Chapter 8 I was merely acting out of kindness

Eat more here, take good care of your health, and then hurry south

What are you doing

Yu Ziqing did not pay him any mind; as long as he did not cause trouble, everything could be discussed

If he does not possess any special abilities, then the old sheep is merely a standard accessory accompanying the old man in distress.

Is the method of making the mesmerizing drug using Jinlan mushrooms as the raw material something that an average person can know about

When no one is around later, remember to take it with you

Yu Ziqing felt somewhat puzzled. In the village, the division of labor was clear, and everyone was busy with their own tasks. It was not so easy to ask others for help with one's own work, and no one would kindly assist you. Moreover, here, no one was willing to let others do their own work.

Upon arriving at the mushroom forest, as expected, he saw from a distance the area he intended to reach, where a splendid mushroom was slowly collapsing.

Like a gentle rain

Even Yu Ziqing has a bold speculation that Old Yang was deliberately captured in order to evade his enemies

In the depths of the mushroom forest, a gaunt, emaciated ghost, resembling a dried corpse, cautiously peeks out from behind a colorful mushroom, glancing with some trepidation before retreating back, only to peek out again after a while

In the context of this world, how could a person with such insight and knowledge possibly be just an ordinary teacher

A few months ago, in the northwest of the wasteland, with the sun high in the sky, a disaster occurred that far exceeded everyone's imagination. Calculating the time, the first wave of people who arrived in the wasteland should have arrived, and the second wave of various forces should also be gathering around the same time

Upon reaching the entrance of the burrow, Yu Ziqing pondered for a moment, turned around and returned, sitting opposite the old sheep, carefully choosing his words

... ...

He carefully climbed down the stone wall, circling around the wooden bowl several times, his eyes filled with longing; however, in an instant, that longing transformed into pain

On the first day of meeting Old Yang, Yu Ziqing realized that Old Yang's claim of being just an ordinary teacher was pure nonsense; when one is out in the world, who doesn't wear a disguise

Here is some thick soup, which I have prepared for you

Yu Ziqing was rendered speechless and let out a laugh.

It is only out of my great kindness that I am helping you, and it has nothing to do with you. You must understand this point.

It is just hiding

I am not the kind of person who wishes to be helped by others for no reason. If you are willing to do so, that is your business; I will not feel indebted to you for it

Where can you find someone like you? I merely said not to act like a riddle master, yet you truly took it to heart, which is quite uninteresting

In the end, I had to shamelessly approach an elderly woman, and after promising to teach her the secret to making soup, she finally agreed to carry the prized mushroom back for me

Old Sheep, when did you start making people guess riddles? Knowing only the result without understanding the reason behind it can sometimes lead to misjudgments. Wouldn't it be better to speak more clearly?

Yu Ziqing was somewhat surprised; he had merely intended to inquire about certain matters regarding the Jinlan Mine, being prepared for any eventuality

Is the method to break a part of the evil practices of animal husbandry something that an ordinary person can know

Looking around, Yu Ziqing gazed into the depths of the mushroom forest, where the hungry ghost still peered out with half of its head, its eyes reflecting a hint of fear as it watched from a distance.

He opened his mouth wide, silently howling in despair. At this moment, one could see deep within his mouth, the structure was unlike that of a human body; the position of the throat was seamlessly integrated, resembling a solid iron plate, sealed tightly.

If one wishes to delegate some truly strenuous physical tasks that cannot be managed, there are ways to enlist the help of those strong and eager-to-learn middle-aged women.

The trust between individuals can sometimes be very solid, while at other times it can be quite fragile. When everyone is able to trust each other, probing into and digging up the privacy that others do not wish to disclose is simply a sign of a problematic mindset

Therefore, cultivating Qi here is tantamount to seeking death. Once Qi practitioners enter this place, as long as they absorb foreign powers, they will inevitably destroy their own foundation

As soon as it opened its mouth, the hungry ghost seemed to be startled and quickly fled into the darkness, disappearing from sight

Old sheep, I feel that I may need your guidance

They are unwilling to disclose their names, either due to the sensitivity of their identities or because revealing them could lead to swift consequences.

As the mushroom forest fell silent once again, with only a few glimmers of bioluminescence illuminating parts of the forest, a hungry ghost suddenly materialized against the nearby stone wall

Moreover, he has made the Jinan mushrooms into exquisite dishes, and within just a few days, he has become the culinary mainstay of the kitchen, even relieving others from tasks such as scrubbing pots and washing dishes

However, it has become increasingly apparent that the breadth of knowledge possessed by the old sheep is somewhat outrageous

The hungry ghost circled around the wooden bowl several times, yet understood that this was Yu Ziqing's good intention, perhaps Yu Ziqing was completely unaware that he was unable to eat or drink

Calculating the time, it is almost time to prepare dinner. Yu Ziqing arrived at the underground mushroom forest, laboriously swinging an axe to chop down the Jinlan mushrooms, while also using a small knife to scrape off some raw materials for the mesmerizing potion.

The hungry ghost paused its steps, turned its head to take a glance, and a trace of fear immediately surfaced in its eyes. It hurriedly rushed up the stone wall, hiding behind a protruding rock, blending into the surrounding environment as if it had instantly become invisible, disappearing from sight

Life in the village is very peaceful, and work goes smoothly. Yu Ziqing only needs to prepare breakfast and dinner with the aunties in the kitchen every day, and after that, there is nothing else to worry about.

