Chapter 102: Big Fish Stew
Ten days later.
The big shark, wrapped in a cloud of black mist, slowly descended along the Nine Heavens Tree, finally hovering sluggishly at a height of about 10 meters above the ground.
It poked its head out of the cloud, asking Chu Jiu, who was leading the way, with both anticipation and worry, “Can I really swim on the ground?”
Chu Jiu turned his head and replied very confidently, “Really, it definitely won’t freeze.”
The big shark then grinned again.
Since Chu Jiu had said so, it must be fine!
It followed Chu Jiu behind, floating and floating, and floated like this for most of the day.
Chu Jiu climbed onto a small valley and waved vigorously at the big shark:
“We’re here, this is it!”
“Ahead is the pool where you can swim as much as you want!”
The big shark looked at the wisps of hot air rising from the valley ahead and subconsciously sniffed the air:
Huh? Why does it smell a bit strange?
Could there be something cooking in the valley ahead?
The big shark wiggled its tail hard and arched forward, finally reaching the top of the valley.
It looked down—
Wow!
What a big pool! The water in the pool was steaming hot!
Next to this big pool, there were some smaller pools, also puffing out hot air!
In these small pools, there were red dragons soaking in the water, leaning against the edge of the pool with a cloth on their heads, looking very comfortable!
Wow!
The big shark first dipped a pectoral fin into the water—
The water was very warm. Even when it touched its body, the temperature didn’t seem to drop, and there was no sign of freezing.
Chu Jiu stood by the pool and had Kakaba translate loudly, “This is a hot spring!”
“This is a geothermal area. Even if your whole body is soaked in the water, the continuous heat won’t let the water freeze!”
“So, feel free to go into the water!”
Without saying a word, the big shark plunged into the hot spring, splashing high waves that sprayed the red dragons in the nearby small pools with a face full of hot water.
Fortunately, the moment the big shark fell into the water, Little Can had turned into Big Can and carried Chu Jiu to a distance.
Otherwise, Chu Jiu would probably have been scalded by the overly hot pool water at this moment.
Some time ago, when Chu Jiu was exploring the map and farming materials in the Nether Jungle, he discovered this geothermal area and also noticed the hot spring vents among the rocks.
After he discovered that “as long as the water temperature is high enough, the water around the big shark’s body won’t freeze,” he immediately asked the little squirrels to transform this area into hot spring pools.
Ten days passed, and the hot spring pools were completed.
Several pools of various sizes. The largest pool was for the big shark to swim in, and the smaller pools allowed the red dragons who didn’t like to go into the water to soak in them.
The pool water temperature was too high for humans, but it was just right for the big shark and the red dragons.
The big shark contentedly submerged its entire body in the hot spring.
In this giant hot water pool comparable to a football field, a blue and white big shark happily flipped, floated, and blew bubbles, swimming rapidly while giggling foolishly.
This is great! So comfortable!
I can actually swim in the water on land!
Swimming in this pool is even more comfortable than swimming in the Nine Heavens Sea!
Wuwu, I want to swim a few more laps!
While the big shark kept swimming, Chu Jiu finally collected what he needed: [Mucus of the Nine Heavens Jiaolong].
Chu Jiu breathed a sigh of relief, having no time to celebrate this hard-won “victory,” and immediately used [Item Analysis] to analyze the [Mysterious Black Box] dropped by the association again.
[Analyzing…]
[Analysis result: The main materials constituting this rectangular box are “sap of the Initial Tree,” “mucus of the Nine Heavens Jiaolong,” and “stone fragments unchanged by time.”]
[The host has obtained all the materials constituting this item!]
As expected! He wasn’t wrong! That “mucus of some creature” was the “mucus of the Nine Heavens Jiaolong”!
The system notification flashed, and a [Ding] sound rang out:
[Congratulations to the host for achieving the hidden condition “Analyzing the Black Box”!] [“Host-Specific Black Box” recipe X1 has been obtained!]
Recipe for a host-specific black box?
