Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 280: Chapter 161: Lao Mountain Daoist School! Zhang Fan Pays a Visit (Part 2)

”I appreciate your kindness, but there’s no need for a meal. I’m just passing through,” Zhang Fan replied casually.

Once he found Jiang Lai, he would leave; he didn’t want to cause any unnecessary complications.

”Very well. When you get to Qilu City, Daoist Brother, if there’s anything you need, just come find me at the East Mountain Province Daoist Alliance.”

Saying this, Wei Qingsong gave a slight bow and left with Lin Xiaoke in tow.

He knew very well that experts like Zhang Fan had their own tempers; overzealous flattery would only make the other party uncomfortable. If irritated, he couldn’t bear the consequences.

”What’s wrong with you? Ate too many soybeans or something?”

They hadn’t gone far before Wei Qingsong’s angry rebuke rang out.

”Next stop, Qilu City Station...”

Just then, an announcement sounded in the carriage. Zhang Fan got up, gathered his luggage, and prepared to get off.

He would first head to Lao Mountain Daoist School in Qilu City to investigate. After all, Jiang Lai disappeared after delivering the [Bone Pill], and that was the last place she had been seen—perhaps there were some clues left behind.

”Brother Fan, the head of Lao Mountain Daoist School is Luo Baizhang. Years ago, he cultivated on Lao Mountain. After seven years of learning, he went down the mountain...” Liu Xingtui shared what information he had.

This was the one who placed the order for the [Bone Pill] with Night is not bright.

It was said that while Luo Baizhang wasn’t particularly talented, he had good connections in East Mountain Province. Otherwise, he couldn’t have become head of the Qilu City Lao Mountain Daoist School. This was a lucrative position.

After all, although there were over a hundred Daoist schools under Lao Mountain in East Mountain Province, Qilu City’s was one of the top five in terms of profit-making ability.

Because of this, Luo Baizhang spent three and a half million to order a [Bone Pill] without even blinking an eye.

”This guy’s not very gifted, nearly all his cultivation relies on [External Core Skill], and he spends twenty or thirty million on it every year,” Liu Xingtui said in a low voice.

Not everyone cultivates as freakishly fast as Zhang Fan; some people meditate their whole lives, and never even reach Primordial Spirit Awakening.

Even if they pass the [Primordial Spirit Awakening] threshold, improving cultivation and honing Daoist Skill still takes a huge toll in time and effort.

There are countless people who spend over a decade just to master a Small Skill; their whole lives, they’re only Technique Apprentices. Even so, they’re considered the cream of the crop in the Daoist sects.

After all, seeking immortality through cultivation goes against the heavens; it’s not one in ten thousand but one in a hundred thousand, a million, or even ten million who make it.

Because of this, External Core Skill became the shortcut for many—using great medicine from heaven and earth, and exotic treasures from the mountains and seas, to improve cultivation and refine Daoist techniques is a broad avenue, not inferior to any other path.

The path ultimately leads to Infinite—no true high or low—its only flaw is that it burns through money.

”He really isn’t short on cash,” Zhang Fan said, his eye twitching.

Luo Baizhang had served as head of Lao Mountain Daoist School in Qilu City for five years; by now, he’d amassed a fortune well over a hundred million. He burned through money every year and finally pushed himself to the Spirit Department stage in the Daoist sect’s four realms—he counted as a local powerhouse.

”Let’s see if he has any clues first.”

Zhang Fan got off the high-speed train and took the Liu Brothers straight to Lao Mountain Daoist School by taxi. After all, this trip counted as a work trip, so all expenses would be reimbursed later—no need to save money for Bai Buran.

...

East Mountain Province, Qilu City.

Guaizi Street, Lao Mountain Daoist School.

An old-fashioned small building, a spacious courtyard like a little square. Under the guidance of a Daoist priest, one upright figure after another practiced their punches and kicks.

This was the most famous longevity exercise at Lao Mountain Daoist School, called [Beast-Fisted Bird Body]; men cultivated for kidney health, women for beauty. Over time, the practice strengthened bones and tendons, enriched the blood, and prolonged life—effective for heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more.

Inside the fifth-floor office.

A burly, beer-bellied middle-aged man rotated an iron egg in his right hand, producing a jangling sound. With the other, he picked up freshly brewed tea, poured a cup, and pushed it across the table.

”Junior Brother Wei, what good timing—you must try my new brew, [Autumn Intoxication]. This tea can only be found on Lao Mountain and is best enjoyed in autumn.”

”I got this tea cake from our sect at last year’s annual gathering.” Luo Baizhang beamed at Wei Qingsong sitting opposite him.

