Reborn as Xu Xuan, Plundering Perks & Flooding the Mountain Ling

Chapter 30: Xiao Cui? Liaozhai? Am I Just a Pawn Too?

“A demonic scorpion? But the one I tracked down was a demonic fox!”

Jing Xuan’s conclusion was met with disagreement from Jing Xu.

“I could smell that fox’s stench from 800 meters away.”

Jing Xuan raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

“As if I wouldn’t know that. But tell me, since when do foxes have venomous mouths?”

“Well… maybe this particular fox has awakened some kind of divine ability? Besides, it’s cunning—it could have learned how to use poison, right?”

“If that fox was smart enough to use poison, why didn’t it just bite Lord Wang to death outright?”

“How should I know? I’m not a fox…”

Seeing the two about to start arguing, Xuan Zhen tapped the table, signalling for silence. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed Xu Xuan standing at the door.

“Nephew Xu? Why are you still awake this late?”

Xu Xuan hesitated for a moment.

“I just ran into a giant scorpion and captured it to make medicinal wine for my master. That’s why I was delayed a bit…”

Elder Xuan Zhen nodded approvingly.

“You’re quite the filial disciple! Since you’re still up, why not join us for a discussion?”

Xu Xuan was about to agree, but both Jing Xu and Jing Xuan frowned.

“Master, we can discuss this ourselves. Xu Shidi is a disciple of the Alchemy Sect and just recently joined. He likely doesn’t know much about demons and spirits.”

“Exactly! There’s no need for Xu Shidi to be involved in this matter. His only concern should be curing Lord Wang. Once that’s done, his merit will be complete!”

Xuan Zhen hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“That makes sense. Xu Xuan, you should go rest.”

Xu Xuan didn’t mind and simply bid farewell before leaving. As he walked away, the argument about the scorpion and demonic foxes resumed behind him. This time, however, Xuan Zhen didn’t interfere. Instead, after a long pause, he suddenly asked:

“Did either of you smell anything just now?”

“Smell? No.”

“Maybe a faint stench, but I didn’t pay much attention.”

“Elder, is something wrong?”

Xuan Zhen waved his hand, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

“Nothing… perhaps I’m overthinking it.”

Jing Xuan and Jing Xu exchanged glances. They wanted to ask further but didn’t dare.

“No need to argue anymore! Since Xu Shizhi has already taken action, Lord Wang should wake up soon. By then, we can just ask him directly and find out what kind of demon it was.”

In truth, Xuan Zhen already had an answer in mind. But the knowledge gained from books alone is shallow. Since he brought Jing Xu and Jing Xuan along, it was partly to train them through experience. The next morning, Li Wenbo came to fetch them. Everyone first enjoyed an exceptionally lavish breakfast at the Wang household, during which both Li Wenbo and Lady Wang showered Xu Xuan with praise.

“Yesterday, I failed to recognize greatness. Please, Master Xu, do not take offence! You are truly the reincarnation of Hua Tuo, a miracle doctor! After drinking the medicine you prescribed, my husband woke up immediately. If not for his frail condition, he would have personally thanked you today. But rest assured, once he recovers, he will personally visit Mount Longhu to express his gratitude…”

Xu Xuan responded politely but absentmindedly. His mind was still preoccupied with the conversation between the demonic scorpion and She Ji from the night before.

That demonic scorpion’s venom is extremely potent. Yet Wang Hongzhi managed to survive for so long. This means that the mysterious ‘treasured pearl’ She Ji mentioned must be on him. But what about the fox? What is its connection to him? And is that treasured pearl truly as miraculous as they claim?

Xu Xuan thought he would have to ponder over this mystery for a long time, but unexpectedly, he got his answer just an hour later.

“Lady Wang, keep the fire at this intensity. In an hour, let it burn out naturally—no need to add more wood. After that, carry Lord Wang back to rest. For the next few days, make sure he eats nourishing foods…”

After carefully instructing Lady Wang, she showered him with more gratitude and flattery. Even Wang Hongzhi, who was still in the medicinal bath, struggled to sit up and express his thanks. Just as he was about to leave, Xu Xuan clearly saw Wang Hongzhi frantically winking at his wife.

“Madam, is there something else?”

Lady Wang smiled and signalled to a servant. Soon, Li Wenbo arrived carrying a wooden tray covered with a red cloth.

“Master Xu, you have saved my husband and, by extension, the entire Wang family. This is just a small token of our gratitude—please do not refuse!”

Lady Wang lifted the red cloth, revealing a dazzling pile of gold ingots. Her so-called “small token” amounted to at least two or three hundred taels of gold! Xu Xuan didn’t hesitate—he flicked his sleeve, and the gold was instantly swept into his hidden treasure pouch. Seeing this, both Lady Wang and Li Wenbo widened their eyes, staring at Xu Xuan’s plain white Daoist robe as if trying to find some hidden secret. It took them a long time to recover, and only when Xu Xuan lightly coughed did Li Wenbo snap out of it.

“Cousin, don’t you have another favour to ask Master Xu?”

Lady Wang nodded repeatedly.

“Master Xu, please wait a moment! Xiaotao, bring the young master over!”

Soon, a servant girl led a young boy inside. The boy, about fourteen or fifteen years old, was dressed in luxurious robes. His face was youthful, but his eyes were filled with pure, unfiltered foolishness. Yet, he wasn’t shy at all. Instead, he treated Xu Xuan and the others like pillars, constantly circling around them.

“This is my son, Yuan Feng! Yuan Feng, quickly greet Master Xu!”

The boy stared blankly at Xu Xuan for a long while before finally bowing clumsily.

“Yuan Feng greets Master Xu!”

Xu Xuan exhaled deeply. Though his expression remained calm, his mind was already in turmoil.

Wang Yuan Feng? She Ji? The treasured pearl? A demonic fox? Xiao Cui—?

Hearing the name Wang Yuan Feng suddenly unravelled all his doubts. In the original story, Wang Hongzhi once saved a spirit fox from danger. Later, the fox repaid him by marrying her daughter, Xiao Cui, to his foolish son, Wang Yuan Feng. Then, they encountered the demonic serpent She Ji, who tried to seize the treasured pearl. Many twists and turns followed, but in the end, love prevailed.

So that’s how it is!

Xu Xuan finally understood, but his heart remained restless. It wasn’t because he feared She Ji or the demonic fox. Even though he was only at the Innate stage, his unique talents made his combat prowess rival that of a Golden Core cultivator. Slaughtering ordinary Innate level practitioners was as easy as killing chickens. What shocked him was that this world wasn’t as simple as he had assumed.

If Xiao Cui exists, does that mean Nie Xiao Qian does too? And if it’s just these figures, that’s fine…But what if celestial immortals and Buddhas descend upon this world?

Xu Xuan shook his head, forcing himself to stop overthinking. As long as his fists were strong enough and his poisons potent enough, he could crush whoever came his way!

“Master Xu? Master Xu?”

“Madam, what is it?”

“My son has been different from other children since birth. Even at this age, he still acts like a three-year-old. Master Xu, your medical skills are extraordinary—please tell me if there’s any hope for him.”

Xu Xuan examined Wang Yuan Feng, then shook his head. His condition was congenital, beyond the help of medicine. He was about to speak, but out of habit, he opened his system. A list of attributes appeared above Wang Yuan Feng’s head. Xu Xuan glanced at them and suddenly froze!

Damn it! How could this be? So… I’m just another pawn in someone else’s game?