Chapter 4

Hearing this.

www..co

M

Cheng Buzheng showed an excited look, as if the person who had been sulking just now was not him, fully displaying the nature of a young boy, like a little fanboy.

"Then I thank Brother Qian. I do know of your reputation in town. But, as a medicine boy, no one would deliberately cause me trouble!"

Immediately, the two of them chatted about interesting things in town and family matters.

Suddenly.

"Brother, has your family's caravan passed through Medicine Mountain Town recently?"

Hearing this.

Qian Zhe did not hesitate for a moment and blurted out, "There is a caravan going to the county town tomorrow, which will pass through Medicine Mountain Town!"

"Why do you want to go to Medicine Mountain Town? What for?"

Qian Zhe immediately reacted and asked with curiosity.

Cheng Buzheng showed an indifferent look and said,

"Isn't it because some herbs in the medicine hall need to be replenished? The doctor is out on a house call, and I'm just idle. It's a good opportunity to go to Medicine Mountain Town to buy some herbs and take a walk around."

As he spoke, an excited look appeared on his face.

"Brother, you know, to get to Medicine Mountain Town, you have to pass through the Cangqing Mountains, where bandits are rampant. Only your family's caravan can pass through unscathed. Other merchant caravans have to pay a heavy price. If I go alone, I'll definitely be like a meat bun thrown to a dog, with no return. Besides... there are countless wild beasts along the way, waiting for me, this little lamb!"

Cheng Buzheng said with a smile, revealing a helpless look as he spoke of the various difficulties.

But in his heart, he was not as helpless as he appeared. He was anxiously waiting for Qian Zhe to make the final decision, which was crucial for his first step on the path to immortality.

Otherwise, he would not have told Qian Zhe the process and ingredients for making lobster delicacies. All of this was part of his plan, from making it on the roadside to today, all to lure him in.

Cheng Buzheng did not use this to bargain with him, as doing so at this critical moment would be too obvious and could easily lead to unexpected situations.

In town, only a few caravans had the strength to cross the Cangqing Mountains. The other caravans that could make decisions were not people a medicine boy could talk to, unless the doctor intervened.

If there was a safe way, he would not take the risk. Even if the bandits and outlaws let him pass because he was poor, he could not avoid the attacks of the wild beasts along the way. Those beasts would not care if he was poor; they would only focus on the flesh on his body.

So,

Cheng Buzheng had to go to great lengths to get a chance to go to the county town. He knew that the Qian family's caravan set out every seven days, with enough time to reach the county town.

But he did not say he was going directly to the county town; instead, he mentioned Medicine Mountain Town, the closest town to the county town. He was afraid that his plan would fail, so he did not mention the county town, providing a perfect reason to cross that dangerous area.

After all, the time when immortals would recruit disciples in the county town was during this period. When Qian Zhe heard that he was going to Medicine Mountain Town to buy herbs, he asked carefully, showing that he had not completely let down his guard.

These powerful families did not want immortal families to exist in their territories. Otherwise, they might threaten their family's rule, but they could not directly oppose the immortals recruiting disciples. Even the bandits and outlaws in the Cangqing Mountains might be supported by them!

Better safe than sorry. He would prepare for the worst and not expect a good outcome, to avoid his plan failing.

Cheng Buzheng secretly speculated.

In the end, Qian Zhe did not disappoint him.

Qian Zhe waved his hand, seeming very generous,

"No problem, I'm going to the county town tomorrow anyway. You can come with me. It will be a good way to pass the time on the road!"

"Being able to keep Brother company is a great honor for me!"

Cheng Buzheng immediately flattered him. At this critical moment, he would not relax, even though he felt a bit nauseous.

As the saying goes, life is full of things beyond one's control!

At the same time, Cheng Buzheng secretly thought, "He's probably going to the county town to participate in the immortal selection as well! Otherwise, it wouldn't be such a coincidence! It seems I need to be more cautious in the county town to avoid being recognized by this 'good brother'!"

