Chapter 76: Powerful Adhesion

  Remember in one second

  Three naked men sat comfortably in the bathtub, teasing each other while waiting for Swan's mother to bring them "a good show".

  The water temperature in the bathtub is just right, not hot nor cold, just like the body temperature of a virgin being touched for the first time. On the surface of the water, there are still several leaves with strange shapes floating, emitting a warm and fragrant aroma like sheep's milk, making people feel comfortable and relaxed.

  "This Crow's Peak may be rotten, but the Crow Lord is still pretty good."

  Gruk leaned his head back, his thick arms draped over the edge of the tub, let out a comfortable sigh, and continued: "I've seen so many high-ranking officials, caught so many slaves for them, but never has one asked me to take a bath."

  "Yes, those aristocratic masters look down on us!"

  Scarface Norris made the bathtub clatter, "In their eyes, we are not as important as the slaves in the cage who can satisfy their perverted desires."

  Simon didn't like talking about this topic. He pursed his lips and poured warm water over himself, instantly washing away half of the fatigue from his journey.

  "Calming Herb?"

  He picked up a blade of grass floating on the water's surface, examined it carefully, and then smiled, saying, "It's indeed the Spirit-Calming Grass. This herb can quickly relieve fatigue."

  Scarface Nors sneered, "I say, Simon, you're so excited over a few broken grass leaves. Later, when you see a naked woman, won't you just shoot off immediately?"

  Guruk bowed his head and said, "I apologize, Lord Simon. Nors was just joking."

  Simon didn't mind, his eyes still fixed on the Spirit Soothing Grass, "You don't know this, but this herb is quite precious. It's usually only used when nobles take a bath. One leaf of Spirit Soothing Grass costs two gold coins, and we have three leaves in each bathtub."

  Guruk's smile faded as he asked in puzzlement, "The Raven Lord, whom we've never met before, is treating us with something so valuable? Are you certain you're not mistaken?"

  "My master uses this thing for bathing every day, can I be wrong?" Simon sneered coldly.

  Norse scratched the scar on his face, "Simon Brothers, actually I've been wanting to ask, what's the background of your family master? According to the rules, we shouldn't ask too much, but all along the way, it's been so mysterious and secretive, my heart is really itching."

  "When the goods arrive safely, you will know."

  Ximeng poured some more water on himself, then shifted the topic back to the calming herb, "What do you think is the intention of Raven Leader using such precious herbs to entertain us?"

  "Need I say more?"

  Norse burst out laughing coarsely, "Must be afraid that we'll run out of steam later on, wants us to have a good workout! I'm really starting to like this Crow Lord more and more."

  Gulick wasn't so optimistic, "I wonder if he's thinking of taking advantage of us?"

  "I've seen it all along."

  Simon's mouth corners rose slightly, "First give us a show at the door, then let us enjoy it and forget the unpleasantness just now. When we meet formally, raise the toll - this is just the usual trick of small lords."

  "What should we do?" Gruuk asked with a frown.

  Ximon said calmly, "Give him the money if he wants it. As long as we can safely pass through Crow Ridge and enter the Forest Rock Kingdom, even if he empties our pockets completely, it's fine."

  Gruke's eyes rolled over and he said, "Lord Simon, didn't you promise us that all losses would be repaid double?"

  "Don't worry."

  Simon said lightly: "You just enjoy yourselves now, I just want to remind you that this Crow Lord will not be kind for nothing."

  Gruke said with a flattering face: "Master Simon is indeed a person from the upper aristocracy, and his views are more thorough than ours. Especially the way he dealt with those two guards, it's really admirable."

  Simon was pleased with the flattery and explained complacently, "The best way to deal with that kind of person is to satisfy them first, then report them to their superiors."

  Nuo Si was getting impatient and anxiously said: "My big wife, why hasn't she come back yet?"

  Guluke also said strangely: "Yes, it's been over ten minutes, right?"

  Ximon was also puzzled in his heart, and he listened carefully to the movements outside. "Why is there no sound at all outside?"

  "I can't wait any longer."

  Norse tried to stand up by the edge of the bathtub, but the bath water in the bathtub was like glue, sticking him. He "hmm"ed, using all his strength couldn't get rid of it, cold sweat immediately flowed from his forehead into his scarred face.

  "What's going on?"

  Gruke and Simon found their encounter was no different from North's, the calm expression on their faces suddenly turned into panic.

  "It's broken!"

  Simon sniffed hard, "There's something wrong with this bath water!"

  Nuo Si gave him a cold glance and sneered: "Thanks for reminding me!"

  "It must be that big woman who is behind this!"

  Guluoke's sixth-order Dou Qi condensed without warning, "Wait for me to blast this broken bathtub, and I must flay her skin!"

