Chapter 152: Corpse Bee t

Translator: 549690339 I

The courtyard was planted with various flowers and plants, as well as several lush trees.

Many wealthy households typically only planted low-lying flowers and grass in their front courtyards and fruit trees in their backyards, as well as ornamental trees, and would construct fish ponds, cool pavilions, and the like.

But this Old Master Huang did the opposite.

Qin Niu also noticed that only the path he walked on was paved with floor tiles, while other places were either lawns or bare earth.

Close to the entrance corridor of the house, there was a lotus pond that was ten feet square.

Inside, one could see the black mud and the lotus flowers that were in full bloom.

However, Qin Niu discovered that the lotus flowers in the pond contained an astonishing amount of energy and emitted a strong medicinal fragrance.

His Medicine King Sutra skills were already quite strong, so even if there was only a slight amount of energy in a medicinal herb, he could sense it. The energy contained in the lotus flowers in the pond far exceeded his expectations.

Moreover, he found that although there seemed to be many lotuses in the entire pond, the medicinal fragrance that rose up was only from one source.

This meant that the entire lotus pond was actually one single organism.

“Old Huang, your lotus pond is really elegant. It’s such a refreshing sight.”

Qin Niu complimented with a smile.

“Hehe, take it as something for everyone to appreciate. I’m not one for all those rules and regulations. In my own courtyard, I plant whatever I want. But you mustn’t get close to the lotus pond; it’s dangerous.”

A sycophantic compliment is rarely unappreciated.

Clearly, Qin Niu’s praise made Old Master Huang very happy.

Qin Niu detected the implication in the words—there were likely poisonous insects living in the lotus pond. Should a thief sneak into the house and unknowingly pass by here, they might well be bitten to death.

This house was truly full of hidden dangers.

Old Master Huang used insect-rearing as a means to construct defenses for his house, a method that Qin Niu found quite interesting.

In the future, he too could set up some defensive mechanisms in his own house.

As he entered the passageway leading to the house, he faintly heard a buzzing sound overhead.

Looking up, he saw an enormous beehive hanging right above his head and several large yellow bees, as thick as knife handles, busily moving about outside the hive.

“No wonder you wanted to buy a Green Giant bee last time; turns out you’re also a beekeeping enthusiast!”

Qin Niu had a strong ability to identify insects.

He quietly appraised the large yellow bees hanging above him.

These yellow bees were quite large, more than ten times the size of ordinary yellow bees.

Their mouthparts were highly developed, their jaws looking rather terrifying.

Additionally, there was a faint foul smell emanating from them, somewhat like the smell of dead fish.

The bands on their bodies were not yellow, but brown.

To be more precise, it was an ashen color.

Normally, the color of the bands on a yellow bee’s body is hard to change.

Because a change in color implies a change in bee species.

“I’m just an amateur. The hive of bees I’m raising isn’t anything exceptional. Last time, when I saw the Green Giant bee you were selling, which seemed to contain a trace of Green Demon Bee bloodline, I wanted to buy one to crossbreed with mine, to see if a stronger bee species could be cultivated. Alas, the Green Demon, a genius of his generation, died young, leaving behind countless legends for us bee enthusiasts.”

When Old Master Huang mentioned the Green Demon, there was a look of admiration on his face.

Qin Niu realized that every powerful Insect Master he had met seemed to hold the Green Demon in high regard.

No one cared about the evil deeds the Green Demon had committed.

Perhaps in the eyes of Insect Masters, indulging in personal vendettas is the true nature of a man. The Green Demon had killed many people, but there were reasons for each incident.

If they hadn’t oppressed the Green Demon to the utmost and humiliated him in every possible way, how could they have brought upon themselves such a deadly retribution?

Even the Seven Star Sect Master’s death was not unjust.

Because he failed to handle things properly from the beginning.

The government launched a blitz attack on the Green Demon without seeking the truth, which indirectly led to the death of the Green Demon’s sister. This was akin to touching the Green Demon’s raw nerve.

Both of them entered the main hall and, after seating themselves according to guest and host, two exquisitely dressed young maids presented fragrant tea and fruit.

The rich really know how to enjoy life.

These two maids, whether in terms of figure or looks, were far superior to Wang Furen’s maid.

Qin Niu’s gaze, however, didn’t linger on them. Instead, he was silently pondering over the nest of wasps Old Master Huang had raised.

The gray-brown rings on the wasps, varying in depth, and the spotty patterns on their wings caught his attention.

He couldn’t help but feel a violent tremor.

Those wasps were most likely Corpse Bees.

In times of food scarcity, the large yellow wasps often fed on the decaying corpses of animals.

They did not harvest honey, were not sensitive to the scent of pollen, but were extremely sensitive to the smell of flesh.

The dead insects as well as carcasses of wild beasts and birds were their food.

More often, they directly attacked the nests of other bees or insects, initiating plunder and slaughter.

“Correct, they must be Corpse Bees. If they only fed on the corpses of ordinary animals, it would be difficult for their wings to develop spots. Moreover, the gray-brown rings on their bodies couldn’t possibly be that color. It’s very likely they have been feeding on human corpses.”

At this thought, Qin Niu became highly vigilant.

He had no wish to be killed and then fed to those Corpse Bees.

“Old Master Huang, I have an engagement with Chairman Li and should not impose any longer. This is a Green Demon Bee I’ve meticulously bred; please examine it to see if it meets your standards,” he said.

Having sensed danger, Qin Niu naturally dared not drink the tea offered by the beautiful maids.

Nor did he dare to eat the exquisite pastries.

For this reason, he didn’t hesitate to tell a lie, claiming to have an arrangement with Chairman Li.

It would allow him to leave early under a legitimate pretense and might also deter the other party from harboring thoughts of murder and plunder.

Although until now, he hadn’t felt the slightest hint of murderous intent, or even hostility, from Old Master Huang.

But he still didn’t dare to be careless.

“Indeed, this is the Green Demon Bee I’ve been looking for. Mu Kuai, fetch one hundred and fifty taels of silver for the young brother,” said Old Master Huang with glee after inspecting the goods.

Clutching the cage with the Green Demon Bee, he couldn’t stop inspecting it, appearing utterly enchanted.

The middle-aged man who had opened the door for Qin Niu came over with a silver note.

The exact amount, no more, no less: one hundred and fifty taels.

When the man handed the silver note to Qin Niu, his face remained expressionless.

Moreover, when Qin Niu got close to him, he faintly detected a strange odor.

It was somewhat like the scent given off by Corpse Bees, yet not quite the same.

After taking the silver note, he immediately stood up to take his leave.

“Old Master Huang, I shall not disturb you any further. I wish you the best in breeding stronger new bee species and in reviving the former glory of the Green Demon. Farewell.”

Qin Niu showed great respect to Old Master Huang.

He bowed with his hands folded in front of him.

“Young brother, if you come across better bee species in the future, feel free to look for me. As long as I’m satisfied, I promise to buy them at a high price. Mu Kuai, see the young brother out,” Huang said.

“Please!”

Mu Kuai mechanically extended his hand in a gesturing motion.

Qin Niu retraced his steps all the way out and didn’t let out a sigh of relief until he had walked a good distance from the large residence.

What he had been most worried about was Old Master Huang revealing his fangs.

He had already decided that if it came down to it, he would abandon the one hundred and fifty taels of silver.

If the other party continued to be aggressive, he would be left with no choice but to fight to the death in a desperate struggle.