Chapter 37: Doubt
Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Doubt
Li Ping was already mentally prepared for the two points the Meng family’s ancestor had mentioned.
After all, the Meng family wasn’t really trying to befriend them. Renting out the cave-dwellings at a low price was just a way to earn even more Spirit Stones from them in the long run.
Of course, these two arrangements weren’t a disadvantage for the artisans on the mountain; on the contrary, they were incredibly convenient.
Take Li Ping, for example. As a Tier Two Talisman Maker, he could sell his Spirit Talismans anywhere.
Having the Meng family buy them directly at a comparable price saved him time.
The same went for the materials needed to make Spirit Talismans. There was no real difference between buying them from the Meng family or from the market district.
The Meng family’s ancestor had also promised he wouldn’t be ripped off on the price.
As for other Cultivators commissioning the mountain’s artisans through the Meng family?
That was basically free business, an extra source of income.
As for the ancestor’s final point—that what they chose to do was their own business and the Meng family would never force them...
Li Ping figured he should take that with a grain of salt.
’Since I’m living in their cave-dwelling for cheap, it’s best to aim for a win-win situation. I can’t afford to have a falling out with my host.’
...
With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Li Ping nodded. "The price and the terms you’ve mentioned are all fine, Fellow Daoist Meng. I was just wondering if there are any cave-dwellings left on the mountain?"
Hearing that Li Ping was willing to move to Immortal Peach Mountain, the Meng family’s ancestor beamed with joy. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Li. Although seven or eight fellow Daoists have already moved in, there are still several empty cave-dwellings. You may choose any one you like."
As he spoke, the Meng family’s ancestor took a silvery scroll from his Storage Bag. He slowly unfurled it, and a large, illusory image projected from the scroll, hovering in the empty space between them.
Li Ping looked up. The illusion was of a small, lush mountain about six feet tall.
"Please, have a look, Fellow Daoist." The Meng family’s ancestor pointed to the illusory mountain peak in the air, which was dotted with over a dozen golden points of light. He smiled and said, "These golden dots are the locations of the cave-dwellings. Each one covers about a thousand mu and comes fully equipped with buildings and an Array. You can move in directly."
The mountain itself was two hundred zhang high and covered an area seven or eight li across, yet it had only a dozen or so cave-dwellings. This was why each one could occupy such a vast area.
Compared to the small alley in the Outer City where Li Ping had lived before, this place finally had the feel of a true immortal’s abode.
In reality, Cultivators were still people, not cavemen.
Thus, when conditions allowed, they would typically build palaces and pavilions as their residences and places of cultivation, rather than literally digging a hole in a mountain to live in.
The Meng family’s ancestor added with a smile, "Among these golden dots, the solid ones are already occupied by fellow Daoists, while the hollow ones are vacant. Fellow Daoist Li, you may choose any of the empty ones."
Li Ping nodded, then pointed to one of the hollow dots of light. "This cave-dwelling here... I wonder which fellow Daoists live nearby?"
...
After a series of detailed questions to learn about all the vacant cave-dwellings, Li Ping made his decision after some ’serious thought’. "I’ll rent this one."
The hollow dot he pointed to was located on a cliff.
A few li away from this hollow dot was a solid one. Li Ping had just learned from the Meng family’s ancestor that this solid dot was precisely where the dwelling of that Master Hu Feng was located.
"Excellent, no problem. I’ll have someone arrange the move-in procedures for you right away," the Meng family’s ancestor said with a smile. "The new year is in about a month. How about we start the lease from the new year? You won’t have to pay rent for this month. Consider it a housewarming gift from the Meng family to you, Fellow Daoist Li."
"Then I thank you, Fellow Daoist Meng," Li Ping accepted gracefully.
...
「Half a day later.」
Li Ping walked slowly along the streets of the Immortal City, clutching two Array Jade Tokens in his hand, still pondering what had just happened.
After settling the matter of renting the cave-dwelling, the Meng family’s ancestor hadn’t been in a hurry to leave. Instead, he had started making small talk with him.
At first, Li Ping just assumed the man wanted to get closer to him and deepen their relationship, so he didn’t think much of it.
But to his surprise, in the middle of their pleasant chat, the Meng family’s ancestor suddenly brought up how Dai Sangyu had prevented him from becoming one of the Immortal City’s Honored Guest Elders. His words subtly expressed disapproval of Dai Sangyu’s ’domineering’ way of doing things.
This left Li Ping confused. He didn’t know if the Meng family’s ancestor was doing this simply to show him goodwill, or if he had some other motive.
Theoretically, the Meng family and the Immortal City shared a common destiny. Even if he was dissatisfied with the way things were run, the ancestor shouldn’t have been criticizing his own Vice Sect Leader in front of an outsider like him.
Unless... there was a major conflict between him and Dai Sangyu, or—
’Don’t tell me he was the one who sabotaged Dai Sangyu’s Core Formation?’ Li Ping was startled by his own speculation.
But he quickly shook his head. ’The Meng family are followers of the Righteous Dao. They shouldn’t be capable of something so vile.’
’Forget it, forget it. Whatever you all are planning, I’m just going to enter secluded cultivation and not leave my home!’
’I’m not getting involved in any of this damn mess.’
...
After leaving the Inner City, Li Ping went to find Zhang Tie and Gumu Sheng. He told them he was moving, gave them his new address, and asked them to inform the other four members of the association.
He also changed the location of this year’s gathering to his new cave-dwelling.
According to tradition, the members of the Friends Association had one gathering each year. During the gathering, they would share news and exchange cultivation experiences.
And of course, there was the most important part: contributing their annual share to the ’Foundation Establishment Fund’.
This gathering was fixed for the end of the year, on New Year’s Eve.
The Cultivation Realm, much like Li Ping’s previous life, had the concepts of New Year’s Eve and the New Year. This period was a time for family reunions among the mortals of the Cultivation Realm.
Although once a person was found to have a Spiritual Root and set foot on the Immortal Dao, they became fundamentally different from mortals. They were single-mindedly focused on attaining immortality and cared little for such reunions.
But some customs still remained, such as the Meng family’s ancestor habitually treating the New Year as the start of a new year, which was why he had even waived a month’s rent for Li Ping.
Li Ping was the same; he was also accustomed to treating New Year’s Eve as the end of the year.
...
After packing up his personal belongings from his old home, Li Ping looked at the small courtyard he had lived in for over ten years, a touch of melancholy in his eyes.
’There’s only a month until New Year’s Eve. I wonder how Master is doing back in the Jiang Kingdom.’
’And Daoist Ji... in his last letter, he said he had something to discuss with me. I wonder if that matter has been resolved yet.’
’He should have received my reply by now!’
...
More than half a year had passed since he had last replied to Daoist Ji, but he still hadn’t received a response. He didn’t know if the merchant caravan had been delayed or if there was some other reason.