Chapter 167: Female Cultivator of the East Sea, A Descendant of the Geng Surname

Since leaving the Sea Market, I have no equal; with one punch, I take down a kid.

If you can forgive, don't be unforgiving; even if you're in the wrong, you must still argue for three parts of the truth.

Of course, as the He Mountain Light, Master Chen has always been one to convince others with reason. Even if this world is not good, not everything is bad; at the very least, his heart is good, it is kind, and he is one who can reason among Side Door Cultivators.

"Actually, I don't think it's entirely a misunderstanding."

Chen Ci stroked his Five Yin Evil Qi Bag and pointed a finger. Five streaks of golden evil qi, like a simplified version of flying swords, rolled back and forth around him, looking exactly like a master of the heterodox path.

"Daoist Yan, you joke. A misunderstanding, today's matter is truly a misunderstanding!"

Han Chongli's heart trembled; he completely hid his last bit of petty thoughts and honestly yielded.

He Mountain is a major sect of the side door, but Longhu Mountain is an even greater sect of the profound gate. The ancestors of the Han Family once sought the Dao at Nine Springs Temple and naturally had some heritage, so they wouldn't be terrified just by meeting a random He Mountain cultivator; ultimately, one had to see the cultivator's methods.

But at this one glance, they couldn't beat him; they truly couldn't beat him.

The more powerful the Dharma Artifacts of a He Mountain cultivator, the better they can fight; this is beyond doubt. These heterodox paths take shortcuts in the Qi Refining Stage. Never mind these local gentry, even the Longhu Mountain cultivators on Jiuchuan Mountain, if they didn't have Dharma Artifacts bestowed by their sect, might not necessarily be a match for a He Mountain cultivator who practices Evil Methods during the Qi Refining stage.

Forget it, as long as it's the right person.

"Business is a matter of mutual consent. I can't force you to buy, can I? If you think it's expensive, you can bargain."

This group of local cultivators must be in a hurry to save people. In any case, after getting the six Soul Fixing Talismans, they hurried down the mountain, not even bothering with the few mortal chess players they had brought up. In fact, if Chen Ci hadn't been here, after losing the chess game, these mortals would likely have suffered from their displaced anger, and it's hard to say what their fate would have been.

"Yes, yes, our original intention was truly to save people!"

After a pause, Chen Ci seemed to think of something and asked casually: "By the way, fellow Daoists, you wouldn't want your families to know about this, would you?"

Chen Ci gave a cold laugh, his tone slightly chilly: "To haggle over this little bit of silver, it seems you don't really want to save people, but have other motives. In that case, how can you make me believe today's matter is a misunderstanding? Since it's not a misunderstanding, then we must have a heart-to-heart talk."

A young man, dressed neatly, with a refined appearance and quite a scholarly air, though whether it was due to a preconceived notion or not, Chen Ci vaguely felt he looked somewhat similar to Geng Laodao's old face.

Although Han Chongli didn't know what Chen Ci meant, he could only follow the conversation and reply cautiously.

Chen Ci waved his hand, signaling for the kid to follow, preparing to take him back to the Li Family to say hello before returning to Xishan Prefecture to cultivate.

Sigh.

Han Chongli hurriedly replied: "We'll buy, we'll buy. Saving people is like fighting a fire, it's just... it's just that we don't have that much cash on us. Daoist Yan, can you make it a bit cheaper?"

Thinking of this, Master Chen suddenly felt that everyone around him was a treacherous person trying to harm him, and his heart rose inexplicably.

Chen Ci was very satisfied. He fished a stack of Soul Fixing Talismans from his sleeve and ordered indifferently: "Here are thirty Refined Soul-Fixing Talismans, a special supply from He Mountain. The price is ten thousand taels of silver each. Since you families are all here to save people, split the cost and buy them quickly."

"Since it's a misunderstanding, I won't hold it against you."

Chen Ci stopped his steps, feeling somewhat conflicted, but still turned around and bowed: "What advice does this fellow Daoist have?"

Chen Ci said unhurriedly: "You forcibly took away my junior, also to save people. Your starting point was good, but you shouldn't have started."

Chen Ci glanced at the bamboo hut to the side, thought for a moment, took out a few Health-Nurturing Pills, and flicked them to the four listless chess players, ordering: "These pills will consolidate your foundation and cultivate your essence. Once you take them, go down the mountain yourselves."

"In short, regarding this matter, if your original intention was to save people, then it can be treated as a misunderstanding."

"Stop looking, they don't dare to retaliate."

"A misunderstanding, it really is a misunderstanding!"

"Ten thousand taels each!"

Suddenly, the female cultivator in the bamboo hut spoke up and called out to Chen Ci. It was just these words that made Master Chen inexplicably feel a chill in the wind.

Big family and big business, but not much cash.

Master Chen is still kind-hearted.

He had thought he was a clear-headed person, but today he really didn't quite understand the meaning behind Chen Ci's words.

Han Chongli suspected that his family's feng shui had been bad lately. First, their own disciples were inexplicably trapped on Liuyun Mountain, and now even they old guys had run into a side-door evil cultivator. He didn't know if they could return in one piece.

