Chapter 93 - 89: "Is This a Necessary Condition for Achieving Great Things?
Chapter 93: Chapter 89: "Is This a Necessary Condition for Achieving Great Things?
Lame Monkey was taken aback, a little bewildered. "Young Master, how did you figure that out?"
"I divined it."
Chen Fan didn’t explain further. He chuckled, picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with his chopsticks, and popped it into his mouth. "Tastes good. Try some."
After the endless night fell last night,
he had spaced out for a bit.
The Ghost Tide had rushed into the canyon, and the time he’d spent spacing out was, at most, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Ghost Objects can’t move during the day, and no one knows where they go in the daytime.
So...
He guessed.
This Ghost Tide had probably arrived in the Wilderness the night before. But since it was almost dawn, they hadn’t launched a full-scale assault. Instead, they waited until the sky darkened on the second day, placed the Ghost Stone somewhere, and then launched their main attack on the Celestial Pit.
It was just a guess, but he felt there was a seventy percent chance it was right.
After all—
’The Ghost Tide couldn’t have crossed the sea from who knows where and launched a full-scale attack on me in the span of a tea break, right?’
’They must have found a place to rest and regroup the night before.’
’And that resting place would be where the Ghost Stone is hidden.’
"Young Master, you’re taking this really well."
Lame Monkey scratched his head, unable to sit still. "If we find this batch of Ghost Stones, it’ll be enough to buy pickled vegetables for several lifetimes..."
"Those who accomplish great things must remain placid even if Mount Tai crumbles before them, and show no alarm if the Yellow River bursts its banks above their heads."
"Is that a prerequisite for accomplishing great things?"
"No."
Chen Fan shook his head and couldn’t help but laugh. "But it makes you look like someone who can."
"Just looking the part... doesn’t sound very useful..."
"Of course it’s useful. Fake it ’til you make it."
He stood up, holding his bowl of congee, and looked at the crocodile, which was perched on the City Wall, meticulously gnawing on an octopus tentacle with a look of pure bliss. He called out loudly, "Hey, eat faster! When you’re done, we’re going to that place you mentioned to look for the Mountain Remains Embryo."
"If we find it, I’ll roast two more for you."
"And I’ll roast the head for you, too."
"ROAR!"
The crocodile let out a whimper to show it understood, then lay down on the ground. It held the octopus tentacle with its two thick, powerful forelimbs and swallowed the end of it in one gulp. Then, still wanting more, it glanced at the two remaining roasted tentacles in the ceramic jar.
After a moment’s thought, it decided not to eat them.
Instead, it picked up the ceramic jar with its mouth, carried it deep into the camp, and hid it, saving the rest for later.
Then it lay down outside the City Wall again.
It let the rain patter on its body and closed its eyes to rest.
...
Chen Fan was the only one who enjoyed his lunch.
Everyone else was distracted, glancing toward the canyon from time to time, as if expecting to see Zhou Mo’s triumphant return at any moment.
"They found it."
Chen Fan put down his bowl and chopsticks and smiled. "Now you can eat in peace."
"Young Master, did you calculate that too?"
"No, I heard it."
’The Meat Ghost Mother-Child Fruit is really useful.’
’From a certain perspective, he felt it was even better than a Sound Transmission Talisman. There was no need to take out a Talisman; he could communicate directly with his mind.’
Soon—
In the canyon passage, Zhou Mo and Big Fish slowly returned, riding two Skeleton Horses. They were pulling a flatbed cart behind them, on which sat four large chests.
...
Chen Fan stood outside the City Wall and opened one of the chests. His eyes were met with a dazzling view of a chest filled to the brim with Ghost Stones.
He opened the remaining chests.
Three of the chests were filled with Ghost Stones. This time, however, it wasn’t a pure stash of Level 2 Ghost Stones. They were mostly Level 2, supplemented by Level 1 Ghost Stones. The last chest was filled with a random assortment of Ghost Materials.
It was similar to the contents of the chests from Qian Hou’s batch.
Just without a Mountain Remains Embryo.
"Alright, take them back inside."
He looked at Wang Kui, smiled, and waved his hand. Then he turned to Zhou Mo. "Come with me. We might be going somewhere dangerous. How much of that Broken Water Sword Technique have you mastered?"
"Huh?"
The smile on Zhou Mo’s face froze. He swallowed hard. "Not even one-tenth... Station Head, um, you... you just gave it to me yesterday afternoon..."
"You can’t use any of it at all?"
"Not a bit..."
"Forget it."
"There are no Ghost Objects out in broad daylight, so it shouldn’t be too dangerous."
Chen Fan didn’t say much more. He just vaulted onto the crocodile’s back, motioned for Zhou Mo to get on as well, and patted the crocodile’s head, instructing, "If we run into any danger, get us out of there immediately."
The crocodile didn’t react.
It was as if it felt a response was completely unnecessary.
Wasn’t that stating the obvious?
Running away was its specialty.
"Then... let’s go!"
The moment he finished speaking,
the massive, dark green body of the crocodile beneath them instantly transformed into a flash of flesh-colored lightning, streaking close to the ground. Its four giant claws tore at the earth, sending gravel flying with every powerful push. In the blink of an eye, it had charged into the canyon.
The entire canyon echoed with the heavy, drum-like beat of its footsteps.
On its broad back,
Chen Fan crouched low, gripping a protruding piece of Scale Armor tightly. He silently endured the jarring ride, the scenery on both sides beautiful—the rapidly receding canyon walls and birds that occasionally streaked through the downpour.
But he was in no mood to watch.
He had to hold on tight.
If he got thrown off, his chances of survival were probably slim.
The speed increased.
The blurred rock walls on either side quickly fell away. With a stylish drift at the canyon exit, the crocodile turned and charged up the mountain path it had previously carved out, racing toward the summit.
...
"Did you find it by the seashore?"
Back in the camp, Lame Monkey asked Big Fish tentatively.
"Mhm."
Big Fish nodded. "How did you know, Brother Lame Monkey?"
"So you really did find it by the seashore."
"It’s exactly as the Young Master divined." Lame Monkey said thoughtfully, "Could the Young Master really have that kind of skill?"
"Oh, right—"
"Where did you get the cart you were pulling when you came back? I didn’t see you take one when you left."