Chapter 83

A few days later, at dusk, Tanggu finally returned to his small thatched cottage atop Moonblade Peak. Unexpectedly, he met Shuixue, whom he hadn't seen for several months, again here.

It seemed she had been waiting for him all along.

At this moment, Shuixue was completely different from before, as if some inexplicable change had occurred in her.

She had changed her usual attire, now wearing a light yellow dress, standing tall and graceful, with long black hair that reached her waist, and skin as fair and delicate as jade, more charming than flowers and more fragrant than jade.

Apart from not removing her veil, she seemed to have transformed into a completely different person.

The moment she saw Tanggu, she immediately came forward with joy.

"Big Brother Tang, you're finally back. I knew you would come back. I've been waiting for you for so long..."

Tanggu was slightly stunned and exclaimed, "You..."

The night was dark as ink.

The two sat side by side at the edge of the cliff, a bonfire burning in front of them, reflecting the moonlight in the sky, which was sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

Tanggu had just returned from the Ancient Python Mountains and hadn't had time to ask yet. Curiously, he said, "What happened? You seem very happy?"

Shuixue smiled and said, "Nothing, isn't being happy good?"

After a pause, she revealed the secret with a smile, "I have some good news to tell you. I've successfully refined all the Nine-Transmutation Mystic Pills. I..."

She paused, seeming a bit hesitant. Tanggu was puzzled and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shuixue looked up, her star-like eyes twinkling, and gazed at Tanggu, suddenly asking, "Big Brother Tang, do you still stand by what you said before?"

Tanggu was curious and asked, "What did I say?"

Shuixue's large, bright eyes blinked, and she whispered, "It was when I asked you if, one day, I wanted to leave here, would you accompany me?"

Tanggu was taken aback, seeming to understand something, and then smiled, "Since I've already promised you, if you need me, of course I will."

Hearing this, Shuixue suddenly lifted her eyes, her clear, watery eyes shining with a brilliant light. She looked at Tanggu and moved her lips, saying, "Big Brother Tang, are you really serious? You mustn't lie to me!"

Tanggu smiled, "Really, when has Big Brother Tang ever lied to anyone?" After a pause, he asked curiously, "But you, where do you want to go? Why do you want to leave? Tell me."

"Um, Big Brother Tang... I'll only tell you, and you mustn't tell anyone else."

The night breeze blew, and the moon was bright.

The moonlight shone like water, and by the bonfire, Shuixue lowered her head and finally revealed her thoughts. After a moment, Tanggu finally understood and couldn't help but smile bitterly. From the tone of Shuixue's words, it seemed that her decision was somewhat related to him.

It turned out that the marriage alliance between the Shui family and the Lu family was approaching. Before meeting Tanggu, Shuixue had resigned herself to her fate, thinking she would spend her life this way.

However, after meeting Tanggu and hearing his stories, Shuixue began to waver.

She wanted to emulate the women in Tanggu's stories, boldly stepping out to find her own life, unwilling to let it pass her by.

A few months ago, she had heard about the announcement of the Apricot Grove Manor's entrance examination in Stone Rock Town. Thinking of her lifelong dream of saving lives and dedicating herself to medicine, she had decided to leave Stone Rock Town by boat in a few days and go to Green Dragon City to participate in the entrance examination for the Apricot Grove Manor.

However, considering her father's health and the uncertainty of when she would return, she decided to do something for her father before leaving. That was to collect moon dew and refine the Nine-Transmutation Mystic Pills, fulfilling her last filial duty to her father.

Now that the Nine-Transmutation Mystic Pills were refined and the marriage alliance was approaching, she was afraid that if she didn't leave soon, she would never be able to. So she had been waiting for Tanggu here.

If Tanggu didn't return, she would have to leave on her own in a few days.

Fortunately, Tanggu finally returned at this moment.

After hearing Shuixue's thoughts, Tanggu couldn't help but smile bitterly, everything became clear.

He finally understood why Shuixue had worked so hard, collecting moon dew for her father every night for several months, without delegating the task to anyone else.

