Coming Early Is Not As Good As Coming at the Right Time

"That's right, Qing Lin is stronger than Young Master now, and from now on I can rely entirely on you for protection." Lu Yuan reached out to help Qing Lin smooth her strands of hair.

Qing Lin nodded forcefully, light shimmering in her green pupils.

She had to protect Lu Yuan; if a Dou Zhe was not enough, then a Dou Shi, and if a Dou Shi was not enough, then a Da Dou Shi.

Only with formidable strength could she find a way to detoxify Lu Yuan, help Lu Yuan prolong his life, and recover his strength.

"The Heavenly Snake Great Emperor bloodline is indeed extraordinary. It hasn't fully awakened yet, but it still allowed Qing Lin to rise from three stages of Dou Qi to a Dou Zhe in just two years."

"However, two percent of this bloodline's detoxifying effect is still not good enough."

Lu Yuan felt the Dou Qi within his body; every time it circulated to the dantian, it still encountered extreme resistance.

The residual poison remained unresolved, so even if her bloodline talent had somewhat improved, wanting to break through as a Dou Zhe once again would still take a very long time.

"However, this poison won't stay for long."

Lu Yuan and Qing Lin came to the side of the carriage and lifted the window curtain.

At the end of the official road, the outline of Qingshan Town was already faintly visible.

Under the reflection of the setting sun, the carriage rumbled into the streets of Qingshan Town, attracting the gazes of many newcomers on the road.

The carriage finally stopped in front of a building with a fairly imposing storefront in the southern part of the town.

Qing Lin quietly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look outside, seeing only that the street was not wide, with shops lined up on both sides, mostly medicine shops, along with a few blacksmith shops and mercenary taverns.

Most of the people coming and going on the road and among the various shops were burly men, each with a saber strapped to his waist and solid muscles, giving off a weather-beaten flavor.

These people should be mercenaries, much the same as those she had seen in Stone Desert City, except their skin was not quite as dark.

Shifting her gaze, Qing Lin looked toward the lintel of the adjacent building, where the four characters "Lu Merchant Guild" were written.

The handwriting was very old, but it was well maintained.

Seeming to hear the commotion of the carriage at the entrance, a middle-aged man wearing grey robes hurried out to greet them.

Upon seeing the Lu Clan's family crest on the carriage, this middle-aged man immediately spoke, "Could the clan's steward have arrived?"

People dispatched by the Lu Clan to local areas did not assume the role of director; instead, they served as stewards first, overseeing local accounts and commerce.

"Indeed." Lu Yuan lifted the carriage curtain and brought Qing Lin down from the vehicle.

"Your subordinate, Qian Ding, is the manager of this merchant guild." A somewhat flattering smile appeared on Qian Ding's face as he said, "Half a month ago, your subordinate already received a letter from the clan and has already tidied up the courtyard in the back. Please, steward, bring people to settle in."

Lu Yuan did not rush to do anything, nodding slightly. "Having sat in a carriage for so long, and even taking a flying magical beast in the middle, I am indeed a bit tired. We truly need to rest for a while first."

Seeing that Lu Yuan did not seem like a master who was difficult to serve, Qian Ding felt a slight weight lift from his heart and immediately led the three of them toward the courtyard in the back.

"Lord Steward, shall I have someone send over some food?" Qian Ding asked with a bow.

"That's fine." Lu Yuan did not refuse.

After Qian Ding called a maid to prepare the food, he then spoke, "Steward Qian, I believe that every trade has its masters, and managing a merchant guild is not something I am good at. As long as there are no problems with the account revenues, I will still leave it entirely to you to take charge."

"However, I should be staying in Qingshan Town for quite a long time next, and I need a detailed understanding of the information here."

"You tell this young master about the division of forces in this Qingshan Town, as well as the recent events that have occurred."

"Yes, Lord Steward." Steward Qian collected his thoughts and then began to speak earnestly.

Qingshan Town was situated on the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and most of the livelihoods in the town revolved around the mountain range.

