Immortal Cultivation and Life-Saving Guide

Chapter 281 Homecoming
Yu Ming Guanli, Wei Xi and the other two bought all the accompanying herbs and left the city overnight.

Qingzhou was poor, with few county towns outside the prefectural capital. Most of the towns were small villages of thirty or forty households. Yizhangyuan was surrounded by six villages, and during years of disaster, the Qingcheng faction would help with relief, so life was relatively bearable.

It's a pity that the Qingcheng Sect doesn't have any outstanding industries, otherwise the nearby villagers could work as herbal farmers or do odd jobs to supplement their family income.

"It's a crisp autumn day," Lian Gou-hei, who was riding on a mule, said proudly, "It's much better than that damn place in Bingzhou City! At least there's no smell of death!"

The steed was returned to the post station in Qingzhou City. Lian Gouyu insisted on buying a horse, as he couldn't save the little money he had. Qin Feng laughed at the gaps between his fingers, and the latter snorted and said, "It's fate. I'm more superstitious than you!"
However, these three were not people who could save money: Qin Feng was a spendthrift, but fortunately her family had some property left to support her; Lian Gou Xie had been stealing since childhood, and would spend every penny he had in his pocket even though he got something for nothing; Wei Xi, who came from a poor family, had never been able to touch money when she was young, so she was generous because of her poverty, and she was really unlucky, so she developed the "good habit" of not taking action if she could solve the problem with money.

Lian Gou-che had spent most of the money Cen Jinfeng had given him along the way. Yesterday, after leaving the pharmacy, he went straight to the livestock market, only to discover he couldn't afford a good horse. Fortunately, Lian Gou-che was used to the world of horses, so he happily bought a mule and named it Junma.

"I think you two should buy a horse too," Lian Gouyue tirelessly promoted. "You can't just run everywhere, right? The master is incredibly talented, and our hardware can't keep up!"

"I won't buy one," Qin Feng, who was used to riding a good horse, pouted. "The horses out there aren't any good ones! I have to wait on them every day after I buy one, and I can't even finish my own homework! Besides, who would want to ride a horse when I go to Dieqi Mountain to form an elixir in a few years?"

"Wei Xi, why don't you buy one?" Lian Gouqie, unwilling to give up, turned to "harass" Wei Xi.

"I plan to refine a magical weapon. It shouldn't be difficult for one person to use it."

Wei Xi replied while touching Lingyin's wings. Brother Lingyin closed his eyes tightly, fearing that they would be scratched.

"Besides, I already have enough living creatures," Wei Xi thought, his vision darkening as he thought of the rat-catching general who ate excessively in the sect. "I don't want to raise another horse."

The mule was indeed capable of carrying a heavy load. It carried two boxes of herbs and a hook without even breathing heavily and climbed a distance of ten feet to the top of the plain.

Seeing the patched-up gate of the Qingcheng Sect, Wei Xi's heart completely died: there are more than a hundred people in this sect, but there is really no one to sweep the gate.

The only consolation is that the fallen leaves have smoothed out the oddly shaped paving stones, adding a touch of hermit-like aura to the Qingcheng Sect.

Wei Xi pressed his chest, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and stepped into Qingcheng Sect with Lingyin.

Under the Dongling tree at the entrance, a man was dozing off with a sword in his arms. Qin Feng walked up to him without hesitation and patted him twice, "Shen Zhao! What are you doing? Just standing there on guard!"

The young man shuddered and asked quickly, "Senior Sister Qin! Why are you back?"

"What are you talking about? I'm a disciple here, why would I go back to another place if not here?"

Shen Zhaosheng had a lovely baby face and smiled at Qin Feng twice, "Senior Sister! I've been looking forward to your return every day! I think about you day and night. I thought it was a dream just now and was about to cry..."

"Stop! If you keep talking, go to Weishuang Palace!" Qin Feng patted the boy with his hand. "This is your Senior Sister Wei Xi. She just came back from Bingzhou! She held you in her arms when you were a child!"

"Hello, Senior Sister Wei!" Shen Zhao greeted her obediently, his big eyes full of intelligence. "I didn't cause you any trouble when I was little!"

Even though Wei Xi had seen some of the world, he was still quite surprised by this well-dressed young man. "Is this... Elder Jiang's... disciple?"

Wei Xi originally wanted to say "monkey", but he twisted his tongue so as not to embarrass the person in person.

"Yes, senior sister!" Shen Zhao was very frank and didn't care whether he was of the same generation as Wei Xi or not. He was very smart.

"Just call me Senior Sister," Lian Gouyue rolled over and got off the mule, "Can't you see I'm such a grown man?"

"Brother Lian Gou! I haven't seen you for a long time and you look so handsome! I didn't even recognize you!"

"Enough!" Lian Gouqie pinched the boy's fat cheeks, "Slippery tongue! Have you been hanging out with Hu Lai for too long?"

"Don't blame everything on Hu Lai! He's just like that! Where's Senior Brother Yan?"

