Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

48: Ice Soul Spirit Ginseng, Giant Elephant SpiderAya turned around:

”Old Sir, is there anything else?”

Ba Xiong took two steps closer, lowering his voice:

”The last few times you came and went, didn’t you ask me to keep an eye out for news of the ice soul spirit ginseng?”

Aya and Yan Gang’s expressions changed abruptly upon hearing this, their smiles instantly vanishing.

Yan Gang, who had been silent, suddenly stepped forward, asking urgently:

”Uncle Ba Xiong, is there news?”

Ba Xiong nodded, his voice even lower:

”Yes, a few days ago, I overheard a group of herb gatherers from the southwest chatting. They said that in the Blood Gu Village market, someone seemed to have sold a well-preserved ice soul spirit ginseng. Whether it’s still there, or who bought it, I don’t know. If you really need it urgently, you might as well go to Blood Gu Village to try your luck.”

Aya and Yan Gang exchanged glances, both showing anxiousness.

Aya quickly pressed on:

”Old Sir, do you know roughly when this happened? And what was the approximate age of that ginseng?”

”It was about seven or eight days ago.”

Ba Xiong recalled:

”I heard it was at least fifty years old. The exact details would require seeing it in person to know if it’s true. You know what Blood Gu Village is like, it’s a mixed bag, and the news that comes out is always a bit exaggerated. You’ll have to go and verify it yourselves.”

”Thank you, Old Sir! This news is too important!”

Aya said gratefully, though the worry on her face did not lessen:

”We’ll prepare to go to Blood Gu Village right away!”

”Go quickly, and I hope that Spirit Ginseng hasn’t been bought yet.”

Ba Xiong waved his hand.

Their original plan to part ways was instantly broken.

Aya turned to Li Yinglong and Lin Xiaowan, speaking rapidly:

”Old Mr. Li, Younger Sister Xiaowan, our plans have changed; we also need to go to Blood Gu Village...”

Lin Xiaowan had been quite happy with Aya recently, and her little face, which had been a bit downcast at the thought of parting, instantly brightened, her eyes full of pleasant surprise:

”Sister Aya, you’re also going to Blood Gu Village? That’s great! We’re going the same way!”

She subconsciously took Aya’s sleeve.

Li Yinglong stroked his beard and smiled slightly, nodding:

”It is indeed a coincidence. It seems the two of us have a deep connection with you two, and we can travel together for another stretch.”

He looked at Aya and her brother, noticing the undisguised anxiety in their brows, and asked gently:

”How much further is it to Blood Gu Village from here?”

The usually steady Yan Gang answered in a deep voice, which sounded more hurried than usual:

”From here, heading southwest, it’s about two hundred and thirty li deep, and then you’ll reach Blood Gu Village.”

”Blood Gu Village is a major border village of the Black Gu Clan, and also the closest large settlement to this Wood Dragon Rampart. Most trade and commerce gather there. If we travel at full speed on foot, we might arrive in a day and a night.”

Li Yinglong understood and asked directly:

”Judging by your expressions, is there some urgent matter at home?”

Aya bit her lip, hesitated briefly, then, thinking of the other party’s help and honesty along the way, she briefly explained:

”To be frank, Old Sir, my brother and I have been rushing around like this, desperately accumulating Spirit Stones, to buy this ice soul spirit ginseng to heal a close relative in our clan. His old injuries are chronic, and only this extremely cold Spirit Ginseng can resolve them. However, this ice soul spirit ginseng usually only grows in the extremely cold regions of the North, and our Southern Border has a warm climate, making it extremely difficult to find. We can only hope that occasionally a merchant from the North brings some, or try our luck in a large market like Blood Gu Village. Uncle Ba Xiong’s news just now is the only clue we’ve had recently, and we absolutely cannot miss it.”

