Chapter 107: Ice Emperor, Long Time No See

Chapter 107: Ice Emperor, Long Time No See

Contemplating the Green Lotus Core Flame map, Gu He smiled subtly. Opting not to disturb the others, he began perusing the counter beside him.

Arranged on these counters were numerous maps.

Gu He meticulously examined each map, occasionally giving them a gentle shake. He recalled that in the original story, Hai Bo Dong had hidden the Green Lotus Core Flame map among these maps.

As he studied the maps with clearly marked routes, a glint of surprise flickered in Gu He's eyes. The maps offered incredibly detailed information about various secret locations within the Tagre Desert. It explained why someone like Hai Bo Dong, known for his temperament, could operate a store like "Ancient Maps" and make it so renowned in Desert City; the quality of the maps spoke for itself.

For someone new to the Tagre Desert, these detailed maps would undoubtedly be immensely helpful.

After inspecting the maps for a while, Gu He had not yet found the Green Lotus Core Flame map. He glanced at the still-busy Hai Bo Dong, pursed his lips, and then leisurely moved to a corner of the shop. There, an aged wooden stand filled with yellowed maps caught his attention.

This wooden stand seemed quite old, covered in holes and cracks. On it lay some yellowed maps with signs of damage, as if they were unsuccessful attempts during the map-making process.

Gu He casually sifted through these yellowed maps, and a faint musty odor filled the air, causing him to furrow his brow slightly.

With a light shake of his hand, one of the failed maps slipped from the stack and landed on the floor. Seeing this, Gu He's eyes sharpened.

Bending down to retrieve the fallen map, he carefully examined the somewhat familiar, mysterious route marked on it.

After a while, Gu He squinted his eyes, and a satisfied smile curled at the corners of his mouth. "Indeed, it's the Green Lotus Core Flame map."

While he still couldn't fully comprehend the mysteries behind these routes, the contours and patterns on this map had a somewhat familiar quality. It reminded him of a similar mysterious map he had seen within a cave in the Magic Beast Mountain Range when he had been on an adventure with Xiao Yixian.

Gu He smiled and, while Hai Bo Dong was still engrossed in his work, quietly stashed the map into his spatial ring.

Then, he slowly walked further inside.

As footsteps approached from behind, Hai Bo Dong, who was still immersed in mapmaking, paused briefly. He furrowed his brows slightly but didn't raise his head, simply saying, "I'm sorry, but the store is closed for the day. If you need to purchase a map, please come back tomorrow."

Hearing Hai Bo Dong's somewhat indifferent response, Gu He couldn't help but shake his head. He found the store owner's disposition rather peculiar for a shopkeeper.

As Gu He was about to leave, two burly men suddenly blocked his path, their hands gripping the weapons at their waists. They glared menacingly at him.

"Uh?"

The sudden turn of events left Gu He momentarily stunned, and he furrowed his brow.

He turned his head slightly and gazed at the elegant red-dressed woman standing across from him, who appeared to hold a respectable position in the city.

"Master Ice doesn't like to be disturbed when he's making maps, so I kindly ask that you leave," the beautiful red-dressed woman, the red dress accentuating her stunning figure, approached calmly and said in a gentle tone.

The woman's voice, though quite gentle, carried a hint of dominance and arrogance.

"...Could it be that these people already know Hai Bo Dong's identity?"

Seeing how the woman in the red dress was showing such respect for Hai Bo Dong, Gu He was momentarily taken aback.

Hai Bo Dong had been living in seclusion here; he shouldn't have revealed his true identity. Otherwise, the Mittel Family would have likely come looking for him by now.

What Gu He didn't know was that the young lady in the red dress was currently feeling a bit irritated as well. She was the daughter of the lord of Desert City and was accustomed to being pampered. When had she ever shown such respect to someone?

But her father had told her that the owner of this small shop was likely a powerful individual. As a result, her father often instructed her to help the elderly man at the shop, hoping to earn the favor of this powerful figure.

The young lady took her father's words to heart and did her best to provide the elderly man with the best care. However, she felt frustrated that he seemed unresponsive to her efforts.

Each time she helped at the shop, the elderly man greeted her with indifference, leaving her feeling unappreciated. This situation was hard to bear for the typically proud young lady.

Nevertheless, even though the elderly man had never shown her a warm reception, she firmly believed her father's words. And on a certain day, she inadvertently felt the aura the elderly man unconsciously emitted.

That aura was incredibly terrifying, sending shivers down her spine and leaving a lasting impression on her. This was why the elderly man's cold demeanor didn't deter her, and she continued to treat him with respect.

This obedient and respectful demeanor often left her friends in disbelief. Was this the same girl who had once turned Desert City upside down?

Today, the young lady had come to the shop to help the elderly man, just like she did on other days. The elderly man's attitude remained as cold as ever. He gave her a brief glance before paying her no further attention.

The proud young lady couldn't hide her frustration, and when Gu He boldly entered, he became the target for her annoyance.

She wanted to seize this opportunity to assert herself in front of the elderly man.

Gu He paid little attention to the young lady's rebuke. He merely gave her a quick glance, set aside the map he held, and gracefully sidestepped the two burly men who blocked his way.

Seeing that Gu He not only ignored her orders but had directly intruded, the young lady's eyes flashed with anger.

She slightly raised her snow-white chin, casting a scornful look at Gu He, whom she regarded as highly esteemed by the elderly man. But just when she was about to witness him plead for mercy, Gu He did something that left her completely flabbergasted.

Gu He suddenly gathered a ball of dou qi in his hand and flung it aggressively toward the elderly man, whom the young lady held in high regard. As he did so, Gu He spoke slowly, "Old Man Hai, an old friend has come to see you. Is this how you treat your guests?"

(End of this chapter)