An Old Acquaintance

Yu Ci felt no particular aversion to Cheng Rong or the Wanling Sect. Having wandered the world for over a decade, he understood that as long as one lived, such exchanges of benefit were unavoidable. In fact, it was the most common way people interacted. Conversely, things like instant camaraderie, heartfelt trust, or bonds of life and death were exceptionally rare, and precisely because of their rarity, they were all the more precious.

Although Cheng Rong wasn't exactly a competent lobbyist, he was self-aware. He knew it was unrealistic to expect to achieve his goals with Yu Ci on their first meeting. Therefore, he seized upon the "Ghost Appearance Flower" as a point of leverage, inviting Yu Ci to the Wanling Sect's encampment. When Yu Ci repeatedly declined, Cheng Rong naturally exchanged contact information, at least ensuring a line of communication between them.

Having spent a few days at Zhixin Temple, Yu Ci understood that the so-called "exclusive authority" wasn't as straightforward as the Wanling Sect imagined. Various factors were intertwined, and unless he specifically sought out the old Daoist Yu Zhou, it would be difficult to know the full details. However, since the Wanling Sect had this plan, Yu Ci was happy to take it easy.

Matters that took a long time to yield results, like cultivating relationships, were best left to the other party to worry about. He held onto the most crucial links in the chain of benefits; why should he bother with the rest?

Finally, Cheng Rong took his leave of Yu Ci with a mix of urgency and regret, naturally taking the young girl who was still quite unconvinced with him.

Yu Ci continued his journey to find "medicine." While the events of the day might be the focus for others for some time to come, for him, it was merely a minor interlude, a small embellishment in his busy schedule, nothing more.

Time flowed relentlessly. Yu Ci's search area expanded, but his harvest dwindled. When he accumulated two hundred and four Good Deeds, his progress completely stalled.

Then, the first snow of winter began to fall.

The sun had already set beyond the mountains. Yu Ci stood in a small valley about sixty li from Sky Rift Valley, watching the cold mountain stream flow through the valley. This was actually the same spot where he had intercepted the herb gatherers to question them when he first returned to Sky Rift Valley. Downstream, another group of herb gatherers were heading back along the stream.

This group was startled to see such a handsome and distinguished Daoist standing upstream. The thirty to forty people froze. Instead of the usual greeting for a chance encounter on the road, the atmosphere became somewhat tense.

Yu Ci understood.

It was the season when people finished months of work and returned home for the New Year. The herb gatherers who usually frequented Sky裂谷 had stopped their work, packed their belongings, called upon friends, and were beginning to return home. At the same time, it was also the most chaotic period.

Gathering Shrimp Whisker Grass was always a business with no upfront cost. If it could no longer be obtained from the wild, obtaining it from others was the same. At this time of year, theft, robbery, kidnapping, deception, and all sorts of wicked methods found their opportunities. The already poor order would degenerate to a degree unimaginable to ordinary people. In the eyes of the herb gatherers, this handsome Daoist was deliberately blocking their path, with ill intentions.

In fact, Yu Ci was indeed there for them.

Seeing the herb gatherers looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy, Yu Ci remained silent. His gaze swept from left to right, as if casually glancing over them. However, those herb gatherers who met his gaze felt as if they had been punched heavily in the chest, unable to catch their breath for a moment, causing a commotion in the crowd. He heard someone within whisper terms like "Immortal Master." At this point, his objective was achieved.

The scene appeared strange and bizarre, but it was merely the application of divine intent. This was not Yu Ci's own invention. That day at Zhixin Temple, when Jin Huan attempted to intimidate him with his presence, he could exude an aura of "The sun is setting, yet it is not enough; it pulls the heavens down with it" with just a look. He was far superior to Yu Ci.

However, this level was sufficient, at least enough to evoke unpleasant memories in some people.

Half of the herb gatherers in this group had their expressions change drastically. The more timid ones instinctively tried to flee backward, but they were grabbed by their clearer-headed companions, preventing them from scattering immediately.

The atmosphere became exceptionally strange.

Yu Ci's original intention was to stop them and gather information about the medicinal herbs in Sky Rift Valley. Seeing this situation, he was also surprised. He hadn't deliberately distinguished their identities in the Zhaoshen Map before. Now, as he scanned their faces, he suddenly realized:

"You are..."

Many faces showed embarrassment and fear. But one person at the front of the group reacted with extreme speed, bending his knees and kneeling on the cold, hard sand and stones by the stream:

"Immortal Master, please understand, we are no longer engaged in our former business!"

This action reminded many. A small half of the group of thirty to forty people knelt down, all swearing to the heavens that they had repented and would honestly gather herbs, never again engaging in anything harmful. Those who remained standing were first bewildered, then suspicious, and finally didn't know where to put their hands and feet, so they simply followed suit and knelt down, a vast expanse of people, quite a spectacle.

Yu Ci saw clearly that half of this group were the swindlers from the dilapidated temple in the desolate mountains that day. The one leading the charge and kneeling first wasn't that very active dark-faced fellow?

His gaze swept over the heads of the crowd. With almost no effort, he spotted the Daoist Xuanqing, who was trying to shrink into the crowd. The man didn't even dare to lift his head, his body still trembling.

