Parting gift orchid, scatter the foot of the world

The next day, early morning.

"Hiss~~" Du ke had just opened his eyes and sucked in a breath of cold air.

Slowly propping himself up with his front paws, as he stood up he let out another moan.

"Oww, oww, oww!!"

As Du ke tried to move, he felt sore all over and couldn't help but moan a few times. Right now his whole body ached, as if he had gotten drunk and rolled around making a scene on the street, before stuffing himself into a washing machine and letting it spin him around a few cycles.

"What exactly did Old Li do to me last night?"

Du ke muttered to himself, and also took out a few medicinal pellets and put them in his mouth.

As the medicine entered his stomach, Du ke felt a warm sensation, and breathed a sigh of relief.

But as Du ke moved around, he still felt sore all over, and couldn't suppress it at all.

"No good, still hurts!"

"Does hosting the five element spirits have such big after-effects?"

"Why didn't Old Li warn me beforehand?"

As Du ke talked to himself, he also sent out spiritual ripples to call for Shi san.

In just a moment, Shi san squeezed through the hole in the storage room and came in, tilting his head at the cat who was having trouble even standing.

"Woof?"

Master Cat, what's happened to you?

"It's just the after-effects from hosting the five element spirits last night."

As Du ke spoke, he also walked towards Shi san. After taking a few steps which pulled on his whole body, his face twitched even more.

With great difficulty, he sat down on the small saddle on Shi san's back, and Du ke took in cold breaths continuously.

It's not that his willpower isn't as tough as iron, at the minimum it surpasses ordinary people.

One must know that previously when cultivating the Yin Yang Robe and Quicksilver Marrow, his whole body's skin, flesh and bones had shattered once due to destruction of form, but even so he had persevered.

But this time, he felt like he couldn't endure it.

"No good, need to take some more medicine pellets!"

As Du ke spoke, he stuffed a few more pellets into his mouth. After the effects of the medicine spread, Du ke breathed out deeply.

"Much better now."

"Let's go, Shi san!" Du ke said to Shi san, "Let's go to the front hall and ask the old man exactly what he did last night!"

"Woof!"

Shi san immediately nodded and rushed out of the storage room, taking Du ke to the front hall.

As soon as they entered the front hall, Du ke saw Old Li chatting with a customer who had come to retrieve some stored blades.

As soon as the dog brought in Du ke, the customer's eyes lit up.

"Oh my, if it isn't General Cat?"

As the customer spoke, he also came over to stroke Du ke, who stared silently at him until he felt a chill down his back. Only when the customer hurriedly took his things and left did Du ke stop.

After the customer left, Du ke complained: "Old man, you really fought dirty last night!"

"What, your whole body aches?"

Old Li tidied up the registry book on the counter. Du ke hurriedly nodded: "Of course, hurts to death!"

"You're in pain because after the five spirits entered your five viscera, there will be a short period of adaptation.

During the adaptation period, the five element spirits will continuously draw the energies from your five viscera until they truly take root in your viscera and become a part of your viscera's cycles. Only then will the adaptation end."

"So I'll keep hurting the whole time?"

Du ke widened his eyes. This so-called adaptation period was just a rejection period right?

"You only need to supplement the five elements energies needed by the five viscera and it'll be fine." As Old Li spoke, he also took out a pipe pot from under the counter.

"During the adaptation period you'll rely on this to inhale the essence of the five elements!"

"A pipe pot?"

Du ke looked disdainfully at the pipe pot on the counter. "I don't smoke."

"This is just the vessel. The key point is this!"

Old Li took out a golden silk pouch. After opening it, the inside was revealed to be filled with gray smoke pellets.

"These smoke pellets were molded by me from your five element essences. Smoke one every day, and once the pouch is empty your organs will be fully cultivated!"

"That easy?"

Enduring the stabbing pain, Du ke jumped from Shi san's back onto the counter and picked up the pipe pot.

There was a small white jade pipe bag tied onto the pot, the stem made of woven bamboo with carved patterns depicting a cat and dog. The mouthpiece was crafted from white jade, extremely smooth.

"Try smoking one first!"

After tying up the pouch filled with the five element essence smoke pellets, Old Li casually put it aside and pinched out a smoke pellet to put in the pipe pot, lightly rubbing the pellet's surface.

Soon, wisps of smoke emerged from within the pot, the smoke separated into five colors intertwining with each other.

Du ke hesitantly took the pipe pot and stuck the mouthpiece into his mouth.

With just one puff, the stabbing pain that made his head spin disappeared like the tide receding. He shivered and slowly breathed out a smoke ring.

"Much more comfortable now, finally the pain is gone!"

"Just one pellet per day, don't get greedy for more!"

After tying up the pouch securely Old Li handed it to Du ke, then took out a refreshed-looking pheasant feather crown.

"I fixed up your crown for you. Putting it on not only won't leak any of your essence, it'll help enhance your senses too!"

