Chapter 5

"Yeshang, what are you talking about? You also helped us. Come with us to rest first, then we'll find you a caravan. This way, it will be more convenient for you to reach Danding City and then Danding Mountain. I told you, the Medicine Valley's annual recruitment is still a month away, so there's still time."

"That's fine! I'll have to trouble you all again." Yeshang did not refuse their kindness. After spending time with them, he knew that Yang Sen and the others were loyal men. Lin Qiao had a bad temper, but she was easy to get along with if she liked you.

Yeshang did not stay at an inn; Du Chong took him to his own home.

After washing up and eating, Yeshang began to cultivate.

After cultivating for about twenty days, Yeshang felt a change in himself. Before cultivating the mystic techniques and true qi, his punch could deliver a force of five or six hundred pounds. But after cultivating true qi and using it to assist, his punch strength had clearly increased significantly.

Becoming a powerful person, a person who could control the clouds and rain as Old Man Gu said, was Yeshang's dream. Additionally, he had never given up on the issue of his origins. Only by leaving Bamboo Garden Village was there a chance to find clues.

He cultivated for a whole day, only taking breaks to eat. Yeshang knew he had started late and could not compare with those who were naturally tall. For cultivators to rise, there were two main factors: talent and resources.

According to Yang Sen and Du Chong, Yeshang knew he had good talent. In just twenty days, his cultivation was equivalent to others cultivating for several months, even half a year, surpassing those who cultivated with resources.

After cultivating for a day, Yeshang received news from Du Chong.

"Yeshang, good news! You don't need to follow a caravan to Danding Mountain. The team from Chiyang City to Medicine Valley for the recruitment ceremony hasn't set off yet. The deputy city lord has spoken to them, and you can go with them," Du Chong said happily when he returned home.

"Is that so! That's great." Being able to go directly to Medicine Valley without following a caravan made Yeshang very excited.

"Yes, those going to Medicine Valley for the recruitment ceremony are all the best talents from Chiyang City. The city lord's mansion will send a guard team, so there's no need to worry about safety," Du Chong said, patting Yeshang's shoulder.

"Thank you, Brother Du." Yeshang sincerely thanked Du Chong and the others. If he hadn't met them, it would have taken him a long time to get from Gu Nan Town to Danding Mountain, and he might have missed the Medicine Valley's recruitment ceremony.

"Yeshang, don't say that. This time, you helped us four siblings a lot." Du Chong shook his head and told Yeshang about their past.

Yang Sen, Du Chong, and the other four were originally guards for a caravan in Chiyang City. During a mission, they encountered fierce bandits, and all four were severely injured. At the most critical moment, Deputy City Lord Qin Aoxuan appeared and saved them. From then on, they became Qin Aoxuan's household guards.

Qin Aoxuan had only one son named Qin Zhen, who was about the same age as Yeshang. Qin Zhen was born with atrophied tendons and could not cultivate, which greatly troubled Qin Aoxuan. This also made Yang Sen and the others, who wanted to help Qin Aoxuan, very anxious. Qin Aoxuan obtained a prescription from Medicine Valley but could not find the main ingredient, the black dragon's gallbladder.

The black dragon was not a formidable opponent for someone like Qin Aoxuan, but due to its rarity, it had not been found for years. This time, Yeshang helped find the black dragon, not only helping Yang Sen and the others but also greatly assisting Qin Aoxuan.

Yeshang also understood why Lin Qiao wanted him to be Qin Zhen's companion. Qin Zhen, from a prominent family, had a somewhat melancholic and reclusive personality due to his inability to cultivate. Lin Qiao wanted to find him a companion so he wouldn't remain reclusive.

"Don't worry, these past two days, the deputy city lord has been busy treating Young Master Qin Zhen's injuries. Young Master Qin Zhen is also going to Danding Mountain in Medicine Valley," Du Chong said with a smile, looking at Yeshang.

After chatting with Yeshang for a while, Du Chong left.

Yeshang stayed at Du Chong's home to cultivate. With Du Chong's assurance, Yeshang was not in a hurry. Qin Zhen was also going to Medicine Valley, so he wouldn't be left behind.

Two days later, after Yeshang finished cultivating, Du Chong appeared. "Yeshang, let's go! The city lord's mansion is having a celebration banquet, and the deputy city lord specifically asked me to bring you along."

"Is it appropriate for me to go?" Yeshang asked, somewhat surprised.

Chiyang City was a large city, hundreds of times larger than Gu Nan Town, and Bamboo Garden Village was even smaller. As the deputy city lord of Chiyang City, Qin Aoxuan was a truly important figure. This wasn't out of Yeshang's inferiority, but rather the reality that they were from two different worlds.

"It's fine. The deputy city lord is ruthless to enemies and opponents, but he is very good to those around him," Du Chong said with a smile.

Hearing this, Yeshang did not refuse. He tidied up and followed Du Chong to the Qin Mansion.

"You look very spirited after tidying up. You have a quality that even wealthy young masters lack," Du Chong said, looking at Yeshang as they walked.

"Brother Du, don't tease me," Yeshang said with a smile.

"This isn't teasing. I've seen the young masters from the city lord's mansion and the elder families in the city. They are all arrogant and indulgent... well, let's not talk about it."

Du Chong's home was close to the Qin Mansion. As they approached, Du Chong stopped talking, not wanting to be overheard.

Seeing the tall gate and the two stone lions standing at the entrance, Yeshang knew how powerful Qin Aoxuan was in Chiyang City.

The guards at the gate nodded to Du Chong and did not stop them.

Du Chong led Yeshang into the Qin Mansion and directly to the main hall of the city lord's mansion.

There were many people in the main hall, all exuding a formidable aura. In the center of the main seat sat a middle-aged man in a green robe. On either side were several elders, each with a few young people behind them. Yang Sen and the others were also there, but they were standing to the side of the man in the green robe.

"Du Chong, this is the young man who helped us find the black dragon, right?" the middle-aged man said, looking at Yeshang with a smile.

"Yes, we were able to obtain the black dragon's gallbladder smoothly thanks to Yeshang," Du Chong said, bowing slightly.

"Yeshang, Yeshang... what a good name. Sit down!" The man in the green robe, Qin Aoxuan, smiled and nodded at Yeshang.

"Yeshang greets the deputy city lord." Yeshang did not sit down but bowed and then stood beside Du Chong.

"Zhen should thank you personally, but his body is still not well." Qin Aoxuan's eyes never left Yeshang.

"Deputy City Lord Qin, you are too kind. It was just a small matter," Yeshang said.

"What is a small matter to you is a significant matter for our Qin family. If you need any help, just say so," Qin Aoxuan said.

Qin Aoxuan's words made everyone in the hall tremble. Getting help from Qin Aoxuan was extremely difficult. In the Chiyang City region, there was nothing he couldn't do, and he was also a prominent figure in Medicine Valley.

"Thank you, Deputy City Lord Qin, but Yeshang doesn't need any help." Yeshang shook his head. He didn't want to owe anyone a favor. Being desireless makes one strong, as Old Man Gu had told him.