51 Vicious Beasts, Spirit Beasts, and the Feeling of Despair
Martial arts practitioners needed to replenish a large amount of blood-nourishing foods and medicinal herbs. The higher their strength, the higher their requirements and standards were for the food they consumed.
Right now, ordinary people’s food was useless to both Song Shi and Big Smart. They instinctively felt that eating the food laid out tasted like chewing wax.
“That’s right, that’s right. You only feel this way when you’re strong.”
Mei Niang reacted and nodded in agreement. “Guardian Liu, it’s best if you eat the meat of the Vicious beast or even the meat of Spirit beasts now. Only then will you find meat delicious.”
“I agree that we can eat Vicious beasts, but forget about Spirit beasts. That’s not something we can eat.”
Big Smart knew the extent of his own capabilities. Vicious beasts were equivalent to Connate Qi Refinement level to Extraordinary Foundation Establishment level. Whereas Spirit beasts were at the level of Golden Core Kings. It was difficult to come into contact with them now.
Song Shi had learned many things these few days. Vicious beasts and spirit beasts were roughly the higher echelons of the differentiated classes of walking beasts. Ordinary mortals could only come into contact with ordinary beasts and wild beasts.
If a wild beast was lucky enough to eat some precious medicine or grow in a special environment, it could absorb the essence of the sun and moon and become a Vicious beast with a murderous aura.
Furthermore, if they could develop intelligence, they would be similar to humans and transform into Spirit beasts. If such existences came into contact with the human world, they would be called demon beasts.
As for the divine beasts and above, they were even more mysterious.
This was the case for beasts in this world. Other insects, fish, and birds were generally divided in the same way too.
“Can the New Moon Brothel acquire Vicious beast meat?”
Song Shi was curious. He really wanted to taste the meat of Vicious beasts.
“Yes, but it’s more expensive. It’s a hundred times more expensive than ordinary meat. After all, it’s not something ordinary people can handle.”
Mei Niang said awkwardly, “It’s impossible to give it to the Young Master for free. We have channels, but Young Master has to pay.”
“Just buy it. Prepare enough meat for every meal in the future.”
Song Shi said generously.
“No problem. Since Young Master Song has asked, Mei Niang will get someone to prepare it.”
Mei Niang raised her wine glass, “I’m here to congratulate Guard Liu for advancing to the Connate realm. In the future, you will have Vicious beasts meat to eat every meal.”
“Thank you.”
Big Smart returned a glass shyly.
After eating and drinking his fill, Song Shi got into the carriage and returned to the residence of the Demon Slayers Division.
Big Smart, who was driving, reminisced about Mei Niang’s charm for a long time. Then, he came back to his senses and coughed, “Ahem, Young Master, we don’t have much money left. Where do we get the money for Vicious beasts’ meat?”
Only then did Song Shi remember that his father had given all his wealth to the Demon Slayers Division. His face twitched, “Is the money we have left enough?”
“One or two meals is fine. The lowest-grade Vicious beasts meat costs 100 taels of silver per catty. The two of us eat at least 10 catties per meal. I, Old Liu, only have 3,000 taels of silver on me. I can eat at most three meals.”
“…”
Song Shi was usually not worried about money, but now, he had to consider the issue of money.
As he became stronger, the cost also increased greatly.
“I still have some money in my room. I can use it for a while.”
Song Shi remembered that he had also picked up some money from Dai Dou. Coupled with the money he had left, it would not be a problem to maintain his appetite for a few days.
“Boohoo…”
A cry suddenly came from outside, accompanied by the smoke of burning paper money. The atmosphere was filled with sorrow and despair.
Song Shi opened the curtains and took a look.
Corpses covered in white cloth or linen cloth were parked on both sides of the street. Some people in the uniforms of the bailiffs were urging them to hurry.
“Hurry up and carry them to Xi City for cremation. Don’t spread the plague to more people.”
“We have to observe the mourning process!”
“What’s there to mourn? The plague is contagious. If you don’t want to die, hurry up!”
The scene was rather chaotic. Incessant cries and curses could be heard everywhere.
