Chapter 56: Serving, Suspicion, and the Weapon Forging Workshop

She first skillfully hoisted the water buckets, walking with a steady pace toward the well to draw water; then, she picked up an axe and neatly chopped the firewood.

Every movement was so natural and fluid, as if these chores were already second nature to her. Under the glow of the morning light, Yang Qing'er’s fair skin appeared as warm and delicate as suet jade, emitting a charming luster.

Noticing Xia He’s gaze, Yang Qing'er stopped what she was doing, raised her head, and flashed a bright smile at him. She warmly greeted, "Brother He, you're up so early!"

As she spoke, she lifted an arm as white as a lotus root, gently rolled up her sleeves, and quickly wiped the beads of fine sweat from her forehead caused by her labor.

"The steamed buns and porridge are all done. I'll go get them for you."

With that, she turned and walked toward the stove.

Xia He paused, a sense of quiet astonishment rising in his heart. Ordinarily, if he had worn his wife out too late into the night, she would wake up later than he did. Therefore, he usually just had a casual bite in the mornings.

Yet not only had Yang Qing'er woken up early to prepare breakfast, but she had also been busy for a large part of the morning.

Xia He could not help but knit his brows, secretly pondering: "Could it be that my suspicions about her were unnecessary?"

At that moment, a shout suddenly echoed from outside the door.

Recovering his wits, Xia He recognized it as Erpang's voice. "Brother He, let's head out quickly! The auntie at the steamed bun stall launched a new flavor today—fennel filling! It smells amazing, so I specially bought two extra!"

Wang Erpang said jubilantly, carrying a bundle of steaming hot buns in his hand.

Just as Xia He was about to reply, Yang Qing'er walked out of the kitchen carrying the fragrant meal. She said gently, "Brother He, I've finished making the food. Do you want to eat it now? Oh, we have a guest."

Wang Erpang followed the sound, his gaze instantly locking onto Yang Qing'er, his eyes staring fixedly at her.

Xia He waved his hand, grabbed the dazed Erpang, and strode out of the house. Turning back, he said to Yang Qing'er, "We won't eat at home. When Lan'er wakes up later, please give her a call."

He had called Wang Erpang over early today specifically to head into the mountains.

Having heard at the black market yesterday that Master Kui also had his eyes on the rare lightning mink, he could no longer sit still.

His current strength had already reached the pinnacle of Blood Refining; although he had obtained top-tier martial arts and a top-tier breathing technique, if he wanted to advance further to the Bone Refining realm before spring of the coming year, he had to accumulate more attribute points.

Therefore, he was determined to secure the lightning mink. If someone else beat him to it, tracking down the rare beast again would likely prove difficult.

Winter had already arrived, and snow would fall in about ten days or so. Once the snow sealed the mountains, there would be no chance left.

Along the way, Wang Erpang ultimately failed to restrain his curiosity and asked, "Brother He, who on earth was that pretty girl just now?"

"You know Li Village? She's a refugee. She collapsed at my doorstep yesterday, and my wife took her in."

Wang Erpang’s eyes widened instantly. "Li Village? That village massacred and raided by the barbarians?"

"That's right. I didn't expect anyone to survive either."

"Goodness gracious, Brother He, you've struck gold! Isn't this a wife picked up for free?!"

Envy was written all over his face, almost hard for him to believe. Some died of drought while others drowned in floods. Xia He had already found two wives, yet he remained a bachelor—it was simply unfair!

"Cut the crap. Is your godfather that kind of man?" Xia He retorted. "She's just staying temporarily. I'll let her go once she finds another place to go."

Wang Erpang let out a cheeky laugh, wearing the expression of a fellow man who understood everything without needing words. "Brother He, oh wait, Godfather, teach me your ways! I'll kneel and listen!"

Erpang was a chatterbox, wildly curious about Yang Qing'er's background and asking endless questions. He even asked if she had any sisters he could be introduced to.

As the two walked along, they encountered many familiar neighbors. Everyone warmly greeted them with radiant smiles on their faces.

Ever since the blood disease had been eradicated, the entire town seemed to have welcomed a new lease on life, looking visibly more vibrant than before. The shops that had previously remained tightly shuttered due to the plague were now reopened for business, and the streets were bustling with a lively crowd.

Leaving the town behind, the two soon entered the mountains.

However, halfway up the mountain, they unexpectedly crossed paths with another group of people.

With his sharp gaze, Xia He instantly recognized these individuals as the very same fellows he had crossed paths with at the black market yesterday.

Presumably, these people had all come here on the off-chance of luck, hoping to catch a glimpse of any trace left by the lightning mink so they could exchange it for silver from Master Kui.

Xia He did not truly take this group to heart. However, two particular factions within the crowd caught his special attention.

One faction was agile and nimble, each member gripping a hunting bow tightly with sharp sabers tucked at their waists—clearly seasoned hunters from the town.

The other faction consisted of burly, rough-hewn men; just looking at their sturdy builds suggested they were martial artists.

"People from the Weapon Forging Workshop?"

Aside from the Spirit Snake Martial Arts Hall, there were several other places in town where martial arts were practiced, and the Weapon Forging Workshop was one of them.

"To hire people from the Weapon Forging Workshop, Master Kui really doesn't mind spending money."

Xia He's heart tightened slightly as he bypassed this group.

[Skill: Tracking (Novice)]
[Progress: 222/300]
[Effect: Hearing from all directions, Insight within several丈]

Ever since mastering Tracking, Xia He could walk through the mountains as if treading on flat ground.

A cold wind howled past, and the once dense branches had now become sparse and withered, leaving only bare limbs stretching out abruptly like skeletal arms.

Yellowed, fallen leaves blanketed the entire ground. Through prolonged accumulation and decay, they had made the originally hard soil exceptionally soft, causing anyone who stepped on it to sink deeply.

A faint, rotting odor hung in the air—the scent of fallen leaves gradually decomposing in the soil, faintly stimulating one's nasal passages.

As they walked, Xia He suddenly halted, crouched down, extended his right hand, and cautiously pinched a strand of hair caught on a blade of green grass between his index finger and thumb.

Unlike the hair of ordinary beasts, it presented a crystal-clear texture, pure and transparent like crystal, flashing a faint and charming luster under the sunlight, its sharpness resembling a freshly sharpened spike.

"It seems this lightning mink has frequented this place, likely out searching for food."

Gently holding the hair in his palm, a wisp of white thread resembling smoke and mist slowly rose, winding and stretching toward a certain direction as if endowed with life.

"Erpang, keep up!"