C6 Medicine King Valley(2)

Deep in the ocean, there's a fish known as the anglerfish, sporting a bioluminescent 'lantern' atop its back. It typically lurks in the shadows, enticing unsuspecting little fish and shrimp before gobbling them up in one fell swoop!" Zhong Wen was passionate about the sea and could hardly contain his excitement. "And then there's the coral—vibrant whites, reds, and blacks—thronging the azure waters, more stunning than any painting in the world, like something out of a fairy tale."

"Wow, Zhong Wen, you're so knowledgeable. I wish I could see the ocean too," the little loli said, her eyes sparkling with wonder as she gazed up at Zhong Wen, utterly enchanted.

"Once my memory returns, and if your master gives the nod, I'll take you to the ocean," Zhong Wen promised with a smile, gently stroking the little loli's hair, which was as soft as silk, almost irresistibly so.

Before long, Lau Qiqi, Yin Ninger, and Zheng Yueting found themselves captivated by Zhong Wen's presence.

The charming scene unfolded with the little girl perched on the knee of a striking young man, hanging on his every word as he shared his fascinating tales in a voice rich with allure.

The atmosphere was incredibly cozy, and the youth's stories were so enthralling that the girls listened, spellbound.

Dinner had long since finished, yet the company lingered, reluctant to part ways.

Yin Ninger coaxed a hesitant Lin Xiaodie to their evening studies, while Lau Qiqi and Zheng Yueting headed out to the courtyard for a friendly sparring session. Mrs. Wang busied herself with tidying up, leaving Zhong Wen at a loose end, so he retreated to his room to resume transcribing the text of Enlightenment.

After laboring over the manuscript for well over an hour, his neck sore from the effort, Zhong Wen stood, stretched, and began to pace his room.

In a moment of leisure, he remembered another book he had collected earlier that day. His focus had been on the One Solar Finger technique, and he hadn't had the chance to peruse the other work.

Now with some free time, he delved into his mental bookshelf and located the Medicine King Valley Chronicles. Words cascaded before his eyes, and within moments, he had committed the book's contents to memory with flawless precision.

As he flipped through the pages, he was taken aback.

The "Medicine King Valley Chronicles" turned out to be a journal, authored by the Valley Master of the renowned "Medicine King Valley," a famous Cultivation Sect from the ancient times.

The sect specialized in the study of herbal medicine, medical techniques, poisons, and alchemy, boasting numerous medical and alchemy experts. Despite their modest combat abilities, they wielded a formidable network within the ancient Cultivation Realm.

Who wouldn't want to be on good terms with a healer?

The book revealed that the Medicine King Valley's master possessed medical skills so advanced, he could rival the King of Hell himself in reviving the dead and mending bones. Another Vice Valley Master had mastered alchemy to such an extent that he ascended to the brink of sainthood by consuming Medicine Pills.

Consequently, Medicine King Valley maintained an extraordinary status throughout the ancient Cultivation Realm.

Being a journal, Zhong Wen was skeptical of any possible exaggeration and didn't pay much heed to it.

What truly astonished him was the journal's mention of Medicine King Valley's location.

If he wasn't mistaken, Medicine King Valley was situated right within the valley of Breeze Mountain!

Since discovering that the so-called "Ancient Words of Gods" were Chinese characters, Zhong Wen was convinced of a link between this world and the one he had left behind. This revelation ignited a burning curiosity to delve into the "ancient times," a complex sentiment intertwined with a quest to trace the origins of his soul.

Now, with a lead on an ancient sect before him, he felt an irresistible impulse to investigate.

Upon opening his door, he found that Lau Qiqi and Zheng Yueting had already concluded their training session and retreated to freshen up.

The courtyard lay in serene stillness, punctuated occasionally by the chirping of insects. The moon's soft, luminous glow draped the space in a veil of ethereal light.

Stepping out, he surveyed the surroundings. His room was the sole beacon of light in an otherwise darkened yard.

In this era, the night held little activity, with most people retiring to bed by nine in the evening.

After patiently waiting a bit longer, Zhong Wen surmised that everyone in the Floating Flower Palace had settled into slumber. He removed the luminous stone from the lamp, a detail he had learned from Xiaodie was named a Spirit Crystal.

