Cultivating Immortality: Starting from Ferrying Passengers

Chapter 110 First Hunt
After returning to the market, Fang Jingxuan, accompanied by Tuoyuan, went to the market outside to look for Wu Laosan.

Come to think of it, it's been a while since he last saw Wu Laosan. The last time they met was when Fang Jingxuan was shopping at the market and they bumped into each other from afar.

Upon arriving at Wu Laosan's residence, Fang Jingxuan knocked on the door, but another cultivator came out instead.

Looking at Fang Jingxuan's attire and the abyss behind him, the man's initially impatient expression suddenly turned enthusiastic.

"Fellow Daoist, what business do you have with me?"

Fang Jingxuan was a little puzzled. Wasn't this Wu Laosan's residence? Why had it been taken by someone else?
Faced with Fang Jingxuan's question, the man feigned sudden realization and then explained:

“That Wu Laosan sold this house to me a year ago. Now he lives in the shack in front. If you are looking for him, I can show you the way.”

At this moment, Fang Jingxuan was somewhat puzzled by the man's enthusiasm, but he quickly realized that it was because the man had sensed his cultivation level.

A cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining is a rare find in this market shantytown. Even cultivators at the third level of Qi Refining can exert their dominance over a region, let alone those at the sixth level.

Fang Jingxuan had just broken through his cultivation level and had been staying at home, rarely interacting with other cultivators, which made him almost unaccustomed to hiding his cultivation.

Seeing the man's eager eyes, Fang Jingxuan waved his hand and refused, not wanting to get involved with him.

After getting the address, Fang Jingxuan led Tuoyuan to the alley where Wu Laosan lived.

At this moment, Fang Jingxuan silently channeled his energy, using the Breath Concealment Technique to lower his cultivation level to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

This concealment technique can fool cultivators with lower cultivation levels, but in the eyes of cultivators with higher cultivation levels, unless it is a very sophisticated concealment technique, it is just showing off one's limited skills in front of an expert.

Fang Jingxuan didn't want Wu Laosan to see his true cultivation level. Firstly, his cultivation progress was a bit too fast, reaching two levels in two years, which didn't fit his previous persona.

Fang Jingxuan was worried that Wu Laosan, an acquaintance, would become suspicious, which would be bad for both sides.

Secondly, Fang Jingxuan didn't want Wu Laosan to develop any attachment to him because of this, and he didn't want to cause trouble for himself because of this matter.

Ideally, Fang Jingxuan would pay, Wu Laosan would guide him a few times to become a disciple, and after the debts were settled, they would have no further contact.

This is Fang Jingxuan's current plan; it's better to avoid trouble.

After suppressing the magical energy emanating from his body, Fang Jingxuan now appeared to others as a Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator.

Arriving at the obviously simple and shabby shack, Fang Jingxuan stepped forward and called out:
"Brother Wu, are you home?"

A few breaths later, a hoarse, weary voice, tinged with a hint of resentment, came from inside:

"Who?"

Upon hearing this voice, Fang Jingxuan frowned, suppressing the urge to scan the source with his divine sense, and said:

"I am Fang Jingxuan."

A day later, outside the Red Leaf Market, Fang Jingxuan ran into Wu Laosan.

After receiving the thirty low-grade spirit stones prepaid by Fang Jingxuan, Wu Laosan tidied himself up and looked much more refreshed than yesterday.

At this moment, Wu Laosan's face was full of enthusiasm, and his eyes were full of gratitude as he looked at Fang Jingxuan.

When Fang Jingxuan found him, he was already in dire straits and owed a large debt.

Two years ago, after a failed hunt, Wu Laosan borrowed money to compensate the demon-hunting team, and the debt ballooned with interest. During this time, hoping to recoup his losses as soon as possible, Wu Laosan also tried to turn his fortunes around through gambling, spending his days in gambling dens. As a result, his life became even more difficult.

Fang Jingxuan was unaware of these things, and Wu Laosan dared not tell Fang Jingxuan either, fearing that he would avoid him like everyone else did.

"Brother Jingxuan, hunting demons requires careful planning. It's best to bring a pack of hunting dogs and falcons for assistance. When the falcons spot the prey in the air, the hunting dogs will drive it away, and finally, the hunting dogs will hold the prey firmly in their jaws. That's when you can reap the rewards."

When the topic of demon hunting came up, Wu Laosan's face lit up with a hint of excitement, as if he were recalling his glory days.

Fang Jingxuan shook his head at this, saying:

"We're just going to scout ahead this time. We can talk about hunting dogs and falcons later."

Wu Laosan laughed heartily, glanced at Tuo Yuan's enormous size, and casually asked:

"Brother Jingxuan, your spirit tortoise looks much bigger than it did two years ago. What realm is it at now?"

Fang Jingxuan glanced at Wu Laosan and saw a hint of envy in his eyes. To avoid upsetting him, Fang Jingxuan thought for a moment and then said:

"It's around the fifth level of Qi Refining. Xiao Yuan is just exceptionally talented and a bit bigger than its kind, but it's actually quite timid."

Wu Laosan laughed heartily, his gaze towards Tuoyuan growing increasingly satisfied.

Fang Jingxuan glanced at the sky and then invited Wu Laosan up:

"Let's go, it's getting late, let's hurry back."

Two hundred miles away, in a desolate wilderness, Fang Jingxuan and Wu Laosan walked side by side, quietly making their way forward.

At this moment, a silent barrier enveloped them, and everything around them was completely silent.

Even if you push aside the vines or step on dead branches, it doesn't matter; the dragon-horned deer in the distance can't hear you at all.

Wu Laosan led Fang Jingxuan forward, and finally stopped a few hundred meters away from the herd of dragon-horned deer.

After observing silently for a while, the two slowly retreated.

Back at the riverbank, Tuoyuan was comfortably soaking in the water when Fang Jingxuan and Wu Laosan finally spoke.

"Dragon-horned deer are extremely wary. Even with the silencing notes, we can't get too close. We still need drugs to eliminate their scent and bait to lure them. Once we get a few to eat, that will be our harvest time."

Upon hearing Wu Laosan's words, Fang Jingxuan nodded in agreement, indicating his approval.

Even late-stage Qi Refining cultivators would find it difficult to catch dragon-horned deer in these wild forests. As the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise, and the experience accumulated little by little by these seasoned hunters is the most valuable asset.

After tracing the trail of the dragon-horned deer, Fang Jingxuan left a mark and then took Wu Laosan back to the market to buy other items needed for hunting.

The two agreed to go again early the next morning. If they could catch a dragon-horned deer, Fang Jingxuan would give Wu Laosan about one-third of the catch.

Wu Laosan readily agreed, saying that Fang Jingxuan had funded all the preliminary preparations and even paid him for hiring people. He would also get a share of the venison. What more could he ask for?

However, when Fang Jingxuan saw Wu Laosan again the next morning, he felt a little uneasy.

This is his reaction when his "whim" was triggered.

(End of this chapter)