The Ways of the World

After clearing away the traces around him, Bai Yu cautiously stepped into the cave and searched it thoroughly. Unfortunately, after spending an entire night there, he found nothing.

Still, when the moon waxed full, it began to wane. Being granted such an opportunity was already a blessing from the heavens. If he continued to dwell on it, he would only be showing a lack of sense.

Walking out of the cave, Bai Yu looked at the sky, which was beginning to pale at the horizon, then at the densely packed Tiger-Striped Green Snakes around him. After eating something, he directly filled a bag with green snakes.

Although Zhao Lan had not required him to do anything when they entered, it would have been abnormal for him to leave empty-handed.

Besides, just because someone did not ask did not mean you could truly sit back and do nothing, did it?

Zhao Lan was an ordinary disciple and also the leader of the Mountain Expedition Team. Building a good relationship with him would do Bai Yu no harm.

While he still had time, Bai Yu continued following the qi.

On his way back, he really did find quite a few good things.

During that time, Bai Yu also discovered a strand of crimson qi, but it was extremely faint. After calculating the time, he realized that if he went after it, he would miss the time to leave the mountain.

After thinking it over, Bai Yu could only give up.

It was not until the third day that Bai Yu returned to the enormous boulder where he had entered and carefully took stock of his gains.

"Other than the forty-nine Spirit Stones obtained from those Qi Refining cultivators, I can find a chance to sell these medicines and talismans later."

"This Withered Spirit Vine and eighty-year Blood Ginseng can be used as materials for refining Gu in the future. As for these Human-Faced Mushrooms..."

Bai Yu's expression became conflicted. In the end, he still took out three, wrapped them in cloth, and tucked them into his chest.

"With these, Zhao Lan and Pang Tong should take better care of me, at least."

Bai Yu thought silently.

Next, he needed to work hard and grind out Yin-Yang qi. As long as the Yin-Yang Mystic Dragon Gu was born, becoming an ordinary disciple would be set in stone.

It was not until the afternoon of the third day that movement began to stir nearby. Servant disciples emerged one after another, sparse and scattered, all in tattered clothes and carrying a heavy aura of blood.

No one knew what they had experienced over those three days. From their numb faces and their eyes, which held the lingering look of survivors after a calamity, Bai Yu could only tell that they were grateful to still be alive!

Following the crowd out of Ashen Sorrow Mountain, Bai Yu found Zhao Lan already waiting for a long time at their original gathering place.

When he saw the crowd emerge, he impatiently rubbed his nose.

"Stand according to where you entered from! Don't think you can relax just because you made it out. I'm fucking checking your haul!"

Zhao Lan's words were like an order, and the servant disciples quickly lined up.

Only when that strange red mist appeared within Ashen Sorrow Mountain again did Zhao Lan take out a pitch-black iron jar and have the servants pour their collected Tiger-Striped Green Snakes into it.

"Only twenty? You piece of trash!"

"Keep one for yourself, then get lost!"

"You only got fifty too? Fuck, are you trying to die?!"

"You're not bad—one hundred and twenty. You'll sleep somewhere better tonight!"

Zhao Lan's furious curses rang out from time to time. The inspected servants entered the flying vessel in orderly fashion, like puppets one after another.

Even so, Bai Yu could clearly see that in just three days, one-sixth of the team had vanished. Such a terrifying casualty rate was enough to drive one into despair.

Two hours passed, and the last servant finally boarded the flying vessel. Zhao Lan looked at the Tiger-Striped Green Snakes in the jar, clearly dissatisfied. Obviously, the number was lower than he had expected.

"Sigh, life is getting harder and harder. Junior Brother Bai, if you're lucky enough to become an ordinary disciple, make sure you never lead a Mountain Expedition Team. It's too difficult."

Zhao Lan shook his head and mocked himself.

"Senior Brother, are you dissatisfied with the quantity?"

Seeing Zhao Lan's expression, Bai Yu began his performance.

"How could I not be?"

"With so little..."

"In that case, I caught some Tiger-Striped Green Snakes myself. If Senior Brother does not mind, please take them along to meet the quota."

Bai Yu smiled and took out the storage bag Zhao Lan had given him earlier.

At this, Zhao Lan raised a brow and looked Bai Yu up and down before smiling.

"You're a sensible one!"

As he spoke, Zhao Lan accepted the storage bag and casually glanced inside. In the next instant, a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes.

The not-so-large storage bag had actually been stuffed full. Judging by the amount, there were at least over two thousand snakes.

"Hehe, after staying in the Cutting Room for so long, I came to understand the weaknesses and habits of these beasts somewhat."

Bai Yu put on an honest-looking expression and smiled.

Zhao Lan himself was a shrewd old hand. Looking at Bai Yu's ragged clothes, then the smile on his face and the restraint in his movements—

he naturally understood that Bai Yu was trying to forge a good connection with him.

Zhao Lan was not opposed to such things. He liked clever people, especially clever people who were also hardworking.

After all, in the demonic sect, if you did not have a few schemes of your own, it was difficult to survive.

"This time, your big brother will accept this favor. Once you pass the test, I'll give you something good as well."

Zhao Lan patted Bai Yu's shoulder, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"You're too kind. If not for Senior Brother, I would not have gained so many insights this time either."

After saying that, Bai Yu glanced around, then lowered his voice and continued.

"Senior Brother, besides the Tiger-Striped Green Snakes, I also obtained some good things in Ashen Sorrow Mountain this time. I think they suit your temperament perfectly. If you do not mind, please accept them."

As he spoke, Bai Yu patted his chest. After opening the cloth wrapping, three round, plump Human-Faced Mushrooms appeared before Zhao Lan.

The instant he saw them, Zhao Lan raised a brow. As the captain of the Mountain Expedition Team, he naturally recognized the item at a glance.

And Bai Yu had no intention of hiding anything. He laid out both his harvest and even his intentions plainly before him.

Three Human-Faced Mushrooms. Clearly, one was meant as a tribute for him, while another, if he had guessed correctly, was for Pang Tong.

And Bai Yu's purpose in doing this was equally obvious: he was handing the right to decide the third mushroom's ownership over to Zhao Lan.

If Zhao Lan kept it for himself, Bai Yu would certainly have no objection. Likewise, once Zhao Lan took one today, word of it would reach Pang Tong's ears.

It could be said that Bai Yu had shown great sincerity.

For a time, Zhao Lan's favorable impression of Bai Yu greatly increased. A person like this, even if he awakened an inferior spiritual root and remained a servant disciple forever, would still live quite well.

"Hahahaha, Junior Brother Bai, you're being so frank that this senior brother feels a little embarrassed."

Zhao Lan burst into laughter and directly reached out to take one Human-Faced Mushroom.

Though this thing was quite valuable, Bai Yu was nominally still Pang Tong's man. Zhao Lan could not go too far.

"Rest assured, Junior Brother Bai. The test for ordinary disciples is not as difficult as you think. As long as you do not awaken the very worst spiritual root, Senior Brother Pang and I can sometimes pull some strings for you."

"Sometimes, as long as it is not the worst possible result, things can still be changed..."

Zhao Lan lowered his voice and reminded him.