Chapter 4286 — Discovered
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Who knows? Maybe someone got here before us," Chang Daoping said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Then that makes it even more abnormal. No one ever thinks they have too much Star Ink Milk. If someone had come here before us, they'd have scooped up every last drop—there's no way they'd have left this much behind. At most they'd have left only what dripped after they departed. Counting from the moment the miasma cleared, that would be a small bottle's worth at best—not a full six bottles!" Wei Zhao shook his head firmly.
There was more he did not say. Where Star Ink Milk was concerned, everything from how to enter the Aoduo Cultivation City ruins to the precise location of this altar was a jealously guarded secret. Chang Daoping was not the only one who kept such things close; everyone else surely did the same.
So the number of human cultivators in this world who could actually come here and take Star Ink Milk must be pitifully small. The odds that someone had happened to arrive just ahead of them were in truth very low—and even if someone had, they could not have made the whole journey here without leaving a single trace.
"Then... perhaps the Star Ink Milk doesn't drip this fast all year round? Or perhaps someone can ignore the miasma and come for it at other times—a few months ago, say?" Chang Daoping tried again.
This time Wei Zhao had nothing to say. If pressed, neither of Chang Daoping's possibilities could be ruled out. After all, no one would stand guard here the whole year through, and no one knew the true rhythm of the Star Ink Milk's dripping.
As for the latter possibility—he and Huang Xiaotao had just killed a man in gray not long ago. The fellow had been a Nascent Soul expert, and he had descended from the sky like some giant bat; the miasma seemed not to hinder him in the least. So it was not impossible that others could ignore the miasma's threat as well.
"And there's this. Leave Star Ink Milk sitting too long, and it might simply evaporate into thin air," Chang Daoping added. His expression remained placid, but a close look at his eyes would reveal that his gaze was flickering more than before.
"Perhaps," Wei Zhao said with a noncommittal shake of his head, his suspicions deepening. The more Chang Daoping explained, the more it showed there was something dubious here. Otherwise, given the man's temperament, he would not be talking this much without some special reason.
Still, Wei Zhao did not press further. Matters had come to this point; whatever the explanation, it made no difference now. What was done was done—missing out on the Star Ink Milk this time was a certainty set in stone.
Seeing Wei Zhao fall silent, Chang Daoping let the corner of his mouth curve up ever so faintly, then asked, "Well? Anyone who'd worn themselves out getting here only to go back empty-handed would refuse to accept it—it's only human nature. Would you two like to stay here a few days, as I suggested? But if you do, we'll have to go on ahead. We can't wait here for you."
Go on ahead? Wei Zhao frowned at once at these words. Chang Daoping and his people leaving first, while he and Huang Xiaotao stayed behind?
Only a fool would stay here! Unable to resist the lure of Star Ink Milk, an ordinary person might well give in to such an impulse—but Wei Zhao was not so bewitched.
Once Chang Daoping left with the others, whether he and Huang Xiaotao could even get out would become a question—and this ruin was plainly fishy. Even if they had met no danger so far, who could guarantee the days ahead would stay this calm?
"Forget it. We'd better leave with Brother Chang. Staying here on our own is more than we dare," Wei Zhao said with a shake of his head, exchanging a glance with Huang Xiaotao.