Mercenary groups entered the mountain to gather herbs and hunt beasts, while medicine merchant houses collected goods and resold them. The days could not be called wealthy, but they were considered stable.

On the surface, there were four major forces, which were respectively the Blood Battle Mercenary Group, the Snake Nest Mercenary Group, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, and the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

On the surface, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group possessed the strongest strength, having developed in Qingshan Town for more than ten years. It had seventy to eighty core members, with strengths mostly ranging from two-star to five-star Dou Zhe, and the leader was a Dou Shi.

The Snake Nest Mercenary Group had developed for the shortest time, but it had the backing of a Dou Ling family from Black Rock City.

As for the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, it was originally just one of the four major medicine shops, but in recent years it had stood out due to the joining of a physician named "Xiao Yi Xian", becoming the largest medicine shop in Qingshan Town.

Even with the Lu Clan supporting it from behind and collaborating with the Mittel Merchant Guild, the Lu Merchant Guild's medicinal ingredient business in Qingshan Town was still a notch inferior to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

"Lord Steward, speaking of recent, noteworthy events in Qingshan Town, there really is one major event that happened a few days ago." After introducing the basic situation of the forces, Qian Ding licked his lips.

"Oh?" Lu Yuan personally poured a cup of tea for Qian Ding and handed it over. "Let's hear it."

"Thank you, Lord Steward." Steward Qian drank the tea in one breath and continued, "A few days ago, with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group as the main force and supplemented by some scattered mercenaries, a guard team was formed to protect Xiao Yi Xian of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion as she entered the mountain to gather herbs."

"Such things used to happen several times every month, but this time a huge mess occurred."

"It is said that on the way back after finishing herb gathering, Xiao Yi Xian and a young casual cultivator discovered a cave left behind by predecessors on a cliff, obtaining quite a few benefits inside."

"Mu Li, the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, led people to make a move and seize them, but he did not succeed."

"That young casual cultivator is currently hiding in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, while Xiao Yi Xian rode a magical beast Blue Eagle back to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion to accept protection."

"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group didn't do anything to Xiao Yi Xian, but they issued a kill order against that casual cultivator."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan's eyes brightened slightly, and he thought inwardly, So it turns out to be this time point.

That being the case, Xiao Yi Xian had already obtained the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture and knew that she possessed the Woeful Poison Body.

Xiao Yan had already obtained a flying technique, one of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Maps, as well as many gold coins and medicinal herbs.

I've come late, or else I would have taken a share.

But it doesn't matter. I have the Fortune Catalog; what I obtain is merely icing on the cake.

As the saying goes, coming early is not as good as coming at the right time. There are quite a few things I can do now.

Several thoughts flashed quietly through his heart, and Lu Yuan put down his teacup, speaking, "Steward Qian, where is the station of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group in this town?"

Steward Qian was puzzled as to why Lu Yuan was interested in these matters, but he did not ask further, answering honestly, "The Wolf Head Mercenary Group has an encampment at the west end of town, and Mu She is of Dou Shi cultivation..."

Listening patiently until he finished, Lu Yuan nodded slightly and said, "I know. You may withdraw."

Waiting until Qian Ding left, Lu Yuan turned his head to look at Uncle Zhang. "Uncle Zhang, Yuan'er has to trouble you with a matter."

In the blink of an eye, seven days had already passed since Lu Yuan arrived at Qingshan Town.

The sky was still barely bright, and a queue had already formed in front of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, consisting entirely of mercenaries waiting to seek medical treatment from Xiao Yi Xian the moment the doors opened.

"Ah~"

A Myriad Medicine Pavilion attendant yawned as he opened the shop doors, not surprised to see that long line.

Just as he was about to habitually shout "Line up properly in order," a man wearing lavish garments walked out from the side, swinging a folding fan with a gentle smile on his face, "Xiao Xia, is Xiao Yi Xian holding consultations today?"

A flash of speechlessness crossed the depths of the attendant named Xiao Xia's eyes, while a flattering smile bloomed on his face. "Young Master Lu, you've come. Xiao Yi Xian is indeed holding consultations today. Please, come right in!"