297: Huan Longshi (asking for monthly ticket)

The silver-haired girl, dressed in a silver silk immortal dress, stood impervious to the wind and snow, her pretty face showing a hint of anger.

The Crazy old man said he would take her somewhere with good food.

He didn't say it would be the Ninth Mountain!

That was the territory of that Zhonglang General; she had seen this Human Race Zhonglang General twice from afar, and both times he was killing people, killing more and more each time, so fierce.

The Crazy old man tricked her into coming here for food and drink, which made the girl want to back out.

Great Treasure?

Lies.

The old man didn't have a single decent thing on him.

Although they had traveled all the way from a distant land like this, the girl was genuinely intimidated.

In the snow, the red-nosed old man's nose was bright red, and he let out a burp, exhaling hot air, then turned his head, reeking of alcohol, and chuckled, "Little girl, it's rare for you to be afraid."

As he spoke, he swayed, shaking the patinated gourd in his hand, and the surrounding wind and snow were sucked into the gourd's mouth.

After about seven or eight breaths, the old man plugged the wooden stopper back into the gourd's mouth, then picked it up and shook it by his ear; the sound of gurgling water could be heard, and he then shook his head, muttering,

"This snow is falling wonderfully, a propitious snow for a bumper harvest. When the snow melts, who knows what treasures will grow in this land."

"Hmph! Always so mysterious, I'm leaving."

The silver-haired girl crossed her arms, looking a bit miffed, stomped her foot, and turned to leave.

But the next second, a sigh reached the girl's ears.

"Alas, I heard that the Zhonglang Hall of that Jiu Zhonglang has countless delicacies and fine wines, and also an endless supply of Heaven And Earth Treasure. It seems this old man can only be a guest alone this time."

The girl's body slowly stopped, her lively eyes filled with suspicion, and she turned her head, huffing prettily, "I don't believe it, Crazy old man. You could trick others before, but this person is very powerful. Didn't you say not to be targeted by him? Why are you rushing forward now?"

"Who said I'm lying this time?" The red-nosed old man's eyes twinkled with a smile. "This old man truly has a Great Treasure to offer this This General."

As he spoke, he even turned his head away haughtily,

"Believe it or not."

The girl's suspicious gaze fixed on the Crazy old man for a while, then she obediently returned, walking to the old man's side, her lively eyes wide open,

"Really?"

The red-nosed old man's eyes were smiling; he knew it.

Just as he was about to speak, the old man's alcohol-flushed face became slightly serious, and he looked up at the distant mountain peak, hazy in the wind and snow,

A golden light flashed there, as if an eye had looked over.

He raised an eyebrow and instructed the girl beside him, smiling: "Just get ready for a big meal. Wait, someone will invite us up very soon."

Indeed, he was right. After about half a cup of tea time.

The gate of the barracks creaked open.

Two rows of soldiers rushed out, and Cloud Skyborn rode out to greet them, sitting atop a horse covered in heavy armor, and cupped his fists towards the red-nosed old man.

"The This General requests both of you to come up!"

As he spoke, Cloud Skyborn's peripheral vision couldn't help but fall on the girl beside the old man.

The girl's silver hair and unique demeanor were very eye-catching.

The kind that couldn't be ignored.

Not only did he himself pay attention, but most of the other armored soldiers who came out also had their gazes fixed on the girl, their eyes filled with curiosity and a certain admiration.

The red-nosed old man chuckled, hung the brown patinated wine gourd on his waist, and ran his hands through his hair, which stood up like ox horns,

"Please lead the way!"

With that, he strode forward.

The girl glanced at the distant mountains in the wind and snow, and seeing the Crazy old man not look back, she quickly followed.

At this moment, in the backyard of the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang Hall, under the Wind and Snow Pavilion, Chen Yuan's vertical eye between his brows slowly closed, and his eyebrows slightly raised.

