HBWnovel Chapter 321 Preparation
Chapter 321 Preparation
"Must we go?" Chen Mu asked, reluctant.
Mist Smoke Mountain is ultimately at the forefront of the struggle, what if we encounter danger?
"The brutes from the Inspection Courtyard wrecked the Yanxia Sect's storage."
"Mist Smoke Mountain is humid and rainy. Without the protective restraints of the warehouse, Yellow Bud Rice is easily prone to mold and spoilage," Zhu Yi said helplessly.
"It's too much trouble to move it back to Jade Spring Mountain. It's best to refine it into Fasting Pills on the spot, then move it here."
He then sighed, "Originally, Qi Hui was supposed to go."
"But his Pill-making quantity has sharply decreased lately, and he's wasted a lot of materials."
"I wouldn't dare send him to do alchemy."
Chen Mu's eyes narrowed slightly.
A sharp decrease in quantity, wasting materials?
Could it be too much of a coincidence?
Seeing Chen Mu silent, Zhu Yi continued with a smile, "Mist Smoke Mountain is indeed not a peaceful place."
"But our Liu Ling, Elder Liu, is stationed there."
"You only need to focus on alchemy once you're there, no need to worry about anything else. Your safety will definitely be assured."
Liu Ling?
One of the four Condensing Aperture experts from Jade Spring Mountain's annex?
Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that a trip to Mist Smoke Mountain was inevitable.
He then frowned and asked, "It won't be just me going, will it?"
"That won't do," Zhu Yi shook his head. "There will be three Alchemist Apprentices going with you."
"They are all talented hands from Pill Treasure Pavilion, extremely skilled at Absorbing the Essence of the Five Grains, which can assist you in alchemy."
...
Inside the living room of Chen Mu's cave abode.
"You're going too?" Chen Mu frowned at Bai Xiuwen.
He then looked toward Feng and Xue, "You two, you haven't been chosen as well, have you?"
"Our ability to Absorb the Essence of the Five Grains still falls short," Feng Haoxiu said, his dark face turning red with embarrassment. Continue reading at empire
Chen Mu nodded, neither affirming nor denying.
"Has Qi Hui shown any abnormalities?"
"Abnormalities? Not that I've noticed," Bai Xiuwen considered.
"He's just a bit irritable."
What's going on?
"This trip to Mist Smoke Mountain comes with a hefty reward. He wanted to go, but Pavilion Master Zhu did not agree," Bai Xiuwen chuckled.
"Do you know why Qi Hui has reduced his alchemy output recently?" Chen Mu's eyes narrowed.
"You suspect he's feigning weakness intentionally? Just to avoid going to Mist Smoke Mountain?" Bai Xiuwen voiced his astonishment: "Could that be possible?"
Hard to say.
Chen Mu remained silent.
"I don't know if Elder Brother Qi is feigning weakness, but I do know a bit about why he reduced his alchemy output," Feng Haoxiu said hesitantly, looking at the two beside him.
"Go on," Chen Mu said, interested.
He purchased a bunch of durable cured meats and jerkies.
He also ordered two baskets of vegetables, intending to make dehydrated vegetable chips.
Finally, Chen Mu arrived at the entrance of Shang Huan's Qi Wu Hall.
As he would be away from Jade Spring Mountain for a while, he had to inform Shang Huan in advance.
He wanted to caution the plump man to exercise restraint in his actions to avoid any danger that Chen Mu's absence would fail to protect against.
...
Jade Spring Pavilion, at the back courtyard of Qi Wu Hall.
Old Hao was overwhelmed with worry, "This could be seen as aiding the enemy!"
"If the Inspection Courtyard finds out that you're doing business with those heterodox evildoers, you're done for!"
Shang Huan replied cheerfully, "We're just selling our products to the mountain folks within East Ridge. As for who they sell to after that, hehe..."
Old Hao immediately gave Shang Huan a sidelong glance, unable to restrain himself.
The mountain folks were already involved with the heterodox sects of East Ridge. Many of their young ones had been apprenticed to those sects from a young age.
Selling to the mountain folks was essentially aiding the enemy!
"Mr. Gongsun has already warned you not to conduct business with those heterodox paths."
"If he starts to follow up on this..."
Instead, Shang Huan raised his eyebrows confidently, "Mr. Gongsun only forbade me from selling Wood Spirit Boys to the heterodox paths. He didn't say I couldn't sell the Heaven-Earthing Talismans."
"I've fully understood Mr. Gongsun's intentions now!"
"The Wood Spirit Boy is Mr. Gongsun's trademark. If it appeared in the hands of the evildoers, there could be serious repercussions."
"But for other items, there's absolutely no problem!"
"Essence of the Five Grains, Healing Precious Medicine, Pathfinding Talismans – all goods from Jade Spring Pavilion can be sold up the mountain!"
"Just think about how big of a deal that would be!" Shang Huan's eyes shone with excitement.
Outside Qi Wu Hall, Chen Mu, with the Truthful Listening Technique attached to his ear, thought: "..."
Did you learn your reading comprehension from a demon or what?!
...
A short while later, at the back courtyard of Qi Wu Hall.
"My, my, Shang Huan, what's wrong with you? Do you need a doctor to take a look?" Chen Mu feigned concern.
"I'm fine, just a bit dizzy," Shang Huan said, his face pale as he struggled against the bouts of darkness encroaching his vision.
Or it might have been an illusion.
He always felt something off about the expression of the person before him.
"The Administrative Affairs Institute has assigned me a task to go to Mist Smoke Mountain for alchemy. The return date is uncertain, so I came to tell you all," he explained.
"If you really run into trouble, just close up shop and take a break for a while."
"Things have not been very peaceful up the mountain lately. You better not cause any trouble," Chen Mu said meaningfully.
Shang Huan's face instantly turned serious.
"Rest assured."
"I'm just a simple, honest merchant. I will definitely not stir up any trouble!" Shang Huan promised solemnly.
Chen Mu looked at Shang Huan with a blank expression.
It seems the strength of the spirit I drew out was still too little.
Seven Souls Return to Origin!