Chapter 25: Haibodong's Astonishment, The Map Secured

The white mist in the shop dissipated, revealing its original state.

Amidst the debris of shattered wood lay an elderly man with snow-white hair. His withered face was particularly striking for the deep, dark bruises around his eyes.

Hun Cang stood over the old man and looked down. "Ice Emperor, are you done fighting?"

Fighting? How could he fight? Hai Bodong shot him a sideways glance, not even wanting to speak. His only trump card couldn't even restrain this person; what chance of victory could he possibly have?

Being stared at constantly made Hai Bodong uncomfortable. He snapped, "What are you still looking at? You won. Do whatever you want, kill me or carve me up, I'm at your mercy."

The more he didn't want to be watched, the more Hun Cang insisted on looking. Hun Cang simply crouched down in front of the old man, shifting his gaze repeatedly over the bruised eyes. He even gestured with his hands, sighing, "The second punch wasn't landed well; it's a bit crooked and not symmetrical."

Hai Bodong climbed up from the floor, irritated. "What exactly do you want, kid?"

"I came looking for you," Hun Cang replied.

Hai Bodong looked at him. "Yes, I am the Ice Emperor. You found me, so go ahead and do it."

"Do what?" Hun Cang was stunned.

"Kill me!" Hai Bodong was being driven mad. Where did this dense brat even come from?

Hun Cang asked, confused, "Why would I want to kill you?"

Hai Bodong glared at him. "If you aren't here to kill me, why are you looking for me?"

Hun Cang spread his hands. "Who said looking for you means I have to kill you?"

"Otherwise, you think I've been living in seclusion for over twenty years to... wait. You weren't sent by those people?" Hai Bodong, who had been about to lose his temper, paused halfway through his sentence.

He stared at Hun Cang for a moment and asked, "What is your name?"

"Hun Cang."

It really wasn't them... Hai Bodong was taken aback, and then he realized, "Then why didn't you explain yourself when you saw me attack?"

Hun Cang was bewildered. "Why should I have explained?"

You are just a decrepit old man with your strength sealed; you couldn't possibly hurt me. On the contrary, I could use someone to practice on. How perfect.

Why would he... Hai Bodong turned his back and covered his face with his hands, feeling like weeping. If you had just said one word, this old man wouldn't have had to take those two punches for nothing.

It really hurt...

Struggling to calm his emotions, Hai Bodong pushed the broken pieces aside, reopened the shop door, and returned behind the counter.

Looking at Hun Cang, he asked, "Speak, what do you want with me?"

Getting down to business, Hun Cang put away his smile and said seriously, "I heard that the Ice Emperor possesses some intelligence regarding Heavenly Flames in the Tagor Desert."

"Who did you hear that from?" Hai Bodong's expression tightened slightly.

Hun Cang smiled. "Apologies, that is a secret."

Hai Bodong gave a faint smile. "You said yourself you only 'heard' it. It must be hearsay. How could a decrepit old man like me penetrate deep into the desert? The Snake-People there are not to be trifled with."

Hun Cang said earnestly, "My information is always based on facts. You don't need to try and lie to me; it's useless."

He seems to have some sort of confidence... Observing Hun Cang’s expression, Hai Bodong felt a bit uneasy. He did indeed have some intelligence on Heavenly Flames. However, he had been keeping that information as a trump card to trade for something if the right opportunity arose in the future. Furthermore, this information was also linked to whether his strength could ever be restored to its peak.

Therefore, Hai Bodong lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "Please leave. I know nothing about the Heavenly Flames you speak of."

Hun Cang’s gaze sharpened. "Are you not afraid that I might kill you and search for it myself?"

Hai Bodong laughed when he heard this. "Don't use death to threaten me. I've lived for more than half a lifetime; what kind of storms haven't I seen?"

"Are you sure?" Hun Cang, who had been leaning over the counter, straightened up slowly. He acted as if he were at his wit's end, turning to leave while saying, "I saw that you were old and had your strength reduced to less than one-tenth by the Snake Curse; I felt pity for you. I thought if I found the Heavenly Flame, I would help you resolve that problem. It seems you are not destined for it."

He actually knows?! And he is an alchemist? Hai Bodong’s heart skipped a beat. He watched Hun Cang walk toward the door, pondered for a moment, and raised his hand. "Wait!"

Hun Cang turned around, watched Hai Bodong walk out from behind the counter, and chuckled. "Did you remember something?"

"You are an alchemist?" Hai Bodong asked.

Hun Cang nodded.

Hai Bodong asked again, "What tier of pill can you refine?"

Ever since his strength was sealed, he had been searching for a way to break it and had finally found a prescription. As long as he could refine the pill on it, he could consume it to break the seal left on him by Queen Medusa. However, that pill was a Tier 6 pill.

"Tier 7," Hun Cang said.

Tier 7? At such a young age? Hai Bodong widened his eyes, scanning him from head to toe with a look of intense suspicion. He took a few steps back and sighed. "Forget it, you should just go."

Hm? Hun Cang was stunned. What was going on? Why did Hai Bodong change his mind after he revealed that?

He asked, "Do you not want to break the seal anymore?"

Hai Bodong looked at him and said, "Of course I do. But, young man, you underestimate me. I have lived for many years; I am not so easily fooled. You look to be barely twenty, and you're a Tier 7 alchemist? Isn't that a bit ridiculous?"

Then you simply don't understand what a 'cheating' life is... Complaining internally, Hun Cang released his aura.

Vigorous Dou Qi surged and stirred within him, pressing down toward Hai Bodong.

Hai Bodong’s thin, withered face changed instantly. He retreated step after step, his expression filled with disbelief.

"You, you... you are a Dou Huang?" Hai Bodong’s voice trembled.

Hun Cang withdrew his aura, lifted his chin slightly, and smiled. "Have you ever seen a Dou Huang as young as me?"

Hai Bodong still wore a look of shock. He shook his head, his resolve wavering, but he still asked with some lingering doubt, "But how can you prove your alchemical prowess?"

"How about you bring me the medicinal ingredients for a Tier 7 pill, and I'll refine it for you to see?" Hun Cang felt a bit numb; this old guy really was a handful.

Hai Bodong let out a bitter laugh. Did he think Tier 7 medicinal ingredients were like cabbages on the street, easily bought whenever one wanted?

After deep contemplation, Hai Bodong decided to gamble once. "Fine, I will trust you once."

Hun Cang smiled. "That's more like it. You were once one of the top ten Dou Huangs; you shouldn't lack courage."

The two returned to the counter, and Hai Bodong took a map out of his storage ring.

"These are the three places where I suspect a Heavenly Flame is most likely to exist. You will have to find the exact location yourself," Hai Bodong said.

Glancing at the marks on it, Hun Cang reached out to take it, but after tugging twice, he found Hai Bodong was clutching it tightly. He sighed, "Can you just say everything you need to in one breath?"

Hai Bodong smiled sheepishly. "Actually, I also wanted to ask for a small favor. I have collected most of the ingredients for the pill, but I am missing the final one—the Sand Mandora."

"Fine, that's a small matter." Hun Cang was not surprised and agreed immediately. Only then did he take the map.

After taking a look at it, he tucked it into his storage ring and turned to leave.

At the door, he paused slightly. "Don't go running off these days. If I can't find you when I return, don't blame me if you miss your chance."

"I won't, I won't..." Hai Bodong quickly replied, watching Hun Cang leave.