Chapter 562: Youlan Twilight Trial

The disciple bowed and said: “As for that, Wu Dalang did not tell this subordinate. However, in this subordinate’s opinion, the Youlan Twilight Trial is held once every five years and has long become an established practice. Wu Dalang may not necessarily have any ideas of his own.”

Vice Hall Master Xu snorted. “Since he has no ideas of his own, then he can simply wait for the Hall Master’s arrangements. Although I draft the list, does the Hall Master not still have to review it? Wherever the people of our Tuodan Hall go, they are merely gathering medicinal herbs. What achievements could they possibly make?”

The disciple smiled apologetically. “In the past, the list was always drafted personally by the Hall Master himself, but for the last fifteen years this matter has been entrusted to Hall Master Xu. Moreover, Hall Master is now advanced in age, and many affairs of the hall have to be entrusted to Hall Master Xu. Wu Dalang was wondering whether this year it would still be Your Esteemed Self presiding over this matter?”

Vice Hall Master Xu turned his head slightly. “Wu Zhouxu told you to say that?”

“Not at all. It is merely what Dalang usually says and what this subordinate sees on a daily basis. It is probably as such.”

“Hmph, you are quite clever. However, you must not speak too much about such matters. Do your work well. This Hall Master naturally takes note of it.”

“Many thanks for Hall Master’s patronage.” The disciple was overjoyed and bowed in thanks.

“Very well, get some rest early. Return first thing tomorrow morning and have Wu Zhouxu keep a close watch on this Ren Xiaoyao…”

“Yes, Hall Master. This disciple will obey your orders.”

Far away in the small courtyard on Tianmu Peak, Zhang Xiaohua sat with his eyes closed cultivating the Carefree Heart Sutra, completely unaware that his every move had long since fallen under the eyes of the two hall masters, and that someone had already begun coveting his “treasures”.

Wu Zhouxu was indeed a man of his word. Early the next morning, he sent Ye Chengliao, Qi Yuntian, and Cheng Shi to deliver a batch of jade boxes. Zhang Xiaohua did not know whether the medicinal herbs inside were truly worth the one hundred and fifty taels of gold he had wagered, but he also knew that matters had reached this stage and Wu Zhouxu would never dare shortchange him. Thus, he very readily wrote and signed his name on a sheet of blank paper. After seeing them off, he happily gazed at the medicinal herbs in the courtyard, finding them more pleasing the longer he looked.

Just then, Bai Huan entered the courtyard carrying bedding, his face filled with dejection.

Zhang Xiaohua frowned and asked curiously, “Senior Brother Bai, what are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re moving over here too?”

“Sigh, that is exactly the case.” Bai Huan let out a sigh. “Junior Brother Ren, I was dragged out of bed by Senior Brother Qiu first thing this morning. He said it was Boss Chen’s idea. Your place is too remote, and with so many medicinal herbs here, it would be bad if nobody were watching over them. Also, this courtyard needs cleaning. Well, you are now the rising star of our Herb Division. All future victories in the betting matches will depend on you. You are still young and cannot be without someone to look after you, so…”

“Therefore, they sent Senior Brother Bai over?” Zhang Xiaohua asked with a smile.

“Exactly.” Bai Huan carried his bedding into the room, then raised his head to glance at the bamboo grove outside the courtyard. His expression was extremely uneasy as he quietly asked, “Is it quiet in this courtyard at night?”

“Quiet, of course it’s quiet. There’s only the sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo grove, as if someone were crying.”

Zhang Xiaohua said in a somewhat eerie tone.

“Like that… Junior Brother Ren, y-you aren’t afraid?” Bai Huan asked, almost trembling.

“Of course I’m afraid. I’m just afraid that someone will suddenly knock on the door…”

Just then, someone suddenly began pounding on the door with a bang bang bang.

“Aiya~” Even though it was broad daylight, Bai Huan almost jumped up in fright. Trembling, he hid behind Zhang Xiaohua and said, “Could there really be a ghost…”

Before he could finish speaking, a voice came from outside the courtyard gate: “May I ask if Junior Brother Ren of the Herb Division is here?”

