14: Qingxuan Upper Sect

He noticed a not-so-tall mud-brick wall standing at the edge of the town, near the foot of the mountain. Some parts of it had collapsed, indicating its limited defensive capabilities.

Occasionally, he could see a few burly men in uniform gray short coats with iron rulers at their waists patrolling the town. They looked lackadaisical; these were the so-called “Town Guards.”

Descending the mountain and stepping onto the uneven dirt road outside the town, a lively clamor washed over them.

The air was a mix of animal feces, fishy smells, sweat, and the pungent odor of low-quality cooking oil wafting from roadside food stalls.

Li Dashan was visibly nervous, subconsciously tightening his grip on the furs on his back, keeping his head down, and trying not to look around.

Li Shouxin, however, was familiar with the route. Leaning on his staff, he led the two through the crowded streets.

“First to Jishi Hall! The old ginseng is important!”

Li Shouxin's goal was clear, heading straight for a relatively wider flagstone path in the center of the town.

Shops lined both sides of the road, their banners swaying.

Soon, a rather grand pharmacy with a “Jishi Hall” plaque appeared before the three of them.

Its door frame was made of sandalwood, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted from within.

There were many assistants in the pharmacy, dressed in clean blue cloth short jackets.

Li Shouxin ignored the assistants who came forward to greet them and walked directly to the tall counter, cupping his hands to an Old Shopkeeper who was busy with an abacus:

“Old Shopkeeper, I have something good. Are you buying?”

The Old Shopkeeper raised his eyelids, scrutinized the travel-worn trio, his gaze lingering for a few seconds on the bow on Li Shouxin’s back and the cloth bundle Li Qinghe clutched tightly in his arms, before a professional smile bloomed on his face:

“Buying, of course, we’re buying! Our shop is fair to all, young and old. What good medicinal herbs do you have?”

Li Shouxin gestured for Li Qinghe to step forward.

Li Qinghe carefully placed the heavily wrapped wooden box on the counter, untied the coarse cloth, and opened the lid.

A fragrant, earthy medicinal scent instantly permeated the air, overpowering the other medicinal smells in the shop.

The smile on the Old Shopkeeper’s face instantly froze. He took a sharp breath, almost pouncing on the counter, extending his withered hand, and slowly picking up the old ginseng.

He brought it close to his eyes, almost touching his nose to it, meticulously observing the tightness of the rhizome and the gnarled form of the rootlets.

Especially the dense, clear annual rings on the main root.

He examined it very slowly, very carefully, his fingers gently caressing the ginseng body, feeling its heavy weight and moist texture. His breathing grew heavy.

“Good... good ginseng!”

After a long moment, the Old Shopkeeper finally looked up, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement:

“This rhizome, these rings... at least one hundred and twenty years old! The body is plump, the rootlets are intact, and Spiritual Qi is contained within!”

“Rare! Too rare! It’s been so many years since we’ve received wild ginseng of this quality!”

He looked at Li Dashan and Li Qinghe, his eyes fervent:

“Brother, young brother, this ginseng... how do you wish to sell it?”

Li Dashan nervously rubbed his hands, looking at Li Shouxin.

Li Shouxin cleared his throat and held up three fingers:

“Old Shopkeeper, you know your goods. You know the age and quality of this ginseng. Three hundred taels of silver, no bargaining.”

This was the high price he had discussed with Li Dashan last night.

“Three hundred taels?!”

The Old Shopkeeper gasped, the excitement on his face receding somewhat, replaced by a look of difficulty.

“Old brother, this price... it’s too high! Although it’s a hundred-year-old ginseng, it’s still just a Mortal medicine, not yet a Spiritual grade!”

“How about this, our shop genuinely wants it, one hundred and fifty taels! How about it?”

What followed was a battle of wits and words.

Li Shouxin argued strongly, speaking of the hardships of gathering ginseng and the quality of the ginseng.

The Old Shopkeeper, on the other hand, repeatedly emphasized that no matter how good the ginseng was, it was still just a medicinal herb, and the pharmacy would bear the risk if it couldn't sell it.

Li Qinghe listened quietly from the side, silently activating the Water Mirror Technique. A faint blue light flickered in his eyes.

He could clearly see that the Old Shopkeeper had no Spiritual Power fluctuations in his body; he was clearly just a shrewd Mortal merchant.

But the milky-white spiritual light emanating from the old ginseng was indeed rich and gentle, far surpassing ordinary plants.

Ultimately, both sides compromised, settling on one hundred and eighty taels of silver.

The Old Shopkeeper carefully re-wrapped the ginseng, locked it in a specially made camphor wood box, then took out two silver notes stamped with the red seal of “Jishi Hall,” and thirty taels of actual silver.

Li Dashan took the silver notes and the heavy silver, his hands trembling violently. He quickly tucked them into the innermost pocket of his clothes, feeling his heart almost leap out of his chest.

One hundred and eighty taels of silver! He couldn't save that much money in several lifetimes!

After leaving Jishi Hall, Li Dashan was still immersed in the huge shock, his steps somewhat unsteady.

