Chapter 33 Yan, Remember to Drink More Hot Water

"Little brother, have you made your choice?" Second Uncle rubbed his hands together, eyes gleaming.

Zhou Qing immediately handed over all the spirit stones he had, then pointed to the cloth bag on the left.

"I’ll just pick one randomly, let’s go with this one!"

When Second Uncle saw the cloth bag Zhou Qing pointed at, he was obviously taken aback.

"Are you sure?"

"I’m sure!"

"Once you choose, you can’t return it. Do you want to think it over?"

"No, I’ve made up my mind!"

"Young people shouldn’t rush to conclusions. I’m only giving you another chance to choose because you’re my first customer today. You don’t want to end up losing all your money and crying, do you?"

"I’m quite stubborn, I’ll stick with this!"

"To stumble upon this, how boring!"

It was clear that Second Uncle was a bit disappointed. He tossed the cloth bag over directly.

By now, several scattered onlookers had gathered around. After all, they had checked these items before. The prices ranged from a few hundred to several thousand spirit stones. No touching was allowed, and divine senses couldn’t penetrate. It was all down to luck. No one dared to be a fool.

The crowd curiously moved closer, waiting for Zhou Qing to open it.

Already knowing the answer, Zhou Qing, under Yan Xiaohu’s anxious gaze, peeled it open layer by layer, revealing a grey box inside.

As the box slowly opened, a piece of black wood with green streaks appeared, emitting a pure wood essence.

"Netherworld Black Spirit Wood!" Yan Xiaohu exclaimed in astonishment.

He quickly reached out to grab it, and others looked on with faces full of envy and jealousy.

"Junior Brother, I’m willing to offer five hundred low-grade spirit stones."

"Five hundred? That’s a low offer. Junior Brother, I’ll give eight hundred, are you willing to sell?"

"I’ll go straight to one thousand one. I’ve been searching for this wood for years. It’s very beneficial for cultivating my wood-attribute technique. Please, Junior Brother, help me out."

Zhou Qing looked towards Yan Xiaohu.

At this moment, Yan Xiaohu’s face was all smiles. He hadn’t expected that the fourth junior actually guessed right.

Understanding Zhou Qing’s questioning look, he conveyed the message.

He didn’t need the wood, so he could sell it, and the price was reasonable.

Moments later, Zhou Qing had made a clean profit of seven hundred and fifty spirit stones. The two of them were overjoyed.

Just two hundred spirit stones would allow them to have a feast at the Jade Dining Hall.

"Little Fourth, I’ve always thought you were pretty smart and lucky since you were a kid. I’ll pay next, help your senior brother pick one!"

Yan Xiaohu rubbed his hands together, his eyes scanning over the cloth bags.

Zhou Qing didn’t dare. His special skill "Daily Reflection" could only be used once a day. He knew when to quit while ahead, otherwise, what difference was there between him and a gambler?

"No, Senior Brother, let’s do it tomorrow. Let’s explore other places today!" Zhou Qing said.

Hearing that Zhou Qing wanted to leave, Second Uncle hurriedly said, "Don’t go, your senior brother is right. Today, you’re in luck, it’s best to seize the moment. I’m telling you, there’s something inside one of these bags that’s worth over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones."

Tempted by Second Uncle’s words, Yan Xiaohu and the onlookers’ eyes lit up.

Ten thousand low-grade spirit stones equaled a hundred mid-grade spirit stones, or one rare top-grade spirit stone!

Having interacted multiple times before, Zhou Qing knew Second Uncle was telling the truth. But finding it among so many blind boxes was no easy task.

"No, it’s not easy to make some money, I’d like to keep it for a while longer!" Zhou Qing smiled as he pulled Yan Xiaohu away.

The other people were also tempted but didn’t dare act rashly.

Watching Zhou Qing leave without any reluctance, they looked at each other.

Something felt off?

I get it, he’s a stooge!

Almost got fooled!

Let’s go!

Watching Zhou Qing’s clean departure, Second Uncle smiled wryly, but also with a hint of admiration.

In the path of cultivation, how many can keep a steadfast heart and resist greed? If he hadn’t been greedy back then, he wouldn’t have been trapped in the pocket world for so many years.

...

"Oh dear, Little Fourth, my stomach suddenly hurts. I must have eaten something bad this morning. You go ahead and browse, I’ll be back soon!"

As Zhou Qing was leisurely looking at the items on the stalls, Yan Xiaohu suddenly clutched his stomach, quickly explained, and ran off.

Zhou Qing didn’t pay much attention, but soon realized something.

They didn’t seem to have eaten breakfast this morning.

In less than an incense stick’s time, Yan Xiaohu returned, looking despondent, even paler than before.

"What happened?" Zhou Qing hurriedly asked.

Yan Xiaohu looked dazedly at Zhou Qing, "N-nothing, just felt weak from all the...you know."

"Alright, remember to drink more hot water when we get back. Senior Brother, let’s go over there to check things out?"

"No, I don’t want to go!"

"Why not?"

"I just don’t want to. I want to go home and drink hot water."

...

In the plaza, disciples from two sects were having an intense duel, which Zhou Qing watched intently while holding the old hen.

Unfortunately, Senior Brother wasn’t there; his stomach problem seemed quite serious and had rushed back to the mountain gate.

[Ignore Points +1]

[Ignore Points +1]

...

Upon returning that evening, Zhou Qing crushed a spirit stone for the old hen. It only pecked at it a couple of times before stopping, and he patted its round belly, his eyes shining.

Then, he continued using top-grade spirit stones for breathing practice.

Early the next morning, as soon as Zhou Qing opened the door, he saw Senior Brother outside with dark circles under his eyes, utterly dejected.

Dew drops sparkled in his hair.

This shocked Zhou Qing, who quickly approached, "Senior Brother, did you not sleep all night?"

Yan Xiaohu didn’t say anything, but quickly came forward and started groping Zhou Qing.

"What are you doing?" Zhou Qing quickly pushed him away.

Yan Xiaohu forced a smile, "Just trying to catch some luck. It’s not early, let’s hurry down the mountain. I checked the almanac today; it’s a good day for travel and fortune."

"You never believed in these things before," Zhou Qing observed his superstitious behavior with suspicion.

Yan Xiaohu gave an awkward smile, "That was before. People change, let’s go."

Upon arriving at Flame Dragon City, Zhou Qing didn’t expect that Senior Brother would drag him straight to Second Uncle’s place.

"Hey, Tiger Boy, you’re back! Want to use three thousand spirit stones too? These are similarly priced, pick any!"

Seeing Yan Xiaohu, Second Uncle’s face immediately lit up, as if he saw the God of Wealth.

Zhou Qing looked at his Senior Brother in disbelief.

Yan Xiaohu ignored Zhou Qing and handed over the seven hundred remaining spirit stones.

"Little Fourth, you have better luck. Let’s put together fifteen hundred spirit stones; if we win, we’ll split it 60-40!"

Yan Xiaohu eagerly handed over the spirit stones.

Only then did Zhou Qing realize.

"What did you buy yesterday?" Zhou Qing asked.

Yan Xiaohu’s face turned red, while Second Uncle laughed heartily from the side.

"This Tiger Boy is a big spender, spent three thousand spirit stones and ended up with an item worth barely ten. Luck wasn’t on his side!"

Hearing this, Zhou Qing turned again to see his Senior Brother, on the verge of tears.

This is an enormous loss, what a gamble!