This dark, skinny teenager in front of him was called Lin Cheng. The two of them had a good relationship.
When he first arrived at Tianqing County, something happened to Lin Cheng's family. His mother passed away from an illness, but they could not afford the money for a coffin. At that time, Chen Chao's heart softened, and he gave him some money. That was how these two people had some friendship. After burying his mother, Lin Cheng bustled around in Peach Blossom Alley and helped Chen Chao quite a bit.
After that, he went over to that Xuanming Mine outside the periphery of Tianqing County all alone to seek a living. Cultivators required spirit medicines to refine pills for cultivation, while forging magic artifacts required all kinds of different materials. Hence, the Great Liang Dynasty had ore mining everywhere. There was a stone mine around the perimeter of Tianqing County that specialized in mining Xuanming Stones. The scale of the stone mine was not large. Every year, it could only produce a few thousand pounds of Xuanming Stones. But, these Xuanming Stones were necessary for cultivators to forge magic artifacts too. The imperial court used a lot of these to exchange for other necessities with foreign cultivation sects. Hence, many miners were needed all year round.
Although Lin Cheng was skinny, he was in fact naturally strong; enough to rival a robust adult man. So they made an exception and took him in there. It was just the right amount every month; a few pieces of skygold currency in wages. In a place like Tianqing County, several pieces of skygold currency was already quite a sum. If one did not need to cultivate, it would be more than enough for Lin Cheng to marry a wife after working for a few years.
However, there were often cave-ins over at the stone mine. In fact, they were really just risking their lives.
"Why are you back?"
Chen Chao looked at Lin Cheng with some doubt. Each person over at the stone mine only got one day off a month. This kid in front of him just came back at the beginning of the mine. He should not be showing up again this month.
"There were multiple cave-ins that occurred consecutively over the past few days. The lord in charge stopped the mining and gave a few days off. I just so happen to have something to give to Big Brother Chen." While talking, Lin Cheng looked around carefully, and only then, did he drag Chen Chao into the alley. He carefully took out a stalk of grass that had seven leaves from his cotton clothes that were full of patches. The root portion was wrapped in dirt by Lin Cheng and the leaves were fresh and green. Green liquid could be seen flowing through the veins with the naked eye. A luster glimmered on the surface of the leaves. One look and it was clear that it was extraordinary.
Chen Chao frowned. Although he knew that this object was extraordinary, he did not recognize it.
"It's Seven Star Grass"
Xie Nandu said softly, "It's written in the Lost Records. It can be used to refine many medicinal pills and has the effect to clear one's mind and make one's qi flow smoothly. Looking at the grade, it's of the highest grade even among Seven Star Grasses. It's no worse than the value of your blood demon's demon bead."
In the past few years, other than having confucian scholars teach her those confucian books, Xie Nandu who had not set foot on the path of cultivation would read many books on cultivation in White Deer's ancestral shrine. She had an eidetic memory. Plus, she was patient. So she naturally knew a lot of things.
"There's also an interesting story related to the Seven Star Grass."
Xie Nandu smiled.
In the Lost Records, it was recorded very clearly that decades ago, there was once a superior grade Seven Star Grass that was discovered by someone on Sword Qi Mountain. Coincidentally, the grand elder of a major sect in the foreign lands failed to make a cultivation realm breakthrough and urgently needed this item to save his life. Therefore, that sect sent its disciples to Sword Qi Mountain, wanting to buy it at a high price. Sword Qi Mountain had existed for a long time. It had a great reputation, but it was not a powerful sect. Coupled with the fact that the Seven Star Grass was useless to them, they did not push them away and wanted to sell it too. It was just that that foreign sect offered too low a price. It was no different from robbery. In a fit of rage, Sword Qi Mountain gifted over ten famous swords as thanks. Countless sword cultivators came in great numbers and directly uprooted that foreign sect. That poor grand elder did not get his life-saving spirit medicine. His head was personally cut off by some sword cultivator.
"There was such a thing?"
Lin Cheng opened his eyes wide. He did not expect that a tiny little herb could make those seemingly immortal-like existences lose their lives. Even a sect suffered extermination.
"Sword Qi Mountain?"
Chen Chao did not have any thoughts about this story itself. But he was interested in that Sword Qi Mountain.
Xie Nandu explained, "Sword Qi Mountain, it's a sword cultivator sect in foreign lands. However, there aren't powerful sword cultivators within the sect, so it can only be considered a second-rate sect. They have no interest in killing people. Their cultivation is also incidental. All they have been doing is only forging swords. At present, half of the world-renown swords are from this mountain."
"It seems like even if they are many forged swords that sword cultivators can't do without, there are so many famous swords hidden in the mountain, but I don't see anyone coveting them."
Chen Chao felt that if this Sword Qi Mountain wanted to exist in the world, it would not just be simply forging swords. Without their own strength, while also having something that so many sword cultivators needed, it was likely that some sword sects would be constantly thinking of forcibly occupying it.
Nodding her head, Xie Nandu said, "Every hundred years, they will definitely release a new sword. It will be the sharpest sword in the world for the entire 100 years. Cultivators call it the Hundred Year Sword. And this Hundred Year Sword's sword owner, each one is destined to become the world's strongest sword immortal. With this connection, Sword Qi Mountain naturally endures without declining. No one will risk offending half, or all the sword cultivators in the world by making a move on Sword Qi Mountain..."
