Chapter 460 – Flaming Sun Grass

“Sigh…” Zhang Xiaohua let out an involuntary sigh. For some reason, his heart softened, and his strength ebbed away. With a shake of his arm, he flung the white wolf far off once more.

“This time, even if that white wolf is foolish, it surely won’t come back again,” Zhang Xiaohua thought to himself.

Alas, reality often speaks louder than reason. The white wolf once again did something that left Zhang Xiaohua utterly dumbfounded.

The white wolf raised its head and let out a long howl, its voice echoing across the wilderness. This time, the howl carried a tragic, sorrowful tone. As its cry fell silent, the white wolf once again charged at Zhang Xiaohua, with neither hesitation nor regard for its life.

“This…” Zhang Xiaohua was truly enraged now. “What the hell is going on? Could it be that this Flaming Sun Grass is that important to this white wolf? There’s no record in the jade slip about Flaming Sun Grass having any effect on beasts. Even if you were the first to see it, treasures of the world belong only to those with virtue. Since I was able to lay eyes on this Flaming Sun Grass, that surely means I am one with virtue. I’ve already spared your life multiple times—that counts as being benevolent and righteous, doesn’t it?”

“You keep pestering me like this—do you really have a death wish?”

Provoked by the white wolf’s relentless actions, Zhang Xiaohua could no longer be bothered to ponder its strange behavior. He clenched his left hand into a fist and mustered seventy percent of his strength, then swung it straight toward the white wolf’s skull!

But just then, a furious shout came from the distance: “You rascal over there—who are you? Eat this old man’s throwing dart!”

As the voice fell, a concealed weapon shot toward Zhang Xiaohua like a falling star. Earlier, he had only swept his divine sense across the forest in passing, never expecting someone to approach from the valley entrance—so he hadn’t noticed.

Still, though the person launched a hidden weapon at him without asking questions, fortunately, the dart had come from a distance and was well-aimed—it struck toward his arm. Clearly, the person only meant to stop him from delivering a killing blow, not to take his life.

At this point, how could Zhang Xiaohua not understand? This newcomer must be in league with the white wolf. This person must be the true master of the Flaming Sun Grass.

Sigh—those who could reach the depths of this forest and weren’t from Spring Rebirth Valley—who else could they be? Seems like this is a case of one side’s people clashing with their own. A classic case of the flood overflowing into the Dragon King Temple.

His mind made clear in a flash, Zhang Xiaohua relaxed his clenched left hand and once again grabbed the white wolf’s front leg, flinging it behind him as before—right in the direction of the approaching man. Then, stretching out his hand, he calmly caught the incoming projectile—it was a coin-shaped throwing dart.

Though the man had let out a shout to distract Zhang Xiaohua and hurled his dart, he was still quite a distance away. By the time the white wolf hit the ground after being thrown, he had only just run up beside it. The white wolf, having been tossed again, now seemed quite accustomed to the motion. It didn’t panic at all. Instead, it let out a joyous howl and leapt toward the man affectionately.

Only then did Zhang Xiaohua slowly turn around and take a good look at the newcomer.

It was an old man with hair and beard both as white as snow, dressed in plain azure robes. In his left hand, he held a small hoe, while his right hand gently stroked the white wolf’s head, as if trying his best to comfort it. However, his eyes—filled with astonishment, fury, and confusion—were fixed firmly on Zhang Xiaohua in the distance.

After thinking it over for a moment—and feeling that he was indeed in the wrong—Zhang Xiaohua took the initiative to step forward and gave a deep bow. Just as he was about to speak, the old man refused to return the salute and barked angrily: “Whose disciple are you? Why do I have no recollection of you at all? Don’t tell me you don’t recognize Da Bai(Big White)?”

“Da Bai?” Zhang Xiaohua muttered inwardly. “Is that what he calls this white wolf? Judging by the situation, this old man must be a senior from Spring Rebirth Valley. But what kind of nonsense is this? If I were someone’s disciple, how would I not recognize your pet? Hmm… then again, maybe this wolf is the sect’s mascot or something. But the fact that I dared strike it already proves I’m no disciple of Spring Rebirth Valley. If you can’t even make that kind of simple deduction, you still dare to call yourself a senior?”

Putting on a sheepish smile, Zhang Xiaohua said: “I’m not a disciple of Spring Rebirth Valley. May I ask this senior’s esteemed name?”

As soon as the old man heard that Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t from Spring Rebirth Valley, his expression turned wary, and even the white wolf turned its head again, baring its teeth with a fierce expression.

Unfortunately for it, while the white wolf’s face might have looked fierce, the fear in its eyes had already betrayed its true feelings.

The old man said coldly: “Since you’re not a disciple of Spring Rebirth Valley, why did you trespass into our valley? How did you get in here?”

Zhang Xiaohua turned his head and glanced at the distant sheer cliff face, then chuckled. “Old sir, do you really think there’s any path down through this terrain?”

The old man was momentarily stunned, and answered without thinking: “Of course, there isn’t.”

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized something was off. He immediately corrected himself: “I’m the one asking questions here—not you!”

Zhang Xiaohua pointed past the old man and said: “Of course, I came in through the outer valley entrance.”

The old man gave a dismissive snort. “That’s a poor excuse. You might as well have said you flew down from the cliffs. The inner valley of Spring Rebirth Valley has always been off-limits to outsiders—especially this deep within the valley, where even our own disciples are forbidden from venturing. Yet here you are, somehow…”

At this point, his gaze shifted toward the Flaming Sun Grass in the distance. He nodded and said: “Seems like you came here for that stalk of ‘Red Flame Grass’, didn’t you?”

Then, in a sharp voice, he barked: “Speak! Who sent you here? If you come clean and confess, I might be lenient and let you live. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to seize you and interrogate the one behind you!”