"Why, so you mean to say that I am joking?"

Chen Ci spat, put his things away, and then realized he should keep a lower profile. With his massive net worth of four hundred Spirit Pearls, if someone were to loot him, he would truly become a delivery boy for wealth.

Chen Ci glanced at the worried Li Yuanqing beside him and said indifferently: "They have families and businesses, a large estate, and not much ability. They don't dare to form a deadly feud with a cultivator of my sect. They can run for the first day, but they can't hide from the fifteenth."

Having said that, Chen Ci ignored the thanks of these few and first took a few looks at the person he was searching for.

To the side, someone subconsciously asked: "Wasn't it five hundred taels each?"

"This He Mountain Daoist, please stay your steps."

Chen Ci glanced at the one on the ground playing dead and said indifferently: "Who was it that said there was ten thousand taels of gold just now?"

A bunch of poor ghosts, what kind of level are they at to dare to learn how to fight and kill?

A smile that wasn't quite a smile appeared on Chen Ci's face, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"If you put it that way, then this conversation cannot go on like this."

A stack of gold notes and silver notes common in the Liang Kingdom, over ten catties of Five Elements Divine Sand, over ten Spirit Pearls, and a few pieces of Spirit Iron—all in all, he had only sold eleven Soul Fixing Talismans. Master Chen was even afraid they wouldn't be able to split them evenly and would start fighting, so he took back five. To be as kind-hearted as he was, there really was nothing left to gossip about.

Speaking of which, isn't there a disciple of a major sect here? Why don't you, old one, step out and take charge?

"Actually, you are also doing this to save your own disciples, and I can understand that. I know you have your reasons, but let's not talk about reason for now."

Chen Ci: "." I gave you a chance, but you were useless.

Han Chongli: "."

"We dare not, we dare not!"

"We dare not."

Just then, with a 'creak', the bamboo hut door was opened from the inside, and out walked a round-faced female cultivator wearing a goose-yellow ru skirt. Her forehead was slightly broad, her eyes bright, and she was not very tall. She wasn't exactly beautiful, but at first glance, she really gave people a very pleasing feeling.

Chen Ci subconsciously looked past her head and glanced into the bamboo hut.

It seemed there was no one else.

"You, how very rude!"

Being looked at like that by Chen Ci, the female cultivator seemed somewhat annoyed, and her already round face puffed up by another three parts.

"This fellow Daoist... please forgive me. I have not seen much of the world and thought a fairy from a major sect would be more... distinctive."

Chen Ci was also a bit embarrassed. This couldn't be blamed on him; this woman's True Qi cultivation was even lower than his own, so it was no wonder those local cultivators had the guts to 'invite' her to save people.

"May I ask how to address you, Daoist, and from which immortal mountain do you hail?"

Chen Ci hurriedly changed the subject, performed a salute, and asked.

The round-faced female cultivator's nose twitched slightly, and she turned her head a little, but still returned the salute and replied: "I am surnamed Yu, from a small sect in the East Sea. We have three or five hundred people per generation; I won't mention our specific name to avoid frightening you, Daoist."

Chen Ci: "."

"So it is Daoist Yu before me. If there is nothing else, I shall head down the mountain first."

Chen Ci gave a hollow laugh and prepared to leave; this woman was trouble, not worth provoking.

"Daoist Yan, please wait. I called out to you mainly because there are a few things I would like to ask for your guidance on."

The female cultivator seemed to feel she had regained some ground and was no longer annoyed, asking curiously: "Before I came to the Liang Kingdom, I heard my elders say that He Mountain Sect cultivators often use the living souls and flesh of humans and beasts to refine Evil Methods. They are pugnacious, kill without count, and although they are not of the mainstream, one must be careful when encountering them. Yet, looking at your methods today, Daoist, although they are still of the yin-sha variety, they are quite grand, and you have no history of wanton killing. If my junior brother were here, he would never let this rest today... I will be traveling through the Xishan Prefecture in the future; I wonder if your fellow apprentices are also like this, and easier to talk to?"

Hmm.

This female cultivator must truly be an apprentice of a major sect or clan; otherwise, with this level of cultivation and this level of emotional intelligence, without a background, she would have died long ago while traveling.

Chen Ci originally did not want to pay her any mind.

But then he thought, if this woman really goes to the Xishan Prefecture in the future and something happens, it would likely be a nuisance. Most importantly, he did not know how small her so-called small East Sea sect really was.

Chen Ci pondered for a moment and organized his words: "Daoist Yu, the methods of my sect are taught without discrimination, and the apprentices who learn them vary in quality. Also, because of the nature of the cultivation methods, our minds are sometimes unclear, and we are prone to acting impulsively. If you do not flaunt your wealth and cover your tracks a little, it should not be a big problem. The main thing is that some of my fellow apprentices have stayed in the secular world for too long and are poorly informed; they may not recognize the names of figures in the cultivation world, so you should also be careful."

"Oh."

The round-faced female cultivator nodded, seemingly understanding.

He hoped she truly understood.

"Then, if I report your name, Daoist, would it be of any use?"

