Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 254 Teleporting to White Stone Mountain
As the two were talking, they soon spotted the very conspicuous green-tiled roof in the distance—

It was several times larger than all the surrounding houses, and it really looked like the main hall of a royal villa!

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that there were no houses nearby; instead, it stood alone on the wasteland, surrounded by a very simple wooden fence.

Originally, this area was the dirtiest and most chaotic part of the Southeast Market. Later, the Xinyi Lane in the north was demolished and turned into a resettlement lane, while a large area in the south was cleared out and became a separate teleportation station.

However, this teleportation station was not as solemn and majestic as Shi Yi had imagined. Although the grand hall behind the fence in the distance did look magnificent, the area outside the fence was more bustling and lively than the previous West Gate Street.

Because right at the entrance, right next to the fence, a large number of merchants gathered, including tea vendors, flatbread sellers, and hawkers of miscellaneous goods, forming a densely packed area.

As soon as Shi Yizhi and his companion took two steps closer, a sharp-eyed vendor approached them, saying, "Would you two gentlemen like a bowl of hot soup? It's not expensive, just one coin a bowl, with ginger slices, perfect for this cold weather!"

Shi Yizhi was taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand in refusal. He couldn't help but say to Anderding, "This doesn't look like a teleportation station at all; it's more lively than a temple fair!"

Upon hearing this, Anderding laughed heartily. However, a scholar-like man carrying a book box noticed Shi Yizhi and Anderding's attire and eagerly approached to chat: "I heard that this teleportation station is newly established, and only part of it is open. The rest is still under construction, and they're using a team of craftsmen who are actually paid—for the first time, the imperial court doesn't have to pay for conscription, and they even get paid! This has even tempted many people from the countryside outside the city, who come every day to inquire about work. The line of people wanting to work stretches for two miles! It's a pity, though, that all the positions have already been filled!"

As he spoke, the scholar cupped his hands in greeting and introduced himself in a very familiar manner: "My surname is Jiang, my given name is Wanli, and I am from Sheyang in the State of Chu. I have come here because I admire the demeanor of the Immortal Baishi. I was just planning to use the teleportation station to go to Baishi Mountain to await the Immortal's Fate Assembly!"

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, especially since Jiang Wanli was handsome and had a generous demeanor. Shi Yizhi took a good liking to him and returned the greeting, saying, "I am Yizhi, and this is my friend, Brother Ander Ding'an!"

Anderding then cupped his hands in greeting and said in a gruff voice, "Greetings, Brother Jiang!"

Jiang Wanli then noticed that Anderding looked unusual, so he asked directly, "Brother An doesn't look like a Zhou person. Could you be from the Jinsha Kingdom?"

Anderdin frankly admitted, "I originally came from Khwarezm and have been in Zhou for over ten years."

"Khwarezm? That seems even farther than the Kingdom of Kinshasa?"

"That's right, in the far west, southwest of the Golden Sand Kingdom!"

"I see!" Jiang Wanli exclaimed in realization, "I never imagined that the name of the White Stone Immortal had even spread to Khwarezm?"

Anderdin replied, "No, I came to Jingzhao Prefecture more than ten years ago."

"So that's how it is! No wonder Brother An's words were so eloquent!"

Hearing the lively shouts all around, Shi Yizhi couldn't help but interrupt the two and asked, "Brother Jiang, are these vendors gathered here for people traveling to and from the teleportation station?"

Jiang Wanli waved his hand and explained, "Hey, what? This teleportation station can only transport a few people a day! It's all for the craftsmen working inside! Brother Yi, didn't you notice that most of what's being sold here is food?"

"They gathered here because of the artisan class?"

Shi Yizhi was somewhat surprised.

Although he was the sixth son of the Shi family, he was rarely home in his early years, traveling around and knew a lot about the hardships of ordinary people. The craftsmen worked hard but didn't earn much money. They had to support their families, so they wouldn't be willing to spend so much money to buy food from outside.
Jiang Wanli replied, "Brother Yi, you may not know this, but the workers hired by this teleportation station are paid twenty coins a day. Although twenty coins is not much, if you take half of it out for food and drink, it's not much either!"

"Twenty coins a day!?" Before Shi Yizhi could reply, Anderding was greatly surprised: "That much!"

How could it not be a lot? Twenty coins a day, that's six coins a month—even a clerk in Chang'an wouldn't earn six coins a month. This wage is really high, no wonder people travel thousands of miles to come here to do it!

