After giving his instructions, Chen Zhou took a long look at the two little sword gods, one black and one white, who were currently tidying each other's clothes. He then turned and walked toward the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
If everything went as expected, the last of his old acquaintances would be there.
The Gathering Fortune Pavilion was the place where the fortune of the City of the Wrongfully Dead converged, and it was also the location with the densest spiritual rhythm in the entire city.
The unaging pine was comfortably stretching its branches, every pine needle crystal clear, appearing as if carved from emerald.
In the Pool of Fortune and Longevity beside it, the Wanshou Tortoise was sprawling with its limbs spread out, lying there soaking up the sun without a shred of dignity, occasionally blowing a leisurely bubble.
But the moment Chen Zhou stepped a single foot through the gates of the Gathering Fortune Pavilion—
Splash!
The Wanshou Tortoise, which had been sunbathing, suddenly jolted. Its closed eyes snapped open, a flash of terror passing through them. Its four legs began to paddle frantically like they were equipped with motors.
With a loud 'plop,' it dove straight into the water and sank to the bottom of the pool, not even daring to let out a single bubble.
A long while later, a pair of sneaky little eyes peeked out from the water’s surface, staring at Chen Zhou warily as if he were some kind of prehistoric monster.
The reaction of the unaging pine was even more violent; its pine needles exploded outward like a startled porcupine.
In the next second, a thick branch of the unaging pine shot out like a lightning bolt, accurately coiling around a Nine-Age Crane that had been standing on one leg, minding its own business and preening its feathers.
Swish, swish, swish!
Branches danced, and in the blink of an eye, the crane was bundled up like a zongzi.
Then, the unaging pine bent down and presented the packaged crane to Chen Zhou. Its trunk trembled slightly, and it desperately shielded the pine cones it had just produced beneath its pine needles.
Chen Zhou: "..."
Watching the reaction of this tree and tortoise, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Chen Zhou stepped forward and patted the trunk of the unaging pine.
"Alright, don't be so tense."
"I didn't come to collect rent from you this time."
The unaging pine stiffened, seemingly trying to judge the truth behind Chen Zhou's words.
A moment later, it hesitantly loosened its grip slightly, but the crane was still held out in front of Chen Zhou, with no intention of taking it back.
Chen Zhou took the opportunity to look at the unlucky crane.
This crane was indeed extraordinary, with a slender and well-proportioned frame, looking incomparably majestic. Its feathers shimmered with a luster as moist and translucent as moonlight, and a chicken-blood stone was set into the top of its head.
Since it was a gesture of goodwill from the unaging pine, Chen Zhou didn't refuse.
Chen Zhou reached out, his hand gently brushing over the crane's wing, and plucked the brightest flight feather.
"Creeee—!!!"
A shrill cry of a crane echoed through the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
Tears almost burst from the crane's eyes, but it was bound and unable to move. It could only widen its eyes, looking at Chen Zhou in disbelief before turning to look at the unaging pine.
Its gaze seemed filled with the tragic indignation of being backstabbed by a long-time friend.
Chen Zhou held the feather before his eyes to examine it.
【Nine-Age Crane Feather】
【Grade: Rank 6 natural treasure】
【A spiritual feather dropped by a Nine-Age Crane, condensing the divine essence of a century of pure cultivation.】
【Legend has it that an ancient celestial chef used a secret method to introduce it into meals, which can transform the essence of a hundred flavors and purify the spiritual rhythm of delicacies, serving as a catalyst to harmonize the supreme tastes of heaven and earth.】
"A Nine-Age Crane?" Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Since it's a natural treasure and something from an auspicious beast, is it really just used for cooking?"
"But how do you cook with a single feather? Do you just throw it in when making soup to enhance the flavor?"
Hearing the words "cooking" and "making soup," the Nine-Age Crane trembled even more violently.
Seeing that Chen Zhou had only taken one feather and likely wouldn't touch its descendants, the unaging pine breathed a sigh of relief and loosened its branches.
Regaining its freedom, the crane scrambled and flew far away, landing on the roof and staring down at the two old fellows below with extreme resentment.
Seeing this, the Wanshou Tortoise also determined it was safe and slowly crawled out of the water, returning to its rock to continue sunbathing.
It didn't have to go streaking this time, so it was happy.
As Chen Zhou withdrew his hand, he suddenly heard a childish dragging sound coming from within the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
"Jiu'er, don't go!"
"No, let go. I have to go to the Hall of Talent Cultivation for class."
"Also, you should call me Big Brother. Today there’s an examination of our lessons; if I’m late, the old granny will be sad."
Following the voices, two children emerged from behind the corridor.
One was a pudgy boy of about eight or nine, clutching several books in his arms with an anxious expression. Hanging onto his sleeve was a little boy who looked to be only four or five years old.
The boy was as delicate as carved jade, his skin white to the point of being nearly transparent, with a cinnabar mark right in the center of his brow, giving him a somewhat sacred appearance.
"If you go to class, this poor monk will be so bored..."
The little boy with the mark on his brow gripped Jiu'er's sleeve tightly, practically hanging off of him as he acted like a spoiled child.
"Fine, fine, you're the big brother. How about this: once your lessons are over, bring me some wine to drink, okay?"
"This poor monk smelled a fragrance coming from the wine cellar!"
Jiu'er's little face wrinkled as he lectured righteously, "How old even are you? Little children aren't allowed to drink wine!"
"I didn't keep a good eye on you yesterday, and you drank all the cooking wine in Aunt Li’s kitchen. You even got me scolded by the old granny."
"Be good. I can bring you the soup the old granny made; soup is more nutritious."
The little boy: "..."
"That won't be necessary."
"Don't worry, this poor monk isn't as young as I look. I passed the age where I can drink wine long ago."
"Besides, I'll be able to grow up in just a few days. Don't worry, don't worry."
Jiu'er was trying his best to shake off this little clinger when he suddenly looked up and saw Chen Zhou standing in the courtyard.
"Lord... Lord Bone God?!"
Jiu'er was startled and immediately stopped what he was doing.
Beside him, the little boy's body also stiffened the moment he saw Chen Zhou, and he subconsciously let go of the sleeve.
Having been released, Jiu'er felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty and hurriedly gave Chen Zhou a respectful bow.
"Jiu'er greets the Lord Bone God! Um... Jiu'er is going to be late for class, so I'll take my leave first!"
After saying that, the pudgy boy clutched his books and took off like he had oil on his feet, sprinting toward the Hall of Talent Cultivation at a startling speed.
Only Chen Zhou and the little boy remained in the courtyard.
The boy shrunk his neck, his eyes darting around. Not daring to look at Chen Zhou, he turned around and tried to sneak back into the house on his short little legs.
"Wu Gou, stop right there."
Chen Zhou spoke calmly.
Wu Gou's small frame froze in place, his back to Chen Zhou, his two little hands twisting together.
"Turn around."
Wu Gou dawdled before turning around, a naive and innocent smile plastered on his face as he blinked his big eyes.
"Big Brother, are you calling for Wu Gou?"
"Who is Wu Gou? This poor monk... I don't know him."
Chen Zhou looked at the child before him, who clearly had the face of a reincarnated Buddha yet eyes full of trickery, and a smile curled onto his lips.
"Wu Gou?" Chen Zhou said indifferently. "Keep acting."
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