I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 132: Wild Duel

Duan Rong inhaled for a while, feeling his tongue start to swell and numb, as if he had a small piece of wood in his mouth. He could see that the venomous blood from the fang marks on Xiao Yu’s calf couldn’t be sucked out anymore.

Duan Rong suddenly drew out the Cow Tail Saber, held it in his hand, and looked up at Xiao Yu, saying: "It might hurt a bit, bear with it!"

Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong’s face and responded with a mosquito-like hum.

Duan Rong carefully used the tip of the knife to cut open the two fang marks a little, allowing the skin and flesh to slightly lift, then began to suck again with his mouth and tongue. While sucking, he squeezed Xiao Yu’s calf that was as smooth as cream, until the blood came out bright red, then he stopped.

Duan Rong lifted his robe, tore off a corner of his inner garment, then carefully wrapped and tied Xiao Yu’s wound.

Xiao Yu’s expression had changed from initial shyness to a slight emotional stir. Her eyes were tightly fixed on Duan Rong’s face, her breathing slightly urgent and chaotic...

After bandaging the wound, Duan Rong pulled down Xiao Yu’s pant leg, stood up, and said with an honest smile, "Harla!"

Actually, Duan Rong meant to say it’s done, but at this moment, under the erosion of the poison, his tongue had swollen more severely than before, like a big tongue, making him unable to speak clearly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu burst out laughing. She immediately understood what Duan Rong meant, gave Duan Rong a bright look, and said, "Let’s go, let’s head back!"

Xiao Yu dragged her right leg on the ground, using only her left leg to step forward, while Duan Rong stayed by her side without going forward to support her.

Duan Rong knew very well that whether he wanted to support her or carry her, she wouldn’t accept it. This girl had a very fierce side to her nature.

The two of them left the alley and walked to the door of a wine brewer’s shop. Xiao Yu asked, "Shopkeeper, why is Zhao Mansion in this alley so desolate?"

The shopkeeper, a middle-aged woman with a headscarf, saw the two dressed as Escort Masters and said, "Two months ago, the family was exterminated. The government office investigated for two months but didn’t find anything conclusive! Originally a good family, but now at night you can hear ghosts calling inside; it’s haunting!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu and Duan Rong exchanged a look. Xiao Yu tucked the Sealed Letter Dart into her garment, and then she and Duan Rong left.

Vendettas in Jianghu are not uncommon in the land of the Nine Provinces.

When they returned to Liuhe Inn, the main hall was empty except for Sun Huang, who was sitting there drinking strong tea, seemingly pondering something.

Sun Huang saw the two coming in and immediately noticed Xiao Yu limping. He scanned her leg and asked in a cold tone, "What happened to your leg?"

"Bitten by a venomous snake," Xiao Yu replied, "It’s not serious anymore."

Sun Huang pulled out a brown porcelain bottle from his chest and tossed it to Xiao Yu, saying, "Antitoxic Powder, apply some on the wound, it will heal faster."

Xiao Yu reached out to catch the bottle and said, "Thank you, Leader."

Sun Huang nodded imperceptibly and continued sitting, frowning as he drank strong tea.

Xiao Yu and Duan Rong returned to their respective rooms.

Duan Rong still shared a room with Li Yuliang, who was exhausted and overly frightened for the whole night. When Duan Rong entered, he was already deeply asleep on the bed, and Duan Rong didn’t have the heart to wake him.

Duan Rong walked to the table, rinsed his mouth with tea, then lined up three long stools and took a pillow to rest his head, and fell asleep.

Upon returning to the room, Xiao Yu first untied the bandage that Duan Rong had wrapped, then opened the brown porcelain bottle, poured some Antitoxic Powder into her hand—it’s a gray-brown powder—and applied it to the wound. A sharp pain pierced through, and Xiao Yu’s brows knitted as she clenched her teeth. After a while, when the pain subsided, Xiao Yu took a breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

Xiao Yu used the bandage torn from Duan Rong’s inner garment to wrap the wound again before laying down on the bed.

That night had many twists and turns, and Xiao Yu felt fatigued. As soon as she lay down, she quickly fell asleep, though she seemed to recall something, a faint smile appeared on her lips...

