Chapter 15: Three treasures

Someone called out to Li Qi from behind, and he immediately turned around to look at the person.

Turning his head, he found it was a Merchant.

However, this Merchant's backpack was different from those of the two Merchant groups around him; it looked like he, too, was traveling alone.

This was a bit strange.

Logically speaking, no one in this world would travel alone for long distances.

After all, as mentioned before, this world is very dangerous.

But there were some exceptions, such as Li Qi, who was on the run after killing someone, or those who had to leave their homes for some reason.

Yet, Li Qi had never heard of a Merchant traveling alone.

Was he not afraid of death?

"Uh... Big Brother." The Merchant walked over and sat down beside Li Qi.

Li Qi was slightly wary, but he didn't chase the man away, merely sizing him up: "Little brother, is something the matter?"

"Oh, it's like this, I saw that you're also traveling alone, so... I came over to say hello." The Merchant seemed a bit nervous, but he still said this.

"So, I thought, since we're both traveling alone, why don't we team up? It'd be good to have someone to look out for on the road." The young Merchant said.

"Travel together? Where are you going?" Li Qi asked, while also assessing the other's physique.

Traveling alone was dangerous, and having a companion was indeed a good thing, but one must always be cautious, and being careful was never wrong.

"I'm going to Bi County, and you, Big Brother? I saw you came from that direction, and there's only one road here, no forks or anything. We should be able to travel together until Feng County. From here to a populated area, it's at least another fifty Li. At the very least, we can travel fifty Li together." The Merchant said.

"Oh, by the way, Big Brother, what's your name? My surname is Du, just call me A Du." A Du said, then he placed his tea snacks and tea on the table, put down his leather-covered backpack, and sat down.

"My name is Li Qi." Li Qi didn't hide his name, but he looked at A Du and replied, "From your words, you seem very familiar with this road. Since you're so familiar, why do you still want to travel with me?"

A Du gave a wry smile: "It's precisely because I'm familiar that I want a companion. To be honest, Big Brother, this road isn't very peaceful. Look at the Merchants around us, which one isn't traveling with a group of ten or more?"

"If I didn't have no other choice and urgently needed money, I wouldn't have set out alone with goods..." A Du said to Li Qi with a helpless expression.

This reason was quite sufficient, but Li Qi still didn't agree. He frowned slightly: "Not very peaceful? Did something happen?"

Speaking of this, A Du leaned in and lowered his voice: "There are Anomolus Spirits on this road."

"Anomolus Spirits? And people still dare to go?" Li Qi was startled.

Working at the dock, he had heard about Anomolus Spirits more than once from passing Merchant guilds and river gangs. In his impression, Anomolus Spirits were terrifying existences that could easily kill a dozen people.

"It's just a rumor, it shouldn't be a true Anomolus Spirit, but rather a wild beast that's close to becoming a Anomolus Spirit. These beasts, which are almost Anomolus Spirits but not quite, are afraid when there are many people and the Yang Qi is strong. So, traveling in groups is the safest. As for people like us... we can only make do and try our luck."

"Sigh, if it weren't for the necessities of life, who would travel far alone..." A Du sighed: "Anomolus Spirits are scary, but there are many things scarier than Anomolus Spirits."

Li Qi deeply agreed with this.

The Strongmen Gang had tried to kill him twice in one day. He had barely managed to kill them in return and now had to flee for his life to avoid the limelight. Even with Anomolus Spirits now, he had no intention of going back, which proved the correctness of this statement.

Seeing Li Qi nod slightly, seemingly agreeing with his statement, A Du immediately followed up: "Moreover, Big Brother Li, I'm not just thinking that you're traveling alone and it's dangerous, wanting to team up with you. Look, your Qi and blood are vigorous, and your Yang Qi is abundant. Those small beasts that haven't become Anomolus Spirits yet fear people like you the most. And I, I have experience as a Merchant. If we combine our strengths, I guarantee there won will be no problems!" A Du was articulate and spoke very persuasively.

Li Qi looked at the other person and felt that he wasn't lying.

Besides, even if the other person was lying, as long as he didn't follow the other person's route and didn't let him lead the way, there shouldn't be a problem.

Moreover, if there really were wild beasts on the verge of becoming Anomolus Spirits, having someone nearby would provide more security. The other person was an experienced Merchant familiar with the roads, capable of traveling in the wilderness, so he must have some abilities. He wouldn't be unable to resist if he encountered Anomolus Spirits.

Furthermore, in the worst-case scenario, he wouldn't have to outrun the Anomolus Spirit, just outrun him.

With this thought, Li Qi nodded: "In that case, let's travel together. I'm going to Feng County, so we can travel together for about two hundred Li."

"Heh heh, that's enough, that's enough. Once we reach Feng County, the population will be dense, and there will be local shamans, the government's Demon Extermination Division, and garrison commanders. Few Anomolus Spirits dare to act in such places. The most dangerous part is the middle two hundred Li, where no one manages it, and the road is bad, making it easy for demons and monsters to appear!" Having received a positive reply, A Du breathed a sigh of relief and began to joke around.

"Big Brother Li, from your appearance, you probably haven't traveled far, have you? Since we're drinking tea and have nothing to do, how about I tell you some interesting stories about the road to pass the time?" A Du, who had sat down, seemed very familiar.

However, Li Qi immediately understood A Du's meaning from his demeanor.

A Du spoke very politely, even somewhat ingratiatingly, but Li Qi was also a smart person. He knew that this Merchant wanted to tell him about the taboos and experiences on the road, but because he wasn't too familiar, he was afraid of displeasing him, so he used this way of speaking instead.

This person really knew how to conduct himself, no wonder he dared to seek companionship in the wilderness.

"Alright, I really don't travel often. You go ahead and tell me." Li Qi immediately replied, and at the same time, he placed his plate of rice cakes next to the other's, indicating that they should eat together.

This was considered acceptance.

A Du was not polite either. He picked up a piece of rice cake, poured himself a cup of tea, and began to speak.

"When you're out traveling as a Merchant, you'll occasionally encounter some mountain Anomolus Spirits. But people are different from mountain Anomolus Spirits. Humans are the most intelligent of all beings, inherently possessing the Innate Three Treasures, which these creatures can never obtain. So, ordinary Anomolus Spirits don't dare to touch us."

Innate Three Treasures, this term again. Li Qi pricked up his ears and began to listen carefully.

"The Innate Three Treasures are our human spirit, Qi, and essence. These are things that only naturally intelligent beings possess. Acquired creatures like demons, which cultivate their intelligence later, cannot obtain them!"

Qi!

Li Qi heard another familiar term.