The Demon with Holy Radiance-Chapter 127 - 112: The Master of the Jade Refining Workshop, the Foul-mouthed Bow

Chapter 127: Chapter 112: The Master of the Jade Refining Workshop, the Foul-mouthed Bow

"Do you want to live?"

The white-robed man’s question stunned Yang An.

’Didn’t this guy come here to kill me?’

’Why does it sound like now that he’s decided I’m an Innate Flesh Mushroom, he wants to save me instead?’

He mulled it over for a moment, then nodded.

’Since he already thinks I’m an Innate Flesh Mushroom, and I’ve admitted to it, I might as well see this through to the end.’

Immediately after, Yang An heard the white-robed man let out a soft chuckle.

"Heh, there’s no Innate Flesh Mushroom that doesn’t want to live. In the future, you will be incredibly grateful for the choice you’ve made today!"

"..."

’So what on earth is this elder trying to do?’ Yang An still couldn’t figure it out.

"If you want to live, then you’re one of us now. Have you heard of the Scripture Defector Association?"

Yang An shook his head.

’What the hell is a Scripture Defector Association?’ To this day, he knew of very few Cultivation Sects or factions, and he had certainly never heard that name before.

"Whether you’ve heard of it or not, from now on, you are a member of the Scripture Defector Association. You can call me Workshop Master!"

’Workshop Master?’

Yang An paused, then nodded. It was a strange title.

’But what was the connection between him wanting to live as an Innate Flesh Mushroom and joining this Scripture Defector Association?’

As if guessing what was on Yang An’s mind, the white-robed man chuckled.

"All the members of our Scripture Defector Association are just like you. They all want to live, so we’re all searching for a way to survive."

’In other words, they’re just searching, but haven’t found it yet?’

Yang An grumbled inwardly.

’So this guy was just making him an empty promise?’

"Do you think I’m lying to you?"

Yang An quickly shook his head. ’How could I dare say something like that?’

"We have a successful case. What we need to do now is replicate that success, so you don’t have to worry. What I’m telling you is the truth.

At the very least, there is great hope for you before you step into the Corpse Transformation Realm. This endeavor will also affect the entire Outer Continent!"

’Outer Continent?’

Yang An realized he had just heard another new term.

"So, Elder, since I’m now a member of the Scripture Defector Association, what do I need to do?"

In the end, it all came down to a single word: survival. Yang An just wanted to know what he had to do to live.

"It’s simple. I’ve already planted a seed inside your body. It will mature in time, and when it does, you will naturally know what to do."

The white-robed man said slowly, then added as an afterthought:

"Oh, right. When the seed matures, if you don’t use your unique constitution to suppress it, you will die!

And after it matures, if you reveal any information about the Scripture Defector Association, you will also die."

"..."

’A seed?’

Yang An immediately recalled the patterns the man had drawn with his blood, which had eventually entered his brain. ’That must be the ’seed’ he was talking about.’

"I understand."

’It seems he really didn’t come to kill me. But as for what he truly wants, I still have no idea.’

All he could say was that the waters of Liuyun City ran far too deep, even involving a secret organization.

"Good that you understand. I happen to have something for you. Consider it a gift for becoming one of us."

’What? A gift?’

Yang An froze. ’There’s a perk like this?’

Then he saw the white-robed man reach out and, from who knows where, produce a bow in his hand.

The Longbow was over four feet long and pure white, made of some unknown material.

The limbs were carved with arcane patterns, and the grip featured a small, exquisite ghost face. The bowstring resembled a thin red thread, giving it a mysterious air at first glance.

"Since you took my arrow, I’ll give this bow to you."

The white-robed man said softly as he handed the bow to Yang An.

’Arrow?’

’I took a mirror. When did I ever take your... ’

’Wait!’

Yang An was about to retort but suddenly realized—he had indeed taken an arrow before!

Not in Liuyun City, but in the Riverbed Ancient Collection at the bottom of the Xiyue River. It had been a gift from Elder Miao Ye.

’Could it be that arrow?’

He immediately looked at the white-robed man before him.

"Elder, could it be that you and Elder Miao Ye..."

"That’s right. He gave you my arrow."

"I see!"

Yang An understood at once.

So, all this time, he had thought this man was with the Cultivators who had set up the Array in Liuyun City, that he was here to kill him, and had only abandoned the plan and tried to recruit him because he’d mistaken him for an Innate Flesh Mushroom.

It turned out he’d been wrong the whole time. It was all a misunderstanding.

In that case, the man must have sought him out specifically because he knew Yang An had taken the arrow from Miao Ye.

Understanding this, Yang An breathed a sigh of relief, and the unease in his heart lessened considerably.

Moreover, he found that he could move again, no longer under the man’s control.

"Thank you, Elder!"

He immediately took the bow from the white-robed man. As soon as his hand touched it, a text box popped up before his eyes.

「[Vulgar Mouth Bow]: Crafted by Zhu Han, the Workshop Master of the Jade Refining Workshop. Forged from Soul-Melting Iron Essence and Cyan Luster Flood Dragon Tendon. It can augment the speed and power of arrows to varying degrees. This bow may be somewhat noisy.

Cost of Use: Using this bow for any level of augmentation will cause the wielder to lose a corresponding degree of spiritual consciousness.

