The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 609 - 347 Gravel Gold_2

Ning Xiaoxian was not foolish. She immediately realized that Ru Ji was bait, not only for Situ Qing, a lustful ghost, but also for luring the Plague Demon’s urge to kill, especially since the Butterfly Demon was more beautiful than most of the women the Plague Demon had tormented before.

As soon as Ru Ji entered the Situ Family, her fate was more likely grim than auspicious. Thinking of this, Ning Xiaoxian felt a lump in her throat, which only eased after she took several deep breaths and forcibly entered Breathing Meditation, slowly putting the thoughts out of her mind.

After a long time, she suddenly remembered something: "Changtian, what is ’gravel gold’?"

She could clearly feel him hesitate before answering, "I don’t know, I’ve been away from the world too long to know everything."

"Do you really not know?"

"I really don’t know." It’s better that she remains unaware.

She hummed in confusion and went to absorb the Moonlight.

While she was distracted, Changtian sighed quietly. She indeed possessed the physique of gravel gold; no wonder Miluo and Quan Shifang were easily attracted to her.

From Chen Ding’s memories, he knew that the so-called "gravel gold" was actually a euphemism for a woman’s Inner Charm Physique, hinting at gold hidden among the gravel. Many riverbeds conceal gold veins, and prospectors must repeatedly wash the gravel to reveal the gold within. Likewise, women with this physique do not have their charm overtly written on their faces, but are instead spirited and delicate, not primarily known for dazzling beauty but for exquisite features and perfect proportions that become more appealing the longer one looks. Most importantly, a woman with Inner Charm excels in the art of the bedroom, which is extremely beneficial for men. Setting aside other things, just this last point alone makes such a woman’s destiny in these chaotic times quite pitiable.

Today, after she entered the God Demon Prison, Changtian observed her a good deal and then breathed a sigh of relief. This girl’s features were far from seductive, and her allure was deeply hidden, at most causing men to feel slight fondness. Even he, with the memories of Chen Ding’s bedroom techniques, needed Situ Qing’s reminder to notice a hint of it, guessing that her fate would not be one of a beauty that brings disaster. Nevertheless, he still felt uneasy. He had been protecting her for so long, watching her transform from a naive girl into a blooming orchid, harbouring his own perilous intentions, not wanting her scent to attract unwanted attention.

But according to her meddlesome nature, letting her leave the Plague Demon behind in Chiming City to go off on her own was something she would never agree to.

Ning Xiaoxian was unaware of his plotting. After the western moon had set, she returned to her room and slept soundly. Even though she could enter meditation, she still preferred to sleep with a blanket, feeling it made her more human. Certainly, her sleep had already greatly reduced; she now slept no more than two hours a day.

With the looming storm inside Chiming City, she held back her curiosity from wandering around. After finishing her exercises in God Demon Prison, she had the clerk buy a bunch of local specialties and snacks, then rolled back to God Demon Prison, cuddling Ali while watching Changtian and Tu Jin play chess. It’s said that a true gentleman never speaks while watching a chess game, but the two women, one big, one small, were cracking sunflower seeds, munching snacks, gnawing on fruits while incessantly chirping and commenting, completely ignorant about the art of chess, making those holding the chess pieces feel like a thousand crows were relentlessly quacking beside them, forcing them to eventually chase them out.

The day passed peacefully like this.

The next day, she found something else to occupy herself with: she ran to the banks of Ming River and sent Qi Zai to catch Flying Shuttle Crabs, planning to raise them in the Spiritual Spring within her small garden. The normal fish previously kept there had all been turned into boiled fish slices by her, and now there were large clams, large snails, several said-to-be particularly sweet Dragon Fish, and newly added Flying Shuttle Crabs.

Later, she visited a clothing store, purchasing seven or eight sets of clothes, shoes, and socks for young girls, then bought a plethora of toys for Ali, returning to the inn fully satisfied, happily dressing up the little girl. Unaware of how Miluo’s subordinates reported her movements to their master, even Miluo was bewildered: What was she doing buying clothes and items for a young girl?

When one has nothing to do, time always seems to pass very slowly. In the meantime, she received a message from Fatty Qi in Wutuo City. Having been warned by her about the impending epidemic, this fatty had started a new business specifically dealing in funerals, offering everything from coffins of various materials and models to mourning clothes, paper shoes, mourning bands, wreaths, mourning banners, candle holders, white handkerchiefs - all available for sale and distributed to nearby cities.

After the epidemic broke out, he made a fortune from the dead, but no one said anything because Fatty Qi donated a substantial sum of silver to support the City Lord Mansion in managing the epidemic, earning the name Qi the Great. Lord Wu of Wutuo City, an old acquaintance of Ning Xiaoxian, used this opportunity to announce exemption from taxes for Qi Family’s business for the upcoming years.

After the epidemic erupted, the prices of the several shops Fatty Qi had his eyes on indeed plummeted. One of them even came forward during the outbreak offering to cut the price by about twenty percent, urging Fatty Qi to swiftly bring the money and buy. Qi San, not one to be easily fooled, tricked that family, threw them out.

In another ten days or a half month, despair spread throughout the state, and everywhere people were distraught, affected by the epidemic, disinterested in business dealings. Life is hard whether in this world or on Earth. Apart from war, what humans fear most is infectious disease. Even if a place only has two or three cases, the entire city would be on high alert, panicky at the slightest rumor, let alone this time where the epidemic is indeed ferocious, claiming thousands of lives wherever it went? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation tickets and Monthly Tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), and your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)