As for Cheng Rong and the Thousand Spirit Gate, Yu Ci could not say he felt repulsed.
After wandering the world for over a decade, he had long understood that as long as one lived in this world, such exchanges of interests were inevitable. This was, in fact, the most conventional way of communication between people.
In contrast, connections like those made at first sight, from heartfelt trust, or through life-and-death bonds were incredibly rare but beca even more precious because of their rarity.
Although Cheng Rong could not be considered a competent negotiator, he was quite self-aware. He knew that achieving his goal with Yu Ci upon their first eting was unrealistic. Thus, he seized the opportunity presented by the "Ghostly Image Flower," which Yu Ci had given him, and repeatedly invited Yu Ci to visit the Thousand Spirit Gate's base. When his invitations were repeatedly turned down, he naturally provided his contact information, at least ensuring a line of communication between them.
After spending a few days at the Heart Prohibition Temple, Yu Ci realized that the so-called "special authority" was not as straightforward as the Thousand Spirit Gate imagined. Various factors were interwoven, and unless one specifically inquired with Daoist Yu Zhou, it was hard to know all the details.
However, since the Thousand Spirit Gate had such plans, Yu Ci was content to remain relaxed. Matters of managing relationships, which take a long ti to show results, were best left for them to worry about. He focused on the most crucial benefit chain and left the rest to them.
Eventually, Cheng Rong left with a sense of urgency and regret, taking with him the still sowhat unconvinced young girl.
Yu Ci continued his quest for dicinal herbs. The events of the day might beco the focus for others in the coming ti, but for him, they were rely a minor episode, a small embellishnt in his busy work, nothing more.
***
Ti passed relentlessly. Yu Ci’s search area expanded, but his gains dwindled. Compared to the ti when he accumulated 204 rit points, his progress ca to a complete halt.
Then, the first snow of the winter fell.
The sun had already set beyond the mountains. Yu Ci stood in a small valley about sixty miles from the Sky Rift Valley, observing the snow-covered cold mountains and the stream that flowed through the valley. This was actually the sa place where he had previously intercepted herb gatherers upon his return to the Sky Rift Valley, and downstream, another group of herb gatherers was making their way back along the stream.
When this group of thirty or forty people suddenly saw a handso and distinguished Daoist like Yu Ci standing upstream, they were montarily stunned. Without any casual greetings from an unexpected encounter, the atmosphere beca sowhat tense.
Yu Ci understood.
It was the ti of year when people were wrapping up their work and preparing to return ho for the New Year. The herb gatherers, who usually lingered in the Sky Rift Valley, had stopped their work, packed their belongings, called their friends, and started heading back ho. This was also the most chaotic period.
Collecting Shrimp Whisker Grass was always a losing business. It could no longer be obtained from the wild, nor could it be reliably sourced from others. At this ti of year, all sorts of vile thods like theft, robbery, abduction, and deception had a place to be practiced. The already poor order would decay to an unimaginable extent.
To the herb gatherers, this handso Daoist seed to be deliberately blocking the road with ill intentions.
In fact, Yu Ci was indeed there for them.
Seeing the herb gatherers look as if they were facing a great enemy, Yu Ci remained silent. He swept his gaze from left to right, appearing to glance casually. However, those who t his gaze felt as though they had been struck hard in the chest, gasping for breath and causing a stir in the crowd. He heard so murmuring titles like "Immortal" among the people, which indicated that his purpose had been achieved.
The situation appeared strange and eerie, but it was rely a use of divine intent. This was not Yu Ci's invention; back at the Heart Prohibition Temple, Jin Huan had used a single glance to convey an aura that was far more formidable than Yu Ci’s.
Nevertheless, this level was sufficient to evoke unpleasant mories in people.
Among the group of herb gatherers, half of them showed drastic changes in expression. The timid ones instinctively tried to flee but were pulled back by more rational companions, preventing an imdiate stampede.
The atmosphere grew particularly strange.
Yu Ci had initially intended to block the road to gather information about the herbs in the Sky Rift Valley. Seeing the current situation was unexpected. He had not deliberately identified these individuals before, but now, as he scanned their faces, he suddenly realized:
“You are…”
Many faces showed embarrassnt and fear. However, one person in the front row responded with lightning speed, kneeling on the cold, hard stones by the stream:
“Immortal, please see clearly. We are no longer engaged in our previous profession!”
This action prompted many others to follow suit. A small portion of the thirty or forty people knelt down, swearing to the heavens that they had reford, were now honest herb gatherers, and no longer engaged in unscrupulous deeds. The remaining herb gatherers, initially bewildered, then fearful, eventually joined in, creating a sea of kneeling figures that was quite a spectacle.
Yu Ci clearly observed that half of those kneeling were the sa group of scamrs from the desolate mountain temple. The first to kneel was indeed the very active dark-faced man.
