CHAPTER 173: 131 I AM WILLING

Du Yu looked at the bell bracelet and asked, "Master Qing, can it be used?"

"No." Yang Qingqing shook her head.

Judging by the current state of the bell bracelet, Du Yu had already guessed the answer.

Getting such a reply from Master Qing, he comforted her softly, "It’s alright. If my Shadow Gu Tower can be reborn, the bell bracelet definitely can too. Please wait a moment, Master Qing—I’ll ask the Shadow Gu Tower first."

As he spoke, Du Yu had already closed his eyes.

In the dim living room, Yang Qingqing stood with her hands behind her back, quietly watching Du Yu’s face.

As his brows furrowed slightly, her eyebrows also knit gently.

Slowly, Du Yu opened his eyes: "Master Qing, the Shadow Gu Tower says that the prerequisite for everything is that the bell bracelet’s spiritual sense has not dissipated.

If it’s still slumbering within the bracelet, that would be the best result.

So-called spiritual sense is the self-awareness a Spiritual Artifact develops after reaching a certain grade."

Yang Qingqing let out a gentle sigh. "I’ve already tried to awaken it. During my advancement, I communicated with it a little through a Demon Soul.

The bell bracelet’s spiritual sense hasn’t perished, it’s just that..."

Du Yu: "What?"

Yang Qingqing shook her head. "I can feel its disappointment—deep, deep disappointment.

Maybe it’s towards the current era, or perhaps its past experiences. Whatever it is, its heart is dead; it has no desire to awaken."

As she spoke, Yang Qingqing’s eyes widened slightly.

Before her, Du Yu’s body was suddenly wrapped in a dense black mist.

Matryoshka time again!

A tall woman formed of black mist silently raised her hand and gently held Yang Qingqing’s wrist.

"Long time no see, old friend."

The voice came from Du Yu, but Yang Qingqing was sure it was the black mist woman speaking.

"Ling~ Ling~"

A few minutes later, Yang Qingqing felt a sudden tremor from the bell bracelet on her wrist!

"Pfft~"

The black mist woman quietly dissipated, leaving only Du Yu, looking a bit sorrowful, his gaze lowered, as if immersed in some emotion.

His mood had gone through such a dramatic change, as if in just these few minutes, he’d experienced a long, winding story.

"Ling~ Ling~"

Yang Qingqing raised her hand, ignored the bell bracelet, and instead pressed lightly on Du Yu’s shoulder, concerned: "Are you alright?"

"N-no problem." Du Yu forced a smile. "The spiritual contract between the Shadow Gu Tower and me is of a very high grade, so I feel its emotions a bit too acutely."

Du Yu shook his head vigorously, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and spoke, "The bell bracelet has awakened, but unlike the Shadow Gu Tower, it never thought of returning to the world, so it never put in the effort for it either.

Right now, it’s very weak. The Shadow Gu Tower suggests that you, Master Qing, guard the bracelet’s spiritual sense with spiritual qi, and, only when it’s safe, use demon breath to temper the bracelet."

"Hmm..."

Du Yu: "This will also be a challenging hurdle. Spiritual Artifacts with spiritual sense are all of extremely high grade, and have their own pride.

If you wish for the bracelet to give up its noble status, to mingle with demon breath, to change its worldly form, Master Qing will really need to persuade it patiently."

As he spoke, Du Yu had finally recovered, his tone growing more upbeat: "But the Shadow Gu Tower has talked a lot with it; with the tower’s help, there shouldn’t be any problem. Just take good care of the bracelet, Master Qing."

Yang Qingqing’s face grew a bit complicated. The palm on Du Yu’s shoulder squeezed slightly: "Thank you."

"Don’t say that. Without you, Master Qing, I wouldn’t even have known about the Shadow Gu Tower, let alone met it." Du Yu finally looked up, grinning widely.

Yang Qingqing also gave a heartfelt smile and asked, "Has your Shadow Gu Tower been repaired?"

