Mundane Saint

Chapter 37 – Doing good deeds upon arriving for the first time

Hong Ba was a notorious bully south of Cloud Spirit City, and he had never encountered a mortal daring enough to be so brazen.

He was a minor figure in the Black Forest Gang outside the city, possessing some cultivation, but only at the Foundation Establishment stage. He couldn't even handle ordinary wild beasts, let alone demonic beasts.

However, this level of strength was enough for him to lord over the south of Cloud Spirit City, as he was cautious and could discern who was worth provoking.

The young man before him, holding a lantern with a fearless expression, was definitely not someone to be trifled with.

There was no trace of true qi on him, indicating he was a mere mortal, and why should mortals be feared?

Just putting on a show!

"I'll knock you down first!"

Hong Ba's fist came quickly, but to Gu Heng, his movements were as slow as an elderly person on the brink of death. Gu Heng easily sidestepped, not even bothering to lift his leg, evading the punch with just his body's agility and reflexive actions.

Gu Heng casually swung a slap, sending Hong Ba flying backward, crashing into a wall, spitting blood, and falling unconscious!

The surrounding onlookers were dumbfounded, shocked, and incredulous.

They were all cultivators, though only at the Qi Refining stage, but Hong Ba was at the Foundation Establishment stage. Yet this young man had knocked him out with a casual slap?

Gu Heng raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the others. "What, do you want to try as well?"

His tone was calm, even with a hint of a smile, but it inexplicably instilled fear. The crowd exchanged glances, swallowing hard. One of them stammered, "Do you know what happens if you provoke the Black Forest Gang?"

Even his words were tinged with fear and terror.

With their leader lying there, how could they dare confront Gu Heng directly?

A frail figure, curled up in a defensive posture in the corner, slowly raised his head, revealing half an eye to look at Gu Heng, curiosity flickering in his gaze.

Gu Heng smiled calmly. "The Black Forest Gang?"

"Never heard of them."

Seeing the young man's disdainful and indifferent expression, the burly men dared not act rashly. Not even the Black Forest Gang could intimidate him? Their leader was a Core Formation stage cultivator, overseeing two mountain territories!

Yet he wasn't afraid?

Who was this guy?

"I'll give you three breaths to carry that guy out of my sight, or I'll make sure you all perish here."

Gu Heng shook the ancient lantern in his hand, the pale light casting a ghostly chill on his face.

He had never shown mercy to malicious mortals.

Gu Heng had dealt with bandits in the mountains before. After mastering his body refinement techniques, he feared nothing.

Moreover, he knew alchemy, and with alchemy came knowledge of poisons. Many cultivators had died from poison. In Greenwood City, he had once unknowingly poisoned a cultivator from another family, and that guy was at the Core Formation stage.

For a gang like the Black Forest Gang, their leader was probably at most at the Core Formation stage. If they were any stronger, they wouldn't need to hide in the forests outside the city.

So, Gu Heng had nothing to fear.

Seeing this, the men hesitated no longer. Two of them hoisted the unconscious Hong Ba and ran off, disappearing down the alley.

"…"

The alley was left with only Gu Heng and the battered young boy.

The frail body trembled slightly, but the dirty face showed no pain, only a thin layer of stubbornness and curiosity.

Gu Heng looked at him and asked, "Does it hurt?"

The boy shook his head.

"Are you hungry?"

He lowered his head, not answering, but Gu Heng could tell he was too weak from hunger.

"What's your name?" Gu Heng asked again.

"…"

No answer.

"Do you see that building?"

Gu Heng pointed to the brightly lit Medicine Hall across the alley, though it hadn't yet hung its sign.

The boy looked up at the Medicine Hall, pressing his lips together, remaining silent.

Gu Heng smiled and ruffled his hair. "Go wash up, have something to eat, and don't be stubborn with me. I can tell your condition."

The boy blinked in confusion, but still moved his unsteady legs toward the Medicine Hall.

Watching his back, Gu Heng's lips curled into a faint smile.

This boy, though skin and bones and living a hard life, had a resilient and unyielding spirit. He reminded Gu Heng of himself when he first awakened his System.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

The boy stood at the Medicine Hall's entrance, looking inside but hesitating to enter until Gu Heng caught up and gave him a gentle push, prompting him to step inside.

The first thing he saw was a small silver cat lying on the consultation desk.

Sensing a stranger's presence, Su Jinxi lazily opened her eyes, observing the battered and emaciated figure, only to find him observing her in return.

Su Jinxi quickly lowered her head and closed her eyes again.

"Go upstairs first. I'll heat some water for you to wash up, and then I'll prepare some food for you."

Gu Heng placed the ancient lantern beside Su Jinxi, gesturing upstairs. The boy hesitated for a moment but eventually went up.

"Ah, I didn't expect to do a good deed on my first night in Cloud Spirit City…"

Gu Heng muttered as he headed to the back to boil water.

In the front hall, Su Jinxi slowly opened her eyes, looking at the staircase leading to the second floor, her tail swaying, then glanced at the ancient lantern beside her.

"Senior Xuan, did you feel it?"

"What, Elder Jinxi, did you feel it too?"

The light inside the ancient lantern flickered.

"Indeed, though I don't know what it is, when I looked into those eyes… it felt like seeing something ancient."

Su Jinxi narrowed her eyes in thought, vaguely guessing a possibility.

If that boy was an ancient remnant, possessing ancient bloodlines, perhaps that was why she felt such an unusual sensation!

"But the child seems so young, considering his frail appearance, he can't be more than fifteen or sixteen, and there's no trace of true qi on him. It's unlikely he's an ancient remnant with such a legacy. Forgive my limited vision, but I can't see it…"

"Heh, it seems our little place has gained another extraordinary newcomer."

Su Jinxi said coldly.

"Young Master Gu wants to integrate with mortals, to experience mortal life, but the people and events he's encountering are far from simple."

Jian Xuan sighed.