Zhang Xiaohua loudly replied, “This is the place. Please come in.”

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and a burly middle-aged man with a full beard walked in. Only then did Bai Huan, hiding behind Zhang Xiaohua, poke his head out. Seeing that it was a living person, he forced himself to say, “Could it be Senior Brother Liao from the Pill Division?”

“Hey, Junior Brother Bai is here as well? It is indeed Liao.” After speaking, he cupped his fists to the two of them and said, “I came here in a hurry, so I ask for your understanding.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said, “We are all fellow disciples, so why be so polite? May I ask what brings Senior Brother Liao here?”

“I heard that medicinal herbs can be exchanged for medicinal pills here with Junior Brother Ren. Is there such a thing?”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded. “There is indeed such a thing. However, these past few days all the senior brothers who lost to me used medicinal herbs to make up for the pills they owed. I do not have many medicinal pills on hand, so even if I wished to exchange with Senior Brother Liao, I would be unable to do so.”

Senior Brother Liao smiled and said: “I had gone down the mountain on business and only just returned. As soon as I came back, I heard about Junior Brother Ren sweeping all before him in the betting matches. Congratulations.”

“Not at all. It was all just luck. Senior Brother Liao is making fun of me.”

“There is no need for Junior Brother Ren to be so modest. I heard that even our Pill Division’s Wu Dalang lost several bottles of medicinal pills to you. I do not want much either. Could I exchange for a few Small Bone-Consolidating Pills?”

“This…” Zhang Xiaohua felt somewhat troubled. He did not have many Small Bone-Consolidating Pills to begin with, and he had just exchanged three of them to Bai Huan. Although he did not think much of the Small Bone-Consolidating Pills, he still wanted to keep a few for research purposes.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua hesitate, Senior Brother Liao reached into his robe, took out two jade boxes, and handed them over. “I know I am putting Junior Brother Ren in a difficult position. Take a look at the age of these two medicinal herbs. If they are acceptable, then please exchange a few pills with me.”

Seeing how confident Senior Brother Liao was, Zhang Xiaohua knew there must be something good inside the jade boxes. Sure enough, when he opened them, he found two unknown medicinal herbs with forty years of age. Before Zhang Xiaohua could speak, Bai Huan laughed and said: “Senior Brother Liao, what a clever scheme. Although these two medicinal herbs have considerable age, they have no real use. How could Junior Brother Ren possibly agree?”

Senior Brother Liao frowned and said: “I heard that Junior Brother Ren only cares about the age of the medicinal herbs and not what kind of herbs they are, so I… But if you want other medicinal herbs, I really do not have any…”

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly lit up and he eagerly said: “If I know a place where sufficiently old medicinal herbs can be gathered and tell Junior Brother Ren its location, would Junior Brother Ren be willing to part with them?”

“Don’t! Junior Brother Ren, throughout the Incense-Spreading Sect there are plenty of places that produce mature medicinal herbs, but those places are not somewhere ordinary disciples like us can go. Even if you know about them, you may not be able to gather anything!”

“Hehe, then Junior Brother Bai does not know. The place I am talking about is somewhere Junior Brother Ren will certainly be able to go if fate permits. Moreover, there are many medicinal herbs there, their ages are very great, and most of them are unknown varieties. I only learned of it by chance many years ago. I can practically guarantee that, aside from me, very few people know about it.”

“Oh?” As soon as Zhang Xiaohua heard this, his interest was immediately piqued. What did he want most? Unknown medicinal herbs. If they also had sufficient age, then even if he had to exchange a Jade Restoration Pill, Zhang Xiaohua would be willing. Thus he said: “Since Senior Brother Liao is so eager, then I shall not worry about whether I have the necessary fate or not. These two medicinal herbs, together with your information, in exchange for three Small Bone-Consolidating Pills. What do you think?”

Senior Brother Liao was overjoyed and said: “Liao had thought that being able to exchange for two pills would already be enough. For Junior Brother Ren to agree to three is truly… generous.”

