After finishing the two bowls of wild vegetable porridge, Qin Hui felt much more at ease.
Outside, Chen Changqing had completely commandeered Qin Hui's chair, comfortably lounging on it and basking in the sun.
"Senior brother, what good news do you have?"
Qin Hui asked with a sly grin.
It was hard for Qin Hui to show such a smile to others, but with this person who had grown up with him, eating from the same pot, Qin Hui was quite unrestrained.
It was difficult to trick others, but his senior brother was always the easiest target.
Wang Xiaoyan, standing beside them, was also full of curiosity, as hearing a Grandmaster's lecture was surely a form of growth.
"You swam all the way from the Yan Jing Grand River. Did you not notice anything unusual?"
Chen Changqing didn't rush to reveal everything, instead posing a question.
"Yes, the river water was extremely cold. Most importantly, there wasn't a single live fish."
Qin Hui recalled. Logically, how could such a large river be devoid of fish!
"I also tested the river some time ago. It felt icy cold, devoid of any life, as if it were a dead river,"
Wang Xiaoyan chimed in.
"You are both correct. That's because all the life in this river has been eaten by someone!"
Chen Changqing stated slowly.
"Eaten?"
"What kind of being could that be? The Yan Jing Grand River is incredibly long. How terrifying must a creature be to hunt down all the life within it?"
Wang Xiaoyan was utterly shocked. Even if you released a shark into it, it would take a lifetime to consume everything.
Unlike Wang Xiaoyan, Qin Hui's face lit up with excitement. Danger and opportunity often went hand in hand.
"The reason I haven't been back these past few days is that I've been investigating this great river. Based on my observations, there is a Mang Jiao that has survived for hundreds of years in the Yan Jing Grand River. If you can swallow its inner core, you will be able to break through to the Grandmaster realm."
Chen Changqing said without hesitation, even with a hint of envy. Clearly, this was an incredibly rare treasure.
"If the Mang Jiao's inner core is so beneficial, why haven't the Grandmaster ancestors of Yan Jing made a move?"
Qin Hui voiced his confusion. If this thing was such a great tonic, why hadn't he made a move?
Surely the locals of Yan Jing would have already taken advantage of such a windfall.
"You are right. They have also noticed the strangeness of the river water, but they cannot locate the Mang Jiao. If you can't pinpoint the location of something, would you spend time looking for it?"
"More importantly, fighting in the water is not their strong suit. If they are not careful and get swallowed by the Mang Jiao, it would mean the decline of a family. Such a gamble has a one-in-nine chance of success."
"Why would those influential figures risk it? Even if they had the courage to try, wouldn't they fear others profiting from their fight with the Mang Jiao?"
"Therefore, based on various speculations, they dare not act."
Chen Changqing analyzed with great clarity.
"That's true, but if they cannot act, then there's even less hope for me. How can I, a half-step Grandmaster, possibly contend with that Mang Jiao?"
Qin Hui gave a wry smile. Some good things were desirable, but one had to be alive to enjoy them.
"Don't worry. I haven't been idle these past few days. At least I know where that Mang Jiao is now."
"In this kind of weather, it is in hibernation and recuperation, only displaying seventy percent of its strength."
"If you miss this opportunity, you might have to wait a full year to break through to the Grandmaster realm."
Chen Changqing smiled slightly, unafraid of Qin Hui's lack of confidence.
"In that case, I have no choice but to go."
Qin Hui wore a look of bitter resignation.
A year was too long for Qin Hui. The old monsters of the Qin family would not let him off the hook.
Rather than being killed by those old monsters, Qin Hui would rather take a gamble. If he won and broke through to the Grandmaster realm, who would dare to stop him?
"Rest assured, these few days are not for nothing. You can use this time to cultivate your perspective ability."
"By the way, that jade pendant you're wearing also helps you quite a bit. It contains a lot of spiritual energy, which can be provided to you."
Chen Changqing pointed to the jade pendant Qin Hui wore around his neck and spoke.
Qin Hui only then remembered.
He had bought this jade pendant at a high price long ago and had been wearing it around his neck, but he hadn't noticed anything special about it.
These days, it was truly like this.
Everything on his person was a treasure, but he was the only one who didn't know it!
"Besides this, your cultivation technique is probably the Yin Yang Dual Life Art, right?"
Chen Changqing chuckled.
Upon hearing this, Qin Hui was speechless. It seemed his senior brother truly was his senior brother; nothing could be hidden from him.
But then again, Chen Changqing was already a Grandmaster. What kind of things hadn't he seen?
"Alright, I've said most of what I needed to. Cultivate well these few days, and then challenge that Mang Jiao. I hope you succeed."
Chen Changqing offered his blessings.
"Senior brother, are you leaving?"
Qin Hui felt a pang of reluctance. They hadn't been reunited for long before they had to part again.
"Yes, my identity is very special, and it's not advisable for me to stay in Long Guo for too long, otherwise, it will implicate you."
Chen Changqing's eyes darkened.
After Qin Hui descended the mountain and left their master, Chen Changqing also descended the mountain three years later, but he went to a different place than Qin Hui.
Qin Hui was in Long Guo, while Changqing had been drifting through various places abroad.
If Long Guo was the realm of Grandmasters, then abroad it was the realm of the powerful. After all, with a larger territory, there were more powerful individuals.
It was like how Qin Long was a genius prodigy in Long Guo, but abroad, he was only of average talent.
As one's horizons broaden, so does the scope of what one can see.
If it weren't for the need to save his junior brother's life this time, Chen Changqing had no intention of returning.
"Since senior brother is leaving, I won't insist you stay."
"However, senior brother, you can't just come empty-handed. How about you gift me some treasures?"
Qin Hui chuckled slyly, thinking there was no reason not to take advantage of the situation.
Moreover, treasures from a Grandmaster level would be of immense benefit to Qin Hui. If he didn't get a treasure, Qin Hui wouldn't let Chen Changqing leave.
Who wouldn't want more treasures these days?
With more treasures, one would have more confidence when fighting others to the death!
Besides, Qin Hui was facing the Qin family and that Mang Jiao. He couldn't fight them empty-handed.
"You little brat, you're quite clever."
"It's the same old rule, ten times the return!"
Chen Changqing was also a shrewd individual, adept at doing business.
If he couldn't trick others these days, he was quite good at tricking his own people.
"Deal, deal, deal."
Qin Hui quickly agreed. Ten times was ten times, it was better than losing his life.
Seeing Qin Hui agree so readily, Chen Changqing chuckled, "Don't think of going back on your word, or I'll strip you naked and throw you into the Hutongs!"
"Ahem..."
Qin Hui's face instantly turned pale. He quickly nodded, mortified that his little schemes had been seen through.