"Not fully repaired, but it’s stabilized and gotten through the roughest patch. The fruit gifted by the Divine Tree was brimming with spiritual energy—even I managed to get a taste of the spoils."

Yang Qingqing nodded. "What functions does your Shadow Gu Tower have?"

Du Yu organized his thoughts and explained the tower’s two abilities—to bewilder enemies and to seize souls. Yang Qingqing listened in amazement.

"It truly is an incredible Spiritual Artifact."

Du Yu’s heart skipped a beat: "Master Qing, do you want to try it out under the Twin Trees? The bell bracelet and Twin Trees must be old friends of 600 or 700 years. Maybe Twin Trees will even gift you a fruit?"

"Good idea. I should devote myself to cultivation for a while, too."

Only then did Du Yu remember to offer congratulations, quickly saying, "Congratulations on advancing to Demon Taming General, Master Qing."

Though he was congratulating someone else, Du Yu felt even more proud inside~

My master is a Demon Taming General!

If word got out, who would dare mess with me?

However, Yang Qingqing’s cold voice suddenly sounded: "I failed."

"Ah?" Du Yu was taken aback, only now realizing—did Yang Qingqing return so quickly because the advancement failed?

"No worries." Yang Qingqing was very nonchalant, hands behind her back, fingers fiddling with the bell bracelet. "I’ll just keep cultivating."

Du Yu’s mind raced—was it because Master Qing was searching for the bracelet and got distracted? Or was it...

Damn!

Failing to advance at this level surely puts one’s life at serious risk!

Master Qing looked all light clouds and gentle wind on the surface, but it’s hard to imagine what she was like these past days—did she just claw her way back from the edge of death...?

Yang Qingqing suddenly spoke, "You said earlier, the Shadow Gu Tower can absorb Demon Souls, refine them, and nourish you?"

"Ah, yes." Du Yu stammered. "Master Qing, this time you advanced..."

Yang Qingqing forcefully cut him off: "Refining Demon Souls—is it beneficial for repairing the Shadow Gu Tower?"

Du Yu hesitated for a moment, then answered dutifully, "Yes. Both Spiritual Po and Demon Souls are nourishing for the Shadow Gu Tower."

Demon Souls are the product of all living beings cultivating demon breath to a certain level and eventually condensing them out.

If demon breath can nurture the Shadow Gu Tower, then Demon Souls are even more potent.

"Can you now use the Shadow Gu Tower to absorb Demon Souls?"

After a quick inquiry to the Shadow Gu Tower, Du Yu nodded: "I can, but only if the target has lost the ability to resist."

"Looks like you’ll have to hit the battlefield," Yang Qingqing said softly.

"Battlefield? Master Qing, do you mean to send me to the Bottomless Pit?"

"South Suburbs Bottomless—the first ten layers are open to society’s Demon Tamers. Celestial-level Monster Beasts may appear on layers 3 to 5."

Du Yu was puzzled: "Aren’t Demon Souls something that only forms at Fourth Level·Spirit Level? As for Celestial-level Monster Beasts..."

"Spirit Level is when Demon Souls are fully formed." Yang Qingqing patiently instructed her disciple. "But in the Third Level, at Heavenly Level, both the Human Race and the Beast Race already have unformed Demon Souls.

Those wisps of Demon Soul are like streams—yet to gather into rivers or seas, with no qualitative transformation yet."

Du Yu nodded emphatically. "Got it!"

Yang Qingqing: "Go to sleep. Tomorrow I’ll have Sword Province accompany you to the battlefield."

Du Yu’s eyes lit up. "Senior Brother Fu is back?"

"Have you figured out an explanation for ’Sword Province’ yet?" Yang Qingqing turned to look at Du Yu, her face alight with a gentle smile. "You’ve been keeping him guessing—he’s still thinking about it."

"Well, uh... speaking of senior brothers." Du Yu forced a topic change. "Master Qing, I have a high school classmate..."

...

