Chapter 360 (3): Reaching Old Dragon City

Chapter 360 (3): Reaching Old Dragon City

Zhu Lian rubbed his hands together like a fly, smiling. "I'm already used to being number one in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land. Now that I'm in such a massive new world, there's no way I'll ever be able to climb to the same heights as before, but at the very least, I have to strive for the top spot among the four of us. Otherwise, I would be too ashamed to serve you, Young Master.

"If I can't even beat a woman, then I may as well smash my own head against a wall and end it all right now! Besides, risk and reward have always come hand in hand. During the battle back at the temple, I let myself run a bit too wild, and even now, I'm still plagued by some internal injuries. Surely you're not so cruel that you would stand by and watch as I'm left behind by the other three."

"Have you made up your mind?" Chen Ping'an asked with a serious expression.

Zhu Lian was just as serious as he nodded in response.

"If I hadn't made up my mind, then I wouldn't have come to knock on your door and disturb your rest in the middle of the night."

Chen Ping'an pulled out the two vials, then tipped a pill out of each as he sighed in a resigned manner, "You're responsible for your own life, I suppose. These two pills will serve as compensation for your courageous showing at the temple."

Zhu Lian accepted the two pills from Chen Ping'an and immediately swallowed them, then stood up smiling and bade Chen Ping'an farewell.

"You're a good man, Young Master. From now on, I'll serve you with the utmost loyalty."

Chen Ping'an knew better than to take Zhu Lian's flattery seriously, so it merely went in one ear and out the other.

At this moment, Pei Qian was laying with her cheek pressed against the table, and as Zhu Lian turned to glance at her, their eyes met for a moment.

With that, Zhu Lian departed.

Later that night, Pei Qian had already fallen asleep in the neighboring room, and Chen Ping'an was practicing his standing meditation in his own room when he heaved a faint sigh before opening the door.

Sui Youbian was standing outside.

"I don't want a Fire Dragon Pill or a Rain Bringer Pill, all I want is a Seated Meditation Pill," she declared in a direct and straightforward manner.

"Are you that eager to take a risk on your own life with Zhu Lian? Are you two a pair of lovers trying to die a romantic death together? If you're not even patient enough to wait until we reach Old Dragon City, then it would be a complete waste even if I gave you an entire vial of Seated Meditation Pills!"

After delivering that tirade, Chen Ping'an slammed the door shut without even allowing her into the room.

Sui Youbian stood expressionlessly in front of his door for a long while before finally departing in silence.

The following five days passed by in peace and serenity.

There was still just over a month left until the ship was scheduled to reach Old Dragon City.

On this day, Chen Ping'an approached Green Goat Palace’s administrator on the ship to ask if he knew of any premium cauldrons being sold, to which the administrator replied that he did.

Even though Green Goat Palace didn't sell cauldrons, Lu Yong had dedicated his entire life to pill refinement, and over time, he had gathered a large collection of cauldrons.

The administrator knew that Chen Ping'an was an extremely esteemed guest, so he promised Chen Ping'an that he would bring up the matter to Lu Yong, but as for whether Lu Yong would actually be willing to part with any of his cauldrons, that was something that he couldn't make any guarantees on. For now, all he could do was send a message by flying sword back to Green Goat Palace.

Chen Ping'an cupped his fists in a grateful salute.

The administrator didn't know much about Chen Ping'an, but he was certain that Chen Ping'an had to be some young master with extremely powerful backers, and that he seemed to be quite close with the leader of the Jiang Clan. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to agree to bring up his request for a cauldron to Lu Yong.

Lu Yong's cauldrons were his most prized possessions, and even the ones that he didn't use were carefully stored away. As long as he wasn't refining pills, he would carefully wipe down all of his cauldrons every single day.

The flying sword letters sent out on the Heavenly Palace Peak were a special product from a large cultivating sect on Northern Complete Reed Continent. It was a very expensive service, but it was worth the money, and it was extremely fast, far more so than this ship, which prioritized safety at the cost of speed.

As Green Goat Palace’s administrator returned to Chen Ping'an with an answer to his request, Chen Ping'an was feeling a little awkward and uneasy.

Lu Yong's response was that he would he would personally deliver a premium cauldron that had been in his collection for many years, and Chen Ping'an was feeling awkward because he was certain that he didn't have enough money left to be able to afford the cauldron, so he would have to borrow money from Fan Er or Zheng Dafeng once he reached Old Dragon City.

However, doing business like this seemed to be far too unreasonable and unfair for Lu Yong. After all, Chen Ping'an had grown accustomed to the style of business conducted by Old Man Yang back in the Yang Family's medicine shop.

With that in mind, Chen Ping'an was feeling very guilty to have troubled Lu Yong to come all this way again, but to his surprise, after he revealed his current financial status, Lu Yong had immediately burst into laughter, and not only was he not angry in the slightest, it seemed that he was put more at ease.

After arriving at Chen Ping'an's room, Lu Yong instructed the Golden Core Tier administrator to keep a lookout outside the room, and only after that did Lu Yong bring out a special pocket treasure that was only just barely large enough to hold his beloved cauldron.

