C18 What a Strange Person

With a swift movement, Xu Ming vanished without a trace. The master and his servants were the type of people he despised: unreasonable, spoiled by wealth, and expecting everyone to cater to them. Out of sight, out of mind, he thought. The gold coins he had received in exchange for Jiang Yuyan's life settled the matter; there were no strings attached.

In the small courtyard, Xu Ming quickly prepared the Comfortable Beast, placing it into a large pot to boil. Despite being a 21st-century soul from an era abundant with culinary information, Xu Ming had little interest in cooking and even less time to learn. His current hunger left him dizzy, so he opted for the simplest method—boiling.

Boiling could bring out a delicious flavor, provided the ingredients were right. But Xu Ming wasn't fussy; having something to eat was good enough for him.

"This is clearly a treasured sword that can cut through hair with ease!" Xu Ming declared as he examined Jiang Yuyan's sword. The blade was three feet and three inches long, three fingers wide, and surprisingly heavy despite its delicate appearance.

"This is made of Hundred Refined Fine Steel!" A flick of the blade produced a clear, resonant sword hum, and the surface was so smooth that blood wouldn't stick to it. "It must be worth at least several hundred gold coins!" Excitement sparkled in Xu Ming's eyes. The sword was of no use to him, but it was certainly sellable!

Gold coins had become Xu Ming's most prized possession at the moment. As he added more firewood to the flames, he pondered, "The Jiang family is the sole prominent clan in Distance Calming City. Why would their members venture into the forest with such weak abilities?" The Jiang family ruled over Distance Calming City, a metropolis that dwarfed places like Four-direction City. Renowned and influential, the Jiang family boasted numerous Martial Spirit Experts and even Martial King Experts within their ranks.

In a super family as distant as this, it would be unthinkable for a direct descendant to venture into the forest without the protection of powerful guardians. Yet, when Jiang Yuyan faced her perilous moment, no hidden protector or mighty savior came to her rescue. How curious!

"Who cares? It's none of my concern," Xu Ming muttered with a wry smile. He pulled out the Blood Fiend Divine Arts and studied it intently. Once he had fully grasped the technique, he began his cultivation in earnest.

"The Spiritual Energy must be guided through the meridians to leverage my strength more effectively!" he mused.

At present, the Blood Fiend Divine Arts was merely an Acquired Middle Level technique, yet it held profound mysteries. To Xu Ming's astonishment, the technique had absorbed his bloodline at birth and had since evolved.

"Well, its evolution is a boon, and that's all in the past now," he reasoned.

The technique cycled through his body effortlessly, soon beginning to operate autonomously, which was unexpected. Such self-sustaining circulation was characteristic of Holy Level Cultivation Methods, and yet here it was occurring in a mere Acquired Middle Level technique.

Xu Ming was amazed to find that his Dantian Qi had filled his dantian to capacity, forming a small orb of liquid Spiritual Energy all on its own—a truly wondrous effect.

His progression from Martial Dao Grade Nine to Martial Artist Grade One was astonishingly smooth. Without his dantian being fully saturated, Xu Ming knew that even a prodigy would typically require three months to solidify their strength and ascend to Martial Artist Grade One.

"But is it just the technique that has advanced, or will it be when my Bloodline Level rises further in the future?"

Currently, his bloodline had reached God Level Grade Seven. In a modest place like Four-direction City, he might be hailed as a prodigy, but on the vast Martial God Continent, a God Level Bloodline was merely commonplace.

"Let's wait until I've consumed some more Spirit Pills and medicines," Xu Ming mused.

At the moment, he was uncertain about how much of his bloodline would be depleted by advancing his cultivation technique. If he exhausted his entire bloodline in one go, he would only be causing himself unnecessary suffering.

Moreover, the Blood Fiend Divine Arts stipulated that the higher the level of the technique, the greater the bloodline requirement for absorption. The more bloodline absorbed, the higher the level achieved.

"Now is not the right time," he concluded.

The enhancement of one's bloodline is intrinsically linked to genetic improvement. Xu Ming's possession of a God Level Grade Seven bloodline was the result of a fortunate opportunity that allowed him to acquire the Accompanying Essence of a Rank Five Spirit Beast.

Items from a Rank Five Spirit Beast were not easily found. Without such a stroke of luck, Xu Ming's bloodline level would barely qualify as God Level.

Setting aside the task of advancing his cultivation, Xu Ming savored the aroma in the air, his lips curling into a smile. "Almost ready," he thought, as the scent of the Comfortable Beast's meat wafted from the pot. Based on his experience, he knew it was nearly done. "Just half an hour more, and it'll be perfectly cooked."

"What an odd fellow," Jiang Yuyan remarked.

On the outskirts of the forest, she and her fewer than ten companions emerged, casting wary glances back at the woods they had just left behind.

