Chapter 196: The Big Surprise from Sister Qinger, Five‑Element Grass

After two hours.

Longshe Shan fell silent.

The father and daughter returned, sitting face to face, an awkward father‑daughter pair, unable to utter a word.

Chen Chuyang leered at Chen Qinger and his uncle Chen Chen, teasing, "Uncle, how does the potion taste?"

……

Uncle Chen Chen glared at Chen Chuyang, telling him to stop, as he felt like vomiting.

The smell was too strong; once it got on him, it wouldn't wash off, no matter how he cleaned it he still sensed the odor, leaving him feeling unclean.

He had never imagined something could reek to this extent; Chen Chuyang's potions were already foul and nauseating, and after mixing with the toxins expelled from Chen Qinger's body, the resulting stench was overwhelming.

He nearly choked to death from the fumes; he swore it was the most nauseating, vomit‑inducing smell he had ever encountered, bar none.

Having seen all kinds of corpses, he considered himself mentally tough, yet the events he experienced on Longshe Shan that day broke his defenses several times.

"Uncle, you could also soak in a pot of this potion; I guarantee it'll make you feel like you're ascending to heaven and dying."

Uncle Chen Chen said speechlessly, "Do you charge money?"

"I'm joking; of course we charge money. Everyone who comes pays, even if my father soaks in a medicinal bath, he still has to pay."

My father pays, so you, as his uncle, do you think you can get out of paying?

Even blood brothers are settled on clear accounts; a mere uncle like you isn't enough to make me change the rule.

"No soaking."

"Uncle, this medicinal bath is good for your health; it can help clear your internal injuries and toxins, and aid your cultivation progress. You've been stuck in the True Qi Realm for so long without breaking through—look at my father, he's already formed his golden core. Aren't you anxious?"

"If Third Uncle surpasses you later, he'll surely mock you; spending just a little money lets you advance—why not?"

Chen Chen felt tempted; he admitted that Chen Chuyang's words made sense.

But he had no money.

At least for now he didn't want to think about it; he'd talk about it when he had money.

This nephew is always trying to swindle him—once isn't enough, he wants to do it over and over; truly exasperating.

He himself owed a huge debt of three thousand spirit stones, and this nephew wouldn't let him off—truly his own flesh and blood.

"We'll talk about it later."

Chen Chen clung to his stance, refusing to budge.

Seeing this, Chen Chuyang noted that his uncle was now on high guard, making further swindling impossible.

Then, let's try someone else.

"Chen Qinger, how do you feel?"

"Very well." Chen Qinger rose, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you, Brother Chuyang, for your treatment; I will never forget it."

Chen Chuyang waved his hand: "No need for you to remember me forever; just pay me, Chen Qinger."

Chen Qinger: "……"

Chen Chen covered his face; he didn't want to speak of this nephew anymore, his eyes filled only with money—could he at least be normal?

"Cough, cough, cough—Chuyang, are you really short on money?"

Longshe Shan has abundant spiritual energy and a variety of spiritual herbs.

Compared to before, the mountain has undergone tremendous changes, turned upside down.

It hardly looks like he's short of funds, sitting on a treasure mountain; by rights Chen Chuyang shouldn't be so lacking in money.

"Uncle, you don't know that all the treasures of Longshe Shan belong to the clan; most of those spiritual herbs are for the clan's use. I not only have to cultivate the herbs, but also lay spirit stones to set up formations. Maintaining the formations on such a vast Longshe Shan requires a great many spirit stones. I'm not doing this out of choice—I have no other option."

"How many spirit stones do the formations on Longshe Shan consume per day?"

Chen Chuyang thought: "Roughly a dozen or so spirit stones, depending on the situation. If there are no enemies or other matters, consumption is lower; but if enemies appear and the formations activate, the spirit stone cost can be significant."

"That doesn't even count formation upgrades; if the formations are upgraded, the required spirit stones could double, making maintenance far from easy."

"Moreover, the spiritual energy of Longshe Shan must not be too thin, or it will hinder herb cultivation—so…"

When you factor in the formations and the herbs' needs, the monthly spirit‑stone expenditure is considerable.

Maintaining the balance of Longshe Shan is no easy task.

"You've worked hard, Chuyang."

Chen Chuyang replied directly: "Uncle, don't say that; give me something substantive instead."

……

He needs money, but he doesn't have any.

He isn't the head of the Chen Clan, so don't look to him. Chen Chen felt relieved, glad he wasn't the eldest son nor the clan head.

Given that Longshe Shan alone consumes a considerable amount of spirit stones, plus the vast Chen Clan with each member's cultivation and other expenses, the limited income from the clan's shops leads to an imbalance between income and outgo.

These aren't his concerns; he isn't the clan head—he just needs to live his own life well.

Let the eldest brother deal with the headaches.

"Tch." Chen Chuyang glanced scornfully at his uncle, noting that at critical moments he's just like the third uncle.

"Chen Qinger, Brother has paid a considerable price to cure you—look."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Chen Chen raised his head and stared at Chen Chuyang.

He's already paid—how can you still swindle your niece Chen Qinger?

Their eyes met; Chen Chuyang showed no panic: "Uncle, what you give is yours, and Chen Qinger's thanks are hers—they're not the same."

"Look, Chen Qinger's condition is poor; she still has two treatment courses ahead. To help her recover faster, I've put in tremendous effort—so a little reward from her would be appropriate, wouldn't it?"

Chen Chen had nothing to say; what he said wasn't without reason.

Chen Qinger nodded: "Brother Chuyang is right, Father—this time we owe him a great deal; without him, my daughter might have died."

Saying this, Chen Qinger reached into her storage bag and took out a box.

"Chuyang brother, this is the spiritual medicine and seeds I obtained this time, for you."

"Oh?"

Chen Chuyang stared at the box; without opening it, he could feel the vigorous vitality inside.

Opening the box, a surge of vitality rushed forth.

A stalk of spiritual medicine lay inside, full of vigorous vitality and ample activity.

There were also several seeds, placed together with this stalk of spiritual medicine.

"Five Elements Grass?"

Five Elements Grass, a fourth-grade spiritual medicine, and it is mature Five Elements Grass.

He also brought back the seeds; this is… too surprising.

"Is this for me?"

Chen Qinger nodded: "Yes, Chuyang brother, aren't you lacking spiritual medicine and seeds? This stalk of Five Elements Grass and its seeds are useless to me here; I give them to you, considering it as this life-saving favor."

Chen Chuyang treasured it, too lazy to say more.

He did not refuse; a fourth-grade spiritual medicine, this is a treasure, Longshe Shan needs such a treasure.

He would not shirk his duty.

"Thank you, Qinger sister."

Chen Chuyang put it away in front of his second uncle; whatever ended up in his hands was his.

He was just being a little polite; unexpectedly, Qinger sister gave him a big surprise.

"Qinger sister, from now on you are my good sister; whatever treasure you fancy on the mountain, I will give you some."

"Thank you, Chuyang brother."

Chen Chuyang, rarely being generous, felt excited; with one more stalk of Five Elements Grass, he had a bit more confidence.

Having obtained the Five Elements Grass, he hurried to find a place to plant it.

The Five Elements Grass has low soil requirements; Chen Chuyang chose to plant it on the mountain, near the spiritual spring water.

The mature Five Elements Grass was also planted, with seeds planted beside it to increase its medicinal potency.