Chubby Qin didn't mind forming a group. After all, he wasn't even close with Li Banfeng. They had only t once at the Peddler's.
He had looked after Li Banfeng this whole ti precisely because he wanted to form a partnership with Li Banfeng.
So, upon eting soone as experienced as the man in gold-rimd glasses, Chubby Qin had no reason to refuse forming a group with him and imdiately agreed.
Once he agreed, the four other people who had been listening in agreed to join in as well.
With soone this knowledgeable and sincere as the man in gold-rimd glasses, there really was no reason to say no.
Of the four people, one was a middle-aged man in his fifties. He went by the na of Old Smoke Cannon and claid to be a level-one Smoking Cultivator. He never let go of his tobacco pipe.
The second was a voluptuous and charming woman in her twenties. She went by the na of Nectarine and claid to be a Physique Cultivator. She had just entered the path, so she didn't have a level.
The third was a girl around fourteen or fifteen. She went by the na of Leafy and claid to be a dicine Cultivator. She was also a beginner with no level.
The last of the four people was a young man in his early twenties. He went by the na of Tiger Lamb and claid to be a level-one Martial Cultivator.
Their nas were clearly fake. As for their cultivation paths and levels, who knew if they were telling the truth.
The man in gold-rimd glasses had already guessed Chubby Qin's cultivation path, so he simply admitted it. "People call
Chubby. I am a Gourmandism Cultivator. No level."
When it was Li Banfeng's turn, he answered, "I'm Bai Sha. I'm a Hedonism Cultivator. No level."
Chubby Qin was stunned. He stared at Li Banfeng for a long mont.
Back when they first t, Li Banfeng had introduced himself as Li Qi. Nevertheless, it didn't matter which of the two was his real na.
But since when was he a Hedonism Cultivator? Chubby Qin thought in shock. Isn't he a Wanderlust cultivator?
Is he lying to the man in gold-rimd glasses? And did he tell
the truth?
The man in gold-rimd glasses was curious too. He asked Li Banfeng, "You're a Hedonism Cultivator? Did you co alone?"
Hedonism Cultivators typically appeared in pairs, as being together made it convenient for their cultivation.
Li Banfeng pointed at Chubby Qin and said, "I ca with him."
Everyone's eyes fell on Chubby Qin. After a mont of silence, Chubby Qin untied the bundle on his back, revealing the rations inside.
He told the group, "I'm a Gourmandism Cultivator. I can eat two and a half kilos of food for one al, sotis five. I really am a Gourmandism Cultivator, I'm not lying to you. I'll prove it right now."
The man with the gold-rimd glasses addressed the group. "My na is Mountain Splitter. I'm a level-one Wanderlust Cultivator. I usually like to traverse through famous mountains and rivers, so I've been to Mount Bitterfog a few tis before. If there's anything I can warn you of along the way, I'll be sure to speak up."
Tiger Lamb said, "Elder Brother Mountain Splitter, we all trust you. You'll be our leader. After we gather the flowers, according to the rules of the road, we'll give you twenty percent as your share. What do you think?"
As soon as he said that, the others grew displeased.
Who said you could decide for the group? You didn't even ask us first!
Mountain Splitter shook his head. "I can't take your flowers. You'll be risking your lives to gather them. You don't owe
anything. If I watch your back and you watch mine, that's enough. That's the give and take of being part of a group."
Hearing that, the group gained even more respect for Mountain Splitter, and they entrusted him to be their leader.
Through the thick fog, they vaguely made out the employees of the dicinal trading houses. Mountain Splitter led the group at a slow pace behind them.
Up ahead, there was a stone bridge. It was a little over a ter wide, enough for two or three people to walk side by side.
"This is called the Bridge of No Regrets." Mountain Splitter pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "At this point, you may begin to feel so discomfort in your throat. That's because you've already inhaled the toxic fog. Once we cross the Bridge of No Regrets, we'll be in the region officially known as Mount Bitterfog.
