Chapter 563: Once Again, the Non-Sprouting Medicinal Fields

“What? Little Brother still wants to attend to his own affairs?”

Chen Fengxiao was obviously stunned and blurted out the question, as though he had never expected Zhang Xiaohua to say such a thing.

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “Has Boss Chen forgotten? A few days ago, this little brother mentioned it to you—I wanted to follow the Herb Division’s regulations and find a few medicinal fields on the summit of Tianmu Peak to tend.”

Chen Fengxiao forced a smile and said: “Little Brother really knows how to joke. Although Tianmu Peak has many medicinal fields, our Herb Division has even more disciples. Little Brother possesses such excellent martial skills; they cannot be wasted among medicinal fields. They should be used where they are truly needed.”

Zhang Xiaohua replied seriously: “Boss Chen, this little brother is absolutely not joking. Otherwise, I would not have spoken so much to you about it earlier. I am a medicine boy sent from Spring Rebirth Valley. If I do not honestly tend medicinal fields, and word of it spreads, would that not damage the reputation of our Spring Rebirth Valley?”

“This…” Chen Fengxiao did not know how to answer. Inwardly he grumbled, “I’ve never seen anyone like you. Everyone else stays as far away from the medicinal fields as possible, yet you insist on moving closer to them. A few days ago, I thought you were merely putting on a show, but who would have imagined you truly intended to do this!”

Seeing Chen Fengxiao’s difficulty, Qiu Weicheng quietly said from the side: “Boss Chen, aren’t there several medicinal fields on the eastern side of Tianmu Peak’s summit that have never been able to sprout? Why not let Junior Brother Ren take care of them? In any case, there is not much to do there, and the work is very easy. If Boss Chen has any matters, Junior Brother Ren can also be summoned over at any time.”

“That would work. Although those plots never sprout, they still need disciples to watch over them. It’s an extremely easy assignment, but the previous disciples all became lazy and disliked how far away the place was. Junior Brother Ren’s Qinggong is quite good, making him a suitable choice.” Chen Fengxiao nodded slightly.

“Is there a place to live beside the medicinal fields?” Zhang Xiaohua asked again.

“There is. There’s also a small hut there.” Chen Fengxiao answered without thinking, then asked in surprise, “Junior Brother Ren isn’t really planning to live on the summit, is he?”

“That is exactly my intention,” Zhang Xiaohua said decisively.

“But…” Chen Fengxiao uttered two words and did not continue trying to persuade him. With Zhang Xiaohua far away from the other disciples, he actually felt more at ease. Then he looked at Bai Huan and said, “Then I shall have to trouble Junior Brother Bai to accompany Junior Brother Ren to the summit of Tianmu Peak. Junior Brother Ren will be the only person there, and we would not feel at ease otherwise. What do you think, Junior Brother Bai?”

“Of course, of course. That is only proper. Junior Brother Ren works hard tending the medicinal fields, and I can just bring him meals and water.”

“There is no need for Junior Brother Bai to trouble himself with such chores. I will arrange for people to deliver meals to you. You only need to watch over the medicinal fields and carry out your assigned duties.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “That is excellent. If Senior Brother Bai had to go up and down the mountain every day bringing meals, this little brother truly could not bear it. Oh, right, what about these medicinal herbs?”

Chen Fengxiao waved his hand and said: “Little Brother, rest assured. Few people come here to begin with, and medicinal herbs are not valuable items. Later, I will notify the Herb Division disciples, and have Wu Dalang inform the Pill Division disciples as well, not to come to this small courtyard.”

“Good, good, good.” Zhang Xiaohua uttered three successive words of approval and said, “Now that everything here has been properly arranged, we should hurry up the mountain. This little brother’s proper duty is tending medicinal fields. After not working for several days, my hands are already itching.”

Chen Fengxiao smiled bitterly. “Little Brother need not be so anxious. I came over this time only to see whether the pills the Pill Division lost to you had been delivered. I was not planning to abandon you on the mountaintop.”

