Chapter 84: Another New Day Begins

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Another New Day Begins

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"It started appearing around four in the morning. At first, it was slow, and the ground just shook slightly. The tunnel entrance wasn’t fully formed until just before you woke up, Lord."

Crow’s Caw bowed its head slightly. After a moment of serious recollection, it slowly explained to Gu Su, its snow-white wings tucked gently at its sides. Its tail feathers occasionally brushed the ground, its posture remaining impeccably respectful.

Gu Su furrowed his brow, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his chin, his mind filled with confusion.

He glanced up at the tunnel entrance not far away, completely unsure what to make of this sudden development.

Logically, construction on the basement hadn’t even begun, so it was impossible for the entrance tunnel to simply appear out of thin air beforehand.

However, Gu Su wasn’t in a hurry to inspect it. He had already gotten a clear look from a distance; the tunnel entrance had only just settled into a rough position, and the interior was still uncertain. Even if he went over now, he might not be able to enter, and he could end up disrupting the subsequent construction.

Not in any hurry, Gu Su averted his gaze and turned to walk over to the black iron pot by the Yin Fire Heap.

The flames of the Yin Fire danced, keeping the iron pot warm. He casually picked up a clean, dry twig from nearby and gave the contents of the pot a gentle stir. As the twig touched the warm, viscous broth, a faint, fresh scent of plants mixed with the rich aroma of meat instantly wafted into his nostrils.

He took a closer look and saw that in addition to the chicken, rabbit meat, various roots, and wild fruits he had intentionally thrown in earlier, some dried bark and vibrant green leaves had been added. ’This must have been the Corpse Witch’s doing.’

Perhaps because it had simmered over the Yin Fire for so long, the chicken and rabbit meat had cooked down until they fell apart. Shreds of meat mingled with bits of root and remnants of leaves, all coated in a thick broth. The whole thing looked like a large pot of dark but fragrant porridge.

Gu Su casually picked up a rough wooden bowl and a clean wooden spoon from the stone platform beside him. He ladled out a full bowl of the warm broth and, tilting his head back, took a sip.

The broth was slightly hot as it entered his mouth, carrying the fresh scent of plants and the richness of meat. The taste was surprisingly good. He nodded slightly, thinking to himself.

’This broth, with its herbal fragrance, actually tastes pretty good.’

After finishing the porridge in his bowl, Gu Su casually placed the wooden bowl on the stone platform, dusted off his hands, and turned toward the Yin Soul Shop at the Graveyard Demon’s main gate.

Buying something from the shop each day had become one of Gu Su’s rare pleasures.

At that moment, three new, unfamiliar objects rested on the shop’s simple wooden stall.

One was a silver ring that had blackened and lost its luster. The band was covered in fine scratches, clearly stored for a long time, and one could faintly make out its former patterns. A touch of a fingertip elicited a bone-chilling cold. Even away from the grave soil, it remained wreathed in a faint, unyielding, sorrowful Yin Qi.

Next was a bottle of dark yellow liquid in a transparent glass vial. Shaking it gently stirred up fine black impurities. A very faint but acrid, foul smell lingered around the bottle’s mouth, and its outer surface was stained with a few dark marks resembling dried blood. There was no telling what the liquid was.

Finally, there was an ordinary-looking, fist-sized root. Its surface was flecked with damp, black soil, and its texture was a chaotic web, like the veins of a corpse. It was hard to the touch, and leaning close revealed a barely-there, foul, rotten smell. Even placed in the light, it seemed to exude a lingering gloom. Though nothing about it seemed special, it inexplicably made one feel uneasy.

[Ring of Affection (White): A certain romantic, heartbroken after his lover’s death, buried the ring he always wore in their grave as a memorial. (Price: 6 Gold Coins)]

[Aged Snake Venom (White): Snake venom stored for an unknown number of years. Its toxicity is unknown after being eroded by time, and it’s uncertain if it’s still useful. (Price: 4 Gold Coins)]

[Unknown Root (White): A root dug up from an unknown grave. It is hard and has no obvious scent. No one can figure out what it’s used for. (Price: 3 Gold Coins)]

Gu Su’s gaze slowly swept over the three items. A slight smile touched his lips, and he couldn’t help but shake his head.

’Just a bunch of ordinary white-grade items. Nothing special, and I can’t see any real practical use for them.’

Just as Gu Su’s gaze passed over the three items, the Corpse Witch came straight over from the side. He showed no hesitation, his withered fingers hanging naturally at his sides as his calm gaze fell upon two of the items on the stall.

His expression held obvious scrutiny and contemplation. Even the chilly aura around him fluctuated slightly, a stark contrast to his usual composure. Yet there was no hint of cautious probing, only a deep focus.

Walking up to Gu Su, the Corpse Witch bowed slightly. His expression was respectful but not strained. In a voice both raspy and crisp, he asked without hesitation, "Lord, may I have these two?"

Gu Su looked where his withered finger pointed. It was at the bottle of aged snake venom and the unremarkable unknown root.

’I can understand the snake venom,’ Gu Su thought. ’The Corpse Witch is skilled with poisons, so it makes sense for him to collect various toxins. But that unremarkable root... I can’t see how it relates to the Poison Technique. No idea what he wants it for.’

However, Gu Su had always been generous with his subordinates, especially when it was just two ordinary white-grade items. Since the Corpse Witch had asked for them, he saw no reason to refuse.

"Sure, take them."

As he spoke, Gu Su took out a dozen or so Gold Coins and placed them gently on the Yin Soul Shop’s wooden stall. He then picked up the blackened silver ring, his fingertips tracing the scratches on its band, and turned to walk in the direction of the Deceitful Tree.

’He knew that trinkets like this, with their mysterious origins and strange auras, were the Deceitful Tree’s favorite food. After absorbing items containing this faint, bizarre energy, not only would its growth accelerate, but it might even develop new Defense Traits. Buying this for the Deceitful Tree to absorb was no loss; in fact, it was a worthwhile investment.’

He had only taken a few steps, however, when the Corpse Witch’s crisp voice sounded from behind. "Lord, I need a hydroponics rack to grow something. It would be best to place it near an area with dense Yin Qi."

Without turning his head, Gu Su waved his hand. His pace never faltered, and his tone was casual yet held an undeniable authority. "Fine. Find a suitable spot yourself. Tell me when you’ve chosen, and I’ll build a hydroponics rack for you. I guarantee it’ll be to your liking."