Questioning White Night.
The two aunties naturally wouldn’t make things difficult for Little White Night and didn’t press her with any more tricky, hard-to-answer questions.
They settled down with the bicycle, and White Night dutifully kept watch.
This town was relatively safe to begin with; Weirdness simply couldn’t break in. Yet, the glaring danger warning on the compass couldn’t be ignored.
They had to guard against the people in the town and other unknown risks lurking in the shadows.
White Night had no choice but to be cautious.
However, White Night’s worries ultimately proved unnecessary for this night. It passed peacefully without a single ripple.
And White Night, having undergone major maintenance, wasn’t too exhausted.
Under the firm insistence of the two aunties, she obediently nestled in the bicycle and rested peacefully.
At the crack of dawn, the two aunties, leading the bicycle, went straight to find Gu Jiao.
Their purpose for this trip was clear: first, to clarify the situation, and second, to probe Gu Jiao’s background.
Gu Jiao had risen even earlier. Seeing them approach, she politely nodded in greeting.
“Sister Gu, we’ll get straight to the point,” Mu Yingying spoke first, her tone frank.
“We came to this town looking for a truly skilled beekeeper artisan. We were wondering if you could help recommend someone?”
White Night and Su Shuanger stood to the side, expressionless, their eyes fixed intently on Gu Jiao’s changing expressions.
Upon hearing the words “beekeeper,” Gu Jiao clearly paused for a moment, but she didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she asked a question in return: “You’re looking for a beekeeper because you need Hundred Flowers Dew, right?”
With that one sentence, the three of them were simultaneously startled.
They had never once mentioned the words “Hundred Flowers Dew.” How did Gu Jiao know?
Before anyone could speak, Gu Jiao continued unhurriedly to explain: “Hundred Flowers Dew is a rare panacea, most effective for repairing soul damage. I’m guessing this little girl’s soul has been injured, right?”
Gu Jiao glanced over their tense faces, her tone softening a fraction. “Don’t be nervous. I am the beekeeper you’re looking for, which is how I guessed your purpose. Moreover, I can brew Hundred Flowers Dew. You’ve come to the right person.”
Her tone was gentle, carrying not a hint of malice throughout. The three’s taut nerves relaxed slightly, but they still didn’t let their guard down completely.
After all, they had no relation or friendship with Gu Jiao, yet her attitude was excessively good.
In this savage land teeming with Weirdness, where the strong prey on the weak, do-gooders never live long.
Gu Jiao absolutely could not be a kind-hearted, soft pushover.
“Sister Gu, since you are the beekeeper we’re looking for and can brew Hundred Flowers Dew, we won’t beat around the bush either,” Mu Yingying spoke again, her tone still steady.
“We are indeed in urgent need of Hundred Flowers Dew. Do you have any on hand right now? If a trade is needed, state your requirements. As long as we can manage it, everything is negotiable.”
Mu Yingying paused, then asked the biggest question on their minds: “There’s one more thing I truly can’t figure out. We heard that this town has extremely strict controls on outsiders entering, with many rules and regulations. Yet, you let us in so easily. You’ve been so courteous to us. Is it simply because the strength we displayed was somewhat acceptable?”
Hearing this, Gu Jiao gently shook her head.
“To be honest with you, right now, I’m afraid no beekeeper in this entire town has Hundred Flowers Dew on hand. You’ve probably seen it yourselves—this region has long been contaminated by Weirdness aura. Flowers that can brew Hundred Flowers Dew simply cannot bloom here.”
“As for why I’ve been so courteous and friendly to you… there is indeed a reason.” She changed the subject, her gaze falling on White Night, her tone calm.
“You have a request of me, and I happen to have a request of you as well. To put it more bluntly, I treat you differently because of something in your possession—that black bowknot.”
“Black bowknot?”
White Night’s heart jolted violently.
That bowknot was currently pinned to her collar.
Although the power within it had long been exhausted, it had saved her life several times, so she kept it as a memento.
Moreover, the little girl who gave her the bowknot had said they were friends.
She always thought that if they met again someday, seeing how much she treasured this gift, the other might take better care of her.
But until now, she still didn’t know where that little girl was.
Gu Jiao suddenly bringing up this bowknot made not only White Night but also Mu Yingying and Su Shuanger tense up.
This matter was known only to the few of them. How did Gu Jiao detect it?
“I know this black bowknot is miraculous. You don’t need to be nervous,” Gu Jiao quickly waved her hand, her tone carrying not a hint of covetousness.
“I don’t want to snatch it, and I wouldn’t dare. This belongs to that existence. Even with a hundred times the courage, I wouldn’t dare entertain any crooked thoughts. I just want to borrow its power for a use.”
“You want to borrow its power? Then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.” Seeing the other’s candid attitude, White Night didn’t hide the truth either, stating it directly.
“The power within this bowknot, we used it up long ago.”
She said this also to cut off any covetous thoughts the other might have.
After all, this was Gu Jiao’s territory. If the other was truly determined to snatch it, they might not be able to escape unscathed.
But judging by Gu Jiao’s current attitude—always polite and restrained—she really didn’t seem intent on seizing it by force, but rather on cooperation.
“What I want has never been the residual power within the bowknot,” Gu Jiao shook her head, stating her true purpose. “What I want is your status as its bearers. This bowknot was given to you by that existence. Carrying it is equivalent to having that existence’s authentication, indicating you have a close relationship with that being.”
“I would like to ask you to take this bowknot and accompany me to a place,” her tone grew more solemn.
“It’s the only place where Hundred Flowers Dew can still be brewed. Once the matter is accomplished, all the Hundred Flowers Dew brewed will be yours. Of course, in that place, I can also obtain the strength enhancement I desire.”
“Just what kind of place is it? Will there be danger? And why should we believe what you say? What if this is a trap you’ve set?” Mu Yingying remained direct, not beating around the bush at all, laying all their concerns out on the table.
“You can rest assured,” Gu Jiao responded frankly.
“Based on the strength you displayed yesterday, even if I relied on having more people, at best I could only fight you to a stalemate where both sides suffer, and I might not even be your match. There’s no need for me to take such a big risk setting a trap. I genuinely want to cooperate with you.”
“As for that place, danger is a certainty, and it’s very dangerous.”
Gu Jiao didn’t hide the risks, being quite candid. Then she changed tack again.
“But this danger is nothing much for you. After all, you have this black bowknot, which is equivalent to having a layer of safe identity authentication.”
“I still need to confirm one thing. This bowknot was indeed personally given to you by that existence, right?”
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