Chapter 654: Clues to the Descendants of the Jiang Clan (Part 2)
Everyone roughly understood Qi Huang’s intention, and excitedly followed.
Qi Huang reached out and gently knocked on the main door. Although she was powerful, her humble origins meant she naturally wouldn’t barge in arrogantly like those in higher positions.
A short while later, the middle-aged man opened the main door and was stunned on the spot. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming, a completely unreal sweet dream. Otherwise, how could there be such a dazzlingly beautiful girl in the world that made everything around her lose its color?
“Uncle, hello! This humble self is Chen Yuzhu. May I ask how I should address you?”
Qi Huang greeted him politely. She wasn’t a real girl, so she naturally didn’t care about the man’s dazed expression.
“Uh…”
The middle-aged man suddenly woke up from his dream and stammered, “Th-this… Miss… Immortal… you… you are well… My name is Liu Gui… May I ask what brings you here?”
“It’s like this, my family is in the walnut business, but for the past two years, we haven’t had enough supply. Today, passing by this treasure land, I discovered that this walnut tree in your courtyard is incredibly sturdy, so I wanted to come and take a look.”
Qi Huang was full of lies, speaking them as they came.
Cheng Hong Ling beside her frowned slightly, clearly a little displeased. After all, this clone was too cunning, and she was afraid she couldn’t control it.
“Uh…”
Liu Gui’s face showed embarrassment, and he said, “I’m afraid… I’m afraid I have to disappoint our distinguished guests. You… you can see, it’s already April or May, but this walnut tree still hasn’t sprouted, and its bark is cracked. It has clearly withered… withered to death.”
“Nonsense!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the old man’s angry scolding came from the courtyard.
“Please excuse the distinguished guests. Since our Liu family took over this courtyard, that walnut tree has been here, so my father has some feelings for it.”
Liu Gui smiled awkwardly.
“That’s only natural!”
Qi Huang replied understandingly, then showed a look of regret: “It’s just that in this day and age, it’s not easy for a fruit tree to grow so large. It’s a shame it died just like that.”
“Who can say otherwise? So we’ve been trying to save it during this time, but even an Immortal Elder is powerless. After all, it’s old, and it’s time for it to return to the soil.”
Liu Gui sighed.
“Why don’t you let us take a look? We’ve been in the walnut business for a long time, so we know a little about the habits of such fruit trees.”
Qi Huang seized the opportunity to make her request.
“Uh… I wonder how much compensation you would need?”
Liu Gui hesitated.
“No compensation. If it can be saved, consider it building good karma. In the future, just remember to sell your walnuts to us.”
Qi Huang said generously.
“Ah? That would be wonderful. Please come in.”
Liu Gui was overjoyed and stepped aside to let them into the courtyard.
“Father, distinguished guests are here to examine this walnut tree for free.”
Liu Gui quickly reported the good news to his father, who was under the big tree.
“Is that so?”
Old Man Liu was overjoyed and stepped forward to bow repeatedly to Qi Huang and the others: “Thank you all. If you can save this walnut tree, I am willing to bankrupt my family to repay you.”
“Old man, we don’t need any reward. We’re just building good karma.”
Qi Huang reiterated. Being able to find clues about the survivor of the Jiang clan was much more valuable than money.
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Old Man Liu bowed repeatedly and then said to his son, “Don’t just stand there foolishly. Hurry up and make some tea for our guests.”
“Okay.”
Liu Gui came to his senses and quickly went inside to make tea.
Qi Huang took out a talisman paper and crushed it. A great formation that could block the sight of ordinary people immediately appeared around the courtyard.
“Sister Ruoyi, the rest is up to you.”
Qi Huang then turned to remind Mu Ruoyi.
“Leave it to me.”
Mu Ruoyi nodded in acknowledgment and stepped forward, placing her fair jade-like hand on the main trunk, creating a stark contrast with the rough bark. Especially her pink fingernails, which were so inviting that Qi Huang was mesmerized.
Next, Mu Ruoyi began to circulate the Mullinglong cultivation technique and started to explore the life force of this old tree.
Everyone around waited anxiously. Of course, the most restless were Jiang Feng and his servant, as well as the Liu father and son.
Time slowly passed, and fine sweat began to appear on Mu Ruoyi’s fair forehead, gradually rolling towards her eyes.
Qi Huang had to take out a handkerchief to wipe it for her. As most of the people present were men, besides her, no one else could help.
After about fifteen minutes, Mu Ruoyi slowly opened her beautiful eyes.
“How is it?”
Jiang Feng and Old Man Liu asked in unison.
“There is still a faint trace of life.”
Mu Ruoyi took a deep breath.
“Life?”
Old Man Liu and his son exchanged glances, completely clueless.
