Chapter 144: Chapter 137: The Whitewashing Plan
As news of the mine spread, the foot traffic in Jinyun Valley increased dramatically.
Previously, the valley had no industries to keep people around, so the market had always been half-dead. If it weren’t for the Tiger Demon wreaking havoc in Chi State, many Loose Cultivators would never have come here.
But now, many Loose Cultivators were traveling thousands of miles just to make a living here.
Meanwhile, business at Chen’s Pill Shop was booming. Zhao Deyou couldn’t handle it all by himself, so Ding Fei had recruited a batch of apprentices from the market and was now lecturing them in the backyard.
"Our Chen’s Pill Shop may not have a long history, but our owner is a Tributor of Jinyun Valley, a genius Pill Master renowned far and wide..."
Zhao Deyou’s voice was loud and melodious as he recounted the Pill Shop’s history and touted Chen Che’s name. Some of his boasts were so exaggerated that even Chen Che couldn’t help but blush. But the group of half-grown children, around seven or eight years old, listened with rapt attention.
In short, getting into the Pill Shop was a blessing they had earned over eight lifetimes.
"Where did you find these kids?"
As the owner, Chen Che naturally had to make an appearance for a major event like the shop taking on apprentices.
"They’re all children from the market. We can trace their roots back three generations," Ding Fei said in a low voice.
Even though they were just half-grown kids, he had gone to great lengths, practically wanting to dig through their entire family trees. If their parents had been scoundrels or troublemakers, or even had a slightly poor reputation in the market, he wouldn’t even give them the time of day.
Despite these strict conditions, many Loose Cultivators still secretly offered him money, just so their children could get into the shop.
"Good!"
Chen Che nodded slightly.
This was the rule in Yunzhou, and indeed in this world. Even Jinyun Valley recruited apprentices from nearby farm households, training them from a young age to ensure their unwavering loyalty.
After two or three generations of service, they would become family retainers.
If any dared to betray their masters, the head of the house held the power of life and death over them.
As for apprentices who already had skills before seeking a master, they were halfway converts whose character was often a mixed bag. Few people would recruit them, and even if they did, they would have to pass a heart-and-mind interrogation to ensure they had no ulterior motives upon joining.
"The first cup of tea is for the owner!"
After speaking eloquently for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Zhao Deyou shouted with a resonant voice.
"Greetings, Owner!"
The children poured the tea and bowed respectfully.
Chen Che picked up his teacup and took a small sip. The children before him had already downed their tea in one gulp.
"The second cup of tea is for the Head Shopkeeper!"
"From now on, work hard and remember the owner’s grace! Don’t think that just because you’re in the shop, everything is set. The Pill Shop doesn’t support idlers. If you can’t learn anything, you’ll go back where you came from!"
Ding Fei was already sitting ramrod straight. He jolted slightly, then put on an air of detached composure, slowly raising his teacup.
He was still self-aware enough to know that anyone could sit in the Head Shopkeeper’s position.
In fact, someone else might even do a better job. After all, a Head Shopkeeper needed not only to be socially adept, but also to have connections. He was just a low-level Loose Cultivator; the only reason he sat here was because he was the first to follow Chen Che.
Therefore, he never dared to forget his place.
When it came to the apprentices, the owner couldn’t be the bad guy. So, he had to be the one to play that role.
The third cup was, naturally, for Zhao Deyou.
As the owner, Chen Che certainly wouldn’t personally train the apprentices; besides, he didn’t have that much energy. Thus, Zhao Deyou was in charge of instructing these children. Only if he took a liking to a particularly talented one would he possibly take them on as a personal disciple.
Master-disciple relationships in this world were mostly like this.
The shop was usually a bit quiet when there were no customers, but now with a group of children, it immediately became lively. Zhao Changping, as the ’senior brother,’ was teaching the group the rules of the Pill Shop.
"It’s finally starting to look like something. In the future, they’ll be your foundation. Perhaps in another ten-odd years, Jinyun Valley will have one more Cultivation Race," watching the lively shop, Meng Qingxuan sipped her Spirit Tea and offered a serious evaluation.
"May your auspicious words come true, Miss Meng," Chen Che replied perfunctorily.
"You don’t believe me?"
Meng Qingxuan was a little displeased with Chen Che’s casual attitude. "My ancestor was able to build our clan to its current scale precisely because he was a master of the Beast Taming Skill. A power without a specialized skill will never go far!"
Her words were clearly a veiled jab at Jinyun Valley’s previous development model.
A Foundation Establishment Cultivator who only cared about his own solitary cultivation and ignored everything else. That’s why for hundreds of years, Jinyun Valley only had a few stragglers and still relies on Ye Jingzhou alone to hold it up.
After speaking, she glanced at Chen Che again. "But you’re different. You’re already a genius Pill Master of Jinyun Valley, renowned far and wide. Many Loose Cultivators come seeking you for alchemy, and even the elders in my clan have heard of you."
During that time, she had returned to her family a few times on her Fiery Flying Crane.
Many clan elders had asked her if Jinyun Valley really had such a genius Pill Master.
"It’s just an empty reputation," Chen Che said calmly. Seeing she was about to speak again, he changed the subject. "Miss Meng, why have you stopped searching for demon beasts?"
"There are a few fleas that are too annoying. Whenever I go out, they follow me every step of the way," Meng Qingxuan snorted, her tone full of annoyance.
’It’s probably those people from the small gathering,’ Chen Che guessed inwardly.
Ever since Meng Qingxuan decided to stay in the market long-term, these people had all remained here as well. He had seen them several times. A few of the cultivators clearly had other designs on Meng Qingxuan, resorting to almost any means to fawn over her.
