Chapter 386: Chapter 309: Medicine Boy
Duan Rong and his party descended the stone steps and stopped in front of a courtyard.
The stone walls of the courtyard were simple and ancient, yet built thick and tall, blocking the view inside and obscuring the buildings within.
The top of the stone-built gate was oddly covered with glazed tiles, crafted into an arch shape, completely mismatched with the style of the courtyard walls, looking somewhat out of place.
As they approached, beneath the arch was an old wooden door with several cracks and deformations.
Hanging on the door was a black sign, carved from some unknown wood, with two crooked characters seemingly written in vermilion: Lower Courtyard.
It was clear this was the place they were to report to.
The group exchanged glances, their eyes full of disappointment.
They were born in remote and isolated places, with the sect always being a high and mighty existence in their hearts.
To enter the sect and become registered disciples in Xianggu County was a significant leap, a matter of great pride for the family.
But looking at this courtyard before them, it was indescribably shabby and destitute, lacking any trace of the sect’s dignity.
Ximen Kankan muttered, "This place is even less impressive than the City God Temple in our county! Isn’t the sect supposed to be the sky of Qingzhou? The sky is so high, yet this courtyard is so run-down. The gap is too big."
Duan Rong said, "Let’s go. Who cares whether it’s run-down or not, as long as we’re not in the wrong place."
Duan Rong had never cared much about such things.
Duan Rong stepped towards the gate, and Ximen Kankan and the others followed him.
Duan Rong intended to knock on the door, but as soon as he touched it, the door opened, evidently ajar.
Duan Rong pushed the door wide to reveal a stone-paved ground within, with moss and weeds in the cracks.
The spacious courtyard, however, was empty of people.
Duan Rong’s gaze shifted slightly as he stepped inside.
They had just entered the courtyard when suddenly a shadow flitted by from the side.
Xiao Yu saw a terribly menacing face, red and yellow, flash before her eyes.
Xiao Yu was so frightened that she stepped back, her paled face crashing into Duan Rong’s embrace.
Duan Rong caught Xiao Yu in his arms, then heard a series of howling and cawing.
Looking closely, they saw a baboon under the eaves, clutching its belly, seemingly laughing.
Duan Rong’s face darkened at once since the bundle on Xiao Yu’s shoulder was now in the baboon’s hands.
Xiao Yu, both angry and annoyed, saw Duan Rong’s figure flash, his right hand forming a claw to grab at the baboon.
The baboon, seeing Duan Rong attack, suddenly leaped to the other end of the eaves.
Duan Rong’s heart skipped a beat. "This creature is fast!"
Xiao Yu and the others, seeing the baboon’s agility, rushed together to surround and intercept it.
The baboon remained unperturbed, darting through the gaps between their movements, occasionally letting out mocking laughter.
Xiao Yu’s face was flushed from the chase, her heart filled with anxiety.
Her bundle contained some dried rations and food, but that was of little importance; crucially, the bundle also held some of her clothes, including two bodices. If the baboon rummaged those out, how could she face anyone?
At that moment, a figure emerged from the east-side room, a young man in loose Daoist robes, looking around twenty-something, with fair skin and striking features.
Seeing the scene in the courtyard, the man said, "Are you here to report as registered disciples?"
Duan Rong replied, "Indeed!"
The man glanced at the baboon holding the bundle under the eaves, which looked at them provocatively.
The man shook his head and sighed, "This creature is a pet raised by an elder of our sect. Over time, it somehow mastered a remarkable lightweight skill, becoming quite a menace."
The baboon suddenly tossed the bundle it held and shrieked at the fair-skinned youth, evidently displeased at being called a menace.
Duan Rong’s gaze shifted, and he suddenly turned to Ximen Kankan, saying, "Kankan, let’s intercept this creature again."
Ximen Kankan, though panting heavily, nodded at Duan Rong’s call.
Xiao Yu said, "Duan Rong, maybe... we should just let it go!"
The baboon’s lightweight skill was clearly superior to theirs; how could they easily catch it?
Duan Rong gave Xiao Yu a slight smile, didn’t answer, and dashed towards the baboon.
The baboon, seeing Duan Rong rushing at it again, excitedly cried out and leaped away once more.
The baboon evidently hadn’t had enough and was eager for others to chase it.
At this moment, Ximen Kankan also lunged toward the baboon, which darted in another direction.
Duan Rong leaped to face the baboon directly.
The baboon saw Duan Rong’s figure flash toward it and, laughing mockingly, prepared to leap away.
At that moment, Duan Rong suddenly tossed his shoulder bundle at the baboon.
The baboon, after all, was still an animal. When something was thrown at it, it instinctively grabbed it.
Besides, the bundle Duan Rong threw was one the baboon often snatched.
But just as the baboon caught the bundle Duan Rong tossed, Duan Rong’s figure flickered, and he passed by the baboon’s side.
The baboon found Xiao Yu’s bundle already in Duan Rong’s hand.
The baboon paused briefly before realizing it had been tricked.
The baboon, enraged, flung aside the bundle Duan Rong had thrown, discovering it was empty, containing only a stone.
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