Chen Fengxiao and Qiu Weicheng could not make sense of Zhang Xiaohua’s true meaning. It was just like how Valley Master Nie previously could not understand why Zhang Xiaohua insisted on staying in the pill room instead of the pavilion—they could not say much about it. They only casually brushed it off, saying: “These matters are easy to handle, it’s nothing more than a word. Right now is precisely the time for our Herb Division to reverse its decline. As long as this matter is handled well, everything can be discussed.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua plopped himself down onto the grass by the cliffside and said with a smile: “Since that is the case, this little brother will follow the instructions of you two senior brothers.”

Seeing this, Chen Fengxiao and Qiu Weicheng also burst into laughter, sitting down on the ground as well, and said: “We just like a straightforward little brother like you. Since you’ve brought it up, then let your Senior Brother Qiu explain it to you in detail.”

Qiu Weicheng glanced at Chen Fengxiao and said: “Brother Ren must already know that Tianmu Peak is unlike the other peaks. It is jointly managed by the two divisions of our Tuodan Hall—the Pill Division and the Herb Division. Although we all belong to the same Tuodan Hall, in the end, we are not brothers from the same division, so disagreements are inevitable. Moreover, Tuodan Hall does not particularly favor Tianmu Peak; those who are difficult to discipline, unruly, or without much promise are all sent here. Over time, friction between the Pill and Herb Divisions has become constant. Later, Boss Chen and Wu Dalang rose above the rest from their respective divisions, and only then were they gradually able to restrain the various subordinates and bring about some harmony.”

“But, Brother Ren should also know—when the forest is large, all kinds of birds can be found, let alone the many brothers on Tianmu Peak. Every day, there are small frictions. Although these frictions are suppressed for a time, if they are not vented for long, they will inevitably lead to greater trouble. Furthermore, the brothers of our Tuodan Hall usually have little to do—farming fields, refining pills—the peaceful life on Tianmu Peak cannot satisfy the brothers’ ever-growing need for entertainment. So, Boss Chen and Wu Dalang, representing their respective groups of brothers, began gambling fights.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua understood in his heart and said with a smile: “So these gambling fights weren’t just because of this little brother’s recklessness last night. I was even thinking of apologizing to Boss Chen today, for causing him so much trouble.”

Chen Fengxiao waved his hand: “This little brother’s matter is merely an excellent pretext. Even without this pretext, the gambling fights would still have taken place.”

Qiu Weicheng smiled as he looked at the two and continued: “It’s just that in the usual gambling fights—well, it can be said that in all previous gambling fights—our Herb Division has always been suppressed.”

Zhang Xiaohua asked in surprise: “Why is that? Yesterday, I saw that although the Pill Division people were sturdy, they weren’t that much stronger than our Herb Division. It’s just that our brothers lack a bit of fierceness. And I feel that Boss Chen’s martial arts should be stronger than Wu Dalang’s, right?”

Chen Fengxiao waved his hand and said: “Little brother overestimates me. I can only win a few moves against Wu Dalang at best.”

Qiu Weicheng said: “Although Big Boss Chen’s martial arts are indeed stronger than Wu Dalang’s, in the end, he’s only one person—two fists can’t match four hands. Oh, right—what Brother Ren saw in the dining hall were only ordinary members of the two divisions. The Pill Division’s Ten Great Vajras and our Herb Division’s Six Great Arhats do not eat in the dining hall. Heh heh, how could our status be worthy of crowding together with them?”

Zhang Xiaohua suddenly understood: “Everywhere has its privileged class—even Tianmu Peak is no exception. Different statuses bring different treatment.”

Chen Fengxiao added: “The key point is that the medicine boys recruited by our Herb Division are all skilled in planting medicinal herbs, and have nothing to do with martial arts. But the Pill Division, to refine pills, first examines inner strength cultivation—at the very least, one must have some physical strength. So our Herb Division’s foundation is weak, and our reserves are insufficient. Even our current Six Great Arhats—I exhausted all my efforts and shamelessly poached them from other peaks.”

“Now that Brother Ren has joined, I think Boss Chen won’t have to worry about manpower anymore,” Qiu Weicheng said with a smile. “By the way, Brother Ren, let me ask you in a bit more detail—how many opponents like Cheng Shi can you handle?”

Zhang Xiaohua thought for a moment and asked: “Last night Boss Chen said Cheng Shi was the weakest among the Ten Great Vajras, right? If they’re like him, I can handle three!”

“What? Three?” Chen Fengxiao and Qiu Weicheng exchanged a glance, their eyes full of disbelief.

“Brother Ren, last night can be counted as an accident. That Cheng Shi didn’t think you would really make a move, so he wasn’t on guard. If it were a real confrontation, it wouldn’t be so easy for you to get close. Even though Cheng Shi ranks at the bottom among the Ten Great Vajras, he has gone through many battles—he cannot be underestimated.”

Zhang Xiaohua secretly curled his lips. Against opponents like that, even ten would be no problem for me.

He thought for a moment, then hesitated and said: “Oh, since Boss Chen puts it that way, I think I should at least be able to handle three without being defeated. By the way, could there be gambling fights where many fight against one?”

Chen Fengxiao waved his hand: “Unless there are special requirements, that will absolutely not happen.”

Qiu Weicheng glanced at Chen Fengxiao, then asked: “Since Brother Ren can handle three Cheng Shi without defeat, then your martial arts must be extremely high—likely on par with Boss Chen.”

Chen Fengxiao smiled and said: “If I were to face three Cheng Shi, I might very well be defeated. Junior Brother Qiu overpraises me.” Then, after thinking for a moment, he added: “Since little brother’s martial arts are this strong, then our plan will need to be adjusted somewhat.”

