Otherworldly Desert Dust

Chapter 328 - 283: Seeking Refuge with Miss Ruan

Passing through the wilderness, the small woods filled with wild berries exuded a scent both sweet and rotten.

As a Taste Spiritual Awakener, Wu Hen picked up these wild fruits and gnawed on them to replenish his spent energy and water without fear of poisoning or getting lost.

This body was too weak, constantly needing to consume whatever was available, otherwise, it would shrivel up again soon.

Despite having evolved to a Second Rank Physique, many organs in his body were still failing, and this degeneration also made it impossible for Wu Hen to mobilize the qi in his body. He had run less than ten miles, and he was already gasping for breath.

Not caring whether the stream water was purified, Wu Hen drank deeply, focusing on drawing energy for his depleted body, then considering how to expel the toxins he had absorbed.

"Just another ten miles, keep going, and you’re basically out of danger," Wu Hen rested on the spot.

Suddenly, strange sounds came from the berry bushes, and Wu Her, with his keen hearing, instantly caught a whiff of danger.

He hurriedly picked up a long, straight natural stick from the ground and swung it forcefully at its head as the thing darted out of the bushes!

"Clang!"

The stick broke on impact.

A hard dog’s head appeared in front of Wu Hen, baring its teeth with a pair of green eyes staring at him, full of hostility!

A wild dog??

But why was this wild dog covered in rock-like armor, and its fangs were even more terrifying than those of a fierce tiger, its cold, sharp claws digging into the ground...

After seeing the other’s muscles, claws, fangs, and size, and then looking at his own thin arms and legs, Wu Hen realized he couldn’t possibly defeat the iron-rock wild dog in the wilderness and immediately turned to flee.

...

In less than half an hour, Wu Hen finished the remaining ten miles and reached Monkey Mountain Town, even faster than when he had escaped from the execution ground.

Life in the wilderness isn’t about the lack of beautiful scenery or forgetting to stop and enjoy it; it’s that there’s always a wild dog chasing behind you, unknowingly bringing you closer to success.

Upon arriving at Monkey Mountain Town, Wu Hen saw that it had very high stone walls, not resembling a township for farming or collecting wood but more like a frontier fort, as if always on the brink of war with a neighboring country.

Exhausted, Wu Hen reached the main gate, unable to straighten his back, but fortunately, a few hundred meters behind him, the iron-rock wild dog had also stopped moving.

"Open… open the door," Wu Hen knocked, signaling those inside to let him in.

The door slowly opened.

But a hairy face peered out, and just as Wu Hen wondered why the gatekeeper had such a full beard, the hairy face suddenly lifted a hammer and swung it down at Wu Hen’s head.

Shocked, Wu Hen quickly dodged backward.

The thick door swung wide open, revealing one after another of these completely hairy creatures, bizarrely dressed in the town residents’ clothes and armor!

Monkeys!

The place was full of monkeys!

Some held spears, standing guard at the gate as if protecting the town, some walked leisurely along the streets with bundles on their backs like ordinary townspeople, and many dressed in women’s clothing, dancing around a fire...

Monkey Mountain Town??

Could it be that it is inhabited entirely by Monkey Demons?

Wu Hen found this utterly incredible, not knowing what kind of outrageous world he had stumbled into.

The monkeys, armed with long weapons, were strutting around and continuously jeering at Wu Hen.

Without pausing to think further, Wu Hen hurriedly fled toward a Fruit Mountain beside the town.

Fortunately, the monkeys did not pursue, allowing Wu Hen to heave a sigh of relief.

Climbing to a slightly higher point in the mountain, Wu Hen used his Spiritual Vision to look back at the town and saw it bustling with these nimble, quick-moving monkeys; if not for the golden-brown hair visible on their exposed skin, one might think the town was thriving and lively!

"What is this situation??"

Wu Hen felt it was bizarre and absurd, enough to make him miss his comfortable bed, feeling as if he had run into a surreal and fantastical dream.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle~"

Behind him, weird noises came from the bushes again.

Wu Hen turned around warily, preparing to fight the beast.

However, what he saw was not a wild creature but a few pretty ladies, staring at him with big innocent eyes, seemingly as helpless and confused as him.

"Lu Yun?"

Someone recognized Wu Hen as she walked out from among the women, still clad in a black velvet woven cloak and wearing a conical hat, which made her look like a female knight.

"Miss Ruan?" Wu Hen was also surprised, not expecting to come across a person in these mountains where wild monkeys were expected.

"You… you escaped!" Ruan Muhuan spoke with an uncontainable joy in her tone.

"Yes, I no longer have to die, but your situation doesn’t seem too optimistic either. How did you end up chased by those monkeys to the mountain?" Wu Hen looked behind the women and noticed they had set up some simple tents in the wilderness.

