Po Tu was not a cat demon and did not have any curiosity. He di not even bother to ask what’s inside the jade knife. He continued his interrupted sentence, “No matter what magic tool, it will always store a trace of its owner’s primordial spirit. That is how it can connect with its master’s will, which makes it as easy to command as your own arm. But we could not find any former primordial spirit on the sword, and it does not accept any new primordial spirit, strange indeed. It was only after that someone from among the ancestors barely managed to realise that Molten Metal Fire Bell was a broken sword!”
Xiaoyi muttered, “Ah’. A cute question mark reappeared on her knitted brows, “Broken sword?”
Po Tu nodded, “There must be another part of this sword that was lost somewhere. The sword’s primordial spirit must’ve been completely inside the other part. Only when we find the lost part, piece the sword back together, and wipe out its former owner’s primordial spirit may we be able to subdue it!’
Wen Leyang had zero basics in true cultivation, magic weapons and primordial spirits. He barely managed to understand Po Tu’s words. The gist was to subdue the sword, they must first find its primordial soul. “But this sword… looks like a whole sword, which part of it is missing?”
Wen Buzuo snorted, “With a sword that huge, it won’t be easy noticing one or two missing pieces.”
Po Tu unexpectedly shook his head, “You guys have seen this sword a few times yourselves. It has also been among us Qilian Immortals for thousands of years. There have long been ancestors who scrutinised the sword, from blade to hilt. The entire sword was flawless and every inch accounted for, not one part was missing.”
Xiaoyi had enough. She said angrily, “You were the one who said that Molten Metal Fire Bell was a broken sword!”
Po Tu made a face, “That’s the strange part. Saying that it is a broken sword is only a hunch, we couldn’t explain it any other way. According to my… ancestors’ reckoning, there must be some hidden mechanism inside the huge sword. Who knows that one part may be missing in the core or within the hilt. We cannot see it from the outside, but we can’t exactly break it to have a look. That’s why it had been lying around with the Qilian Immortals for a few thousand years. It looks mighty but is actually no better than scrap metal.”
Wen Leyang grabbed You’ve Got Me who was practicing Carp’s Kip-Up on the back of the seat, “Then what’s the matter with You’ve Got Me and the huge sword?” When You’ve Got Me showed off, the huge sword would buzz in reply.
“How would I know?” Po Tu asked a carrot from Xiaoyi. He snapped it in two and tossed them into his mouth and started chewing, muffling his words…
After travelling for a straight two days and two nights, the travel-stained Iveco finally struggled and reached Shanghai on mid-day on the third day!
The instant they got down from the car, a nauseating feeling which only belonged to modern times struck deep into everyone’s hearts… the car broke down on the highway. The big and small vehicles around them were packed like salmon swimming upstream from the sea into the river, their blaring honks were as shocking as the Gold-Consuming Nest’s Skyward Howl…
You’ve Got Me was scared out of its wits. It curled up into Wen Leyang’s chest, occasionally lifting its head swiftly to take a peek of the outside world.
The two bronze ants were arrogant as usual. They chased the two tiny patches of Poison of Stream the size of a palm right into the middle of the road. They were immediately grounded into the road by the passing cars. They struggled for some time before managing to get out, and crawled back honestly. They straightened their antennae, wrapped themselves in Poison of Stream and crawled into Wen Leyang’s backpack. Not long after the highway maintenance committee were befuddled by the two prostrate and arms outstretched mark on the ground. Some passer-by even took photos with their phones.
Shanghai is like a powerful giant shaped by technology. It was looking down on Wen Leyang, flaunting its charm with all its might. Xiaoyi and little Chi Maojiu were fully occupied by their new surroundings until they bumped into people several times. They eventually simply climbed onto Wen Leyang’s and Luo Wanggen’s back, completely releasing their eyes.
