Scourge Messenger

Chapter 297 I’m going too
"I will be going into the secret realm for training for the next five days, so I won't be able to return to the Thieves' House or come for a meal."

In the main hall of the Thieves' House, Yan Qing solemnly announced his schedule, then quietly awaited the storm that was about to break. He had prepared his mental rehearsals last night to address the challenges he might face today.

Upon hearing this news, Pharmacist Yuan and Shang Xinlei blinked and nodded.

"Oh."

"Ah."

"Pan-fried stuffed black tofu is delicious. Do you have a recipe? I'm planning to have my cook learn it."

"I'll give it to you in a bit, but the soybeans for the black tofu are from a secret realm, and their quality is much better than ordinary soybeans. If your cook's cooking doesn't taste good, it's probably not a problem with her cooking skills, so please don't punish her."

"Who would punish a cook? Aren't they afraid of being spit on?"

Yan Qing was a little dumbfounded when she saw them discussing the taste of lunch today.

You were all so concerned when I was gone for six days. Now I'm going out to train for the next five days and won't even be able to return to the Thieves' House. Why are you all so indifferent?

Will love disappear?
To be honest, Yan Qing didn't really want them to ask too many questions. It wasn't that she didn't trust them, but it was just too troublesome to explain. Now that they weren't asking, Yan Qing should be relieved, but for some reason, she felt a little depressed.

He paused for a moment, then said, "After dinner today, I plan to absorb the Heavenly and Earthly Fiends. I'll prepare myself before I go. You will protect me."

The pharmacist nodded in agreement: "Good, it is indeed best to have someone protect you when absorbing the Heavenly and Earthly Fiends."

Shang Xinlei asked, "Where are my Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends? When will it be my turn? You're not planning to absorb them yourself first and then beat me up during training, so you're deliberately delaying giving them to me, are you?"

Yan Qing replied irritably, "Do I look that boring? Anyway, you're not in a hurry. I'll list it for a few more days and see if I can get the best Earthly Fiend."

Shang Xinlei snorted twice: "You're not boring, you're just a little shameless."

Oh dear, you snotty-nosed devil, you're quite good at judging people...

Yan Qing muttered to himself, he really planned to absorb the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, and then use his superior blood and qi to thoroughly humiliate Shang Xinlei a few times during training. After all, Shang Xinlei was both cute and arrogant; one punch should be enough to make her cry for a long time, right? He wanted to see it.

But what's going on? I'm about to absorb the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends! I'm a dignified third-rank messenger, and I have to absorb the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends to prepare for the upcoming trials. Even if you don't care about me, don't you want to ask what kind of dragon's den and tiger's lair that is?

However, Yan Qing wasn't too surprised, because their attitudes had indeed been rather indifferent these past two days, as if the emotional outpouring of hugs and promises on the day of their reunion was just an illusion Yan Qing had created from eating a nice meal together.

It's a bit like a mother's attitude when you go home for the holidays. On the first day you go home, your mother is naturally happy and treats you to a feast, but after a few days, she can't wait to kick you out of the house—although they are not mothers, the principle is the same.

Although their reaction was very calm, Yan Qing did not feel that they did not care about her. They were just very confident in their abilities, so they felt there was no need to say anything more.

Yes, it must be so!

Although he had prepared an excuse for them in his mind, Yan Qing still revealed a faint, nonchalant loneliness during the meal, trying to tell them through his expression, "There's a teammate here who needs your attention." However, the consequences of Yan Qing's disguise, which was covered in bandages, became apparent: it was really difficult for others to read his expression and act accordingly. Even though he was a melancholy nobleman at heart, he only showed himself to be a depressed mummy at best.

The slight hesitation in her heart disappeared completely after finishing her meal, because Yan Qing was about to absorb the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, holding the Cataclysmic Maneuvering Jade Talisman in his right hand and the Cataclysmic Netherworld Record in his left. The Pharmacist and Shang Xinlei pressed on his shoulders, one on each side, as if preparing to suppress a thug.

“Generally speaking, there is not much danger as long as you absorb the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends at the same time. However, if there is a time difference in absorption, you may experience boiling blood or soul sinking, which can lead to physical and mental imbalance, shock, and coma. In severe cases, it can even lead to sudden death,” the pharmacist said. “However, you have a very good foundation, not much different from me. Even if you experience boiling blood or soul sinking for a short time, you should be able to hold on.”

"Don't be nervous. If you faint, I'll definitely slap you awake!" Shang Xinlei said confidently, with a hint of anticipation in her voice.

Yan Qing had previously learned from the pharmacist that Boiling Blood and Sinking Soul were diseases that could only occur in the locals. The former was when the blood and qi far exceeded the spirit and soul, and the spirit and soul could not control the body, causing the blood and qi to boil, which manifested as blood vessels bursting and the whole person becoming a glass doll that would explode at the slightest touch; the latter was when the spirit and soul far exceeded the blood and qi, like a truck being 10,000 tons overloaded, and the body was crushed by the weight of the spirit and soul, which manifested as drowsiness and amnesia, and the person could fall asleep and never wake up at any time or place.

