Chapter 122: Chen Cui Hua

Farther away, Jia Fu stood atop the Treasure Brass Toad and watched the commotion along the riverbank. A satisfied smile slowly appeared on his face.

“They’re finally here. Those mortals really did lure out the Six-Legged Crocodiles.”

Six-Legged Crocodiles were Fire Path beasts, and wild Fire Path Gu frequently lived upon their bodies. Some of these Gu were quite rare. Even without considering the Gu themselves, the crocodiles’ scales, bones, blood, and flesh were useful Fire Path Gu refinement materials that could fetch considerable prices.

“So it wasn’t an accident.” One of the caravan’s Vice leaders looked toward Jia Fu. “You deliberately sent those mortals ahead to draw out the Six-Legged Crocodiles, then planned to hunt them after they appeared?”

A trace of displeasure appeared on Jia Fu’s plump face. There were certain things everyone could understand without saying them aloud, and speaking too plainly only made matters unpleasant. However, this Vice leader came from Jiang Clan, whose strength was not inferior to Jia Clan, so Jia Fu could not casually rebuke him.

“The lives of ordinary mortals are worth little, but this group of Six-Legged Crocodiles is different.”

Jia Fu calmly continued, “Every region has paths that flourish more than others. Southern Border is especially rich in Earth Path and Wood Path resources, while Fire Path Gu and materials are comparatively less common and therefore more valuable.”

“More importantly, our next destination is Bai Gu Mountain. The people there have considerable demand for Fire Path Gu and related refinement materials. If we can obtain a large quantity here and sell them there, the profit from this trip will increase considerably.”

Hearing his explanation, the other Vice leaders quickly understood. Several praised Jia Fu’s foresight, and the matter of the mortals near the riverbank was soon forgotten.

Lin Feng, however, stared at the Six-Legged Crocodiles and suddenly remembered something he had once read in Reverend Insanity.

Wait… wasn’t there an incident around this part of the journey?

On the journey toward Bai Gu Mountain, Great Love Immortal Venerable and Bai Ning Bing had encountered a demonic Gu Master suffering from python venom. The woman possessed Lightning Charred Potato Mother Gu, and the traps she created had caused Bai Ning Bing considerable trouble.

The two sides remained locked in conflict for some time, but the demonic Gu Master, Chen Cui Hua, eventually succumbed to the python venom. Bai Ning Bing smashed her skull, and the Bookworm residing within her brain was destroyed along with her.

Later, Great Love Immortal Venerable discovered traces left by Rank Five Third Watch Gu on her body and concluded that she had most likely obtained the inheritance of a Rank Five Gu Master.

Unfortunately, a pearl had been cast before the swine. Chen Cui Hua had neither the knowledge nor ability to properly manage such an inheritance. Most of the Gu left behind had starved to death under her care, and when she herself died, the clues leading to the Rank Five Midnight Gu disappeared with her.

When Lin Feng had first read this part, he had complained endlessly about the sheer waste.

In other novels, wouldn’t the protagonist somehow stumble across every precious opportunity? Walking through a market might reveal some worthless-looking piece of metal containing a powerful inheritance. Entering an ordinary restaurant might uncover some hidden expert. With enough shameless luck, one could probably dig through someone else’s garden and discover a buried treasure beneath the vegetables.

But thinking about it now, perhaps this was far more realistic. Opportunities did not wait patiently for the right person to discover them. Precious inheritances could fall into the hands of fools, rare Gu could starve to death unnoticed, and treasures accumulated over generations could disappear because of a single accident.

In this world, things rarely went exactly as one wished.

There are still three years before Great Love Immortal Venerable leaves Qing Mao Mountain. That means the inheritance probably hasn’t been discovered by that peasant woman yet.

Lin Feng rubbed his chin thoughtfully. During the remainder of the caravan’s journey, he decided to search every nearby mountain village they passed. Even if he had to turn the surrounding mountains upside down, he intended to find that Rank Five inheritance.

_____

Several Weeks Later

Lin Feng stood upon the only raised platform in a small mountain village. Normally, travelling performers used this place during festivals, while the village head stood here whenever important matters needed to be announced. Today, however, hundreds of villagers had gathered below to stare curiously at the unfamiliar Gu Master.

“I’m looking for one person, a woman named Chen Cui Hua. She’s an ordinary peasant woman, just like the rest of you.” Lin Feng took out five primeval stones and displayed them before the crowd. “Whoever helps me find her will receive these five primeval stones.”

The sight of five primeval stones immediately stirred the crowd. Greed appeared in many eyes, but curiosity was even stronger. Why would a dignified Gu Master personally search for a mortal village woman?

“Could he mean the Chen Cui Hua from our village?”

“Did Chen Cuihua somehow offend this Gu Master?”

“How could she? She’s never even left the village. Where would she get the chance to offend a Gu Master?”

Several villagers exchanged strange looks before one whispered, “Maybe Lord Gu Master has grown tired of delicate beauties and wants something… different?”

The man beside him suddenly understood. “That actually makes sense. Lord Gu Master’s tastes are truly extraordinary.”

Standing above them, Lin Feng naturally had no idea what ridiculous conclusions the villagers had reached. In truth, he had almost given up hope. This was already the seventh village he had searched.

There was nothing he could do about it. The only information he remembered was that the fortunate peasant woman who obtained the Rank Five inheritance was named Chen Cui Hua. With only a name and no location, searching for her among countless villages was little different from searching for a needle in a haystack.

Just as Lin Feng was considering whether to leave, a middle-aged woman hesitantly raised her hand from among the crowd. “Lord Gu Master… are you looking for me?”

Lin Feng’s gaze immediately fell upon her.

The woman nervously lowered her head. “My name is Chen Cui Hua.”