sinovels Chapter 34 Sharp Eyes
Chapter 34 Sharp Eyes
[Xu Xing's Guardian Level Up: Beginner → Proficient↑]
Sometimes it's not that Fang Shi wants to take a more cautious approach and stay in the center, it's that he really has no other choice.
He just wanted to quietly draw array patterns, earn spirit fragments, and soak in spirit veins in the ruins, but unexpected things always came knocking on his door.
The girl who inexplicably descended from the void possessed a power that tore through space, clearly indicating that she was not at the early stage of Qi Refining.
He didn't want to get involved in any unnecessary trouble.
Fang Shi jogged all the way to the edge of the Jiazi District.
He wasn't qualified to meet Zhou De'an, but he could still find the Taoist boy.
He found the young Taoist priest inspecting something at the construction site in Zone A, and approached him, bowing and saying, "Master, something has happened."
The young Taoist looked up at him and asked, "What is it?"
Fang Shi said, "A young girl fell from the sky and landed in the ruins. A dark crack appeared in the sky, and she fell out from there. I dare not act on my own authority, so I have come to report this."
The young Taoist frowned and said, "Lead the way."
……
When they arrived at the ruins, the girl was still in the same spot, sitting on a broken wall, head down, legs swinging back and forth like a fool.
But of course she's not stupid.
Hearing the commotion, she looked up, saw Fang Shi, and jumped up like a startled rabbit, rushing to him in a few strides. She grabbed his arm and said, "Why are you running away!"
Fang Shi was shocked by her speed and strength, but remained calm on the surface. He pointed to the young Taoist beside him and said, "I will go and ask someone who can help you. This is Master Zhang, a disciple of the Sanpan Temple. He can help you solve all your problems."
The girl turned to look at the young Taoist priest, then turned back to glare at Fang Shi, and said, "My problem? What problem do I have?"
The young Taoist priest spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice tinged with impatience: "Yes, what's wrong with her?"
Fang Shi was taken aback. Seeing the Taoist boy's face gradually darken, he hurriedly said, "Master Zhang, she fell from the sky. Suddenly, a black crack appeared in the sky, and she fell out through it. I saw it with my own eyes, and I dare not lie to you."
The young Taoist priest curled his lip and said, "What nonsense are you spouting! I think that's clearly your wife. You two had a fight, and she ran out looking for you. You're just making up this ridiculous story to fool me."
Fang Shi was stunned.
The girl was stunned, the confusion returning to her eyes. She murmured, "I'm his wife? But I don't know him?"
The young Taoist snorted and said, "Don't you recognize him? Why are you grabbing his arm if you don't recognize him? Where did you come from? You said you fell from the sky, then show me another one!"
The girl released her grip on Fang Shi's arm, looked at her own hand, then at Fang Shi, and said in a low voice, "I...I really don't remember...I only remember that before I fell, it seemed like I was in a very, very dark place..."
The young Taoist interrupted her, saying, "Alright, alright, stop acting. You two, go do what you're supposed to do, don't delay me from getting things done."
After saying that, he turned and left, his steps quick and hurried, as if afraid of being entangled with.
Fang Shi followed suit and did the same.
"Hey, why did you run off again!"
The girl's voice came from behind.
Fang Shi not only ignored him, but also quickened his pace, trying to catch up with the Taoist boy.
Something's not right. When we first arrived, that Taoist priest looked serious, but later he became impatient and started spouting nonsense about a woman.
That's clearly wrong.
If we don't run now, when will we?
However, this time the girl realized what was happening.
Fang Shi's escape won't be so easy.
She grabbed Fang Shi's arm again, saying, "You're not allowed to run away!"
Despite Fang Shi's attempt to dodge, the girl's speed remained as fast as before.
How could someone at the second level of Qi Refining possibly evade it?
He could only say, "I'm not running away, I just saw you... I saw you sitting by the roadside, you must be hungry, so I went to get you something to eat."
A look of confusion crossed the girl's eyes as she repeated his words, "I'm hungry..."
Glug!
A sound came from the girl's stomach, clearly audible.
Fang Shi was stunned.
This was just an excuse; he made it up on the spot.
How could it possibly be true?
Glug!
The girl's stomach growled again, louder than before, and particularly clear in the empty ruins.
She lowered her head, covered her stomach with her hands, her ears slightly red, and said, "Since you are my husband, and you are looking for food for me, I should go with you."
Fang Shi almost choked to death on his own saliva.
Husband? Isn't that ridiculous? Who is your husband?
