Volume 4: Hidden Struggles, Chapter 85: A Minor Servant

What Chu Tianyu saw was none other than the mysterious Miss Feifei, whom he had met twice in Hong Kong! With her cold expression and white trench coat, she exuded an elegant grace that was even more captivating than her dazzling presence on stage!

Unlike Chu Tianyu, Xue Feifei felt nothing particular toward this man she encountered on this ancient trade route. Judging from her expression, she seemed to be the leader of these girls, though she looked worried and preoccupied—clearly, her thoughts were not on such trivial matters. Moreover, at that moment, Chu Tianyu was covered in dust, with a scruffy beard and tattered clothes, carrying a wicker basket. No one could possibly associate him with the well-dressed young lady from Hong Kong, the daughter of the Chu family, who frequented high-society circles.

“Xiaoya, ask him if there are other routes to Motuo from here. How far is it from here to Motuo?” Xue Feifei glanced at Chu Tianyu briefly before giving her instructions.

“Hey, did you hear what your senior said? Hey, what are you staring at? Can you speak Mandarin?” Xiaoya asked irritably as she saw Chu Tianyu staring blankly at Xue Feifei.

Chu Tianyu never expected to run into an “old acquaintance” here. Counting Ou Yang Ziyi, they were still enemies, and it was obvious they belonged to some kind of sect. It seemed Xue Feifei was their senior leader. It appeared that everyone with supernatural abilities gathering in Motuo must have some ulterior motive—could it be related to the black dragon on his back? Chu Tianyu had a badpremonition!

As Chu Tianyu was lost in thought, he suddenly felt someone pulling at him. Turning around, he saw that it was Xiaoya. Seeing that he kept staring blankly, she resorted to force. At the same time, he heard her urging him again.

“Xiaoya, ask nicely. The locals here are quite isolated and don’t understand Mandarin well. They’re probably not used to seeing so many people—ask slowly!” Xue Feifei said gently. Her voice was as melodious as heavenly music, soothing to hear.

“Sir, do you understand Mandarin?” It seemed Xue Feifei had great authority among them. Though she spoke little and in a gentle tone, her words carried weight. Xiaoya stuck out her tongue playfully and immediately changed her attitude, asking slowly and carefully.

Chu Tianyu found it very interesting and began to feel a bit of goodwill toward Xue Feifei and her group. Suddenly, a playful idea popped into his mind. After all, the Mo Long energy was no longer acting up. And it seemed that this black dragon was guiding him in the direction of Motuo. Could it really be the same place these cultivators were heading to? Did they share the same goal? Or was there some other connection? It might be better to take this opportunity to follow them; maybe he could learn something from them.

With this thought, Chu Tianyu made up his mind. He mumbled a few words casually, then deliberately spoke a few phrases in a clumsy manner—things like Motuo, lead the way, and money…

“Senior sister, he says he can be our guide and take us there directly, as long as we pay!” Xiao Ya excitedly told Xue Feifei after finally understanding what Chu Tianyu had said.

“Hmm, it would be great to have a guide. Since it’s already past the scheduled time, we won’t wait for Grandma and the others. Maybe they’re already waiting ahead. Let’s head forward first. If they haven’t arrived by then, we’ll leave a marker and wait while we keep moving! Everyone, get ready—let’s set off!” Xue Feifei ordered.

“Hey, how much do you want?” Xiao Ya immediately turned to Chu Tianyu after her senior sister agreed to her suggestion.

Chu Tianyu thought this little girl was really amusing. She probably didn’t have much experience in the world—her straightforward speech suggested she had no ill intentions. This made him want to tease her a bit. He decided to ask for a high amount, so he stretched out five fingers and was about to say five hundred yuan…

Suddenly, Xiao Ya let out a shocked cry, “What!?”

Her scream startled Chu Tianyu. He thought, “I hadn’t even said five hundred yet! How could she react like that?” After all, Xue Feifei, whatever her status as a senior sister or from which sect she came, with her melodious singing voice and her status as a superstar in reality, shouldn’t be so materialistic, right?

Chu Tianyu was hesitating, wondering if he had asked too much. But when he heard what Xiao Ya said next, he almost fainted from shock!

“Senior sister, the prices in the mountains are really low! He only wants five yuan to take us there—how cheap!” Xiao Ya exclaimed in amazement.

“The people in the mountains are so simple!” said a girl with a kind-looking face.

“Yes! This place isn’t like the city at all. Everything in the city is expensive, and the people there are extremely cunning!” said another girl.
“Right, right…” the others agreed.
Chu Tianyu grew more and more sweaty as he listened—what was all this about? He was indeed from the mountains, and even guiding someone just once wouldn’t cost less than five yuan. On the contrary, due to poor transportation, the prices of some daily necessities here were even higher than in the city, especially in Motuo. Only for a few short months each year could supplies be carried in by hand, making goods there extremely expensive. Foods meant for tourists and explorers, for example, cost three yuan for an egg and nearly 150 yuan for a hen!
These were his real experiences from the last time he passed through there with his second master. And now that information is more accessible, the people in the mountains also have some economic awareness—how to make more money from tourists is basically known to them…
“Xiaoya, it’s not easy for people in the mountains either. Just give him fifty yuan!” said one of the girls who seemed a bit older.
“Here, dear fellow from the mountains, we’re giving you fifty yuan—too much? No need to give change. Don’t be polite; consider the extra as a gift for you. But you must guide us well, hehe…” Xiaoya took out a crumpled fifty-yuan note and said it with an air of “merciful generosity”.
“Alright, I guess I have to accept this loss. It’s rare to get such ‘kindness’ from these young ladies…” Chu Tianyu thought to himself with a bitter smile.
“Big brother, could you carry my bag for us as well?” Xiaoya politely asked.
“And mine too…”
“Carry mine too!”
“My bag too!” The other girls also started shouting.
In no time, Chu Tianyu’s appearance changed again. After organizing his bags, he now had a large backpack strapped vertically on his back, with another across it. His original small basket was moved to his chest, leaving him seemingly submerged in a sea of bags…
“Hehe, this is great. Now we have someone to guide us and bags to carry…”
“That’s right, just fifty yuan…”
“Sister, don’t say that. These fifty yuan might be this local’s annual income!”
“Right, right. He’s lucky to have met us. He’s making a fortune…”
“…” The light-hearted girls chatted happily.

Chu Tianyu, who had been given fifty yuan and felt as though he owed them a huge favor, was at a loss for words, following them with a gloomy expression, accepting this “lucrative” menial job!