Righteousness

For the next several days, Lu Chuan stayed continuously at the Martial Arts Hall.

The meager amount of silver on his body had bottomed out after he purchased the Qi and Blood Pill, so he simply stayed right there in the hall while waiting for those merchant guilds and escort agencies rumored to have such sharp noses to come knocking.

This wait lasted for five days.

On the morning of this day, after finishing a set of the Mountain Splitting Saber, Lu Chuan put away his blade.

Without days backed by Qi and Blood Pills, cultivation felt like walking through muddy ground.

He called up his status panel for a quick glance. Having practiced for a full day, his Mountain Splitting Saber proficiency had only increased by a single point.

Back in the old days when he was taking Qi and Blood Pills, he could rake in at least four points a day.

He stared at that number, unable to describe the taste in his heart.

Weren't escort agencies and merchant guilds supposed to have sharp noses?

He had already defeated Jiang Hao and exposed his Mountain Collapse, so why hadn't a single person shown up?

Just as he was thinking this, an outer disciple trotted over.

"Senior Brother Lu," that person said, his tone carrying a trace of caution and respect, "someone is looking for you outside."

Lu Chuan's heart skipped a beat as he briskly walked toward the exit.

Ever since he defeated Jiang Hao in the minor trial last time, these outer disciples in the hall all started calling him senior brother when they saw him, and after hearing it for a few days, it sounded quite pleasant to his ears.

Threading all the way through the courtyard and arriving at the entrance of the martial arts hall, he froze.

Standing outside the door was neither some merchant guild manager nor an escort agency leader, but...

"Dad, why are you here?"

Lu Danian stood by the gates of the martial arts hall, carrying a tightly wrapped parcel in his hands as he peered cautiously inside.

The moment the words left his mouth, a thought flashed fiercely through Lu Chuan's mind: Could the Black Tiger Gang have come knocking again?

Lu Danian's gaze darted around evasively as he managed a forced smile.

"No, no, that bunch has been very well-behaved lately and hasn't come."

Only then did Lu Chuan let out a breath of relief.

Lu Danian shoved the parcel in his hands straight into Lu Chuan's chest, an uncontainable smile blooming across his face.

"Heh, Chuanzi, I'm here to deliver a treasure to you this time!"

Lu Chuan lowered his head and untied the corner of the cloth, revealing a pair of sika deer antlers inside.

The antler shape was well-formed and thick in substance, their tips glowing with a fresh, bloody color.

His heart shook. "Dad, did you hunt this?"

"That's right," Lu Danian laughed. "Early spring sika deer are at their plumpest for antlers. I staked it out for three days, seized the right moment, and brought down a big stag with a single arrow."

After chuckling for a bit, he lowered his voice again. "You haven't been home for so many days, so the silver on you must be running low. Keep this thing, stew it yourself for some nourishment, and don't go selling it."

Lu Chuan cradled the pair of antlers and said nothing.

Such a large pair with such fine appearance would easily fetch five taels of silver at Renhetang Pharmacy.

"...Dad," Lu Chuan said with a hoarse voice, "you went to a lot of trouble."

Lu Danian waved a hand, suddenly remembering something as he raised his head, looking at his son with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Right, Chuanzi, when I just came through the main gate, I heard a few youngsters call you Senior Brother Lu, and their tone was quite respectful. Could it be that you've broken through..."

Looking at his father—a man in his forties with temples turning white and a waist that was starting to hunch—he looked like a child waiting for candy at this very moment.

"Mn," Lu Chuan said, "I've broken through the Blood Pass."

Lu Danian froze for a split second.

Then that weathered face instantly streamed with tears.

"Good, good, good..."

He didn't stay any longer, simply shoving the pair of antlers back into his son's arms.

"You practice martial arts well. I'm heading back to see if I can bag another one."

With that, he turned and walked away, except his entire body now carried an extra surge of drive.