Seeing these words, Chu Jiu felt inexplicably nervous.
He clicked on the [Specific Black Box] system description:
[Host-Specific Black Box: Looks ordinary, just a box that “can put some things in.”
But in fact, this is an item created by gathering the most difficult-to-obtain hidden materials and personally formulating it by the host.
If something breaks the rules of the world’s operation, accelerates the normal flow of time, and spreads energy that shouldn’t exist, then put that thing in the box!
This box can return everything to its initial state and origin.]
[Special reminder: The host can only use this item once. Please choose the timing of using this item carefully.]
Chu Jiu’s heart beat faster.
The association used the [Mysterious Black Box] to hold “a strange object that can attract demons.” Then, according to the system’s prompt, if he made a [Specific Black Box], could it completely lock away those strange objects that attracted demons, preventing them from harming people again?
However, this box could only be used once.
This meant he had to find the most fundamental strange object? And he absolutely couldn’t misjudge?
Just as Chu Jiu was deep in thought, he heard Big Can “aowu” softly beside him, “That big shark’s condition is a bit off.”
Chu Jiu quickly switched from the background to look at the pool:
!
He saw the big shark lying on its back in the water, its eyes turned into mosquito coils!
Chu Jiu gasped and hurriedly said to Big Can, “Quick, quickly pull it out!”
This silly big shark had enjoyed swimming in the hot spring so much that it had actually fainted!
If they didn’t pull it out soon, it would really become big fish stew!
One day later.
The big shark, wrapped in a cloud of black mist, looked down from the sky with reluctance, “Human, are you really leaving?”
The Flowery Dragon flapped his wings, tears welling up in his round eyes, “Chu Jiu, Chu Jiu, I don’t want you to go.”
Behind the Flowery Dragon was a group of red dragons flapping their wings.
Chu Jiu stood on the shore and waved at them, “I have to go back.”
He looked at the big shark, “Remember, you must watch the hourglass when swimming in the hot spring in the future. You have to leave the hot spring when the time is up, understand?”
Big Shark: “Woo-ah!”
He also patted the Flowery Dragon’s head, “Kui’zai is an awesome little dragon!”
“Kui’zai will definitely become a very powerful high priest in the future, able to make the Nine Heavens Tree bloom many, many flowers and bear many, many fruits!”
With tears in his eyes, the Flowery Dragon flicked his pink tail and took out a shiny thing, “This! This!”
“This is something I promised Mommy and Daddy I would give to Chu Jiu!”
“Oh?” Chu Jiu took it and said with a smile, “This is…?”
Flowery Dragon: “This is Kui’zai’s first fallen horn!”
Chu Jiu: ……?
Flowery Dragon: “This, this, our little horns on our heads fall off several times from when we’re little until we grow the horns like Mommy and Daddy!”
“The first horn that falls off, according to our tradition, has to be given to someone very, very important!”
“Kui’zai wants to give it to Chu Jiu!”
“This horn can be blown! As long as Chu Jiu blows it, no matter how far away, your friends will be able to hear your voice!”
Chu Jiu nodded, “Understood, I’ll keep it safe.”
At this moment, the big shark also tried hard to poke its head down, using its pectoral fins to paw at something, “Human! Human!”
Chu Jiu: ?
Big Shark: “I, I also want to give you something!”
“I don’t have horns on my head, so I can’t give you horns.”
“But I have teeth!”
“This is the first tooth I lost when I was little. My brothers said it’s quite useful too. Here, I’ll give it to you!”
With that, a sharp tooth as tall as a person, gleaming with cold light, fell from the sky!
Chu Jiu laboriously picked up this weapon of mass destruction and also nodded to the big shark, “Understood, I’ll keep it safe too!”
Carrying the gifts from the Flowery Dragon and the big shark, amidst the reluctant farewells of the dragons, Chu Jiu jumped onto the small boat and went downstream with the little squirrels, leaving the [Nether Jungle].