However, the reason why Boiling Blood and Sinking Soul often occur is because the messenger only absorbs the Heavenly Gang or only absorbs the Earthly Fiend. As long as they absorb both, there are generally no problems. Back then, when the Pharmacist was willing to temporarily absorb the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend on Mount Shu, he didn't need time to adapt and could immediately participate in the battle.

Yan Qing felt that absorbing the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends was a very important moment, and he hoped that his friends would be by his side to watch, just like when you achieve a platinum trophy in a game, you would want to take a screenshot and share it in the group.

With a thought, the Cataclysm Jade Talisman and the Cataclysm Manual transformed into two beams of light, flowing along Yan Qing's palm and merging into his body and soul. Yan Qing felt an extremely strong strangeness. If each level up was like a steam sauna, sweating profusely and undergoing a transformation of his body and marrow, then what he felt now was like simultaneously drinking molten lava and an icy spring. The molten lava was coursing through his veins, while the icy spring was flowing from his skull to his toes. The former was excruciatingly painful, while the latter was numb. But precisely because both existed simultaneously, Yan Qing actually felt an indescribable sense of comfort.

It's like eating spicy hot pot with butter and drinking iced milk. One of them alone isn't very pleasant, but the combination of the two is so satisfying that it's addictive.

No wonder the locals suffer from the symptoms of boiling blood and soul-deepening. The numerical boosts brought by the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends are too outrageous, and they are also single-item boosts. Only a smaller, quantifiable body can ignore the impact of numerical mutations on the body.

Although it was only five breaths, Yan Qing felt as if almost half an hour had passed. The Cataclysm Jade Talisman and the Cataclysm Record had disappeared. Yan Qing clenched his fists, slightly twisted his shoulders, and his bones cracked all over. His thoughts had never been so clear. If Yan Qing could only run three programs at the same time, he felt that he could now run five at the same time, and he could also run more than ten programs in the background for him to call at any time.

He had already mastered the wonders of the Jade Talisman of Creation and the Secret Record of the Netherworld, but both of these wonders were passive and permanent, so Yan Qing didn't need to worry about them.

Power surged continuously from his body, and his rapidly improving strength made Yan Qing feel invincible, which even emboldened him. He wanted to become the head of the Thieves' Hall, and from this day forward, there could only be one voice!
He suddenly stood up and turned to look at Yakushi Nyan. Yakushi Nyan was also looking at him, but his eyes were narrowed and long, like wolf eyes, as if he could guess what he was thinking and was showing his imposing aura without reservation.

After staring at the pharmacist for a moment, Yan Qing realized that her aura was no match for hers. Hesitating for a moment, she decided to take it one step at a time and said to Shang Xinlei, "Let's train!"

"Okay." Shang Xinlei agreed without any guile, seemingly unaware of the cruel torment that awaited her.

But before Yan Qing could feel secretly pleased, Shang Xinlei said, "I heard that people who have just absorbed the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends should adapt to the changes in their bodies through high-intensity battles. Is that true, Black Wolf?"

"That's true. I also learned to work together through battles back then."

"So, shall we train together from now on?"

"That is as it should be."

Yan Qing was taken aback: "The two of you together? Then who will train with me?"

“You’ve misunderstood. It’s not the two of us training together,” Shang Xinlei’s eyes flashed with a dangerous light. “You’re in luck today, the two of us are serving you!” Yan Qing’s eyebrows twitched violently. “Isn’t this a bit much? There’s no need for such a grand ceremony.”

"There's nothing wrong with that. Didn't I handle both of you by myself before?" The Pharmacist took off his coat, revealing a suit of soft armor. "Or do you still think you can't catch up to my strength even after absorbing the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends?"

This is different. Before, Shang Xinlei and I were just ordinary third-stage cultivators, while you are a peak third-stage cultivator. You have the advantage when you fight us, but you and I are both peak third-stage cultivators, and you have Shang Xinlei as an additional member. I am at a complete disadvantage when I fight you... However, Yan Qing did not say these words. He would use as many excuses as he could to avoid the situation. But at this moment, Yan Qing was full of pride. Even if the hope was slim, he wanted to try to subdue these two little vixens!

How can a man live in the world between heaven and earth and live in depression for a long time?
……

...

Yan Qing closed the door, her nonchalant expression instantly crumbling. She kept shaking her hands, wincing in pain, and quickly swallowed two blood-replenishing pills to recover her strength.

Today's training is 'arm combat', which, as the name suggests, involves attacking and defending using only the hands. According to Yakushi, the hands are the most powerful attacking part and also the most suitable body part to sacrifice. Not to mention the torso, without legs you can't even run away. Therefore, when facing a fatal attack, sacrificing the arms to save your life is the most reasonable decision.