Lu Chuan stood at the entrance, watching that retreating figure grow distant until it was out of sight before he lowered his head to re-wrap the pair of antlers.

Just as he returned to the backyard and before he even entered his room, Zhou Ming Chuan bumped straight into him.

His expression was wrong, his brows tightly knitted.

"Junior Brother, I found out why nobody has come looking for you for so many days."

Lu Chuan raised his eyes.

"I asked a merchant guild manager I'm on good terms with to check," Zhou Ming Chuan said with a muffled voice. "He said... someone in our martial arts hall gave the word, forbidding anyone from giving you an appointment opportunity."

Lu Chuan's gaze turned cold. "Who?"

Zhou Ming Chuan didn't answer, but the thought had already turned over in Lu Chuan's mind.

"Could it be... Chen Mo Bai?"

Only then did Zhou Ming Chuan nod, sighing immediately afterward. "Senior Brother Chen has attained second qi and blood perfection and has mixed around Qinghe County for over ten years. Merchant guilds, escort agencies, yamen—he has personal connections everywhere. Those managers aren't willing to offend him."

Lu Chuan finally sighed.

Zhou Ming Chuan actually still left some things unsaid, but Lu Chuan understood all the same.

An appointment was called an opportunity, but in truth, it was an investment.

When investing in a person, what people looked at wasn't how good their saber technique was or how ruthless their killing moves were, but how far they could go.

With a middle lower grade bone structure, the barrier of second qi and blood was something he most likely wouldn't cross in this lifetime; no merchant guild was willing to place bets on someone bound to get stuck.

Chen Mo Bai's remark merely handed a handy blade to those who were already hesitating.

"So be it," Lu Chuan said. "At worst, I just won't take an appointment."

Zhou Ming Chuan opened his mouth as if to say something.

"I still have a bow in my hands," Lu Chuan interrupted him. "At worst, I'll just head into the mountains a few more times."

Zhou Ming Chuan looked at him, remaining silent for a long time before finally giving him a pat on the shoulder.

He certainly wanted to help, but he truly lacked the sufficient capability.

Lu Chuan returned to his room and unwrapped the pair of antlers to look at them one more time.

Then, tucking them into his bosom, he headed out.

He planned to sell the antlers.

Even though Lu Danian wanted him to properly nourish himself, Lu Chuan understood that medicinal materials of this sort required their medicinal properties to be neutralized in order to exert their maximum value.

Since he didn't know how to compound medicines himself, the best method was naturally to sell them directly in exchange for a Qi and Blood Pill.

Arriving at Renhetang Pharmacy, Lu Chuan went straight to find Zhao Xuanhe.

Zhao Xuanhe was originally reading a book, but seeing it was Lu Chuan, a smile appeared on his face. "Brother Lu has come."

Lu Chuan pulled the pair of antlers from his bosom, laid them on the counter, and unwrapped the covering cloth.

"Brother Zhao, I'm troubling you once again this time."

Zhao Xuanhe took the pair of antlers, inspected them, and nodded.

"Fine antlers, a spring stag. I'll give you five and a half taels. How about that?"

A weight lifted from the bottom of Lu Chuan's heart as he cupped his fists and said, "Many thanks, Brother Zhao."

"No trouble," Zhao Xuanhe said, waving a hand. Instead of immediately fetching the silver, he suddenly spoke up.

"Right, Brother Lu, I recently heard some news concerning you."

Lu Chuan was startled, then immediately understood what he was talking about.

The whole business with Chen Mo Bai had spread across quite a few nearby merchant guilds and escort agencies; it was no surprise it had traveled to Renhetang Pharmacy as well.

He waved a hand. "It's nothing, Brother Zhao. I can handle this matter."

"How can Brother Lu's affairs ever be considered small matters?" Zhao Xuanhe's expression turned stern.

"Brother Lu has after all spent over a hundred taels of silver at my Renhetang Pharmacy these past few days. If I didn't help you resolve this difficult hurdle, wouldn't my Renhetang Pharmacy lose a major patron like you?"