As soon as the cauldron was revealed, it hovered around a foot in the air above the table, and rainbow mist permeated in all directions, while a fragrant aroma wafted throughout the entire room.

The Fan Clan's Osmanthus Island ship was absent from the ferry station, so it was most likely yet to return from Stalactite Mountain, and Chen Ping'an wondered if he would get a chance to see Lady Gui again.

As soon as Chen Ping'an spotted the Golden Core Tier administrator standing outside his door without Lu Yong by his side, a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart.

Sure enough, the Golden Core Tier administrator informed, "Palace Leader Lu had to return to the Heavenly Palace Peak over some urgent matters, and he instructed me to tell you that there's no hurry for you to pay for the cauldron. Whenever you get the money, you can send someone to deliver it to the ship, but there's no need to put any pressure on yourself."

"I'll be sure to gather the money as soon as possible," Chen Ping'an replied in a resigned manner.

The Golden Core Tier administrator smiled as he reemphasized, "There's no hurry. Prior to his departure, Palace Leader Lu instructed me not to try and rush you under any circumstances."

Not long after Lu Yong returned to the Heavenly Palace Peak, a flying sword letter had arrived at Green Goat Palace with such incredible speed and power that it had almost laid waste to the sword chamber on the mountain.

Lu Yong retrieved the letter in a timid fashion, then returned to his manor with a steely expression, and only when he was sure that he wouldn't be seen did he erupt into hearty laughter.

In addition to the one hundred grain rain coins that Jiang Shangzhen had left for him on the ship, from this day forth, Jade Tablet Sect was going to take in every single pill produced by Green Goat Palace and help them sell the pills across the entire Parasol Leaf Continent.

Lu Yong immediately instructed people to leave the mountain to recruit disciples from whatever source possible, whether that be searching for young talents in villages, or outright requesting them from the Great Quan Empire, Southern Qi Nation, and all of the other nearby nations.

In any case, Green Goat Palace was going to be taking in as many disciples as possible, and it didn't matter even if their aptitude was a little lacking. As long as they cultivated for seven or eight years and were diligently instructed by Green Goat Palace, they would at least be able to refine the simplest pills, and that would be guaranteed income for the sect!

After that, Lu Yong made his way to the ancestral hall, and while offering up incense to the portraits of the old ancestors hanging on the walls, he prayed, "Esteemed ancestors, please bless our Green Goat Palace so that it can thrive and prosper for millennia to come."

————

Chen Ping'an emerged onto the dock of the ferry station with his bamboo case on his back.

With only one step left, Pei Qian brought her feet together, then jumped down onto the ground and placed her hands on her hips as she puffed out her chest and declared, "Eastern Treasured Vial Continent, here I come!"

What was the name of that little girl who likes to wear red? Li Baoping, right? She's studying at that Mountain Cliff Academy or whatever like an idiot! How dare she refer to my father as her junior uncle! I'll teach her a good lesson when I see her!

Wei Xian and the others also disembarked from the ship, then gathered around on either side of Chen Ping'an.

"Where to next, Young Master? Do we go straight into the city?" Zhu Lian asked with a slight bow.

Chen Ping'an already had a plan in mind, and he smiled as he replied, "There are people from the Fan Clan of Old Dragon City staying at this ferry station, all we need to do is go and find them. I'm very good friends with one of their clan’s heirs."

"As expected, all of your friends are very remarkable, Young Master," Zhu Lian praised.

After consuming those two pills from Green Goat Palace, not only had Zhu Lian recovered from all of his internal injuries, his soul had also been nurtured and enhanced.

However, as for when he was going to be able to reach the Vajra Body Tier, Chen Ping'an didn't ask, and Zhu Lian didn't say.

At the same time, it occurred to both Lu Baixiang and Sui Youbian that someone that Chen Ping'an was referring to as a "close friend" had to be a very close friend indeed.

"Don't forget about the candy that you owe me," Wei Xian said to Pei Qian.

A pitiable look immediately appeared on Pei Qian's face as she replied, "I have no money at all right now."

"In the past, this would be considered deceiving the emperor, a crime punishable by death," Wei Xian said in a stern manner.

Pei Qian pointed at Chen Ping'an in secret, then said to Wei Xian, "Look at how my father treats his friends, then look at how you're treating me as your friend. Do you not feel at least a little bit ashamed of yourself?"

"Even between the closest of friends, there can be no ambiguity when it comes to money matters. Otherwise, even the strongest of friendships are bound to fall apart," Wei Xian replied.

Pei Qian kicked Wei Xian's shin as she complained, "Being your friend sucks!"

Chen Ping'an turned around, and Pei Qian hurriedly crouched down and patted Wei Zhen's leg, pretending to fuss over his attire as she said, "You're a grown man, Old Man Wei, why are you still still sloppy? Look at how dirty your pants are! I'll dust them off for you."

Chen Ping'an led the way toward the Fan Clan's Osmanthus Island dock according to his memory, and his footsteps felt rather heavy whenever he thought of the debt of fifty grain rain coins that he currently owed.

Shouldn't young boys be carrying hopes and aspirations on their shoulders instead of being burdened by debt? But then again, I'm no longer a young boy, am I?

In the words of Pei Qian: "How vexing."