Page 77: Saving someone

"Hey! We agreed to share what we find. Are you going back with your own words? Is this how you, the disciple of an alchemy elder must do things?"

Tan Zhong exclaimed after being betrayed by Cuifen's group. From what it seems, the group was able to find two stalks each of the swamp latifolia and swamp maxima however this Tan Zhong was not given his share. Around the area, parts of a swamp is still visible which is why they found the same plant as Long Bai did.

"Senior sister, I think we should just leave them and look in another place."

"I agree. I don't want to be borhered with that group especially that you have a bet with that Cuifen."

The two were hiding behind a large dead tree while watching things unfold before their eyes. Just before the two was supposed to leave the area, the ground shook and the area where the arguing were on started to become elevated. The group of Cuifen and the merchant union began to panic and tried to run away from the vicinity but before they can do such thing, brown vines from the ground started to appear and tried to entangled them. Cuifen who was equiped with good weapon and defensive equipment was still exerting hard in preventing the vines from approaching him by cutting those incoming vines. With great difficulty, he was able to cut the vines on him and started cutting the ones on his companions.

"Cuifen! Help us! You don't need to give us our share. Just save us and we call it even!"

Tan Zhong was screaming asking for help but Cuifen was acting deaf. Tan Zhong and his companion was already being pulled down into the deeper swamp while Cuifen was busy cutting the vines that wrapped around his junior alchemists.

"You selfish bastard! You owe us that herb but you return us with your selfishness. Curse you! Curse yoouuu!!!"

Tan Zhong was screaming hard as he saw Cuifen and his companion being released from the vines but have no intention to help them.

"Tan Zhong, it's not my fault you are in such place. If I try to help you, I might get entangled again. Thanks for the service you provided."

And there, Cuifen and company ran off fast away from the area. Tan Zhong who was already knee deep was struggling while yelling asking for help.

Meanwhile, Long Bai and Zhang Li was watching everything. Long Bai who was in hiding walked towards the two merchant union members.

"Junior Bai, what are you doing? Don't tell me you are going to help them? Don't be reckless. Did you see that even Cuifen who was well equiped struggled so much to escape that unknown beast? I know you have compassion but that same character you have will kill you someday. Let's just leave."

Long Bai understood her senior's concern but before he decided to help, he was able to make sure that things are fine. A while ago, when the vines appeared from underneath, the system was able to inform him what it was.

[System notice: A swamp vine beast was detected.

Name: Swamp luring beast

Type: plant species

Description: Stays deep in the swamp. It uses its vines to invite preys to feed on it then entangles upon contact. It is afraid of heat. ]

Based from the description, the former group must have touched the sensitive shoots of the vine that was exposed near the herb they found causing to be awaken and start entangling them.

"Don't worry senior sister, that is a swamp luring beast and it is afraid of heat. I think we just need to make fire and let it get close to the vines. I'll be careful."

"What will you gain by saving those people? Is it worth the trouble?"

"Senior sister, I don't know but if I will be able to gain their favor, maybe not here but if it would become beneficial outside, won't that be great? Establishing connections is also important. I learned that after doing business with senior Mo."

Long Bai proceeded towards the vines. He took out a coal he often use to start the earth fire during the alchemy procedure. After lighting it up, it glowed red hot. He then used his essence to control the heat it releases and directed it on the surface of the water. Tan Zhong saw him doing such and tried begging for help.

"Brother, just keep still. It might get hotter but bear with it. I'll heat up the water until the vines will react. I think these vines will retract once they will feel the heat if the water rising."

The two became quiet after Long Bai introduced himself. While doing his work, the surface of the water started to show signs of evaporation. This means that the surface water temperature has risen significantly ti the extent that evaporation would took place. From that moment, the vines reacted like they have detected something dangerous and retracted immediately releasing the struggling two young men. Without wasting time, the two members of the merchant union got off the dirty water and came to the hard land panting hardly. It must have been exhausting to struggle against those vines.

"Thank..thank you.. brother..for ..huf.huf.huf."

After a few seconds of trying to regain their strength, Tan Zhong and his companion thanked him properly.

