The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

#807 - Stone

Purchasing food, water, and medicinal herbs went relatively smoothly.

The only snag occurred when Wen Xiaoqian went to hire a guide.

Upon hearing that the eight of them wanted to enter White Dragon Lake and wander around, many of the older guides shook their heads.

A gaunt old man with dark skin, whose age was impossible to discern, said, "White Dragon Lake isn't a place for sightseeing. It's known as the Eye of Death. There's only one path in and out, and all caravans passing through there involuntarily quicken their pace and never deviate from that route."

"Even so, many people still end up buried there every year."

"Thank you for the reminder, sir. We know it's dangerous there, which is why we intend to hire an experienced guide," Wen Xiaoqian said with a sweet smile, taking out a silver note from her bosom. "I think you look quite suitable, old sir. I wonder if this sum is sufficient?"

The gaunt old man looked down and was startled to see that the silver note was worth a thousand taels.

This was a considerable sum. If he completed this one job, he wouldn't have to painstakingly lead caravans through White Dragon Lake anymore.

He could even leave Wulan City, head south, choose a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and retire there in peace.

Thinking of this, the others couldn't help but feel envious.

However, the gaunt old man shook his head. "I told you, it's too dangerous. Young lady, you should go find someone else."

Seeing that no one spoke, Wen Xiaoqian took out another thousand-tael silver note from her bosom.

This time, the sound of everyone's breathing became even more rapid.

They constantly led traveling merchants and travelers, and had seen many wealthy businessmen, but this was the first time they had encountered someone so generous. Giving two thousand taels just to lead the way was enough for them to live without worry for the rest of their lives.

However, the guides were still hesitant and uncertain, while the gaunt old man simply closed his eyes to avoid being bothered.

Seeing this, Wen Xiaoqian reached into her bosom again.

But at that moment, a figure suddenly darted out from the crowd, grabbing the silver notes on the table. "I, I'll do it!"

However, Wen Xiaoqian sized up the newcomer and couldn't help but frown.

"How old are you this year?"

"Twenty-two years old," the young man said, swallowing.

Wen Xiaoqian didn't speak, only raising her eyebrows.

"Alright, I just turned nineteen this year," the young man said.

Wen Xiaoqian still didn't speak.

The young man felt a little nervous under her gaze and drooped his head, saying, "I, I'll be seventeen in another month. This time it's the truth."

"Seventeen is too young. You heard what I said before. This job is very dangerous. I need to find a sufficiently experienced guide," Wen Xiaoqian said, reaching out to take back the silver notes from the young man's hand.

But after pulling twice, she couldn't budge them.

The two silver notes were being held tightly by this young man who had lied about his age.

"Don't look down on me because I'm young, but when it comes to the amount of time I've spent in White Dragon Lake, no one except Third Uncle can surpass me."

"Bragging won't help you get this job," Wen Xiaoqian's fingers gently brushed the young man's wrist, and the next moment, he involuntarily loosened his grip.

He watched helplessly as the two silver notes returned to Wen Xiaoqian's hand.

"Well, besides this little liar, is there anyone else willing to be our guide?"

"He's not a little liar."

The gaunt old man, whom the young man called Third Uncle, suddenly spoke again at this time.

"Hmm?"

"Shitou is indeed very familiar with White Dragon Lake. In fact, he was picked up from White Dragon Lake."

Wen Xiaoqian was a little surprised. "I thought no one lived in White Dragon Lake."

"Indeed, no one lives there," Third Uncle said. "So when his father first picked him up, he was also very surprised, but in any case, it was still a life. His father brought him back anyway.

"After that, the two of them depended on each other. When his father was still alive, he was the best guide in Wulan City, but he never married and had no other relatives. He couldn't find a suitable person to take care of him when he went out, so he simply brought him along.

"At that time, countless people came to him father to lead the way, so you could say that he grew up in that desert."

Hearing this, Wen Xiaoqian became interested and carefully sized up the young man again, saying, "Indeed, you can't judge a book by its cover. I didn't expect White Dragon Lake to be your home."

"White Dragon Lake isn't anyone's home. Third Uncle is right. That desert is very dangerous and can turn on you at any time, preventing those who set foot in it from ever leaving," Shitou said seriously.

"Then why do you want to take this job?"

"Because I need money, a lot of money," Shitou said.

"What do you need money for?"

This time, Shitou closed his mouth.

Seeing this, Wen Xiaoqian smiled again, took out a silver note from her hand, and handed it over, "Very good. I like people who keep their mouths shut and don't meddle in other people's business. This thousand taels is your deposit. Keep it safe first, and the remaining thousand taels will be paid when we return."

Shitou took the silver note and carefully folded it.

Then he said to Wen Xiaoqian, "When do we leave?"

"Before sunset today, the sooner the better. My people are already preparing food and water. As soon as we choose the camels, we can set off."

Shitou shook his head. "We can't leave today."

"Why?"

"Because all the camels in the city have been borrowed."

Wen Xiaoqian frowned, "Borrowed? Where were they borrowed to?"

"They were borrowed by those people from the Boruo Sect. It seems they are going to perform some kind of ritual to welcome the descent of Brahman, but don't worry, they will return the camels tomorrow, so we just have to wait one more night," Shitou added. "You can go find a place to stay first."

… … … …

Lu Jing certainly didn't want to wait another night, but the Boruo Sect was very powerful throughout the Western Regions, and there were tens of thousands of believers in Wulan City. Lu Jing didn't want to fight with these people over a few camels either.

So in the end, he could only follow Shitou's suggestion and choose an inn in the city to stay.

By the time they had settled down, it was already afternoon. Lu Jing tried his luck again and inquired about White Dragon Lake, wanting to see if there was any place in White Dragon Lake where strange phenomena had occurred before.

However, the people who were asked all said that the place was very strange, but they couldn't say exactly where it was strange. In the end, Lu Jing collected a bunch of superstitious statements, but few of them were valuable.

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