I am just a mortal, why do you all worship me as a saint?

Chapter 40: New Changes

Huang Su looked at Hong Ba's corpse and analyzed it.

Judging from the ferocity of this move, Huang Su concluded that the opponent was probably a Core Formation stage cultivator of similar strength to him!

However, the majority of people in the south of Yunling City are ordinary mortals and cultivators with little skill. Huang Su, having lived in this place for so long, naturally knew this, so…

It seems a new face has arrived in the south of Yunling City.

Moreover, it seems that his own Black Forest Gang has already incurred his wrath!

There are tons of informants from other factions all over the south side of Yunling City. They must have seen Hong Ba being carried back like a dead pig, and they'll quickly figure out that someone has taken action against their Black Forest Gang. This has already damaged the Black Forest Gang's reputation!

More importantly, what did that kid take from the house that made these guys go to such lengths to chase after him?

The common people in that area are all dirt poor; the land is valuable, not the people.

Do you know what that brat took?

Huang Su asked indifferently.

"That...that's a pendant, a purple-gold pendant. According to Hong Ba, that thing definitely belongs to a cultivator, and might even be a spatial storage treasure, or something else entirely. In short, it's very valuable!"

"What did you say?!"

Huang Su slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair and stood up angrily. Instantly, the entire chair shattered into pieces, scattering everywhere.

"How could a mere mortal possess such a treasure?"

He paced back and forth, his brows furrowed with deep solemnity and shock, but after a moment's thought, a cold smile crept onto his lips.

In any case, it's unacceptable for ordinary people to possess such a treasure.

Even if someone gave it to him or left it for him, so what? This world is a dog-eat-dog world. If he can't keep what he can't keep, then he shouldn't even think about keeping it!

"Hmph, how dare you steal from my Black Forest Gang."

Although Huang Su did not know what the treasure was, it was absolutely unacceptable for it to be stolen by an ordinary person. If word got out, the reputation of his Black Forest Gang would be completely ruined.

However, that mortal imp was saved.

Moreover, the one who saved her was most likely a cultivator whose strength was no less than his, and who was a newcomer. If that was the case, he would naturally not be afraid of the Black Forest Gang's reputation, but the treasure had fallen into his hands just like that... Huang Su was absolutely unwilling!

He was alone, but the Black Forest Gang had more than just that many fighters!

"Double Ninth Festival!" he shouted.

Immediately, a man rushed out and respectfully said, "Chief."

"Take a few strong brothers and head to Yunling City first thing tomorrow morning. Find out what that guy is all about. If he's evenly matched with me, retreat immediately and come back to tell me. I'll go and meet him myself!"

Upon hearing this, Chong Jiu hesitated for a moment before saying tentatively, "Chief, what if that guy is stronger than you..."

Then, Huang Su's ferocious and terrifying gaze fell upon him.

"Yes!"

Chongjiu left the gate without looking back.

……

Early in the morning, Gu Heng had already started tidying up the small courtyard in the back. There was a small hut there, and he threw all the odds and ends he didn't need into it.

He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and with fluid strokes, wrote four large characters on the rice paper.

Gu's Medical Clinic.

His calligraphy skills were also "superb," ​​but he rarely had the opportunity to show them off to others, and he had long since lost interest in writing calligraphy, as he was busy running his clinic.

But now he needs to find someone to make a new signboard for his business.

Gu Heng rolled up the paper and tucked it under his arm. Just then, he saw Qin Yiyao coming downstairs, her eyes still sleepy and her face full of fatigue.

"Did you sleep well?" Gu Heng asked with a smile.

"Mmm..." Qin Yiyao rubbed her eyes and responded lazily.

She was probably exhausted. Before, when she was making a living on the streets, she was always hungry and couldn't sleep well. Gu Heng smiled and shook his head, not minding at all. She was just a young girl. "I'm going outside for a walk. You watch the shop. There are still hot steamed buns and boiled eggs in the pot."

"Okay, take care, Master," Qin Yiyao said obediently.

Gu Heng nodded and left.

After Gu Heng left, Qin Yiyao rubbed her eyes and stretched her body, with crackling sounds coming from her joints.

Last night, she studied the book "Body" until late at night, and now, the trouble that had troubled her for many years after her rebirth has been resolved!

The root of the Tao has manifested; one has entered the path of cultivation!

So she immediately began to circulate the "Asking the Emperor's Heart Technique" according to her memory. This was the technique she had been practicing before her death, and now she naturally knew it by heart. After circulating it all night, she, Qin Yiyao, was now at the sixth level of the Qi Refining stage!

But if she were to actually fight someone, even against a cultivator at the first level of the Core Formation stage, she would never be at a disadvantage! After a busy night, Qin Yiyao's "hope" finally arrived.

Qin Yiyao pushed open the door and walked towards the kitchen in the back room. As soon as she turned on the stove, she saw eggs in the pot. She was slightly taken aback, then smiled faintly, picked one up, and put it in her mouth.

Very delicious.

I have a very handsome and considerate mentor.

"...Senior Xuan, did you sense it?"

In the front hall, Su Jinxi, perched atop the medicine cabinet, transmitted her voice to Jian Xuan, who was inside an ancient lamp placed in the corner.

