Old Man Dique chuckled. "How could I bear to abandon them? It was just that years ago, Old Ghost Tianyi cornered me at my doorstep to borrow it. I owed him a favor in the past and couldn't easily refuse. Later, Old Ghost Tianyi gave it to his disciple to hunt for treasures, only for that disciple to lose his worthless life and my precious treasure along with it. I even went to the mine shaft in person once, but alas, the mine shaft's restrictions had been destroyed, and it has now become a cloud beast den. I assumed the little fellow wouldn't survive, never imagining it would end up in your hands, little brother."
At these words, Qin Sang sighed deeply in his heart.
Before entering the ancient cultivator's abandoned abode, he had specifically asked Mu Yifeng about the names and titles of several Core Formation stage cultivators. Only after confirming that Old Ghost Tianyi was not among them did he dare boldly release the Fire Jade Centipede to search for treasures.
Who would have thought that Old Ghost Tianyi wasn't even the owner of the Fire Jade Centipede, but had borrowed it from Old Man Dique?
For ordinary people, obtaining even a single exotic insect of this kind would be a stroke of tremendous fortune, yet Old Man Dique possessed a pair.
Old Ghost Tianyi was the one who had commissioned Yin Xingge to mine the Qianyang crystals, and was a vice sect master of the Medicine King Sect. Although Yin Xingge was not Old Ghost Tianyi's direct personal disciple, he had been held in considerable regard.
Qin Sang had deliberately inquired about this after leaving the mine shaft.
His plan had naturally been to wait until the dust settled, then find an opportunity to visit the mine shaft again and use the Fire Jade Centipede to hunt for Qianyang crystals, making a fortune.
Yin Xingge had also been unlucky. Before he could even find the Qianyang crystals, he had been ambushed by a humanoid cloud beast—an occurrence that was far from common.
However, before Qin Sang could make the trip, news reached him that the experts who entered the mine shaft had found that Qianyang crystal, only to be attacked while harvesting it by a humanoid cloud beast possessing Golden Core stage strength.
After a fierce battle, although they managed to slay the humanoid cloud beast, they inadvertently damaged the restrictions outside the mine shaft, leaving it completely exposed. The cloud beasts from the rift valley swarmed in, turning it into a monster den.
Venturing inside to mine now would lead to only one outcome: being torn to shreds by cloud beasts.
And so the matter had simply been dropped.
"The place where Old Ghost Tianyi's disciple met his end isn't somewhere just anyone could enter. Since you picked up my little fellow, little brother, how could you not know who dropped it? That boy wouldn't dare toss my treasure away carelessly. Could it be... that he met his end at your hands, little brother?"
Old Man Dique's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of shrewd light flickering within them.
Qin Sang's expression froze, and he hastily defended himself. "Senior, please see clearly! You must be referring to Senior Brother Yin Xingge. Back then, this junior was one of the Shadow Guards who entered the mine shaft. Later, Senior Brother Yin broke away from the group without permission and awakened the humanoid cloud beast, bringing disaster upon us. Several of us were nearly killed by the cloud beast trying to find Senior Brother Yin. This junior only stumbled upon this centipede by sheer accident, and only later learned it was the exotic Fire Jade Centipede. It was by no means..."
"Alright, alright..."
Before Qin Sang could finish, Old Man Dique waved his hand impatiently. "I'm not his master. Whether he died at the hands of a cloud beast or someone else has jack shit to do with me! No need to be so nervous either. I remember you're a disciple of Shaohua Mountain, and Old Ghost Che is nearby, so I wouldn't dare do anything to you. Besides, it's thanks to you that I got the little fellow back. Even if you've earned no merit, you've certainly done hard labor; I ought to thank you properly..."
Though he said this, Qin Sang did not relax in the slightest, because even now, Old Man Dique had not released the restriction placed upon him!