Pointing at the jade boxes beside him, Zhang Xiaohua said: “Wu Dalang sent people to deliver them early this morning. I did not count them carefully, but I doubt there is any discrepancy.”

“Mm, since they have already been delivered, then I can rest easy. Little Brother’s gambling match can now be considered perfectly concluded. If you want more income, you’ll have to wait for the next gambling match.”

“The next gambling match?” Zhang Xiaohua was delighted. “When will that be?”

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s eager expression, Chen Fengxiao secretly felt pleased and said: “There is no fixed interval between gambling matches. It depends on the opportunity. However, the Pill Division suffered too miserable a defeat this time. No matter what, they will need several days to recover. Little Brother need not be anxious. Stay on Tianmu Peak for now. There will be plenty of time for you to earn pills.”

“Good.” Zhang Xiaohua clapped his hands again. “Then I shall trouble Boss Chen to make the arrangements for this little brother’s affairs on the summit.”

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua urging him yet again, Chen Fengxiao could only say, “Very well. Come, let us go and take a look at the place on the summit of Tianmu Peak where Little Brother will be putting down roots in the future!”

There was only one path leading to the summit, the same trail that Zou Shuming and Zhang Xiaohua had taken during their Qinggong contest. Halfway up the mountain, however, the trail split into two branches leading respectively to the eastern and western peaks. Bai Huan led the way along the eastern route.

Qiu Weicheng explained from the side: “Tianmu Peak falls within the sphere of influence of our Tuodan Hall. The Pill Division and Herb Division each have their own areas of operation. The western side of the mountain belongs to the Pill Division and serves as the site where they refine pills. Under normal circumstances, people from our Herb Division are not permitted to go there.”

Zhang Xiaohua frowned and said, “Why refine pills in such a high place?”

Qiu Weicheng replied: “Most of Tianmu Peak—the eastern, southern, and northern sides—is used for cultivating medicinal herbs. Only the western side, from the foot of the mountain all the way to the summit, contains numerous pill-refining chambers arranged at varying elevations. The several pill chambers at the very top are used by a few old Consecrated Elders.”

Zhang Xiaohua asked again: “When I was in Spring Rebirth Valley, I saw pill-refining disciples refining pills. They used earth fire. Could it be that Tianmu Peak also has earth fire?”

Chen Fengxiao shook his head and said: “Judging from Wu Dalang’s usual remarks, it does seem to be earth fire, but as for how earth fire could exist at such a high place, he has never explained clearly. Ah, our Incense-Spreading Sect is full of strange and marvelous things. Little Brother will gradually grow accustomed to them.”

“Eh? Many strange and marvelous things?” Zhang Xiaohua was inwardly surprised.

“Little Brother may move about freely on the summit of Tianmu Peak, but you must absolutely not approach the pill-refining chambers of those Consecrated Elders on the western side. That is one of the rules of our Tuodan Hall. If Little Brother is interested in pill refinement, you can find an opportunity to talk things over with Wu Dalang in the future, but do not act on your own.”

Chen Fengxiao gave this warning with a meaningful look.

As they spoke, they arrived at the eastern side of Tianmu Peak’s summit. Facing the gentle sunlight of the east, the entire broad eastern slope was covered with medicinal fields that had been carefully leveled and arranged. Yet these fields were just like the medicinal fields of Huanxi Villa in years past—completely bare, without a single medicinal herb in sight.

On a higher embankment beside the fields, upon a level stretch of ground, stood an exquisite little house that looked quite elegant. Pointing toward it, Chen Fengxiao said: “That is where the disciples rest during the day. They all go back down the mountain at night. From now on, it will be the place where Little Brother and Junior Brother Bai reside.”

Bai Huan wore a miserable expression, while Zhang Xiaohua looked at the blazing sun hanging high above, then at the boundless sea of white clouds below the mountain, and smiled. “This place is like an immortal realm. Even living here for a lifetime would never become tiresome.”

