Chapter 1345: Interests or the Dao (1)

“Good, you’re awake. How are you feeling?” said Yang Qing to the rising Bolin, who looked to be just about getting his bearings. He seemed slightly out of it, looking groggy and disoriented as he glanced around.

“I am…” Bolin groggily said before pausing as he started feeling himself all over to confirm that he was whole. He sighed in huge relief when he found that his limbs were still attached to his body. He’d had a nasty dream where he was being chased around the Green Fog Swamp without limbs, forced to rely on his tongue to make his escape.

He had never expected to be this touched to have limbs. Over the years, he’d paid them little heed. In fact, if he was being honest, there were times he had felt resentful of them, given how small they were and how much reach they denied him compared to other spirit beasts. There were even moments with his friend, the green flash viper, when he had found himself saying he wouldn’t mind being limbless like his friend, since his own limbs didn’t seem to grant him any advantage. He might as well live without them and perhaps gain the same nimbleness and speed his friend had.

But after that nightmare, Bolin would never entertain such a silly thought again, not even in jest.

Only after he had confirmed that everything was where it was supposed to be and that his senses were not muddled did he finally have the presence of mind to register his surroundings and answer Yang Qing’s question.

“I am okay,” he answered. He was using the voice transmission bead to speak, but perhaps because of the nightmare, his tongue felt drier than usual.

Yang Qing, seemingly sensing it, pushed forward a cup of what Bolin guessed was some kind of fruit juice, if the nectary scent was any indicator.

“Here,” said Yang Qing as he slid the cup toward him. “Make sure you finish it. It should refill all the spiritual qi and energy reserves you’ve spent. That’s why you feel dry,” he said. “And it should help relax you a bit,” he gently added.

“Many thanks,” said Bolin as he moved to drink it. His eyes lit up from the first sip. It was cool and refreshing, with a perfect blend of sweetness and a slight tang. At times, it was faintly sticky, and at others, it flowed smoothly like water. In that tiny sip, it felt as if all the fruits used had announced themselves to his taste buds in unison.

As a resident of the Green Fog Region who had survived by devouring other spirit beasts, it was safe to say he was a meat-loving toad, and those preferences hadn’t changed even after coming here. He might not hunt down spirit beasts like he did in the swamp (not that he could even if he wanted to; he’d come to the sinking realization that he was quite low on the food chain in the Beast Tamer Hall), but if given a choice between meat and fruit, he would obviously choose the former and some wine. He had also come to realize he had a great fondness for wine, one that rivaled his love for meat.

That being said, the juice he was having made him seriously reevaluate his preferences, as he wondered whether he should be more like Haishi and broaden his tastes a bit. Of course, he wouldn’t go as far as her, since Haishi had no preferences to speak of; she’d eat anything that was handed to her. The fact that she’d eaten that babirusa (whom Bolin thought she was close to) proved Haishi could eat just about anything.

Speaking of which, isn’t the boss like that, too? There was a strange glimmer in Bolin’s eyes as he secretly examined Yang Qing, who also seemed to be drinking the same juice and enjoying it just as much, if not more, given the animated expressions of satisfaction he showed with every sip.

“Why do I get the sense you’re harboring some impertinent thoughts about me?” Yang Qing suddenly asked as he was moving in for another sip.

Bolin’s instincts, fueled by an intense desire for self-preservation, immediately kicked in as he moved to defend himself.

“No, no, how could I?!” Bolin pleaded as he raised his arms, only to freeze for a moment when, for some strange reason, he saw them getting severed. The brief illusion caused him to pause mid-plea before resuming with even greater fervor and bootlicking enthusiasm once he confirmed his limbs were still there. “I was just thinking that this might be the finest drink I’ve ever had. It tastes like an immortal’s brew,” said Bolin as he took a sip and made exaggerated groans of pleasure to sell his words.

“Is that so?” Yang Qing leisurely asked, smiling as he slowly put his cup down. He chuckled when he saw Bolin flinch as he reached out for the juice jar. “If you like it that much, then please have some more. It’s good for you,” he said as he refilled Bolin’s cup while the latter sat frozen stiff.

“I’m sorry I was rough on you,” Yang Qing softly said as he set the juice jar down.

It took a moment for Bolin to register both the refilled cup and the apology. Shaking his hand dismissively, he said, “You don’t have to apologize, Boss. I know it was for my good and…” He paused, clenching and unclenching his fists. “I feel much more adjusted to my strength now, and weirdly, I feel even stronger than before, which I’m guessing was the reason for the training?” he said sagely as he looked at Yang Qing.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. In fact, I’m the one who owes you,” said Bolin as he lowered his head slightly. “Without you, I wouldn’t have the strength I do now. Whatever achievements I make, now or in the future, I owe them to you…. To all of you,” he said as images of Feng Xin, Luo Meili, and the staff at the Beast Tamer Hall flashed through his mind.

“So thank you,” he said, before cheekily adding, “But if you’re feeling guilty, I wouldn’t mind a jar of wine and maybe this juice.”

“Deal,” said Yang Qing with a chuckle. “And congratulations on your breakthrough, Bolin,” he added, with an endearing smile on his face as he pushed over two earthen jars that had just appeared out of thin air.