Wei Yiyuan’s eyes instantly brightened upon hearing this.
Herbs, gemstones, antiques—such things, though rare, are not difficult to buy in the market as long as one is willing to spend a large sum of money.
And this time, to be on the safe side, he brought not only money but also many good items.
Without saying much, Wei Yiyuan urged everyone to prepare for the climb.
The road from here up the mountain is rugged, making it impossible for vehicles to pass; they had to rely on their own feet.
Tigers, leopards, and wolves hide in the mountains; poisonous insects and snakes abound, along with traps set by old hunters.
A moment’s inattention could cost them their lives.
Without an experienced guide, even the most seasoned climbing team might face accidents.
Lin Beichen stayed within the team, silently observing.
Although the mountain is home to tigers and wolves, the deep forest of the Medicine Immortal Pavilion seems to be exceptionally populated with these animals, as if deliberately kept as guards.
Qi Liuyan had indeed not lied.
The Medicine Immortal Pavilion had no need to leave the deep forest, nor did they need to approach the mortal world.
In their quest for medicine, the major families, despite being separated by mountains and tigers, were still willing to approach with smiling faces.
Three days passed.
Everyone endured the arduous journey and finally arrived at an ancient mountain gate.
The mountain gate was rustic yet not old.
The elder looked at the gate, his eyes full of reverence.
"This is the Medicine Immortal Pavilion, but we must not step across it, or there will be mortal danger. Whether you can enter depends on your fate."
The gate stood between two towering cliffs.
The cliffs were a hundred meters high; standing outside the canyon, they seemed like ants in the vast world.
To pass the gate, they not only had to walk through the gate’s passage but also advance several hundred meters along the canyon corridor.
The canyon cliffs were oppressive, with gusts of howling wind from above; even a stone the size of an egg, falling from such a height, could be a lethal weapon.
Daring to put the entrance here, the Medicine Immortal Pavilion indeed had its methods.
"Do immortals really live here?"
Wei Shuqi asked in a daze.
Before her voice had faded, the sound of wind came from the air, and several figures could be seen moving along the cliff, seeming as if it were flat ground.
"The immortals are here; quick, kneel down and don’t look at them!"
The old man hurriedly said.
These men wore white robes; although the attire was ancient, it incorporated many modern elements, and the fabric seemed more like a custom-made uniform from some factory than traditional craftsmanship.
Lin Beichen felt it was somewhat incongruous, but on second thought, the Medicine Immortal Pavilion had never claimed to follow ancient customs entirely.
His impression of the Medicine Immortal Pavilion came from the elder’s constant self-talk over the past three days, making Lin Beichen and others believe the pavilion followed ancient cultivator ways.
The men landed, and the one in front had a cold face with eyes filled with a slight chill.
"You old guest, I spared you last time, yet you dare bring people here again. Do you think the Medicine Immortal Pavilion doesn’t dare kill?"
The elder broke into a cold sweat.
Over the recent days, in front of Wei Yiyuan, he had boasted about his familiarity with the pavilion without claiming to be an old guest, yet he was exposed by the man.
He was merely an old braggart.
"I’ll let it slide this time; if it happens again, I’ll throw you on the mountain to keep the beasts company!"
The man spoke coldly, not wanting to make things too hard for the elder, and then looked at Wei Yiyuan.
In the group, the most unusual were the tall Wooden Man and the veiled Qi Liuyan.
The man’s brief gaze assessed them before he lost interest.
The Wooden Man, though tall as a bear, appeared to the man as merely a clod, devoid of spiritual qi, a mere brute strength.
As for Qi Liuyan, he simply didn’t recognize her.
"Are you here for medicine?"
Song Bolin asked indifferently.
"Daoist, we’ve come from afar to show filial piety. Please have mercy, and so does Mr. Lin Beichen, who seeks medicine."
Wei Yiyuan quickly said.
"Don’t tell me your reasons; I can’t decide anything for you. I’m just a gatekeeper Daoist Child. You can call me Song Bolin."
Song Bolin waved his hand impatiently.
Though he belittled himself, Wei Yiyuan didn’t dare agree.
So what if he was a gatekeeper?
Gatekeepers still differ depending on the gate.
The custodian of a Medicine Immortal Pavilion privy, even, would be someone people fawned over outside.
Having just seen Song Bolin walk on nearly vertical cliffs as if on flat ground, Wei Yiyuan was deeply impressed.
In tales and stories, a cliff climber is invariably a master.
Outside, such skills would at least rank as Martial Hero level.
"Daoist, this is a small gift, please accept it."
Wei Yiyuan quietly said, handing over a small card with both hands.
The card was as small as a finger, but it represented wealth an ordinary person might not accumulate in a lifetime.
Song Bolin accepted it lightly, nodding silently.
Not everyone in the Medicine Immortal Pavilion abstained from worldly pleasures.
The elders and alchemists had no worries, but for a gatekeeper Daoist Child, day-to-day expenses needed money, and once he left for worldly life, he would need funds.
He could be proud now because he was the gatekeeper of the Medicine Immortal Pavilion, but once he left, who would care?
Better to collect money while people were still willing to give it.
Receiving money for errands, Wei Yiyuan smiled.
"You’ve come at a bad time. I heard there’s a big event lately, and all elders are in a closed meeting. Even if you enter, no one can make pills for you, so it’d be a waste."
Wei Yiyuan was slightly stunned and quickly asked:
"Daoist, what’s the big event holding up all the leaders?"
Song Bolin remained silent, gazing at them.
These matters were not for him to speak of freely.
Although he had accepted Wei Yiyuan’s money, that only bought limited words.
Anxious and worried, Wei Yiyuan fretted.
Lin Beichen, however, had his own suspicions.
Before coming to the Medicine Immortal Pavilion, he had killed Qi Tiankuang.
As one of the few law enforcement elders, his death was a big deal.
Moreover, Qi Liuyan’s disappearance added to the tension.
Without discussing such issues, the pavilion’s leadership would be ineffective.
These internal conflicts, critical to the Pavilion’s survival, couldn’t be uncovered by Wei Yiyuan’s money.
Feeling guilty for taking money without delivering results,
Song Bolin thought for a moment before saying,
"Since you’ve come from afar, it wouldn’t be proper to send you away immediately.
Let me first bring you inside to settle down. If you get a chance to meet an elder, I will put in a word. However, whether it works out depends on fate. Don’t blame me though."
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Wei Yiyuan quickly handed over two more cards.
Nodding, Wei Yiyuan gestured for everyone to follow.
Wei Yiyuan approached Lin Beichen, without any boasting, instead showing a troubled face, holding up three fingers.
Three million.
In just a few minutes, he had spent three million.
A lifetime of labor might earn a regular person three million, but after life expenses, they might save less than fifty thousand.
Yet in mere minutes, Song Bolin had earned as much as people might not in a lifetime.
Watching Song Bolin’s back and recalling the elder’s claims, Lin Beichen felt it was a great irony.
The Medicine Immortal Pavilion, in the end, was not so different.