Wen Buzuo led them and found an inn. He arranged their accommodations, had lunch and went out to contact the news publisher, television stations and mobile communications companies, ready to publish a missing person advertisement. Of course, Wen Buzuo wouldn’t write on the newspaper: Master teacher grandma please contact Wen Leyang quickly when you see this. The way that he written the advertisement content won’t raise any suspicious eyebrows but Chang Li would figure it out right away.
Before understanding ‘221 B.C.’, they had absolutely no clue to start with. They can only hope for Chang Li to take pity on them and meet them after seeing the advertisement.
Bushuo Buzuo were Jianghu veterans and had enough money on their hands. Normally, they would have their own way of looking for a missing person, but this time they’re looking for an unequalled cat demon, not some trafficked lady. Rascals or local gangsters will be of little use in this case. Wen Buzuo wouldn’t waste the effort.
Wen Leyang and his companions had a last plan, that is to let the giant pangolin release his demon flame, provoking the people who kill demons to extract vitality to show themselves. But if they had done so, then they would no longer be in hiding, but would come face to face with that group of people. This can only be their final resort.
Wen Buzuo alone was sufficient to handle the advertisement publishing task, he did not need any help. Three-Inch Nail Wen Bushuo looked at the excited faces of Wen Leyang, Xiaoyi and Chi Maojiu who came to the city for the first time, and he smiled, which is rare. “Change your clothes, I’ll bring you guys out for a spin.”
Don’t know whether it was out of the love for his siblings or to practise jobbery, Three-Inch Nail Wen Bushuo sat in the cab and simply blurted out, “Henglong!”
When they entered Henglong, Xiaoyi’s clear and shining eyes brightened up immediately. She said to Wen Leyang in a low voice, “Look at all the glass!” She took out a carrot from her bag, gave it a quick rub on her Prada and passed it to Wen Leyang.
Little Chi Maojiu was a little nervous. He held onto Luo Wanggen’s hand tightly ad said to Xiaoyi, “I want one too.”
The Prada store’s shopping guide was slightly surprised when she saw them enter the store. In theory, the people who would walk into a Prada store while chewing on a carrot are non-existent. But her good professionalism compelled her to provide service with a smile… this professionalism has helped her earn a commission that would make her laugh even when she’s sleeping.
Xiaoyi was a kind-hearted child. While she was picking clothes for herself, she was also thinking about master teacher Chang Li, Mumu, and Wen Leyang’s mother.
Three-Inch Nail kept his back straight. He shouted one ‘buy’ after another, full of force. When they left the store, the few shopping guides huddled together and discussed softly, “Must be bosses of the coal mining industry in Shanxi.”
“Nah, they had a Sichuan accent.”
“Then he’s a boss who went to Shanxi to mine coal from Sichuan!”
Three-Inch Nail was usually silent, but the pride in being the elder sibling was evident in him when he’s out shopping. When the little ones had taken a glance at one object, he practically said buy. He did not even blink when swiping the credit card.
Grand Elder Wen in Wen village on the other hand, felt a sudden chill.
When they finished shopping, Three-Inch Nail brought the little ones to sightsee at Chenghuang Miao Temple. They were just in time for the street food festival of Chenghuang Miao Temple. Every tourist would be given a beautifully printed picture of Chenghuang Miao Temple and an introduction to the various shops. Xiaoyi was overjoyed. She went to and fro many times and took a few books. The boys giving out promotional pamphlets saw that she was pretty and all rolled their eyes at Wen Leyang.
Three-Inch Nail only led the group back to the inn when night came. Wen Buzuo was already back and was slurping some noodles.
Wen Leyang did not even have to ask and Wen Buzuo recounted his process of contacting the advertising companies. The quickest one was published today and the slowest would be published by tomorrow, three days in a row.
Finally, Wen Buzuo stretched and chuckled, “Don’t worry about the other things. We’ll just have to wait for news. You little ones, let me see what have you bought!”