“Red Flame Grass?” Zhang Xiaohua blinked, pointing at the Flaming Sun Grass. “You’re calling that thing ‘Red Flame Grass’?”

A strange glint flashed through the old man’s eyes, but he didn’t reply to Zhang Xiaohua’s words. Instead, he patted the white wolf’s head, and the creature obediently stepped aside. Then it let out another low growl, lifting its head to glare at Zhang Xiaohua, as if issuing a fresh challenge.

The old man also stepped forward, brandishing the small hoe in his hand and shouting: “Brat, from the look on your face, I can tell you’re not here with honest intentions! Still trying to change the subject? You must be up to no good. So, are you going to surrender quietly, or shall this old man strike you down with a single blow?”

“Wow~” Zhang Xiaohua exclaimed. “Isn’t this old man a little too biased? What a temper. Tsk tsk, he’s even more hot-blooded than we young folk. Wants to kill people at the drop of a hat.”

With amusement in his voice, Zhang Xiaohua asked: “Elder, how exactly did you determine I’m not a good person? Based solely on your own sense of right and wrong, you think you have the authority to sentence me to death?”

The old man hadn’t expected Zhang Xiaohua to say that, and was momentarily taken aback. Then he burst into laughter: “Back when this old man was enforcing the law in Spring Rebirth Valley, I can’t even count how many sneaky little thieves like you I dealt with—breaking into our valley to covet our rare herbs and precious pills. Those struck dead beneath my palm are beyond number—what’s one more today?”

Seeing the old man so smug, as if he truly had fire-piercing eyes, Zhang Xiaohua was left speechless.

He could only shrug and say: “Elder, if you’re talking about that Red Flame Grass, I’ll admit—I did stumble upon it here, and I did intend to harvest it for alchemy. But if you’re accusing me of trying to steal those boiled-water pills of Spring Rebirth Valley—please, I honestly have not the slightest interest. What’s more important is: though I’m not a disciple of your valley, the fact that I’m here at all isn’t because I sneaked in, as you claim. I’m a friend of Valley Master Nie’s youngest daughter. I came into the inner valley at the invitation of Nie Qianyu.”

“What?” The old man’s expression changed. “You’ve actually been to Spring Rebirth Valley’s pill refining chambers? That Nie Shuai—he still doesn’t know what’s important and what’s not! Letting an outsider casually stroll into our alchemy halls? Sigh, still the same brash attitude after all these years!”

“Nie Shuai??” Zhang Xiaohua nearly burst out laughing when he heard the valley master’s name said like that. No matter how he looked at Valley Master Nie, there was nothing even remotely “handsome” (shuai) about him. And this old man actually had the gall to call him careless? That’s rich—like a fox covered in white fur calling someone else a monster.

The old man now looked Zhang Xiaohua up and down. “Which daughter of his is Nie Qianyu again? I remember that rascal had a few daughters with nearly identical names. Hey—wait—are you the kid from Old Yue’s family of Luming Sect? I remember you came with him to Spring Rebirth Valley once when you were little.”

Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help laughing and crying at once. “You’re thinking of Nie Qianrong, the eldest daughter. Her husband is from Luming Sect, surname Yue—sorry, I’ve forgotten his full name. I only met him once, a few months ago. Nie Qianyu is the valley master’s youngest daughter.”

“Oh, that girl! Sigh, even she’s grown up now… and already found a husband…”

Zhang Xiaohua hurriedly interrupted: “Elder, you’ve misunderstood again. I’m just a friend of Nie Qianyu!”

The old man copied Zhang Xiaohua’s earlier gesture and waved him off, cutting him short. “Friend, not friend—what’s the difference? You’ve already set foot into our Spring Rebirth Valley’s alchemy chambers. You still want me to believe you’re just an ordinary friend? Young man, one must be honest in life.”

“This…” Zhang Xiaohua was at a loss for words. How could he explain something that wasn’t dishonest to begin with?

However, after their back-and-forth, the old man seemed to understand there had been some kind of misunderstanding. His tone softened, and it seemed he’d mostly accepted Zhang Xiaohua’s identity. Still, the small hoe in his hand remained raised, showing no signs of letting down his guard.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohua glanced sideways at the nearby Flaming Sun Grass, cupped his hands, and said: “I didn’t know this Red Flame Grass belonged to the elder. I ask your forgiveness. Since you’ve arrived, I’ll take my leave. What say you?”

The old man, seeing that Zhang Xiaohua intended to leave, immediately replied: “No can do. You’ve said quite a bit, but it’s all one-sided. You think I’d be fooled so easily? Besides, now that you know the location of this Red Flame Grass, who’s to say you won’t sneak back later to pluck it?”

Zhang Xiaohua laughed. “That’s easy to fix. I was just about to head toward the alchemy hall near the valley entrance. If you’re willing, you can come with me.”

As he said this, a thought stirred in his heart. Extending his divine sense outward, he sensed several people hurrying in their direction. Leading them was none other than Valley Master Nie himself.

But the old man waved him off. “This old man’s time is precious. I’m in the middle of gathering herbs—where would I find time to accompany you back into the valley? Just wait here. Da Bai’s howl earlier must have already alerted the inner valley. Your so-called ‘future in-laws’ are surely on their way. Heh—boy, if you’ve been lying to me, just wait and see Da Bai rip you to shreds!”

“Old sir, for the last time—I’m not Nie Qianyu’s husband!!” Zhang Xiaohua snapped, finally losing his temper.

“Same difference. Maybe not now—but you will be, sooner or later.” The old man muttered, curling his lip.

“You—!” Zhang Xiaohua tilted his head back and looked to the sky, refusing to argue further.