Chapter 11: Secondary Piscine Marrow Blood

“Finally, you’re back.” The village chief’s expression relaxed as he addressed the others, “Everyone, you may disperse.”

When Old Wu Liu returned with the news, the village chief had immediately summoned all the able-bodied men, preparing to support Dabao and Chu Danqing.

Fortunately, the two had returned safely.

After the crowd dispersed, the three of them headed toward the village chief’s house.

Along the way, Dabao spoke up, “The Black Abyss demands food, specifically naming Xiao Chu. If not, it wants ten girls.”

Upon hearing this, the village chief’s face darkened.

“Chief, if you don’t mind explaining...” Chu Danqing also spoke up at the right moment.

“It’s laughable, really,” the village chief said with a bitter smile. “The Mountain God’s marriage customs have long been established, but the one behind our mountain is a Cave God. It’s not marriage—it’s consumption.”

“The Cave God prefers girls in the prime of youth.”

“But we have never even seen the Cave God’s true form; what we’ve encountered are merely its minions.”

“You’ve probably heard of the Falling Flower Cave here in Xianghua Village.”

“Just by the name, it sounds rather poetic, but our village is called Xianghua—Flower of Xiang.”

At this, the village chief’s expression grew bitter.

“Dabao... you couldn’t defeat it?” Chu Danqing glanced at Dabao, sensing that something about the situation wasn’t quite as expected.

Previously, Dabao’s demeanor clearly showed restraint.

“It’s just that the minions fear Dabao,” the village chief explained. “Xiao Chu, don’t worry, this matter won’t involve you.”

“But Xiao Chu, you truly are extraordinary—the Cave God actually singled you out?”

The village chief was puzzled. How could an outsider become such a coveted prize, even attracting the attention of a Cave God known only to desire young girls?

“Well... maybe it’s just a whim,” Chu Danqing mused, suspecting the reason. He was rather ordinary; the only difference was his skills in summoning theory and summoning arts.

So he suspected it was the allure of his abilities.

The three soon returned to the village chief’s home, where he invited them to have some late-night snacks.

During the meal, Chu Danqing also briefed the village chief on the white dragon fish’s situation.

The village chief pondered deeply before speaking, “They were sent back too early.”

“Xiao Chu, you and Dabao have been busy all night; get some rest first.”

“I’ll notify the others to block the upstream tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll drain the water and deal with that cursed beast.”

He knew well the urgency of the matter.

Chu Danqing glanced outside into the darkness. “It’s pitch black now; what if something unexpected happens...”

“No matter. As long as this cursed beast lives, I won’t find peace,” the village chief said, then rose and left, but not before noticing the bodies of the white dragon fish’s offspring. He continued, “Dabao, after eating, carry those to Jiang Tu’s place.”

“Tell him to stew all three of those little cursed beasts into soup early tomorrow morning. Before we launch the full assault, everyone must have at least two large bowls.”

Dabao swallowed his food in a few bites, nodded, and said, “Alright.”

“Xiao Chu, take your time eating,” the village chief said before departing.

Dabao finished hastily, hoisted the white dragon fish offspring, and followed out the door.

Left alone, Chu Danqing sped up his eating.

He was eager to return and open the treasure chest.

Once back in the village chief’s side room, Chu Danqing finally took out the chest.

“Hopefully, I’ll get something useful.”

[You have opened: Treasure Chest (Common), obtained: Lesser Fish Marrow Blood, Paradise Points ×100]

[Lesser Fish Marrow Blood]

[Type: Consumable]

[Quality: Common]

[Effect: Upon use, immediately restores 10% health and increases constitution by 1 for 1 minute.]

“It seems the giant salamander doesn’t have fish marrow blood... well, the white dragon fish isn’t exactly a giant salamander.”

“But it’s a good item, and life-saving to boot.” Chu Danqing had played a minor role in the battle, but he knew he was fragile.

The health restored wasn’t as much as wolf blood, but the immediate restoration was invaluable—he had no idea how slow the wolf blood’s effect really was.

“If only the attribute bonus could be changed to increase the amount of health restored.”

The duration was only one minute; even if it were five minutes, it wouldn’t feel so trivial. Three minutes would suffice.

After stowing the consumable, Chu Danqing waited for Dabao’s return.

He understood his predicament—the Falling Flower Cave had long coveted him.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but self-mock, “I’ve become Tang Seng’s flesh.”

“No summoned creatures in the summoning path—it’s truly frustrating.”

“Next, I have to consider my own situation,” Chu Danqing pondered.

That was the attitude of Xianghua Village.

The Falling Flower Cave demanded either ten girls or him as a sacrifice.

The village chief, Dabao, and others were most likely on his side, but the rest of the villagers held the real sway.

“So, I must strike first!” Chu Danqing’s expression grew serious.

By striking first, he did not mean attacking the villagers, but the Falling Flower Cave itself.

Eliminate the source of the problem, and there would be no choice to make.

Even if Xianghua Village refused to settle matters by sacrificing him, Chu Danqing could never stand by and watch ten children, barely fifteen or sixteen years old, be devoured by the so-called Cave God.

Before he arrived, Xianghua Village was this way; after he came, it remained the same. Wouldn’t that mean his arrival was for nothing?

Since the white dragon fish could be slain, he did not believe the Falling Flower Cave could not be overcome.

Before long, Dabao pushed open the door and returned.

“Xiao Chu, sleep now; tomorrow we kill the beast,” Dabao said simply, then lay down on the bed.

“Not yet, let’s talk about the Black Abyss,” Chu Danqing wasn’t tired. Like most modern young people, few of them slept before eleven.

“Fine, Xiao Chu, ask away,” Dabao said, sitting upright.

“What about those minions of the Black Abyss?” Chu Danqing asked first, concerned about them.

Those minions were the rustling sounds he had heard tonight.

“They’re a group of little dwarfs, very fragile; one punch turns them into meat patties.”

“Xiao Chu, you could even kill them with stones. It’s just that there are many of them, and their bites hurt.” Dabao used his limited vocabulary and gestures to describe.

As Dabao gestured, Chu Danqing noticed the wound from the white dragon fish’s claws on Dabao’s body had already scabbed over.

After a good night’s sleep, it would heal completely.

Such a healing ability was far beyond that of ordinary men.

Truly incredible.

“Apart from the little dwarfs, there’s a big white monkey. It’s even more powerful than the beast.”

“The village chief said it’s the Black Abyss’s shaman,” Dabao said, not fully understanding why the shaman wasn’t eaten, but relayed what he’d heard.

Chu Danqing understood—it was a priest, not chicken floss. Dabao’s limited intellect simply couldn’t grasp the concept.