Yu Ziqing walked deep into the mushroom forest, placed the wooden bowl containing a bit of thick soup on the ground, and spoke to himself

He lifted the wooden bowl, extended his tongue, and carefully dipped it into the thick soup, then raised his head and closed his eyes

What are your thoughts on this

The old sheep spoke unusually at length about many things, such as how to head south after leaving and where to go. However, Yu Ziqing increasingly felt that it was as if he were making arrangements for his final affairs, fearing that he might not have the opportunity to speak again in the future

Yu Ziqing shook his head, indicating that he had become somewhat accustomed to it

This cannot be explained with reason; he definitely still possesses self-awareness and is quite intelligent.

The mining site is permeated by an extraordinary force that creates significant obstacles, which are both external and internal.

He is completely unable to eat anything, nor can he drink a drop of water

After a moment, he calmed down and reverently lifted the wooden bowl, opening his mouth wide

"Do not rush to leave," Yu Ziqing shouted from a distance

After he struggled to chop down a tree, he realized that he could not carry the entire tree back by himself

The old sheep raised its head, glanced outside, and remained silent for a moment

Either there are too many enemies, or leaking it will lead to a swift demise

The old sheep indeed taught him many things, from Mandarin to writing, and various kinds of knowledge

Sensitive identity and many enemies, most likely a person from the Da Qian, with a status not low, yet I do not know how they have fallen to this state

In the evening, with nothing to do, I can first try to practice alchemy

At dinner time, the routine logging work had to continue. Yu Ziqing looked at the little bit of thick soup left in the pot, hesitated for a moment, then took a wooden bowl, ladled it into the bowl, and carried it down to the mushroom grove in the pit.

Having one's own work is very important for the people here

This hungry ghost meticulously keeps track of time, preparing to harvest a splendid mushroom just as it is about to arrive

He drank it down

I said not to ask for his help, yet this glutton disregards it and stubbornly insists on doing so. Every time he finishes chopping, he hides far away.

A secret ceases to be a secret the moment it is spoken; some words, once uttered, equate to exposure. Even certain terms, certain names, and seemingly innocuous statements, once expressed, may become markers that lead to being targeted.

His hands trembled slightly, and as he saw the thick soup in the wooden bowl begin to shake, he hurriedly placed the bowl on the ground, fearing that he would spill the soup.

However, at the moment he lifted the wooden bowl, it was as if struck by lightning, leaving him frozen in place, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets

Deep within his sealed throat, a swirling pattern has emerged at this moment, with a small hole no larger than a needle's eye at the center of the sunken pattern

At the same time, remember what I said: do not practice any methods of cultivation other than those for maintaining health

On the second day, Yu Ziqing descended into the cave once more, only to find that beside the Jinan mushroom that had been cut down yesterday, there was already a freshly cut one placed there, as evidenced by its cut surface, which was clearly just recently severed

Yu Ziqing was very perceptive, so ever since the beginning when Old Yang did not mention his name and brushed it off, he never inquired further and continued to address him as 'Old Sir'

Every day, being well-fed and well-watered, Yu Ziqing, who had suffered from prolonged hunger and had a severely weakened body, began to gradually improve.

After teaching quite a few recipes, Yu Ziqing began to contemplate extracting oil from the Jinlan mushroom

Upon arriving at the Jinlan Mine, there are some words I dare to speak. This world is far more dangerous than you think, and the true strong are much more terrifying than you can imagine

When I am outside, I cannot even say these words

He knelt on the ground, his hands trembling as they once again touched the wooden bowl. In the next moment, his eyes began to tremble, wanting to cry but finding that there were no tears left.

He looked at the wooden bowl hesitantly for a moment, but still picked it up, preparing to take it back, considering it an ordinary gift at the time, yet it held extraordinary significance for him

Rest assured, I have met the village chief here. As long as you do not break the rules he has set, the people here will not harm you

This fellow, who almost got himself killed last time, not only did he not keep his distance, but now he even comes to help him with his work

Moreover, the old sheep was unwilling to casually fabricate a false name, nor did he wish to deceive in this matter. This subtle pride led Yu Ziqing to form a conjecture

Later, when encountering him, this traveler will impart writing, language, and knowledge

Two hours later, Yu Ziqing emerged from the burrow, his eyes still somewhat dazed

Not seeing the hungry ghost's figure, Yu Ziqing did not insist, and after putting down the wooden bowl by himself, he went to call someone to carry away the Jinlan mushroom

The old sheep lifted its eyelids and spoke directly

The emaciated hungry ghost fled in a state of panic towards the depths of the darkness

Of course, all of the above are just Yu Ziqing's own fanciful thoughts. Lao Yang does not wish to speak about it, nor will he inquire further. He is now looking to consult on other matters.

Yu Ziqing felt a sense of awareness, glanced over, ignored him, and continued chopping.

Who would have thought that the old sheep would stop pretending and reveal its true self

After the other aunts in the kitchen had efficiently finished their gathering and left the pit, Yu Ziqing was still chopping wood

Under normal circumstances, there would not be anyone coming to the Jinlan Mine, but that may not be the case now