Calamity Messenger

Chapter 350 - 285: Invitation

Seven days ago, Pharmacist’s Wish saw the disturbances in Chang’an City gradually settle and decided not to linger any longer. He took his maid and went to the Taibai Mountain Military Town. Taibai Mountain Military Town holds a similar status in the Zhou Kingdom as Xuanwu Lake Military Town holds in the Liang Kingdom, encompassing two Third-Turn Secret Realms and two Second-Turn Secret Realms. There’s no better place for cultivation than here.

Because the True Man of Locking Dragon had not appeared, Pharmacist’s Wish assumed she had returned to focus on conquering the Secret Realm to acquire cultivation resources. However, when he left the Secret Realm last night and returned to his courtyard, he saw the Antlered Maiden sitting on a stone chair, drinking.

"Your sister was rescued by Yellow Dog from the Thief’s House. If you want her back in the future, find Yellow Dog." That was her first sentence.

"If you have a man, then quickly bear children before Foundation Establishment." That was her second sentence.

After saying this, the True Man of Locking Dragon left but left two Secret Technique Introduction Manuals on the stone table. Pharmacist’s Wish immediately realized something was wrong. Upon entering, he found Shidong curled up in the corner of the house. This usually carefree maid was now huddled in a ball, her expression full of terror. Upon hearing the door open, she even flinched and hid her head, sobbing.

Wuqiu sat blankly on one side, barely managing to muster a smile to greet Pharmacist’s Wish upon his return. Under Pharmacist’s Wish’s questioning, she revealed what had just happened.

The True Man of Locking Dragon suddenly appeared in the courtyard, bound them with a Golden Lock Chain, and interrogated them about Pharmacist’s Wish’s whereabouts on the night of the Exotic Iron theft. Initially, the True Man of Locking Dragon did not do anything because the mere Qi Blood and Divine Soul of the Foundation Establishment Messenger were enough to exert a predator-like pressure on ordinary people. But when Wuqiu and Shidong stammered, claiming they didn’t know, the True Man of Locking Dragon resorted to her methods.

The unbearable pain of feeling as if their bodies were being pierced by needles destroyed all their endurance. Shidong completely broke down, sobbing and revealing everything she knew, and Wuqiu couldn’t hold on any longer. After obtaining the information, the True Man of Locking Dragon let them go, leaving two Secret Technique Introduction Manuals as a reward... or rather, compensation.

...

"Wait a minute," Yan Qing’s eyes widened: "Your maids told everything? Then why did the True Man of Locking Dragon let you go?"

Almost ten days had passed since the theft of the Exotic Iron. During these ten days, the True Man of Locking Dragon had been frantically searching for traces of the Rabbit Heroine. Compared to the Thief’s House, which had no appearance information, the Rabbit Heroine was undoubtedly the easiest to find. She must have suspected Pharmacist’s Wish long ago and might have been lying in wait, hoping for the Rabbit Heroine to reunite with Pharmacist’s Wish.

But as days passed, the True Man of Locking Dragon’s patience was worn thin. So she directly captured and interrogated Wuqiu and Shidong, specifically choosing a time when Pharmacist’s Wish was absent, with murderous intent unspoken.

Her pursuit was no longer for the Exotic Iron but rather for venting. If Pharmacist’s Wish had even the slightest suspicion of collusion with the Thief’s House, she would have utterly destroyed him!

With the True Man of Locking Dragon’s divine techniques and careful planning, Pharmacist’s Wish absolutely could not escape back to the Thief’s House!

"Shidong saved me." When mentioning this, Pharmacist’s Wish’s tone carried a slight sense of guilt, mixed with a hint of amusement: "She misled the Locking Dragon Bodhisattva."

Indeed, Shidong had revealed everything she knew, but from her perspective, she believed that Pharmacist’s Wish had dressed up beautifully that night to meet her lover. The way Pharmacist’s Wish behaved upon his return only reinforced her belief. The True Man of Locking Dragon, being over a century old and astute, could see that Shidong was indeed not hiding anything. As for why the maids initially chose to hide the truth, it was quite reasonable. In a large family, it was scandalous for the young lady to meet her lover at night, and they naturally dared not speak out of turn.

