary.

Perhaps Ning Yuzhou appeared too trustworthy, because despite knowing nothing about him, the Shang siblings had already placed their faith in him without a second thought about any potential harm he might cause them. Besides, they currently had nothing of value that anyone would want to exploit.