A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 189 Ice Toad Soup

The two of them bought some cooked food at the delicatessen as usual, and then went to the wine shop to pick up two jars of rice wine, and then returned to Yang Zhen's residence.

In fact, with Duan Rong's current wealth, he could have treated Yang Zhen to a better meal, but he felt that no matter how good the food was, it could not compare to the way they were eating now.

Just like the roadside barbecue you and your classmates ate when you were a student, even if you become rich in the future and eat in five-star hotels or Michelin-starred restaurants, you will never be able to taste the same flavor again.

The two men placed the cooked food on the table, opened a jar of rice wine, and began to eat and drink.

Drink and chat.

Duan Rong pinched a piece of pig ear and put it in his mouth to chew. He looked at Yang Zhen's tired expression and asked casually, "What have you been busy with in the government office recently? Why are you so tired?"

Yang Zhen took a big gulp of rice wine, let out a long breath, and said, "Well... it's just various cases... the criminals' trivial matters..."

Duan Rong's eyes moved slightly, and then he asked several more questions in a roundabout way, but Yang Zhen did not reveal a single word about the case.

Duan Rong immediately understood that Xie Daohan must have told him not to tell anyone about the case.

Duan Rong sighed inwardly: After following the captain of the police, my awareness has indeed changed.

Since he couldn't get the answer, Duan Rong simply gave up asking and calmly reminisced with Yang Zhen about the past, chatting about some interesting things from their childhood.

The two of them drank the old times, and soon the two jars of rice wine were finished...

The table was littered with cups and plates, and Yang Zhen had already passed out drunk at the table.

Duan Rong was already a little tipsy. He staggered over and carried Yang Zhen, and the two of them lay down on the bed in the inner room.

After waking up the next day and having breakfast, Yang Zhen went to the yamen and Duan Rong returned to the escort agency.

Although Yang Zhen did not actually reveal anything, Duan Rong still saw some clues.

He could almost conclude that there was no progress in the case.

Because, when he asked, Yang Zhen just kept silent with a tired look. He knew his childhood friend very well, and whenever there was any progress in the case, even if he didn't say anything, there would be a flash of excitement in his eyes.

However, Duan Rong did not see that. He only saw decadence and fatigue in Yang Zhen's eyes. This showed that after these few months of busy work, the case had actually made no progress.

Duan Rong roughly knew the circumstances of the case, and was almost certain that neither Jie Daohan nor Fan Yuanhai would focus their attention on him when he was just an apprentice escort at the time of the crime.

After calming down, Duan Rong started to fight frantically in the escort agency. After all, the news that Tao Rong from the weapon shop had broken through to the great perfection realm in the teahouse still gave him quite a boost.

Duan Rong had been standing still in the escort agency for several days. One morning, after breakfast, he decided to go to Ximen Mansion to see Ximen Kankan.

Last time, at Lan Ying's place in Huaying Tower, Ximen Kankan had already told Duan Rong that old man Qin Zhong would be back in the next few days, so it should be about the same date.

The medicine for the third level of the Taizang Sutra is the Ice Toad Venerable. He had already asked Ximen Kankan to ask Lao Qin to get it for him.

After completing the second level of the Taizang Sutra, the soul technique that was unlocked - the release of spiritual consciousness - was so magical and mysterious that Duan Rong was amazed at it for a time.

Therefore, Duan Rong was quite looking forward to the spiritual art after achieving the third level of the Taizang Sutra. This expectation was even greater than his expectation for the improvement of his mental power.

Ximen Kankan has been quite busy these days. Yuan Shouzhi went to the provincial capital and Ximen Yong was injured again, so Ximen Kankan took over the daily affairs of the Ximen Mansion.

He had never experienced any of these things before, and was immediately busy and overwhelmed. He was treating the injured guards, paying funeral expenses and pensions to the deceased guards, and comforting their relatives.

