Chapter 94: Others Have Come to Join Too

Soon, Liu Yingde naturally and tactfully introduced Zhang Pu to Guangcai and Caihua. The two were both astonished and overjoyed. Without further hesitation, they agreed that Zhang Pu and the other three could go with them to the Dragon Poison Pool.

Zhang Pu then spoke plainly as well, telling Guangcai and Caihua that he simply wished to see the legendary Black Dragon.

Although Guangcai and Caihua had just witnessed Liu Yingde’s uncanny powers, they still could not help worrying about Zhang Pu and the others. After all, dragons were extraordinary beings; could ordinary men withstand even a single exchange with one? Even if Liu Yingde and the rest seemed to possess strange arts, still...

Both Guangcai and Caihua said that if there was no urgent need to come into direct contact with the Black Dragon, it would be better to take only a distant look first, then return to prepare thoroughly and come again another time.

In truth, they did not know whether Zhang Pu and the others sought the Black Dragon in order to subdue it.

As for those like Liu Yingde, who practiced sorcery, Guangcai and Caihua did know that some such people liked to capture rare beasts and strange creatures. It was said that these rare beings were of some benefit to their cultivation. But the price of doing so could be very high; some even paid with their lives.

It was at least fortunate that they were after the Black Dragon, so the others could console themselves with that excuse. Otherwise, if this party went off and died, people might think they had merely accompanied them to gather immortal herbs. They would not have killed them themselves, and yet the deaths would still have been because of them... Both Guangcai and Caihua would have lived with lifelong guilt and an uneasy conscience.

Liu Yingde naturally still lacked the confidence to contend with the Black Dragon. Though he had once been wildly self-assured, ever since meeting Zhang Pu he finally understood that there is always a higher sky beyond the heavens, and a stronger man beyond the man. He had heard the legends of the Black Dragon, and knew well that he was no match for it. But now that he had Zhang Pu, this expert, he suddenly felt a strong urge to try his luck at it as well, or at least to watch the clash between Zhang Pu and the Black Dragon. For him, that alone would be a great fortune.

Thus the party settled it: they would all go together to the Dragon Poison Pool.

And although they now had reinforcements like Zhang Pu, Caihua, being the more meticulous of the girls, insisted on bringing several skilled men from under her father’s command as well.

Needless to say, what followed was how Caihua would cajole and press her father, using both softness and force, to secure his help. Here, under Guangcai’s warm hospitality, Zhang Pu, Liu Yingde, and the other two stayed temporarily and waited for Caihua’s news.

It turned out that this was Guangcai’s home. The boy was pitiful indeed: he had lost both parents when young, and was raised by an uncle who never married. Three years ago, that uncle too died of illness, leaving Guangcai alone in this house.

Perhaps heaven pitied his fate, for the hand of destiny arranged for a wealthy young lady, Caihua, to meet him and fall in love with him. Caihua, disregarding all objections from her family, was determined to stay by Guangcai’s side, even secretly supporting the poor artist all along.

Guangcai also loved her sincerely and intended to strive with all his might, hoping that one day he would become worthy of Caihua and no longer subject her to her family’s criticism.

But then a sudden terminal illness seemed to thrust Guangcai straight to the edge of destiny’s cliff...

Fortunately, he would not submit to fate. He fought on, and in the end received from Doctor Li, the miracle physician in town, a map leading to the Dragon Poison Pool in search of an immortal herb to prolong his life.

And now Guangcai had again awaited the arrival of Zhang Pu, the savior, though he himself did not yet know that Zhang Pu was the one who could save his life.

How Caihua would explain things to her family, they did not know, but surely it would not be simple. Guangcai also did not dare go and ask, fearing he would be chased out with a broom by the woman’s family. Still, he had promised Caihua that she could come along, and since Caihua had not arrived yet, he could only resign himself to waiting until she came before setting out for the Dragon Poison Pool.

And since he also knew Guangcai would not let his group force their way into Caihua’s home, Zhang Pu and the others simply stayed and waited foolishly with him. How many days they would have to wait, none could say.

Still, knowing he was soon to see the legendary Black Dragon, Zhang Pu found himself in no hurry. His thoughts were fixed on only one thing: when he finally met that Black Dragon, how exactly should he deal with it?

Guangcai’s place had several shabby rooms, enough for Zhang Pu, Liu Yingde, and the others to stay in, but the house was utterly poor and bare. For him to produce money for a proper reception of his guests seemed difficult indeed.

But Zhang Pu told him that between himself and Liu Yingde, they had some money on hand, and that the expenses for food and daily needs would be on them.

It ended up being the guests who treated the host, and Guangcai felt so ashamed he almost wanted to smash his head against a wall and die. Yet Zhang Pu, who seemed even younger than he was, spoke to him instead like a kindly elder brother, soothing him and telling him to calm his mind.

One day passed, and Caihua still did not come with any men. Guangcai insisted on waiting a little longer, because he believed in Caihua’s resolve.

Zhang Pu and the others could only continue waiting with him.

On the third day, Caihua still had not brought anyone, but some other people came to Guangcai’s house.

Zhang Pu naturally did not recognize them, but through Guangcai’s calls and introductions, he learned that they were people personally brought by the miracle physician Li, the same man who had given Guangcai the map.

After a round of introductions, it turned out that Doctor Li and Liu Yingde had both heard of each other’s reputations, though they had never met.

Since both men were considered respected figures in society, there was a feeling of mutual esteem between them, and Zhang Pu and the others thus got off to a good start with this group.

Unexpectedly, Doctor Li had brought quite a large party. At first, some of them did not come into the room, perhaps fearing Guangcai’s little house would be too cramped. Later, when Zhang Pu went outside and saw them, he could not suppress a quiet gasp of amazement.

Nearly twenty people in all.

And they were not even from just one team. It was rather like Zhang Pu, Liu Yingde, and Liu Yingde’s two subordinates making up one team, while Caihua and the people she brought, together with Guangcai, would form another. Although Guangcai and Caihua’s families were still at odds and all that, they still counted as another side in the same camp.

Doctor Li also seemed to explain helplessly to Zhang Pu and Liu Yingde that the matter had originally been kept secret so that not so many people would know, but for some reason the news had leaked. Before long it spread from ten to a hundred, until this many people wanted to go. Even though danger had been mentioned, there were still those who insisted on going. Some were after the immortal herb; others, a separate group perhaps connected to the town leadership, actually wanted to seek out the Black Dragon.

In the end, Doctor Li could only say helplessly that they might as well treat it as strength in numbers, so that everyone could watch out for one another. After all, it was no easy matter to venture into such a remote and desolate place.