She thought to herself that coming to seek refuge with Miss Ruan was a good way to avoid the weakest phase of her life.

But Miss Ruan’s days weren’t going well either, having to camp in the wilderness, keeping company with the cold rain, and living off the mountains.

"These monkeys, I don’t know what evil has possessed them. They don’t stay in their caves or in the forests but suddenly attacked the town... Fortunately, they just stole things and didn’t harm any lives," Ruan Muhuan said.

"I think they don’t plan to leave and intend to become the town’s residents," said Wu Hen.

"Don’t worry; they will leave. Everyone just needs to endure a bit longer."

The people were in the mountains, and the monkeys were in the town.

As night fell, the "residents" of that small town finally revealed their true forms, scattering towards the mountains and wilderness they loved more.

When the monkeys left, the residents who had hidden in the mountains gradually returned to the town, like loggers collectively knocking off work to go home…

Wu Hen followed the inhabitants of the town and Miss Ruan back to Monkey Town.

He noticed that the local people seemed accustomed to this phenomenon, tidying up where needed, borrowing grain, and continuing to cook as usual.

Wu Hen wasn’t sure what to think, but to avoid letting these folks know she was a stranger, she spoke less.

After inspecting the area to ensure there were no Monkey Demons left, Ruan Muhuan finally took Wu Hen to her house.

The house was simple, with just a cold bed, a wooden table, and other furnishings that seemed to have been taken by the monkeys.

"How did you escape?" Ruan Muhuan asked.

"The locks were loose, I broke free and ran for it. I heard you were here, so I came looking for you," Wu Hen directly stated her reason for coming.

"I’m currently working for Mrs. Zeng, who needs some high-quality Monkey Jade, so I came here looking for it," Ruan Muhuan briefly explained her situation.

"I need some time to recuperate. Jiang Mansion will issue a warrant in a few days, and I will have nowhere else to go," Wu Hen also mentioned her circumstances. Stay tuned to NovelBin.Côm

"After months in prison, you didn’t speak a word; I thought your spirit was gone, and I let you choose your own release. Since you still want to live, why didn’t you tell me? I would have ensured they spared your life no matter what," Ruan Muhuan’s eyes flashed with a hint of anger.

"In the past, I couldn’t understand many things. Now I have figured it out-I want to live, and live well," said Wu Hen.

Hearing Wu Hen say this, Ruan Muhuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want her friend to die, but seeing his despair and hopelessness, she couldn’t bear to let him continue suffering in this world.

She had been restless all day, knowing that today was his execution day, and had been thinking they’d be forever parted by heaven and earth, but unexpectedly, he came running over by himself!

"Miss Ruan, if I’m a burden to you, I can think of another solution," Wu Hen continued.

"It’s not about being a burden; they still wouldn’t dare disrespect me. My authority all depends on Mrs. Zeng; if I can please her, everything will be easier," Ruan Muhuan said.

"So where is the Top-grade Monkey Jade?" Wu Hen asked.

"I only know it’s in the stone forest; I haven’t seen its specific location yet," Ruan Muhuan replied.

"How is the Monkey Jade formed?"

"I’ve asked the old folks in the town. The jade is actually Ya Jade from Ya City, but during pregnancy, the Monkey Mother’s body temperature is quite high. They lick the cool jade to comfort themselves while the Spiritual Energy stored inside the cool jade is also what their bodies need-ensuring the birth of stronger Monkey Spirits. A perfect piece of Monkey Jade takes the same Monkey Mother as long as twenty years, nourishing the Ya Jade daily with its special saliva. However, these frequently pregnant Monkey Mothers are often elders of the Demon Clan, making it extremely difficult to take such treasures from them," Ruan Muhuan detailed the situation.

Catching Dream Demons and seeking Monkey Jade…

Was Mrs. Zeng a collector of treasures?

Wu Hen more or less understood; Miss Ruan was essentially a female officer for Mrs. Zeng. Whatever the lady required, she had to search for in all directions—an exhausting task, but with support from behind.

"What is your Cultivation rank now?" Wu Hen asked.

Miss Ruan was startled, somewhat puzzled by Wu Hen suddenly asking this.

In the past, he had never cared about her Cultivation level.

"Qi Silk Ninth Layer, just a step away from Qi Stream," Ruan Muhuan said.

"Eh, you caught a Dream Demon and gave it to Mrs. Zeng. Didn’t she reward you or offer you an Elixir to enhance your True Qi realm?" Wu Hen asked, surprised.

"I…" Ruan Muhuan wasn’t sure how to start.

"You used it to save my life, didn’t you?"

Ruan Muhuan shook her head but said, "I exchanged it for half a year of protection from martial artists of Ya City, who are your only concern in this world, aren’t they?"