”Autumn Intoxication!?” Wei Qingsong couldn’t help but react to the aroma.

He knew that the mountain’s tea gardens only grew extraordinary strains. They were sometimes awakened with pill remnants, making their taste enduring and their effects as potent as tonics. Only thirty-six Autumn Intoxication tea cakes were produced a year.

Luo Baizhang had only managed to get one thanks to his capable management of Lao Mountain Daoist School.

”I’m really in for a treat today, thanks to you, Senior Brother,” said Wei Qingsong.

”Junior Brother, what brings you here so late today?” Luo Baizhang asked blandly.

”You know how it is—recently, Wuwei Sect made quite a scene in Qilu City, so there have been too many matters in the Daoist Alliance lately. I was sent out on official business,” Wei Qingsong replied, not elaborating.

Such was the custom in the Daoist Alliance.

Luo Baizhang nodded and didn’t ask further.

”People from Night is not bright should arrive today. With you here, I feel a bit more at ease, Senior Brother.”

Luo Baizhang had already heard that people from Night is not bright would be visiting to inquire about Jiang Lai’s disappearance, so he had asked Wei Qingsong to be present...

First, his own talent and skill were not on par with his junior brother. Second, Wei Qingsong was, after all, an official member of the East Mountain Province Daoist Alliance—an authority figure who could handle any situation that arose.

”Senior Brother, I don’t quite understand—Night is not bright just has a business relationship with you. One of their people goes missing, they can just call the police, and it doesn’t seem odd for them to ask questions. Why do you need me here? Does this situation have anything to do with you?” Wei Qingsong couldn’t help but ask.

”Of course it has nothing to do with me,” Luo Baizhang shook his head.

”If it were just a matter of asking a few simple questions, I’d be perfectly forthcoming. But you don’t understand the ways of the Jianghu—the boss of Night is not bright is a former disciple from Zhenwu Mountain. Early on, he broke sect rules and was expelled...”

”Who knows what kind of people work for him—what if they’re unreasonable? My place is a legitimate business—if things get out of hand...”

Luo Baizhang left it there, but Wei Qingsong understood and nodded.

One gets emotional when personally involved. While Luo Baizhang wasn’t to blame, if the other side played dirty and pinned the fault on Lao Mountain Daoist School, causing a commotion, it could ruin business.

If this was actually malicious business competition, who could say what the real story behind the ”disappearance” was?

Luo Baizhang had survived in the business world for years; he could see the dangers at a glance.

”Don’t worry, Senior Brother. With me here, as long as it’s on East Mountain Province territory, nothing can’t be sorted out.”

Wei Qingsong made a vow of assurance.

He was both a disciple of Lao Mountain and part of the Daoist Alliance—a double buff. Black or white, if it happened in East Mountain Province, there was nothing he couldn’t handle, no one he couldn’t subdue.

”If they’re polite, fine. But if they dare step out of line, I’ll make sure they know—this is East Mountain.”

Wei Qingsong’s voice was low and calm but brimming with confidence. Sitting there, he exuded an air that one man could block a thousand.

Luo Baizhang took this in and nodded, a satisfied smile on his face.

This was, after all, why he’d befriended this junior brother over the years—and now, it finally paid off.

Knock... knock... knock...

Just then, there came a knocking at the door.

”Come in...”

”Director, there are a few people outside who call themselves employees of Night is not bright. They want to see you,” said a young man in a Daoist robe.

”Bring them up,” said Luo Baizhang, waving his hand.

”Junior Brother, should we go greet them?”

”No need, Senior Brother. You are the head of Lao Mountain Daoist School, after all; you don’t need to lower yourself. Besides, if you act too welcoming, they might get unreasonable...” Wei Qingsong advised.

”You see things clearly, Junior Brother,” Luo Baizhang nodded.

”We’ll just sit and wait for them here,” Wei Qingsong said, crossing his legs with a grand air that filled the room.

Luo Baizhang saw this and felt even more reassured.

”Director, they’re here.”

Just then, a gentle voice announced, and Zhang Fan entered the office with the Liu Brothers.

Luo Baizhang squinted, making no move to stand. With his Stabilizing Needle, he felt at ease, his face relaxed—until, in his peripheral vision, his expression suddenly twitched sharply...

The previously calm Wei Qingsong sprang up as if he’d stepped on a live wire, his face blank and unsure what expression to make. He stared at Zhang Fan’s group for a long moment before finally squeezing out a line:

”Daoist Brother, why are you honoring us with your presence? If I’d known, I would have come to greet you myself!!”