He thought to himself, "Are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?"
But he swallowed the words back down his throat.
The young Taoist had already gone far away, leaving him all alone.
He was merely at the second level of Qi Refining; if he pushed the girl away, given her significantly stronger cultivation, he would be easily defeated.
Wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
But the current situation was clearly not right, and he couldn't just follow the girl's words.
Thinking back to those two gurgling sounds earlier, and the Taoist boy saying that the lady is the lady.
Fang Shifu suddenly realized what was going on and said, "I am not your husband... Well, that is to be expected."
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency -1]
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency -1]
……
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency -1]
[Minor Breath Concealment Technique (Beginner): -10/100]
The girl immediately beamed with joy.
The dust-covered little face, under the moonlight, seemed to have had a layer of shadow wiped away, revealing the fair skin underneath.
Her eyebrows and eyes were curved, like tender buds sprouting on willow branches in early spring, carrying a pure innocence that seemed untouched by the world.
Fang Shi was momentarily speechless...
wrong!
wrong!!
wrong!!!
Looking at the Lesser Concealing Breath Technique, which had dropped to -10 again.
Fang Shi already knew what was wrong; the current situation was exactly the same as in that hallucination.
It's clearly illogical and wrong, yet it feels so natural, like a dream.
But Fang Shiming is clearly not in a dream.
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency +1]
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency +1]
……
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency +1]
[Minor Breath Concealment Technique (Beginner): 29/100]
Fang Shi restored the Minor Concealment Technique to its original state and said, "I am not you..."
The young woman said, "Husband, what nonsense are you talking about?"
The girl tilted her head, smiling broadly, but tightened her grip on Fang Shi's hand.
Fang Shi felt the power within, and once again realized how deadly this second level of Qi Refining cultivation was. Suppressing the unease surging in his heart, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
The girl nodded and said, "I'm hungry."
Fang Shi said, "Alright, I'll take you to find something to eat."
……
Zhao Hu was a diligent man. After soaking in the spiritual vein, he couldn't wait to return to his tent and sit down cross-legged.
That wasn't about practicing martial arts. If I could practice, I could do it in the spiritual veins; I wouldn't have had to come back.
His purpose in returning was to figure out tomorrow's work, to think about how to save effort and make the work easier so that he could have more opportunities to absorb spiritual energy from the spiritual veins, just like he has these past few days.
This is the method used by rogue cultivators like Zhao Hu.
They are indeed unable to refine their magical power for a long time due to fatigue in their meridians, but a short time is not a problem.
How many puffs one can take depends on their own skill.
Which brick is heavy, which brick is light, which road is closer, which road is farther, which stack is stable, and which stack is easy to topple.
Zhao Hu already had a clear understanding of the situation.
But that's not enough. There's also the transfer of magical power, the shortcut that saves effort. Especially when it comes to magical power, once you start thinking about it, there are countless things to consider.
He rubbed his temples, stood up, lifted the curtain, and went out for some fresh air.
The night wind blew through the ruins, making his forehead feel cool and clearing his groggy head.
The only pity is that there are no stars.
Those three temples were incredibly wealthy; they used the Bright Light Talisman as if it were free, surrounding the tent and making the place as bright as day, obscuring the stars at night.
However, Zhao Hu had become much more sober and was about to turn back when he suddenly saw two figures walking towards him in the distance.
The one walking in front was Fang Shi.
To Zhao Hu's astonishment, there was another person following behind Fang Shi.
She was a young girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a pale yellow shirt, her face still covered in dust. Yet, there was an indescribable air of elegance about her, like a clear spring just emerging from a mountain stream, pure and untouched by any dust.
Zhao Hu was wondering who this woman was when he blurted out, "Brother Fang, you and your wife are back."
As soon as he said it, he was taken aback, but then he felt that what he said made perfect sense.
Fang Shi frowned and said, "You also think she's my wife?"
Zhao Hu said matter-of-factly, "What else could your sister-in-law be but your wife? Look at how affectionately she's grabbing your sleeve, and the way she looks at you—Brother Fang, stop pretending. Even though you're usually quiet, why keep something like this a secret?"
He suddenly added, "Besides, isn't this Qi Xueyi from next door? You two grew up together, but then her family moved away, and you lost contact. What, you don't remember her?"
Fang Shi frowned even deeper and asked, "Qi Xueyi?"
Zhao Hu said, "Yes, Qi Xueyi. You two lived next door when you were little and played together every day. You even cried when she left."