The moment he boarded the long-voyage ship and entered the cabin, he received a series of system notifications.
Exploration degree increased to 62%, exploration points increased, pioneer level increased…
Chu Jiu quickly scanned through them, wanting to find a notification about “Little Can’s growth.”
Unfortunately, there was still none.
Some time ago, Rawr Rawr Rabbit and Glup-Glup had successively grown to level ten. Only Little Can’s growth level remained “unknown.”
Now Chu Jiu already knew that this “level” corresponded to the spirit beast’s recovery level.
Not growing all this time meant that Little Can had never “fully recovered,” right…
Whenever he thought of this, Chu Jiu felt a little uncomfortable.
Chu Jiu leaned against the cabin wall and sat down on the floor, casually pulling Little Can into his arms and hugging him, continuing to look at the system’s reward notifications:
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the rare item—the inheritance of the Dragon Clan priest, the “Dragon’s Roar Horn”!]
[Dragon’s Roar Horn: An inconspicuous small horn containing the unique power of the Dragon Clan.
If the host blows this horn and speaks through it, then all non-human intelligent creatures who regard the host as a friend will be able to hear the host’s voice.
However, because this horn is too small, it will probably break after being blown once?]
…A very powerful item. As long as he blew it, not only the Dragon Clan, but also the other little squirrels, snow beastmen, sea dog clan… could all hear his voice?
Hmm, then this horn must be used for something very, very important.
Chu Jiu looked at the next notification.
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the rare item—the personal belonging of the Nine Heavens Jiaolong, the “Sharp Tooth that Crosses the Nine Heavens Wall”!]
[Sharp Tooth that Crosses the Nine Heavens Wall: A very sharp tooth that seems to be usable as a weapon.
But if it is only used as a weapon, its hidden power cannot be unleashed—
This tooth, due to repeatedly traversing the Nine Heavens Sea and repeatedly crossing the Nine Heavens Wall, has accumulated unimaginable power of space-time over thousands of years.
There are rumors that even rifts caused by the forced distortion of space-time can be repaired with such space-time power?
However, there is only one tooth here. If you want to repair a rift, there will probably only be one chance.]
…Another one-time use item.
Chu Jiu frowned, recalling the system’s description of the [Host-Specific Box].
He hugged Little Can and said softly, “Little Can…”
Little Can: “Meow?”
Chu Jiu: “I was thinking… according to the hints the system gave me…”
“Was it that many years ago, a strange object that didn’t originally belong to this world fell into this world…?”
“That thing not only attracted rampaging demons, causing the civilizations of various races to rapidly regress, but also caused space-time rifts.”
“And now… what the system wants me to do is to lock that thing up and then repair the rifts…”
Little Can didn’t respond immediately.
A few seconds later, the small cat in his arms suddenly turned into a black big cat.
The black big cat raised its paw and gently touched his head, “That’s right.”
“You guessed it all based on your own strength.”
Chu Jiu was startled, “Lu Qingyan! You’re here!”
For several months, Lu Qingyan hadn’t appeared even once.
Not even when speaking to Chu Jiu in Little Can’s form, or when meeting Chu Jiu in the “mirror world.”
The black big cat sighed softly, “Sorry… I really wanted to talk to you more…”
“But we only have a few minutes now.”
Chu Jiu hurriedly said, “I know, I know…”
Some time ago, first Glup-Glup grew to level ten and triggered [Return] because he “built an astonishing building” by “constructing a dike sufficient to withstand the tides,” fulfilling his wish.
Later, Hoho Rabbit also grew to level ten and similarly triggered [Return] because he “planted vegetables even in places where it was impossible to cultivate” by “transforming the tidal flats and planting vegetables on them,” fulfilling his wish.
Both little guys, just like Kakaba before them, went through the mirror, then shouted something about a “very important promise,” something about “for Chu Jiu’s future,” and something about “for Lu Qingyan’s happiness,” before returning to this world from the other side of the mirror.