But they quickly left the forest behind them. Azhu scrunched up her nose and whispered,

"Azhu, are you certain we're headed in the right direction?"

Jiang Yuyan, now dressed in clean garments, looked ethereally beautiful, her appearance breathtaking.

Yet, there was a hint of hesitation in her demeanor, a touch of authority in her voice that contrasted sharply with the panic and fear she had displayed in the forest.

"Miss, I've placed a tracking powder on him, so we're definitely going the right way," Azhu assured her. "I must say, this man is quite peculiar, unlike any other we've encountered. He risked his life for a mere two hundred gold coins and didn't even pay any attention to you, Miss. You're considered the most beautiful woman in Distance Calming City. Any man would be captivated, yet he rejected your advances with such disdain."

Azhu had a very poor impression of Xu Ming, yet she couldn't help but wonder if he was truly heartless.

Jiang Yuyan frowned as she recalled the incident with the Jade Cloud Snake. In her panic, she had clung to Xu Ming. Reflecting on it, she felt utterly incompetent. Within her family, her Bloodline Level was barely acceptable, and her strength was no different, only reaching Martial Dao Grade Eight.

With a stern look, she warned the guards and maids, "No one is to speak of today's events, or I'll have their tongues cut out!"

"And Azhu, about the tracking powder, since you're sure there's been no mistake, could they possibly identify it and find us?" Jiang Yuyan's brow was furrowed, her eyes showing a hint of loathing.

"With the Young Master accompanying them, he'll surely recognize our Jiang family's tracking powder. Plus, I've left markers along the way. I'm confident that as long as they're alive, they'll find us."

"Miss, now that we've chased that fellow to the edge of the forest, should we stop looking for him?" Azhu rambled on.

Jiang Yuyan, visibly upset, replied, "Don't talk about those cowards. They promised to help us search for medicinal plants, but they ran off at the first sign of danger, abandoning us. They're useless."

"As for that man, we continue the pursuit."

Jiang Yuyan's determination was evident, though she concealed the spark in her eyes well. Her insistence on silencing her companions showed her deep concerns. She knew that until Xu Ming's identity was confirmed, she couldn't rest easy. She was also aware that if word got out, Distance Calming City, particularly the Ling Family, might cause trouble for Xu Ming.

Keeping silent was their way of protecting him.

"Shall we continue the chase?"

Azhu was somewhat reluctant, "That guy is clearly just a pauper, and he's probably a mercenary, too. He places such high value on gold coins. And his clothes are so plain and worn. Why are we even seeking him out?"

"Just go find him if you're told to, and cut the chatter. One more word, and I'll silence you. Remember, we're out of gold coins. I'm going to borrow some. We'll head back to Distance Calming City on our own; we don't need to wait for those other fellows."

Azhu immediately grasped what Jiang Yuyan meant, "Have those people been eliminated?"

"Get moving and track them! Say one more thing, I dare you."

Azhu's incessant babbling earned her a headache-inducing glare from Jiang Yuyan.

"Fine, we'll look for him. Oh, what's that delicious smell? I'm suddenly starving."

In the Fence Yard, Xu Ming had just finished preparing the Comfortable Beast when he heard a familiar voice nearby. He rubbed his forehead and muttered, "They've actually followed us here."

Outside the Fence Yard, about a dozen people stood beyond the fence, their gaze locked on Xu Ming.

"Young Master, won't you invite us in?" asked Jiang Yuyan, her soft voice tinged with an embarrassment that most would miss.

"Apologies, but the courtyard is modest and not fit for esteemed guests," Xu Ming replied, his innate aversion to the group evident. It was best to have as little to do with the Jiang family from Distance Calming City as possible.

These powerful families were not to be taken lightly. Helping them could very well lead to being bitten in return. Xu Ming was well aware that no good deed goes unpunished. In the forest, these ladies had shortchanged him by seventeen gold coins—a clear indication of their callousness. It was wise to keep one's distance from such people.

"Young Master, we're weary from our journey. May we rest here for a while and perhaps purchase some food?"

With a creak, Jiang Yuyan pushed open the gate and entered, taking a seat on a wooden stool next to the stove, completely at ease.

Without waiting for Xu Ming's consent, Jiang Yuyan made herself at home. The servants, including Azhu and Abi, were taken aback by their mistress's unusual behavior but didn't make a fuss. Their attention was soon captured by the large porcelain basin on the simple wooden table, and the Comfortable Beast within.

"Food!"

The servants' eyes sparkled as they swarmed into the small courtyard en masse.

Watching Jiang Yuyan, the uninvited and unabashed Miss of the Jiang family, Xu Ming could only shrug in resignation. "Help yourselves. This little bit of food is barely enough for me, and I'm not interested in selling. However, I do have a suggestion. You could send someone into the forest to hunt wild beasts. I'd be willing to lend you a pot, and I'll even throw in some firewood for free."