The Big-Headed Youth

Li Guanqi frowned slightly, unsure of what had happened up ahead. When the two reached the front, they finally understood what was going on. Cowering in the corner's shadows was an emaciated youth clad in ragged hemp clothes that barely covered his body. The boy's limbs were scrawny, water dripped from his entire body, and his head was as large as a bull's! The massive head pulled his facial features into a grotesque distortion—one eye sat higher than the other, and the corner of his mouth was torn. Blue veins stood out clearly across his pale head, looking as if they might burst at any moment. At first glance, anyone's heart would tighten in revulsion; even without doing a thing, he appeared thoroughly hideous and menacing. At this moment, the youth reeked of a foul stench, his skin was deathly pale, and a burn mark scarred the space between his brows. "Disgusting freak! Ugly on the outside, uglier on the inside!!" "Why don't you just hurry up and die!" a man snarled viciously. "Hmph! If you ask me, it was this damned wretch who pushed my boy into the river!" a plump aunt scolded with hands on her hips, hurling eggs from her vegetable basket at the youth as she spoke. Beside the woman stood a little boy, soaked from head to toe. Yet the youth's eyes remained calm, as though he had long grown accustomed to all of this. Splat! Eggs and cabbage leaves struck him, but he treated the broken egg liquid like a precious treasure, licking it completely clean. The greens clinging to his clothes were also ravenously stuffed into his mouth. He turned a completely deaf ear to the surrounding abuse. Seeing this, the plump woman grew even more furious, simply bending down to snatch up a rock and hurling it at him! Perhaps lacking the strength to dodge, the youth could only raise his arms to shield his head. Thud!! A bloody welt instantly broke out across the boy's arm, yet his eyes remained calm. Seeing blood drawn, the onlookers stopped jeering and quickly walked away one after another. If someone were actually beaten to death, it would only invite trouble. Her expression shifting at the sight, the woman hurriedly dragged the equally wet little boy away. Watching the youth pick up the vegetable leaves from the ground, Li Guanqi felt a faint pang in his heart. As if sensing something, the youth turned his head to look at the two who had not left, saying nothing. Lowering his head again, he continued picking up the vegetable leaves on the ground. Li Guanqi asked softly, "Do you want something to eat?" As if he had heard something unbelievable, the youth looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment and embarrassment. Yet in the end, he gave a slight nod. With a flick of Li Guanqi's hand, light flashed, and a good dozen or so steamed buns appeared. Wrapped in oilpaper, he carried them as he walked slowly toward him. But as if remembering something, the youth pointed to a spot some distance in front of himself, gesturing that he could just leave them on the ground. Li Guanqi, however, acted as if he had not seen the gesture. Stepping over the rotten leaves strewn across the ground, he crouched before the youth and placed the oilpaper package into his hands. As if finding it hard to bear, after standing up, Li Guanqi turned his head and said softly, "I saw no hatred in your eyes toward that woman. "That is why I was willing to give you food. "Remember: even when you are in the depths of the abyss, reach out your hand again and again, and do everything in your power to climb out." The youth kept his head lowered, uttering not a word. Ye Feng followed behind Li Guanqi and glanced back at the youth. The boy's shoulders trembled slightly; when he lifted his head and met Ye Feng's eyes for an instant, a spark seemed to kindle in his gaze. Ye Feng hurried to Li Guanqi's side and sent a voice transmission: "Boss, why help him?" Li Guanqi replied softly, "Nothing much. It's just as I said. "I saw no hatred in his eyes. "It was merely a small gesture in passing. "Didn't you figure it out? That boy who fell into the water was probably saved by him. "Though none of that has anything to do with us." Ye Feng nodded. Before long, the two found the city's Treasure Pavilion. It was a magnificent pavilion covering an area of nearly fifty zhang. Three stories tall, its entrance boasted eight doors for coming and going, symbolizing good fortune and wealth. Standing before the entrance of the Treasure Pavilion, the two stared in slight daze at the resplendent building. "Boss, this Treasure Pavilion is way too rich! "If I'm not seeing things, the floor tiles in there... are made of spirit stones, aren't they..." Li Guanqi smiled, then stepped inside. Just as they entered, a beautiful attendant came forward to greet them. A gentle smile graced her face. Dressed in an embroidered red cheongsam, she had a graceful and alluring figure. Her voice was as soft as a spring breeze as she spoke: "Greetings, distinguished guests. How may I assist you today? "The first floor of our Treasure Pavilion is dedicated to medicinal pills and various sundries, while the second floor carries magic treasures and spirit talismans. "Is there anything I can help you find?" Li Guanqi nodded slightly and said softly, "I would like to purchase some Essence Augmentation Pills. Also, do you buy spirit tools here?" When the woman heard him ask for Essence Augmentation Pills, the smile on her face stiffened slightly. *These two can't possibly be Core Formation cultivators, can they?* Just as this thought crossed her mind, she heard his second question. The smile on her face deepened immediately, and she hurriedly gestured with her hand to guide them inside. "Distinguished guests, this way please. I'll arrange for an appraiser to handle the appraisal right away." The woman led them into a small private room. After serving spiritual tea and fruit, she stood up and took her leave. Before leaving, she said, "Please wait a moment, distinguished guests. Our appraiser will be here shortly." Before long, the Treasure Pavilion's appraiser arrived. However, he was on the opposite side of their small room, where a partition on the wall suddenly slid open to the width of a palm. The elderly man across from them spoke softly: "Honored guest, you may simply place the items on the counter." A sharp glint flashed in Li Guanqi's eyes, full of disdain for this supposedly discreet measure. From the moment they had entered the Treasure Pavilion, he had noticed at least twenty recording stones in the main hall alone. One could say that blocking their line of sight like this now was entirely like taking off one's pants to fart—a pointless redundancy. Still, he did not call it out, casually placing Yu Heng's two daggers onto the counter. Soon, the other side offered an appraisal price: "Two mid-grade spirit tool daggers. A matching pair, though slightly damaged. "Valued at seventy mid-grade spirit stones. What do you think?" Li Guanqi gave a slight nod and said softly, "Agreed." Soon, a storage bag was pushed across from the opposite side. Putting the storage bag away, the two had just opened the door when they saw the earlier woman holding a jade tray. Upon it four jade bottles were arranged neatly. With an alluring gaze, the woman spoke: "Young master, here are the Essence Augmentation Pills you requested. Forty in total, each guaranteed to have over eighty percent potency. "That will be four thousand low-grade spirit stones in total." Li Guanqi first inspected the medicinal efficacy of each pill, then crisply placed the spirit stones onto the jade tray. Just as he was about to leave, the woman produced another jade bottle and said hurriedly: "Don't be in such a rush, Young Master. In here are some pills to nourish vital energy and blood, a complimentary gift for you. If you find them effective, feel free to come see me again." The woman tucked the jade bottle into Ye Feng's hands, then swayed her hips as she took her leave.