His Dharma Eye couldn't see through the two people below the mountain. It was like a mist covering a light veil. This situation either meant their Cultivation was far superior to his, or they had Divine Ability secret techniques concealing themselves.

But Divine Ability secret techniques that could conceal from Dharma Eye's prying were certainly not simple.

The red-nosed old man was one thing, but his Dharma Eye couldn't penetrate the silver-haired girl either.

This old man and young girl, what was their origin?

Offering him a treasure?

It seemed strange no matter how he looked at it.

Chen Yuan's eyes flickered, and he pondered for a moment, then quietly said to Gao Yu, who had come to report,

"Put aside the matters of the Internal Affairs Department for now. After all, they are old timers of the Ninth Mountain. First, dismiss and demote them. I will rearrange people."

Then he got to the main point,

"You go and lead the soldiers..."

Speaking of this, he felt he was being overly cautious, and smiled,

"Forget it."

"Call someone over and arrange a table of food and wine. This is This General's treasury token. Take out some good things to entertain them!"

"We have guests!"

With that, he tossed out a token.

"Yes!"

Gao Yu responded, took the token, and quickly left.

Not long after, when Gao Yu took the token and opened the treasury located in the side hall of the Zhonglang Hall and walked in, he was slightly shocked.

Inside, spiritual light was hazy, and treasure Qi was astonishing. Gold and silver treasures were piled into small mountains, casually placed in corners. In box after box, Heaven And Earth Treasure, Spiritual Plant, Medicinal Pill, were stacked in layers. What shocked him was that it contained densely packed, Sealed demon corpses, like walking into a demon exhibition hall. Powerful and terrifying Devilish Qi filled the air. What terrified him was that there were two demon heads several times larger than a house inside, even though dead, they were filled with astonishingly terrifying aura.

They were from Wucang Great Demon!

This... was simply entering a treasure trove!

It was hard to imagine how astonishing its value was.

Gao Yu even felt his heart pounding, sensing a great temptation. He even couldn't help but have a thought: if he secretly took a little, the This General probably wouldn't notice anything.

However, this thought that arose was quickly cut off by him. The This General gave him the token because he trusted him; how could he destroy that trust?

Afterward, his eyes became calm, and he began to select precious items in the treasury. Since the This General treated them this way, the guests who came up the mountain must be extraordinary.

If Gao Yu knew that the inventory in this treasury was actually only a small part of Chen Yuan's wealth, he would surely drop his jaw.

After all, countless demons had died at Chen Yuan's hands, and he also raided homes everywhere.

These were all original capital accumulated through bloodshed!

"Hehe, this old man has seen Deputy General Chen!"

"This General's demeanor is as impressive as ever, a blessing for Shu Land."

After a cup of tea, in the backyard of the main hall, outside the pavilion in the wind and snow, the red-nosed old man cupped his hands towards Chen Yuan, who was sitting in the pavilion, and chuckled, seemingly not at all reserved.

Such a person was either relying on their own powerful strength or had thick skin.

After the old man greeted him, his small eyes gestured to the side and he coughed.

Beside him, the silver-haired girl rolled her eyes a bit. As soon as the old man's familiar opening line came out, it meant he was about to con someone.

She was all too familiar with it.

However, she looked up at Chen Yuan, dressed in casual clothes, in the pavilion. She only felt that this This General at this moment was different from when she had seen him before; he had less Killing Intent and majesty, and her tension was lessened. She gave a graceful bow:

"Cun Xin greets the This General."

So the girl's name was Cun Xin, and her voice had the tranquility of a clear spring flowing.

This was the human etiquette the Crazy old man had taught her.

Inside the pavilion, Chen Yuan's eyes flickered as he scrutinized this strange duo, who appeared to be grandfather and granddaughter. Having Cultivated to this level, it was the first time someone had given him the feeling that he couldn't see through them, and this time there were two of them.

