The Man in White, the Poisoned People Incident

After Su Yu left, he naturally could not just do nothing. The Hundred Flowers Dew still had to be collected. Tang Xuejian could manage collecting it herself, so it was no problem at all for Su Yu. He began gathering it on his own.

Meanwhile, with nothing better to do, Tang Xuejian looked at Jing Tian and asked curiously, "Hey, why are you and Uncle, two grown men, here to watch a meteor shower?"

"Who said we came to watch a meteor shower? We were waiting for one. I believe that when the meteor shower appears, treasures will definitely appear too, so I dragged Yu Ge along.

"Also, my name isn’t Hey. I’m Jing Tian—the Jing of Jing Tian, the Tian of Jing Tian. Besides, by seniority, you should be calling me Uncle too." Jing Tian suddenly said smugly.

Tang Xuejian rolled her eyes at Jing Tian and gave a dry laugh. She called Su Yu Uncle because Su Yu treated her well, which was why she called him Little Uncle. But calling someone she had only known for a few days Uncle? Did he think she was stupid?

"So you’re just here waiting for pies to fall from the sky, right? And you even dragged Little Uncle along. Hmph." Tang Xuejian said disdainfully.

Jing Tian curled his lip. "I want to. What business is it of yours what I’m waiting for?"

"Heh. I can’t be bothered to manage you, all right? But don’t drag Little Uncle into it. Little Uncle is a scholar. He’s not like you." Tang Xuejian said slowly.

Jing Tian immediately became unhappy. "I’m a craftsman! So what? Are craftsmen somehow beneath scholars?"

"I can’t be bothered to argue with you." Tang Xuejian turned her head away and ignored Jing Tian.

Just then, a very low, faint cry sounded. Both of them heard it and immediately looked warily toward its source. What they saw was a group of people like zombies. The Poisoned People charged at Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian the moment they saw them.

Jing Tian cried out, "My mother, what the hell are those things?"

"Who cares what they are? Run already!" Tang Xuejian shouted, then turned and ran.

Jing Tian immediately joined her in fleeing. As he ran, he panted, "What about Yu Ge?"

"You should worry about yourself first! Little Uncle is much safer than we are!" Tang Xuejian said speechlessly. They were practically about to die, and he was still worrying about someone else.

Tang Xuejian was not worried about Su Yu at all. Once, she had seen Meng Qi practice Sound Blade. She would never forget that sight for the rest of her life. So she knew that Su Yu, as Meng Qi’s master, had to be a reclusive expert!

Before long, the two of them ran out of strength. Yet the Poisoned People seemed to have endless energy. Just as they were about to be caught, a man in white who looked like a sword immortal rolled into place before them and began fighting the Poisoned People.

If Su Yu had been there, he definitely would have asked a question. Back when he watched television dramas, the male leads and second male leads in so many immortal-cultivation and martial arts dramas always made their entrances with a roll. Su Yu could never understand it. Couldn’t they just stab the enemies in the back twice? Why did they have to roll right in front of them, then turn their backs on them???

The man in white quickly dealt with the Poisoned People, then looked at Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian. "You two, this place is dangerous. Leave quickly."

"Leave? No, no. I still have to wait for Yu Ge, and pick up treasures too." Jing Tian immediately shook his head.

Tang Xuejian rolled her eyes at Jing Tian, then looked at Xu Changqing. "Daoist, my name is Tang Xuejian. His name is Big Idiot. May I know your name?"

"I am Xu Changqing, a Shu Mountain Disciple." Xu Changqing said with a slight salute.

Jing Tian immediately shouted, "Hold on! You’re the big idiot. My name is Jing Tian—the Jing of Jing Tian, the Tian of Jing Tian."

"Brother Jing, Miss Tang, you just said that you still have a friend here? In that case, I’ll help you find your friend." Xu Changqing said warmly.

Tang Xuejian smiled and nodded. "All right."

Jing Tian immediately objected, "Can’t we find him ourselves? Why does he have to lead us?"

Tang Xuejian stomped on Jing Tian’s foot and looked at him with the expression of someone furious at his failure to live up to expectations, as if saying, Are you stupid? The two of us are unarmed. Wouldn’t it be better to have a powerful person with us?

Ignoring Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian led Xu Changqing back the way they had come.

Su Yu had already returned after collecting the Hundred Flowers Dew. Seeing the empty clearing, he smiled bitterly. "Did I miss them? Let’s go find them."

With that, Su Yu headed in the direction Tang Xuejian and the others had fled earlier.

Before long, the four of them met up. Su Yu asked, "Where did you run off to?"

Jing Tian immediately went over to Su Yu. "Yu Ge, we ran into a group of very strange people just now. We almost lost our lives. That white kid said they were Poisoned People!"

"Poisoned People? What are those? Why are they here?" Su Yu put on an Oscar-worthy performance.

"I don’t know. Anyway, if they bite you, you’ll become a Poisoned Person too. Yu Ge, we should head back early." Jing Tian shook his head.

Xu Changqing also spoke up then. "Brother Jing is right. This place is too dangerous now. You should definitely return."

Jing Tian immediately became unhappy. Was he saying Jing Tian was a coward? Jing Tian immediately raised his head and puffed out his chest as he walked up to Xu Changqing. "We’re not leaving! Mere Poisoned People aren’t worth my notice!"

Xu Changqing had no idea what to say. Hadn’t Jing Tian just said he wanted to leave? Why was he refusing now?

Su Yu smiled, while Tang Xuejian rolled her eyes at Xu Changqing. Su Yu then handed the Hundred Flowers Dew to Tang Xuejian. "Xue Jian, this is the Hundred Flowers Dew. Put it away first."

Tang Xuejian immediately nodded. "Thank you, Little Uncle."

"Your father is ill. It’s only natural that I gather medicine. You don’t need to thank me." Su Yu said with a smile.

Tang Xuejian nodded.

Xu Changqing said, "The three of you should return quickly. I’m afraid there may still be Poisoned People outside."

"We said we’re not going back!" Jing Tian declared firmly.

"Uh, all right then. I’m going to investigate the Poisoned People. Farewell, the three of you." With that, Xu Changqing prepared to leave.

Jing Tian immediately shouted, "Stop! We’re coming with you."

Jing Tian was not stupid. If the three of them stayed alone in this wilderness and a few more Poisoned People like before suddenly showed up, wouldn’t they be finished? After thinking it over, he decided it was safer to follow Xu Changqing.

Xu Changqing could not really refuse, so he nodded. "All right, but the three of you must stay close to me."

After saying that, Xu Changqing took out a compass. After examining it, he headed in one direction, and the three of them immediately followed.

Before long, the four arrived at an abandoned village. Jing Tian swallowed. "Why do I feel like this place is so gloomy…"