NOVEL FROG Chapter 99: Riding Fast
Sometimes, no matter how stable the cultivation of one’s spirit may be, the neural stimulation from hormones is one of the inherent traits of the human species.
The so-called liberation of one's nature often results in behavior that succumbs to the impulses caused by these hormones.
At this moment, Ling Yi didn’t suppress his natural instincts. He instantly waved to his companions behind him, Ye Luo and Le Qing, who were driving the carriage, calling out loudly, “Brother Ye, Brother Le, I’m heading off first. Let’s reunite in ‘Wooden City’!”
Hearing his words, Ye Luo and Le Qing hadn’t quite processed what was happening when Ling Yi spoke again.
“Ah Feng! Ah Xin! Ah Yin!”
At these successive calls, Zhang Mufeng, Qingqiu Xin, and Long Yin responded in unison with a hearty shout, “Brother Yi!” ×3
Ling Yi laughed heartily, declaring, “Let's go!”
“Yes!” “Coming, Brother Yi!” “Right behind you!” came the enthusiastic replies.
As Ling Yi galloped ahead, leading the way, the three young men followed closely on horseback, leaving Ye Luo, who was managing the carriage, and Le Qing, riding alongside, exchanging bewildered glances.
“Are they... really leaving like this?” Ye Luo felt a slight tremor in his recently healed abdomen as if his liver was quivering a bit.
Yue Qing nodded blankly, "Uh-huh, they left~"
"What…" Ye Luo turned his head mechanically, staring at his brother in a daze, asking again, "Did Brother Ling and his group… just leave?"
After asking, he pointed behind him with his hand.
In the carriage behind him were two large crates filled with spirit beast materials. Although he wasn't sure exactly what materials were inside, the fact that they were from spirit beasts meant they were undoubtedly valuable!
On another carriage were boxes of soul devices and several thousand-fold tempered weapons.
Even though Ye Luo didn’t understand the condition of those soul devices, he knew that any one of those few tempered weapons alone could match half a year's income for their small group!
But it was the last carriage that struck him most; it held large "Blue Silver Grass" planted neatly in square wooden troughs, which Ye Luo paid little mind to.
Though these "Blue Silver Grass" were larger than usual and tinged with a light purple, making them quite striking, they were, in the end, just "Blue Silver Grass."
Within the hearts of Ye Luo, Yue Qing, and their ten-team members, it seemed unbelievable that Ling Yi handed over wealth several times their total fortunes to them for safekeeping and transport so casually.
For a moment, they couldn't decide if Ling Yi was overly trusting or just very confident.
"Isn't Ling Yi worried that they might take off with the goods?"
"What was that saying again?"
"Never underestimate human nature; often in the face of absolute profit, it can't withstand a test."
"That saying... it's both right and wrong."
"It's right because human nature is changeable, indeed prone to corruption under various external influences."
"It's wrong as it underestimates a certain element deeply embedded in the bones of the human species."
"That element is called belief!"
"In this world, some people seek wealth, others power, fame, or the fulfillment of the heart's deepest desires!"
"Of course, those pursuits have little to do with Ling Yi entrusting Ye Luo and Le Qing's team with transporting goods worth thousands in soul coins."
"Just as Ye Luo and Le Qing were at a loss for words, conversations suddenly rang out among their teammates."
“Indeed!” someone chimed in, “Who do you think Mr. Ling is? At such a young age, he's already a double-ringed Soul Master and vice-chairman of the Duchy's Blacksmith Association. All blacksmiths throughout the Duchy look up to him!”
“Not just that!” another person added, “I heard Mr. Ling has connections in all five military departments of the Duchy. He enters and leaves the distant mountain camps as easily as if they were his own home!”
“There's no hope for me,” one person sighed wistfully. “I just hope when my three children go through their Spirit Awakening Ceremony in a few years, they'll have decent innate soul power and succeed like Mr. Ling.”
Hearing his companion's words, someone nodded in agreement, reflecting for a moment before turning to ask the person beside them, “Old Sa, do you think we should learn forging?”
Old Sa was taken aback and asked, “Forging? What do you mean?”
“I know~ I know~” the first speaker interjected. As everyone turned their gaze towards him, he looked proud and declared, “Aside from being a renowned healing-type Soul Master, Mr. Ling is the vice-chairman of the Blacksmith Association because he is a blacksmith himself!”
Upon hearing this, someone shook their head disdainfully, “Ha, what are you getting at that we don't already know?”
The mocked individual wasn't bothered, merely shaking his head before retorting, “Do you know, Mr. Ling was granted a baronetcy for becoming a blacksmith? Back then, he was just like us, a one-ring Soul Master.”
He surveyed the quietly attentive listeners around him and added, “Mr. Ling being bestowed the title of baronet by the Duchy is unique. Apart from inheritance, he's the only one able to gain such a title through his Soul Master prowess!”
“I’ve made up my mind!” someone suddenly declared with solemn determination, “Once we reach 'Mu Zhi City', I'll ask Mr. Ling to introduce me to the Blacksmith Association to learn forging!”
“A Hua, are you serious?” The voice of Old Sa was tinged with emotion as he couldn't help but ask.
“Of course!” A Hua, the team member, nodded firmly. “I'm thirty-three this year and only have a soul power level of fourteen. It's nearly impossible for me to reach level twenty now, so I might as well start learning something else…
In the future, we'll see what the kids in the family decide, whether to continue the path of soul masters or, like me, turn to blacksmithing. After all, it's a way of living—”
Upon hearing this, whether it was Ye Luo and Le Qing at the front or the other team members, all fell into a contemplative silence.
Their small group of a dozen or so varied in age, from the twenty-something Ye Luo and Le Qing, who had yet to start families, to those like A Hua in their thirties, or even Old Sa in his forties who all had families to care for.
Recalling a suggestion made earlier by Ling Yi, Ye Luo and Le Qing exchanged glances. The scales of indecision in their hearts began to tip.
…
Meanwhile, Ling Yi, who had already dashed several miles ahead, was unaware of their conversation but had his own thoughts.
They were all soul masters burdened with responsibilities. None of them possessed the mindset to gamble everything. Considering this, if they dared to steal their own supplies but couldn't escape the borders of the Water Wood Principality, they would inevitably be caught.
Even before their runaway attempt, disputes had already arisen within their small team of ten or so people.
Even though Ye Luo and Le Qing haven't started families of their own, back in their hometowns, they still have their parents, siblings, and other kin waiting for them.
(End of Chapter)
