The days spent hiding in Youjiao Port were unbearable. For Yu Qing, never in his life had time passed so slowly.
He did not dare leave Youjiao Port lightly, knowing he had caused trouble.
He could not let go of those two hundred-plus immortal peach trees, because hidden within them was enormous profit. Yet the way to obtain them meant owing a huge debt. Could he repay it? How would he settle the account? Constantly and repeatedly worrying about gains and losses, this was extremely tormenting.
At this moment, Yu Qing seemed to understand why the successive past masters of Linglong Guan had chosen to remain secluded.
In the end, Ye Diandian did not disappoint him, letting his suspended heart finally settle.
They had agreed on about a month. Before a month had passed, Ye Diandian returned to Youjiao Port, and brought her husband as well.
A big and burly man with a full beard, the youngest son of the Feng Clan chieftain, named Feng Cangshan.
Clad entirely in animal skins, his personality was fairly forthright, just too rough and wild. His age was predictable, a man who had a deceased wife, and Ye Diandian was his second wife.
Feng Cangshan was over fifty, much older than Ye Diandian.
As for Ye Diandian, besides wearing the Feng Clan headdress on her head, she had changed back into her former clothes. There was no other way, she was truly too embarrassed to casually expose her arms and legs in secular society, she really could not get used to it for now.
When Yu Qing first met Feng Cangshan and hosted a banquet for the couple, his shoulder was nearly slapped apart by Feng Cangshan.
Feng Cangshan was very happy, saying this scholar Yu Qing was different from other scholars, and suited his taste.
Regarding the Tanhua Scholar, Feng Cangshan had actually long admired his great name. Earlier he had not paid attention, because he had no interest in such scholars. When preparing to marry Ye Diandian and learning about her family background, he naturally came to know, and specially thanked Yu Qing for his help to his wife.
Yu Qing was actually surprised in his heart, never expecting Ye Diandian had married such a big and burly fellow.
He observed secretly and found that Ye Diandian’s smile in dealing with people had not changed, and she was quite compatible with Feng Cangshan.
Of course, these were not important. Ye Diandian had not come to play, but to fulfil her promise.
Both parties began to fulfil the agreement, signing the immortal peach tree planting contract, and then going together to Bihai Shipping Line to sign a joint contract.
Once the contract was set, Bihai Shipping Line immediately organised manpower, agreeing to officially begin transport three days later.
And Yu Qing took out one hundred and eighty million, of which one hundred and seventy million was for buying Spirit Gathering Array materials, and the other ten million was for next year’s consumption expenses.
By this point, he was basically emptied out.
The things to buy were available in Youjiao Port. Ye Diandian bought all the items and left together with her husband, without lingering.
They did not need to accompany the goods and travel slowly. Feng Cangshan said he would arrange Feng Clan personnel to go to the designated location to receive that batch of immortal peach trees.
Three days later, the manpower notified by Bihai Shipping Line had assembled, and that batch of immortal peach trees was once again hoisted up from the cargo yard.
Yu Qing and the others also personally went to the cargo yard to supervise.
After fully handing over to Bihai Shipping Line, the responsibility was now on Bihai Shipping Line’s shoulders. Only then did Yu Qing breathe a sigh of relief, and he was rid of a considerable burden. At least the daily storage fee of over two hundred thousand no longer needed to be paid.
He could not even take out the money to settle the cargo yard fees, still short by several hundred thousand. He borrowed a bit from Tie Miaoqing to plug the gap, and could only repay Tie Miaoqing after selling the immortal peaches later. After all, occasionally he could still sell one or two.
Seeing Old Fifteen squeezed dry to this extent, Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie instead appeared somewhat guilty.
“It is a task.”
“Quick, look, Youya has released another task.”
On the way back to Miaoqing Hall, they suddenly saw a commotion in the street. People in the houses ran out one after another, all looking in the same direction. Yu Qing and the others also immediately turned around. Everyone was facing that Youya forever immersed in darkness.
On the pitch-black cliff face, many red light spots appeared. They should be lanterns, constantly moving and adjusting, gradually piecing together characters one by one.
The martial brothers felt this was quite a novelty. They had long heard of Youya releasing tasks, for example Big Head was caught because of a Youya task, but this was still their first time seeing it.
All the red lanterns finally formed a line of characters on the pitch-black cliff face. One stalk of Changming Grass.
“Changming Grass?”
“What is Changming Grass?”
The street suddenly became noisy again with a hubbub of discussion.
Yu Qing, witnessing this scene for the first time, turned his head and asked the person beside him, “So this is a Youya task, and that is it?”
Sun Ping beside him nodded and said, “Yes, it is just like this. Youya has always been this way. It only hangs up what it needs. Whether everyone knows what it is, or where to go to find it, it will not inform at all. The day the characters formed by lanterns on the cliff wall disappear, it means someone has completed it, or it has been cancelled. Otherwise it will remain lit there.”
Nan Zhu asked curiously, “What is Changming Grass?”
Sun Ping spread his hands, “I do not know.”
Yu Qing stroked his small beard, “Find out.”
“Alright.” Sun Ping agreed.
When the group returned to Miaoqing Hall, they found Second Brother Gao Yunjie had shown his face. Clearly he was also startled by the commotion outside, and was staring toward Youya observing.
Discovering Yu Qing and the others had returned, upon facing Yu Qing he immediately turned his head, flung his sleeves and left, along with a cold snort.
