Chapter 23

Zuan An was taken aback. Seeing her so embarrassed, he couldn't help but feel curious: "Just say it, we've been through hardships together and even bathed together... cough, cough, the last part doesn't count. What I mean is, we are friends now, so just say what you need."

Ji Xiaoxi retracted her small fists, which she had been about to throw, and said somewhat embarrassedly: "Well, my father is currently refining a medicine that requires the ingredient 'Fierce Black Wolf Dog Treasure.' As you know, after today's incident, there probably won't be any Fierce Black Wolves in Wolf Valley for a while. It will be very hard to find this ingredient later. I was wondering if you could sell some to me?"

Zuan An thought to himself, if you knew that I originally got these to give to your father, I wonder what your reaction would be. But his mouth moved faster than his brain: "How much are you prepared to pay?"

Ji Xiaoxi replied: "Ordinary dog treasures aren't expensive, but the Fierce Black Wolf Dog Treasure is priced at 10 silver taels each."

Zuan An was shocked. This thing is actually so expensive? But then he thought about it and felt more at ease. After all, Fierce Black Wolves are ferocious by nature, and out of ten, there might not even be one with a dog treasure. Collecting it is a matter of risking one's life; a slight mistake could result in a bloody mess.

He rolled his eyes and said: "That's not quite right. Currently, in Bright Moon City, this thing is in demand but not available." If it were available on the market, Doctor Ji would have bought it already, and there wouldn't be a need to post this task.

He paused and continued: "And as you mentioned, there won't be any Fierce Black Wolves in Wolf Valley for a while. So it's expected that the price of this thing will skyrocket soon."

Ji Xiaoxi blinked and nodded instinctively: "That's true, that's true. You're right, I didn't think of that. I'm really sorry."

Zuan An was taken aback. He had only meant to test her, but she actually apologized on her own. This girl really has a soft personality. Thinking of Doctor Ji's appearance, he couldn't help but wonder if they were really related.

"Let's do this: I'll buy them at 13... no, 15 silver taels each. Is that okay?" Ji Xiaoxi looked at him with great anticipation, "That's all the money I have."

Seeing her cautious manner, Zuan An couldn't help but feel sympathy for Doctor Ji. What's the point of working so hard to make money if he has a daughter with such a soft personality? In the end, it will all go to her husband.

"Sure, how many do you want to buy?" Zuan An replied.

"Thank you!" A glint of surprise flashed in Ji Xiaoxi's eyes, "I want to buy ten, is that too much?"

"Not at all, not at all, I'll give you all of them." Zuan An laughed and handed over all twelve dog treasures from his bag. After all, he had gotten these to pay for the consultation fee, and having more wouldn't be useful.

Now, at 10 silver taels each, he would earn a total of 150 silver taels. After deducting the 100 silver taels for the consultation fee, he would still make a net profit of 50 silver taels. I wonder if Doctor Ji would bleed when he finds out?

Ji Xiaoxi waved her hands frantically, her face turning red: "No, no, I don't have that much money."

"The extra two are free, I'll give them to you," Zuan An put his hand on her shoulder and said casually, "We are friends, after all!"

"Really?" Ji Xiaoxi's face lit up with joy, "You're such a good person!"

"Good person cards shouldn't be given out so easily." Zuan An looked gloomy, just as he was about to say something, he suddenly cried out, "Hey? Why is my hand so painful?"

Ji Xiaoxi stuck out her tongue: "Oops, I almost forgot, my father rubbed 'Anti-Pervert Cream' on my clothes. I'll find the antidote for you right away."

Zuan An imagined Doctor Ji laughing heartily, thinking that it was no wonder the man let his daughter go into the mountains alone to gather medicine, having made sure she was well-prepared.

Ji Xiaoxi fumbled in her small backpack and took out a porcelain bottle, applying the ointment to his hand. She pulled his hand to her face, gently blowing on it, and looked at him anxiously: "Does it still hurt?"

Looking at her small, palm-sized face, Zuan An couldn't help but laugh: "It was painful, but it's better now that you blew on it."

Ji Xiaoxi's face turned red, and she couldn't help but spit out, "You're not serious~"

Zuan An couldn't help but sigh: "Xiaoxi, are you this nice to everyone? If you meet a bad man, you'll be taken advantage of."

Ji Xiaoxi answered instinctively: "I won't let any man touch me, but you're different from other men."

Zuan An: "..."

So, he's being treated like a sister? Unfortunately, the keyboard can't collect his anger points, or this time it would definitely be maxed out.

Ji Xiaoxi realized what she had said was wrong and hurriedly apologized: "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant, I..."

Seeing her anxious and not knowing how to explain, Zuan An gently patted her head: "Don't worry, we are friends, I don't mind."

Since he was being treated like a sister, he decided to take advantage of this. In his previous life, many scoundrels pretended to be gay to get close to their female friends, and then things would develop into something more intimate.

Spit, who is a scoundrel, certainly not me!

