Chapter 107: Ice Emperor, Long Time No See

Thinking of the fragmented map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, Gu He smiled faintly. Without disturbing the others, he turned his attention to the nearby counter, where numerous maps were displayed.

Carefully, Gu He sifted through each scroll, lightly shaking them as he went. He recalled that in the original records, Hai Bodong had hidden the map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame among these very maps.

As he examined the clearly marked routes, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes. The details on this map were astonishingly thorough, documenting hidden locations throughout the Tagore Desert with precision.

'No wonder, despite Hai Bodong's temperament, his "Gutu" shop remains so renowned in Black Rock City.'

Among these maps, there were undoubtedly authentic materials. For anyone newly venturing into the Tagore Desert, such a detailed guide would be invaluable.

After searching for a while, Gu He still hadn't found the remnants of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.

Glancing over, he saw that Hai Bodong showed no sign of wrapping up his work. Gu He pursed his lips and slowly made his way to a simple wooden frame in the corner of the shop.

The frame was visibly aged, riddled with wormholes, and stacked haphazardly with yellowed maps. Judging by the broken edges and imperfections, they appeared to be discarded drafts—failed attempts at mapmaking.

As Gu He flipped through the brittle pages with his palm, a musty odor wafted toward him, making him wrinkle his nose slightly.

Then, as he lifted a stack of these discarded maps, his hand trembled ever so slightly—and a torn fragment, no larger than a palm, slipped free and fluttered to the ground.

Gu He's gaze locked onto the fallen scrap.

Bending down, he picked it up and scrutinized the faint, yet strangely familiar, markings on its surface. After a moment, his eyes narrowed in satisfaction, a smirk tugging at his lips.

'As expected… the remnant of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.'

Though he couldn't fully decipher the cryptic routes on the aged parchment, their outline was unmistakably similar to the mysterious diagrams he had once seen in the Magic Beast Mountain Range—specifically, in the cave where the Little Fairy Doctor had sought treasure.

Suppressing a smile, Gu He glanced at Hai Bodong, still engrossed in his work, and quietly slipped the fragment into his storage ring.

Then, he began making his way further inside.

The sound of approaching footsteps caused Hai Bodong's brush to pause mid-stroke. Without looking up, he spoke coldly, "Apologies, but the shop is closed today. If you wish to purchase a map, return tomorrow."

Gu He couldn't help but shake his head. 'What a peculiar way to run a business.'

Just as he was about to leave, two burly men suddenly blocked his path, hands gripping the weapons at their waists as they glared at him threateningly.

"Hm?"

The sudden obstruction caught Gu He off guard, and he frowned. Turning, his gaze settled on a woman in a red dress, who seemed to hold considerable status in this city.

"Master Bing dislikes interruptions while crafting his maps. Kindly step outside for now," the woman said coolly, her tone polite yet laced with unmistakable arrogance.

"Do these people already know Hai Bodong's true identity?" Gu He wondered.

Hai Bodong had gone into seclusion here—surely he wouldn't have revealed himself? Otherwise, the Miteer Family would have come knocking long ago.

What Gu He didn't realize was that the red-clad woman was currently studying him with barely concealed frustration.

As the daughter of Black Rock's City Lord, she was accustomed to being pampered—when had she ever shown such deference to anyone?

But her father had warned her: the owner of this humble shop was likely a powerful expert.

Thus, she had been instructed to visit often, assist the old man, and—if possible—earn his favor.

Yet, despite her efforts, the old man remained indifferent, leaving her pride wounded.

Today was no different. The moment she arrived, he had barely acknowledged her before resuming his work.

Suppressing her irritation, she had stayed, only for this stranger to barge in uninvited.

'A Perfect chance to vent.'

Ignoring her haughty tone, Gu He merely glanced at her before setting down the map in his hands. In a flash, he sidestepped the two guards effortlessly.

The woman's eyes flashed with anger.

'How dare he ignore my command?'

With a sharp lift of her chin, she signaled the men. Immediately, several burly figures closed in on Gu He, their expressions hostile.

Arms crossed, the woman watched with amusement, expecting him to beg for mercy.

But then, Gu He did something that left her stunned.

With a surge of dou qi coalescing in his palm, he suddenly hurled it straight at the old man she revered so deeply.

At the same time, his voice rang out, calm yet deliberate: "Old Hai, it's been a while. Is this how you greet an old friend?"

…

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