Yuxi Town

"Little White and I grew up together. He's long been family to me."

Lin Chan shook his head.

"Ten gold?"

The youth named a price directly.

"Not for a thousand gold."

"What about that cat of yours?"

Seeing Lin Chan's firm stance, the youth glanced at Little Li instead.

"Not for a thousand gold."

"A pity."

The youth shook his head and returned to his seat. Though he genuinely liked a big dog like Little White, he couldn't just snatch it in broad daylight, so he had to give up.

After eating, Lin Chan didn't linger and left at once.

The next day, Lin Chan followed his earlier plan and entered the Shu Mountains.

Over these past days of travel, Lin Chan had gained some wilderness survival experience, and his first night in the mountains passed easily.

After walking continuously in the mountains for several days, the mountain paths had all vanished, yet Lin Chan still hadn't found the village the Orange Cat Immortal Master had mentioned.

During these days, Lin Chan relied on Little Li and Little White to hunt for food, so he was basically never hungry. Even if he never found the village the Orange Cat Immortal Master spoke of, he could still survive in these mountains. This gave Lin Chan the confidence to keep going.

A few more days later, morning mist filled the mountains, the hazy fog making the path even harder to traverse. Just then, Lin Chan discovered a small trail.

Following the trail, Lin Chan found a town.

He thought he'd have to live like a wild man for a long time, but unexpectedly, when the mountains and rivers seemed to lead nowhere, a new path opened up.

Arriving at the town entrance, Lin Chan saw a tall man standing at the gate, about 1.8 meters tall, slightly taller than Lin Chan was now. The big man looked dull, simply staring into the distance at the end of the road.

Lin Chan gave him a quick glance and felt the man seemed a bit simple.

"Hello!"

Though Lin Chan thought this man might be slow-witted, he was the first person Lin Chan had met here, so he steeled himself to greet him, hoping to get some information about the area.

But when the big man saw Lin Chan approaching, he ran off instead.

Lin Chan hesitated about whether to enter, then saw a group of kids leading the big man back.

"You're an outsider? You came to our Yuxi Town looking for immortal fate on Shu Mountain, right?"

The kid at the front, with his hair tied in two buns, stepped forward and asked, poised and unafraid.

"That's right!"

Lin Chan smiled and nodded.

"Since you found our Yuxi Town, it means you have a connection with us. I'm Zhang Peng, come with me to see Grandpa Town Chief!"

Zhang Peng then led Lin Chan into the town, while the other kids followed cheerfully behind, curiously eyeing Lin Chan's cat and dog.

Little Li and Little White were old cat and old dog, already enlightened and quite mature, so Lin Chan wasn't worried about them hurting the children.

"Big brother, where are you from?"

Zhang Peng asked as they walked.

"A small mortal city."

Lin Chan replied.

"If big brother can't become an Immortal Master, you can settle down in our town. Our Yuxi Town doesn't have any emperor collecting taxes—you keep whatever you grow."

Zhang Peng said proudly.

Compared to the outside world, towns like theirs, directly under the jurisdiction of immortal sects, were tax-free and offered a chance to enter the sects. Calling it a paradise wasn't an exaggeration.

Chatting as they went, the two soon arrived at the Town Chief's home.

"Grandpa Town Chief! An outsider came to our town, come greet him quick!"

Zhang Peng and the kids shouted.

The white-haired old Town Chief was playing chess with another old man. Hearing the noise, he casually dropped his piece and said, "No more playing. Busy with real business. It's been a long time since an outsider came to town."

"Old Man Xu, we're almost done. Finish the game first!"

The other old man said while resetting the board.

"We'll play another time!"

The Town Chief shook his head, got up, and opened the door.

Then, the Town Chief led Lin Chan into the small courtyard, brought him a small bamboo stool, and poured him a bowl of crisp well water.

As for Zhang Peng and the other kids, after delivering Lin Chan, they snuck a few cucumbers from the Town Chief's garden and ran off.

Little White wanted to follow them out to play, but one look from Lin Chan made it obediently stay put.

"Lad, the fact that you found this place means you have a connection with our Yuxi Town."

The old Town Chief said with a smile.

All the villages in the Shu Mountains near the Sword Sect were under the protection of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect's grand formation. If you weren't a person of good character, without the Sect's approval, you couldn't enter.

"The Town Chief speaks truly."

Lin Chan nodded in agreement.

"I see you're not old. You can just call me Grandpa."

"Alright, Grandpa Town Chief!"

"Lad! Did you come to Shu Mountain because of the harsh rule outside, or do you want to go up the mountain and seek immortal fortune?"

The old Town Chief asked.

"I once met an Orange Cat Immortal. He told me that if I entered the mountains, I'd have a chance to become a disciple."

Lin Chan thought for a moment, then said.

"Then you truly do have a connection with Shu Mountain. But the Sect only takes in disciples once every ten-odd years. The time hasn't come yet, so the mountain gate won't open. For now, you can only settle down and rest in our Yuxi Town."

The old Town Chief said to Lin Chan.

"How long has it been since the last time Shu Mountain recruited new disciples?"

Lin Chan asked. He had already decided to stay in Yuxi Town and wait for the next recruitment.

Lin Chan was someone who took advice well. The Orange Cat Immortal had told him before to wait in these villages and towns, so he wouldn't go up the mountain and make trouble for himself.

The old Town Chief thought back and said:

"Seven years... no, eight years."

"Then it'll only be a few more years before they take in disciples again."

Hearing the old Town Chief's words, Lin Chan was very pleased.

"At most five years."

The old Town Chief nodded as well.

"Then, Grandpa Town Chief, I'm willing to stay in Yuxi Town and wait."

"Mm. You have no place to stay tonight. I'll find you a house. Come with me."

With that, the old Town Chief led Lin Chan outside.

Before long, Lin Chan was brought to a small house on the edge of Yuxi Town.

"This house hasn't been lived in for a long time. You can stay here for now, but when the owner comes back, you have to return it. Don't you dare take it over. I have to make that clear to you first."

The old Town Chief brought Lin Chan to a courtyard house. It had been abandoned for so long that it was overgrown with weeds everywhere.

"Grandpa Town Chief, I understand."

Lin Chan nodded.

"You haven't eaten today. You can come to my place for a meal tonight, and I'll give you some rice on credit. But you need to know, our town doesn't support lazy men. After a few days to settle in, you'll have to find some work in town."

The old Town Chief added earnestly.

"Grandpa Town Chief, I understand. Can I hunt in the mountains near here?"

Lin Chan naturally wouldn't just eat without working. He had already thought about what he could do.

If hunting was allowed, he'd have Little Li and Little White go out and hunt to support him.

After all, the three of them—one person, one cat, one dog—all had pretty big appetites.

"The woods near Yuxi Town are all unclaimed. You can go. If you want to hunt, you can follow a few of the hunters."

The old Town Chief said with a smile, happy to see a young man getting on the right track.

After that, Lin Chan settled on his room and kept busy cleaning until evening, when the old Town Chief's child came to call him for dinner. Only then did Lin Chan stop.

After the meal, the old Town Chief packed Lin Chan a bag of rice to help him get through this period.

Lin Chan thanked him repeatedly and left the Town Chief's home.

"I didn't dare eat my fill at the Town Chief's place earlier—only got about two-tenths full. Lucky I sent Little Li and Little White out to hunt early. They should be back soon."

Walking home, Lin Chan thought to himself.