Chapter 39: I'm Not That Easy to Get Rid Of

In the world beyond, the weather was wildly stormy. At this moment, a heavy rain was pouring down, enveloping the entire dilapidated native city. The sky was dark, and the rain was heavy.

Tuo Ba's small tavern was one of the few taverns in the native city. The small tavern was made of wood, with no walls. The diners sat cross-legged on bodhi cushions, and the floor beneath the cushions was suspended, allowing them to see the rainwater flowing below. The wind and rain outside were fierce, and the tavern was also swept by strong winds, but the people who entered were all innate experts or even Immortal Masters, so they were not bothered by these conditions.

There was not much gourmet food here, just braised meat. Braised bristle beast meat, braised armor rhinoceros meat, and other braised meats that Ding Hao couldn't name, all tasted similar.

Ding Hao looked at the insect-eating plants growing in the gaps between the floorboards and then at the prices on the menu, saying, "The cost-effectiveness here is really low. A piece of braised bristle beast meat costs one yuan stone. I could buy a whole one in the border village."

Boss Shang smiled and said, "In the world beyond, there's only this place to drink alcohol. How could it not be expensive?"

Ding Hao let his dog out and said, "Da Huang, try some of this expensive meat."

Da Huang was very smart and would never speak in such a situation. He lowered his head and started eating the meat.

Boss Shang, who often visited the Ding family, recognized the dog and patted Da Huang's head, then said, "Young Master Ding, when you go back, help me bring something to Xiao Hai."

As he spoke, he took out a small package and continued, "Tell him to listen to you more, practice well, and strive to enter the top hundred in the imperial examination. Then he can study at the Nine States Academy and bring honor to me."

"Alright." Ding Hao put the package away.

At that moment, a man with a black flower tattooed on his face, looking very strange, walked out. This man was in his thirties, holding a large wine gourd. He seemed to be well-liked, as the diners stood up to greet him one by one.

Boss Shang whispered, "This is the owner, Tuo Ba."

As he spoke, Tuo Ba walked over, looked at Ding Hao, and said, "New face, only at the third stage of innate. Impressive, I'll toast you a cup."

Ding Hao reached for his wine cup, but Boss Shang was quicker, taking it and pouring it out, then handing the cup to Tuo Ba.

Tuo Ba smiled slightly, "You're really a newcomer, not knowing the rules here." He then filled Ding Hao's cup with wine from his large wine gourd and said with a smile, "When I toast, drink the wine I personally brewed!"

"Here." Ding Hao drank the cup in one go, and his eyes immediately lit up.

He had never tasted this kind of wine before. It felt like a ball of fire in his stomach, then quickly broke down into countless flame-like spiritual energy, spreading throughout his body's meridians, making him feel incredibly comfortable.

"Good wine!" Ding Hao sincerely praised and quickly stood up to show his waist badge. In the Nine States world, showing your waist badge to the other party was a sign of respect.

However, Tuo Ba laughed heartily, "Young genius, just sit down." After saying that, he patted Ding Hao and went to attend to his business.

Hearing this, Ding Hao was secretly surprised: This Tuo Ba owner was indeed remarkable, seeing through his true identity as a young genius, not just a yellow-faced man.

Boss Shang didn't notice these details and said enviously, "Tuo Ba owner is a rare wine flower immortal root, brewing excellent wine. Every first-time visitor to his tavern can taste the wine he personally brewed, but only once."

"I see." Ding Hao thought that this Tuo Ba owner had a unique personality. He suddenly remembered the woman he had seen on his way and asked in a low voice, "His face..."

Boss Shang said, "It's said that when Tuo Ba owner was young, he went down the wrong path and became an Immortal Master of the demon path. The demon tree totem on his face is to control and refine demons. But later, he repented and was pardoned by the Nine States Academy, opening this small tavern in the native city. He is even a mid-stage Qi Refinement Immortal Master!"

"Mid-stage Qi Refinement." Ding Hao thought it was no wonder he could see through his disguise. He took a sip of wine and said, "On my way, I also saw a woman with her face covered in red and black flowers, more than what Tuo Ba owner has."

"An Immortal Master of the demon path!" Boss Shang was shocked, "Are you alright?"

Ding Hao said, "She suddenly appeared and scared me. But she didn't attack me; she even smiled at me and then left."

Boss Shang was relieved and said, "In the world beyond, there are cultivators of the demon path, the evil path, and the ghost path. They kill to serve demons, refine ghosts, and become evil, very cruel. She didn't kill you, possibly because she didn't think you were worth it, or she had other plans!"

"Is that so?" Ding Hao thought for a moment and said, "But even so, she didn't need to smile and comfort me, then walk into the dark forest. I feel she had no ill intentions. Later, I met a righteous hunter who wanted to kill me and take Da Huang. Honestly, I think some righteous people are worse than the demon and evil paths..."

"You mustn't have such thoughts!" Boss Shang quickly interrupted, "It's fine to say it here in the world beyond, but if you say it within the will of heaven, you might be labeled as a heretic! If you say it too much, the will of heaven will act upon you, and you'll only be able to live in the world beyond, unable to enter the will of heaven! Even your descendants won't be able to enter the will of heaven!"