Yu Qing also let out a cold snort. He deliberately walked into Nan Zhu and the others’ courtyard, speaking loudly, “Did you see what an ungrateful wretch looks like? Eating my food, using my things, and still daring to show me attitude. Which of you go tell him my words, ask him, since when can those who sponge off others be so righteous?”
He threw down these words and swaggered off.
Nan Zhu, Mu Aotie, and Chong’er looked at each other. Who could speak such words in front of Second Brother? Only Old Fifteen this scoundrel could do such reckless nonsense. Did he even need others to go say it? It would be strange if Second Brother inside the house had not heard.
“That, Shopkeeper Sun has gone to inquire about news, I will go to the front to help the proprietress watch the shop.” Nan Zhu threw down these words and ran.
Chong’er pouted his lips. He could guess that Seventh Brother, that chatterbox, must have gone to chat with the Iron Lady because she was pretty.
He then entered the room with Ninth Brother, only seeing Second Brother sitting there with a gloomy face, both hands tightly gripping the chair armrests.
Mu Aotie was originally a man of few words, not good at speaking.
Chong’er also did not know what to say. Anyway, as soon as he opened his mouth, this side would definitely curse the Sect Leader Brother, then urge him to stay farther from Sect Leader Brother.
Chong’er was actually somewhat puzzled. He felt this so-called sect seemed not quite like what he had imagined.
In the end it was Mu Aotie who spoke, “Second Brother, do not mind that turncoat thief. These immortal peaches also have mine and Old Seventh’s share. What you use is our share.”
Gao Yunjie’s tightly clenched hands slowly loosened. He snorted, “Wet behind the ears, is he worth my fussing over? I naturally know I am using your and Old Seventh’s share, otherwise how could I remain here?” After speaking, he let out a long breath of pent-up frustration in his chest, somewhat self-consoling.
Only after using the immortal peach did he know the immortal peach’s goodness. He was almost about to break through to the High Martial realm. He estimated that if this continued, breaking through to Xuan in cultivation was also within sight. He had not expected that after living half his life, he would still have a chance to break Xuan.
Afterwards the three chatted again about Youya releasing the task.
Not long after, Chong’er found an opportunity to leave, and returned to Yu Qing’s side.
Seeing Yu Qing was still staring at the characters on Youya pondering, Chong’er tried saying, “Young Master, Second Brother is actually quite good. You can also treat him better in the future. Constantly humiliating him does not seem very good.”
“Good?” Yu Qing sneered. “That is because you have not seen their faces when they bullied others relying on power. Your Sect Leader Uncle’s bones were not yet cold, and he united with others trying to force me to abdicate. I spoke all the reason to them and it was useless. Later I stopped speaking reason to them, and they discovered my fist was harder than theirs.”
“As long as he remains unconvinced for one day, as long as he does not acknowledge me as sect leader for one day, I will seize every opportunity to humiliate him. I did not ask him to invite humiliation upon himself, he can leave. On one side living off others, on the other side pretending to be hard bones, what kind of thing! If not for looking at your master’s face, how could I let him take advantage of the immortal peaches? I would have kicked him out long ago.”
“Alas.” Chong’er sighed, very speechless.
Yu Qing reached out and pinched his cheek, twisting it. “You little thing, what are you sighing for? Which side do you stand on?”
Chong’er’s bright eyes blinked, and without hesitation he said, “Standing on Young Master’s side.”
Saying this, he himself felt somewhat guilty. He discovered he seemed to have unconsciously become a fence-sitter, saying whatever suited whichever side he ran to. He also vaguely felt he seemed to have unconsciously picked up the sect atmosphere from his martial brothers.
Only then did Yu Qing release him and let him go.
This time Sun Ping was out for quite a while, only returning late at night.
After returning he went directly to Yu Qing’s side. Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie, who had been waiting long ago, also immediately showed up and followed.
As soon as the few met, Sun Ping immediately informed, “Boss, I have found out. Changming Grass is a type of spirit grass growing in the ice and snow of the extreme north. It only grows during the eternal night. According to some ancient records, it is said to grow on dead people’s skulls. It is said that the departed souls feared their families could not find them in the ice and snow of eternal night, so the souls condensed and did not scatter, thus growing this thing. It emits a certain brightness, yet cannot see light. Once exposed to light it will turn to flying ash and vanish. It needs to be sealed in darkness to be picked and taken away.”
Yu Qing: “What is this thing used for?”
Sun Ping: “Ancient records say it is a spirit grass that can heal damaged souls, very rare.”
Yu Qing could not help scratching his small beard and muttering, “Why does Youya always look for these strange and bizarre things?”
Actually it was just a small complaint. The reasoning everyone understood. Youya’s Judge, the Great Wilderness’s Chieftain, Qianliu Mountain’s Great Sage, Daye Division’s Earth Master, Sinan Mansion’s Earth Mother. The five strongest people under heaven. They do not lack ordinary valuable items.
Turning back, Yu Qing asked again, “As long as one finds Changming Grass and brings it back to hand over to Youya, that counts as completing the task, and one can make any request to Youya?”
Sun Ping nodded, “Only the first one to bring it back counts. If the condition is too high, or exceeds a certain scope, Youya will not accept it. Generally it is limited to problems that can be solved within Youjiao Port.”
Yu Qing tried asking, “Can it be exchanged for money?”
Sun Ping smiled, “What Youya lacks the least is probably money. As long as it is not an excessive lion’s mouth, it should be no problem.”