After resting at Liuhe Inn, the Escort Team set off again, reaching Wancheng County in the afternoon two days later.

For these two days, Duan Rong, due to his swollen tongue, had trouble articulating, becoming the butt of jokes among the Escort Team for the entire two days.

Knowing that he couldn’t speak clearly, they often deliberately teased him to speak, which became a daily amusement within the team.

After two days, Duan Rong gradually returned to normal, and those guys paid less attention to him...

After the Escort Team finished their meal at an inn in Wancheng County, Liu Ao suddenly came over, looked at Xiao Yu and said, "Yu girl, you’ve got an injured leg, let me take your apprentice to deliver the Message Dart in Wancheng County."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu glanced at Duan Rong before smilingly looking at Liu Ao and said, "Alright, then I’ll leave it to you!"

Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong and said, "You should learn well from Escort Master Liu Ao; if you don’t understand, make sure to ask more!"

From the moment Liu Ao walked towards Xiao Yu, Duan Rong had been staring at Liu Ao’s cold face and beast-like eyes, but Liu Ao’s gaze was fixed only on Xiao Yu, not once glancing at him.

Duan Rong knew that, probably in Liu Ao’s heart, killing him would be no different than slaughtering a chicken or a dog!

Of course, Duan Rong wouldn’t expose Liu Ao publicly, as he didn’t have any evidence. Challenging him now would only make himself look like a fool.

Duan Rong looked at Xiao Yu and smiled lightly, "I will, Master! I will definitely learn well from Escort Master Liu Ao!"

When saying the words "learn well," Duan Rong turned his head, once again looking coldly at Liu Ao’s face.

This time, Liu Ao finally looked at Duan Rong.

Liu Ao’s heart slightly stirred when Duan Rong’s eyes were clear and bright, without any anxiety or fear, instead he saw a calm battle intent!

Liu Ao took two Message Darts and left the inn together with Duan Rong!

The first Message Dart was delivered to a weapon shop not far from the inn, where Liu Ao collected the silver coins for receipt, and the two stepped out of the weapon shop, standing on the streets of Wancheng County. Liu Ao suddenly waved the remaining Message Dart in his hand and said, "This Message Dart is to be delivered to an estate outside the East Suburb of the county town, follow me out of the city!"

After Liu Ao finished speaking, he didn’t look at Duan Rong, striding down the street toward the east, and Duan Rong silently followed!

The two left Wancheng County’s East City Gate, continuing east along the main road!

Duan Rong followed Liu Ao silently, maintaining a distance of about one Zhang...

Throughout the process, Liu Ao did not turn back to look at Duan Rong.

Near the city gate, there were still scattered pedestrians. After walking on the main road for about a stick of incense time, there were no people to be seen ahead or behind.

After walking a bit further, Liu Ao suddenly turned his steps, heading onto a side path by the main road!

Duan Rong’s gaze remained unchanged, and he followed!

That side path originally resembled a mountain dirt road, gradually becoming overgrown and untracked, only the sight of wild grass, not the road!

Just then, Liu Ao suddenly halted, turning his head!

The place where they stood could be described as a desolate wild area, with no village or farmland in sight!

Liu Ao’s face was as hard as stone, his indifferent pupils sizing up Duan Rong, saying, "Little Junior Brother, you’re quite brave!"

Duan Rong stood a Zhang away in the wild, not biting Luo Ao’s bait, instead asking directly, "Did Luan Jingfu send you to kill me?"

Liu Ao’s expression slightly changed.

Duan Rong caught Liu Ao’s slight change in expression and sighed, "Looks like it’s him."

Duan Rong didn’t think Liu Ao would act because of Xiao Yu. Although Xiao Yu was attentive in teaching him, that was merely a mentor’s attitude towards a disciple, Liu Ao’s arrogance wouldn’t make him kill over such trivial matters!

Thinking it over, he guessed it was Luan Jingfu’s doing!

His early entry into the Escort Team was Luan Jingfu’s idea, after all. Back then, he felt this old scoundrel had no good intentions!