The girl murmured, "Qi Xueyi...is that my name?"
Zhao Hu said, "That's right. Your name is Qi Xueyi, and his name is Fang Shi. You two are childhood sweethearts, inseparable since you were little."
Fang Shi finally couldn't hold back any longer and interrupted, "Alright, alright. She said she's hungry, do you have anything for her to eat?"
Zhao Hu said, "That's simple. Come with me."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the distribution point for supplies.
Fang Shi was about to follow when he suddenly stopped and turned to Qi Xueyi, who was following him, saying, "You wait here, don't wander off."
Qi Xueyi nodded obediently and said with a smile, "Husband, please come back quickly, I'll be waiting for you."
Fang Shi didn't say anything more and followed Zhao Hu away.
……
Zhao Hu led Fang Shi ahead, his steps light and quick, humming an unknown tune.
Fang Shi followed behind him and said, "Where are we going to get extra food? Are we going to dig through the ruins?"
He wasn't really short of food; he had already gone back and dug out his Biling Rice a few days ago. He had only interrupted Zhao Hu's incessant chatter and gone along with him earlier. Now, he also wanted to get away from Qi Xueyi and investigate Zhao Hu's unusual behavior.
Zhao Hu didn't even turn his head, casually saying, "Why bother digging through the ruins? Why not just go to the supply distribution point?"
Fang Shi asked, "A supplies distribution center? Is there such a place?"
He hadn't seen this time of day a few days ago.
The Taoist disciples were only responsible for providing meals after work began, and supplies were delivered directly to them on ordinary days. There was no dedicated supply distribution point for independent cultivators.
Zhao Hu stopped and turned around, saying, "Of course there are. Brother Fang, are you confused?"
Fang Shi asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Zhao Hu sighed and said earnestly, "Weren't you just trying to divorce Sister-in-law Qi? Isn't that foolish?"
Fang Shi bluntly stated, "We are not husband and wife, and I don't know her."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Zhao Hu's expression turned serious, and he frowned, saying, "Brother Fang, I think you're not just confused; you've lost consciousness because of the turbid energy entering your brain. We need to hurry to the spiritual vein to find a healer to examine you, don't delay."
Fang Shidao: "Did I get turbid qi entering my brain?"
Zhao Hu said, "That's right. Otherwise, how can you say that Sister Qi isn't your wife? When your parents passed away early, who brought you food from next door? Who stayed up all night watching over you when you had a fever? Who took out their saved spirit fragments to buy you medicine? Sister Qi was so good to you, and now you say you don't recognize her? Isn't that ingratitude? Even if your brain is damaged by the turbid energy, you should get it treated as soon as possible. Even if you can't be cured, you should still treat Sister Qi well and not hurt her feelings."
Zhao Hu spoke with sincerity and certainty, but Fang Shi couldn't recall a single one of those "past events."
Could it be that he has truly lost his mind due to turbid energy, and can't remember anything, like the woman who cut in line that day, who can't remember throwing a tantrum in front of the stall?
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency -1]
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency -1]
……
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency -1]
In a daze, Fang Shi felt that what Zhao Hu said made a lot of sense, and his own idea that turbid energy was entering his brain also made a lot of sense.
He's the one with the problem, and he's also the one who's wrong...
How could it possibly be his fault!
He did nothing wrong!
If anything is wrong, it's the world's fault!
Fang Shi woke up again with a start, clearing his mind of those inexplicable thoughts.
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency +1]
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency +1]
……
[Minor Concealment Technique Proficiency +1]
It wasn't until his Minor Breath Concealment Technique recovered to 29 points, or even further to 30 points, that he felt his mind become clear and his confusion vanished.
Zhao Hu asked, "Brother Fang, what's wrong? You're sweating so much!"
Fang Shi smiled and said, "I was just trying to recall past memories, but I found that I couldn't remember them at all."
Zhao Hu sighed, "It seems Brother Fang still cares about Sister-in-law Qi, otherwise he wouldn't be trying so hard to recall the past."
Fang swore, "No, that's not true."
Zhao Hu sighed, "Brother Fang, your mouth is even harder than a cooked duck."
Fang Shi said, "Hurry up and collect the supplies, stop dawdling."
Zhao Hu laughed and said, "Look how impatient you are. You were just being stubborn, but now you're urging me on. Fine, fine, let's hurry up."
After saying that, he turned around and continued walking forward, his pace quickening.
Fang Shi followed behind him, but his attention was drawn to the four words that had just appeared on the panel—
【Sharp Eyes】