122: Tang Cheng's changes

About the time it takes to finish a cup of tea later, the three of them had finished discussing the various details.

The Town Head raised his hand to cover a light cough. "The matter is settled then. The Town Head's Residence will issue the government order, and the Shi and Zhang Families will mobilize their personnel."

"At a quarter past noon, everyone please gather at the Town Head's Residence drill grounds."

Having received their orders, the Clan Chiefs of the Shi and Zhang Families cupped their hands toward Tang Cheng and Chu Jingyu before taking their leave.

After the two Clan Chiefs left, Tang Cheng looked at Chu Jingyu with a gentle smile. "The last time I... traveled Beyond the Border... you could also see that my injuries have not fully healed. Regarding this mission to clear out the Source Beasts, I'll have to ask you to put in more effort."

"Fortunately, you advanced to the Spirit Rank at this time, so our Heyu Town doesn't have to go to the county town to beg for help. For the next few days, I'll have to ask you to oversee the Hunting Team."

"It is my duty and only right; there is no need for 'asking'." Chu Jingyu looked at the pale-faced Tang Cheng, feeling that the Town Head's spirit had been worn down quite a bit.

First, the Liu Family used the entire town as a sacrifice, and then the Huo Family used the Clan Chiefs of Zhiyao County as sacrifices. These two consecutive events had more or less impacted his mental state.

Tang Cheng smiled and didn't dwell on it, instead asking, "There's still some free time this morning. How about I have someone show Old Chu around the Town Head's Residence?"

Chu Jingyu waved his hand and declined Tang Cheng's suggestion. "I still have an old friend in town and want to go see him first. I'll come back after noon."

"Since you have a place to go, then Old Chu, please suit yourself."

Chu Jingyu stood up and left, not staying long at the Town Head's Residence.

As Tang Cheng was left alone in the study, his expression gradually returned to indifference. An old man entered from outside without knocking.

The old man was thin and withered, and his cloudy eyes were full of complexity as he looked at Tang Cheng.

Tang Cheng was not surprised by the old man's arrival, but instead said softly, "The Chu Family's Luck is at its peak; the Clan Chief broke through to the Spirit Rank, and the grandson broke through to the Uncommon Rank. These consecutive Breakthroughs are somewhat unusual for a small town."

"I'll have to trouble Old An to take a trip to the Chu Family residence and see what the Chu Family's situation is really like now."

Old An looked somewhat hesitant. "In your current state, it's really inconvenient for me to leave."

"Cough, cough. Old An, don't treat me like a true cripple. It's just that my two Spirit Beasts have now become one. In this Heyu Town, no one can hurt me."

Old An sighed softly. "Should we go to the Medicine Heart Hall again? Let that person take a look at you."

"Heh, what face do I have to go to the Medicine Heart Hall to see him again? By now, the news must have reached the Family. Disturbing Old Sun's peace was already my greatest sin."

"To go and disturb him again now, wouldn't that make me look shameless?"

Hearing Tang Cheng's slightly sarcastic words, Old An's body stiffened slightly. "So you know."

Tang Cheng's gaze was calm. Now that he was someone who had experienced death once, he could no longer be bothered to care about many things.

Old An gripped the staff in his hand, his gaze falling on the spirit snake coiled upon it.

"The news that Sun Chunchen comes from Medicine King Valley is too shocking. The benefits to the Family are too significant; it had to be reported."

"And then? This Sun Chunchen is just a Spirit Rank. Even if he comes from Medicine King Valley, he isn't necessarily an important member. If he were an important member, why would he stay in such a tiny town?"

Old An was silent for a moment before answering Tang Cheng's words. "It doesn't matter whether he has a noble status or not. What matters is that he knows the way to Medicine King Valley."

"I can't control what you want to do, but I must avenge the grudge of the Liu and Huo Families humiliating me."

Seeing a hint of anger finally surface on Tang Cheng's face, Old An secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he still had some spirit, it was fine.

"I do have some news about the Liu Family. More than half of their clansmen died on the way to the Silent Gloom Desert. Just a few days ago, they finally selected a site to begin building a city."

"However, that place is parched. A city won't be built there. I'm afraid even a small market town will require the Liu Family to struggle to maintain it."

"As for the Huo Family, people from our Family will definitely demand an explanation for you. But it's also strange; the Huo Family caused such a commotion in Zhiyao County that they almost broke the border, yet there hasn't been a single measure taken from above. It's a bit abnormal."

"It just shows the Huo Family has connections that reach the heavens, being able to easily strike even at us, disciples of a Seventh-Grade Noble Family out for experience. Sigh, forget it, forget it. I don't want to think about it. Old An, you should head out quickly."

Seeing Tang Cheng become disinterested again, Old An could only swallow his remaining words. Leaning on his cane, he left the room without making a sound... Medicine Heart Hall.

After having someone announce him, Chu Jingyu waited for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea in the backyard flower hall before seeing the smiling Sun Chunchen, who looked like an old prankster.

At the first sight of Chu Jingyu, Sun Chunchen immediately shouted in dissatisfaction, "Are you still going to run that Medicine Beast Shop? How many days has it been? It's been so long since the New Year passed, and there's still no movement from your shop. This business attitude won't do!"

Chu Jingyu cupped his fists and apologized. "Too many things happened at home and in town recently, so the shop really couldn't open. But once the Source Beasts from Beyond the Border in town are cleared out, the shop will reopen."

"Oh? You must have come to town for that, right? And I was wondering how you had time to visit me." Sun Chunchen clicked his tongue twice, looking very disdainful of Chu Jingyu.

"Have you not noticed something?" Chu Jingyu intentionally released more of his Spirit Rank aura.

"Oh, I could feel your Spirit Rank aura from far away. But is there any difference between us? Don't think that just because you've reached the Spirit Rank, you'll be able to out-drink me. Speaking of which, want to have a couple of cups this afternoon to celebrate?"

Clearly, Sun Chunchen didn't care much about Chu Jingyu's Breakthrough to the Spirit Rank, but was instead more looking forward to having a few drinks together.

Chu Jingyu waved his hand and refused. "I have to go out with the Hunting Team this afternoon, so I won't drink for now."

If it were ordinary wine, it would be fine; with his current Physique, he could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. But Sun Chunchen's wines were all medicinal wines infused with rare spiritual materials. Without needing to drink much, just two or three cups down, and he would definitely pass out.

"If you're not drinking, what did you come here for? Just to take a quick look at me? Rest assured, I'll definitely live longer than you."

Hearing Sun Chunchen's words, black lines almost drooped to the floor from Chu Jingyu's forehead. He really had no way to deal with this old prankster, so he could only take out the things he had prepared.

He opened his palm, and three tiny Jellyfish appeared above it. "Don't you like all sorts of Source Beasts? These appeared near my house after the border broke. I caught a few to bring to you."

Seeing Source Beasts he hadn't seen before, Sun Chunchen's eyes immediately lit up. He stretched out his palm and scooped up the three Jellyfish.

He pinched the little 'Jellyfish's' 'umbrellas' and tentacles, and even flipped them over in the air to carefully observe beneath the 'umbrellas'.

"What is this Source Beast called, and what skills does it have?"