Immortality Path: From the Blind Man at the Pharmacy
Chapter 173 - 113, 114. Ghost Servant wanders like a zombie, tigers and leopards show their prowess, animal skin painting (Major Chapter - Subscription Request)_4

Chapter 173: 113, 114. Ghost Servant wanders like a zombie, tigers and leopards show their prowess, animal skin painting (Major Chapter - Subscription Request)_4

Song Cheng couldn’t help but think of a movie he had watched before his travels, "Resident Evil."

In that movie, numerous zombies roamed just like the Ghost Servants now. However, the source of their existence was a virus, not evil spirits.

During this time, Song Cheng didn’t idle. He often flipped through the various cultivation techniques in the prefectural city’s Scripture Pavilion.

All the powers below the Qi Realm, he could basically comprehend at a glance.

But anything at the Qi Realm or above seemed like a distant dream.

The only ways to break through to the Profound Level were to wait for points or to resort to a Noble Family...

Yet, the connection with Su Ningyu seemed to have suddenly broken.

Song Cheng knew that the Little Fox Immortal had gone to heal her wounds.

Had she not sealed one in advance, this year’s Ghost Tide would have been even more challenging.

...

Five months later...

The Tiger Leopard Cavalry returned from outside, with more than half of its forces lost.

However, all the subordinate county towns under Hanping Prefecture had been successfully cleared.

Zhao Hua, looking weathered from travel, also seemed more spirited and rugged.

And as fate would have it, both Madam Tong and Ouyang Chuchu had equally grown bellies, each five months pregnant.

Zhao Hua returned to the city, secured pensions for the fallen soldiers, generously rewarded the surviving ones, then hurriedly went to the An Residence to find Song Cheng, sharing tales of what he had seen and heard along the way.

"Everywhere were deep pits, emitting a foul stench, as if containing numerous bones that couldn’t be removed. This life seems endless."

Recalling the journey’s sights, Zhao Hua continued, "But as I suspected, the attacks the county towns faced during the Ghost Tide, though fierce, didn’t compare to those on the prefectural city.

"Big brother, I’m wondering if we should consider further consolidating our living areas in the future.

"As long as people are densely congregated, the Yang Qi will grow stronger, and encounters with Ghost Servants will decrease.

"By then, all towns will turn into isolated, self-sufficient settlements with little interaction with the outside."

Immediately he seemed to think of something, exclaiming excitedly, "Big brother, although only 516 Tiger Leopard Cavalry members remain, each is an elite among elites."

Song Cheng laughed, "Hua, there are still three thousand new cavalry, including Medicinal Humans and Martial Artists. I’ve already trained them; you can integrate them into the Tiger Leopard Cavalry for early synergy."

Excited, Zhao Hua rose, then led his wife away.

He still had many tasks to attend to.

Song Cheng watched him leave, hearing the "yiyaya" sounds behind him.

Ting was being helped to walk by Ling.

She looked up, her big eyes lighting up upon seeing Song Cheng in the courtyard, and called out in a childlike voice, "Fall... fall..."

She quickened her pace but suddenly lost balance, taking a Flat Ground Tumble.

Ling hurriedly embraced her.

She was dazed for a moment but continued her walk.

After two steps, she tumbled again.

Ling held onto her.

After three falls, Ting finally reached Song Cheng.

Song Cheng took his daughter, placing her on his lap, and resumed his thoughts.

Though the news from the southern Six Towns became scarce due to the Wilderness being filled with Ghost Servants, through the "Skull Double Fish Ornament" connection with Lady Zhushan, Song Cheng still learned a little.

And that little... gave him the impression that the Six Towns were "cheating."

Why?

Previously, the Six Towns served as the wall of the Dashang Dynasty against the Northern Barbarians.

But now, the Dashang Dynasty had promised benefits to the Northern Barbarians to jointly besiege the Six Towns.

Lady Zhushan was deeply resentful of the chaos.

When Northern Snow State was initially captured, she had no objections.

She didn’t mind the Six Towns occupying Northern Snow State either.

But now, as the Six Towns continued southward like mad dogs, she became furious.

Seeing benefits and the chance for legitimate access to the fertile southern lands, the Barbarian King also rose up, now pressing from both the north and south to besiege the Six Towns.

Song Cheng was somewhat perplexed and very curious.

How did the Six Towns become so formidable?

Mind you, Noble Families were already involved, and the Six Towns had defeated these noble individuals.

Had the troops of the Six Towns truly become this strong?

However, he was not omniscient; the only way to understand the southern battle situation now was through Lady Zhushan.

Unfortunately, there were only two "Skull Double Fish Ornaments," one connected to Lady Zhushan, the other to Zhao Hua.

"Fall..."

Ting again called out childishly, waving her little fists excitedly and making a string of unintelligible syllables, "Yiying yokel ha gua ya hou..."

The tender voice pulled Song Cheng back to this small courtyard.

But what was Ting saying?

This stumped Song Cheng, who looked to Ling for help.

Ling smiled, "Master, Ting is saying she drew a picture and hopes you’ll take a look."

Song Cheng: ???

"How did you deduce that?"

Ling chuckled, "Because that’s all Ting did this morning; she wouldn’t say anything else."

Song Cheng suddenly understood.

Ting tugged lightly at Song Cheng’s clothes, seemingly urging him to see.

Song Cheng, also curious, picked up his daughter with a smile, "Ling, lead the way. Let me see Ting’s masterpiece."

Moments later...

Song Cheng entered the house.

Ling took out a sheet of rice paper.

There was a drawing on the paper.

It was a rabbit.

The ink-drawn rabbit was by no means lifelike, more of an "if you didn’t say it was a rabbit, I would never guess what it was" style.

Song Cheng praised, "What a great drawing, truly worthy of being my daughter."

Ling added, "Indeed, Ting’s drawing is excellent, just like you, Master."

Song Cheng: ???

He glanced sideways at Ling.

Ling quickly covered her mouth.

Ting: "Ha."

...

In the blink of an eye, two more months passed, and it was mid-autumn.

Zhao Hua led the newly reorganized Tiger Leopard Cavalry, going out for a sweep, both to train the soldiers and to expand the safe areas, facilitating the movement of people between the prefecture town and villages.