Reporting to Deer Gate Peak

"Huff, huff..."

Lin Shisan panted heavily.

His head was drenched in sweat from running.

Even his clothes were soaked through.

The summit had not looked far away.

But once Lin Shisan started running up toward it, he realized just how far it really was.

It was like a mirage-seemingly close, yet impossible to reach.

He ran for a full two hours and still could not even see the mountain gate.

After almost another hour, Lin Shisan finally arrived at the gate.

A few lively little deer grazed on either side.

Their eyes widened at the sight of Lin Shisan running up, huffing and puffing.

Their almost human eyes seemed to say, Where did this fool come from? How did he wear himself out like a dog?

"Greetings, Immortal Lord. I'm a servant here to report for duty."

"Here is my entry token. Please inspect it, Immortal Lord."

Lin Shisan offered the entry token with both hands, speaking with great respect.

The blue-robed disciple guarding the gate took the token, glanced at Lin Shisan's youthful face, and immediately looked disgusted.

He could tell that Lin Shisan not only lacked a Dao Seed, but was merely at first body tempering.

He was trash among trash.

And just like that, he left Lin Shisan standing there.

Almost an incense stick's worth of time passed before the blue-robed disciple remembered the waiting Lin Shisan.

He rolled his eyes dramatically, then continued pretending to have forgotten him.

Only when the sun stood high overhead did Lin Shisan finally get inside.

With an entry token in hand, he certainly would not dare refuse Lin Shisan admission.

If his superiors blamed him, he would be in serious trouble.

His deliberate delay was simply an attempt to squeeze out a little grease for his palm.

He had never expected to encounter a great fool like Lin Shisan, who knew nothing of worldly dealings.

Holding the map Han Yansong had prepared, Lin Shisan continued sprinting along a winding sheep-gut trail.

After countless twists and turns, the mountain grew increasingly quiet.

About fifteen minutes later, he reached a vast plaza.

Only after crossing the plaza did he reach his destination, a true sacred ground for cultivation where the esteemed outer sect disciples trained.

Looking into the distance, he saw palaces packed together like scales on a fish or teeth on a comb.

Peaks rose in overlapping ranks, spiritual energy curled through the air-this was a true immortal sect, a true place for cultivating immortality.

By comparison,

the so-called Azure Cloud Mountains of before were merely an impoverished little mountain village.

They were on the same level as the mountain village where he had lived as a child.

Heading up the third path on the eastern side, he found the way growing even harder to traverse.

The mountain path grew steeper, as though it were about to stand upright.

The higher he climbed, the denser the spiritual energy became, and the more beautiful the scenery grew.

Even without cultivating, simply living here would have been a pleasure.

After another breathless climb of roughly eight or nine li, he finally reached the outer sect disciples' cultivation grounds.

Three large characters, suffused with an ethereal immortal aura, adorned the lofty gate tower: "Deer Gate Peak."

This... this was where the outer sect disciples cultivated?

Then just now...

So those hours of running along mountain paths had all been for nothing.

Only now had he truly entered Deer Gate Peak, one of the nine branches of the Tai Chi Hall's outer sect.

Several groups of blue-robed disciples walked back and forth, chatting and laughing, seemingly exchanging insights into cultivation.

Lin Shisan slowed his steps and approached cautiously.

He wanted to hear what they were saying, but even with his ears pricked up, he could hear nothing.

He could only see their mouths moving, without hearing their voices.

Immortals truly had remarkable methods. They could even block out sound.

"Small fry..."

Lin Shisan shook his head helplessly.

He continued up the mountain.

Following the marked directions on the map, he wound along for another two hours or so before finally arriving at an enormous courtyard.

Calling it a courtyard hardly did it justice. The whole place resembled a complex of separate palaces, shaped like a running deer.

Four large characters were inscribed above its gate: "Scripture Repository · Yellow Pavilion."

Inside, the buildings boasted carved beams and painted rafters, magnificent in every aspect, each with its own distinctive style.

Pushing open the yellow courtyard gate felt like stepping into an immortal paradise in the mortal world.

The first thing he saw was shade cast by unfamiliar evergreen trees lining both sides, their lush green foliage swaying and shimmering.

At the end of the grove stood the tallest building here, with what seemed to be clouds drifting past and immortal cranes soaring above.

Lin Shisan stared in a daze.

The farther he walked inside, the more towering and magnificent the buildings seemed.

He walked all the way up to the buildings, stopping before a pavilion.

There was a young boy in blue robes, about the same age as Lin Shisan.

Yet he possessed a far more immortal air, making one instinctively want to kneel in worship.

His eyes in particular were as deep as the stars, his gaze burning brightly like lamps.

With red lips, white teeth, a youthful face, and an immortal bearing, he looked every inch an immortal.

"Boy, stop."

The boy sized Lin Shisan up. "You're the kid that old drunk recommended?"

"...Yes."

Lin Shisan took out the letter of introduction Han Yansong had written, stepped forward, and respectfully offered it to the boy.

"This humble boy, Lin Shisan, greets you, honored steward."

"Honored steward?"

The solemn boy's lips curled upward into a grin.

Honored steward-now there was a title. Still, being addressed that way pleased him quite a bit.

"What are you to that old drunk?"

"That stubborn old fossil never asks anyone for anything, yet he swallowed his pride to ask me for your sake?"

"You... you wouldn't happen to be his illegitimate son, would you?"

"...I..."

Lin Shisan's heart ached as though it were dripping blood.

He felt so awkward that his whole body squirmed.

What was wrong with your eyes? Where did the two of us show even a trace of family resemblance?

"No."

Suppressing his frustration, Lin Shisan still answered deferentially, "I used to work as a servant in the Azure Cloud Mountains. Perhaps he simply took a liking to me."

"How boring."

There was even a hint of disappointment in the boy's voice.

Then his eyes turned toward Lin Shisan once more.

More precisely, toward Lin Shisan's shoulder bag.

His face all but said, Didn't that old drunk have you bring anything else when you came?

Who asks someone to work for free?

"Honored steward, I came in a hurry and had no time to buy anything. Please accept this Body Tempering Pill as a small introductory gift."

Lin Shisan respectfully offered up a Body Tempering Pill after all.

It was worth twenty or thirty Spirit Stones-enough to marry two wives back home.

In fact, this had also been one of Han Yansong's special instructions.

He had said that the boy was decent enough, just a little greedy for money.

It would be best to give him some sort of introductory gift,

so he would not single Lin Shisan out later.

"Heh, heh, heh..."

The boy showed no hesitation whatsoever.

He accepted the Spirit Stones and looked them over, muttering, "That old drunk is such a miser. Next time I see him, I'll fleece him good."

"All right."

With a thought,

the boy put the Spirit Stones away.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back and said to Lin Shisan, "My name is Feng Qingye. You can call me Boss Feng, or Brother Ye."

"Brother Ye."

Lin Shisan bowed respectfully again. "I've only just arrived and know nothing. Please give me plenty of guidance, Brother Ye."

"Guidance is easy enough. Besides, since you're polite and know when to advance or retreat, I can't just watch you step into a pit, can I?"

Lin Shisan's flattery had left the boy feeling quite pleased.

His attitude softened considerably.

"You're panting like that, soaked all over as though you've been washed in water. You stink."

"See that little courtyard at the very back, off to the left? That's yours."

"Put your bag inside, take a bath, and change into clean clothes. Then come back here, and I'll assign you your duties."

"Yes, I'll go right away."

Lin Shisan respectfully took his leave, then hurried with quick little steps into the courtyard on the left, tucked into the farthest corner.