Qiu Weicheng nodded, then turned his head and asked: “Brother Ren, there is something I must ask you.”

Zhang Xiaohua asked curiously: “What matter is it, Senior Brother Qiu?”

“Brother Ren’s martial arts are so high, and you’re not that old—why did you come to the Incense-Spreading Sect as a medicine boy? Oh, right, Brother Ren seems to have been selected from Spring Rebirth Valley, so you should have some connection with Valley Master Nie? I’ve already been somewhat frank with Brother Ren about these matters. Just now, when we came over, we had already sent someone back to Baiyue Peak…”

As Qiu Weicheng spoke, he casually glanced at Chen Fengxiao.

Before Zhang Xiaohua came to Tianmu Peak, Yang Yao had already told him that Chen Fengxiao held great resentment toward Spring Rebirth Valley and told him to be careful. Now that Qiu Weicheng brought this up, it was likely meant to lay everything out in the open.

Zhang Xiaohua thought for a moment, then cupped his hands toward Chen Fengxiao and said: “Before I answer, I would also like to ask Boss Chen something—why do you hate Spring Rebirth Valley so much? Is it only because of the bullying you suffered there back then? From my understanding of Valley Master Nie, he may not even have known about such matters.”

Qiu Weicheng was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. Zhang Xiaohua had only entered Tuodan Hall yesterday and arrived at Tianmu Peak last night, yet he already knew so much about Chen Fengxiao’s hatred toward Spring Rebirth Valley. There must be some reason behind this—put bluntly, it might even be a scheme.

Chen Fengxiao snorted coldly and said: “In your mouth, he is Valley Master Nie—in mine, he is that scoundrel Nie!”

When Zhang Xiaohua heard this, he also gave a cold snort, his eyes narrowing slightly as he said in a chilly voice: “ Boss Chen, however Valley Master Nie treated you—that is between the two of you. How you speak of him or curse him elsewhere is also your own matter. But Valley Master Nie has treated me well. If you speak disrespectfully of him in front of me, then that becomes my matter, and there is no need for me to continue listening.”

Chen Fengxiao was stunned. In all these years, it was truly the first time someone had spoken to him like this—especially regarding the Valley Master of Spring Rebirth Valley, whom he hated the most. His expression immediately changed, his gaze turning cold as he stared at Zhang Xiaohua.

Zhang Xiaohua was not the least bit afraid. He did not retreat in the slightest, only looking back calmly, without the slightest emotion in his eyes. Seeing this, Qiu Weicheng inwardly groaned. Zhang Xiaohua’s origins were unknown—he might even be a trap, waiting for Chen Fengxiao to step into. And even if Zhang Xiaohua had no ill intent, that made it all the more unacceptable for internal conflict to arise. Thus, Qiu Weicheng hurriedly prepared to smooth things over.

But at that very moment, Chen Fengxiao’s expression suddenly changed, and he burst into laughter: “Little brother has guts. This is the first time anyone has spoken well of Spring Rebirth Valley in front of me. Regardless of my grievances with them, just based on little brother’s frankness, I know you’re someone worth befriending.”

Between the lines, Chen Fengxiao had already changed “that scoundrel Nie” back to “Spring Rebirth Valley”. Naturally, Zhang Xiaohua could tell, and he smiled: “Boss Chen is also a forthright man. I just don’t understand—why have you been unable to let go of Spring Rebirth Valley all these years?”

Hearing this, Chen Fengxiao lifted his head and looked at the boundless sea of clouds in the sky, saying: “Many things—although many years have passed, although you understand them clearly—how can they be so easily let go? Being bullied in Spring Rebirth Valley is only a very small part…”

Then he spoke slowly: “Back when I was still young, I was not a medicine boy of Spring Rebirth Valley. My mother and I lived in a mountain village far from Mochou City. Although our family was poor, our lives were very warm. When I was six years old, people from Spring Rebirth Valley came to the village to look for children with aptitude to become medicine boys. At that time, Nie Shuai was still very young. When he saw me, he thought my aptitude was excellent and that I could be sent to the Incense Spreading Sect as a medicine boy.”

“But I was unwilling to leave my mother, so I refused to go with him to Spring Rebirth Valley. So Nie Shuai deceived my mother, painting many bright prospects, even offering to bring her to Spring Rebirth Valley so she could study medicinal herbs together with me. My mother didn’t understand much—she only wanted me to have a good future. Hearing Nie Shuai speak so extravagantly, she agreed long ago and came with me to Spring Rebirth Valley.”

“Later, after I became familiar with the other medicine boys there, I learned that once you go to the Incense Spreading Sect, there is no way to return to Spring Rebirth Valley. Naturally, I refused again—I didn’t want to leave my mother. When my mother heard that once I left, I might never return, she also hesitated. But hateful was the fact that at that moment, Nie Shuai deceived us again, saying that as long as one performed well and cultivated martial arts properly in the Incense Spreading Sect, one could return to Spring Rebirth Valley.”

“Although my mother was still reluctant, she didn’t want me to lose such a good opportunity to rise above others, so she nodded in agreement. Moreover, she even harshly punished me, making me kneel in the courtyard to reflect on my mistakes, telling me never to entertain such improper thoughts again.”

“So I did everything I could to learn medicinal herb knowledge, wanting to perform well in the Incense Spreading Sect. But… but only after arriving at this Tuodan Hall did I realize just how difficult it is to leave the Incense Spreading Sect…”

“From then on… I never saw my mother again… not even once…”