“Yes, Qi Refining Stage Six.” Jian Xuan said, “Last night there was no sign of her Dao Root appearing in her body, but unexpectedly, she has already entered the Qi Refining Stage Six overnight. Such speed… is truly unheard of.”

"The master truly has discerning eyes, recognizing her extraordinary qualities."

Su Jinxi raised her cat paw and touched her face. "If it weren't for Young Master Gu, I'm afraid this genius would have perished long ago."

Jian Xuan chuckled softly.

……

In the west of Yunling City, Gu Heng, with a scroll of paper between his fingers, searched for a shop specializing in carving.

Instead of exploring the entire south of the city first, he chatted with the butcher he had bought meat from the previous night and learned that there was a shop specializing in plaque carving in the west of Yunling City.

It is said that the old gentleman surnamed Gu was extremely skilled and had beautiful handwriting; he was a master calligrapher. If someone brought him calligraphy to have it carved, he would be unhappy, especially if the calligraphy wasn't good. He would then write his own calligraphy and have it carved.

Overall, he was an eccentric old man.

But that's exactly the kind of craftsman Gu Heng wanted.

After all, my calligraphy skills are already "superb," ​​so I have to live up to them and not just hire someone with terrible skills to do it.

After searching for half an hour, Gu Heng finally found the shop in a narrow alley. The shop was hidden deep in the city, with the bustling market right outside. It seemed to be a place where true masters, who were cultivating their essence, were hidden beneath the noise.

"...You stubborn brat!"

Before even entering the store, Gu Heng could hear a commotion coming from inside.

"My calligraphy is still lacking in skill, but if you could give me some pointers, I would humbly learn from you."

"Hey kid, I've already told you, my calligraphy is nothing special. You keep bothering me every day. When business comes in, I won't be able to do my job!"

The two were arguing, and Gu Heng overheard most of it and roughly understood the situation.

It seems someone has come to ask for lessons.

This is not surprising. Old Gu's reputation is actually quite widespread. People in the south of the city who want carvings come to Mr. Old Gu. Gu Heng thought to himself that even if the old man's shop is hidden so well, it won't help. Reputation is a straightforward path.

Sure enough, someone came looking for us.

Gu Heng smiled to himself, thinking that although he was truly capable, his reputation was not at all well-known.

He went inside, and there were two figures, one old and one young, standing there.

The older one was a white-bearded old man, thin and dressed in tattered clothes. His arms were covered with scars, and he looked like he had been through wind, sun and rain. He was sitting at a table, holding a rather rough calligraphy brush in his withered hands, and his brushstrokes were brilliant.

It seemed that the stubbornness of the young man next to him had disturbed his mood, and now the words he wrote had extremely sharp edges, as if he was furious.

Standing next to him was a young man in his early twenties.

He had long hair tied up with a hairpin, a tall and slender figure, clear eyes like the autumn moon, thin lips slightly pursed, and a gentle and indifferent temperament, like a clear mountain spring. At first glance, he was quite a handsome young man.

Gu Heng thought to himself that Yunling City was indeed a good place, with handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.

"Excuse me for disturbing you."

Gu Heng smiled and bowed respectfully.

"Oh, you want a plaque to be carved?"

Old Gu looked over and sized him up. When he saw that Gu Heng had a roll of Xuan paper tucked under his arm, his brows furrowed imperceptibly.

“Indeed, I’m new to Yunling City and have just settled down. I’ve heard that there’s a stubborn old man in the west of Yunling City with a rather eccentric temper, but he has excellent handwriting and can carve great signs. So, I have to come and see for myself.”

Gu Heng admitted frankly.

A slight smile appeared on the old man's face, but the young man in white was displeased: "You are really rude! What's wrong with Senior Gu's personality? It's just that others can't stand his patience."

Gu Heng had already sized up the young man as soon as he entered.

Wealth and prosperity.

Just like that Meng Yirou girl who came to Qingmu City and kept saying "she knows a lot about alchemy".

This young master is probably some nobleman, obsessed with calligraphy, and now he wants to learn from this old man.

Rich people are so bored. With nothing to do, they can go to ordinary people to learn a few tricks from them, and then go back and brag to their friends, claiming that they are alchemists, physicians, or calligraphers...

It's nice to have money.

Judging from the commotion just now, the old man must have disagreed with it by hundreds of points, but this young man is probably very patient, or rather, very stubborn, and has probably worn the old man down to the point of being disliked by both sides.

He certainly couldn't stand hearing others speak ill of this old man. "Alright! You little brat, you come here every day making a scene. Just stay put, I'm here for business."

The old man, his face full of resentment, forced the young man to sit down in a chair, leaving him feeling somewhat aggrieved and forced to remain seated. Then he approached Gu Heng and said, "Did you bring the letter yourself?"

"good."

Gu Heng nodded and handed him the roll of paper from under his arm.

"Hmph, you guys who want me to carve signs, the characters you brought are all hideous. They don't look like they were written, they look like they were scratched with claws."

Old Gu snorted, took it with a disgruntled expression, and didn't open it.

Gu Heng raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the words that Old Gu had just written on the table—"Ask the Way for Peace of Mind."

Hmm, this old mortal is making such a fuss about practicing calligraphy.

Moreover, the handwriting isn't very good either. "I don't mean any offense, but Mr. Gu, your handwriting... is a bit lacking."

Gu Heng said slowly.

Upon hearing this, the old man's expression changed drastically.