Xiaoyi, Chi Maojiu, and Luo Wanggen quickly showed him with delighted faces. Other than world famous brands there were exquisite handicrafts. Wen Buzuo’s brow was twitching when he saw them. He pointed to little Chi Maojiu and asked Three-Inch Nail Wen Bushuo, “It’s fine that you spent money on Xiaoyi and Wen Leyang. They, Miao are wealthier than us!”
Three-Inch Nail Wen Bushuo smiled drily, “Chi Maojiu had a few gold bars with him, but the cashier did not accept them.”
Wen Buzuo stared at Chi Maojiu, then pointed at Luo Wanggen, “Then what about the Luo family? He even knew about cameras, he must know about Renminbi?”
Luo Wanggen made a face while shaking his head, “Grandpa did not even give me a cent, he said… I don’t need to bring any money when running errands with Wen Bucao.”
Three-Inch Nail Wen Bushuo side-eyed his elder brother, “Why are you being so stingy with a bunch of children?”
Wen Buzuo was amused, “Next time you had better be careful when doing business with Miao Bujiao and Crow’s Ridge. Brother, what have you gotten for yourself?”
Three-Inch Nail was stunned, “I got myself the bill…”
Wen Buzuo finished slurping on his noodles and chased everyone to their beds. Eight of them were divided into four rooms. Bushuo Buzuo brothers occupied one, little Chi Maojiu insisted on sleeping with Luo Wanggen, Luo Wanggen had just installed Tetris on his notebook, the black-faced zombie looked at the white-faced pangolin and licked his own lips, Xiaoyi jubilantly brought her new clothes into her room. Wen Leyang was stunned. He complained to Wen Buzuo, “Why didn’t you book another room? Do it now…”
Wen Buzuo rolled his eyes, “They only had four rooms!”
Wen Leyang did not believe him, “Impossible, these few rooms are empty.” He pointed at the few rooms next to them.
Wen Buzuo shrugged, “Those rooms are unfurnished and only have a clothes rack, would you like to stay in them?”
Three-Inch Nail Wen Bushuo suddenly smiled like his brother which made people angry, “Kid, you entered the Place when you were eighteen and Xiaoyi had been looking after you ever since. What’s there to be afraid of sharing a room?”
Wen Buzuo retracted his smile, “Among our group, you are the most important person. But the most treasured, the one who could not look after herself is this Ya Tou Xiaoyi. Do you feel assured letting her stay alone? We are now on hostile territory and although we’ve been keeping a low profile, the pangolin is a demon, who’s to say that he won’t attract the enemy here?”
Wen Leyang gritted his teeth for a moment. His expressions became serious. He no longer fretted about sharing a room with Xiaoyi, but questioned, “You’re saying, that even without releasing demonic energy, he will also attract the enemy?”
Wen Buzuo shook his head, “That’s not probable, but who’s to say that there’s no second GPS on his body?”
Wen Leyang nodded. Then he was struck by a sudden realization and stomped his feet fiercely, “Don’t fool me! Po Tu has no scales left, where can there be a GPS?”
Bushuo and Buzuo laughed at the same time. They pushed Wen Leyang out of their room. One of them was humming a tune while taking a shower, the other was going to the hotel’s service menu with a joyous expression, his gaze fixed on the sauna department.
Wen Leyang rubbed his hands in the stairway. He tiptoed and opened the door to his room. Xiaoyi had just finished showering. Her hair was still wet, but she was already sound asleep on the bed. After the two days’ drive and the excitement of going places today, the little Ya Tou had long been exhausted. Her long eyelashes gently covered her fair and delicate face. The contour shown by the blanket was heart-wrenchingly tender. Only two sleek bare shoulders can be seen under the faint yellow light.
Wen Leyang took a quick shower and ran back to his own bed noiselessly. He let out a silent relieved sigh. Thank goodness this was a standard room with two single beds.
Wen Buzuo was too busy and had overlooked this one detail. In the Queen room that was intended for them, the black-faced zombie was looking at Po Tu beside it lovingly, occasionally sticking out its tongue to lick its purple lips…