Then Yan Qing's hands were bombarded by a barrage of attacks, and she felt that most of her forearms were bruised and purple. Even though she could recover quickly with blood-replenishing pills, the pain during the battle was real. However, they weren't much better off. Yan Qing defended and counterattacked at the same time, barely managing to fight them to a draw.

After resting for a while, Yan Qing felt much better in her hands and began packing her luggage.

There wasn't much to pack, really. He wouldn't be looking for a place to shower or change clothes for the next five days anyway. He just brought some food and novels. He figured he'd have plenty of free time in the Demon Gathering Land and would pass the time by reading novels. Besides, he'd just read that the Primordial Daoist had two lovers, and it seemed like they were about to have a love triangle. He couldn't wait until he came back in five days to read about such an interesting plot.

knock knock.

Yan Qing went to open the door and saw Shang Xinlei. She didn't say anything, but grabbed Yan Qing's wrist and left.

"what?"

"I applied the ointment for you, have you forgotten? You have no memory."

It seems there was indeed such a thing, but Shang Xinlei hasn't mentioned it in the past two days, so Yan Qing assumed she had forgotten: "It was clearly you who didn't come to find me, and you're saying I have no memory?"

Shang Xinlei pulled him into her room, closed the door, and muttered, "If I don't come to find you, you won't come to find me?"

She tugged at Yan Qing's sleeve and saw patches of bruises on it, her face showing a hint of embarrassment. Yan Qing said sarcastically, "Old wounds haven't healed, and new ones have appeared."

“That’s how training is, you hit me hard too,” Shang Xinlei said, rubbing the ointment in her palms until it was warm before applying it to Yan Qing’s arm. “You’re stronger than me, and I didn’t even complain when you hit my hand until it went numb!”

"But your arm isn't bruised, is it?"

"You also know?"

"Because I never hit you in the same spot twice, for fear of making you cry," Yan Qing complained. "But you just follow Black Wolf wherever he hits, constantly expanding your gains, as if you're afraid of not hurting me enough."

Shang Xinlei lowered her head, seemingly focused on applying the ointment, but a blush of pink crept from her cheek to her earlobe. "I didn't say you had to give in, is it my fault?"

"Okay, next time I'll go all out. If I don't make you cry, I'll change my surname to yours."

“Heh, merchants don’t need sons-in-law.” As soon as she said it, Shang Xinlei realized something was wrong and quickly added, “But if you insist on calling me mom, that’s fine too.”

But something felt even stranger. Shang Xinlei pretended to have achieved a verbal victory and vigorously rubbed Yan Qing's hands. Yan Qing wanted to tell her, "Mom, stop rubbing! You've rubbed your hands all red."

"Where are you going to train?" Shang Xinlei asked casually.

"The Demon Gathering Land of Qi is similar to the Mansu Forest, a special secret realm that is only open for half a month each year." Yan Qing's mood instantly brightened. Hehe, I knew you, you snotty-nosed devil, still cared about me.

“I’ve heard of the Demon Gathering Lands, but I remember it being a more barren secret realm than the Wildwoods.” Shang Xinlei’s heart stirred: “Have you, like Jiang Shi, also discovered the special mechanisms within the secret realms?”

Jiang Shi's most profound impression on Shang Xinlei was not her martial arts skills and talent, but her power to almost control the secret realm in the Mansu Forest. She was practically the master of the secret realm, and everyone else was just an unwelcome guest.

“You could say that.” Yan Qing had no intention of hiding anything: “So this training is not dangerous. Not only do I have a great advantage inside, but most people in the secret realm are much weaker than me, so you don’t need to worry.”

"I wasn't worried about you, I was just a little curious," Shang Xinlei muttered.

Yan Qing chuckled: "If you say so, then so be it."

Shang Xinlei asked, "Are you alone? Didn't your subordinates go with you?"

This is a difficult question to answer. Ye Si was sealed for a full seven days, and Yan Qing stayed for five days before coming out, but Ye Si was still in the secret realm. They didn't have a chance to reunite from beginning to end.

"I guess you could say I have one subordinate."

Shang Xinlei suddenly gripped his hands tightly: "Jiang Shi?"

"No, it's a man."

Shang Xinlei's face turned pale, her fingernails almost digging into Yan Qing's thenar eminence: "What!? You'd rather go with a man than Jiang Shi?"

Yan Qing's forehead was covered in black lines. She pulled her hand out and poked Shang Xinlei's forehead: "What are you thinking? That was a scout who went in first to explore, and he already has other tasks inside, so he won't be going with me. But since you put it that way, then I'll go with Jiang Shi?"

Shang Xinlei immediately became excited: "Really? I want to go too! I haven't seen Jiang Shi in so long!"

Yan Qing said irritably, "It's fake. Jiang Shi isn't in the Demon Gathering Land. I'll go alone."

“Then I want to go too,” Shang Xinlei said.

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(End of this chapter)