"Everyone, I don't know whether you shared your real cultivation levels, but let
give you a sincere piece of advice. If you are not a cultivator, do not proceed any further. Every year, there are always ordinary folk who try their luck on Mount Bitterfog. Not a single one of them has ever returned alive. I'm not trying to block your path to fortune. I'm just urging you to think twice before it's too late to turn back."
The group exchanged glances but said nothing.
Tiger Lamb let out a cold laugh. "Elder Brother Mountain Splitter, since you've already said it so clearly, anyone who still doesn't understand is simply looking for death."
He then turned to Leafy and said, "Little girl, I can tell you're not a cultivator. If you ask , I think you ought to turn back now while you still can."
Leafy was the only child in the group. Lowering her head to hide her flushed cheeks, she said, "I really am a dicine Cultivator. I understand the principles of dicine. I can be of help."
Tiger Lamb glanced at Old Smoke Cannon. "And you, you're just a bag of old bones. Even if you're a cultivator, what good will you be once we're on the mountain?"
Old Smoke Cannon chuckled. "Whether I'll be of any use, you'll see as we go."
None of the group mbers showed any intention of retreating, so the group of seven crossed the bridge together.
Once they got to the other side of the bridge, Li Banfeng felt his throat tighten, and he broke into a coughing fit.
Unlike the others who had steadily prepared for their cultivation journey over a long period, Li Banfeng had entered the Daoist path by receiving Heavenly Light. The difference between their physical constitutions was beginning to show.
Mountain Splitter frowned. "Brother, are you really a cultivator?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "I am. I'm a Hedonism Cultivator."
Old Smoke Cannon chuckled. "Hedonism Cultivators have weak bodies. It's only natural that you can't withstand the bitter fog."
Hearing that, everyone turned to look at Chubby Qin.
Chubby Qin puffed out his chest. "I'm a Gourmandism Cultivator."
Mountain Splitter turned to Li Banfeng and said, "Brother, if you find you can't hold out on the mountain, then head down as soon as you can. Don't let greed cost you your life."
Leafy reached into her chest pocket and pulled a palm-sized cloth pouch. From it, she took out a piece of candy.
"Big Brother, have a dicated candy. It works."
dicated candy?
What is that?
Li Banfeng stared at the candy, hesitating whether to eat it.
Seeing his hesitation, Leafy put one in her mouth first. Then she held out another to him. "Big Brother, I'm not a bad person."
If Li Banfeng refused again, it would seem unreasonable.
So, he popped the candy into his mouth. The slightly sour but cooling juice from the candy slid down his throat, instantly alleviating the dryness and irritation.
The coughing has stopped. This thing is really effective.
Li Banfeng thanked her and continued forward with the group. After walking for over half an hour, they finally reached the foot of the mountain.
There was a winding dirt path leading up the mountain, stretching far above. They had a visibility of no more than twenty or thirty ters, which was still far from enough to make out the mountain's full form.
By this point, Nectarine, the voluptuous beauty, had started coughing. She asked Leafy for a piece of dicated candy. "Little sister, give
one too. Once we've sold the flowers, I'll pay you for it."
The mountain path was narrow and steep, forcing everyone into a single file.
Li Banfeng happened to be walking right behind Nectarine. He had seen many pretty young won before, but he had rarely seen won with a voluptuous figure like Nectarine.
Her hair was styled with finger waves, and she wore a cheongsam with both red and green in its design. Her shoulders and back had smooth, graceful lines, and she had such a slender waist that it looked as if he could easily wrap a hand around it.
The two peach-like curves below her waist were especially alluring. They were impressively round;
there was quite an exquisite charm to their size.
No wonder she goes by the na of Nectarine, a glossy peach.[1]
That peach of hers is truly perfect.
She is right in front of , her hips swaying with every step…
Is she really here to gather flowers?
Why would soone wear a cheongsam to climb a mountain?
It's obviously impractical for such terrain!
She is clearly trying to distract !
Li Banfeng tried his best to tear his gaze away from those curves, but Nectarine suddenly turned and smiled at him.
Her eyes curved upward into crescent moons, brimming with charm. That smile alone made Li Banfeng's heart tense with desire.
