"Driver! Stop the carriage right now!"
Gu Sanqiu stuck his head out the window, yelling, "I'm getting off!"
This wasn't a carriage to Liyue Harbor at all!
No, actually, this wasn't even a carriage—it was a pirate ship!
"I'm sorry, Master Gu, but I only take orders from my young master," the driver said solemnly. "Please don't make things difficult for a mere servant like me."
"Oh, so you're the one making my life difficult, huh?!"
(ﾟДﾟ*)ﾉ
Tartaglia blinked in confusion. "Aren't you guys supposed to be about the same age? Why does he call you 'young master,' and you're 'master of the house'? The ranks seem a bit messed up."
"I'm the only one left in my family, of course I'm the head of the house."
Seeing that he couldn't convince the driver to stop, Gu Sanqiu turned around and grabbed Xingqiu by the neck.
"I'm telling you, Xingqiu, there are certain exclusive clubs in Liyue Harbor where elderly ladies and women in their thirties would love to get their hands on cute little boys like you!"
"If you don't stop this carriage right now, I swear I'll drag you and Chongyun to one of those places!"
"I'm not a little boy! Though I may be young, I'm a brave and capable swordsman, walking the path of justice, far removed from those... pretty boys in clubs who just cater to customers!"
Σ(⊙▽⊙「a
Gu Sanqiu was so stunned, he actually let go of Xingqiu's neck.
That response was so righteous—change the setting, change the situation, and Xingqiu would've been praised by the elders for his heroic ambition.
But right now…
"Wait… you've been to one of those places?! Even I don't know what really goes on in there. How do you know?!"
"Uh, well, at first, I thought those dirty places must be filled with people forced to work there against their will, so I was planning to... um…"
Gu Sanqiu facepalmed. "You've been reading too many of those strange novels. Those places aren't entirely legal, but it's not all about forced labor or human trafficking."
"Wait, that's not the point!" Gu Sanqiu suddenly remembered and grabbed the carriage door handle again. "Let me off this carriage!"
"Hey, hey, relax! We're definitely going back to Liyue Harbor first. After that, it's entirely up to you whether you want to join us on the trip to Guyun Stone Forest or not, how about that?"
"You think I'm going to believe that nonsense?" Gu Sanqiu felt like he was suffocating from frustration. "You used my house like a library for years, and you still don't know how dangerous that cursed place is?!"
"If Guyun were conquerable, the Qixing would've turned it into a second port long ago."
"Guyun Stone Forest... A place steeped in history, huh? What kind of danger could it possibly hold?" Tartaglia asked with genuine curiosity.
"Why should I tell you?" Gu Sanqiu crossed his arms.
"One kilogram of pure water," Tartaglia offered.
"Deal."
Gu Sanqiu responded so quickly that Tartaglia sighed. This guy was obviously waiting to milk something out of me.
"That's where the Geo Archon sealed away many demons and gods. The land there has been tainted by all sorts of chaotic forces. Even the slimes in Guyun are five times stronger than your average ones."
"And that's just the baseline. The power of the gods comes in many forms, some downright sinister. Do you really think Guyun Stone Forest is an easy place?"
Tartaglia thought for a moment. "So, what you're saying is, the environment, the enemies, and even the remnants of gods in Guyun could all be affected by that taint?"
"Smart man." Gu Sanqiu clapped. "Now do you understand why I don't plan on going there?"
"Compared to looking for some super cursed god fragments in Guyun, even though stuff like a vengeful ghost's eyeball or a spirit's resentment is expendable for Chongyun, it's much more cost-effective."
Just thinking about Guyun Stone Forest made Gu Sanqiu's head hurt. Even without going into the details recorded in his family's archives, the title "The Lord of Stone's Demon-Suppressing Grounds" was enough to make anyone avoid it.
And now Xingqiu was suggesting they go to that place to look for fragments of a god?
We're level thirty or forty at most, and you want to tackle a max-level world dungeon and expect a low-drop-rate item?
(ー`´ー)
I don't have proof, but it feels like you're joking.
"These temporary items aren't a permanent solution. Sure, Chongyun's constitution suppresses them, but what happens if there are side effects later?"
Xingqiu's eyes gleamed. "Mr. Tartaglia, would you be interested in joining us for a trip to Guyun Stone Forest? There are strong foes, and no one will bother us for fighting as much as we want. What do you think?"
Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow. Well, look at you, trying to trigger a storyline early, huh?
"No, thanks. I've got my own business to take care of once we're back," Tartaglia said, shaking his head. "But, Master Xingqiu, your information is quite impressive. We only recently completed that little operation, yet you've already heard about it?"
"Heh heh, that's because I care about Sanqiu here," Xingqiu replied with a smug grin.
"Hmph," Gu Sanqiu scoffed. "You were probably just scheming to recruit some muscle for your adventure."
"How could you say that? We're friends! I'd never take advantage of you like that..."
A few days later.
Gu Sanqiu sat in his house, looking over a recent list of supplies Xingqiu had purchased.
"All ordinary items, huh? Makes sense. If he needed anything dangerous, he'd just grab it from his family's vault."
"Guyun Stone Forest... Looks like that brat is serious about this."
Gu Sanqiu tossed the object his contact had handed him into his hidden stash, where a faint purple glow emanated from within the dark space.
"Huh, purple?" Gu Sanqiu blinked, then grinned. "So, it's a sign, is it?"
"Fine. Let's go. Let's see just how dangerous this land tainted by the remnants of gods really is."
His fishing rod twitched, and Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow. The force pulling on the line felt... unusual.
Moments later, a tree emitting the scents of various dishes like Dongpo pork and spicy braised pork was yanked out, leaving Gu Sanqiu staring in disbelief.
Item: Great Pig Trotter Tree
Origin: Hall of the Sky
Description: The master of the Hall of the Sky was once deceived by a scoundrel and vowed to punish all who toy with others' emotions. They wrote the law "All philanderers shall face divine retribution" into the rules of the realm. Each pork knuckle represents a manifestation of those methods.
Effect: Eating the pork knuckles subjects one to a divine test crafted by the law, strengthening one's willpower and mental fortitude.
Note: Several people have already begged me to ensure women never see the laws contained in this item. On the other hand, others have asked to 'borrow' them for study. Now the real question is: Whose pockets should I be lining with this opportunity—or should I just run off with the cash from both sides
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