Every time the mirror was used, Chu Jiu’s spirit power value dropped rapidly. After use, the mirror would also become scorching hot and re-enter “cooldown.”
He simply didn’t have any extra time or spirit power value to meet with Lu Qingyan.
Chu Jiu guessed that on the other side of the mirror, Lu Qingyan was the same.
The black big cat listened to Chu Jiu’s comforting “I know” and sighed softly again, its head leaning forward slightly to nuzzle Chu Jiu’s face.
Chu Jiu’s face unknowingly turned red.
If it were the usual Big Can, he would have already reached out his arms, hugged the other’s fluffy neck, and buried his face in it to warm himself.
But now…
Knowing that the other was Lu Qingyan, he both wanted to reach out his arms and was a little… afraid to move.
As if to conceal the unease in his heart, Chu Jiu began to speak rapidly, “You just said that everything I guessed was right?”
Black Big Cat: “Yes.”
Chu Jiu: “Then I’ll keep guessing—did that strange thing sneak into the association?”
Black Big Cat: “Yes.”
Chu Jiu: “Wow, I guessed right again! I’m so amazing!”
Black Big Cat: “Of course.”
Chu Jiu: “Mmm, then if we take down the association together, we can—whoa, wouldn’t that save the world? Wow, so we’re the protagonists of a chuuni shonen manga!”
Black Big Cat: “…Chuuni shonen manga?”
Chu Jiu: “…Um, it’s something that only exists on our Earth. I’ll tell you about it slowly later.”
Black Big Cat: “Okay.”
After chattering away without thinking for a while, Chu Jiu fell silent.
He sat in the cabin, leaning against the wooden cabin wall behind him, listening to the sound of the waves outside.
He said softly, “Lu Qingyan.”
Black Big Cat: “I’m here.”
He said it again, “Lu Qingyan.”
The black big cat didn’t answer, but instead used its paw to lift Chu Jiu’s hand, then lowered its head and placed a kiss on the back of Chu Jiu’s hand.
Chu Jiu: ……!
Black Big Cat: “I have to go…”
“Chu Jiu, after you return to Bean Village, you may soon need to leave the village for the royal city.”
“Before that, I will definitely come to see you again.”
“…Goodbye.”
“I miss you very much.”
Lu Qingyan’s voice disappeared.
Replacing it was Big Can’s “aowu” filled with a hint of worry: “Chu Jiu, what’s wrong? You look a little sad?”
Wasn’t Lu Qingyan just here? After he came, Chu Jiu should be happy, right?
Chu Jiu reached out his arms and wrapped them around Big Can’s neck, saying softly:
“No, I’m not sad.”
“I just… um, miss him.”
*
April.
The long-voyage ship, which had been away from the Carrot Continent for more than half a year, finally returned to this sea area again and docked at the port of Sea Moon City.
On the port, Clara and Halsin, who had seen the ship’s silhouette through the watchtower, had come to greet him in person.
Chu Jiu jumped off the ship and told them that he had obtained the “mucus of the Nine Heavens Jiaolong” and would go straight back to Bean Village to ask Little Ku Physician to make the medicine.
Clara pointed to the sky, “Pioneer Chu Jiu, it’s getting late. Are you really unwilling to have dinner with us and rest well for one night before setting off again?”
Chu Jiu said earnestly, “No need. I rested very well on the ship.”
“As for the dwarf beastmen, they are used to land life. Now that they have been at sea for so long, they will inevitably feel unwell. Please arrange things properly for them, City Lord.”
Clara smiled, “You child…”
“Don’t worry, we have prepared comfortable inns for the dwarf beastmen, enough nuts and special sugarcane candy to let them relax properly.”
“As for you…”
Clara looked at Chu Jiu’s determined eyes, shook her head, and smiled helplessly:
“Alright.”
“I had long thought you would be like this and have already prepared a carriage for you.”
“Go, the carriage and accompanying guards are waiting for you.”
Chu Jiu quickly bowed and thanked her.
Clara added, “I originally wanted to tell you some interesting things.”