Status: Can be Purified!」

When he first saw the bow’s information, Yang An was simply amazed at its cost of use—it was shockingly high.

’And that name... it’s a bit weird.’

But upon closer inspection, he immediately noticed something was off.

’Crafted by Zhu Han, the Workshop Master of the Jade Refining Workshop... wait a minute!’

’Jade Refining Workshop... Workshop Master?’

The white-robed man had just told him he could call him Workshop Master. ’It can’t be *this* Workshop Master, can it?’

’What a coincidence!’

Just moments ago, Yang An had been wondering about the origins of this Jade Refining Workshop, and now, to his astonishment, the very person in question was standing right in front of him.

His special ability to appraise items was another secret he couldn’t reveal, so although he was shocked, he forced his expression to remain unchanged.

’Since the man hasn’t said anything more, he must not want to reveal his identity. I absolutely cannot ask.’

Seeing Yang An accept the bow, the white-robed man nodded slightly, then swiftly vanished from sight.

"See you around."

The man left so quickly, just as abruptly as he had arrived, that Yang An didn’t even have time to react.

He had wanted to ask more about the Scripture Defector Association. Since the man had made him join, he needed to learn as much as he could. But then, he was suddenly gone.

Gazing at the bow in his hands, the text box still lingered before his eyes.

’So his name is Zhu Han? The Workshop Master of the Jade Refining Workshop, Zhu Han!’

Yang An was lost in thought for a moment, then shook his head and prepared to store the bow in his Meat Burial Talisman.

But to his surprise, the bow couldn’t be stored in the Meat Burial Talisman. Usually, when he wanted to store something, the hideous mouth on his palm would open wide and swallow it whole.

This time, however, his hand showed no reaction.

Just as Yang An was feeling confused, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

"You little punk, you think I’m like those common goods you can just stuff into any old Storage Magical Artifact? Dream on!"

"..."

Yang An’s gaze immediately fell upon the pure white Longbow in his hands.

Without a doubt, the bow was the one talking!

Or more accurately, it was the small, exquisite ghost face on the grip.

’And it’s a female?’

"Let me tell you, you little punk! Don’t think for a second that just because the Workshop Master gave me to you, I’m yours now!

If you don’t serve me well and keep me happy, you can forget about me ever giving you the time of day!"

"..."

’Seriously, calling me ’little punk’ over and over... why does this thing have to be so infuriating?’

Yang An frowned, and then it dawned on him.

’No wonder this bow is called the Vulgar Mouth Bow. It really lives up to its name.’

At this thought, Yang An was filled with disgust for the bow. ’How could such a Magical Artifact even exist?’

’And it was personally crafted by that Workshop Master guy. He must have given me this bow on purpose, right? He definitely did it on purpose!’

"You listen here, you little punk! Every day, you’re going to prepare the finest fresh meat for me, and fine wine, and handsome men!

They have to be handsome!

As long as you serve me well, I might be in a good enough mood to let you shoot me once in a while."

"You got that?"

"..."

Yang An ignored it and began rummaging through his Meat Burial Talisman for a Storage Magical Artifact he’d put away earlier. He soon found the Ancient Bronze Bracelet he had obtained after killing his Tenth Senior Brother, Xuan Kang.

But when he tried to use the bracelet to store the bow, the result was the same as with the Meat Burial Talisman—no reaction whatsoever.

The Vulgar Mouth Bow’s scornful laughter instantly echoed in Yang An’s ears.

"Looks like you really don’t know how to listen, you little punk! I told you loud and clear and you didn’t hear a word. With a personality like yours, you probably don’t have any friends, do you?"

"..."

Storing the bracelet back in his Meat Burial Talisman, Yang An took a deep breath, feeling his blood pressure spike.

But in the end, he forced himself to endure it.

’I’m a person, this is just a bow. Why the hell would I argue with a Magical Artifact?’

After composing himself, since he couldn’t store the bow in a Storage Magical Artifact, Yang An simply slung it over his back and, while he was at it, completed the Purification.

"Get off me! Don’t touch me with your filthy body! I absolutely will not let you touch me!

Ah... don’t touch my string! You damn bastard!"

The Vulgar Mouth Bow continued to curse, but Yang An couldn’t be bothered to deal with it, pretending he heard nothing.

’It’s just a thing that can only run its mouth. Nothing to worry about.’

He pulled the bowstring, slung the bow over his shoulder, and glanced around.

After the Workshop Master disappeared, the world returned to its original clamor.

He was back!

Wen Yin, who had been embedded in the city wall earlier, was now nowhere to be seen. Only a large hole remained, surrounded by rubble.

The people passing by still wore looks of panic and fear. He didn’t know how much time had passed, or whether the people who had set up the Array in Liuyun City had been dealt with.

Yang An immediately leaped up to a high rooftop to survey the current situation in Liuyun City.

Aside from the general noise, there were no longer any sounds of battle. It seemed the incident had been resolved.

Yang An immediately flew toward the Golden Martial Gang’s headquarters, planning to rendezvous with Ji Bu and Wen Yin there.

But not long after, when he arrived at the Golden Martial Gang’s headquarters, he didn’t see Ji Bu or Wen Yin.

Instead, he learned from the Golden Martial Gang’s Leader, Tai Shiyao, that the two of them had already left Liuyun City half an hour ago.