TY Chapter 9: Old Tavern Friend

Lu Chen burped as he rubbed his stomach, satisfied. He grinned, “It does not taste bad, it was good eating it.”

Old Ma glanced at him as he casually kept the noodle bowl. He asked calmly, “You went to look for Ding Dang again last night?”

Lu Chen leaned against the wall as he crossed his legs casually. Tilting his face, he looked toward Old Ma and smiled, “Why? Are you interested in her as well?”

Old Ma humphed and replied, “Just a material woman, I am not interested.”

Lu Chen rolled his eyes and said, “A material woman is still a human. She just wants to have a good life, right? Besides, she isn’t the type of person who allows anyone to get on her bed. At the very least, she must be satisfied with the person.” After saying that, he glanced at Old Ma and continued, “Looking at your fleshy body, Ding Dang probably isn’t interested in you.”

Old Ma cupped his hand and said, “Thank you, thank you. I hope that the lady would never be interested in me.”

Lu Chen burst into laughter as he mocked jokingly, “You fellow, why are you so against an woman over nothing?”

The two men were speaking when the world outside the tavern started to grow lively. As time passed, the warm sun finally rose above the peak of the tea mountain, bathing this village at the foot of the tea mountain with its rays. This village also seemed to have fully awoken and all sorts of sound started to be heard.

Lu Chen sat in the tavern while listening to these sounds for a few moment before suddenly speaking, “These two days, the villagers seem to be much more busy than they are usually. Is it about time for the ‘Thousand Autumn Door’ to send someone down to collect rations and tea leaves?”

Old Ma pondered, “It is around that time. It is the 6th day of the 3rd month. Another four more days, that is the 10th day of the 3rd month, the men of the Thousand Autumn Door would arrive.”

Lu Chen looked rather excited, “They are finally coming. If they come any later, the Spiritual Stones on me would have been spent finish.”

Old Ma laughed and a hint of contempt flashed on his face.

In the current era, the art of cultivating flourished in the Center Divine Continent. There are countless sects of cultivators. Many big and small families of cultivators occupy innumerable beautiful caves, land and mountains. They recruit widely for disciples as they tirelessly cultivate on the path of an immortal.

Originally, the Clear Stream Village was only a normal little village. However, hundred years ago, the South Pine Mountain ten miles away was occupied by someone and he founded his own sect, the Thousand Autumn Door. To date, it has become the most powerful sect in a 300 mile radius.

Precisely so, the Clear Stream Village which is just ten miles away became part of the sphere of influence of the Thousand Autumn Door. At the same time, as this is path that one needed to cross to reach the South Pine Mountain, this village gradually became prosperous.

To men of the mortal world, the cultivators who cultivate in the path of an immortal is the same as a deity. Naturally, the Thousand Autumn Door which is the most powerful sect within 300 miles possesses a status akin to an emperor here.

At the same time, other than cultivating and training their own body and skills, they often require the aid of Spirit Medicine. In Clear Water Village, the water is clear, the ground is fertile and the air rich in Spiritual Energy. Thus, it is developed by the the Thousand Autumn Door as an important land of production — The plot in front of the village grows Spirit Grain whereas the plot at the back of the village grows Spirit Tea Leaves. On a fixed day and time at the start of every month, someone would come to collect the harvests as well as pay the farmers Spiritual Stones.

Lu Chen lied on the window of the tavern and looked at the village scenery which was gradually becoming livelier and livelier along with the faces of hope of those walking by. Suddenly, he turned back and to the tavern boss who, at some point, took out a gourd of wine, he said, “Old Ma, why exactly do these men work so hard to grow those things and try their hardest to save their fortunes?”

Old Ma replied calmly, “Aren’t you  spouting nonsense? Of the men outside, who doesn’t wish to become an immortal and live forever? The reason why they work so hard to accrue Spiritual Stones, isn’t it just so they can visit the ‘Immortal Discerning Mirror’ of the Thousand Autumn Door once to see if they have the talent to cultivate?”

Lu Chen pouted, “Isn’t the Thousand Autumn Door a little stingy? It is just a very ordinary mean of and yet they demand a thousand Spiritual Stones from every single person who uses it. How many people were forced to their death because of it? I have personally seen quite a few people in this village who only succeeded in gathering a thousand Spiritual Stones when they are 50 to 60 years old. Then, heading to the Thousand Autumn Door, they spend their life savings to just look at the Immortal Discerning Mirror and then to realise that they do not have the talent for cultivation. As for the rest, although it might be possible for them to cultivate, they ended up getting sent back due to their advanced age. Eventually, some of them cried to the point of turning mad. Just like that, their entire lives are ruined.”

Old Ma shrugged, “This method may be a little underhanded but it is still, very barely, acceptable. At the very least, it doesn’t look that bad on the surface. It is good enough that they do not force them to work as slaves.”

Lu Chen broke into laughter as he stood up, “Such a rare sight, to think that you would speak up for this kind of unorthodox sects.”

Old Ma replied calmly, “On the ‘Ten Thousand Immortal Board’ promulgated by the ‘Immortal Alliance’, the Thousand Autumn Door is already considered a primary middle-tier sect, thus joining the ranks of the sects of cultivators under the Immortal Alliance, so they can no longer be considered as a small unorthodox sect.”

“The heck!” Lu Chen’s eyes were wide open in shock. He stared at Old Ma and continued, “It can’t be, I don’t think that this kind of trashy sect has the qualifications though?”

Old Ma poured himself a cup of wine and smiled in reply, “After sending 50000 Spiritual Stones to the ‘Kuangbo Zhenjun’ of the Immortal Alliance, they became sufficiently qualified.”

“Oh ho!” This time, Lu Chen was even more surprised. He visually assessed the slightly plump tavern boss in front of him from head to toe and reprimanded jokingly, “Good fellow, it seems that you weren’t lazing off daily in the village like me. How can you still remain so well-informed?”

Old Ma smiled without a word. He raised his cup and downed it in one go. A mysterious you know it smile appeared on his face.

Lu Chen looked away and scolded him, “Acting so sneaky, how many things are you hiding from me?”

Immediately, Old Ma shook his head. “Nothing. It’s not like you don’t know my situation here…”

Before he could finish his sentence, an argument from outside could be heard. It caused quite a stir, breaking the peaceful atmosphere of the village in the instant. It seemed as though something big was about to happen.

Lu Chen and Old Ma frowned as they glanced outside. After a brief moment, Lu Chen said, “It seems to be coming from the end of where the village is.”

Old Ma said, “You stay here, I will go take a look.”

Lu Chen shook his head and replied, “Let’s go together.”

Old Ma wanted to persuade him otherwise but looking at Lu Chen’s expression, he hesitated for a moment and decided against saying anything.

The two of them walked out of the tavern and headed toward the village. On the way, they saw quite a few villagers rushing in the same direction. There were looks of surprise and excitement on their face, as though they have heard of some special news.

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“Just a material woman, I am not interested.”
TL: If I were to simplify further, material woman -> prostitute. But, the author uses less strong words so I followed suit, albeit it not being very appropriate. But, it fits the tone.

“Kuangbo Zhenjun”
TL: It is a title of a person.
Kuangbo -> Extensive. Probably refers to his knowledge. Should be an intelligent man. Zhenjun -> Has the idea of a lord or a mister.
So, probably Mister Extensive or Lord Extensive? But, no way man. There is no way I will put that in so I will keep Kuangbo Zhenjun first.