“Since you are in such a hurry, then… I’ll let you slowly discover them yourself after you return to Bean Village.”
Chu Jiu: ……?
With a hint of curiosity, Chu Jiu got into the carriage Clara had prepared for him.
After the carriage clattered away, Halsin, who was beside Clara, said half-jokingly and half-seriously, “This young man is really unwilling to even have dinner with us, wanting to return to Bean Village without waiting even a minute longer.”
Clara said, “If he didn’t have such drive, how could he have really found the legendary physician and obtained such a medicinal material that we have never even heard of?”
“Moreover, for him, having dinner with us just means ‘sitting stiffly at the table, answering some inexplicable questions, and enduring an awkward night.'”
Halsin clicked his tongue, just about to reply, when a servant ran over, saying that His Majesty the King had just issued an order for Prince Halsin to return to the royal city immediately.
Hearing this message, both Halsin and Clara’s expressions changed slightly.
Halsin gestured for the servant to step back first, and Clara also asked the accompanying guards to temporarily step aside.
In the twilight, Halsin whispered in a tone that others couldn’t hear:
“His Majesty the King has never issued such an order.”
“You know, he has always… not interfered with my actions.”
Not only did he not interfere, but he had always tacitly allowed Prince Halsin to carry out many activities outside on behalf of the royal family.
Clara remained silent.
Halsin’s expression became even more solemn: “I don’t know what state His Majesty was in when he issued this order.”
Clara understood Halsin’s meaning very well.
For a long time, His Majesty the King’s condition had been somewhat strange.
Sometimes, His Majesty the King appeared clear-headed and wise. Clara and the others would seize this opportunity to quickly offer advice to the King.
Previously, decrees such as “preserving mechanical clocks” and “merging Bean Village” were issued by His Majesty in this state.
But at other times, His Majesty seemed to have suffered some acute illness, disregarding any opinions or advice and only accepting the association’s “suggestions.”
During this period, His Majesty would stubbornly make many incomprehensible decisions.
Such as “abolishing church academies” and “allowing the association to requisition residents’ property at will,” and so on.
Clara looked at the sun gradually setting below the horizon in the distance and said softly, “You know—some time ago, we painstakingly searched for so much evidence of the association plundering wealth and kidnapping ability users, wanting to ask His Majesty to disband the association…”
As a result, the King avoided meeting them.
Later, not only did the King ignore them, but he also sent a group of the guards originally stationed in the royal city to Ancient Linburg!
This action was equivalent to including Ancient Linburg within the protection of the royal family.
Any actions directly hostile to Ancient Linburg or the association were tantamount to declaring war on the royal family.
As a result, no matter how courageous Clara was or how prestigious Halsin was, they didn’t dare to lead the guards into Ancient Linburg under the pretext of “violating the kingdom’s laws.”
Worry deepened between Clara’s brows, and she continued:
“I even withdrew the guards stationed near Ancient Linburg, otherwise I would be suspected of having ulterior motives.”
“Under these circumstances… I suspect that the association has taken some measures beyond our expectations, and has even directly influenced His Majesty the King.”
She turned her head in the dim light, looking in the direction Chu Jiu had just left:
“Chu Jiu just brought back the medicinal materials today and is preparing to make the ‘antidote.’ His Majesty the King unusually ordered you to return to the royal city.”
“This… doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”
At this moment, a sea breeze blew through the port.
The two people standing in the darkness had both experienced great storms.
They could sense that a thick curtain was slowly being raised.
And behind this curtain, whether it was deeper darkness or a glimmer of light they had painstakingly sought for a long time, it was really impossible to determine.
In the darkness of the night, Halsin sighed deeply:
“Thinking too much is useless. I will set off immediately.”
He paused for a moment and tossed a dark, gleaming key in his hand to Clara, “The Prince’s direct guard is temporarily under your command.”
Soon, Prince Halsin got into his ornately decorated royal carriage and left the port directly, heading straight for the royal city.