He finally fixed his gaze on the red-nosed old man, raising an eyebrow, "Demeanor as impressive as ever? Old man, have you seen Chen before?"

The red-nosed old man didn't hide anything, "Of course I have. Once at the Liu family on an island, and once..."

As he spoke, his big red nose sniffed, making a sound, and his gaze slowly shifted to the wine pot warming on the stove on the table next to Chen Yuan. He stretched his neck, somewhat absentmindedly saying the latter half of the sentence,

"At Five Treasures Mountain."

Chen Yuan's eyebrows twitched upon hearing this. Seeing the old man's expression and his gaze on the wine pot next to him, he smiled knowingly,

"Old man seems to be a lover of wine. Please come up and sit, and this young lady too."

As he spoke, he took out two small jade cups, lifted the wine pot from the stove, and a refreshing aroma of wine flowed from the slender spout, beautiful wine blossoms blooming in the cups, accompanied by warm mist swirling.

"Then this old man won't be polite." The red-nosed man's face was full of joy. He went straight up and sat down, sniffed with his nose, and stared intently at the wine glass Chen Yuan was pouring into. He wiggled his buttocks on the stool, somewhat impatient.

"Please!" Chen Yuan pushed the cup over. A faint golden light from his hand inadvertently entered the wine from the base of the cup.

But the other party picked it up without hesitation and drank it in one gulp.

Chen Yuan watched the other party's reaction.

He saw the other party's face turn red, and he closed his eyes, his eyelids wanting to open but not quite. He shook his head and said, "Good wine, good wine! It feels like a great sun rising in my belly, complementing the wind and snow of this world."

After speaking, the other party opened his eyes and looked at Chen Yuan with a smile, "This General, your wine-warming skill is superb."

Chen Yuan saw that the other party had seen through his test but didn't expose him. His expression remained unchanged, and he smiled. "Chen hasn't had guests here for a long time."

"I'm out of practice."

Then he turned his face and instructed Cloud Skyborn, who was standing beside him, "Tell them to serve the dishes!"

Cloud Skyborn responded and walked out. Soon after, graceful and lovely maids, holding wooden trays, entered in a continuous stream from both sides, bringing in exquisite dishes, pastries, and Spiritual Fruit.

Among these maids was Xia He, who had been sent down the mountain not long ago.

At the table, the silver-haired girl, who had been silent and reserved, quickly had her eyes sparkling when she saw the fragrant delicacies and pastries.

"You all may leave!" Chen Yuan said.

"Yes, This General." The maids bowed and retreated out of the pavilion with small, quick steps.

"Guests are here, please enjoy!"

Chen Yuan's previous attempt to test them had been seen through, so he bothered no more, choosing to wait and see.

The silver-haired girl named Cun Xin looked at the red-nosed old man beside her, only to see him unceremoniously grab a roasted suckling pig, tear off a leg, and gnaw on the meat. Then, with his other hand, he grabbed the wine pot, poured himself a cup of wine, and drank it with relish.

Seeing this, the girl also gave up on formalities and buried her head in her food.

For a time, the old and the young, the old one devoured food like a storm, his hands greasy, while the young one lowered her head, eating delicately, but her stomach was like a bottomless pit. Chen Yuan originally wanted to ask a few questions, to hear about their origins, but seeing them like this, he didn't speak, quietly watching the two, occasionally taking a sip of wine.

After half an incense stick, the red-nosed old man stopped “eating”, licked his fingers twice, then gargled with wine and swallowed it.

With his belly full, he finally narrowed his eyes and smiled, looking up at Chen Yuan,

"Thank you, This General, for your hospitality."

"Since the This General has entertained me with delicacies and fine wine, this old man naturally must return the favor. May I speak with you in private?"

The girl, who was still buried in her food beside him, paused her hand upon hearing this. The old man was going to start his usual spiel again, wasn't he? But she couldn't bear to stop; these dishes were cooked with Heaven And Earth Treasure, rich in vital essence, and her body needed a lot of energy. She hadn't eaten her fill in a long time, so she thought for a moment and decided to ignore it for now.