But Ximen Yong was like a hands-off boss, leaving all the work to him.

Ximen Yong wrote a letter to inform Hu Huanhuan of the news that Huang Gaozu, the master of Huayinglou, was involved in this matter. He didn't want to investigate it deeply, after all, his Ximen family also had shares in Huayinglou. However, Hu Huanhuan still paid a considerable funeral pension for the Ximen family's deceased guards.

Ximen Kankan distributed all the money to the families of the deceased guards and explained the source of the money. The families of the deceased guards were grateful for receiving two sums of money.

After hearing this, Ximen Yong praised him for doing a good job.

"There is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable. If our Ximen family withholds this money, the families of the deceased guards will know about it sooner or later. We must not lose the support of the people for a small amount of money."

Ximen Kankan was busy for several days and finally got everything done.

On this day, Ximen Kankan was sitting at the desk in Xueyanju, looking at the accounts of the herbal medicine shop for last month, which were sent by Ximen Yong. At this moment, Shi Kang led Duan Rong in.

Duan Rong flipped through the account book in front of Ximen Kankan and said, "Oh... the prodigal son has returned. He doesn't want to read pornographic books, but the account book..."

Ximen Kankan had a sad face and pouted, "Don't mention it. I don't understand what my father is thinking. Are you going to leave the checking of the accounts to me?"

Duan Rong was moved when he heard this. It seemed that the disaster at Black Tiger Hill had some impact on Ximen Yong. He was probably thinking, if he really died at Black Tiger Hill, would Ximen Kankan be able to take over the Ximen family's business in a hurry.

Although Duan Rong was thinking, he remained calm and said with a smile: "That's great! It means that your Ximen family's business has a successor!"

Duan Rong said this and sat down on a throne not far away.

Shi Kang led Duan Rong in, then quietly retreated and walked quickly to the main courtyard. A few days ago, Ximen Yong specifically told him to tell him immediately if Duan Rong came to the mansion again.

Duan Rong said, "Last time you said in Huayinglou that Lao Qin would be back soon. Have you got the Bingchan Su?"

"Oh, that's right." Ximen Kankan slapped his forehead and said, "Do you know what this ice toad venom is?"

Duan Rong shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Ximen Kankan had an expression of understanding and said, "I knew you didn't know. This thing is only available in the spring."

Duan Rong was confused, and Ximen explained, "It's a kind of ice toad from the far north. When it hibernates, it secretes white sweat between its brows. This thing is in great demand, and it's sold out as soon as it goes on the market in the spring. Now it's summer, and it's no longer available on the market. If you want to get the ice toad venom, you can only wait until next spring."

Duan Rong sighed and couldn't help feeling a little depressed. This thing was actually an ice toad from the Far North. When it was hibernating, white sweat was secreted between its brows.

It seems that the medicines used in the practice of the Taizang Sutra will become increasingly rare and difficult to obtain as time goes by.

The two were chatting when suddenly Ximen Yong's personal maid Meiqin walked in slowly carrying a tray.

I saw a layer of ice on the tray, and on the ice were emerald green fruits cut into pieces that looked like jade.

Meiqin came straight to Duan Rong with the tray, squatted slightly, and said in a soft voice: "This is the ice-patterned melon produced in the Western Regions. The master of the family cut one himself and chilled it. Please have some to relieve the summer heat, Master Duan."

Duan Rong was slightly stunned. "Cut one personally?"

Ximen Kankan turned his head, looked at Meiqin, and asked, "What is this ice-patterned melon? I've been so busy these past few days, why didn't you give me one to help me get rid of the summer heat?"

Meiqin was about to reply when suddenly a voice sounded at the door.

"You stay in the mansion every day, what haven't you eaten? This is what I cut for Master Duan!"

Ximen Yong was already standing at the door. He was wearing a loose scholar's suit and his eyes were fixed on Duan Rong, as if he was looking at some rare treasure.

(End of this chapter)