An Unexpected Reward

"Reward???" Zhang Xiaohua listened, saw that Lu Chaoxian was still struggling not to laugh, and could neither laugh nor cry. He thought, Big Brother, at least explain it clearly! I was just about to run for my life! This joke really isn't one to make.

Then he piled a smile onto his face and asked, "What reward? Does Senior Brother Lu know?"

"I don't know that." Lu Chaoxian shook his head. "Previously, it was no more than herbs and pills, delivered by cart. This time is somewhat different, and Junior Brother Ren's contribution was considerable too, so it is even harder to guess."

Then he said mysteriously, "I heard from the disciple who brought the message up the mountain that the person who came was an old acquaintance of Junior Brother Ren's. There should be a generous reward!"

"An old acquaintance?" Zhang Xiaohua suddenly understood and smiled. "Martial Uncle Yang has come? Now I really do have something to look forward to."

"What reward could it be?"

Though Zhang Xiaohua said he was looking forward to it, he dismissed it inwardly. Even if it was pills, even if it was spirit herbs—or perhaps cultivation methods bestowed upon him—he had no interest in any of it.

Yet when Zhang Xiaohua met Yang Yao, he was stunned by the reward Yang Yao mentioned.

"What???" Zhang Xiaohua could scarcely believe his ears. "You want to send me to be stationed permanently at Shixin Peak? The mountain peak where Misty Hall is located?"

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua's strange expression, Yang Yao felt deeply guilty. "Nephew, do not be hasty. I know that Shixin Peak is truly dangerous. More than a dozen disciples from our Pill-Refining Hall went there before, and they were bullied terribly. Several even had their limbs broken. But..."

As he spoke, he