A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2267 - 1533: Entering the Tiger’s Den (A Cat Curling Up with Squinting Eyes)
It turned out Shang Xiuxun truly loved to eat; she spent an entire day writing a booklet, detailing not only the delicacies from different places but also specifying which restaurant and which chef’s dish was the most authentic and delicious. It was more thorough than those gourmet guides, and even Duanmu Huai was greatly satisfied.
With this Food Records in hand, Duanmu Huai no longer had to wander around aimlessly; he just needed to follow the tips provided.
Shang Xiuxun also mentioned to Duanmu Huai that normally these renowned chefs wouldn’t leave their places often. However, in the current chaotic times, they couldn’t extricate themselves either. Especially those famous chefs were more likely to be seized by those rebel leaders to cook meals.
But Duanmu Huai didn’t care, as long as he confirmed their presence. Whether or not they would cook for him was not a problem.
Even if some rebel leaders had captured them, Duanmu Huai believed once he showed up asking for a meal cooked by the top chefs, those rebel leaders probably wouldn’t refuse.
If they dared refuse, that would be a different matter.
Duanmu Huai and Shang Xiuxun deliberated a bit, and decided to head for Luoyang first, because of its bustling nature. Cities like Luoyang and Chang’an were comparatively more stable, with more famous chefs and restaurants.
After outlining the route, Duanmu Huai planned to bid farewell and leave, while Shang Xiuxun hesitated slightly before finally speaking.
"It’s said you are proficient in the Qihuang Skill and once cured Yu Daiyan the third hero’s years of crippled limbs in the North Martial Arts, is that true?"
"Indeed."
Duanmu Huai was already considering the menu after arriving in Luoyang, and casually replied.
"To be honest, the ranch recently took in a noble guest, but her situation is quite peculiar..."
As Shang Xiuxun spoke, she glanced at Duanmu Huai and the others.
"So you want me to take a look? What’s the situation?"
"I’m not entirely sure about the specifics."
Shang Xiuxun shook her head, then began to explain the details to Duanmu Huai.
As the largest power in the region, Feima Ranch naturally needed to protect nearby villages, hence frequent clashes with those horse bandits. The trouble began when the ranch received a plea for help from a nearby village, saying it had been attacked by horse bandits. The ranch quickly sent people to aid, but was a step too late; the entire village had already been pillaged by the bandits and razed to the ground. Indignant, the patrol team followed the tracks to catch up, engaged in battle, and finally defeated the horse bandits, reclaiming the stolen food and property — along with a yellow-clad girl.
The patrol team initially thought she was a survivor captured by the bandits, so they brought her back. But then strange things started happening.
The yellow-clad girl remained in a coma.
At first, everyone just thought she was traumatized, but eventually suspected she might have had her acupoint sealed. However, neither Shang Xiuxun nor the ranch’s elders were able to unlock her acupoint, instead, their True Qi Inner Strength was depleted, and they almost went off the rails.
The bizarre occurrences continued — generally speaking, people cannot go without food or drink, yet that girl remained in a deep sleep for several days, not touching a drop of water or a grain of rice. Yet her appearance still shone with beauty, showing no signs of exhaustion.
Moreover, the girl was extraordinarily beautiful... although perhaps not as much as Wang Yuyan or Little Dragon Girl, she possessed a beauty that could overturn kingdoms and cities, leaving almost every man in the ranch spellbound, even forsaking work just to admire her, as if they were enchanted. Finally, Shang Xiuxun had to order the girl to be confined in a side garden, prohibiting any men from entering.
Indeed, rumors circulated within the ranch, suggesting the girl was no human, but a demon incarnate; otherwise how could a mere mortal go so many days without food or drink, still looking like Sleeping Beauty? Shang Xiuxun had no solution to this matter either, as the girl’s breathing was long and leisurely, seemingly in deep sleep, yet no matter what, they couldn’t wake her...
Previously, Shang Xiuxun didn’t believe in myths of gods or devils, but having witnessed Wang Yuyan’s and Little Dragon Girl’s Thunder Manipulation Sword Control Technique firsthand, well... maybe she should believe?
If the yellow-clad girl were truly some devil or monster, Shang Xiuxun couldn’t handle it, better leave it to these immortals.
"Oh?"
Upon hearing Shang Xiuxun’s story, Duanmu Huai immediately perked up.
"Something like that? Come on, come on, take me to see it, dealing with fox spirits is my specialty."
With one knock, he could separate the yin and yang, with two knocks, stabilize the heaven and earth, with three knocks, extinguish the spirit; Duanmu Huai was supremely confident — no matter what seductive demon, before his Wishful Golden Cudgel, they all had to surrender.
This definitely outdid his apprentice Sun Wukong.