Scanning the heads of the crowd, Yu Ci effortlessly spotted Daoist Xuanqing, who was trying hard to shrink into the crowd, his head lowered and body trembling.
Yu Ci frowned and said, “Get up. I need to ask you sothing.”
Upon hearing this, the legitimate or newly reford herb gatherers hesitated for a mont before standing up. No one was foolish, so so people’s glances toward their companions changed, and the entire group fell silent.
Finding the situation amusing, Yu Ci casually asked, “Are you really done with robbery and deceit?”
Dozens of heads shook in unison, but many faces still revealed an unmistakable sense of guilt.
Yu Ci couldn’t help but chuckle.
As night fell and the campfire was lit, Yu Ci naturally took the main seat, surrounded by flattery and sycophancy, remaining unmoved. Gradually, the flattery diminished, and those from the Xuanqing faction beca awkwardly silent, leading to a chilly silence in the scene.
At this mont, Yu Ci began asking about the growth of herbs in the Sky Rift Valley. The scamrs and robbers from Daoist Xuanqing’s group could not provide answers. Only a few experienced and genuine herb gatherers among the crowd could respond.
Gradually, as the herb gatherers realized that Yu Ci was interested only in herbs and seed to have a good temper, their courage grew. So of the younger ones started speaking up. Compared to the cautious and fact-based older herb gatherers, the young ones shared more hearsay and unreliable information.
While others might have been put off by such chatter, Yu Ci wasn’t. With his divine mirror, he could quickly discern the truth of the rumors and didn’t mind the ti spent, seeing it as an opportunity. Encouraged by his tacit approval, even Xuanqing’s group began to contribute their observations.
Over the course of a few hours, Yu Ci gathered useful information about two herbs, which added up to six or seven achievents— a small but notable gain.
While this lively discussion took place, Daoist Xuanqing remained huddled in the corner, silent to the point of being nearly forgotten. When the discussion reached its peak, he used the excuse of needing to relieve himself to slip away, disappearing into the dark forest surrounding the camp.
Once he was far enough, he bit his lip and ran, only pausing to catch his breath after covering more than ten miles.
“Enjoy it while you can. Soon enough, you’ll be crying…”
Muttering to himself, Xuanqing crushed a communication talisman hidden in his sleeve and threw it on the ground. His breathing was ragged, not from exhaustion, but from extre nervousness. Once he felt he was safe, he took a few more breaths, leaned against a tree, and prepared to determine his direction for a further escape.
At that mont, a faint green light appeared before him.
Instantly, Xuanqing’s entire body froze, his eyes the only part of him that could move. The light, like a pale green lantern, illuminated a familiar figure beside him.
“What are you going to make
cry for?” Yu Ci’s voice ca softly from the green light.
“You… How did you catch up with ?”
Xuanqing’s eyes nearly popped out. He instinctively took a step back but bumped into a tree trunk, trapped with no way to advance or retreat.
“Are you the only one allowed to harm , while I’m not allowed to co after you?”
Yu Ci stood with his hands clasped behind his back: “From what Zheng Da said, you recognized Lu Ding from the Sun Light Sect as your godfather. So, that communication talisman you activated was to notify him, wasn’t it?”
Xuanqing had no idea when Zheng Da had betrayed him or how Yu Ci had discovered his covert actions. His mind was frozen, his body as if plunged into an ice cave, devoid of warmth.
In the end, he could only think: “If you knew all along, why didn’t you run away?”
“Why should I run away?”
Yu Ci smiled, his white teeth glowing in the green light, coldly: “Why should I enjoy being wrongfully targeted? If I don’t seek justice and relieve my anger, they will truly pin the bla on ?”
Xuanqing nearly choked on his own saliva. At this mont, he realized that his and Yu Ci’s thought processes were entirely different. This lunatic, who ignored the Sun Light Sect’s threat, could do anything!
At this point, his first instinct was to beg for rcy, but he was reminded of the humiliating scene in the broken temple and the maddening glares he had received over the next year.
Words of plea froze on his lips.
In the end, with a grunt, he drew his long sword, its tip trembling violently, though still directed at Yu Ci. Yu Ci watched coldly, saying nothing.
It seed Yu Ci’s attitude struck a nerve, and Xuanqing suddenly scread: “You’re finished! The Sun Light Sect’s troops will be here in no ti. You won’t escape…”
“Is this what you an by ‘troops’?”
Yu Ci’s words cut off Xuanqing’s voice. At that mont, the “green lantern” moved closer, its chilling light flowing.
As it ca nearer, Xuanqing realized it wasn’t a lantern at all. It was mountains, rivers, winds through forests, and birds and beasts moving!
As the light shifted, he saw nine figures among the scenery, like nine tiny lice leaping across mountains only a foot high, heading towards a camp beyond a ridge—those people in the camp…
Xuanqing was completely stunned.
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