As he spoke, Old Li put the crown atop Du ke's head.

Having been modified by Old Li, the crown no longer had straps and directly stuck onto Du ke's head.

Du ke stroked the pheasant feathers, put away the pipe set, then bit on the mouthpiece as he said to Old Li:

"Thanks, old man!"

"When are you planning to set off?"

"Today."

"Prepared everything?"

"Prepared everything!"

"Then go if you want to go!"

As Old Li spoke he also stroked Du ke's head.

"If life gets too tough out there, then return to Mao city, home!"

"Got it, old man!"

Du ke revealed a delighted smile, while also blowing out white smoke.

"Slippery scamp!"

Old Li smiled and poked Du ke between the eyebrows.

...

Half an hour later, Du ke sat inside the pickup bed of the miniature car, with Shi san pulling the car moving towards the city gates. Du ke waved towards Old Li as well.

Old Li smiled warmly in return, watching Du ke and Shi san depart into the distance.

"When kids grow up they just never remain do they!"

After Shi san pulled the car away from the blade-grinding shop, they directly headed towards the city gates. Du ke lay inside the fur coat in the pickup's bed.

This fox fur coat was a gift from when he had roamed the streets during the Spirit Cat Festival. Du ke directly took it out to line the pickup bed.

The pickup's bed had also been modified by Old Li, not only made into a four wheeler but with an added retractable canopy as well.

Shi san pulled the pickup rapidly towards the gates. As they neared, Du ke's ears twitched as he heard a few familiar shouts.

"Lamb offal, lamb soup, lamb stew!"

"Customer, it's almost noon, how about a piping hot bowl of lamb stew!"

"Lamb stew, come eat lamb stew!"

...

Hearing the shouts, Du ke immediately told Shi san to stop and looked in the direction they came from.

With just a glance, Du ke revealed a smile.

The lamb stew shop was precisely the one which had treated him and Shi san when he had first entered Mao City.

The boss had even said to come over whenever hungry or thirsty in the future, and he would ensure they ate their fill.

Just as Du ke looked over, the shop's waiter Xiao Liuer also cast a puzzled look at Du ke.

Xiao Liuer stared at Du ke for a bit before excitedly yelling, "Boss, boss, the cat from before is here, the cat from before is here!"

The burly shopkeeper also walked out from the shop, first wiping his hands before looking towards Du ke.

With just one look, the shopkeeper laughed, "Cat, long time no see, have you been well?"

Du ke nodded to indicate he was doing very well. The shopkeeper saw the pheasant feather crown atop Du ke's head and said again, "That's good then, that's very good then!"

"Going on a long trip?"

Du Ke nodded again. Seeing this, the shopkeeper also said to Xiao Liuzi, "Xiao Liuzi, go get some takeout boxes and pack two servings of braised mutton for our regular customer!"

"Okie dokie, Boss! I'll go get them right away!" Xiao Liuzi happily ran back into the store. The shopkeeper also came up to Du Ke and squatted down, staring at him silently. He didn't know what to say for a moment.

After all, the cat that used to come to his shop with a dog to scrounge for food and drinks had now become a legend in Mao City. It just made one sigh and say fate toys with people.

Seeing the shopkeeper staring at him like this, Du Ke couldn't help but smile and reached out a paw towards the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment before also extending his hand. Du Ke patted the shopkeeper's hand with his paw, and a night pearl the size of a longan fell into the shopkeeper's palm.

Seeing such a lustrous night pearl shining even in broad daylight, the shopkeeper immediately widened his eyes. He wanted to speak but was silenced by Du Ke pressing down on his hand.

"Boss, here are the takeout boxes!" Xiao Liuzi came over carrying the boxes and asked, "Where should I put them?"

Du Ke patted the empty spot in the cart, and Xiao Liuzi readily placed the boxes there.

"I didn't add any salt, vinegar, or seasoning, so eating this won't make you shed fur." Xiao Liuzi rubbed his hands with a silly grin on his face.

Seeing this, Du Ke also waved his paw at Xiao Liuzi. At the same time, he transmitted his voice to the shopkeeper.

"I just got back to Mao City. Shopkeeper, your chivalrous assistance is deeply etched in my memory. Now I'm about to travel far away, so I'll leave this pearl as a parting gift. Please take good care of it!"

Du Ke patted the shopkeeper's palm again and winked at him.

Then with a meow, he urged Shi San to get going. The shopkeeper stood up, clutching the night pearl and watching Du Ke leave, rendered speechless for a time.

"Boss, that cat's gone!"

"I know... I know..."

Muttering to himself, the shopkeeper also said to himself, "I just don't know when we'll meet again!"

...

On the other side, Du Ke and Shi San left the city gate. Du Ke also took out a map and looked it over.

"Mao City is in Lingzhou. Lingzhou is a full 2,300 li from Qingzhou. There are countless mountains, rivers, and waters along the way. It looks like we have a very long journey ahead!"

