Ye Qiu and the Long Eyebrow Immortal trudged across the icefield for three full days and nights. At last, they emerged from it.
“Bloody hell, this poor Daoist is knackered.” The Long Eyebrow Immortal panted.
Ye Qiu sat on the ground to rest, gazing calmly into the distance.
“Little whelp, what are you pondering?” the Long Eyebrow Immortal asked.
Ye Qiu blurted out, “A lass.”
“Vulgar.” The Long Eyebrow Immortal’s face twisted in disdain. Then he asked Ye Qiu, “Do you know what this poor Daoist is thinking?”
Ye Qiu said, “A bloke?”
“Go to blazes.” The Long Eyebrow Immortal cursed, then said, “I am thinking of food.”
“Though my time in the cultivation world has been brief, I often yearn for the delicacies of the mundane realm.”
“This poor Daoist now craves Beijing roast duck, stir-fried liver and tripe, five-spice donkey meat, Buddha jumps over the wall, crystal siu mai, sugar-crusted pancakes, fresh meat zongzi, Goubuli buns, roujiamo, hot dry noodles, beggar’s chicken, West Lake vinegar fish…”
As the Long Eyebrow Immortal spoke, drool dribbled from his mouth. “Little whelp, wait here for me. I shall head into the woods to bag some game.”
Ye Qiu said, “I shall come with you!”
The two entered the woods and soon felled two wild hares. They skinned them on the spot, lit a fire, and began roasting.
Ye Qiu produced seasonings and sprinkled them over the hares.
In short order, the savoury aroma of roasting meat wafted through the air.
“Pity there is no wine.” The Long Eyebrow Immortal looked regretful.
“I have some.” Ye Qiu fetched two crates of beer from the universe pouch. The pair drank and ate their fill.
Ye Qiu suddenly mused, “I wonder what Sister Lin and the others are up to now? Has Ruyi grown taller?”
“Missing them?” The Long Eyebrow Immortal said, “I rather miss Shuisheng too, to be honest. Truth be told, I worry for him a bit. Rebuilding Dragon Tiger Mountain costs billions and the project is vast, with myriad matters to handle. Shuisheng is so young, I fear the pressure may overwhelm him.”
Ye Qiu consoled him, “Did you not always say Shuisheng is a born saint? I believe he shall manage.”
“Besides, should true hardship arise, Old Tang and the War God would not stand idly by.”
The Long Eyebrow Immortal, still fretful, said, “I remain somewhat concerned for him.”
Ye Qiu said, “Since you worry so, then hasten your cultivation and strive to return to the mundane realm anon.”
“Aye, you speak true. Cultivate swiftly we must.” The Long Eyebrow Immortal said, “The cultivation world heeds the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. To endure, there is but one path: unceasing growth in strength.”
Ye Qiu asked, “When do you plan to face tribulation?”
“Now.” With that, the Long Eyebrow Immortal cast aside his beer bottle, soared to the crown of an ancient tree, and bellowed, “Thunder, come.”
Hum!
At once, an oppressive aura spread. In the ninth heaven, thunderclouds roiled ceaselessly.
Soon, heavenly tribulation descended, engulfing the Long Eyebrow Immortal.
Ye Qiu watched from afar. After half an hour, he saw the Long Eyebrow Immortal’s tribulation nearing its end. He then found a spot and summoned his own.
“Boom boom boom!”
Tribulation thundered down like a cascading waterfall. Ye Qiu elevated his essence, qi, and spirit to their zenith, resisting the onslaught.
Twenty minutes later.
The tribulation concluded.
Ye Qiu sat cross-legged in mid-air, keenly sensing the changes post-tribulation. He noted his golden core had enlarged somewhat, like a gemstone radiating brilliant golden light.
“Curious. I stand but half a step from the Cavern Heaven realm, yet the fifth revolution of the Nine Revolutions Divine Dragon Art shows no sign of breakthrough.”
Ye Qiu puzzled over it in vain.
At this, the Long Eyebrow Immortal’s voice rang out, “Little whelp, the hour grows late. We must press on and find shelter ere nightfall.”
“These days of ceaseless travel have nigh worn me out.”
Ye Qiu descended from the air and resumed the journey with the Long Eyebrow Immortal.
As dusk fell.
The pair arrived at a city named Yong’an. It lay within the Yin Yang Sect’s domain.
Upon entering, Ye Qiu glanced about and spied Ye Wushuang’s wanted poster affixed to the walls.
“Yin Yang Sect, mark my words. One day, I shall eradicate you all.”
After entering the city, Ye Qiu and the Long Eyebrow Immortal sought an inn. Ere they crossed the threshold, uproar assailed their ears.
“Shall we try another inn?” Ye Qiu said, irked by the din.
“This one will do. This poor Daoist is exhausted and cannot walk another step.” With that, the Long Eyebrow Immortal entered the inn.
Ye Qiu had no choice but to follow.
No sooner had he stepped in than he beheld a band of armed brutes encircling a fat man.
The fat man appeared no older than his mid-twenties, clad in fine brocade. His flesh hung in folds, like an outsized top, his rotund belly sagging over his belt, the whole of him a mountain of blubber.
So obese!
A veritable meatball.
At present, the fat man squatted on the floor, gasping for breath, silver needles in hand as he treated the leg of an unconscious youth.
“This fatso is a physician?”
Curiosity piqued Ye Qiu. He edged closer and peered at the youth.
He discerned a bite mark on the youth’s leg, the flesh around it blackened. Clearly, some venomous creature had struck.
“Dead fatso, can you do it or not?” An impatient lout bellowed.
The fat man wiped sweat from his brow, then abruptly stowed his needles and rose ponderously. His girth made even standing a labour.
“Gentlemen, the patient’s condition is grave, the poison deep. Common remedies avail naught. Now, but one course remains.” The fat man wheezed as he spoke.
The bystanders pressed at once, “What course?”
“Amputation!”
Slap!
No sooner had the words left the fat man’s lips than a brute floored him with a cuff. “You damned fatso, you swore on your life to heal my brother, and now you prate of amputation? Are you mocking us?”
The fat man looked aggrieved, “The patient’s plight is truly dire. Delay amputation, and once the toxin reaches his heart meridians, death is certain.”
The brute flew into a rage and roared, “Did you not claim to be a divine healer? I care not. Fail to cure my brother today, and you shall answer for it.”
“Should my brother lose a leg, off with one of yours.”
“Should he perish, you die in his stead.”
The fat man shrank back in fright, then grinned obsequiously. “Gentlemen, pray calm yourselves. In truth, I jested with you.”
“Though your brother is sorely poisoned, as a divine healer, I need but a眨 of the eye to mend him.”
This only stoked the crowd’s ire.
“Dead fatso, if you can cure him, why dawdle two hours whilst he lies senseless?”
The fat man smiled faintly, his jowls bunching. “That was to assay the bond betwixt you brothers. I must say, your fraternity touches me deeply, firm as gold.”
“I have decided. I shall heal him now.”
“Stand back a touch, do not crowd him. The patient, comatose, requires fresh air to breathe.”
With that, the fat man produced his needles anew.
The onlookers, seeing him prepare to treat, parted ways. At this instant, the fat man bolted for the door with a “whoosh”, nimble as a monkey.
