Chapter Six: The He Residence

“Bah… Last time Old Luo went to Bottle Mountain, he considered taking this place as well, but damn, this wretched spot is truly off-putting. Better to leave it alone…” The soldier cursed as he brushed past. Li Yang’s face remained expressionless, betraying nothing as he, too, continued forward.

“Hey, Old Luo, can’t you stop your endless muttering…”

Only when the group had walked far off did Li Yang turn his head to glance at them, a faint excitement rising in his heart. Nuqing Xiangxi—these people were undoubtedly characters from a TV drama adapted from a novel he’d seen in his previous life. According to the plot he remembered, the exotic beasts that appeared were far from ordinary. No wonder the name Nuqing County sounded so familiar; it was as if a pillow had been delivered just when he needed to sleep.

The cultivation technique passed down in his family required the refining of nine exotic beasts. The stronger the beasts he refined, the greater his own future potential would be. In Nuqing Xiangxi, the Nuqing Rooster with phoenix blood and the six-winged centipede of a strange breed both possessed extraordinary potential.

The key problem was that the six-winged centipede had cultivated for nearly a thousand years and had even formed a core—clearly not an opponent to be taken lightly. If he wanted to deal with it, he would likely need the help of Chen Yulou and the others.

Li Yang plotted carefully as he walked, soon arriving at the end of the street before the gates of a large residence. The two bold words “He Family” on the plaque above the lintel stood out clearly.

“Who’s there…”

As Li Yang knocked on the door, a voice tinged with old age called from within.

“Uncle He! It’s me, Xiao Li…”

“Who are you, boy?” The red-lacquered door opened a crack, revealing a face covered with age spots and wrinkles, staring at Li Yang in surprise.

“Uncle He, look closely, don’t you recognize me?”

“Oh, it’s you, Xiao Li. What brings you here?” After scrutinizing him for a while, the old man finally realized who it was, his face showing astonishment.

“Uncle He, my name is Li Yang…” Unhappy with being called Xiao Li, Li Yang reminded him with a hint of resignation. Then, raising the red carp in his hand, he said, “Madam He has often helped me in the past. I caught this red carp while fishing, and since I heard she enjoys it, I brought it here as a gift. Please pass it along to her.”

He handed the red carp over as he spoke.

“You’re thoughtful! But times aren’t easy for you either. How about this—let me pay you for it. How does that sound?” With a look of some relief, the old man fished out a silver coin from his pocket.

“No need, Uncle He. If not for Madam He’s help last winter, Xiao Liu and I would probably have starved. A carp is nothing, just a token of my gratitude.” Refusing the offered money, Li Yang turned and left.

In the rear courtyard of the He residence, a woman in a light green dress leaned against the railing by a small bridge, looking over her account books. Her figure was elegant and full, like a perfectly ripe peach—neither too plump nor too thin, flawless in every respect. Her hair was carelessly coiled at the nape of her neck, and her fair, spotless profile in the sunlight shone with the glow of translucent jade. Her delicate gaze, thick brows, and lashes like tiny fans framed her dark eyes and flawless nose, while her small red lips completed the picture.

She was the very portrait of nobility and grace—the mistress of the He family.

“Madam, this was brought by Xiao Li,” Old He announced as he entered the rear courtyard, holding the carp and approaching her.

Madam He glanced at the red carp in his hand and said softly, “How thoughtful of him. Times are hard for him, too. Give him some money as thanks.”

“I tried to pay him, but he wouldn’t take it. Said it was to thank you for your help over the years.”

“What a good child. A pity…” Madam He sighed at these words, waving her hand to dismiss the old servant.

After delivering the carp, Li Yang hurried into the county to buy a fat sheep and stocked up on essentials for alchemy—mercury, cinnabar, sulfur—before rushing back to the ruined temple.

Madam He was known for her kindness. Her family had been merchants for generations, and the beggars of Nuqing County had often received her charity. Li Yang and Xiao Liu, being young, had benefited from her favor even more. The original Li Yang owed her a great debt, and now that he had inherited not only the body but also the fate of the original, repaying her kindness was only right.

Leading the fat sheep back to the ruined temple, Li Yang released the golden toad from his sleeve, stroked the last few silver coins he had left, and said with deep reluctance, “Eat up, you glutton.”

“Croak…”

Hearing the toad swallow the sheep in one gulp and let out a satisfied croak, Li Yang finally unloaded his burdens, then fetched some rare medicinal herbs from the temple, sorting them into the large vat by the door. He kindled a fire beneath and began the slow process of brewing.

“Xiao Liu, time to eat—fresh meat buns!” He pulled two still-warm buns from his pocket and called the sleepy boy awake.

“Meat buns? Where?” Xiao Liu woke with a start from his nest of straw at the sound.

“Mmm! Brother Li, these buns are delicious! If I could eat like this every day, life would be perfect,” he exclaimed as he wolfed them down.

Li Yang laughed. “Slow down, you little glutton. I can’t promise much, but you’ll never lack for meat buns from now on.”

“Really? Don’t tease me, Brother Li. If I could eat them once a month, I’d be grateful. Who could dare dream of eating like this every day? Even a rich landlord couldn’t afford that.”

“Just watch the medicine brewing at the door for me this afternoon. I’ll be going out for a bit. Keep the fire low and steady, just like last night. Don’t let it burn.”

Li Yang didn’t bother explaining further.

“Those herbs… are they for the big toad?” Xiao Liu had long been curious about the giant toad Li Yang kept.

“Yes, it’s mine,” Li Yang admitted without hesitation.

“Is it a monster? It’s huge! Last time I saw it, I was scared out of my wits…”

With Li Yang’s confirmation, Xiao Liu’s words tumbled out in a flood.

“All right, save your stories for when I’m back. By the way, do you know the area around Bottle Mountain?”

“Why do you ask? Brother Li, don’t do anything reckless. I’ve heard that place is cursed, home to a thousand-year-old zombie king,” Xiao Liu warned, fear evident in his face at the mention of Bottle Mountain.

“Relax. I’m not going up there—just curious about the villages below. I want to buy some herbs. I won’t do anything foolish.”

“There’s just one village now. There used to be a few more, but they’ve all been abandoned. Only one remains.”

Since Li Yang often went into the mountains for herbs and had bought many in the county, Xiao Liu didn’t doubt his story and explained after some relief.

Once Xiao Liu pointed out the direction, Li Yang set off with the golden toad in tow.

“Brother Li, don’t go near Bottle Mountain…” Xiao Liu called after him, still worried. Bottle Mountain had cast a long shadow over the locals—Xiao Liu’s own parents had died there.

A few years back, famine struck Xiangxi. Desperate for food, his parents had heard of precious herbs on Bottle Mountain and risked the journey. Many went, but none returned. For Xiao Liu, the mountain was a nightmare come to life.

Li Yang hurried along, and after half an hour, finally found the secluded Miao village.