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

Chapter 260 First Visit to Peach Blossom Village

Jiang Wanli was greatly surprised: "So the Immortal Master is the legendary Seventh Young Master Ye!"

Shi Yi asked in surprise, "Huh? Didn't you say your eyes were already healed?"

Ye Shuyun replied, "Recently, when I practice my exercises, I often have doubts in my mind, so I cover my eyes to help with my practice."

As the three were talking, another figure emerged from the thick fog that Shi Yizhi and Jiang Wanli had stepped into.

She was a young woman with her hair neatly tied up. She was holding a long sword and looked exhausted, with beads of sweat covering her forehead.

Ye Shuyun smiled and nodded to the woman, saying, "Congratulations on passing the 'Ascension Steps'. Please rest for a while and wait for a few more people. I will then escort you to the trial formation."

"Thank you, Immortal Master."

The woman seemed to have no energy left. She simply leaned on her sword, gave a slight bow in thanks, and stood aside to rest with her eyes closed.

After a while, when three more people came out, Ye Shuyun led the group to the teleportation array not far away and sent the six of them into the "Trial Array".

This is the "scenic area" that Zhang Chengdao painstakingly created some time ago.

The group was taken to Taoyuan Village, where a huge stone tablet with the words "Taoyuan Village" written on it stood at the entrance, looking brand new.

"There are three villages and towns within the trial formation. You may make a living there. Within seven days, find the 'key to pass' and you will be qualified to participate in the next trial..."

After explaining the most basic requirements, Ye Shuyun thoughtfully added to everyone: "Be careful, money from outside cannot be used here. If you want to eat, drink, and make a living, you can only do some work in these three villages and towns to earn wages, or simply fish and hunt in the wild."

Jiang Wanli bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Immortal Master. We are extremely grateful."

"No need for that, it's just my duty."

After Ye Shuyun finished speaking, she bid farewell to everyone and then activated the teleportation array to leave.

Taoyuan Village looks very small, with only about ten houses in total. Right in the middle is an exceptionally large building, a two-story structure with a wooden tile roof, which is very different from the other thatched roofs and stands out.

Jiang Wanli did not immediately observe his surroundings. Instead, before anyone else could move, he spoke up, "Gentlemen, it is fate that we have met. Since we have all come to this trial formation together, why not travel together and look after each other? What do you all think?"

When everyone looked at him, Jiang Wanli hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "My surname is Jiang, my given name is Wanli, and I am from Sheyang in the State of Chu. I greet you all."

“Brother Jiang is right. It would be fate if we could travel together.” A richly dressed man said leisurely, fanning himself with a folding fan, “My name is Zhu Ye, and I am also from the State of Chu.”

The remaining people exchanged glances and then introduced themselves.

"Zuo Ting of Wolongzhuang is a native of Xingzhou in Xiao State."

"Yang Muqing of the Taiyue Sword Sect is from Chang'an."

"Li Heng of Wuyashuyuan was a native of the State of Chu."

Upon hearing that all three had mentioned their sects, Shi Yizhi also brought up the Jade Void Sect, which he had only been a part of for a short time, to make it seem more prestigious: "Shi Yizhi, Jade Void Sect, from Chang'an."

"I didn't expect that you are all renowned martial artists, and I am the only one who is just there to make up the numbers," Jiang Wanli said with a smile. He looked at Zhu Ye and asked, "Brother Zhu, with your temperament and this name, if I am not mistaken, you must be the number one all-knowing scholar in the world?"

Zhu Ye gently waved his folding fan, smiled and nodded, saying, "They're all just empty names."

After praising Zhu Ye, Jiang Wanli turned to Zuo Ting and cupped his hands in greeting: "And Brother Zuo, I never expected to meet Feng Lei Dao from Wolong Manor here! Seeing is believing!"

Wolong Manor is also one of the most prominent sects in Xiao Kingdom. Zuo Ting is its third master, a martial artist who has cultivated to the fourth rank of the Acquired Celestial Realm. His Wind and Thunder Saber Technique is very famous in the martial arts world, and Jiang Wanli has certainly heard of it.

Zuo Ting didn't seem to enjoy talking to people much, and only politely and distantly cupped his hands in greeting: "You flatter me."

Zhu Ye interrupted Jiang Wanli, who was still trying to "share the favor" with everyone else, and said, "Alright, let's find a place to rest first. I think this village is so small. If we delay any longer, when the others arrive, I'm afraid there won't even be a place to stay."

Of the six, besides Zuo Ting, Zhu Ye was the oldest, so the others gave him face and walked into the village together.

Upon entering the village, the scenery became simple and peaceful. Peach trees were planted everywhere in the village. In this small village, almost every house had a signboard hanging on it. In addition to the signboard, there were also easily recognizable pictures on it. Some showed wine jars, while others showed iron anvils. There were about a dozen different shops in total. Although there were not many people coming and going, it still looked quite lively.

"Are you guests from out of town?"

