Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 853 Severing the ties of the past will eliminate any consequences.

Xiao Ran looked Mo Ju up and down, who seemed like a completely different person.

If the previous Mo Ju gave people the feeling of Nie Xiaoqian from Lanruo Temple, then the current Mo Ju gives people the feeling of a grandmother, more like the head of a family.

It wasn't just her appearance that changed, but also Mo Ju's strength. Since the last time, Mo Ju's strength has undergone a tremendous transformation.

Xiao Ran could clearly sense that Mo Ju's strength was definitely no less than her own.

At least without using [Dragon Abyss], I'm afraid I definitely can't control her.

Mo Ju rolled her eyes at Xiao Ran and said to the maid beside her, "Serve the tea."

Soon, the tea was served to Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran looked up at Mo Ju, her face showing confusion. She saw three cups of tea on the maid's tray.

"Try it, this is all newly roasted tea from here, I don't know if it can be considered a local specialty."

Mo Ju pointed to the teacup that was presented to Xiao Ran, looking at him with a slightly expectant expression.

Xiao Ran picked up the teacup on the left. The tea in the cup, though water, resembled fire in shape and had a unique jujube-scented aroma.

Xiao Ran took a sip of the tea, and a rich fragrance wafted between her lips and tongue. After swallowing it, Xiao Ran immediately felt the change.

"You have consumed the C-grade cursed item [Fire Orchid Fragrance], which permanently increases your strength by 5. This effect is only effective for first-time users."

"You have consumed the C-grade cursed item [Fire Orchid Fragrance] and gained the privilege of Fire Rabbit Shining Brightly, which grants immunity to fire damage below grade C and a 50% reduction in fire damage above grade C, lasting for 22 hours."

Looking at the prompt in front of him, Xiao Ran's eyes revealed a strange light.

"Good tea."

As she spoke, Xiao Ran put down her teacup, picked up the middle cup, lifted it up, and saw that the tea soup was as black as ink, but the aroma was irresistible.

After taking a sip, Xiao Ran's eyes flashed. This tea was also a C-grade cursed item, called [Ink Orchid]. It increased all of his attributes by 10 points.

Furthermore, they gained a privilege: the ability to temporarily increase their mental strength by 30% when fully focused.
Duration: 2 hours.

Fortunately, it was temporary and didn't put too much pressure on her body; otherwise, Xiao Ran would probably be exhausted by now.

Just as Xiao Ran was about to take the third cup of tea, the maid quickly stepped aside and bowed to Xiao Ran: "Please don't be offended, sir. This third cup of tea is called Shui Lan Mian, which has the opposite effect of the first cup, Huo Lan Xiang. They are incompatible and should not be drunk together."

"I see."

Xiao Ran nodded and then looked at Mo Ju, who was leaning back in her chair: "Do you want me to help you promote your tea?"

Mo Ju sat up straight, resting her chin on her hand: "My place is remote, but as you can see, taking in so many wandering ghosts is always an expense."

That day, a girl came by, and we got along very well. She mentioned you, saying, "You are incredibly powerful and have boundless magical abilities. This humble woman can only beg you, sir, if you will not abandon me..."

Mo Ju paused for a moment, narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, and looked at Xiao Ran with a pitiful expression: "Young lady, you can also repay me with your body."

Mo Ju's pitiful appearance made Xiao Ran's scalp tingle. Her clumsy acting made Xiao Ran so embarrassed that she scratched her toes. She quickly stopped, saying, "No, no, no, our relationship doesn't need to go to this point."

Xiao Ran's expression turned serious: "I'll take as much of this tea as you have. As for the price... I'm not good at business, but I can call someone over and leave everything to him."

Xiao Ran is indeed not good at the details of business, but the tea that Mo Ju brought out is really good. Just based on the characteristics of Huo Lan and Shui Lan teas, they are enough to fetch a high price, so it shouldn't be a problem to hand them over to Jingqi Pavilion for sale.

To change the subject, Xiao Ran quickly changed the subject after finishing her story, asking, "Didn't I give you the water from the River of Longing for Relatives when I came last time? If you want to call me in the future, just send me a message in my dream. You don't need someone to deliver the message to me."

It would have been better if Xiao Ran hadn't brought this up; as soon as she did, Mo Ju's face fell.