Once separated from the lamp, the crystal's light quickly faded. Zhong Wen set it on the table, softly closed the door, and stealthily made his way to the courtyard gate. He unlatched it and slipped away from the Floating Flower Palace grounds.

The mountain air was refreshingly cool on this summer night, with the occasional breeze providing relief. Once he was a safe distance from the palace, Zhong Wen let loose and broke into a run.

In his past life, he had been raised in a rural area with a towering mountain just beyond his village. As a child full of energy, he climbed it daily, making him no stranger to navigating the rugged terrain. With the moon as his guide, he swiftly made his way toward the valley mentioned in the "Medicine King Valley Chronicles."

Half an hour later, fatigue set in. His body may have been young, but it was still recovering from grave injuries and had not been fortified with spiritual energy, rendering him frail.

He was about to pause for a breather when a beastly roar echoed from ahead.

"There's a wild beast!" Zhong Wen's complexion paled.

He realized his oversight; the mountains of his previous life had been "sanitized" by the government, rarely harboring dangerous creatures. He had forgotten that in the wild, these lands were the domain of beasts.

The roars grew louder. Without hesitation, Zhong Wen scaled a tree over two meters tall, coiling his body tightly as he peered down through the foliage.

Soon, a white tiger, its body stretching over two meters, strolled leisurely beneath him.

Such an enormous tiger!

Zhong Wen held his breath, feeling the cold sweat on his palms and his heartbeat accelerating.

The majestic white tiger seemed oblivious to the presence above, continuing on its path until it vanished from Zhong Wen's view.

Zhong Wen's limbs turned to jelly as he huddled in the tree, taking a long while before he could muster the strength to climb down. His hand brushed his forehead, finding it slick with sweat.

Regaining his composure, he resumed his trek toward the valley, this time with heightened caution and a markedly slower pace, wary of startling any mountain predators.

Half an hour later, he reached the valley entrance noted in the Medicine King Valley Chronicles. After a quick scan to ensure solitude, Zhong Wen approached a particular stretch of mountain wall.

The wall was as bare as any other, indistinguishable at a glance, which explained why the Floating Flower Palace, despite decades of residence, had never noticed its secret.

Zhong Wen's hands explored the stone meticulously. Then, pressing firmly with his right index finger on a lower section, he triggered something.

"Rumble!"

The stone wall spun inward like an automated revolving door. Zhong Wen darted through the opening, vanishing behind the wall, which seamlessly realigned with the mountain, leaving no trace of the entrance.

"Has it really come to this?" Lin Zhiyun murmured, her lips pressed tightly as she scrutinized the ledger, her brows furrowed with concern.

"This 'Divine Medicine Hall' that's sprung up across from us, selling herbs at half the price of our Breeze Pavilion... If this keeps up, we'll be out of business in under two months," lamented Qiao Erniang, a note of resignation in her voice.

"How do their herbs compare in quality?"

"I had someone check; they're nowhere near the caliber of Breeze Mountain's harvest, but they're passable. The average person might not tell the difference."

"So, Divine Medicine Hall's prices are suspiciously low."

"Exactly. They could easily charge twenty to thirty percent more and still thrive. Instead, they've chosen to wage this shameless price war," Qiao Erniang fumed. "Palace Lord Lin, it seems they're targeting us directly. We need to strategize a response—and soon."

"The competition isn't doing anything underhanded; they're just undercutting us on price. We can't exactly storm their place over it," Lin Zhiyun said, her brow furrowing deeper.

She had never been adept at running a business, and the recent string of setbacks had left her feeling overwhelmed.

"Maybe we should consider... lowering our prices too?" Qiao Erniang ventured cautiously.

"Erniang, use your best judgment. If we're really up against the wall, then yes, drop the prices a bit," Lin Zhiyun replied, her voice tinged with resignation. "As for the funding issue, I'll figure something out."

Palace Lord Lin was known for her generosity and kindness toward her people, but Qiao Erniang felt that such a gentle disposition was a disadvantage in the cutthroat world of commerce, often leading to indecisiveness.

As Lin Zhiyun walked away, Qiao Erniang let out a sigh, her mind heavy with concerns for the future of Breeze Pavilion.