  "Wait!"

  Ximon scowled and shouted loudly: "Whatever you do, don't use brute force! Otherwise, you'll end up killing yourself!"

  Gruke had already prepared to strike, but upon hearing Simon's shout, he hastily stopped. "I was just going to smash the bathtub, how could I harm myself?"

  Ximen said with a serious face: "If I'm not mistaken, there should be a strong adhesive added to the bath water in this bathtub. Whatever it is, once it comes into contact with the strong adhesive, it will inevitably stick tightly and merge with it. If you use your internal energy to tear open the strong adhesive, then your own body will also be torn apart."

  "Damn it! Who in the world came up with such a sinister and vicious thing?!" Nors cursed.

  Guruk's lower lip quivered, his heart still racing with fear. "Lord Simon, thank goodness you're here... otherwise... what are we going to do now? We can't stay like this forever, can we?"

  "Wait for both of them."

  Simon said calmly, "Although I don't understand alchemy very well, I vaguely remember that the strong adhesive is only a primary alchemy. I believe we just need to wait quietly for an hour, and the adhesion will automatically disappear. At that time, we can get out of this bathtub."

  Gurruk and Nors felt relieved at last.

  "You're indeed someone who's been by the side of the upper-class nobility!"

  Even Nors, who had always looked down on Simon, couldn't help but praise him: "Lord Simon is truly amazing!"

  Simon smiled slightly, but his heart was racing. Who could make ordinary strong adhesive look completely invisible? This must be a very capable person! Who is deliberately making trouble?

  Just then, outside the simple wooden wall came the sound of footsteps, sparse and scattered.

  "Hey, someone's coming!"

  "Kurk shouted loudly: 'We are trapped here!'"

  No one responded to them. The footsteps outside the wooden wall grew more and more, the voices grew louder and louder, in a moment, Grukk could no longer hear his own shouts.

  Ximon helplessly shook his head, "Don't call out, there should be a lot of people outside now. If we're found in this state, it'll be very embarrassing. Let's just quietly wait for an hour until the strong adhesive loses its effect and then go out. Maybe by then, the people outside will have left."

  Gruuk and Nors had no choice but to sit in the bathtub, helplessly waiting for time to pass bit by bit.

  Ten or so minutes later, the effect of the powerful adhesive showed no signs of dissipating, but the chaotic feeling outside grew more severe, as if all the people in Raven's Peak had squeezed into the council hall.

  Simon couldn't help but furrow his brow, he had been too busy noticing the big woman's wiggling butt before, and completely didn't notice where this temporary wooden hut was located in relation to the conference hall. Now that he thought about it, it seemed like they hadn't turned after entering the main hall...

  Isn't this room right in the middle of the conference hall?!

  Simon yelped and tried to get up but was pulled back into the bathtub by the powerful adhesive. "No! We have to get out of here!"

  Guruk tilted his ear and asked: "Huh? What did you say? It's too noisy outside, I couldn't hear!"

  Simon let out a despairing sigh, "This is it... we're done for..."

  Several long spears struck the ground simultaneously, and the outside immediately fell silent. A high-pitched voice shouted: "All rise! The Crow Lord has arrived!"

  "Raven Lord!? How did he end up here?"

  Gruuk and Nors stared at each other, still trying to process what was happening. "Good heavens, where in the world are we?"

  Simon shook his head with a wry smile, "This time we're going to lose big..."

  "Please take your seats."

  A cold and gloomy voice of the Crow Lord came from outside, although it was far away, the chill in his tone still penetrated through the wooden board, making Gruuk and others shiver involuntarily.

  "Why is there a small house in the middle of our meeting hall?"

  "I don't know." The voice was unfamiliar, but the person answering the lord's question should be Dulan Di, the village chief of Dusty Mud Village.

  "Blackjacks, take it down." The Raven Lord's voice was unmistakable.

  The black-armored guard slammed the butt of his spear on the floor, turned around and walked to the front of the wooden hut, and began to dismantle the simple wooden board - the three Gruks sitting naked in the bathtub were immediately exposed to the public eye.

  The conference hall was suddenly in an uproar, Simon's face turned red as he looked around with his head down. In the huge hall, which was as big as a racecourse, there were thousands of people packed in, including the indigenous people from Wuyaling and traveling merchants who happened to pass by, every seat was taken, and the entrance and corridors were also crowded with onlookers.

  On the throne in the grand hall, a man in a magnificent robe sat upright, holding a huge black sword, his face covered, with an icy gaze. Simon felt that this man's eyebrows were somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.

  He wanted to take a closer look, but his gaze was immediately caught by the large crow standing on the man's shoulder.

  "Wow!"

  A shout that was like a threat made Simon's heart freeze in his chest, and he didn't dare to lift his head again.