Chapter 24: The Grade-Four Yellow Dragon Pill

  For a moment, the air inside the carriage seemed to freeze. Silence fell.

  “Wildman?” Sanbao frowned. “How is that even possible?”

  “No one believed it either, at first. Everyone thought the maid had lost her mind from fear and was just spouting nonsense. But ever since that night, an attack has occurred every half month in the areas around Pingjiang Prefecture.”

  Tang Mingli’s voice deepened. “Victims were found either torn apart or with signs of having been gnawed on. The deaths were gruesome.”

  Sanbao’s expression shifted. That didn’t sound like the work of a spiritual beast—it felt more like something done by a ghost... or a demon.

  “So the tragedy at Chongming Isnd resurfaced,” Tang continued, “and with the maid’s mutterings about wildmen and revenge spreading like wildfire, people started saying a vengeful wildman—one who practiced dark arts—was hunting humans.”

  “Revenge?” Sanbao asked.

  “It turns out, the so-called spring outing was actually a hunting trip. During the hunt, Yin Baiwan’s daughter found a strange creature in a mountain cave. It looked like a hairy beast cub. She ordered it cooked with the rest of the game and eaten.”

  He paused. “Later, it was discovered the ‘cub’ was actually the child of the wildman. That afternoon, the wildman began hunting them down. If not for Yin’s guards sacrificing themselves to protect her, she would have ended up like the other noble girls—vanished without a trace.”

  After that, Yin Baiwan coordinated with the city guards, dispatching waves of kingdom soldiers to comb the isnd. They found nothing. And the attacks continued, creeping closer—from the outskirts into the city suburbs.

  “And then?”

  Tang Mingli gave a slight smile. “Then the Yin Trading Guild issued a royal bounty, summoning martial artists, cultivators, and espers to gather at the Rest Inn in Pingjiang. Whoever captures the wildman—dead or alive—will be rewarded with a **Grade-Four Yellow Dragon Pill** and a rge sum of gold.”

  Sanbao’s eyes widened. “A *Grade-Four Yellow Dragon Pill*?!”

  “It’s said that when taken by an ordinary person, the pill can awaken tent spiritual roots and trigger the emergence of abilities. For cultivators, espers, and martial artists below the fourth rank, it can raise their level by a full grade.”

  Sanbao gulped. *God, I want that!*

  “Then… it’s useless for those above fourth rank?” she asked.

  *Curious little girl,* Tang mused inwardly. “Not entirely. Those higher-ranked can still trade the pill for rare resources. Not to mention the rge sum of gold attached to the bounty. For small sects and independent cultivators, this reward is extremely tempting.”

  Sanbao absentmindedly stroked her bracelet. If she could get that pill, she could jump straight from a second-rank water esper to third rank. The wealth would buy her better gear, weapons, protective items—she still didn’t even have a proper weapon. Going out alone without protection was dangerous.

  Her eyes sparkled as she imagined herself fully equipped, her powers enhanced and aura bzing.

  Tang Mingli watched her, amused at the gleam in her eyes. He couldn’t help but smile.

  “You really want that bounty?” he teased.

  “Obviously,” Sanbao replied without hesitation. “Who wouldn’t want free treasure dropped from the sky?”

  Tang suddenly leaned closer, voice low. “I think… the scent on your body is more tempting than the Yellow Dragon Pill.”

  Sanbao froze. Her brows furrowed. She instinctively shifted to the other side of the carriage.

  “…What did you say?”

  Tang realized too te how that sounded. “I didn’t mean it like that... I meant, you smell nice. What perfume do you use?”

  “I don’t use perfume.” She rolled her eyes. “And that pick-up line is *so* outdated.”

  “Pick-up… line?” Tang repeated, trying to process. “No, really. You smell good. The first time I noticed it was when you used your blood as an arrow to fight off the mountain bandits near Moling. Especially your blood—it has a distinct fragrance that draws me in.”

  That… was creepy.

  Sanbao silently edged even farther away.

  Tang coughed and fell silent, realizing he had said too much.

  *What is wrong with this guy? Is he a lunatic?* Sanbao muttered internally.

  She opened the curtain and turned her gaze to the passing scenery, trying to calm herself.

  The carriage sped along the highway. In the distance, the silhouette of Chongming Isnd began to emerge.

  Chongming Isnd y south of Pingjiang and north of Songjiang, near where the Sacred River met the sea—a vast coastal isnd. The river winds carried the salty breath of the sea, and waves crashed against the southern reefs, sending mist into the air and over the rocky shoreline bathed in dawn light.

  The isnd was covered in ancient forests—towering trees, yered ridges, and dense mists that lingered year-round. Strange beasts and exotic birds occasionally called through the trees, breaking the morning silence. Vines and roots crept over winding trails that led deep into hidden caves—some connecting to underground rivers, others yawning like gaping mouths into eternal darkness.

  But now, the isnd was brimming with danger.

  Martial artists, cultivators, and espers—drawn by the bounty—had already entered the jungle, moving alone or in wary groups. Some hid in ambush, others patrolled in teams, all on edge. The air was thick with tension—like the stillness before a storm. One could sense it: blood would soon be spilled.

  This was not just a hunt for a wildman—it was an unspoken battle.

  Everyone was here for the same thing: the Yellow Dragon Pill, and the riches. But there was only **one** pill. Only **one** prize. There could only be **one** winner.

  The strong live. The weak perish.

  This was the harshest rule of the cultivation world.

  The storm was coming. And the sughter on Chongming Isnd… had already begun.