Amused by his tone, Lu Chuan smiled helplessly.

"Brother Zhao, spare me the teasing. Besides, can you really force other people regarding this appointment business?"

Zhao Xuanhe looked at him, the smile at the corners of his lips deepening a fraction.

"I actually happen to know one place that doesn't force things, and the treatment is extremely generous, plus there isn't much work."

Interest sparked in Lu Chuan. "Oh? Let's hear it."

Only then did Zhao Xuanhe speak with a smile. "That would naturally be the largest apothecary in my Qinghe County—Renhetang Pharmacy!"

Lu Chuan froze for a moment, instinctively wanting to decline. "Brother Zhao, don't force it. I can hunt and make a living on my own..."

"What is there to force or not force?" Zhao Xuanhe interrupted him.

"I find Brother Lu quite agreeable. To be able to practice a martial art to major success in just a few months—such talent makes me, Zhao Xuanhe, feel it's practically heaven-defying. Furthermore, I recognize Brother Lu's character all the more deeply."

"Could it be that Brother Lu looks down upon my humble little establishment of Renhetang Pharmacy?"

"How could that be..." Lu Chuan hastily said.

A complicated surge of emotion welled up in his heart. This man Zhao Xuanhe was truly profoundly righteous.

Seeing his expression, Zhao Xuanhe knew the time had come, so he turned solemn.

"Then it's settled. From now on, Brother Lu will transport medicines for my Renhetang Pharmacy, spending about five days on the road each month. The remuneration will be thirty taels of silver, or if you exchange it for Qi and Blood Pills, that would be eighteen of them."

Thirty taels.

Eighteen Qi and Blood Pills.

Lu Chuan looked at him, falling silent for a moment before paying a solemn respect.

"Brother Zhao's sentiments shall be firmly engraved in Lu's heart."

Zhao Xuanhe waved a hand and laughed, "Alright, alright, drop the formalities. Hand me the antlers and take your silver."

Lu Chuan took the silver, exchanged a few more words, and took his leave.

Zhao Xuanhe put away the antlers and turned to walk toward the back.

As soon as he turned around, however, he discovered a person standing behind him.

Elder Zhao.

He looked at his son with a blank expression on his face.

Zhao Xuanhe paused his steps, but still spoke up.

"Dad."

Old Master Zhao raised his eyes to look at him, fell silent for a moment, and sighed.

"You, oh you, why are you always acting on impulse? To offend Chen Mo Bai for just some outer disciple—is that smart?"

Zhao Xuanhe stood his ground without moving.

"It's true that our family's fortune is vast," Old Master Zhao continued.

"But connections aren't things accumulated in a day or two. Chen Mo Bai has mixed around Qinghe County for over ten years; merchant guilds, escort agencies, yamen—where doesn't he have personal favors? That Lu Chuan looks glorious right now, but what about later? Not to mention he's also offended Jiang Hao..."

Zhao Xuanhe suddenly raised his head. "Father, that man Chen Mo Bai—I look down on him."

Old Master Zhao's brows knitted slightly.

Zhao Xuanhe's tone remained steady.

"He is simply an insidious villain, sycophantic and fawning. To suppress a junior brother who has just entered the hall, he would even resort to such base means. Could it be that our Renhetang Pharmacy is supposed to associate with such a person every single day?"

Old Master Zhao opened his mouth, saying nothing.

"I see Lu Chuan as far superior to him," Zhao Xuanhe continued. "His character is upright and he repays gratitude. Today we lend him a hand; in days to come, if he truly rises up, would he forget this sentiment?"

Reaching the end, he spoke with a touch of defiance.

"Of course, if Father feels heartache over those thirty taels of silver, you can deduct it from my share in the future."

Old Master Zhao looked at him.

After a long while, he shook his head.

"You child... fine... as you like..."

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