Good Flowers Are Hard to Pick

Forming a group was something Xiaopang didn't object to. To be honest, he and Li Banfeng weren't exactly close acquaintances; they had merely met once at the peddler's.

The reason he had looked out for Li Banfeng so much along the way was precisely to form a group.

Now that he had encountered this expert, the man with the gold-rimmed glasses, Qin Xiaopang naturally wouldn't refuse and immediately agreed.

Once he agreed, the four people around him also agreed.

An insider who spoke so sincerely left them with no reason to refuse him.

These four people were: a middle-aged man in his fifties named Old Smoke Cannon, who claimed to be a first-level Smoke Cultivator and never let go of his pipe;

A plump and pretty woman in her twenties named You Tao, who claimed to be a Body Cultivator, just starting out with no level;

A half-grown girl of fourteen or fifteen named Cao Ye, who claimed to be a Medicine Cultivator, also just starting out with no level;

And a young man in his early twenties named Hu Gaozi, who claimed to be a first-level Martial Cultivator.

Their names were clearly not real, and as for their cultivation levels and Dao Gates, it was hard to say if they were true or false.

Qin Xiaopang's Dao Gate had already been guessed by the man with the gold-rimmed glasses, so he simply admitted generously, "My name is Xiaopang, I'm a Food Cultivator, no level."

When asked about Li Banfeng, Li Banfeng replied, "My name is Bai Sha, I'm a Joy Cultivator, no level."

Xiaopang was taken aback and stared at Li Banfeng for a long time.

Back then, he had claimed his name was Li Qi. Whether Bai Sha was his real name didn't matter.

But when did he become a Joy Cultivator?

Wasn't he a Travel Cultivator?

Was he deliberately not telling the truth to this man with the gold-rimmed glasses?

Then, was he telling me the truth?

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses was also very curious and asked Li Banfeng, "You're a Joy Cultivator? Did you come alone?"

Joy Cultivators usually appeared in pairs with their partners, which was convenient for cultivation.

Li Banfeng pointed at Qin Xiaopang and said, "I came with him."

Everyone's eyes focused on Qin Xiaopang. Qin Xiaopang was silent for a moment, then untied the bundle on his back, revealing the dry rations inside, and said to everyone:

"I'm a Food Cultivator. I can eat five catties of dry rations in one meal, sometimes ten catties. I'm really a Food Cultivator, I'm not lying to you. I'll eat it for you to see right now."

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses said to everyone, "My name is Kai Shan, a first-level Travel Cultivator. I usually like to travel to famous mountains and rivers. I've been to Bitter Mist Mountain a few times before. I will definitely point out anything on the way that can help everyone."

Hu Gaozi said from the side, "Brother Kai Shan, we all trust you. You are our leader. After we pick the flowers, according to the rules of the road, we'll give you two-tenths of them. What do you think?"

Hearing this, the others were displeased.

You say divide, and we divide? Did you ask us about this?

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses repeatedly shook his head, "I can't take everyone's flowers. These flowers are exchanged for lives.

I haven't done anything for you either. I help you, and you help me. This is a matter of mutual assistance."

Hearing this, everyone's respect for the man with the gold-rimmed glasses grew even more. Naturally, they let him be the leader.

The people from the medicine trade were faintly visible in the thick fog. The man with the gold-rimmed glasses led the group, following behind them at a steady pace.

Ahead was a stone bridge, over a meter wide, wide enough for two or three people to walk side by side.

"This is called No Regrets Bridge," the man with the gold-rimmed glasses adjusted the nose clip of his glasses. "You might feel a bit uncomfortable in your throats. This is because you've already smelled the poisonous fog.

Beyond No Regrets Bridge is the territory of Bitter Mist Mountain. Everyone, I don't know if the cultivation levels you reported are true or false, but I sincerely advise you, if you don't have cultivation, don't go forward.

Every year, there are people without cultivation who want to try their luck on Bitter Mist Mountain. As a result, none of those who go up ever return alive.

I'm not blocking your path to wealth, I'm advising you to think twice before acting."

Everyone looked at each other but remained silent. Hu Gaozi sneered, "Brother Kai Shan, you've said it all. If anyone still doesn't understand, they're just seeking death.

Little girl, I see you don't have any cultivation. If you ask me, you should leave quickly. It's still not too late."

The young girl's name was Cao Ye. She lowered her head, blushing, and said, "I really am a Medicine Cultivator. I understand medicine and can be helpful."

Hu Gaozi glanced at Old Smoke Cannon again. "You old bones, even if you do have cultivation, you won't be of much use on the mountain, will you?"

Old Smoke Cannon smiled. "Whether I'm useful or not, we'll see as we go."

No one showed any intention of retreating. The group of seven crossed the bridge.

Upon reaching the other side of the bridge, Li Banfeng felt his throat tighten and began to cough in spasms.

Li Banfeng had entered the Dao Gate after receiving Heavenly Light, unlike others who had accumulated cultivation over a long period. The difference in physical fitness became apparent.

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses frowned and said, "Brother, do you really have cultivation?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes, I'm a Joy Cultivator."

Old Smoke Cannon smiled and said, "It's understandable that Joy Cultivators are physically weak and can't withstand the bitter mist."

As his words fell, everyone looked at Qin Xiaopang.

Qin Xiaopang puffed out his chest and said, "I'm a Food Cultivator."

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses said to Li Banfeng, "Brother, when we get to the mountain, if you can't hold on, go down the mountain as early as possible. Don't lose your life for greed."

Cao Ye took out a palm-sized cloth bag from her bosom and took out a piece of candy from the bag.

"Brother, suck on a piece of Medicine Candy. It works."