While Zuan An was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed Ji Xiaoxi looking at him with a very sympathetic expression: "By the way... there's also powder on my hair..."

Zuan An looked at his hand, which was swollen like a black bun, and felt like crying: Didn't you just take a bath?

...

On the way back to the city, a young boy and girl walked along a mountain path. Suddenly, the girl moved closer to the boy, who jumped to the side as if burned.

"Don't touch me!" Zuan An glared at the girl with caution.

Ji Xiaoxi looked apologetic, her lips pouting slightly: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Zuan An knew he had brought this upon himself, and it was unreasonable to blame her: "Alright, alright, you don't have to apologize. It's my own fault. By the way, how did you create that water curtain when you were in the water?"

Since coming to this world, he was eager to learn about various cultivation techniques.

Ji Xiaoxi widened her eyes: "You were peeking at me?"

Zuan An's heart skipped a beat, having forgotten about that. He quickly said: "I was just worried because I didn't hear you say you were done, so I opened my eyes a little. Don't worry, I didn't see anything, you covered yourself with the water curtain, right?"

Ji Xiaoxi nodded hesitantly, then explained: "Third-rank cultivators can release their energy over a short distance, forming armor or a wall within three feet. My water curtain works on the same principle."

"I see." Zuan An gradually understood. It seemed that Second-rank made the skin tougher, while Third-rank allowed the release of energy. He wondered what higher ranks would be like.

Ji Xiaoxi suddenly stopped and tilted her head as if listening to something: "Zu Ge, do you hear anything?"

"What?" Zuan An asked, not hearing anything.

"There's the sound of fighting." Ji Xiaoxi's delicate eyebrows furrowed, clearly not fond of such violence.

"Let's go quickly." Zuan An instinctively wanted to run. If he were a powerful person, he wouldn't mind showing off, but now, even a little girl had a higher cultivation than him. This world was too dangerous, and he preferred to be low-key.

Surviving until the end is the ultimate strategy!

"Let's go check it out. Someone might need help." Ji Xiaoxi pulled him, her previously gentle eyes now showing a determined look.

Noticing her pure gaze, Zuan An's heart softened: "Alright, but if it gets too dangerous, don't blame me for running first. By the way, did you put any poison on your hands?"

"Don't worry, it's not poisonous." Seeing him agree, Ji Xiaoxi's eyes curved into a crescent moon.

The two followed the sound of the fight and found a convoy being attacked by a group of black-clothed people. The convoy's guards were struggling to fend off the attackers, but the black-clothed people were more numerous and skilled, with vicious attacks. Many of the convoy's guards were already lying in pools of blood.

The remaining few would be taken care of soon.

Zuan An noticed that the guards were all dressed in white, with gold embroidery on their collars and sleeves, looking handsome and tall.

"Really luxurious, the guards' clothes are so fancy." Zuan An subconsciously looked at his own rough clothes, feeling somewhat resentful. Compared to them, these people looked like dukes' sons-in-law, while he looked like a guard!

"But what's the use of looking good if they are just silver-tipped spears." Zuan An noticed their continuous retreat and felt a bit more balanced.

"They are from Black Wind Gang!" Ji Xiaoxi whispered, though kind and innocent, she wasn't foolish and didn't rush out recklessly. Instead, she pulled Zuan An to hide in the bushes and observe.

Seeing the situation was almost over, rushing out would only mean certain death, but seeing the people being slaughtered, she felt conflicted.

"Black Wind Gang? Such a mediocre name, they must be some insignificant bandits." Zuan An couldn't help but comment.

"Not at all," Ji Xiaoxi shook her head, her expression serious, "Black Wind Gang is a bandit group established by the notorious bandit Chen Xuan. They are ruthless and highly skilled, and have been raiding merchants outside the city for years, causing countless deaths."

Zuan An couldn't help but ask: "Why don't they send troops to eliminate them? There are so many experts in the city, why let them run rampant?"

From the information he had gathered, the high-level martial power in this world was mostly under official control, so even a city's official forces were far superior to any bandits.

Ji Xiaoxi explained: "Over the years, Duke Chu and City Lord Xie have sent countless troops to eliminate them, but these bandits are as elusive as the wind. When the city troops arrive, if the number is small, they get wiped out; if the number is large, the bandits disappear into the mountains. Once the city troops withdraw, the bandits reappear, making them a constant threat to Bright Moon City."

Zuan An couldn't help but criticize the incompetence of the Chu family. When he was with the Chu family, everyone seemed so capable, but they couldn't even deal with a bandit gang.

Suddenly, he realized something and asked: "Do the Black Wind Gang members always manage to avoid the large troops sent to eliminate them?" After getting confirmation, he couldn't help but exclaim: "There must be an insider in the city working with them."

Ji Xiaoxi nodded: "You're very smart, my father said the same thing."

Zuan An imagined the greedy, perverted, and drunk middle-aged man, finding it hard to picture him analyzing things seriously.

"Lady, we will hold them