Chapter 30: A Guest of Honor in the Mittel Family, Bound to Ya Fei!

Gu He's mind stirred.

He pieced the two fragments of the map together, and there was not the slightest gap at the junction.

Hai Bodong couldn't help but ask, "Gu He, can you tell me what the purpose of this thing is? What can be obtained after all the map fragments are collected?"

Gu He shook his head, "I don't know either."

Hai Bodong thought to himself, 'Old fox!'

However, he laughed, "I didn't expect that after so many years, I would actually owe you such a huge favor..."

"In the future, if you encounter any difficulties and need my help, just let me know."

Gu He stroked the little snake's cold scales and looked at him, "Only help me once, or...?"

The little snake hissed.

Hai Bodong, having regained his Dou Huang expert strength and confidence, cast a cold glance at the little snake before saying to Gu He, "You are an Alchemist capable of concocting sixth-tier Medicinal Pill; I might owe you favors in the future... how could I only help you once?"

Gu He smiled and nodded.

This Dou Huang expert could be considered successfully recruited by him.

After a moment of silence, Gu He glanced at the broken map on the ground, "What are your plans for the future?"

"Are you going to continue drawing maps here?"

Hai Bodong shook his head, "I was only researching the map here to find a way to break the Seal."

"After all... what Dou Huang expert would be content to live in such a remote place?"

Looking back on the bitterness of these past years, Hai Bodong felt deeply moved.

"As for what plans I have... I might want to return to the Empire's capital."

"That is where my roots are."

Gu He also associated this with something, "Mittel?"

Hai Bodong nodded.

Gu He laughed, "That's quite a coincidence. Before I came to the Tagor Desert, I visited the Mittel auction house and met your current Clan Chief, Miteer Tengshan..."

"We got along quite well."

After all, who wouldn't get along with an Alchemist who could fulfill their wishes?

Hai Bodong waved his hand, "Are you returning to the Empire's capital? If it's on the way, let's go back together."

Gu He took a big step forward, opened the shop door for him, and expressed his thoughts with his actions.

The morning light spilled into the shop from the doorway, feeling warm.

Carrying an aura of coldness, Hai Bodong followed Gu He out of the shop.

Before leaving, he left a Dou Technique inside the shop.

It was a farewell gift for that spoiled and somewhat annoying daughter of the city lord—

He was in a good mood; he had to bid farewell to the past.

...

The two returned to the Empire's capital together.

The Mittel Family residence.

"Clan Chief! Clan Chief! Look who's back!" a man in green clothes excitedly reported to Clan Leader Tengshan.

"You're a grown man, act with some composure! Why are you so rash?" Miteer Tengshan looked at the door with suspicion.

He saw an old man with white hair standing at the door with his hands behind his back, wearing a blue robe with textured light blue patterns, his chest slightly exposed, revealing large pectoral muscles. His face, though slightly aged, did not hide his handsomeness.

It was none other than one of the three founders of the Mittel Family, the current Grand Elder Hai Bodong!

Miteer Tengshan stood up excitedly and walked over quickly, "Old Hai, is it really you?!"

Hai Bodong smiled slightly, full of poise, "It is me, I, Hai Bodong, have returned!"

The aura unique to the Ice Emperor was slightly exposed, making the whole room a few degrees colder, but everyone from the Mittel Family welcomed Hai Bodong's return with enthusiasm!

Hai Bodong was one of the top ten experts of the previous generation in the Empire.

He had once sparred with a Dou Huang expert and a Dou Wang at the Myriad Sects Assembly without falling behind, stunning the entire audience with his skill!

He was also the guardian deity of the Mittel Family.

No wonder everyone in the room was so happy.

Miteer Tengshan suddenly rubbed his eyes, doubting he had seen correctly, "Why is there someone following behind you?"

Gu He slowly walked out from behind Hai Bodong, "Long time no see, old friend~" Gu He chuckled.

Miteer Tengshan was stunned, then heard Hai Bodong introduce, "This is Pill King Gu He, my friend. He has helped me a lot..." Hai Bodong's words carried a hidden meaning.

Miteer Tengshan's mouth opened wide in surprise, enough to stuff a persimmon inside.