"So powerful!" Ding Hao was shocked, not realizing that the will of heaven had such monitoring capabilities. He took two sips of wine and asked, "Since the demon and evil paths are not good, why don't these people learn the righteous cultivation methods and instead learn the evil and demon path techniques?"

Boss Shang shook his head, "I can't explain it well."

At some point, Tuo Ba owner had already stood beside them and said, "The answer is clear..."

Ding Hao and Boss Shang only then noticed Tuo Ba owner and quickly stood up and bowed.

Da Huang also noticed someone had come and barked.

"Ding Hao." Ding Hao gestured for him to be quiet.

Tuo Ba owner didn't speak, just looked at a corner.

Ding Hao turned his head and saw that the floor was made of soil, so some insect-eating plants had grown up through the gaps in the floor.

Below the floor, the rainwater had formed a small river. Many ants and insects, to avoid being washed away, climbed up the stems of the insect-eating plants. But when they reached the safest place at the top, the insect-eating plants opened their mouths and swallowed them.

Boss Shang laughed and said, "These ants and insects are really stupid, working hard to climb up, only to feed the insect-eating plants."

Tuo Ba owner said, "They're not stupid; some animals are much smarter than humans! It's just that sometimes, you only have one path in front of you. Not going is death, and going is also death. What would you choose if you were in their place?"

After saying that, Tuo Ba owner poured another cup of demon flower wine for Ding Hao with his large wine gourd and then walked away, leaving a mysterious figure.

Boss Shang was shocked and said, "Young Master Ding, Tuo Ba owner actually poured you two cups of wine! This kind of treatment... he must have seen that you are a super first-class genius!"

Ding Hao knew that Tuo Ba owner's second cup was not because he was a super first-class genius, but because he had said, "Some righteous people are worse than the demon and evil paths!"

Ding Hao picked up the second cup of demon flower wine and slowly savored it, looking back at the ants still climbing. He had a different feeling. Who could know what the ants were thinking? If given a choice, who would willingly walk the path of the demon and evil?

Tuo Ba owner was right; sometimes, there is only one path in front of you. Do you take it or not?

Ding Hao was silent. People always face such choices, and he hoped he would never have to make such a choice.

But the vast, dark qi vortex immortal root in his body seemed to cast a shadow over his heart.

A thunderclap echoed, illuminating the entire native city.

A slender woman ran into the small tavern, looked around, and saw Ding Hao and the others.

"Manager Shang, I finally found you."

The one who rushed in through the rain was the weapon counter manager, Shang Yun. Her face was covered in rainwater, and she was extremely anxious.

Boss Shang asked, "Manager Shang Yun, what's going on?"

Shang Yun said anxiously, "Just now, the Tang family's people brought a large group to the entrance of the Shang family's business, demanding that you come out. They say you are harboring a wanted criminal and want the Shang family to hand over the person!" She looked at Ding Hao and said, "It might be... Secret Young Master..."

"This..." Boss Shang's face changed dramatically, not expecting the Tang family to take such drastic action.

Ding Hao's face changed, and he stood up, saying, "That's right, they're looking for me!"

Shang Yun said, "They don't know you're here yet. Leave quickly."

Boss Shang said, "No! They must have sealed the east, south, and west gates! If he goes out now, it's a death sentence!"

Shang Yun said anxiously, "But staying here is also a death sentence. They will soon find out you're here."

Boss Shang said, "I'll go to the head manager!"

Shang Yun said, "It's no use! The head manager doesn't want to protect him, just told him to escape quickly! He didn't let me bring anyone back!"

Boss Shang was about to say more, but Ding Hao said, "Don't argue. Don't worry, I won't bring trouble to the Shang family. I'll leave now!"

Boss Shang said urgently, "How will you leave? You're only at the third stage of innate, and the city gates are sealed. You can't get out!"

At this moment, Tuo Ba owner walked over, patted Ding Hao, and said, "Young man, I believe in you. They can seal the east, south, and west gates, but they can't seal the north gate." He took out a flower seed with a strange fragrance from his storage bag, "Take this, go through the north gate, and they'll give me some face."

Ding Hao nodded, took out a waist badge from his storage bag, showed it to Tuo Ba and Shang Yun, and said, "I am Ding Hao from Wuzhou. I will repay you in the future."

He showed his real waist badge, and Shang Yun and Tuo Ba also showed theirs. It turned out Tuo Ba's name was Tuo Ba Ye, and Shang Yun's waist badge had a five-color glow, indicating that everyone had their secrets.

Boss Shang urged, "Alright, this isn't the time to talk about this. The Tang family is powerful; leave quickly!"

Another thunderclap echoed, and Ding Hao's figure rushed out of the small tavern.

He ran along the main road toward the north gate, but at a fork in the road, his figure moved, "Beast Shadow Technique"! He entered the ruins of the native city!

He didn't escape through the north gate!

He had other plans!

"Tang family, hmpf, I'm not that easy to get rid of!"

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End of Chapter 39

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