"Wen Daotang," Shen Zhao rubbed his cheek, his voice a little unclear, "Senior Sister Xie is looking for him! They are both there!"

After saying this, he stretched his neck to look at the two boxes on the mule's back, his eyes shining. "Did my senior brother buy these? Is there anything to eat?"

"Do you want to eat the herbs?" Qin Feng waved his hand and walked towards Wen Dao Hall. "Don't sleep while on guard! What if something happens?" After making sure the monkey couldn't hear him, Wei Xi asked, "Shen Zhao? Isn't he...he's growing so fast?"

"Elder Jiang abandoned him in the sect and went off to travel. He used to switch back and forth between monkey and child, but suddenly this summer he became like this. Everyone's trying to keep him from running around and causing trouble!"

Wei Xi thought for a moment: This little monkey is really lovable. He keeps calling me "Senior Sister" and I can't really hate him.

"Then isn't he our equal?"

Hearing Wei Xi's question, Qin Feng found the person who had complained and complained passionately, "It's still Lian Gou! He tricked him into thinking that we were counted as monkeys. Only the old monkey is our equal! If you don't want to be a wrinkled old monkey, just call him Senior Brother!"

"Shen Zhao couldn't help but be fooled, and was so scared that he cried loudly. He kept calling people like this after that."

Understanding the disgust and shock in Wei Xi's eyes, Lian Gou smiled awkwardly, "That wasn't a joke, was it? I didn't expect him to take it seriously. I've already apologized to him... and even copied two more rules for Frost Palace. It's just three sentences. So boring!"

Wendao Hall was still the same as Wei Xi remembered, spacious and quiet, with traces of repairs on the corners of the plaque.

Xie Yingying and Yan Xiao were discussing the repairs to the sect's buildings before winter, with the account book spread out in the middle.

Seeing Wei Xi, Senior Sister Xie said in surprise, "A few days ago, Immortal Master Han asked when you would be back. I didn't expect you to be here today!"

After saying this, the elder sister who had been so worried about the Qingcheng Sect took Wei Xi's hand and said distressedly, "You've suffered greatly in Yinyang Slope over the past two years. Now that you've returned to the sect, you should rest well and don't ruin your foundation!"

"You've grown taller, but haven't gained much weight," Senior Sister Xie patted Wei Xi's shoulder sympathetically. "You've suffered a lot... It's our sect's fault for not being able to protect you..."

"The sect has done nothing wrong," Wei Xi said sincerely. "Senior Sister, don't be sad! Although Yinyang Slope was difficult, they didn't treat me harshly. The things the sect sent were very practical, and I can tell at a glance that they were Senior Sister's work!"

"Junior Sister Wei is much more talkative than before," Yan Xiao said with a smile. "This is the first time I've heard you talk so much! Senior Sister Xie is so caring. She personally oversees every supply delivery to Yinyang Slope!"

Wei Xi smiled shyly at his senior brothers and sisters. He was just a good kid. How could he look fierce towards outsiders?

After some pleasantries and concern, Xie Yingying turned her attention to Qin Feng. "The situation in Bingzhou City is quite complex. It's best if you can withdraw from it in time... I will negotiate with the Wanjian Sect myself. You just need to rest well!"

"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Qin Feng said respectfully, "This incident was unexpected. The monsters are quite powerful. It's a pity that we didn't capture any of them alive!"

"There's still a long way to go. We might be able to defeat her next time." Senior Sister Xie knew Qin Feng's competitive nature and appreciated her efforts. "Just be careful to protect yourself and don't be reckless!"

Qin Feng nodded in agreement, but it was unclear how much he had understood.

Senior Sister Xie asked about Lian Gou's injury and gave him a bottle of scar-removing medicine before letting it go.

After handing the herbs to Senior Brother Yan, the three of them took the initiative to hand over the reward to the sect as agreed before.

"The three of you are less than fifty years old in total. Why would you need to bleed yourself? Our sect has a small population, so life isn't that difficult," Senior Brother Yan returned the task cards to the three. "Since you are young, save some money for yourselves. The sect's resources are limited, and you three won't get much help after you reach the Core Formation stage..."

Perhaps feeling he was being too nagging, Senior Brother Yan added, "Besides, if you hand it over, how will the brothers and sisters in the sect feel? Put it away quickly!"

　Thank you for the support of book friends!

　　But I want to become a ghost every day...

　　Tips for this chapter:

　　Shen Zhao was transformed from the monkey that Elder Jiang brought back. Before the sect competition, Wei Xi held that monkey in his arms.

　　Wei Xi's mission card was issued during her stay, so she can't just work without getting paid...

　　The Qingcheng Sect was poor, but its cultivators weren't necessarily. Cultivators like Xian Hua, Elder Jiang, Elder Chu, and Elder Qingniu paid spirit stones annually to support the sect. The main problem was the lack of industry, the scarcity of powerful cultivators, and the laziness of the disciples...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)