Medicine Candy?

What was this?

Li Banfeng looked at the candy, wondering whether to eat it.

Seeing Li Banfeng hesitate, Cao Ye put the Medicine Candy in her own mouth and took out another one for Li Banfeng. "Brother, I'm not a bad person."

If he didn't accept it now, it would be a bit unreasonable.

Li Banfeng put one in his mouth. A cool, slightly sour liquid slid down his throat, and the dry, itchy discomfort instantly disappeared.

He wasn't coughing anymore. This stuff really worked.

Li Banfeng thanked them and continued walking with the group. After more than half an hour, they finally reached the foot of the mountain.

The winding dirt path extended upwards from the base of the mountain. Visibility was only twenty to thirty meters, and the full view of the mountain was still obscured.

"Sister, give me one too. When I sell the flowers, I'll give you the money," the voluptuous beauty You Tao also started coughing and asked Cao Ye for a piece of Medicine Candy.

The mountain path was narrow and steep. The group walked up in a single file, and Li Banfeng happened to be walking behind You Tao.

Li Banfeng had seen many beautiful girls, but a figure like You Tao's was truly rare.

Her finger-waved hairstyle, paired with a red and green cheongsam, showcased smooth shoulder lines and a waist that could be easily spanned by a hand.

Especially the two "peaches" below her waist were round and proud, possessing a unique delicacy and spirit within their fullness.

No wonder she was called You Tao.

These peaches were simply flawless.

She was right in front of him, swaying with every step, swaying with every step...

Was she really here to pick flowers on the mountain?

Why wear a cheongsam to pick flowers on the mountain?

This was clearly inconvenient for movement!

This was clearly meant to deliberately distract him!

Li Banfeng tried his best to shift his gaze away from those two "peaches," but unexpectedly, You Tao suddenly turned around and smiled at Li Banfeng.

Her crescent-shaped eyes held a myriad of charms, and this smile made Li Banfeng's heart tighten.

"Little brother, are you really a Joy Cultivator? I heard that Joy Cultivators can go seven or eight rounds a day without breaking a sweat."

Li Banfeng said calmly, "Sister, you flatter me."

You Tao's crimson lips trembled slightly as she whispered, "How about we spar sometime?"

Li Banfeng shook his head, "My cultivation is still shallow, I'm afraid I'm not a match for you, sister."

You Tao glanced at Qin Xiaopang behind Li Banfeng and pursed her lips into a smile, "I almost forgot, your Dao companion is still here. You like round ones, not flat ones."

Qin Xiaopang wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I'm a Food Cultivator..."

Travel Cultivators are very sensitive to distance. According to Li Banfeng's calculations, the group had walked over five li on the mountain path when a black and white flower appeared beside the path.

The shape of this flower was very peculiar. Each petal was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, with a white base and black spots, like a snake's head covered in scales.

Snake Spot Chrysanthemum!

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses had described the characteristics of the Snake Spot Chrysanthemum, and Li Banfeng recognized it. The flower was exactly as the man with the gold-rimmed glasses had described.

Qin Xiaopang also recognized it. Just as he was about to step forward to pick it in his excitement, a man suddenly darted out from the bushes beside the mountain path, holding a long-handled pair of scissors, and snatched the flower first.

Qin Xiaopang was furious, not only because his flower was snatched, but also because of the person who did it.

The person in front of him was the bald man they had encountered before going up the mountain.

It was him again!

Qin Xiaopang picked up his axe again, this time truly intending to strike.

The bald man sneered with disdain, "You're as stupid as a pig, you can't even get to the hot shit in time! What are you doing with that axe? Try chopping something!"

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses stopped Qin Xiaopang, and the bald man vanished into the bushes in the blink of an eye.

Qin Xiaopang gritted his teeth and said, "That son of a bitch, I'm going to chop him up!"

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses pulled Qin Xiaopang back. "Don't worry about these one or two flowers by the roadside. When we get to a good place, there will be plenty of flowers."

"Where is this good place?" Qin Xiaopang was still unwilling.

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses looked at the mountain path. The Medicine Cultivators were fast on their feet, and their figures had already disappeared.

"Let's walk faster and see if we can catch up to them."

Old Smoke Cannon lit his pipe, took a few strong puffs, and exhaled a yellowish-white smoke.

The smoke quickly flew forward. Old Smoke Cannon bit on the pipe stem, savoring the taste.

"They haven't gone far. There's a fork in the road ahead, they went to the right."

Hu Gaozi was startled when he heard this. "Old man, don't talk nonsense if you don't know."

Old Smoke Cannon tapped his pipe twice. "If you don't believe me, then don't follow us!"

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses believed Old Smoke Cannon, because there was indeed a fork in the road ahead.

Turning right at the fork, they walked for another hour. Beside the mountain path, outside the dense forest, an open space appeared.

"They are in this place." Old Smoke Cannon entered the open space, followed closely by the man with the gold-rimmed glasses.

Travel Cultivators walked fast. Li Banfeng could have been ahead, but he deliberately walked slower, his eyes seemingly fixed on You Tao's two peach-like buttocks.

After searching the open space for a moment, Li Banfeng saw a black and white flower at his feet.

Having watched the swaying peaches all the way, he thought he was seeing things.

He bent down to look again and confirmed he wasn't mistaken; it was indeed a Snake Spot Chrysanthemum.

He took out his sickle and, following the method the man with the gold-rimmed glasses had described down the mountain, he pinched the flower neck and cut the flower about an inch above the root.

The first Snake Spot Chrysanthemum was in his hands!

PS: Dear readers, happy weekend! It's the end of the month, please vote more for Salad and leave more comments for Salad!