"Hmph, you heartless bastard, all you know how to do is fool me. After you left that dream tea last time, I had a change of heart and decided to use the unique soil of Hongxiang Village to grow this tea. I wanted to call you over to discuss it, but... hmph, it was no use at all. Instead, it attracted that young lady, so I had to ask her to send a message."

Things in this world are just so coincidental. The packet of dream tea that Xiao Ran left behind inspired Mo Ju to start making tea.

She took the Dream Tea in an attempt to find Xiao Ran, but Zhong Yi happened to be passing by here. As part of the Dream Walker series, she easily intercepted Mo Ju's dream halfway through.

That's why Zhong Yi came to send a message to Xiao Ran later, and it's no wonder that Zhong Yi had that expression when she sent the message to Xiao Ran.

As for why the dream of the black chrysanthemum was ineffective...

Ok……

Xiao Ran suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Only then did he realize that he hadn't slept at all.

Because of her strong mental power, Xiao Ran doesn't need to sleep at all.

It's like Xiao Ran gave Mo Ju her phone number, but then never turned it on herself. No wonder Mo Ju is so resentful.

After figuring out the reason, Xiao Ran felt a pang of shame.

However, Mo Ju did not dwell on this issue. She invited Xiao Ran not just for the sake of tea.

“Last time you came to me to ask about the Yinshan Taoist, I now have some information.”

"What news!"

Xiao Ran's spirits lifted. Every time the old man from Yinshan was mentioned, Xiao Ran felt like he had a thorn in his side.

Last time in Guizhou, it's hard to say that he didn't lead that group of foreign soldiers there.

"To be precise, it's news about the Yinshan Taoist and his group. I recently received a letter from them asking for my help to make a cursed item for them, called Hundred Bone Incense, using the special incense from Hongxiang Village."

What is Bai Gu Xiang?

"The incense made from the bones of the incense-making people of Hongxiang Village is classified as a Class B cursed item."

As Mo Ju spoke, she waved her hand, and a maidservant immediately brought over a tray with three long white incense sticks on it.

These incense sticks are as thick as a thumb, and each one is a meter long.

Xiao Ran picked up one, and information about it popped up in front of her.

The B-grade cursed item, [Hundred Bone Fragrance], is a consumable that does not require activation.

Privilege 1: Reverence for God.

Lighting this incense can summon divine power to bless oneself.

With the blessing of incense, the power of the gods is greatly enhanced.

Privilege 2: Xiangyou

Once the incense is lit, the smoke curls around, and one can collect the smoke clouds to enter certain special areas.

Looking at the item's properties, Xiao Ran turned to Mo Ju: "Is this what they wanted to achieve by helping you in the first place?"

"Yes, I owe them this favor, and I must repay it."

Mo Ju nodded.

She couldn't refuse this request, since it was something she owed the other party.

"These three incense sticks are for you. I don't know what they're going to do with them, but since they need them, I think you should be able to use them too."

Mo Ju gestured for Xiao Ran to accept the incense. "As for where they went, I don't know, but when they came to pick it up yesterday, they seemed to mention that they were going to Changbai Mountain."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran remembered what Jin Chanzi had said before: three months later, the gates of the Land of Return to Extremes would open wide, and she immediately understood.

"It seems they are also heading towards the poles."

"Okay, I understand. Consider this a favor I owe you."

Xiao Ran put away the incense from the tray.

“You helped me promote my tea and opened up sales channels for me, so that counts as compensation,” Mo Ju said to Xiao Ran.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Xiao Ran got up to say goodbye.

"gone!"

Xiao Ran summoned the [Decapitation Sword]. The sword's edge circled around Xiao Ran once, and as soon as Xiao Ran landed on the sword, it quickly soared into the sky.

From beginning to end, Mo Ju did not say goodbye again, but simply watched Xiao Ran leave in silence.

Only after Xiao Ran left did the maidservant approach Mo Ju and say, "Sister, I noticed you seemed hesitant to speak, as if you had something left to say. Did you just let him go?"

Mo Ju turned around and smiled, offering no explanation. She didn't know how to explain, only saying, "Asking the same question twice will only get you the same answer."

As Mo Ju spoke, she glanced in the direction Xiao Ran had left, and with a sigh, layers of curtains fell, as if severing the last thread of cause and effect between the two.

(End of this chapter)