Chen Chao nodded his head.
Lin Cheng had already passed him that Seven Star Grass. "I found this in the mining cave. I don't know what it's used for either, but I thought that Big Brother Chen would definitely have use for it, so I brought it back for you, Big Bro."
He extended his hand, but Chen Chao did not immediately take it. He just said, "Do you know that this Seven Star Grass can henceforth allow you to never enter that stone mine and risk your life to dig anymore? Furthermore, you can marry at least eight wives and live in luxury for the rest of your life."
"It's so valuable?" Lin Cheng was a little surprised. But those eyes were full of smiles. He was not dumb either. Previously, when he learned about that story, he virtually already knew the value of this Seven Star Grass. But, he was still willing to take it out. That already explained a lot.
"When my mother was still alive, she always taught me to repay the kindness from a drop of water with a gushing spring." "Back then, when no one buried my mother, it was you, Big Brother Chen, who extended a helping hand. Just this kindness, I, Lin Cheng, will remember it for life!"
Lin Cheng stuffed the Seven Star Grass into Chen Chao's hand and then chuckled, "If Big Brother Chen really feels bad about it, just give some money. But, don't be in a hurry to give me, I'm afraid that I can't hold back and spend it all. I'll leave it with Big Brother Chen first."
Finished saying all this, Lin Cheng said that his house needed to be cleaned up. Otherwise, if Mother were to come back anytime, there would not be a place to stay. Therefore, he would not stay here with Chen Chao any longer.[TL note: Yes, his mother is dead. I believe this has to do with Chinese superstition about the spirit returning home for a visit.]
Before going away, Lin Cheng looked at Xie Nandu and said seriously, "This elder sister, my Big Brother Chen is absolutely someone worthy of entrusting your life to. You can actually consider him."
When he finished saying this, he sped away.
Not letting Chen Chao have a chance to speak.
Looking at the dark, skinny youth's back view, Chen Chao was silent.
When Chen Chao extended a helping hand back then, it was not that he was really warmhearted and compassionate. There was plenty of suffering people in the world. Even if he wanted to help them all, how many could he help? It was merely how Lin Cheng looked that made Chen Chao remember a certain youth from many years ago. That was why he was suddenly moved with compassion. But he did not expect that the kindness that he casually sowed back then, by now, was no longer as simple as being repaid with a gushing spring.
Putting away the Seven Star Grass, Chen Chao did not plan to sell it just like that. Among the magic artifacts that he found on that young man previously, there was one that was used to store these kinds of spirit medicines. There was no need to worry about the loss of the spirit medicine's medicinal properties.
"This doesn't seem to be your personality." Seeing that Chen Chao did not plan to sell this Seven Star Grass just like that, Xie Nandu was a little doubtful.
Although Chen Chao in her understanding was decisive in taking action and absolutely did not drag things out, in some aspects, he was really no different from a street vendor.
Chen Chao smiled, "I didn't study much, but I seem to have read something before: a gentleman only wants money obtained through the right way, not ill-gotten gains."
Xie Nandu smiled, looking like a pear blossom in full bloom..
"However... I'm not a gentleman. The reason why I'm keeping this thing is probably because I feel that all things in the world shouldn't be taken for granted."
Chen Chao drew a deep breath. He just took out that bit of money to help him bury his mother. Then that person wanted to repay him with something that was countless times more valuable. Was he to accept it with peace of mind? Most likely, even if he reasoned until his throat became parched, Chen Chao could not accept this justification too.
And the reason why he chose to accept it was because Lin Cheng was merely an ordinary youth. If someone else learned that he harbored a precious treasure, it would go without saying what his outcome would be like.
A man's wealth is his own ruin by causing others' greed.
"Who the hell are you!"
Xie Nandu grabbed her own tiny hands. It was fair and delicate; without any threat.
Chen Chao grinned and said, "Although I'm not a gentleman, I'm a good guy. I said it right at the start when we were in the mountain god temple."
Xie Nandu was at a loss for a reply and just snorted coldly.
Chen Chao had nothing to say either. The two people went back the same way they came from just like that.
When they passed by the county government again, it was already afternoon.
Just as they were about to pass by the county office, a low-ranking official came out from inside. Because he was too anxious, he even stumbled in the snow. But he crawled to his feet very quickly. Ignoring the snow on his body, he sprinted into the distance with a look of panic.
"Where is he going in such a hurry?"
Chen Chao recognized that that person was the low-ranking official who went to look for him that night. That night, the two of them even had a chat. So he casually asked the court underling at the entrance of the county office.
That court underlying smiled and said, "He went to find Warden Chen. Someone from upstairs came, it was Warden Chen's direct supervisor; Warden Li from Commandery Qingshan. He specially asked for Warden Chen to make a trip to the county office. Who knows what it’s for? Lord Magistrate tasked him to go find him and he was rather anxious..."
Chen Chao looked at him and remained silent.
That court underling was also smiling at first. Then, he gradually stopped smiling.
The two people exchanged glances, both not speaking.
Xie Nandu let out a sigh.
That court underlying was startled, "The Peach Blossom Alley that Warden Chen is staying is a little far."
His voice grew softer.
When he finished saying this, he came to his senses very quickly. Without waiting for Chen Chao to speak, he yelled into the county office at the top of his voice, "Your Excellency, Warden Chen is here!"