After all, Meng Qingxuan’s status was plain to see...
If one could marry into the Meng Family, they could leap across social classes.
"If I so much as frown, they ask me what’s wrong. If I glance at an item in the market for too long, they want to buy it for me. They’re constantly asking if I’m warm or cold. It’s endlessly annoying."
Glancing at the silent, tea-sipping Chen Che, Meng Qingxuan said faintly, "It’s much quieter here."
’It’s a bit strange; I don’t know why I always like coming to the Pill Shop, even though this guy always gives me the cold shoulder.’
Chen Che chuckled, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and looked outside.
Meng Qingxuan also glanced over. Seeing three figures approaching, she snorted, "They’re here again!"
As she spoke, three cultivators strode into the Pill Shop.
The man in the lead held a folding fan. His lips were red, his teeth were white, and he had the air of a treasured piece of jade. His name was Bian Feiyun, and he hailed from a Cultivation Minor Race in Yunzhou. Although his ancestors for several generations had been cultivators, none had ever reached Foundation Establishment, so the family remained unremarkable.
The other two were:
One had sword-like brows and star-like eyes. His name was Sun Hao. He was said to have been a genius young swordsman in the mortal world, led to the path of immortality by an old Daoist and achieving Dao through martial arts.
The other, dressed in rich brocade and wearing a jade crown, was named Dan Guanliang. He was a royal grandson from a dynasty in Great Feng of Chi State.
Though their origins differed, all three were exceptionally handsome.
"Tributor Chen!"
Bian Feiyun entered the Pill Shop and first cupped his hands toward Chen Che. "We have taken the liberty of visiting. It’s just that Miss Meng was unable to attend the small gathering yesterday, and we did not see her go out today. We were concerned, so we came to check..."
Meng Qingxuan looked at Chen Che, her eyes filled with a plea for help.
Obviously, she wanted him to act as a shield and block the three men.
"Please, chat amongst yourselves..."
Chen Che pretended not to see. He had no desire to get caught up in some boring, jealous squabble, so he stood up directly. "I have some business to attend to."
With that said, he walked to the side and began flipping through the register of apprentices.
"...You!"
Meng Qingxuan’s eyes went wide. She couldn’t believe it.
However, before she could have an outburst, Dan Guanliang, without changing his expression, quickly sat down in the seat Chen Che had just vacated, taking a spot next to her.
"I guessed that Miss Meng would be at Chen’s Pill Shop, so I suggested we all come here. Now that I see you’re alright, Miss Meng, I can finally rest easy."
Sun Hao thoughtfully poured Meng Qingxuan a cup of hot tea and then asked, "Miss Meng, why didn’t you go searching for demon beasts today?"
"Do I need to explain my actions to you?"
Meng Qingxuan’s eyes were half-closed, her attitude resolute.
’COUGH COUGH. A bunch of clowns trying to kiss a cold ass...’ Nearby, Ding Fei was drinking Spirit Tea. Seeing this scene, he nearly choked. ’These three are so solicitous, couldn’t they see that not only is Meng Qingxuan giving them the cold shoulder, she’s clearly annoyed? But seeing Meng Qingxuan’s dismissive attitude, they don’t seem to mind at all and, in fact, have become even more enthusiastic. Aren’t they just asking for humiliation?’
"Miss Meng, there’s a rumor from near the Black Water River recently."
Bian Feiyun said with a smile, fanning himself, "A large, strange-looking eagle was seen catching a door-sized Ink Turtle from the river. It was a magnificent sight, and it’s been spotted nearby. Is Miss Meng interested in searching for it together?"
"Indeed. That medicine-stealing demon beast has probably long since left. In my opinion, this demon is even more impressive," Dan Guanliang added, lifting his chin encouragingly.
Sun Hao also nodded. "I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of it once. The eagle is as tall as a man, like an overlord of the sky. Few demon beasts in the mountains can match it."
The three of them knew that Meng Qingxuan came from a Beast Taming Clan and was most interested in rare and exotic beasts.
And that was why she had been lingering in Jinyun Valley, hunting for the medicine-stealing demon beast.
In their eyes, if they invited her on this matter, Meng Qingxuan would surely not refuse.
"Not interested!"
Who would have thought? Meng Qingxuan snorted, slammed her hand on the table, and got up to leave.
Bian Feiyun, Dan Guanliang, and Sun Hao were momentarily stunned, completely caught off guard. They quickly took a few steps to follow, only to find she was already far away. The three looked at each other, utterly bewildered, then dispersed after a moment of silence.
"TSK TSK TSK..."
Ding Fei, who had a front-row seat to the whole drama, had a look of pure mockery on his face.
’This young lady’s temper is the same as ever... Still, today’s scene feels somewhat familiar.’
Thinking of this, he slapped his forehead.
’Doesn’t this kind of scene play out in the Pill Shop every day? Meng Qingxuan is always lukewarm toward the enthusiastic Bian Feiyun and his friends. And isn’t Chen Che just as indifferent to Meng Qingxuan?’
After the three men had left, Chen Che also looked up from the register, watching their retreating backs. He tapped his fingers lightly, his eyes narrowing slightly.
However, he wasn’t thinking about Meng Qingxuan, but about the Little Chick.
With more and more cultivators in the market, the Little Chick’s daily flights would surely be noticed by an increasing number of people. If he didn’t handle the situation soon, such a powerful raptor-like demon beast would definitely attract the covetous gazes of many cultivators.
If this went on for too long and Jinyun Valley also took a fancy to it, that would be disastrous.
"But this is also an opportunity to let it appear by my side, openly and legitimately!"
Chen Che rested his chin on his hand as a plan to ’launder the identity’ of the Little Chick began to form in his mind.
