Lin Fan read about the Dragon Falling incident, and the more he learned, the more plausible it seemed.
If it were an ancient rumor based on hearsay and forced interpretations, he wouldn't have paid much attention.
But in modern times, with photographs and tens of thousands of witnesses, how could it be fake?
Dragon bones!
A complete set of dragon bones, perhaps even a dragon pearl.
Lin Fan was starting to feel tempted.
"So, are we doing this?"
Li Yurou's eyes sparkled as she waved her small fists, rallying their spirits.
"Yes!" Lin Fan nodded emphatically.
Then, he grew concerned, "But... will it be too troublesome? I have family matters, and I can't be away for too long."
He was worried about his sister-in-law.
"You're such a wimp, a real drag. So indecisive," Li Yurou pouted.
Li Yusheng smiled, "Brother Lin, the Qingshui River isn't that large. At most, it will take three days. If we don't find anything by then, further searching would be futile."
"Oh." Lin Fan figured, including travel time, five days would be enough, not too long.
He chuckled awkwardly, "I'll go ask my friend if she agrees."
"You gave her the item, why wouldn't she agree?"
Li Yurou eyed him suspiciously, "Let's settle this first. If we find the dragon bones, we split it seven-three, I get seven, you get three."
"If you're going to say that, then I'll just go find it myself. Only I can get the Chizhu, and I know the location. Wouldn't it be better to sneak off and find it alone?" Lin Fan retorted, his neck stiff.
Li Yurou was taken aback. She hadn't expected Lin Fan to say something like that.
"You... you're ungrateful, you're shameless!"
"Alright, alright."
"Yurou, he's just joking with you."
Zheng Yue and Li Yusheng quickly stepped in as mediators.
"How about this, since the dragon was over ten meters long, we all share in the spoils," Li Yusheng suggested.
Zheng Yue nodded, "I think that's fair."
She had been overwhelmed with work lately and wanted to get out for a bit, especially to spend time with Lin Fan.
Moreover, her office lacked any decent decorations. If she could get some dragon bones, useful or not, they would at least serve as excellent display pieces.
"I agree too. But if there are any treasures, like dragon horns or pearls, we'll draw lots. Each person can only take one item."
Faced with such treasures, no one could remain indifferent.
Lin Fan felt it was important to set the terms upfront to avoid disputes later.
"Okay, it's a deal!" Li Yurou readily agreed.
"What about the Chizhu?"
She extended her fair hand.
"It's really not with me. I need to discuss it with my family at home," Lin Fan said with a smile.
Then he looked at Zheng Yue, "A Yue, can you arrange a car for me?"
"Okay." Zheng Yue took out her phone and notified Zheng Ke.
After some discussion, everyone decided to depart at seven the next morning, taking a car to Yunqing City, and then flying directly to Yingkou.
"I'm heading back now. Everyone, wait for my good news," Lin Fan said, cupping his hands in farewell.
"If you stand us up again, I'll castrate you!" Li Yurou threatened fiercely.
Lin Fan shook his head, a wry smile on his face, and turned to leave.
—
Evening.
The wind howled around Luofeng Mountain, rustling the trees.
Buzz buzz buzz...
"Eat up, eat your fill. In a few days, no one will be feeding you. Just stay put and don't cause any trouble for me," Lin Fan instructed.
A small calf lay on the ground, already mostly consumed by the蠱 worms.
"Are you calling me here to show off, or to deliberately provoke me?"
A clear, cold voice came from the wind.
Wang Xiaoli's delicate, smooth feet traversed the rocky mountain slope.
The sharp stones on the ground didn't affect her at all as she moved with surprising speed.
"I didn't mean anything by it, just passing by."
Lin Fan clapped his hands, "How have you been lately?"
"Hmph," Wang Xiaoli walked over, snorting. "I have food and drink, I'm not freezing or starving. You must be very disappointed, right?"
Lin Fan felt annoyed. Why was she so resentful?
It was just a cave; he could have a construction crew dig ten or eight of them anytime.
Wang Xiaoli's anger wasn't due to her lair being taken.
It was because the Golden Silkworm Gu within her were proving to be too troublesome.
Logically, she was of the snake lineage, and had a natural affinity with the Chizhu, making her absorption of its energy perfectly suitable.
However, she hadn't expected the seven Golden Silkworm Gu to be so greedy. She didn't know how, but they were absorbing the Chizhu's energy more efficiently than she was.
Wang Xiaoli initially didn't believe it, but after careful observation, she found that the energy absorbed by the Golden Silkworm Gu was only about ten percent less than her own.
And this gap was widening, threatening to close entirely.
It was hard to imagine. Her true form was immense, yet the seven Golden Silkworm Gu combined were smaller than a single scale on her body.
How could such tiny things absorb energy comparable to her own?
Would they burst?
How were they converting it?
Wang Xiaoli was anxious and helpless, having lost any interest in cultivation recently.
"I have a good thing that needs your help. Can I borrow the Chizhu?" Lin Fan asked with a smile.
"No!" Wang Xiaoli refused outright.
"Lin Fan, what are you scheming? Don't think a few tiny bugs can control me. If..."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Seeing her explode like firecrackers, Lin Fan quickly made a gesture to stop her.
"It really is a good thing, I'm not lying to you."
"Just borrowing it for a few days, I guarantee I'll return it in the same condition, and the interest will surely satisfy you."
Wang Xiaoli looked at him with deep suspicion.
If Lin Fan could be good to her, pigs would fly!
"Remains of a true dragon. Interested?" Lin Fan tempted her.
"True dragon..."
Wang Xiaoli's pupils dilated, and she gasped.
"Heh, such grand words you have."
Her mind raced, and she scoffed, "Who do you think you are, the Son of Heaven?"
"You got lucky and found a Chizhu, and now you've discovered the remains of a true dragon too? Is all good fortune meant for you?"
"Let me finish..."
Lin Fan selectively revealed some information, omitting the exact location and specific details.
Wang Xiaoli's expression gradually changed.
A true dragon falling from the sky, witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people, with photographs to prove it.
She wasn't an ancient monster living in isolation, cut off from the world. She was aware of worldly affairs.
This matter had a high degree of credibility!
"I want half of the dragon bones. All the dragon horns and pearls will be mine," Wang Xiaoli stated casually.
"It's getting late, I'm going home to sleep." Lin Fan turned to leave.
"Come back!"
Wang Xiaoli beckoned, "The Chizhu is mine now. Don't push it too far."
Lin Fan chuckled, "Am I pushing it, or are you? Are we all just pure-hearted bodhisattvas, selflessly sacrificing for you alone?"
"Tell me where the item is, and I'll retrieve it and give you half," Wang Xiaoli said sternly.
Lin Fan spread his hands, "I've already discussed it with them. Everyone gets a share. If there are dragon horns or pearls, we'll draw lots to decide who gets them."
"Fine," Wang Xiaoli agreed without hesitation.
Lin Fan was puzzled. Why agree so readily? Was there a trick?
"It's settled then. You'll come with me first thing tomorrow morning."
He didn't want to get into a prolonged argument with Wang Xiaoli and waved goodbye as he walked down the mountain.