Gu He asked slowly, "Clan Leader Tengshan, how was the taste of the qingming longevity pill?"

"Hehe... naturally, it was quite good." After Miteer Tengshan ate the qingming longevity pill, although his appearance remained aged, he could clearly feel that his organs had regained some vitality, as if he had returned to how he was ten years ago.

Hai Bodong watched the two talking and understood something. He shook his head secretly, finally understanding—the Mittel Family could not escape owing Gu He a favor!

Gu He looked at the person in charge of the Mittel Family, who was almost overflowing with gratitude, and laughed, "I've been traveling and am a bit hungry. Does Clan Leader Tengshan have a simple meal?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

...

After eating and drinking his fill, Gu He strolled as if he were taking a leisurely walk, preparing to leave the Mittel Family residence.

"Elder Gu?"

In the corridor adorned with gold-carved Phoenix pillars, a voice with a hint of charm reached Gu He's ears.

Gu He stopped his steps and looked at the graceful figure, "Ya Fei? Why are you here?"

He saw that this figure was wearing a tight red brocade robe, with a silver belt wrapped around her waist, making it appear slender enough to be held in one hand. Paired with her dazzlingly white long legs, she added color even in the night.

Ya Fei smiled gracefully, "I was about to ask you that, Elder Gu."

Gu He walked up to her, "I said before, there is no need to call me Elder."

"I came to the Mittel Family this time to bring Hai Lao back."

Ya Fei's beautiful eyes blinked in surprise. Hai Lao, Hai Bodong, she certainly knew who that was.

That was her Elder.

Although they had a faint Bloodline connection, they didn't have much interaction, but Hai Bodong's great name was known to everyone.

No wonder... no wonder Clan Leader Tengshan had been receiving guests all day; it turned out he was hosting Gu He.

Ya Fei's eyes turned, and she suddenly said, "I feel that Elder has become a bit stronger since returning this time..."

Gu He felt helpless about her way of addressing him, but he did not continue to correct her. After all, Ya Fei's awe of the strong could not be changed.

"Isn't Young Miss Ya Fei also managing the auction house quite prosperously?" Gu He asked back.

He did not have the pride and pedantry that ordinary people have after being complimented.

[Ding!] In the night, the System sound, which made Gu He slightly surprised, suddenly rang out.

[Because the host has successfully conquered two mission targets, the System is now adding two more conquest slots!]

[Favorability fluctuation detecting...]

[Does the host want to bind Ya Fei as the fourth mission target?]

Gu He was stunned for only half a second before silently saying, "Bind Ya Fei as a mission target."

[Ya Fei successfully bound!]

[Character information updated!]

[Target: Ya Fei]

[Beauty Grade: Nation-toppling Beauty]

[Target's favorability toward host: 30%]

Upon hearing Gu He's question, Ya Fei couldn't help but playfully curl her lips, feeling quite happy.

She had no talent for Cultivate, so she could only constantly improve her abilities in other areas, shining on a different track.

And Gu He was the pill king of the Empire, respected and admired by all, yet he spoke in such an approachable way and never looked down on or discriminated against her.

He was not like a long-winded Elder, but rather more like a patient and guiding mentor.

The night wind stirred, and the ice crystal wind chimes hanging in the corridor swayed like dancers, the sound tinkling, beautiful and pleasant.

Gu He smelled the fragrant breeze and heard the System's notification sound.

[Ding! Target's favorability toward host increased by 20%, obtained reward "Ancient Pill Formula Legacy"!]

[Ancient Pill Formula Legacy: Alchemists all know the preciousness of a Pill Formula; even a rare Pill Formula can be worth a city. The Ancient Pill Formula Legacy contains the concoction methods for thirty-six types of rare Medicinal Pill; one only needs to integrate Soul power to comprehend them when learning.]

[Target's favorability toward host: 50%.]

"The night view is truly beautiful tonight..."

Ya Fei suddenly brought up a topic unrelated to business, her face relaxed, her full red lips slightly curled, and the look she gave Gu He seemed to have changed slightly.

Gu He looked at the full moon, which looked like a jade pot gradually slanting to the west, and smiled faintly, "Yes."

Stars in the blue sky, a beauty by his side.