172: Stop eating, that whole jar is gone.

As soon as Qi Longhu walked out, he ran into Chen Fugui, who had a cloth bag tucked into his arms.

"Patriarch Chen." Qi Longhu nodded, wondering how to tell him the news about Shigou Village.

"Hall Master Qi, let's go inside to talk." Chen Fugui glanced around and said cautiously.

"Alright." Qi Longhu already felt guilty, so he agreed to Chen Fugui without thinking.

The two walked into the deliberation hall, where Gang Leader Gou Long was pacing back and forth with a worried expression.

"Oh, why did you two come together?"

As soon as the two entered, they caught Gang Leader Gou Long's attention. He quickly sat back in his seat, feigning an air of nonchalance.

"Gang Leader Gou Long, could you..." Chen Fugui glanced at the several inner deacons who were busy with affairs in the deliberation hall.

"You all may leave." He waved his hand, and those inner deacons, understanding the situation, rose and departed.

"Patriarch Chen, please sit."

"Gang Leader Gou Long, Hall Master Qi, I've come today to show you both something."

Seeing that there were no other people around, Chen Fugui finally opened the cloth bag in his arms.

"This is..." Qi Longhu looked at the item in Chen Fugui's arms with some confusion.

"Could it be?!" In contrast to Qi Longhu's bewilderment, Gang Leader Gou Long shot to his feet, staring at the item in Chen Fugui's arms with an expression of disbelief.

"A god-seeking disk?!"

"What's a god-seeking disk?" Qi Longhu was a rough man and had no knowledge of such things.

"Patriarch Chen, where did you obtain this treasure?" Although the god-seeking disk was exceptionally precious, Gang Leader Gou Long harbored no greed in his heart.

Setting aside Chen Heng's strength, even just for the fact that Chen Heng had saved them so many times, he would never lay a finger on anything belonging to the Chen family.

Even if Chen Heng truly vanished without a trace from now on, Gang Leader Gou Long would continue to protect the Chen family.

Unless everyone in his Gou Long family died, no one in Qiyang City would be able to touch the Chen family.

The kindness of saving a life must not be forgotten; he, Gou Longxun, was not an ungrateful wretch.

"My son brought this back then, saying it could be used to find people and things."

Chen Fugui's hands trembled slightly as he took out the god-seeking disk.

"Please take a look, can this thing find my son?"

Chen Fugui was already flustered and no longer cared about Chen Heng's previous instructions.

He didn't care about his family property or other miscellaneous things now; he only wanted his son to return safely.

"This..." Gang Leader Gou Long was somewhat silent. Although he knew the god-seeking disk was a treasure, he didn't know how to use it.

"Patriarch Chen, we are also powerless."

Finally, Gang Leader Gou Long shook his head and spoke the truth.

"Alas..." Chen Fugui sighed, his face growing even more ashen.

What had he strived for his entire life?

Wasn't it just so his son would have money to spend for the rest of his life, even if he did nothing, and a comfortable future?

"Patriarch Chen, there's no need to worry!" Qi Longhu stood up at the sight, patting Chen Fugui on the shoulder.

"I, Qi Longhu, am making a promise today: finding Chen Heng will be entrusted to me."

"If he truly cannot be found, I, Qi Longhu, will be your son!"

"?" Gang Leader Gou Long and Chen Fugui stared at Qi Longhu, completely bewildered.

"This... isn't quite appropriate, is it?" Chen Fugui knew that Qi Longhu wasn't joking; this rough man never took back his words.

"What's inappropriate about it? I'm only less than fifty years older than you."

Qi Longhu forcefully patted his chest.

"A martial artist's lifespan is much longer than an ordinary person's, so seeing you through to your old age and burial is no problem!"

...Chen Fugui and Gang Leader Gou Long.

After Qi Longhu's jesting, the previously somber atmosphere lightened considerably.

"Alas, in that case, I kindly ask Hall Master Qi to pay close attention."

Chen Fugui sighed, saying with a touch of helplessness.

"I'll definitely pay close attention. If he can't be found in the Great Liang Kingdom, then I'll go to the Jade Fan Kingdom."

"If he can't be found in the Jade Fan Kingdom either, then I'll go even further, even if it means going to the ends of the sea, I won't hesitate!"

Qi Longhu's words didn't sound like a joke, nor did his expression.

"Then, Hall Master Qi, please take these two items."

Chen Fugui thought for a moment and pulled out another item from his embrace.

A pure white porcelain bottle, containing the Medicinal Pills Chen Heng had looted from the Wutong Sect a location within the Cult back then.

But they were after Optimization.

At that time, Chen Heng had optimized all sorts of miscellaneous Medicinal Pills at once, using only one Optimization attempt.

The effect wasn't that great, but it was sufficient.

"My son gave this to me back then, saying it could save someone even if they were completely dead, once."

"This journey likely won't be too safe. With the world in such chaos now, please be extra careful, Hall Master Qi."

Handing the god-seeking disk and the Medicinal Pills to Qi Longhu, Chen Fugui stood up, clasped his fists, and left.

He couldn't place all his hopes on Qi Longhu and the Five Spirits Gang; he also had to do something himself.

Seven days. He would wait for seven more days. If Chen Heng still had no news by then... Not long after Chen Fugui left, Qi Longhu also departed from Qiyang City's west gate with seven or eight people...

Meanwhile, Chen Heng was oblivious to the uproar in Qiyang City; he was currently sitting in front of a farmhouse, chatting with an Old Woman.

"That's right, look at these bulging muscles of mine. I can lift two of your small millstones with one hand."

Chen Heng pointed to the large stone mill in the farmer's house and said.

"You're truly amazing, young man." The Old Woman smiled, not taking him seriously.

"But your wheat meal really tastes good; it's perfectly to my liking."

Chen Heng didn't mind; he had come to see them precisely because he was curious about the people here.

"Eat more if it tastes good." The Old Woman still smiled, though she seemed a little pained.

"Big Brother Chen, please eat a little less. That half-jar of wheat has all been eaten by you..."

Bai Jun poked Chen Heng, who was eating with relish.

"You're right."

Chen Heng nodded at the sight, finished the wheat meal in his bowl, and then set the bowl down.

Grabbing Bai Jun casually, Chen Heng pulled out several blood and qi replenishing pills from his cloth bag.

"Old Woman, for these Medicinal Pills, crush a little bit into powder each time and mix it with water to drink. It's enough to keep you alive until you're a hundred and fifty."

Chen Heng couldn't just eat their food for free, but he currently had nothing on him except a skirt, so he could only have Bai Jun cover for him for now.

Ah, the black fiend blade and the thousand-year profound iron spear were naturally also with him, but these two weapons couldn't exactly be given to people.

"Let's go, let's go see Qian Fa."

After eating his fill, Chen Heng stood up and left the small courtyard.

After several hours of observation, Chen Heng could confirm that these farmers were indeed Immortal Masters.

And they were all very simple and honest, so much so that they didn't even suspect Chen Heng of being a bad person.

Only one kind of person could be like this: those who have been isolated from the world for a long time, only active within this small circle.