Jiang Wanli replied, "That's right, I heard that the famous Master Liu from the South City has brought his apprentices to take on the challenge!"

As he spoke, Jiang Wanli took the initiative to inquire, "Brother Yi, Brother An, are you also preparing to participate in the Immortal Destiny Conference? Why don't you travel together?"

Shi Yizhi was naturally fond of lively gatherings, so he was willing. However, since he was with Anderding now, he couldn't act unilaterally. So he turned to look at Anderding with a questioning look in his eyes.

Seeing Anderdin shrug indifferently, Shi Yizhi cupped his hands and said, "I shall respectfully comply!"

The three chatted for a while longer, then walked through the bustling crowd to the entrance of the fence.

The gatekeeper leaned lazily against the gatepost, and when he saw them coming, he merely raised his eyelids and asked, "Going to White Stone Mountain?"

Shi Yizhi replied, "That's right, but I haven't yet asked what the procedure is."

"It costs five hundred coins per person to go to White Stone Mountain. Don't give it to me; give it to the man in the blue robe once you're inside," the constable said, shifting his body to create a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through. He continued, "Go in; it'll be time for the next teleportation soon!"

Once inside the fence, the scene was much more orderly and quiet.

It was just a very simple fence, yet it seemed to block out the hustle and bustle of the city. The vendors' shouts were as if they were separated by a layer and could not be heard clearly.

In the center of the bluestone-paved square stands a huge building with a blue tile roof, upturned eaves and corners, with a magnificent presence, more like a grand hall. The plaque hanging on it reads "Teleportation Hall".

Standing guard outside the teleportation hall was a middle-aged man in a green robe. He looked refined and gentle. When he saw people coming in, he called out, "We're about to teleport. You three, if you're going to White Stone Mountain, come over here quickly!"

The shouts seemed to carry a real energy, yet not quite, but they were spoken so clearly, as if right next to my ear.

Jiang Wanli quickly responded and called to Shi Yizhi and Anderding. The three of them hurriedly went to the eaves.

Upon entering the main hall, one sees that although the space is empty, there are about ten people gathered there, all dressed in clothes that indicate they are either rich or noble.

Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. The constable at the gate said that being teleported to White Stone Mountain would cost five hundred coins per person, almost equivalent to a month's wages for an ordinary person outside. Where would ordinary people get that kind of money? Those who could afford it were naturally the sons of wealthy families. After the three entered the hall, the man in blue took out a copper basin shaped like a cicada, only slightly larger than the palm of his hand, and carried it to Shi Yizhi and the other two, saying, "Are you going to White Stone Mountain? Five hundred coins per person, pay first!"

Shi Yizhi awkwardly pulled out a gold leaf from his pocket. He felt a little reluctant to put it in, but he didn't have any extra money—he had left in a hurry and only brought the gold leaf and a few dozen loose copper coins!
"I can't make change, I don't have any scales here!" the man in blue said impatiently. "Why don't you go back and get some? There should be another batch later!"

"I only brought half a string of cash with me, just enough for myself..."

Jiang Wanli also took off the book box somewhat awkwardly, and sure enough, he only managed to pull out half a string of coins from it.

Finally, Andersen pulled out a money note from his chest and said generously, "I have extra, I'll pay for it for you first!"

The man in blue repeated his previous statement: "I can't make change!"

Anderdin explained, "This is a coin note of one string of cash, so it should be just right!"

The man in blue added, "In Southern Chu, one string of cash is only worth eight coins, which is not enough."

This time, Andersin was also a little embarrassed.

One string of cash wasn't enough, and they were reluctant to give two strings. For the time being, they really had no other choice.

Just when everyone was at their wits' end, a man with a small mustache and somewhat shifty-looking eyes patted his chest boldly and said, "Fine, fine! I'll pay for you!"

As he spoke, the man took out a whole string of coins from a tiny purse and skillfully stuffed them into the copper basin. In the blink of an eye, the coins, which were several times larger than the basin, were all stuffed in, and the golden cicada copper basin returned to its original state, looking dark and empty inside.

"That's exactly as always, not a penny more, not a penny less!"

Shi Yizhi, who had never seen such strange things before, stared wide-eyed. Even Anderding was full of surprise. It was only after Jiang Wanli stuffed his share of money in the same way that he bowed to the mustachioed man and said, "Thank you for your righteous help, brother. I didn't expect you to be so capable that you had the means to get your hands on the legendary 'Qiankun Bag'!"

The man with the mustache was very pleased with the flattery, and his face showed a smug look, but he pretended to be modest and said: "Hehehe, not at all, they are just ordinary goods, acquired from Huiyou Escort Agency, not worth mentioning!"