After spending a day with Duanmu Huai, Shang Xiuxun had pretty much figured out his temperament, knowing that this Undying Slaughter God didn’t care much for etiquette, nor was concerned with worldly opinions. Hence, she didn’t say much, quickly leading Duanmu Huai and others to the side garden where the girl was housed.
"This is it."
Shang Xiuxun pushed open the door, walked to the bed, then pulled back the curtain, glancing inside.
"She is still asleep, and it’s already the tenth day. To be honest, I suspect that the attack on Feima Ranch by the Four Great Bandits this time, which was much stronger than before, might have been for this girl. But no matter how I investigate, I can’t find her background, and looking at her attire, she doesn’t seem like someone from an ordinary village..."
Listening to Shang Xiuxun’s explanation, Duanmu Huai stepped forward, carefully examining the girl in front of him.
Her eyes were tightly closed, as if she were trapped in slumber. Her body, with its beautiful curves, rose and fell with her breathing, appearing as if she were merely in a deep sleep. Her hair was jet black, her skin was as white as snow, with a crystal-clear and resilient texture. In terms of demeanor, she was unlike Wang Yuyan or the Little Dragon Girl, who preferred quietness. Although this girl was asleep, her elf-like lively features and aura suggested she was of a playful and energetic kind.
However, Duanmu Huai already knew who she was.
Haha, even now, if you don’t run, then don’t think about running anymore.
With this thought, Duanmu Huai disregarded any concern for propriety, reached out directly, grabbed the girl, and lifted her off the bed. Even in Duanmu Huai’s grasp, the girl showed no intention of waking, almost like a puppet doll.
"I’ll take her with me."
Duanmu Huai said to Shang Xiuxun, then turned and left. Faced with Duanmu Huai’s unconventional move, Shang Xiuxun was stunned, but by the time she stepped out of the room, Duanmu Huai and the two girls were already nowhere to be found.
After leaving Feima Ranch, Duanmu Huai activated the Mage’s Mansion and led the two of them inside. The two were very curious about the girl Duanmu Huai held, but they weren’t worried whether Duanmu Huai was being enamored because they had encountered many beauties together on their journey, and besides Wang Yuyan and the Little Dragon Girl, Duanmu Huai didn’t seem particularly interested in others. Now he brought back this mysterious girl in yellow...
"Sir, could she really be a fox spirit?"
Wang Yuyan asked curiously, to which Duanmu Huai chuckled.
"Why don’t you touch and see? You might feel a furry paw."
"Huh? Really?"
Hearing Duanmu Huai’s words, Wang Yuyan was taken aback but still cautiously reached out to touch the yellow-clad girl’s small hand.
"It feels no different from my hand?"
"But why hasn’t she woken up?"
The Little Dragon Girl seemed more concerned about this other question.
"Even if some inner strength can have such an effect, it’s impossible to go without food or drink for ten days and still be so vigorous. Plus, I just checked, her body feels empty and nothing like a trained martial artist. Could it really be some demon’s doing?"
"Let her explain it to you herself when she wakes up."
Duanmu Huai laughed heartily, then returned to the bedroom.
"I’m off to exorcise a demon, you two take a rest. By morning, it will be done."
Though curious about what Duanmu Huai planned to do, since he didn’t take them along, the two didn’t meddle and simply left to rest in their rooms.
Duanmu Huai entered the bedroom and casually tossed the girl onto the bed as if she were an object.
Soon there was a soft ripping sound as the yellow clothing covering her turned to shreds. Duanmu Huai stood with his hands on his hips, straddling the ground, coldly smiling at the figure lying motionlessly on the bed like a puppet.
"How interesting, how interesting indeed."
As he spoke, Duanmu Huai reached out and again grabbed the body that seemed devoid of motion like a puppet, boldly making his move without any preliminaries!
Just then, the girl suddenly opened her eyes, and with her two snow-white hands exuding boundless power, struck directly at Duanmu Huai’s chest.
The attack was so unexpected, and the formidable force contained within was enough to make even a grandmaster spit blood to death, with the power to crack stones and metal. However, Duanmu Huai’s body didn’t move at all; instead, he stared at the girl in front of him, a slight smile on his lips.
"If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how will you get the tiger cub? I gave you a chance; it was you who didn’t run."
At this moment, panic finally appeared on the girl’s face. She flickered, intending to distance herself from Duanmu Huai and escape. But just as she moved, Duanmu Huai opened his right hand toward her, and then the girl immediately felt a powerful suction from behind her. The next thing she knew, he had grabbed her head and slammed her down to the ground.
"But I have something to tell you, little one,"
Duanmu Huai leaned to the girl’s ear as if he were an ominous tiger unveiling its gaping maw. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
"Most little lambs that enter the tiger’s den get eaten. Don’t you want tiger cubs? I have plenty here! Help yourself, take them all!"