"Woof woof!"

Shi San barked as he pulled the cart, indicating he had no problems at all. As long as he could be with the cat master, even traveling ten thousand li wouldn't faze him.

"Alright, then let's head out on this 2,300 li journey!"

Du Ke put away the map, his heroic spirit rising vigorously.

But before his vigor could fully swell, Du Ke felt his heart doused with a basin of cold water, all because a black cat was blocking their way up ahead.

Seeing this black cat, Du Ke couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

He had rushed out...ahem, he meant, he had promptly set out on this trip precisely to avoid getting blocked by Qian Suisui!

"Ahaha..."

Du Ke awkwardly laughed a few times and said to Shi San, "San'er, the weather is so nice today. We've gone out and turned enough for one day, so let's head back..."

Before he could finish speaking, ink-colored spiritual fluctuations emanated from Qian Suisui's eyes and swiftly gathered into form.

The black cat stretched out her paw, and the ink-colored spectral body followed suit, pressing down towards Du Ke in a tidal wave.

Du Ke's heart shuddered in that instant of crisis. He launched himself into the air and slapped out a paw at the huge inky paw overhead.

"Get back!"

The two collided briefly before Du Ke shot down like a cannonball, crashing heavily into the ground and leaving a deep crater.

Seeing this, Shi San immediately bared his teeth at Qian Suisui and growled.

"So this is the might of one who has attained the Dao!"

Qian Suisui suddenly spoke, her voice via spiritual fluctuations making Du Ke, who had just crawled out of the crater, startle.

"You didn't come to drag me back?"

"Could I have stopped you if you wanted to leave?"

Qian Suisui sighed, her figure flickering as she instantly appeared before Du Ke, looking down at the white cat condescendingly.

"You have not attained the Dao yet. Although you have cultivated martial arts, your strength is still lacking in the end."

"You should know, out there are many who eye us spirit cats covetously. Just now I merely used the power of the first heaven upon attaining the Dao, yet you were immediately routed."

"In the future when you encounter cultivators outside, even if they only have the lowest first heaven strength upon attaining the Dao, remember to flee quickly!"

Du Ke blinked as he understood the black cat's intention.

This fellow had surprisingly come to see him off.

Though her method of bidding farewell...

Hmm, it really was her style!

"Your parting gift is a bit too heavy!"

Making a pun, Du Ke also wanted to climb out of the crater, but was pressed down by Qian Suisui.

With one press of her paw, Du Ke's body immediately stiffened, and he could only watch the black cat approach.

Qian Suisui closed her eyes and touched Du Ke's nose with her nose tip.

Du Ke's body quivered. He felt Qian Suisui's delicate nose tip was no less soft than a maiden's lips.

Also in that moment when the two cats touched noses, a wisp of ink-colored spiritual fluctuation rushed into Du Ke's mouth and nose, making his eyes widen.

A while later, Qian Suisui released Du Ke and headed towards the city gate.

"I left a wisp of my cultivation upon attaining the Dao in you. If you encounter a foe you can't beat, use it to entangle your opponent briefly and escape!"

"Now, scram!"

"Brat!"

Qian Suisui's voice turned icy cold. Du Ke touched his nose and opened up his dark cauldron space, taking out a pot of orchids.

"Qian Suisui!!"

Du Ke's loud shout made Qian Suisui halt her steps. As Qian Suisui looked back at Du Ke, Du Ke threw the pot of orchids at her.

"These orchids are for you, take good care of them!"

After crawling out of the crater and shaking the dust off his body, Du Ke revealed a smiling face and yelled loudly, "Don't let these orchids wither away before I get back!"

"Otherwise, even if I return, I still won't enter the house!"

Qian Suisui caught the orchids and smelled their cold fragrance, even more intoxicating than ten thousand endearments.

"Let this be our parting!"

On the cart again, Du Ke also waved his paw at Qian Suisui. Shi San immediately pulled Du Ke away into the distance. Qian Suisui watched the waving white cat depart until she was somewhat stupefied.

This little bastard really was quite adorable.

Even after Du Ke had gone far away, Qian Suisui still remained standing there.

At this time, Menpo popped out from the roadside bushes and came to Qian Suisui's side, gazing in the direction Du Ke had left and rippling his spiritual fluctuations.

"Parting gift of orchids, a carefree wanderer under the heavens."

"Ah, what a dashing and chivalrous cat!"

After lamenting for a bit, Menpo also turned to look at Qian Suisui. Seeing the stirrings of affection in her eyes, he laughed and said, "Aiyo, my sister Qian Suisui has actually been emotionally moved!"

"You even expended cultivation to give him a wisp of your power at the sixth heaven upon attaining the Dao!"

"Tsk tsk, are you trying to let this old cat taste tender grass?"

As soon as Menpo said this, Qian Suisui immediately glared at him coldly and sent him flying with a slap.

"You rascals, every single one of you!"