Jiang Wanli quickly cupped his hands and said, "I am Jiang Wanli. May I ask your name, brother?"

The man with the mustache returned the greeting politely: "The Gao family of Biyang, Gao Wencai."

Upon hearing the words "Gao Family of Biyang," Shi Yizhi finally recognized them and stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting, saying, "So you're from Gao Family Village! My apologies for not recognizing you! I am Yizhi, a disciple of the Jade Void Sect. Thank you for your help, Brother Gao!"

There is only one "Gao Family of Biyang" in the world, namely the famous Gao Family Village of Biyang.

Although Gaojiazhuang's business wasn't as large as Yejiazhuang's, it was still a well-known landlord and a local tyrant in the Biyang area.

Most importantly, the Gao Family Golden Melon Hammer, a family heirloom of the Gao Family Manor, is a unique skill in the martial arts world. Hundreds of years ago, a grandmaster of the Gao Family Manor also contributed to the founding of the Chu Kingdom. Therefore, even after the Gao Family Grandmaster passed away and the Gao Family declined, the Chu Kingdom court still gave the Gao Family some face and did not treat them harshly as it would treat ordinary martial arts sects.

In short, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Although the Gao family's reputation has faded in recent years, it is still a powerful sect with a long history. Upon hearing this, everyone became respectful.

Anderding didn't know much about the Gao family. He only bowed slightly as a gesture of thanks because he had received a favor from them, but he didn't say anything.

Meanwhile, Gao Wencai looked at the young man properly after hearing that he came from the "Jade Void Sect," but questioned him, "How did the Jade Void Sect end up in Chang'an? Shouldn't it be closer to Baishi Mountain from Baozhou?"

Shi Yizhi replied, "My home is in Chang'an, that's why I came from Chang'an."

While the group exchanged pleasantries, the man in blue had already put away the golden cicada and bronze basin, and shouted again, "Alright, enough chit-chat, everyone stand in the formation, we're leaving!"

"Hurry, hurry, everyone get to the middle!"

While urging them on, he pulled out three yellow strips of paper, each two inches long and one inch wide, from somewhere and stuffed them into the arms of Shi Yizhi and the others: "These are teleportation tickets, keep them safe!"

Anderdin looked at the rough yellow paper in his hand. In the most prominent center, the words "Chang'an City Passenger Transport Ticket" were printed in ink. At the bottom was a vermilion date, whether printed or handwritten, he didn't know. There was also a character "子" on the right, the meaning of which was unknown.

Unable to understand it at all, he simply asked aloud, "May I ask, sir, what is the use of this 'teleportation ticket'?"

The man in blue casually replied, "It's useless. You can just throw it away later! Because we're short-handed here, I'll check your tickets while you're buying them. If it were another teleportation array, you'd have to have your ticket checked after you buy it, and only after the original ticket is removed can you teleport."

After answering, he once again urged in a voice that seemed to be speaking directly into everyone's ears: "Alright, alright, we're about to teleport. Stop gossiping and don't leave the formation. If you don't listen to my advice, it could be a matter of life and death!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned solemn, and they dared not say anything more.

Then, the golden patterns on the ground gradually lit up, and the man in blue walked to a place with several colors of patterns painted on it, forming hand seals.

Then, a flash of golden light appeared, and Shi Yizhi felt a blur before his eyes. The surrounding scenery suddenly transformed into a desolate wilderness.

This teleportation array originally led to the main hall outside the square of the White Stone Immortal Sect. Later, for the Immortal Fate Conference, Zhang Chengdao specially ordered Tang Xiaoyu to modify it, changing it to teleport to a slope at the foot of White Stone Mountain, and built a new teleportation station there, which became the real "White Stone Mountain Teleportation Station".

As for the original White Stone Mountain teleportation station, Zhang Chengdao renamed it the "White Stone Immortal Sect Teleportation Station." Currently, it is not directly open to any location, except during the Grand Court Assembly, when a newly added small teleportation array near the Chang'an City teleportation station will be activated.

It's quite small because it wasn't fully built yet; the roof is still thatched. It can only teleport about twenty people at a time, but it's enough for now. We just need to find a way to improve the teleportation array later, otherwise, every time we want to add a new teleportation station, we have to rearrange the array, which is too troublesome and takes up too much space...

Zhang Chengdao had even thought more than once that it would be great if, like the high-speed rail, many trains could run on the same tracks...

(End of this chapter)