Qin Sang forced a smile onto his face. "Since the Fire Jade Centipede belongs to Senior, returning it to its rightful owner is only natural and right. This junior dare not claim any credit. I only ask that Senior release me. This junior will take his leave immediately and disturb Senior no longer."
With that, Qin Sang glanced down at his rigid body.
"No rush!"
Old Man Dique paid no mind to Qin Sang's subtle gestures. Brushing past him, he walked down the stone stairs, speaking as he went: "The illusion formation outside was rather interesting. Had it not been for these two little fellows, even I wouldn't have noticed anything amiss. Whatever was hidden here must be extraordinary. Let's see what surprise the little fellows can bring this old man... Huh?"
Immobilized, Qin Sang could not see Old Man Dique's expression, but from his tone, it sounded as though he recognized the vines in the lake.
Old Man Dique was initially surprised upon catching sight of the strange vines and fruit. Suddenly, his expression shifted, and he muttered, "A golden fruit... Could this... could this be the Red Gold Vine?"
A look of profound delight surfaced in his eyes. Shifting his gaze, he stared intently at the flame flying monkeys for a moment, pondered briefly, and then turned back to look at Qin Sang, laughing heartily. "Little brother, you truly are a lucky star! I racked my brains and broke through several tricky restrictions, only to find a few mediocre trinkets. Yet the moment I ran into you, not only did I recover my Fire Jade Centipede, but I immediately laid eyes on a Red Gold Vine. Truly, finding it required no effort at all!"
Red Gold Vine?
Qin Sang searched his memory, certain he had never heard of the Red Gold Vine before.
Yet judging by Old Man Dique's undisguised delight, the Red Gold Vine had to be extraordinarily precious.
What a pity!
Qin Sang sighed inwardly. Suddenly, he realized the restriction on his body had been lifted. Turning around, he saw Old Man Dique looking at him with bright, piercing eyes, asking, "Little brother, what is your honorable surname?"
Qin Sang's heart skipped a beat. "Replying to Senior, this junior's surname is Qin."
"Brother Qin..."
Old Man Dique nodded, his manner suddenly turning genial and pleasant. "Brother Qin, you have helped me so much; this old man is truly grateful! I just wonder how I ought to thank you properly?"
Targeted by Old Man Dique's triangular eyes, Qin Sang felt a jolt of dread and deep unease. He hastily bowed. "Senior speaks too kindly. This junior merely encountered this by chance; it was a trifling deed. I dare not ask for any reward from Senior."
"Brother Qin is far too modest. This old man is not one to forget a kindness; I must repay this favor. However, this is no place to discuss such matters. It so happens that this old man has a small matter at hand. Why doesn't Brother Qin see his help through to the end? Once we leave this place, this old man will reward you handsomely all at once. What do you say?"
Old Man Dique looked at Qin Sang with a beaming smile, speaking in a tone that seemed consultative.
Qin Sang's pupils constricted, his fists clenching tight.
What he feared most had come to pass. This old bastard was definitely no benevolent soul—another smiling tiger! When he thought about it, that was only natural. As a rogue cultivator, not only had he successfully achieved Core Formation, but he had also risen into the upper echelons of Xuanlu Pass, navigating smoothly among all the major sects. How could someone like that be simple?
Qin Sang suppressed the tempest churning in his heart and said tactfully, "This junior's cultivation is meager. I fear I would be of no help to Senior, and might even ruin Senior's grand undertaking."
Old Man Dique remained unmoved. "My eye for people is never mistaken. With Brother Qin's abilities, you will surely achieve instant success!"
Circumstances were stronger than men. In the face of absolute strength, any struggle was futile.
Qin Sang smiled wryly to himself and took a deep breath. "Please instruct me, Senior. As long as it is within my power, I will give my all."
"Brother Qin truly is a warmhearted man!"
Old Man Dique smiled with satisfaction. Turning around, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at the Red Gold Vine as he said indifferently, "Then I ask you, little brother, to pluck the fruit of the Red Gold Vine for me."
Chapter 244