Chapter 54: Reality

"Daoist Chen, are you really not considering the old Daoist's proposal?"

The next day, on a mountain road, Chen Ci and the old Daoist Ge Zhou rode their horses along. Old Daoist Ge chatted with Chen Ci in a leisurely manner: "I have also heard some things about the affairs in Xishan Prefecture. That Daoist Lin from your sect has really gone all out for the sake of the Dao path. Collecting Essence Refining for them, does it truly not affect your own cultivation, Daoist?"

No, as an inspector from Longhu Mountain, is it really appropriate to chat about this topic with an Outer Sect Disciple of the He Mountain Sect?

"When one is in the He Mountain Sect, one is not master of one's own actions."

Chen Ci's tone was somewhat wistful, and he lowered his voice to complain: "For an Outer Sect Disciple like me, I don't get to enjoy much of the sect's benefits, but I certainly don't do any less work. I originally thought that since the heavens are high and the emperor is far away, getting some freedom would be nice, but as it turns out—heh, it's better not to mention it. By the way, Daoist Ge, how is the treatment at your Longhu Mountain? Do you accept disciples who wish to join with their existing skills?"

If it were possible, he, Chen Ci, could also love Longhu.

But thinking about it, it didn't seem very likely.

"Daoist Chen is joking."

Old Daoist Ge paused at Chen Ci's question and chuckled: "Actually, every sect and faction is much the same. Don't we Outer Sect Disciples have to do all the dirty and tiring work? That is why I say, Daoist Chen, one must consider oneself more. If you don't take advantage of this opportunity now to accumulate some resources for cultivation, you will regret it when it's too late. Just think, besides the Fuhu Altar providing a safety net right now, could Essence Refining even be sold for a price?"

Chen Ci couldn't hold it in anymore. Why are you more concerned than I am? How about we swap? You come to the He Mountain Sect, and I'll go to Longhu Mountain?

But honestly, what this old Daoist said was actually quite reasonable.

This stuff called Essence Refining is quite similar to a Soul Fixing Talisman; it's not that it has no value, but there is no stable supply and demand relationship, making it very difficult to convert into cash.

Except for the Fuhu Altar, which for some unknown reason buys it in large quantities, ordinary cultivators cannot use much of it whether they are practicing techniques or refining artifacts. Even if they do use it, most produce it themselves and just quietly refine enough for their own needs.

Trade?

Finding a corner to kill a few two-legged sheep is all it takes to get it done. To spend money on it? That is looking down on me too much.

Being so solicitous and engaging in entrapment—this old fogey must be engaging in entrapment!

A trace of wariness rose in Chen Ci's heart, and he said righteously: "Daoist Ge is unaware, but my He Mountain Sect is currently undergoing a transformation. Our teachers in the sect instruct us to become a righteous sect of the immortal path, to restrain ourselves and uphold our conduct. Let's just forget about this matter."

Ouch.

Old Daoist Ge, who had cultivated for several decades and was a Qi Refining cultivator with a True Qi cultivation of over fifty apertures, almost threw out his back on the horse's back and couldn't help but groan twice.

A righteous sect of the immortal path?

Restraining oneself and upholding conduct?

Does your He Mountain Sect even deserve that?

Old Daoist Ge's face darkened. Is this fellow being sarcastic toward him?

"Even if the He Mountain Sect becomes a righteous sect of the immortal path, what does that have to do with you, Daoist Chen?"

Old Daoist Ge said indifferently: "To the sect, you and I are like tenant farmers to a landlord. How the rice seedlings grow in the field has nothing to do with us. Finding a way to go from being a tenant farmer to a landlord and owning one's own land is the real business. Otherwise, if one is a servant for life, how can one still cultivate the Dao?"

"Twenty thousand taels. Within three years, as long as the Changping County government office doesn't report it upward, I, the old Daoist, will know nothing of any miscellaneous matters. Given the price the Fuhu Altar sets for Essence Refining, heh, Daoist, you wouldn't be unable to handle even a few mortals, would you?"

Old Daoist Ge considered this price quite reasonable. If the one surnamed Chen eats the meat, he must at least let him have some meat scraps when he drinks the soup.

Damn it, knowing it so clearly, and still saying he didn't come prepared?

There are bad people in the Profound Sect!

It is truly the Profound Sect's loss to miss out on him.

Chen Ci waved his hand, his face apologetic: "Daoist Ge has a heart for this, but twenty thousand taels... money has been a bit tight lately, and the temple is strapped for cash."

"Easy, easy. If money is tight, you can borrow it."

Old Daoist Ge smiled leisurely and offered a strategy for Chen Ci: "Although Changping County is remote, there are wealthy merchants. Borrowing a bit from each family, you'll have enough. I, the old Daoist, can even come forward to act as a guarantor for you, Daoist."

"Ah?"

Wait, wait, let me sort out this relationship.

You act as a guarantor for me, let me go borrow money, and then give the money to you.

It seems like something is wrong, but it also seems like there is nothing wrong.

"It's easy to borrow money but hard to pay it back, Daoist Ge. Let's just forget it."

Chen Ci was a bit confused for a moment and subconsciously refused.

"Why would you need to pay back money you borrowed based on your own ability, Daoist?"

Old Daoist Ge looked puzzled: "Since I am the guarantor, you just tell them to come to Quanshan to find me, right?"

Chen Ci: "..."

???

"No, my He Mountain Sect really is a righteous sect of the immortal path. Prejudice is like a great mountain. Daoist Ge, as a fellow traveler, you must believe me. Let's just drop this matter."