Recalling the various expressions on Shuixue's face during this period, everything became clear. He had almost forgotten about this matter, but he hadn't expected that Shuixue would have the courage to leave home.

Under Shuixue's expectant gaze, Tanggu thought silently for a while and finally couldn't bear to refuse.

He nodded and said, "I have some things to handle and some preparations to make. How about this: wait for me for three days. At midnight on the third day, we'll meet here and leave together."

"Okay."

At this moment, Shuixue smiled genuinely for the first time. Under the veil, her beautiful face bloomed with a captivating smile, but it was hidden by the veil, and Tanggu couldn't see it.

She didn't stay long, waved to Tanggu, and then flew away, her steps light, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Watching her disappearing figure, Tanggu stood up and gazed at the sky, his expression somewhat dazed.

After being here for so long, he was finally leaving. What would the outside world be like?

"Three days later..."

Originally, he had planned to go to the Supreme Autumn Wind Pavilion for training as soon as he finished his business here, but he hadn't expected such a turn of events. It seemed he would have to postpone it for now...

However, the Apricot Grove Manor's examination was in June, while the Supreme Autumn Wind Pavilion's examination was in August, so there was no conflict.

He would accompany her on this journey. There was nothing worth staying for in Stone Rock Town, and perhaps this would be another opportunity for him.

But before leaving, he still had some things to do.

The purple bow, the stone stele, the Du family!

Tomorrow, he would return to Stone Rock Town and resolve everything.

Tanggu thought silently, left the cliff, and walked back to his small thatched cottage. He then sat cross-legged, took out an ancient, thin book that emitted a faint red light, and began to read it silently.

"Having completed the fifth level of Qi Dao, it's time to start practicing the Blood Thirst Technique..."

The night passed quickly, and soon it was dawn the next day.

Tanggu opened his eyes, and a faint red glow flashed over his body, though thin, it had taken shape.

In his palm, a pale green flame slowly burned, and he placed the Blood Thirst Technique scroll in it, watching it turn to ashes, then exhaled gently.

Shaking his sleeves, he slowly stood up, picked up a large bag by his side, opened the wooden door, and left.

...

An hour later, Tanggu returned to Stone Rock Town.

He didn't go to the Du family first but went to the True Object Pavilion and sold all his gains from the Ancient Python Mountains.

This included the Green-Haired Bear, the Silver-Armored Pangolin, the Gray Dragon, and other materials, earning him a total of 27,000 stone coins.

This was a huge sum, far exceeding any of Tanggu's previous gains. If it weren't for the unexpected 28 spirit jade he had obtained, he would have been overjoyed, but now he was calm.

Then, he went to the second floor, didn't stay, and directly went to the third floor.

This was his first time on the third floor of the True Object Pavilion.

At a counter, he didn't hesitate and asked, "Do you have any body-strengthening medicines? I want the best, the more precious, the better. Bring all you have."

The silver-clad girl behind the counter was stunned for a moment, then left happily. Soon, a pile of body-strengthening medicines was placed in front of Tanggu.

Among them were two pieces of Second-Rank Torch Dragon Vine, one piece of Third-Rank Tathagata Demon Root, three pieces of Fourth-Rank Purple Flame Fruit, and even a Fifth-Rank Spirit Jade Grass that glowed with a strange, ethereal light.

Tanggu didn't hesitate and bought them all, spending 6,000 stone coins, a huge sum, but he didn't care.

To successfully enhance his physique to the first level of Dragon Elephant and lift the purple bow, any cost was worth it.

Then, Tanggu went to the Martial Academy and, when no one was around, took out paper and a brush, completely copied the green stone stele, and put it in his pocket, returning to his small thatched cottage near the town.

At night, a single lamp flickered.

Tanggu used a stone pot to boil all the medicines into a medicinal broth, then drank it, including the Golden Snake Root and the Mystic Heart Red Jade Root he had obtained in the Ancient Python Mountains.

Strange phenomena immediately occurred.

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