Chapter 522: I'll Give You Another 100,000 Taels in Silver Notes

The entrance to Hidden Cloud Valley is narrow, with only a fissure wide enough for one person and one horse.

Underfoot lay dry rubble that rustled under each step, no different from the barren hills.

"Here?" Daoba looked left and right, face full of doubt, "Can people even live here?"

Shanzi replied, "Just go a bit farther in and you'll get there."

Daoba rode ahead, with Xiao Er and Tuan Tuan closely following.

After walking about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the fissure suddenly widened.

The valley ahead was completely different from before, with specks of green beginning to appear on the slopes on either side.

At first there were only a few shrubs, then gradually patches of grass clinging to the ground appeared.

Xiao Er whispered, "There must be a water source nearby."

Sure enough, the deeper they went, the denser the vegetation became.

The grasses that were rare outside the valley here formed a thick green carpet.

Daoba looked around and said, "This place truly is a hidden paradise."

Shanzi pointed ahead and said, "We're almost there—just ahead is that spring beach."

Tuan Tuan poked her little head out of Xiao Er's arms, looking around curiously.

Sure enough, in the center of the open valley lay a large patch of damp grass, bright green.

Looking closely, countless tiny beads of water were seeping from the soil of the grass, merging into barely visible streams that flowed silently toward the valley's depths.

Shanzi said, "Let's dismount, so we don't damage the grass—the old master treasures these."

After dismounting, Tuan Tuan ran to the edge of the spring beach, eyes wide as she stared at the grass that was clearly different.

They were neatly arranged in patches, like carefully tended vegetable plots.

Daoba crouched, reaching out to touch them, and wondered, "Could these grasses have been deliberately planted?"

"Don't touch them!" Shanzi hurriedly stopped him, "The old master hates anyone meddling with his grass."

Daoba sheepishly withdrew his hand.

Shanzi shouted toward the few thatched cottages across the spring beach, "Old master! Are you there? It's me, Shanzi!"

Only his echo answered in the valley, one after another, slowly fading away.

No one responded.

Xiao Er frowned, "Not here?"

Shanzi replied, "Wait a moment. The old master often goes into the mountains to gather herbs, so it's not unusual for him to be away."

Tuan Tuan crouched, examining the grass closely, and suddenly noticed a few stalks that looked especially familiar—one with nine leaves, each leaf like jade.

"Isn't this the Nine-pure Spirit Leaf?" she blurted out.

"Where did you come from, little brat?"

An old, hoarse voice suddenly came from nearby, startling Tuan Tuan.

She turned her head to see an old man in coarse short clothes standing not far away, shouldered with a hoe, looking exactly like a farmer just returned from the fields.

Yet his face bore the paradox of white hair and a youthful complexion, his eyes betraying an indescribable slyness.

Xiao Er and Daoba each stepped forward to stand beside Tuan Tuan.

The old man slowly approached, staring at Tuan Tuan, and asked, "How do you know the Nine-pure Spirit Leaf?"

"I've seen it in Sacred Medicine Valley!" Tuan Tuan stood up, tilted her head at him, and said, "Grandpa, are you also from Sacred Medicine Valley?"

The old man's face darkened at once: "I don't know what Sacred Medicine Valley is."

He bluntly threw out a line, his gaze sweeping over them, his brows tightening: "Are you here to ask me to treat an illness?"

Shanzi hurriedly stepped forward: "Old master, they—"

"Shanzi!" the old man interrupted, his face sinking, "I treat the people of your village because I see how hard your lives are."

"But you know I don't like outsiders entering the valley—why bring strangers to me?"

Shanzi rubbed his hands, giving a sheepish smile: "Please calm down, old master—they're not outsiders, they're old acquaintances of mine."

"Because someone at home fell suddenly ill, with no other choice, I came here hoping you'd take a look—I just—"

"Enough, enough." The old man waved a hand, glancing at Xiao Er and Daoba, "Who doesn't get sick?"

He lifted his chin arrogantly and said, "Since you've come to ask me for treatment, do you know my rules?"

Xiao Er jerked his chin at Daoba.

Daoba understood, stepped forward, and handed over a stack of banknotes from his pocket: "This is a fee of 100,000 taels in silver notes, equivalent to 10,000 taels of gold."

Shanzi stood aside, eyes wide open, his mouth gaping enough to fit an egg.

Does the old master really charge that much for a consultation?

The old man reached out, took them, flicked each note open to count carefully, then flicked the edges to listen for a sound, finally satisfied, and tucked them into his chest.

"Hmm." He nodded, "Do you have any Purple-leaf Blue Orchid or Dragon Blood Lingzhi on you?"

Xiao Er and Daoba exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

Tuan Tuan honestly replied, "I've never even heard of them."

The old man's face fell, he waved his hand impatiently: "Go on, I won't go."

Daoba exclaimed, "Then give me back the banknotes!"

The old man chuckled, spread his hands, acting like a rascal: "Since you know my rules and came to my door to give me banknotes,"

"they're now in my hands, so don't even think about taking them back."

Daoba's face flushed red with anger, his hand gripping his sword hilt: "Old man, how is this any different from robbery?"

"Of course there's a difference." The old man, unafraid, leaned in closer: "It's you who willingly gave it to me—I didn't ask for it. How can that be robbery?"

Daoba, infuriated by the old man's twisted logic, panted heavily.

The old man, however, seemed not to have noticed, turning away on his own: "You guys hurry up and leave, don't come back again." He stepped toward the thatched hut.

Tuan Tuan looked at his back, then lowered their head to look at the familiar Nine Clear Spirit Leaves.

This old gentleman wants spirit grass!

I don't have what he wants, but I have other things!

She shouted at the old man's back: "Old gentleman! You have so much spirit grass here!"

The old man's steps didn't stop; he continued forward.

"Have you ever seen grass that curls up when you touch a leaf?"

The old man's steps paused, his ears twitched.

Tuan Tuan stretched out their small hand, gesturing: "The leaves are this big, plump, and grow close to the ground."

"One piece connects to another. Touch it with your hand and the leaf curls up! Have you seen it?"

The old man suddenly turned around, staring intently at Tuan Tuan, his eyes wide: "Curled-leaf Cold Orchid?"

"I don't know what it's called!"

"Was it found in the ice cave? By the hot spring? Only there!" The old man's voice changed tone, he strode back: "Have you seen it? Where?"

Tuan Tuan blinked their big eyes at him: "I just brought it back from the ice cave!"

"Do you have Curled-leaf Cold Orchid?" The old man's voice trembled: "Really?"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Of course, I have five or six."

The old man, happy like a child, spun twice in place; the roguish look on his face vanished, and when he looked at Tuan Tuan again, his gaze was almost frenzied.

"Good!" He slapped his thigh: "Then I want one stalk! I must dig it up by the roots!"

Tuan Tuan agreed without thinking: "Sure!"

She paused: "Old gentleman, I can give you two stalks, and also give you 100,000 taels of silver notes."

The old man froze.

Daoba slipped and nearly fell.