They had only taken a few steps into the village when an elderly man, who looked like a scholar and was leaning on a cane, came up to them with a smile and said, "I am the village head of Taoyuan Village. You distinguished guests have come from afar and have had a long journey!"
"Lately, we've been getting more and more visitors, all saying they're looking for some kind of 'secret key to passage,' but alas, I've never heard of such a thing!"

Before anyone could ask, the old man began to speak rapidly: “If there were only one or two people, my family could barely manage to provide some food, but there are too many of you, so I can’t entertain you all!”
"The Peach Blossom Inn in the village is full. If you want a place to shelter from the wind and rain, you can go to the Peach Blossom Goddess Temple in the north of the village. But if you want to make money, you can ask at the blacksmith shop and the general store. Master Hu's family is having a wedding these days and they need a lot of things. You guys have plenty of ways to make money!"

Upon hearing this, everyone hurriedly expressed their gratitude. Shi Yizhi also cupped his hands in thanks and then asked, "Thank you, Village Chief. I heard that money from outside cannot be used in the village. I wonder if gold and silver are also unacceptable?"

“It’s not usable. The village only uses this kind of spiritual money.”

As Muramasa spoke, he took out a copper coin from his sleeve and handed it to everyone: "I have one here, so I'll give it to you distinguished guests as a token of my appreciation."

Zuo Ting took the copper coin, weighed it in his hand, rubbed it a few times with his fingertips, and then passed it to Jiang Wanli.

This copper coin is larger and heavier than other copper coins, probably even heavier than the heaviest Wuzhu coin.

The obverse of the copper coin is engraved with the two characters "Lingbao", while the reverse has four strange patterns distributed in the four directions of the coin.

Jiang Wanli took the copper coin and felt that it was cool to the touch and even heavier than copper.

Yang Muqing, the only woman among the six, glanced at the copper coins and suddenly asked, "May I ask the village head, is there any pawnshop in this village? Perhaps we can pawn some jewelry?"

"No, but the daughter of the wealthy Hu family in the village is sixteen years old, the age when she loves beauty the most. Some time ago, she asked me to help her find some pretty jewelry. If you really have any exquisite items, perhaps you can go to the Hu family's house and ask."

As Muramasa spoke, he pointed to the largest courtyard on the west side, which was surrounded by bluestone walls, and said, "That is Master Hu's courtyard."

"Thank you Muramasa!"

Yang Muqing first thanked the village head, then turned to look at everyone, took off his earrings, and said, "According to what Immortal Ye said, this 'mountain-protecting formation' will last for seven days. My pair of turquoise earrings with gold thread are probably worth some money. Why don't you all come with me to ask Master Hu? If we can sell them, we can get some money to buy some food."

After Muramasa finished speaking with the others, he left with his cane without even saying goodbye. His appearance and departure were both rather strange, which made Zuo Ting stare at his retreating figure and fall into deep thought.

Hearing Yang Muqing's words, Zhu Ye quickly stopped him, saying, "How can I let you spend money? I have an ivory fan pendant here, which should be able to be exchanged for money."

Yang Muqing didn't insist, but nodded and said, "Then let's go together, otherwise we won't have any money and won't even have lunch!"

The two agreed on their opinions. After all, everyone had entered the "Ascension Staircase" early in the morning, and now the sun was almost at its zenith. Everyone was a little hungry, and just as Yang Muqing said, they had no money and couldn't even afford lunch!
Having made their decision, the six of them went together to the courtyard of Master Hu's house.

The gate of Master Hu's house was open, and people could be seen going in and out as they walked by, all seemingly very busy.

The gatekeeper was a young servant. Before the servant could speak, Zhu Ye stepped forward in a few quick steps, cupped his hands and said, "Young brother, I've heard that Master Hu is a man of refined tastes. I have a fan pendant of excellent quality here. I wonder if it would be of Master Hu's liking? Please inform him."

After Zhu Ye finished speaking, she casually revealed the fan pendant at the bottom of the folding fan, which was indeed an exquisitely carved milky white ivory fan pendant.

Unexpectedly, the servant only glanced at the ivory fan pendant indifferently, as if he didn't recognize its value at all, and politely declined, saying, "This... my master has been very busy lately, and I'm afraid he doesn't have time to entertain you all. Please forgive him."

Zhu Ye was immediately embarrassed because he refused to even report it.

Just as they were wondering what to do, Yang Muqing stepped forward, holding the pair of turquoise earrings in her hands, and said, "Actually, we were asked by the village head to come and have Master Hu's daughter inspect the jewelry. We just asked about the pendant on the side!"

Upon hearing this, the servant's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, saying, "Oh! Why didn't you say so earlier! Come with me!"

As he spoke, he led the way, guiding everyone through the front yard, around a pond, and to a pavilion in the back yard.

"Please wait here, I'll go and fetch Miss right away..."

After the servant finished speaking, he added with concern, "You mustn't run around! If you bump into anything, even several lives wouldn't be enough to pay for it!"

After speaking, he hurriedly left the pavilion, turning back every few steps.

(End of this chapter)