Li Yinglong’s expression became serious, and he nodded:

”So that’s it. The injury of a close relative is indeed a matter of utmost importance, and the opportunity is fleeting. In that case, is there a faster way to get to Blood Gu Village? Traveling over two hundred li on foot, even day and night, would still take a long time.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Gang raised his hand and pointed to a long shed made of thick bamboo and large leaves, far behind the outpost:

”There are ’Mileage Spider Carts’ waiting over there. They are commonly used transport for people traveling between villages, stopping at several fixed villages along the way to pick up and drop off passengers. The speed is much faster than walking, which can save a lot of travel time and energy.”

He paused, a hint of embarrassment on his face:

”It’s just... riding the spider cart requires half a Low-Grade Spirit Stone per person as fare, and my brother and I...”

Li Yinglong stroked his beard and laughed heartily upon hearing this:

”Haha, I thought it was some difficult matter! Such a small thing, why mention it! You two saved us from danger and guided us all the way; a mere fare should naturally be borne by this old man. In urgent matters, we must act expediently; do not let these minor details delay important affairs!”

Aya quickly waved her hand:

”How can that be! How can we trouble you again...”

Li Yinglong’s expression became serious:

”Miss Aya, you are mistaken. Seeking medicine to save a relative is a matter of great human importance and brooks no delay. A few Spirit Stones, compared to you two arriving at Blood Gu Village in time, which is more important? Do you two wish to risk missing the Spirit Ginseng for the sake of these few Spirit Stones? There is no need to discuss this further; the fare will be paid by this old man.”

His words were sincere and heartfelt, and they happened to address the deepest concerns in Aya and her brother’s hearts.

The two exchanged glances, also feeling anxious.

”Alright, no more talk. There’s no time to lose; let’s go wait for the cart now.”

Li Yinglong flicked his sleeve, giving the two no more chance to speak, and walked towards the distant long shed first.

Lin Xiaowan happily took Aya’s arm and followed, pulling her along directly.

As they approached the long shed, they saw more than a dozen people already waiting inside, men and women, old and young, dressed in various ways, mostly traveling merchants from other places, with occasional individuals dressed in the styles of the Southern Border clans.

In the open space outside the shed, three strange ”vehicles” stood quietly.

The carriages were crafted from heavy, dark hardwood and tough rattan, shaped like flat boats, about two zhang long and four chi wide, without wheels.

Two thick, sturdy horizontal wooden shafts extended from the front and back of the carriage body.

And pulling the vehicles were four enormous, dark brown giant spiders!

Each giant spider was half the height of a person, with eight long legs like steel spears, clearly segmented limbs covered in stiff hair, and eight single eyes on its head that glowed faintly.

They lay quietly on the ground, occasionally rubbing their mouthparts gently, appearing remarkably docile.

The shafts were cleverly fixed to their broad, sturdy carapaces.

”These are the Mileage Spider Carts,”

Aya whispered, explaining to the slightly curious Lin Xiaowan:

”The ones pulling the carts are domesticated Giant Strength Elephant Spiders. Don’t let the name scare you; they are very gentle, have excellent endurance, climb mountains and cross streams as if walking on flat ground, and are also fast. The drivers are masters from the Black Gu Clan who specialize in taming spiders, and they know the roads very well.”

Soon, a middle-aged man in a black short jacket with a simple spider pattern painted on his face called out, signaling passengers heading towards Blood Gu Village to board.

Li Yinglong readily paid the Spirit Stone fare for four people, feeling that he had once again broadened his horizons.

The crowd successively boarded the spider cart designated by the man.

Once everyone was seated, the spider tamer let out a peculiar low whistle.

The four giant spiders moved at the sound, their eight legs stepping in unison. The cart body vibrated slightly but without jostling, and began to glide smoothly and swiftly.

The speed was indeed astonishingly fast; the scenery on both sides rapidly receded, like a boat sailing on land, which was quite novel.

The spider cart drove away from the Wood Dragon Rampart checkpoint, truly entering the heartland of the Southern Border.

Damp, warm wind blew against their faces, carrying a more intense fragrance of flowers, the smell of earth, and some unknown herbal scent.

In the distance, layers of emerald mountains were shrouded in mist, and from deeper within, the long cries of unknown beasts faintly echoed.