Chapter 38: Isn't It Just a Chocolate Malt Ball?

The three were just about to leave.

A deep rumbling suddenly erupted, the ground quaking as if struck by an earthquake.

This suburb was already remote, devoid of any trace of humanity.

From the dense forest lining one side of the road, a series of disturbances echoed in succession.

“Oh no, with all this commotion, I fear we’re about to encounter a demon beast!” Xu Jiya shrank her neck, her babyish face instantly drained of color.

“A demon beast? Wonderful! I’ve been in my ancestral regression for three years now, and still haven’t hunted a single beast. Today’s finally my first kill,” Su Yao, beside her, exclaimed with careless excitement, rubbing her palms together.

In terms of cultivation, she was strongest among the three.

“Yao Yao, demon beasts are no joke. It’s just the three of us here. If we run into a high-level one, we’ll be food in seconds. Let’s hurry and leave,” Xu Jiya, though young, was even more cautious than Su Yao.

Especially since she hadn’t experienced ancestral regression herself—she only knew some basic martial arts, and most of her hidden weapons had been spent in the previous fight. If they truly faced a formidable enemy, both Xiang Nan and Su Yao would have to split their attention to protect her.

She didn’t want to burden her teammates.

And besides, Xiang Nan’s poisoning had only just improved—who knew if it might relapse?

If they really faced a demon beast, there was no chance of victory.

Yet Su Yao refused to budge.

“Ji Ya, why don’t you take Xiang Nan and go ahead? I really want to try for my first kill—I’m already excited! Once I slay the beast and carve out its spirit pearl, I’ll catch up with you.”

Like a young calf unafraid of tigers, Su Yao brimmed with confidence.

Xiang Nan at her side curled his lips into a smile. “I agree with Su Yao. Rare as it is to meet a demon beast, how can we know we can’t do it unless we try?”

Seeing Xiang Nan side with Su Yao, Xu Jiya’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You two are truly reckless!”

Xiang Nan shrugged nonchalantly. “Not just the two of us—the three of us. You’ll stay too, won’t you?”

Though they hadn’t spent much time together, Xiang Nan knew Xu Jiya was far braver than she let on.

Xu Jiya sighed softly. “You two are mad, so I’ll just have to join in. But I’ve nearly run out of hidden weapons—I hope I won’t drag you down.”

Though much of her arsenal was spent, she still had her soft iron vest for protection, so her safety was not in question.

Xiang Nan pressed his lips into a smile and, as if by magic, produced several ingenious devices—all precision hidden weapons.

These had been stashed in his storage space when Xu Qingshan took him to the armory, now proving invaluable.

Xiang Nan raised an eyebrow. “I knew you were skilled with hidden weapons, so I brought these just for you.”

Suddenly flush with weapons, Xu Jiya’s face lit up, her delight obvious. “Wonderful! With these, I might try hunting a demon beast myself!”

Su Yao crossed her arms. “Xiang Nan, you’re something else, bringing so much gear.”

As for Xiang Nan’s storage space, he’d already explained that during his ancestral regression, he awakened a spatial ability.

Such a claim might have shocked some, but none would doubt it.

Regression was a kind of awakening, and anything could happen in the process.

Seeing Su Yao empty-handed, Xiang Nan remembered her affinity for short daggers and tossed her a pair from the space.

Su Yao’s face bloomed with joy at the sight, testing their grip—perfectly suited.

Indeed, anything Xiang Nan deemed worthy was never ordinary.

“I never realized the armory had such treasures—Uncle Xu is so stingy, he never brings anything out!” Su Yao, in her excitement, spoke without restraint.

Xu Jiya cared not at all, instead laughing, “Next time, have Brother Xiang Nan take us to the armory; pick whatever you fancy.”

Then she added, “Brother Xiang Nan, your storage space is so handy! If only I could awaken one myself!”

Su Yao patted her shoulder in consolation. “Ji Ya, it’s something to dream about. As far as I know, nationwide, there’s only one person who awakened a space ability during their first regression—Xiang Nan.”

“Hey, hey, are you complimenting me or mocking me?” Xiang Nan tossed Su Yao a protective vest and rolled his eyes.

His Plum Blossom Sword had maxed out its skill points; the only ones left were the Five Wolves Eight Trigrams Staff and Shadowless Kick. Trauma medicine was an auxiliary skill, not requiring full mastery to advance to the next regression.

With that in mind, Xiang Nan stowed his longsword and selected a staff, gripping it firmly.

He also produced several medicinal patches, handing a few to each of them.

“Apply these to your wounds; keep a couple on you just in case.”

With these patches, it was almost as if they’d gained instant healing—damage resistance guaranteed.

The two girls applied the medicine, and within three minutes their pain vanished completely.

Their jaws nearly dropped in shock.

They’d once thought the scramble for these patches was exaggerated. Now, having experienced them firsthand, they realized it wasn’t exaggeration at all.

“Wow! No wonder everyone fights for your five-hundred-yuan patches—the effect is monstrous!”

“How much stock do you have? I’ll buy it all and gift it to every relative and friend!”

Xiang Nan chuckled. “All right, you act as if this is miracle tonic. I’ll give each of you a big bag for gifting.”

Every patch handed out earned him merit points—never a loss!

“And here’s a candy each—just a bit sweet.” Xiang Nan handed them two Rebirth Pills.

Since selling his patches, merit points had been pouring in by the day.

He’d drawn so many prizes his hand was sore; aside from the “Spirit Treasures” trio, he’d won plenty of Rebirth Pills.

Good for beauty and strengthening the body—a must-have for home and travel.

He’d consumed plenty himself; his physique was now formidable and his looks had reached their peak.

“What’s this? You keep snacks in your space too?” Su Yao grabbed the pill with apparent disdain.

“Think of it as a snack. But don’t eat it outside—wait till you’re home, there’ll be a surprise.” Xiang Nan winked, keeping the secret for now. Once they were home, he promised they’d be stunned.

Their bodies would be flushed with black mud!

Of course, he didn’t mention that—he was only thinking of their wellbeing.

Xu Jiya examined the pill, intending to swallow it, but on hearing Xiang Nan, she shrugged and slipped it into her pocket.

She never doubted Xiang Nan’s word.

Su Yao, on the other hand, paid it no mind.

Candy? Just a malted milk ball, surely. And wait until home to eat it? Impossible—she was already hungry.

She tossed the Rebirth Pill into her mouth without hesitation.

She was so quick that Xiang Nan had no time to stop her.

Well then, good luck!

It wasn’t his fault she ate it right away.