ATPnovel Chapter 42 Unpleasant Guest Arrives
Chapter 42 Unpleasant Guest Arrives
Just then, a hoarse, low voice with a strange echo suddenly came from outside the temple gate:
"Junior brother..."
The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to whisper in your ear, cold and slippery, drilling straight into your brain.
The pine needles in the courtyard swayed without wind, and the red carp in the pond suddenly sank to the bottom.
Xu Changqing straightened his blue Taoist robe and slowly walked towards the temple gate.
The gate was pushed open a crack from the outside, and an unusually obese figure squeezed in.
The newcomer was wearing an oversized, dark yellow Taoist robe that was stretched taut and almost torn.
He was no more than five feet tall, but his waist was probably more than five feet circumference. His whole body looked like a huge fleshy ball with four limbs.
His round face was covered in fat, squeezing his eyes into slits. His nose was bright red, and his lips were thick. Most striking was his neck, where the fat piled up directly onto his chest, trembling slightly with his breathing.
He was carrying a dirty cloth bag, bulging and full, its contents unknown, emitting a strange smell that was a mixture of earthy, decaying grass, and some kind of sweet fragrance.
The fat Taoist priest squinted his small eyes, scanning the courtyard. His gaze lingered on Xu Changqing for a moment, a glint of shrewdness flashing through his narrow eyes. Then, an exaggerated smile spread across his face, his fat completely squeezing out his eyes. His voice remained hoarse and low, carrying that chilling echo:
"Junior Brother Xuming, it's been so long! I've missed you terribly."
He walked heavily into the courtyard, each step causing the bluestone pavement to tremble slightly.
The cloth bag swayed with his movements, and rustling sounds came from inside, as if something alive was wriggling.
Memories belonging to Xu Ming surged into Xu Changqing's mind.
Tan Chan, one of the Seven Killings, cultivates the "Greedy Wolf Devouring Fortune Method" of the Greedy Wolf Fate type in the "Seven Elements Crossing Calamity Mysterious Scripture".
It has a hoarding nature, is gluttonous, and especially enjoys collecting all kinds of strange poisons and filthy materials to refine into secret medicines or to raise poisonous insects. Because of its physique and habits, it was given the Taoist name "Altar Toad".
In the original owner's memories, this senior brother appeared honest and warm-hearted on the surface, but was actually greedy and treacherous, a master of hiding a knife behind a smile.
Although both belonged to the Seven Fiends Path and were disciples of the Starry Constellation Elder, they were constantly wary and calculating towards each other. When they met, it was mostly a matter of feigned politeness and mutual probing. Their last meeting was half a year ago.
"So it's Senior Brother Tan Chan." Xu Changqing smiled. "What brings you to my humble mountain retreat? I apologize for not being able to greet you properly."
Tan Chan laughed heartily, his voice booming like a broken bellows, his fat jiggling: "Hahaha, Junior Brother, you're too kind! I was traveling around and remembered you were cultivating here, so I came to visit. Your Qingyang Temple is becoming more and more secluded; what a wonderful place!"
His small eyes darted around casually, but in reality, he had already taken in the entire scene in the courtyard.
A fleeting glint of greed crossed the narrow eyes of the toad.
His obese body leaned slightly forward, like a mountain of flesh slowly pressing down. The bulging cloth bag in his hand swayed gently with the movement, and the rustling sound inside became more intense, with a few wet and sticky low moans mixed in.
"Junior brother," Tan Chan's voice was still hoarse, with that sticky echo, "I have gained some insights from this journey. Now... hehe, I can say that I have touched the threshold of perfect Qi Refining."
He spoke of it casually, as if it were just a casual remark.
But the twilight seemed to deepen in the courtyard, and the pine breeze seemed to freeze for a moment.
Behind the altar toad, a plump, illusory figure appeared, its thick skin and bulging belly vaguely visible. It was clearly a giant toad squatting down, its aura turbid and heavy.
Xu Changqing remained expressionless, his blue robe motionless in the rising evening breeze.
He cupped his hands and smiled, "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on your remarkable progress. You have perfected Qi Refining and are only one step away from Foundation Establishment. Senior Brother's blessings are truly enviable."
Tan Chan squinted, carefully examining Xu Ming before him. This man cultivated the "Heavenly Void Nourishing Life Method," and was known for his timidity and fear of trouble. Yet, he found himself unable to see through the person before him.
The burning greed in his heart was instantly chilled, as if doused with a bucket of ice water.
The "Greedy Wolf Devouring Fortune Method" places the greatest emphasis on assessing the situation and devouring the fate and fortune of others to replenish oneself, but the premise is that one can swallow it without breaking one's teeth. If the other party is a hard bone that cannot be gnawed, or even has hidden sharp thorns, then rashly taking a bite is a path to death.
The toad's smile widened, his fat squeezing his eyes almost to the point of being invisible. He laughed heartily, patting his round belly: "Just lucky, just lucky! It can't compare to my junior brother's peaceful and blessed place, where he cultivates diligently every day. I see that your aura is deep and your radiance is restrained; I'm afraid you're not far from perfection, are you?"
At the same time, the giant toad phantom behind him silently opened its mouth, and an extremely subtle suction force, like an invisible tentacle, quietly spread towards Xu Changqing, trying to seize a trace of his aura and probe his true nature.
Xu Changqing shook his head slightly and sighed, "Senior brother, you flatter me. I am of dull talent and merely tend to this small mountain temple, following the usual routines and barely managing to make ends meet. I cannot compare to you, senior brother, who travels far and wide and has countless opportunities."
As he spoke, his aura flowed naturally around him. A snake-like shadow flashed past behind him. The silently approaching suction force vanished without a trace, like a mud ox sinking into the sea, without even causing a ripple. It was gently dissipated into nothingness, even causing a slight sense of fear to rise in the heart of the altar toad.
Tan Chan's small eyes narrowed suddenly, alarm bells ringing in his mind. This Xu Ming was either extremely well-hidden, with cultivation far exceeding his expectations; or he had obtained some extraordinary protective treasure or mastered some strange and unpredictable technique. Either way, it meant that this piece of meat before him was likely wrapped in caltrops.
Despite its burning greed, Tan Chan has survived to this day not only because of the predatory power of the "Greedy Wolf Devouring Fortune Method," but also because of its cunning and caution in withdrawing immediately when things turn sour.
His smile grew even warmer, tinged with a hint of regret: "Junior brother is too modest. I see a peaceful atmosphere at Qingyang Temple, and you are capable of enduring loneliness. Your future achievements may not be inferior to mine."
He abruptly changed the subject, patting the cloth bag in his hand. The rustling sound intensified with his movement, as if the contents inside were restless. "Oh dear, look at me, I've been so busy catching up. My trip here was actually on the way. I still need to go north to find a medicinal ingredient for Master. That ingredient only appears at midnight when the yin energy is at its peak, so we can't delay. If we miss it, Master will probably have to come looking for it himself."
As he spoke, he shifted his obese body, making a move as if to leave, his posture somewhat hurried.
"Since you are all well, I am relieved. I have troubled you today, but I will find another opportunity to have a proper discussion with you another day."
Xu Changqing suddenly spoke up: "Senior brother has come from afar, why rush off? The nights are chilly in the mountains, why not have a cup of hot tea before you continue your journey?"
As soon as he finished speaking, without him making any move, an empty cup in the ceramic tea set on the stone table filled itself by itself and then floated down from the air without spilling a drop of water.
The tea was clear and cool, and wisps of steam rose gently, tracing soft arcs in the fading light of the sky.