The next morning, Du Yu had finished washing by seven and left his room.

He hugged Xiaoyan in his arms, Xiaobai trotted at his feet, and Little You Ying floated behind his shoulder as he headed toward the dining hall.

In his third month in this world, he was already this rich.

"Nai~" Xiaobai suddenly called out like a deer. At a far corner of the living room, the Firethorn Tree that had been swaying its branches and rustling suddenly quieted down.

"Ha!" Du Yu couldn’t help but giggle, giving Xiaobai a thumbs-up.

What does it really mean to have a bodyguard?

No, I should call this a "mouthguard"!

That Firethorn Tree really didn’t dare move a muscle—just let Du Yu come and go as he pleased, never daring to make a move!

However, even with the Firethorn Tree being this well-behaved, as Xiaobai passed the big flowerpot, it still managed to snatch up one of its leaves...

"Naisi!" Du Yu reached out and rubbed Xiaobai’s head. "Not bad, after sleeping with me all night!"

"Nai~" The Little Immortal Deer happily raised its head, its mouth full of Firethorn Leaves, a big silly grin on its face.

So now comes the question!

With Xiaobai around, I can avoid the Firethorn Tree’s teasing and loss of dignity.

Without Xiaobai, if I get teased, there’s a chance I’ll score a Firethorn Fruit.

Which is really the better deal?

Hmm... on my mom’s knees, no matter how I think about it, getting teased is more worth it?

Can’t throw away the fruit just for the sake of dignity...

Du Yu’s expression grew strange as he thought and arrived at the dining room door.

He had planned to make breakfast for Master Qing and feed all the Demon Pets, but as soon as he got there he smelled the aroma of food?

In the kitchen, a tall figure was bustling around, carrying a plate of steamed shrimp to the table.

"Senior Brother Fu!"

Seeing Du Yu arrive with all the Demon Pets in tow, Fu Jianzhou’s face also broke into a hearty smile. "Good morning."

Du Yu let out a sly laugh, went to the cupboard, and teased, "Congratulations on mastering your skills, Senior Brother Fu?"

Fu Jianzhou quickly waved his hands. "No, no, I’m still far from mastering anything!"

Senior Brother Fu was as modest and low-key as always, but a man in high spirits can’t hide the joy on his face.

Advancing to Great Demon Tamer is no small feat—it’s the fruit of surviving countless dangers. Who wouldn’t feel proud?

Du Yu took out a wax paper bag, feeding his Demon Pets as he heard Fu Jianzhou suddenly change the topic: "It was all thanks to our Master Qing’s protection."

"Hm?" Du Yu turned toward the dining room door, and, sure enough, saw Master Qing herself stepping into the dining hall dressed in white sportswear.

Yang Qingqing shot Fu Jianzhou a glance, slight displeasure in her brows.

Words should be spoken by the right kind of person. Fu Jianzhou is clearly not that sort; he’d lost his composure.

Yang Qingqing sat down on a chair and said softly, "Getting what you want is just our fleeting good luck. Hardship, setbacks, and regrets are the main melody of the Demon Taming path."

Fu Jianzhou, clutching a plate of lettuce, turned, bowed respectfully, and said, "Yes, Master Qing."

Du Yu quietly fed his Demon Pets, not daring to make a sound.

He had seen people’s respect for Master Qing with his own eyes and found it odd—he’d spent so long around her, but she’d never once scolded him?

"Du Yu."

"Here!" Du Yu jumped in surprise and quickly responded.

Yang Qingqing shot Du Yu a reproachful look, held out a bank card between her fingers, and handed it over: "There’s 200,000 in the card."

Du Yu: ???

Fu Jianzhou also looked odd, but dared not meddle, quietly setting his plate on the table.

Du Yu dumbly took the bank card, with three big words in his heart: I’m willing!

Say no more, I’ll do anything!

Only—why didn’t you give it to me last night?

There are outsiders here. If word gets out, how embarrassing would that be...