Yan Qing, knowing Shidong’s character well, vaguely guessed what had happened and decided to skip over the matter: "How are those two doing now?"

"Wuqiu is doing okay; she can adjust on her own. Shidong’s condition is quite severe. I managed to calm her down to sleep last night, but she suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and ran to hide in a corner. No matter what I say, she won’t listen." Pharmacist’s Wish said softly: "If I touch her, she gets so scared that she cries."

"Wait a moment." Yan Qing ran back to his room and shortly returned with two secret manuals: "Here are two Advanced Sword Mastery Secret Manuals. Give them to them; enhancing their Qi Blood and Divine Soul should help."

The level of medical development in this world is very low. On one hand, there are more efficient healing talismans, and on the other, there are near-perfect methods of curing ailments: leveling up.

Although it hadn’t been mentioned before, as with all online games, leveling up a Messenger can restore full health. Not only does leveling up replenish health, but it also boosts Qi Blood and Divine Soul, making it a true panacea for all ailments. Yan Qing figured that Shidong, with her damaged Divine Soul, could benefit from leveling up.

Pharmacist’s Wish glanced at Yan Qing, then at the manuals in his hand. Somewhat impatiently, Yan Qing urged, "Just take them! Consider it a gift from the Rabbit Heroine; I’ve got plenty of these. You could earn two more with some effort, so why be so courteous?"

"Actually, the Locking Dragon Bodhisattva already left them two Secret Technique Introduction Manuals." Pharmacist’s Wish said quietly: "But Shidong refuses to use them right now."

Yan Qing blinked and retracted his hand: "Alright then—"

"But the Advanced Techniques might help them reach Second-Turn consummation." Pharmacist’s Wish seized those two manuals, "After all, you have plenty."

Though he said so, repeating it made Pharmacist’s Wish sound petty. Clearly, he wasn’t a small-minded person, and he had graciously accepted the Rabbit Heroine’s goodwill before. But when it came to interacting with Yan Qing, he couldn’t bear to be seen as inferior to him in any way, in any aspect.

"So what do you plan to do next?" Yan Qing asked.

"Hone my skills and attain Foundation Establishment as soon as possible. What else can I do?" Pharmacist’s Wish displayed a bitter smile: "I can’t even bring myself to hate Locking Dragon Bodhisattva... She has been exceedingly kind."

Yan Qing remained silent. The True Man of Locking Dragon clearly suspected Pharmacist’s Wish. She could have directly interrogated Pharmacist’s Wish or even killed him without any consequences, as his current power was a result of her support... But she chose to give him some respect, only interrogating the maids and, upon discovering Pharmacist’s Wish’s innocence, left two Secret Technique books as compensation.

For most people, this wouldn’t even count as a bad thing; after all, no one died or got hurt. They endured some torment from a Foundation Establishment Zhenren and got two Secret Technique books, which is a sweeter deal than concocting a minor accident for monetary gain.

Pharmacist’s Wish had specifically mentioned that he had to "question" Wuqiu to learn the truth, which means Wuqiu originally planned to conceal this incident, not wanting to burden Pharmacist’s Wish with her troubles.

Even Wuqiu saw it as no loss; they were mere servants. If Pharmacist’s Wish developed animosity with the True Man of Locking Dragon because of them, it would be their fault instead. As for Shidong... she could recover eventually, and the True Man of Locking Dragon did compensate them. Would Wuqiu dare to hold a grudge against a Foundation Establishment Zhenren for such a minor affair?

Moreover, the most crucial point was that Pharmacist’s Wish was not wronged. He was indeed guilty of stealing the Exotic Iron. Saving the Rabbit Heroine was one thing, but stealing the Exotic Iron was another; the former being righteous doesn’t justify the latter wrongdoing. The True Man of Locking Dragon was the victim in this affair, and Pharmacist’s Wish had no grounds for grievance.

"Since the Zhou Kingdom is no longer safe, won’t you leave?" Yan Qing asked.

Pharmacist’s Wish, somewhat exasperated, responded, "How could I leave? Though Locking Dragon Bodhisattva no longer suspects me, I am a Foundation Establishment seed, and the current Duke Jin. Countless eyes watch my every move, where else could I go?"

"You could seek out the Rabbit Heroine." Yan Qing looked at her earnestly and said, "Join us."