"Brother savior, may I know your name? I know I don't have anything to offer now. If you have plans visiting the merchant ship one day, I'll be happy to welcome you and treat you with my best of ability."

"Merchant ship? Is it one of those flying ship?" Long Bai asked curiously.

"Ah, brother. Sorry to disappoint you but it is not. The ship we have does not fly but sails. We use it to trade with the other merchant islands. If you want to buy some stuff, we might have those in the ship. Here, take this token. In the future, if you plan to visit it, this will allow you to enter it. It is my token. Please receive this sign of gratitude."

"Oh thank you. Alright then, we'll get going. Will you be alright?"

"Don't worry about us. We will just recover our strength and continue our search. We will not bother you further. Please don't worry. And again, thank you."

Long Bai and Zhang Li sped up their travel after leaving the two. Long Bai was still holding the token Tan Zhong gave him.

"You are lucky, you know that? Do you know the meaning of entering the merchant ship?" Zhang Li asked.

"Is it really that great?"

"Wha.. of course it is great. That's the only place where you can find the most interesting and most expensive things the union islands can offer. They are like the collectors. Entering it means that you are part of an influential family. Take the Chen household for instance. The only ones who can enter are the elders and the leader himself. No person of ordinary background can step inside it without the permission of the merchant council. If that token can allow you to enter, that signifies that Tan Zhong must have a high standing there. He might even be the son of one the merchant councils."

Long Bai thought about it and was glad he helped that guy. He kept the token in his pouch thinking when should he visit the ship.

"Senior sister, were you disappointed in me?"

"Huh? Why would I?

"I did not listen to your warning and just went off doing what I wanted."

Zhang Li felt abashed. She did not expect Long Bai to be this straightforward.

"Disappointed? Why should I? It is quite the opposite. I'm amazed by the knowledge you have. You seem like a kid but acts like an old man sometimes. If you are not just a kid I might have.. No .. nothing."

Zhang Li rushed forward trying to evade the conversation. Long Bai on the other hand who heard her saying that she was not disappointed made him happy.

*Northern area

"Senior Yusheng, we found something. It looks like the entrance but it can't be opened. No matter how much we try, the door won't budge even for a bit."

After looking for a while, Yusheng thought of sonething.

"Hm, these ruins do not appear on the map. Since this place was visited more than ten years ago, it might have just resurfaced recently from being buried. The entrance looks like it was secured with an array. The first one was supposed to be a concealing array but it looks like it was damaged by something recently that's why it was not seen by the previous ones who entered this."

"Senior Yushen, are you an array master too? Can you open the door?"

"No, I just studied a bit about it since it can also be used in alchemy. I can only say that this is a grade 5 array and it would need six people to open it. The six points on the ground looks like the essence injection site. If I am not wrong, this place must be a graveyard and we are standing on its tip."

"Tip? Senior Yushen, how is that? The place looks flat to me. Only this triangular rock with a locked door is the only thing that is sticking out"

"Just like I said, it just resurfaced. I have read some books of the old describing how other clans bury their leaders and one of them makes a huge tomb like this. What we are seeing is just the tip of the tomb. Because they are immortals, they can fly. Doors are not made from the bottom but from the top instead. When they make tombs, people who enters it must feel also that they are like going to the underworld. This means that the body is buried on the most deepest part of this tomb. Usually, there will be three passages for this tomb. One for the King, another for the servants, and third for the treasures that they bury with him. It is believed that when one dies and follows the cycle of life and death, their next life will be prosperous according to the treasures buries with them."

"Senior Yusheng, does that mean that beneath this, we can find treasures?"

"According to what I read, yes but even if that is the truth, it is useless when we can't open the entrance."

"Senior, how about we force it open by attacking the door? This might disarm the array on it?"

"Don't be dumb. Tombs like these are one of the most secured ones according to the books. A grade 5 array will require at least 3 from the spirit tempering to destroy it. Imagine you'll need 3 sect leaders to bombard it. However, let us wait. Maybe someone from Cuifen's group can do something about it. If no one can crack it, we better leave it and continue our search."

"Senior! Senior Yusheng! Look! Someone is approaching. It looks like it's Senior Cuifen's group."