“Ah?” Zhang Xiaohua was stunned. He immediately regretted it inwardly and thought, I’ve been generous again. Could it be that in the eyes of the Tianmu Peak disciples I’m just a gullible fool? Fine, when I have time I need to ask Senior Brother Bai more about the market value of these pills. I mustn’t let people keep taking advantage of me and damage my reputation for nothing.

Nevertheless, he still said: “Senior Brother Liao has worked hard for the affairs of the hall and only returned today. This junior brother feels a sense of kinship because of that. Please tell me the information.”

“Hehe, it is only official business, nothing worth calling hard work. How could it compare to your efforts, Junior Brother?” Senior Brother Liao said, but did not reveal the location.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohua returned to the room, took out a jade bottle, and handed it to Senior Brother Liao. “Senior Brother, see whether this is what you mean.”

Senior Brother Liao opened it and took a look. Great joy immediately appeared on his face. He stepped forward and whispered into Zhang Xiaohua’s ear for quite some time. Zhang Xiaohua’s expression became exceedingly colorful. When the man finally finished, Zhang Xiaohua smiled bitterly and said: “This is the place Senior Brother Liao was talking about? Do you really think I can go there and gather medicinal herbs?”

Senior Brother Liao smiled and said: “This place is not some important restricted area of the sect. As long as Junior Brother has the fortune to go there, you will certainly be able to gather some. I truly am not deceiving you about that.”

“Mhm.” Zhang Xiaohua nodded. “Senior Brother Liao is correct. As you said, this junior brother does indeed have a chance to gather them. Very well, the pills have already been exchanged. Does Senior Brother Liao have any other business?”

Seeing that Zhang Xiaohua was showing him out, Senior Brother Liao did not linger. After saying a few words of thanks, he strode away.

Seeing that Zhang Xiaohua had suffered a hidden loss, Bai Huan muttered, “I knew there weren’t many good people in the Pill Division. I haven’t had much contact with this Senior Brother Liao, so I didn’t know his character was this poor. Junior Brother Ren, where is the place he mentioned?”

Zhang Xiaohua looked at Bai Huan with considerable interest and waved his hand. “What Senior Brother Liao said was indeed correct. Whether I can go there depends on my fate. He pointed that out from the very beginning, it’s just that I failed to understand it at the time.”

Then he looked at the two medicinal herbs in his hand and said, “Just these two medicinal herbs alone are worth three pills. I haven’t suffered too great a loss.”

“Medicinal herbs?” Bai Huan said with disdain. “They’re all worthless things!”

As they were speaking, the gate of the small courtyard was pushed open once again. The ones entering were none other than Chen Fengxiao and Qiu Weicheng.

Zhang Xiaohua and Bai Huan stepped forward to pay their respects. Chen Fengxiao glanced at Bai Huan and then said to Zhang Xiaohua with a smile: “I saw that you have quite a lot of medicinal herbs here, the courtyard is large, and nobody is cleaning it, so I had Bai Huan come over to help you. There are many disciples on Tianmu Peak, yet Bai Huan was the first person you met. I hope you are satisfied with my arrangement.”

Hmph. Zhang Xiaohua sneered inwardly. You’re simply not at ease about me. You’ve sent another pair of eyes and ears to keep watch on me—do you think I wouldn’t understand that? If you paid no attention to me at all, that would be the truly strange thing.

Zhang Xiaohua cupped his hands and said: “Many thanks for Boss Chen’s concern. I was just wondering how I was going to move this pile of medicinal herbs into the house. Now that Senior Brother Bai has arrived, I can attend to other matters. As for moving the medicinal herbs inside, I’ll have to trouble Senior Brother Bai with that.”

“Move them inside? By myself?” Bai Huan was stunned. Then he looked at the jade boxes piled up like several small mountains, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. What bad luck from a previous life have I stumbled into? Wasn’t it just because I happened to be on duty a few days ago and was the first to meet Ren Xiaoyao? How did it come to this…