Li Shouxin patted his shoulder:

“Steady now! We still have the furs!”

The three then went to the nearby “Zhao's Fur Shop.”

This shop was larger, with several tanned animal hides hanging at the entrance.

The shopkeeper was a lean middle-aged man with a goatee, his eyes showing a merchant's shrewdness.

He inspected the wild boar hide Li Dashan brought, then weighed the pair of thick tusks.

“The hide is tanned decently, but there are a few knife marks that marred its appearance. The tusks, however, are good, hard and long enough.”

The Goatee Shopkeeper smacked his lips:

“How about this, the hide plus the tusks, I’ll give you five taels of silver.”

This time, Li Shouxin didn’t haggle much; the price was fair.

Li Dashan received another five taels of silver, which he carefully put away.

Clutching the large sum of money, Li Dashan felt the silver notes and silver in his embrace burning hot, and he just wanted to leave this bustling place quickly.

Li Shouxin, however, said:

“What’s the rush? It’s rare to come here. Let’s buy some salt, needles and thread, and the fabric your wife has been asking for, and get some fine grains from the town shops to take back! Qinghe, you also take a look, want anything?”

Li Qinghe nodded, but his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the crowd gathered in the small square in the center of the town.

There stood a whitewashed wooden board wall, surrounded by many people, mostly teenagers and their parents, pointing and discussing a brand new notice with black characters on yellow paper posted on the wall.

“Dad, Grandpa Shouxin, there are so many people over there, should we go take a look?”

Li Qinghe pointed in that direction.

Li Shouxin also noticed it and nodded:

“Let’s go, let’s see.”

The three squeezed into the crowd.

Li Qinghe, being small, quickly squeezed to the front.

He saw written on the yellow paper:

【Azure Profound Upper Sect Proclaims to All Directions】

【Our Sect, upholding the Heavenly Dao and bestowing grace upon all living beings, has decided to reopen the Barren Domain on the second day of the second lunar month next year, the day of the Dragon's Head Raising, to widely recruit talented individuals.】

【All young men and women between the ages of six and twenty, regardless of their noble or humble birth, may present themselves before the ‘Ascension Platform’ in this town at Chen Shi on that day to be inspected by our Sect’s Immortal Envoys.】

【Those possessing Spiritual Roots and good Heart-Nature may enter our Immortal Sect, learn supreme wondrous methods, and seek the Grand Dao of Longevity!】

【Promulgated by the Heishan Town Guardian Residence】

【Great Xuan Calendar, Year of Bingyin, Eleventh Month, Seventh Day】

Azure Profound Upper Sect! Ascension Platform! Inspect Spiritual Roots! Grand Dao of Longevity!

Every word was like a clap of thunder, exploding in Li Qinghe’s mind!

The Immortal Sect is recruiting disciples! Next year, on the second day of the second lunar month! Right here in Black Mountain Town!

He quickly turned his head to look at his father and Master behind him.

Li Dashan was straining to stand on his tiptoes, trying hard to make out the characters on the notice, his face showing confusion and reverence.

Li Shouxin, leaning on his staff, squinted at the notice, his white beard trembling slightly, his eyes complex, filled with reminiscence and emotion, finally turning into a low sigh:

“The Immortal Sect... is opening its mountain to recruit people... it only happens once in so many years... a rare opportunity...”

The buzzing discussions of the surrounding crowd entered his ears:

“The second day of the second lunar month... I need to prepare and let my Tie Dan go try!”

“Try what? One in ten thousand! Don’t dream!”

Li Qinghe’s heart pounded rapidly.

His Qi Ming Pulse Gate warmed slightly in his glabella, and cool Spiritual Qi flowed throughout his body.

He almost couldn't resist immediately using the Water Mirror Technique to scan the surrounding teenagers to see if any possessed Spiritual Roots.

But he forced himself to resist. There were too many people here, and the Town Guards were not far away.

“Dad, Grandpa Shouxin, we’ve seen it, let’s go buy things now?”

Li Qinghe took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm.

Li Dashan and Li Shouxin snapped out of their thoughts and nodded.

The three squeezed out of the crowd to buy the necessary salt, needles and thread, a small piece of red cloth, and a bag of white flour.

Li Qinghe didn't ask for anything, just silently followed.

On the way back, the atmosphere was somewhat different.

Li Dashan, with the huge sum of money and newly bought items in his arms, still walked cautiously.

But besides nervousness, his brows now held a hint of indescribable hope and anticipation.

Li Shouxin was much more silent, leaning on his staff, gazing at the winding mountain road ahead, lost in thought.

Just as they entered the Li Family Village territory, a muffled thunder rolled across the sky.

Lead-gray clouds pressed low, and the mountain wind carried a damp, earthy smell.

A mountain rain was clearly about to begin.

“The weather is changing.”

Li Shouxin looked up at the sky and quickened his pace.

Li Qinghe also looked up at the gloomy sky, and isolated raindrops had already begun to fall.

The raindrops gradually became denser, feeling icy cold on his face.

Li Qinghe clutched the needlework kit he bought for his Master's wife, quickened his steps, and the mountain road ahead blurred in the rain.