Chen Fengxiao gave a thumbs-up. “Little Brother, what lofty aspirations, what a lofty state of mind.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and shook his head, then pointed at the medicinal fields and asked: “Boss Chen, are these the medicinal fields where nothing sprouts? Are you certain seeds were actually planted in them?”

Chen Fengxiao chuckled and said: “The seeds planted in the eastern fields were personally brought from Yixiang Peak by Inner Sect disciples back then. I personally went into the fields and sowed them myself. How could I not be certain?”

“Then how can they fail to sprout? This is the first time I have ever encountered such a strange thing,” Zhang Xiaohua deliberately asked.

“Who knows? In any case, every few years, the Inner Sect disciples bring another batch of seeds that cannot sprout and plant them here.”

“Eh? Since they cannot sprout, where did the seeds of those medicinal herbs come from in the first place?”

“Well…” Chen Fengxiao said, “The Inner Sect disciples never explain it, so we can only speculate. None of our guesses can be taken as fact…”

Just as Zhang Xiaohua was about to continue asking questions, he saw several disciples lazily making their way up the mountain path. When those disciples spotted Chen Fengxiao and the others, they were greatly startled and hurried over at a trot, bowing as they said: “We did not know Boss Chen would be coming today. We have truly failed in our duty to welcome you from afar.”

Seeing the somewhat panicked expressions on the disciples’ faces and their awkward greeting, Chen Fengxiao waved his hand and said: “What time is it already? And only now are you arriving?”

One of the disciples replied with a smile: “Boss Chen, please be discerning. The work in these medicinal fields amounts to little more than weeding and watering. Being a little early or a little late makes no real difference, so we brothers have inevitably become somewhat lax. Besides, this place is extremely far from our quarters…”

“No need to say more. Go and pack up your things and clear out the hut. From now on, you will no longer be responsible for this place. It will be handed over to Junior Brother Ren and Junior Brother Bai. If there is anything that needs to be passed on, explain it clearly at once.”

Then he turned to Zhang Xiaohua and said, “Little Brother, familiarize yourself with the surroundings first. In a few days, I will come again and discuss things with you in detail.”

With that, he and Qiu Weicheng descended from the summit.

The disciples who had previously watched over the medicinal fields had been caught neglecting their duties by Chen Fengxiao and had expected punishment. Yet upon hearing his orders, all of them were delighted. Although these medicinal fields were easy to manage, the daily climb to and from the summit was exhausting, and they had long harbored complaints. Now, happiness had fallen from the sky—they would never again have to make this climb. Their hearts were already blooming with joy. After Chen Fengxiao left, they pulled Zhang Xiaohua and Bai Huan along by their sleeves, gave them a rough tour of the various parts of the medicinal fields, explained all the necessary precautions, and then hurried into the hut to gather their belongings before cheerfully leaving the summit of Tianmu Peak.

Only Zhang Xiaohua remained standing beneath the sunlight, a faint smile hanging on his face as he looked at the barren medicinal fields, while Bai Huan stood before the now-empty hut with a mournful expression, lost in thought.

After quite a while, Zhang Xiaohua said, “Senior Brother Bai, if you do not wish to stay on the summit, then go back first. When I have the opportunity, I can speak to Boss Chen about it.”

Bai Huan immediately waved his hands. “Not at all, not at all. I simply have not adjusted to it yet. Junior Brother Ren, stay here for now. I will go bring up your bedding.”

But Zhang Xiaohua said, “There is no need. Bring up your own things first. I will walk around a bit, and when I have time later, I can fetch mine myself.”

“Very well then. Junior Brother Ren, do not wander too far. The western side is off-limits. If one of the Pill Division’s Consecrated Elders happens to see you, punishment will be unavoidable.”

“I know. Go take care of your own matters.”

Zhang Xiaohua waved his hand and walked straight toward the summit.