Chapter 184

Chapter 184: So who do we chase first?

On the fifth day after Xu Ming left Stone Village.

The temple of the Yellow Sand Dragon King had already been dismantled by the villagers.

Originally, the village head of Stone Village suggested building a temple for Xu Ming, but it was directly rejected by Xu Ming.

Incense offerings aren’t necessarily all good, you see.

Although incense can aid in cultivation and even help during tribulations, they also represent karma—mysterious, with both positive and negative aspects.

Xu Ming prefers solitary cultivation and dislikes carrying around inexplicable karmic ties.

This is also why, back in White凹Secret Realm, when Yuan Rain wanted to build a temple for Xu Ming, he refused again.

After the death of the Yellow Sand Dragon King, life for the villagers of Stone Village returned to normal, except now everyone wore expressions of relief.

At least from now on, they no longer had to live under the threat of the Yellow Sand Dragon King.

Every day, Third Lady Luo did embroidery work, then sold it at the town market to earn some money for the household.

Luo Xiaoman, within the courtyard, would occasionally practice the cultivation techniques given to her by Xu Ming, while also helping her mother with the embroidery.

Xu Ming’s teachings were very basic, mainly about guiding spiritual energy.

No matter how Luo Xiaoman practiced, it was beneficial to her body.

And just as Stone Village finally regained its former tranquility,

two women arrived at Stone Village.

“Is this the place?”

A woman dressed in white looked at the three big characters “Stone Village” on the gatepost.

“It should be correct.” The woman in green nodded. “Let’s go in and ask around. Let’s settle this quickly; I hate dry land. It’s so uncomfortable, not at all like the comfort of the seabed.”

Two women named Ruolan and Ruoye entered Stone Village.

The villagers of Stone Village came and went, curiously glancing at these two women when they saw them.

These two women, with their extraordinary bearing, clearly weren’t ordinary. Even the well-bred ladies of the county seat didn’t have such an aura.

“Where is your village head?” Ruoye, dressed in green, asked a woman who was washing clothes.

“And who might you ladies be?” The woman stood up, wiping her wet hands on her clothes, respectfully looking at these two beautiful and distinguished women.

“We have some questions we’d like to ask.” Ruolan stepped forward, handing over a transparent top-grade pearl to the other party.

Seeing the pearl, the woman inwardly rejoiced but hesitated to accept it, fearing that accepting such wealth might cost her her life. She withdrew her hand: “There’s no need for such formality, ladies. I’ve finished washing clothes anyway; let me guide you there.”

“Good.” Ruolan nodded.

“Please wait a moment.” The woman placed the clothes in the wooden basin and quickly got up. “Please follow me, ladies.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Ruolan and Ruoye followed the woman.

Soon, they arrived at the village head’s yard.

The woman called out at the door, and the village head came out.

“And who might you ladies be?”

The village head looked at these two beautiful women, feeling something wasn’t quite right.

Especially so soon after the death of the Yellow Sand Dragon King?

Could these young ladies be friends of the Yellow Sand Dragon King, here to exact revenge?

“I have some questions for you,” Ruoye said coldly. “If you dare to lie…”

With that, Ruoye reached out toward a nearby tree.

As Ruoye grabbed forcefully, the tree snapped cleanly in half and crashed to the ground.

The village head’s heart raced, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

“Ruoye, what are you doing? Don’t be rude!” Ruolan pulled her sister down slightly, bowing to the village head. “We apologize, Village Head. My sister is rather impetuous, but we mean no harm. We simply wish to ask some questions.”

“Alright, alright, please come inside, ladies.” The village head wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. “I will answer everything truthfully.”

“My apologies for the disturbance.” Ruolan smiled and led her sister inside.

“What would you ladies like to ask?” The Stone Village head poured Ruolan and Ruoye a cup of tea.

“Regarding the dragon in the Yellow Sand River, does the village head know anything?” Ruolan asked with a smile.

The Stone Village head’s hand suddenly trembled.

Ruoye, seeing the trembling hand, chuckled a few times: “Sister, looks like this old village head knows something.”

“Village Head, don’t be nervous. Whether the dragon in the Yellow Sand River is dead or alive has nothing to do with us,” Ruolan smiled. “No one cares about that dragon. Just answer our questions honestly.”

Speaking, Ruolan took out a box of pearls from her storage bag and placed it in front of the Stone Village head.

“I dare not accept such a heavy gift,” the Stone Village head hastily waved his hands. “Immortal Maidens, ask your questions, and I will certainly answer.”

Looking at the other party’s demeanor, the Stone Village head felt they probably weren’t here for revenge.

“Please recount in detail the events surrounding the death of the dragon in the Yellow Sand River, as well as any outsiders who have visited Stone Village recently,” Ruolan said seriously.

“The one who killed the dragon in the Yellow Sand River was indeed an outsider. That immortal master once stayed at a family’s home in our village…”

The Stone Village head reported everything in great detail.

Half an hour later, the Stone Village head finished speaking. Ruolan and Ruoye didn’t ask any more questions, leaving the box of pearls behind before walking out of Stone Village.

“Sister, could that Xu Ming from the Wu Kingdom be the person His Majesty is looking for?” Ruoye asked her sister.

“Unclear.” Ruolan shook her head. “There were two men and two women. Any of these four could be the one.”

“So who do we chase first?” Ruoye asked.

“Let’s pursue Xu Ming first and see.” After thinking for a moment, Ruolan confirmed her decision.

“Good!”

Ruoye nodded, flinging her sleeve into the sky.

Sheets of white paper scattered across the sky.

As Ruoye chanted the spell incantation, these sheets of paper folded themselves into origami cranes.

Ruolan then took out the pillow Xu Ming had slept on at the village head’s house. One by one, the origami cranes flew to the pillow, sniffing it briefly, then all flew off in the same direction.

[Too outrageous! Went out to play mahjong with friends.

One of them had a fever and cough the day before.

After playing mahjong, the next day, the other three of us all started coughing, having headaches, and running fevers.

Is this the flu or something? How contagious is it?

Totally drained, I feel like I’m dying…]