After confirming the time with Qian Zhe, he flattered him even more, making the 'good brother' very happy.

............

In the afternoon.

Cheng Buzheng walked out of the Lianxian Building with a light step. The cool breeze blew on his face, making him feel a jolt in his heart.

The slight joy on his face quickly disappeared, and he secretly warned himself, "Until everything is settled, I must not be careless!"

After a moment of adjustment,

Cheng Buzheng returned to a calm state, looking at the bustling street. Young villagers haggled over a copper coin with vendors, while old men and women sold vegetables, small fish, and tofu on both sides of the street....

The lives of ordinary people were so similar. This was the short life of an ordinary person. Perhaps, he would also toil and struggle for a living in the future.

Life is like an ant, but one should have the ambition to surpass immortals.

Cheng Buzheng made a firm decision in his heart, a look of determination flashing across his face. Without further delay, he walked towards the town's post station.

In the evening, at Bai Ren Medicine Hall.

Xiao Li, who was on duty, lay half-asleep on a large chair, his eyes half-closed, lost in thought.

Suddenly,

Xiao Li felt a shadow blocking him, which scared him so much that he screamed. He then patted his chest, looking terrified.

"Brother Buzheng, you scared me to death! You have to give me a string... two strings of candied haws, or this matter won't be over!"

Cheng Buzheng looked at Xiao Li's chubby face and smiled,

"You... When the doctor is at home, you're so lively, but as soon as he leaves, you become so listless!"

"Can they be the same?" Xiao Li glanced at Cheng Buzheng with a pout.

Cheng Buzheng found it quite amusing to see Xiao Li lying listlessly on the chair. He treated the medicine boys like younger brothers and usually took care of them.

But he was leaving tomorrow, and he did not know if he would be accepted by the immortals. Even if he was not accepted, he would not return to be a medicine boy. If he returned, it would be unknown when.

He was about to reach out, but Xiao Li dodged.

"I won't let you pinch me again!" Xiao Li said angrily.

Cheng Buzheng smiled and teased, "I wasn't going to pinch you, do you believe me?"

"No... way...!"

Cheng Buzheng turned and looked at the sky, "Alright, watch for another hour, then prepare to close. ... Get some rest early!"

Hearing this,

Xiao Li's face immediately lit up, thinking to himself,

"This is much earlier than the usual closing time!"

"Thank you, Brother... Brother, do you want to pinch me?"

Saying this, he brought his joyful face close.

"Next time!" Cheng Buzheng waved his hand and turned to walk towards the stairs.

Back on the second floor, he glanced at the doctor's bedroom. The door was tightly closed, and a copper lock was hanging on the handle, securely locking the door.

Cheng Buzheng's heart stirred.

Returning to his room, he sat on a chair, reached out to take a piece of white paper from the table, took a brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing about his upcoming journey.

The writing in this world was very different from his previous life. Knowing that literacy was of utmost importance, he had learned to read and write, otherwise, he would be restricted in everything he did in the future. Unless he spent his whole life digging for food in the soil.

So, he had dragged his brother to learn secretly from a scholar in the village. With the wisdom from his previous life, he could read books fluently in less than half a year, though he could not write a proper article, he was more than qualified to be a teacher.

His brother, however, was much slower. After annotating the characters with pinyin, he finally taught his brother to read and write, so he did not have to memorize thousands of characters by rote.

The result was gratifying. In the end, after a year, his brother could also read books fluently.

Cheng Buzheng wrote about his journey but did not fully disclose everything, such as his participation in the immortal selection or his reliance on the Qian family's caravan.

Although the doctor had been good to him, he did not want to disappear without a word, but he also did not want to cause trouble. He wrote what he could and left the rest vague.

After a quarter of an hour, he finished writing.

Cheng Buzheng waited quietly for the ink to dry, recalling and planning for any omissions in his plan.

After half an hour, Cheng Buzheng pushed open the door, looked around, and seeing no one, he walked to the doctor's door, took out a letter from his pocket, and slipped it under the door into the doctor's room.