Yu Ci frowned and said, "Get up. It's good, I have something to ask you."

Upon hearing him speak, the genuine or part-time herb gatherers, after a moment of hesitation, gradually stood up. No one was foolish, so some people's gazes towards their companions changed slightly, but the entire group remained silent.

Yu Ci found it amusing and casually asked, "You really aren't robbing and swindling anymore?"

Dozens of heads shook, but many faces couldn't hide their guilt.

Yu Ci chuckled in amusement.

As it was getting late, bonfires were lit in the camp. Yu Ci naturally sat in the main seat, unmoved by the flattery and fawning all around him. Slowly, the adulatory words died down. The people associated with Xuanqing gradually fell silent, and the atmosphere became momentarily cold.

At this point, Yu Ci began to inquire about the growth of medicinal herbs in the vicinity of Sky Rift Valley. The group associated with Xuanqing, who had engaged in robbery and swindling, couldn't answer these questions. Only a few experienced old-timers among the genuine herb gatherers could respond.

However, gradually, as the herb gatherers saw that Yu Ci had a decent temper and was only interested in medicinal herbs, they became bolder. Some of the younger ones also started to speak. Compared to the cautious and substantial words of the old herbalists, the younger ones spoke more based on hearsay, pouring out all sorts of information, whether reliable or not.

Anyone else would have been disliked, but Yu Ci was different. He possessed the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror. With a wide-area scan, he could tell the truth from rumors at a glance and wasn't afraid of wasting time. Instead, it offered an additional opportunity. Encouraged by his tacitly permissive attitude, even Xuanqing's group began to interject. Their knowledge was on another level. After more than an hour, Yu Ci actually found information about two medicinal herbs, which combined amounted to six or seven merit points. It was a small harvest.

While they were chatting enthusiastically, Xuanqing hid timidly to the side, remaining silent, so silent that others almost forgot his presence. When the discussion about medicinal herbs was at its peak, he excused himself to relieve himself, bent over, and retreated, disappearing into the dark mountain forest on the periphery. After moving a considerable distance away, he gritted his teeth and ran. After about ten li, he finally let out a breath.

"Rejoice, rejoice. Rejoice a little longer, you bastard, and soon you'll be crying..."

Muttering to himself, Xuanqing took out a communication talisman he had crushed in his sleeve and threw it on the ground. His panting didn't stop, not from exhaustion, but from extreme nervousness. Fortunately, he should be safe now. He took a couple more breaths, leaned against a tree to straighten himself, and prepared to orient himself and run further.

Just then, a faint cyan light appeared before his eyes.

In an instant, Xuanqing's entire body stiffened, only his eyes could still move. About ten feet outside his body, a light source suddenly rose, like a green-skinned lantern. The cold, clear light spread out, illuminating a familiar figure beside him.

"Why do you want me to cry?" Yu Ci spoke softly under the cyan light.

"You... how did you catch up?"

Xuanqing's eyeballs nearly bulged out. He instinctively retreated, taking only two steps before bumping into the trunk of a tree, unable to advance or retreat.

"You're allowed to harm me, but I'm not allowed to seek retribution?"

Yu Ci stood with his hands behind his back. "According to Zheng Da, you recognized Lu Ding of Bai Ri Mansion as your godfather. That communication talisman you activated when we first met, was it to notify him?"

Xuanqing had no idea when that bastard Heizi had sold him out, nor did he understand how his extremely secretive actions were discovered by Yu Ci. Now, his mind had frozen, and his body felt as if it had plunged into an ice cellar, with no warmth from the inside out.

In the end, only one thought ran through his mind: "If you knew all along, why didn't you run?"

"Why should I run?"

Yu Ci bared his teeth and smiled. His pearly white teeth reflected the cyan light, looking cold and eerie. "I was inexplicably put on a wanted list. Should I be happy about that? If I don't seek justice for myself and vent my anger, are they really going to pin the blame on me?"

Xuanqing almost choked on his own saliva. At this moment, he finally understood that their thought processes were completely different. This madman who disregarded the formidable power of Bai Ri Mansion was capable of anything!

At this very moment, his first instinct was to beg for mercy, but at this instant, he instead recalled the utterly humiliating scene in the dilapidated temple, and the maddening gazes directed at him from behind over the following year.

The words froze in his throat.

Finally, with a clang, he drew the long sword he carried. The tip trembled violently, but it still pointed towards the figure in front of him. Yu Ci watched coldly, saying no more.

Perhaps Yu Ci's attitude struck a nerve, as Xuan Qing suddenly shrieked, "You're finished! The main force from Bai Ri Mansion will be here any moment, you absolutely can't escape..."

"Are you referring to this when you mention the main force?"

Yu Ci's single sentence choked Xuan Qing's words in his throat. At this moment, the "green-skinned lantern" drifted forward, its eerie green light flowing.

As he got closer, Xuan Qing realized it wasn't a lantern at all, but mountains, rivers, wind through the jungle, birds and beasts in flight! As the light shifted, he saw nine figures within it, like nine ridiculous lice, darting through ridges less than a foot high, advancing towards the valley encampment a mountain away. The people inside, the people inside...

Xuan Qing was completely stunned.