Chen Ci felt that his reputation was entirely dragged down by the He Mountain Sect. He kicked the old horse somewhat despondently and moved forward.

The indifference on Old Daoist Ge's face faded, and he gave a cold smile.

He could smell the lime in the bulging pockets of the one surnamed Chen from two meters away. What disciple of a righteous sect of the immortal path plays with such low-class, worldly, underworld tricks?

Prejudice is like a great mountain?

And he wants him to believe him?

A disciple of the He Mountain Sect, heh, he really acts like it, damn it.

He gave him such a way out, and he wouldn't take it. If it weren't for the fact that He Mountain Sect disciples are truly capable of fighting, in these deep mountains and old forests, he wouldn't let him come and go as he pleased.

Old Daoist Ge exhaled a breath of turbid air, rode his horse to catch up, and said indifferently: "It was the old Daoist who was abrupt. However, I, the poor Daoist, will say this first: all the harvest from Qingquan Village belongs to me. If you reach out, Daoist, heh. But I can compensate you slightly in other aspects."

"All the harvest?"

Chen Ci was somewhat tempted. He had almost forgotten that Qingquan Village was famous for planting medicinal herbs and was already wealthy; looting it would be another huge fortune.

A miscalculation.

But glancing at the old Daoist's cultivation, forget it. He would just slack off the whole time later; it wouldn't be appropriate to ask for a share of the money.

"Agreed."

But then Chen Ci added: "However, there are some medicinal herbs in Qingquan Village that are useful to me. The quantity isn't large, I will only take those."

Old Daoist Ge pondered for a moment, finally nodded, and said no more.

The eighty-plus miles of mountain road were originally difficult to travel, but since the group consisted of either cultivators or martial artists who were high-leaping in the secular world, they arrived in front of Qingquan Village by noon. If they hadn't brought some supplies, they could have been even faster.

Eat and rest.

Dry biscuits and smoked meat were provided to fill everyone up, and there was even wine, though only three small cups per person.

Chen Ci also took a Bigu Pill, and just as everyone was full and resting, County Lieutenant Wang walked over and politely requested a talisman.

"True Person Chen, um, could you sell me a few of those talismans of yours?"

Business at last!

Chen Ci almost had tears in his eyes; he had begun to doubt whether he had any talent for business at all.

That fellow Ge came once and walked away empty-handed with at least tens of thousands of taels of silver, yet he himself was honestly trying to sell some life-saving talismans and couldn't even sell them—wasn't this bullying an honest man?

However, he only had eighteen in stock.

Six hundred taels—that would be selling a bit at a loss.

Would one thousand taels be a bit too high?

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ci gritted his teeth and, listening to his conscience, quoted a low price: "Eight hundred taels each, County Lieutenant Wang; given the current market, this is purely a friends-and-family price."

County Lieutenant Wang did not change his expression; he naturally pulled four thousand taels in silver notes from his bosom, took the five Soul Fixing Talismans, and carefully put them away.

Uh.

Chen Ci momentarily wondered if he had a bit too much conscience.

"County Lieutenant Wang, why didn't you stay in the county?"

Chen Ci tucked the silver notes into his sleeve and asked curiously.

"Ahem, True Person Chen, you jest. I hold the post of County Lieutenant; how could I possibly run away from this matter?"

County Lieutenant Wang pressed his hand against the saber at his waist and said with some emotion, "That servant boy from the Liu family was actually favored by True Person Ge and rose to the heavens in a single step. I, too, wish to fight for a future for my few sons. Although Changping County is good, it is ultimately a bit remote."

Chen Ci understood.

After resting for a short half-hour, Ge Laodao looked at the sky and asked indifferently, "Can True Person Chen break the village?"

Since he would be taking some things later, Chen Ci did not begrudge putting in some effort, so he nodded slightly and agreed: "I can."

He then reached out and tapped the Yin Horse Pagoda Lock at his waist, pouring in Three Yin True Qi. Following a few neighs, five Pagoda Yin Horses clad in iron pagodas appeared, linked together by pagoda chains, and charged fiercely with their heads lowered toward the gate of Qingquan Village. If this were on a mortal battlefield, it is feared that hundreds of elite soldiers would be scattered by a single charge.

Although he was certain there would be no major trouble on this trip, Chen Ci still held back slightly, injecting only two apertures' worth of True Qi into the Yin Horse Pagoda Lock, and began to adjust his breathing to slowly recover.

"Boom!"

With a loud crash, the gate of Qingquan Village was suddenly smashed to pieces, and a large portion of the surrounding fence collapsed along with it. Except for Ge Laodao, everyone on the scene showed expressions of shock, and their demeanor became increasingly respectful.

Although they had heard of the methods of those who cultivate, they had not seen them with their own eyes very often.

The Pagoda Yin Horses were slightly damaged, but Chen Ci sensed the Yin Horse Pagoda Lock and found there was no major harm; it would only need to be nurtured for a day to recover, but this Prohibition could not be activated again for a short time, otherwise, there would be a risk of the Dharma Artifact being damaged.

"Very good, True Person Chen should be credited for this."

Ge Laodao stroked his long beard and ordered coldly, "County Lieutenant Wang, pick fifteen men to scout the village. Wave a flag every twenty zhang. Anyone who retreats upon encountering the enemy shall be executed without mercy."

"Yes!"

Wang Qingyuan was also going all out and personally led men into the village to investigate.

Chen Ci sighed from the bottom of his heart; this old guy is truly a coward.

As an honest man like him, there was clearly still much to learn.

(End of chapter)