“Can it be saved?”
Jiang Feng asked impatiently.
“If it were before, it would probably be unsavable. Now that Sister Hong Ling’s cultivation has reached the Shentong Realm, perhaps we can try, but…”
A hint of hesitation appeared on Mu Ruoyi’s face.
“But what?”
Cheng Hong Ling frowned and asked.
Mu Ruoyi walked forward and whispered, “If you want to save this tree and help Jiang Feng find his clues, you might be greatly depleted. How about saving this tree today, and then investigating the clues about the survivor of the Jiang clan after you’ve rested for a while?”
Liu Gui and his son exchanged confused glances, not understanding what was happening.
Jiang Feng, being powerful, naturally heard clearly, but he also understood that he was asking for a favor and couldn’t force it.
“Stop the nonsense and get started quickly.”
Cheng Hong Ling said indifferently. She hated dawdling the most.
Mu Ruoyi had no choice but to give up.
Qi Huang didn’t stop her either because she understood her main body’s personality.
“However, this process involves blood-sucking. With the father and son present, it might not be appropriate. They might mistake me for a zombie.”
Mu Ruoyi then voiced her second concern.
Qi Huang pondered for a moment and then stepped forward to face the Liu father and son:
“You two, your walnut tree has a chance to be saved.”
“Really? That’s wonderful!”
The Liu father and son were overjoyed.
“However, this method is a secret of our family. So, we’ll have to ask you to go inside and stay there. You can come out after we’re done treating it.”
Qi Huang then made her request and quickly added, “Of course, if you don’t feel safe, you can also choose not to treat the tree. We won’t force you.”
“Save it, save it! Of course, we want to save it. We’ll go inside now.”
Old Man Liu quickly pulled his son into the house. As the saying goes, you treat a dead horse as if it were alive. Since there was no hope, how could he miss this only chance?
“We can begin!”
Qi Huang watched the father and son go inside and then turned to instruct Mu Ruoyi.
Mu Ruoyi nodded in understanding and walked back to the big tree, placing her jade-like hand on the trunk.
Cheng Hong Ling wasn’t experiencing this for the first time. She walked closer, extended her slender index finger, and lightly sliced her wrist. Blood quickly gushed out.
Mu Ruoyi dared not waste any of it. She immediately leaned her head over, her tender cherry lips gently covering the wound. Then, she circulated the Mullinglong within her body, transforming Cheng Hong Ling’s Shentong Realm essence blood into a strengthened special wood True Qi, and injected it into the walnut tree.
Everyone watched intently and soon noticed that the dry, rough bark under Mu Ruoyi’s jade-like hand began to swell and then quickly spread throughout the entire tree, as if it had been soaked in water. A green halo representing life began to appear on it.
As time passed, the tree’s branches became robust, and young buds began to sprout on the branches at a visible speed.
“It’s alive! It’s alive! The tree is alive!”
General Li exclaimed excitedly.
“Yes, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never believe that there could be such a miraculous revival in this world.”
Jiang Feng said in awe.
Qi Huang’s gaze was equally fervent. She thought that if she could combine these two techniques for growing vegetables, the effect would be improved countless times, and perhaps they could harvest in just a few days.
Of course, Qi Huang could only fantasize about it. After all, doing so required a large amount of essence blood, which her small frame could not support.
At this moment, the walnut tree’s buds continued to grow, soon becoming lush and green. Dense walnut flowers hung on the branches, completely covering the entire courtyard below.
Mu Ruoyi also released her mouth and said, “Alright, the tree is completely saved now.”
“Why did you stop?”
Cheng Hong Ling asked with some displeasure. Although her face was a little pale, there was no sign of fatigue.
“I want you to rest a bit,”
Mu Ruoyi said with a hint of grievance. “Yes, since it’s saved, you should rest for a while. There’s no rush.”
Jiang Feng, standing nearby, said insincerely.
“No, continue quickly. Investigating clues is the main business.”
Cheng Hong Ling urged impatiently.
“First, take this Blood Replenishing Pill.”
Qi Huang knew that persuasion was useless, so she handed over a “Blood Replenishing Pill.” Since she often used her blood to grow Ghost Tomatoes, she had prepared some.
“Thank you!”
Cheng Hong Ling thanked her politely and swallowed it in one gulp.
Mu Ruoyi couldn’t refuse and could only grit her teeth and continue. She placed her jade-like hand on the trunk again and then lowered her head to suck blood.
As time went by, the walnut tree became more and more lush and leafy, and it began to bear fruit. Within the tree trunk, a phantom image similar to a soul gradually appeared. This was a sign of transformation into a demon, and also the object of Mu Ruoyi’s spiritual connection.
