Chapter 24: Only Today Do I Know Who I Am

“This place is known as Jiguan Mountain. I am Jiang Tingyue, acting on behalf of the local Mountain God, guarding a territory of three hundred square miles.”

The water curtain in the air dispersed, and the young man spoke slowly.

“The state has its laws, and the heavens have their rules. As a Mountain God, I cannot easily interfere in mortal Karma. Currently, at the foot of the mountain, Remnants of the Pharmacists are gathering followers with ill intentions. I wish to ask you two to take action and help me investigate the truth of the matter.”

“If you can eliminate the evildoers and rescue the ignorant masses from their suffering, I shall have rewards for you. If the culprits behind this are deeply connected and the problem is thorny, you may also return to inform me, and we shall find another way.”

It was very direct—so direct that Li Qiuchen felt a bit flattered.

To summarize in one sentence: the big shot finds it inconvenient to act personally, so you do the work for him, and there will be a red envelope afterward.

Although the person before him claimed to be a Mountain God and his aura indeed seemed extraordinary…

…in other aspects, he was unexpectedly full of humanity.

Furthermore, he had said himself that he was ‘acting’ as the Mountain God.

There was a lot of information to unpack there, but what Li Qiuchen wanted to ask most right now was: why us?

Actually, the man had already demonstrated the answer just now.

You two did a good job last time, and the big shot is satisfied.

He pondered for a moment in his heart and was just about to speak… “Ga-ga-ga-ga—”

Instead, the White Crane couldn’t help but cry out first.

Li Qiuchen wished he could pelt this Stupid Bird to death with a stone; didn’t it have any self-awareness about the sound it made?

Even though its beak had healed, it still went ‘ga-ga’ whenever it got anxious.

“Very well.”

To his surprise, Jiang Tingyue actually understood its honking. He nodded and said, “However, as far as I know, your elders have all ventured deep into the Great Desolation and it is unknown when they will return. If you do not wish to involve yourself in this matter, it is no problem; I can ask a friend to send you home.”

Li Qiuchen widened his eyes as he looked at the Stupid Bird.

Although he knew the Stupid Bird had an unusual background, he hadn’t expected its family history to far exceed his expectations.

It wasn’t some agile mountain spirit at all; from Senior Mountain God’s tone, it had to be from at least some sort of immortal cultivation clan.

“Ga-ga!”

The White Crane shook its head decisively.

If nothing were happening, it would be fine, but now that evil heretics were committing crimes, how could it just wash its hands of the matter?

“Good.”

Unsure of what deal Jiang Tingyue had reached with it, the man turned his head to Li Qiuchen and said, “If you have any questions, you may ask me directly.”

I was going to speak, but this Stupid Bird beat me to it.

Li Qiuchen hurried to ask, “Senior Mountain God, I would like to ask how we should determine if these Remnants of the Pharmacists are doing evil, and if we find them doing so, how can we contend with them with our meager strength?”

What he actually wanted to ask was—did having the Pharmacists Blessing count as being one of the remnants, for instance, someone like him?

But once that question was asked, his life or death would be uncertain.

Although this Senior Mountain God seemed easy to talk to, his temper was not exactly good.

Back then, Call Break Heaven had only insulted him once… Jiang Tingyue gave Li Qiuchen a deep look and said softly, “The so-called Remnants of the Pharmacists are those who benefit themselves at the expense of others, people who have allowed themselves to fall into depravity. They receive blessings but are unwilling to strive for progress; they are lazy and steal the lifespans of others to claim as their own. They do not know how to restrain their minds and blindly indulge their inner greed. Sooner or later, they will suffer Qi Deviation and poison the innocent lives of an entire region.”

“As for your lack of strength, do not confront them head-on. Find a way to gather information and figure out the origins and backgrounds of these Remnants of the Pharmacists. As long as you are within three hundred miles of Jiguan Mountain, burn incense in prayer and call my name, and you will be able to contact me. At that time, someone will naturally come to eliminate the demons and uphold the Dao.”

The big shot was very reasonable; they only needed to scout for information.

Li Qiuchen felt slightly relieved.

Actually, he really wanted some benefits, like a Cultivation Technique, treasures, or Spirit Pills.

Even the King of Hell doesn’t send hungry soldiers.

But considering his own background wasn’t exactly clean, he didn’t quite dare to say it.

A leader giving you a chance to perform is your blessing.

If you won’t do it, plenty of others will.

“Ga-ga! Ga-ga!”

Li Qiuchen was too embarrassed to speak, but the White Crane didn’t have the slightest bit of embarrassment.

“Very well.”

Jiang Tingyue nodded and summoned the Maiden in White, saying, “Take him to bathe and change clothes.”

Bathe and change clothes for what?

Li Qiuchen looked at the Stupid Bird in confusion.

The Stupid Bird cast a look of disdain at him.

What do you mean? You’re looking down on me for being dirty?

It’s not like I have a choice; I only have this one set of clothes, nothing to change into.

You don’t even wear clothes, on what basis do you look down on me?

Li Qiuchen felt a strange sense of grief and indignation, but in this setting, he couldn’t do anything to the Stupid Bird. He could only give it a “just you wait” look and obediently follow the Maiden in White away.

Leaving the Immortal Cave and arriving at the foot of the mountain, the Maiden in White raised her hand to disperse the mist, and a hot spring carved out of the mountain wall appeared before Li Qiuchen.

Li Qiuchen was wondering whether to strip directly or politely ask her to leave first before stripping, when he saw the Maiden in White break into a smile. His vision went black, and he lost consciousness.

In his daze, he heard someone giggling by his ear: “A little kid dressed like a beggar, yet he still knows how to be shy.”

“He hasn’t even grown hair yet… so cute…”

You guys are taking this too far!

Even a man being killed deserves some dignity!

How can I, Li Qiuchen, a dignified man, endure such humiliation… Li Qiuchen suddenly shuddered and woke from his dream. He felt that every pore in his body was refreshed, and the oily grime on him had been swept away.

Opening his eyes, he found he had actually returned to the place where he had previously been meditating, seemingly not having moved at all.

However, the unusual fragrance of flowers on his body and the new clothes he was wearing proved that what just happened was definitely not a dream.

Li Qiuchen stood up and walked to the lakeside, looking down by the moonlight.

The beautiful youth in the cyan Daoist robe before his eyes left him stunned for several seconds.

Who is this?

Turning his head, he found the Stupid Bird also had its eyes wide open, staring at him as if looking at a curiosity.

Who the hell are you?

I don’t know!

Li Qiuchen thought to himself, what did those two white-clothed sisters do to me while I was passed out?

Where are the actual visuals? Why can’t even I, the person involved, see them?

Even his hair had been trimmed.

With his current image… even if Li Qiuchen explained to others that he wasn’t a young master from a wealthy family, they might not believe him.

His personal level of education was low, and he couldn’t find any suitable adjectives.

He could only say… he looked quite elegant and handsome.

At this moment, Li Qiuchen noticed that a simple-styled Green Wood Bracelet had been added to his right wrist.

A Magic Treasure?

He swept his eyes over it, and his heart immediately blossomed with joy.

It wasn’t a Magic Treasure, but it was even better than one.

This was a storage bracelet!

Senior Jiang understands.

Although he said he couldn’t interfere in mortal Karma, within the scope of what was permitted, he still provided as much convenience as possible.