Big Smart drove the carriage around with a solemn expression, “Young Master, the plague is getting serious again. I feel like everyone is dying.”
“What are the characteristics of these dead people?”
“Coughing and vomiting of blood. The illness acted up very quickly. Infected ones could be gone in a day.”
“How contagious is it?”
“Very. It’s happening all over the city.”
“It doesn’t make sense, it’s not scientifically sound”
Song Shi muttered. According to his medical knowledge in his previous life, the fatality rate and infection rate of this plague should be inversely proportional. How could it be so high?
However, this was a world with demons and ghosts. It was not abnormal for a powerful plague to just appear.
“Young Master? What’s science?” Big Smart was puzzled.
“Nothing. Is there anything special about the dead people?”
Through eavesdropping, Song Shi learned that the plague was related to the Sky Demon Cult.
“Special? It’s similar to the plague in the past. Those with poor health die more easily. People like us should be fine.”
Big Smart said nonchalantly.
“Eliminating the weak? What’s the point of that… is it really just to cause trouble?”
Song Shi rubbed his chin. The Sky Demon Cult had deliberately spread the plague and their motive was definitely not as simple as just killing people.
“Huff~”
Big Smart suddenly grabbed the reins and stopped the carriage.
He glared at the man blocking his way, “Kid, what are you doing?”
“Sir, Young Master, please have mercy. My mother is about to die. Please give me some money. I want to treat my mother.”
This was a youth that was about 15 or 16-years-old. His figure was thin and appeared dirty. His eyes were lively and his eyebrows were broken in segments. At this moment, he was kneeling on the ground and begging.
“Get lost. We’re not philanthropists. Why should we give you money?”
Big Smart snorted coldly. Now that Silken City was in chaos and many families had been destroyed, who could help? Moreover, this young man’s mother was most likely infected with the plague. It was useless to pay for her treatment.
“Please, I’m willing to be your slave!”
The youth with the broken eyebrows kowtowed on the ground.
Big Smart raised his hand, wanting to push this person away with Genuine Qi. Song Shi’s voice sounded.
“How much do you want?”
“Ten taels. I only want ten taels.”
Hope appeared in the young man’s despairing eyes.
“I’ll give you 30 taels to save your mother.”
Song Shi said to Big Smart, “Give it to him.”
“Kid, you’re lucky to have met our young master.”
Big Smart took out 30 taels and threw it to the youth.
“Thank you, benefactor. Thank you, gracious lord.”
The young man was desperately grateful.
“Go, save your mother.”
Song Shi’s expression was complicated. His mother had also died of illness, unfortunately, no amount of money could save her. The youth today reminded him of his past self.
The youth with the broken eyebrows hurriedly ran into the alley excitedly and returned home.
“Mother, you will be saved soon…”
The young man stepped through the door and his voice stopped abruptly. A familiar body was already lying under the linen cloth.
His father, who was coughing violently as the lights dimmed in his eyes muttered, “Child, it’s too late. Your mother has already left.”
Plop!
The youth with the broken eyebrows knelt on the ground weakly, as the silver taels in his hand fell to the ground.
“Mother…”
Sorrowful cries spread far and wide.
Similar scenarios played out in many places. Even if one had money, it was powerless in saving their loved ones.
Despair spread throughout Silken City.
…
There were many corpses lying on the road that appeared in the path of the carriage. Big Smart had no choice but to steer the carriage to enter a remote path.
“Young Master, this is a chaotic world. You shouldn’t be so kind. There will be no end to helping people if you continue doing what you did right now.”
Big Smart could not help but say what was on his mind.
“I know.”
Song Shi did not mind, “If I want to help, I’ll help. If I don’t, I won’t help. Because I have a clear conscience, I won’t be a good person to just everyone.”
“That’s good. I’m afraid that the Young Master will help too much and cause us to run out of food.”
Big Smart relaxed but suddenly felt a chill.
At this moment, horses neighed uneasily. Amidst the rhythmic sound, a blood-colored axe descended from the sky.
“Damn it, we’ve been ambushed!”