"Little brother, are you really a Hedonism Cultivator? I've heard Hedonism Cultivators can go at it seven or eight tis a day without a problem."
Li Banfeng replied calmly, "You flatter , Elder Sister."
Nectarine's rosy lips trembled slightly as she whispered, "Why don't we… 'compare notes' so other day?"
Li Banfeng shook his head. "My cultivation level is still too low. I fear I wouldn't be a match for you, Elder Sister."
Nectarine glanced at Chubby Qin walking behind Li Banfeng. She pursed her lips into a teasing smile. "I almost forgot, your Dao partner is right here. You prefer soone round, not flat."
Chubby Qin wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I'm a Gourmandism Cultivator…"
Wanderlust Cultivators had a very good sense of distance. By Li Banfeng's calculation, they had walked a little over two and a half kiloters when a black and white flower appeared by the side of the mountain path.
The flower looked very peculiar. Each petal was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. They were white with black spots, each one resembling a snake's head covered in scales.
Speckled-snake chrysanthemums!
Mountain Splitter had described the speckled-snake chrysanthemum's features earlier. Li Banfeng recognized it imdiately;
this flower was exactly as Mountain Splitter had said.
Chubby Qin recognized it too. Overjoyed, he was about to step forward to take it. However, a man burst out of the bushes beside the path. With a pair of long-handled shears in hand, the man snatched the flower first.
Chubby Qin was furious that the flower had been stolen. However, the thing that infuriated him more was the thief himself.
He was the bald man that Chubby Qin had fought with before starting the climb.
It's this fucking guy again!
Chubby Qin raised his axe again, this ti truly intending to strike the bald man.
The bald man sneered with disdain. "You're as stupid as a pig. You can't even eat shit while it's still hot! What are you doing with that axe? Go on, try swinging it!"
Mountain Splitter held Chubby Qin back, and in the blink of an eye, the bald man disappeared into the undergrowth.
Chubby Qin gnashed his teeth. "That son of a bitch, I swear I'll hack him to pieces!"
Mountain Splitter pulled him back. "It's just one flower by the path. Don't let it bother you. Once we reach the right spot, there'll be plenty more."
Chubby Qin still felt like going after the bald man. "And where's that exactly?"
Mountain Splitter glanced up the mountain path. The group from the dicinal trading houses was fast on their feet, and their figures had already vanished from view.
Mountain Splitter said, "Let's move faster. See if we can still catch up to them."
Old Smoke Cannon lit his pipe. He took a few hard drags and exhaled a stream of white smoke tinged with yellow.
The smoke drifted forward swiftly. Old Smoke Cannon bit down on the smoke pipe, savoring the taste.
"They haven't gone far. At the fork up ahead, they went right."
Tiger Lamb was surprised to hear that. "Old man, don't just make sothing up because you don't know the answer."
Old Smoke Cannon tapped his pipe twice. "If you don't believe , then don't follow us."
Mountain Splitter believed Old Smoke Cannon, for there truly was a fork in the road ahead.
The group turned right at the fork and walked for over an hour. Beyond the dense forest, a clearing finally appeared by the mountain path.
"They're here," Old Smoke Cannon said. He stepped into the clearing, with Mountain Splitter following closely behind.
As a Wanderlust Cultivator, Li Banfeng could have walked at the very front. However, he deliberately slowed his pace, his eyes seemingly fixed on Nectarine's peach-like curves.
After searching the clearing for a while, Li Banfeng noticed a black and white flower at his feet.
He had been staring at Nectarine's swaying butt for so long that he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Li Banfeng bent down for a closer look. He wasn't mistaken;
it really was a speckled-snake chrysanthemum.
He took out his sickle. Following the thod Mountain Splitter had explained at the foot of the mountain, Li Banfeng pinched the flower's stem and cut it an inch or so above the root.
I've finally obtained my first speckled-snake chrysanthemum!
1. In Chinese, Nectarine directly translates to "oil peach". It's because it has a smooth, glossy skin, unlike the hairy skin of a normal peach. ??
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