Chen Yuan saw that they were finally getting to the main point, his eyebrows slightly raised. Then he glanced at the girl who was still eating, beckoned, and whispered something to Cloud Skyborn, who was standing by, then stood up.

"Please!"

He swayed his feet, walked out of the pavilion, not using his True Qi, letting snowflakes fall on his clothes, eyebrows, and face. A slight chill permeated his skin, and his feet made a "crunch, crunch" sound as he stepped on the snow.

Soon, the red-nosed old man followed.

The two walked dozens of steps in the snow until the old man spoke, and they stopped.

"General Chen has good composure. You're not in a hurry to ask this old man why I came uninvited?"

Chen Yuan, who had been walking with his hands behind his back, now raised a hand and pinched a snowflake from the air, glancing slightly with his eyebrows, his tone indifferent, "Old man, your Cultivation is extraordinary. You suddenly came to my Ninth Mountain, saying you want to offer a treasure. I'm afraid there's something else to it?"

"It's just that I haven't dealt with the old man before, so it's better to let nature take its course!"

The red-nosed man smiled mysteriously, his two tufts of hair, standing like ram's horns, remained upright in the wind, "This old man offering a treasure is true, and there's something else is also true."

"It just depends on whether the This General dares to accept it?"

Chen Yuan turned sideways, a faint golden light flashing in his eyes,

"Oh?"

"Chen is curious about what treasure the old man is talking about?"

The red-nosed man turned sideways and glanced towards the girl in the pavilion behind him, indicating to Chen Yuan.

"It's her!"

This made Chen Yuan, who had considered many possibilities, freeze in his expression.

Giving him a girl?

There were indeed many people in Jinguancheng who had this idea, wishing they could send their daughters to serve him.

But these two were clearly unusual, by no means so simple.

The old man saw Chen Yuan's reaction and suddenly said meaningfully, "Does the This General have a Qi Luck Spiritual Root on him?"

As soon as these words came out, a cold light flashed in Chen Yuan's eyes, and the surrounding wind and snow instantly solidified.

But the old man said unhurriedly, "General Chen, please let me finish. At Five Treasures Mountain, when you fought that Human Devil, you used the power of the Qi Luck Spiritual Root, and I, this old man, happen to have some means to sense it."

"That's why I paid this visit!"

After the old man finished speaking, the surrounding wind and snow fell again. Chen Yuan's tone revealed no anger, "So, old man, you mean to covet the Qi Luck Spiritual Root in Chen's hand?"

The red-nosed old man did not answer directly, but said meaningfully:

"General Chen, have you heard of the Dragon's Lair?"

"I have heard of it. It is said to be the nest of a True Dragon, and also a kind of Qi Luck Spiritual Root, extremely mysterious. Legend has it that if an ordinary demon obtains a single branch from it, it can transform into a Dragon!"

"The legend is a bit exaggerated. A True Dragon is a true spirit of Heaven And Earth. It needs to go through countless hardships before it can successfully transform and roam between Heaven And Earth. To transform just by relying on a branch from a Dragon's Lair is a fool's dream. It's just that it's stained with Dragon Qi, which indeed can give ordinary animals a chance to become a Dragon, but this is already precious enough."

"And the Dragon's Lair does not refer to a single unique Qi Luck Spiritual Root in Heaven And Earth, but rather it is because a True Dragon resides within it that it transforms into a Dragon's Lair over time!"

When the red-nosed old man said these words, his expression showed a disdain and pride that were completely different from his previous demeanor.

This greatly astonished Chen Yuan, his pupils flickering rapidly,

"Old man, you are so familiar with the Dragon's Lair. May I ask who you are?"

And the red-nosed man finally smiled,

"Huanlong Clan, Dong Fu!"