The round-faced female cultivator seemed to have thought of something, her eyes brightening.

No, are we that familiar?

But it's not like you can't try to see if the name of that scoundrel Yan Shan is useful.

Chen Ci was silent for a moment, then replied: "In the Xishan Prefecture, if you can visit the Fuhu Altar and obtain a decree, at least the He Mountain Sect apprentices should not make things difficult for you. However, the Fuhu Altar has had some changes this year, and I am not yet clear on the specifics, so I will not say more to you."

"I see. Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Yan."

The round-faced female cultivator noted the name of the Fuhu Altar, performed a salute, thought for a moment, took a small booklet from her sleeve, handed it to Li Yuanqing, who was standing to the side looking somewhat dazed, and said with a soft smile: "This is an ancient chess manual I obtained by chance. The fixed patterns in it are quite ingenious, and I have benefited from it greatly. If you have leisure, you can study it; your chess skills should improve."

Li Yuanqing's expression flickered, but he did not reach out to take it, instead looking at Chen Ci first, clearly knowing who his reliance was.

"Accept it."

Chen Ci nodded slightly, but inwardly he felt a strange sense of regret.

Actually, he wasn't that familiar with this kid either. If you want to thank me, you should give something tangible, and give it to me. But of course, Master Chen could not say such things; he had his pride.

Besides, to tell the truth, when Chen Ci met this female cultivator, he really did feel a bit of inexplicable jealousy.

Yes, it was jealousy.

When facing the likes of Lin Laohu, Chen Ci mostly felt admiration, or at most envied him for living in an immortal mansion and keeping demon concubines; to call it jealousy would be a stretch.

But the feeling that this round-faced female cultivator exuded—that it seemed she didn't need to worry or toil for her cultivation, and that the Great Dao was a smooth path—made Chen Ci truly jealous. Even though he was confident in his martial prowess and could kill this little round-face without issue, how to put it—Master Chen was just a bit jealous. He also wanted to live that kind of life: cultivating immortality to seek Longevity while easily and freely studying the things he liked.

Happy cultivation—that is what life is about.

Sigh, how boring.

Such a small sect, it's doomed sooner or later, hmph.

"Daoist Yu, I still have some urgent matters to attend to, so shall we part ways here?"

Chen Ci raised his hand in a salute. Although there were some twists and turns in his search, the task was ultimately accomplished, and he had even done a good deed by selling a few Soul Fixing Talismans, which could be considered clearing the name of the He Mountain Sect.

Helping others makes one happy; this saying is true. In the future, he must perform more good deeds; there will surely be financial rewards.

"Very well, I still have to stay on this mountain for a few more days, so I will not keep Daoist Yan as a guest."

The round-faced female cultivator smiled with curved eyes and returned the salute: "If we have fate in the future, I will invite Daoist Yan to sit and chat for a few days."

Chen Ci waved his hand dashingly and led Li Yuanqing away in a carefree manner.

Hmph, a mere apprentice of a small East Sea sect; better not to associate with her.

Wuyan Mountain was not very high, but it was a mountain nonetheless. For a cultivator, it was roughly equivalent to flat ground, but for a youth like Li Yuanqing, descending the mountain was even more difficult. After only half an hour, he was already panting and exhausted, yet he clutched the Stone Immortal Lost Manual in his arms tightly, struggling to keep up behind Chen Ci.

"Have you ever practiced martial arts or cultivation?"

Chen Ci asked suddenly halfway through the journey.

"Reporting to the Immortal, this young one has only practiced some health-preserving martial arts at home. The rest of the time, I mostly read, studied, played chess, and practiced patterns."

Li Yuanqing replied respectfully.

Chen Ci stopped his steps and then continued to ask: "You have a birthmark on your left shoulder?"

"Yes!"

Li Yuanqing's expression changed slightly at this moment. After thinking for a while, he knelt on the ground: "Junior... Geng Yuanqing, pays respects to the Immortal Master."

Only then did Chen Ci completely confirm he had not found the wrong person. Since he had taken on this errand, he had to do it beautifully to show Master Chen's methods.

"Get up. Since you can say this 'Geng' character, you must know a thing or two."

Chen Ci waved his sleeve and lifted him up: "When we return to Li Fu and see your mother, I will take you to the Xishan Prefecture. However, your teacher is someone else; he is an enlightened superior cultivator, but he has had urgent matters to attend to in recent years, which is why he entrusted me to lead you onto the path of cultivation."

Geng Yuanqing's face showed a mix of anxiety, excitement, and hesitation, but he still bowed three times on the ground before rising to answer carefully: "This young one understands."

"Senior Brother Geng has already passed away, so do not dwell on it too much. The path of cultivation is difficult and arduous; it is not an easy task and depends entirely on oneself."

Chen Ci ignored the changes in his expression and said indifferently: "I had a friendship with Senior Brother Geng; you may call me Uncle-Master. By the way, my surname is Chen, and I currently cultivate at Sanyin Temple. Since we have nothing else to do on this trip, we might as well take this time to pass on the fundamental Great Method of our temple, the Sanyin Qi-Eating Method, to you."

(End of chapter)