Chapter 41

The next day, after a day of rest, Su Yi dressed neatly and went downstairs to the inn, where he ordered a large table of dishes and a jar of good wine, slowly savoring them.

Although the white wine of this era was not as strong as that of later times, it was superior in its fragrance and smoothness. After a fierce battle with Hong Qigong, Su Yi suddenly found the taste of the wine to be quite excellent, especially after discovering that his alcohol tolerance was quite remarkable...

Drinking large gulps of wine and eating meat in big bites, this was truly the way of the martial world!

Su Yi took a big gulp of wine, ate a mouthful of meat, and silently gave a thumbs up in his heart!

After a satisfying meal, he took a toothpick and slowly picked his teeth, then called over the waiter.

"Waiter, come here, I have something to ask you."

"Coming, coming."

The waiter ran over and asked, "Sir, what do you need?"

Su Yi thought carefully, choosing his words carefully, and then said, "My old mother is seriously ill and needs the gallbladder of a strange snake called the Bosuqun to cure her. I heard that this strange snake has been seen in Xiangyang, so I came here to see if I could catch a few. You've been here for a long time, you must be well-informed. Have you ever seen this strange snake?"

After finishing, Su Yi silently apologized to Bao Xiruo in his heart. I'm really sorry, making you want the Buddhist scriptures and then making you sick. You've really had a tough time lately, but don't worry, I will definitely help you and Yang Tiexin reunite and live a happy life!

A wave of inexplicable sadness washed over him. Why did it seem like he hadn't told the truth for a while? He was almost becoming a professional liar.

The waiter, of course, was unaware of Su Yi's thoughts. He scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then said, "I've grown up here and am quite familiar with the surroundings of Xiangyang, but I haven't heard of any strange snakes."

"Have you seen any unusual things around here? Like big birds or fierce beasts?"

Su Yi took out a silver ingot and placed it in the waiter's hand, saying, "If you know, I have more rewards for you."

The waiter quickly put the reward in his pocket and laughed, "Thank you, sir! Please give me a moment to think."

He stood there, frowning and thinking hard, occasionally rubbing his temples.

After a long while, the waiter finally let out a somewhat embarrassed sigh and said, "Sir, I really don't know about any strange animals, but I know someone who, if there are any strange things around Xiangyang, would definitely know."

"Who is it?"

Su Yi immediately perked up and gave him another silver ingot, saying, "Where is he now?"

The waiter said, "His name is Feng Laoliu, and he is a blacksmith. He has been living in a small village outside Xiangyang since before I was born. He knows the mountains very well."

"Then tell me where he lives quickly."

The waiter gave Su Yi detailed directions to Feng Laoliu's location.

Without hesitation, Su Yi immediately rode out of Xiangyang, heading straight for the small village where Feng Laoliu's blacksmith shop was located.

Su Yi's horse was a fine steed personally selected by Wanyan Honglie, and it took only a short while for him to reach his destination.

He casually asked a few people and easily found Feng Laoliu's residence.

Tying his horse, Su Yi lifted the curtain of the blacksmith shop, and the sound of hammering on metal filled his ears, making it quite noisy. With his recent improvement in the Nine Yang True Qi, his senses were even more acute, making the noise even more unbearable.

He couldn't help but cough.

The hammering stopped, and the sound of footsteps approached. A man with a limp came out and looked at Su Yi, asking, "Sir, have you come to have something forged?"

Su Yi had been warned by the waiter that Feng Laoliu was a cripple, so he immediately recognized him. "I didn't come to have anything forged, I just have some questions."

Feng Laoliu said, "I see. What would you like to know?"

Su Yi repeated the lie he had told the waiter, and this time, it sounded even more convincing.

"Oh... I see..."

Feng Laoliu pondered for a moment, neither confirming nor denying.

Su Yi took out a silver ingot and placed it on the black table, saying, "I wouldn't want to waste your time for nothing. This silver ingot is a token of my gratitude."

Feng Laoliu waved his hand, saying, "That's not necessary. Your filial piety is commendable, and Feng Laoliu would naturally do his best to help. The silver is not needed. Although I am poor, I do not accept charity."

Hmm? This old blacksmith speaks so formally, he doesn't seem like a blacksmith at all, but more like someone who has read books. Su Yi thought to himself, this must be someone with a story.

But at the moment, Su Yi was focused on the Nine Swords of Dugu and had no time to pry into others' affairs. Hearing that Feng Laoliu was willing to help, his tone became even more polite.

"Ha ha, I was a bit too hasty. I hope you can help me out of filial piety. I would be very grateful."

"You let me think..." Feng Laoliu thought for a moment and then asked, "The Bosuqun snake you mentioned, is it golden in color, with a fleshy horn on its head, and looks like a dragon?"

"Exactly!" Su Yi was overjoyed and quickly asked, "Where did you see this strange snake?"

"If it really is that snake, I advise you not to go," Feng Laoliu said. "In fact, I might be the only one who knows about this snake. You could ask everyone in Xiangyang, and no one would have heard of it. Do you know why?"

"Why is that?"

"It was a long time ago. When I went into the mountains to fetch water..." Seeing Su Yi's puzzled gaze on his lame leg, Feng Laoliu smiled, "Sir, you don't know what it's like to be lame. Although it seems inconvenient, with a cane, I can walk as fast as anyone else. Don't look at me, but I've been to the mountains many times."

Feng Laoliu continued, "There is a clear spring in the mountains with excellent water. If I use this water to forge, the results are the best, so I often go deep into the mountains to fetch water."

"One time, I went to fetch water and was about to return when I suddenly heard a hissing sound. I turned around and saw what? Several nearly ten-foot-long strange snakes staring at me intently. Next to them, a dead tiger lay with a purple body, clearly killed by the snakes. I was so scared that I dropped the water and ran immediately. But these snakes, though legless, ran faster than a person..."

Feng Laoliu tapped his cane and sighed, "I've been a blacksmith all my life, and I'm much stronger than the average person. Using my cane as a leg, I can run faster than most people. But these snakes, though they only crawl on the ground, move as fast as lightning, even faster than me. They were about to catch up to me. If I hadn't accidentally rolled down a hill and fallen into the water, I would have been swept away by the current and probably wouldn't have survived."

"I say I'm the only one who knows about this snake because everyone who has seen it is probably dead. Such a large and venomous creature must have a very strong poison. Think about it, even tigers are their prey. If I hadn't been lucky, I would have been eaten by the snakes."

Feng Laoliu looked at Su Yi and advised, "Sir, you don't seem to be very strong. If you encounter these snakes, you might not be able to get the gallbladder and instead become their food. Wouldn't that be a waste of a life?"

Su Yi smiled, "I am determined to get this snake. Although I am thin, I have learned martial arts and am very confident in dealing with a few snakes. Please tell me the location."

"Very well, since you are confident, Feng Laoliu will not withhold the information..."

Feng Laoliu looked at Su Yi intently, sighed deeply, and reluctantly told him the specific location.