Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

To attack a servant disciple?

What's the point?

"May I ask, senior brother, why are these abandoned disciples targeting the menial disciples? Is it just to vent their anger?" Gu Shuxian voiced his doubts.

"Of course, it's not just that. Besides seeking revenge against the sect..." Chen Wenyan replied, pointing to the wooden plaque, "Do you know how much this long-term pass can fetch on the black market?"

"At least twenty taels," another disciple guarding the mountain chimed in.

Gu Shuxian's eyelids twitched. Was this reasonable?

Even if you dismantle and sell a menial disciple, you wouldn't get this much, right?

Chen Wenyan continued:

"Although our sect has a password checkpoint, those abandoned disciples know the sect rules and patrol routes like the back of their hand. If a menial disciple like you falls into their hands, trying to pry out the password... would probably be worse than death."

"Junior Brother Gu, after you go down the mountain, be sure to hide this certificate well, and don't mention that you are a disciple of the Suishan Sword Sect. Making a name for yourself is the business of the inner sect senior brothers and sisters. We should be careful."

Gu Shuxian nodded in agreement, secretly pondering to himself.

Risk does indeed come with opportunity.

If I stay on the mountain, I don't need to worry about these things.

But if they don't go down the mountain, how can they find a way to earn money to buy books?

However, this Senior Brother Chen also said that he should not mention his identity as a disciple of the Suishan Sword Sect. With his coarse linen clothes, others would only think he was an ordinary commoner.

I used to regret that the coarse linen clothes worn by the menial disciples weren't uniform, making it hard to tell if they were disciples of the Suishan Sword Sect. I never expected it would have this advantage.

"Thank you for informing me, Senior Brother." Gu Shuxian clasped his hands in gratitude again.

"It's alright."

After registering, Gu Shuxian said goodbye and left.

Along the deserted mountain path, the shadows of trees sway in the autumn wind, and birdsong fills the forest.

After learning of the existence of those outcasts.

The once picturesque mountain scenery has now become desolate, as if many treacherous individuals are hiding in the deep, dense forest.

"Indeed, knowing too much doesn't bring happiness."

Gu Shuxian smiled and shook his head.

However, this reminded me that I had been staying on the mountain for too long and had almost forgotten that the outside world was not a peaceful and prosperous place.

Although the battle at Hulao Pass was successfully completed, Gu Shuxian remained uneasy.

After all, he only had internal strength but no fighting skills. How could he fight when he encountered an enemy?

It seems I need to find some martial arts manuals for fighting down the mountain.

No, it's a martial arts manual!

Prioritize running away!

That's perfect opportunity to use the "One-Day Cultivation" for spiritual practice!

Qian Le and the others waited in the distance. Seeing him approach, they came up to him with a puzzled look on their faces and asked:

"Why are you so slow? Is the mountain-guarding disciple making things difficult for you? If so, that's troublesome. We'll have to be mindful of their attitudes when we go up the mountain, so we must try to maintain good relations with them..."

Gu Shuxian waved his hand, signaling him to calm down, and briefly explained what Chen Wenyan had reminded him of.

Qian Le was astonished upon hearing this. "They're treating you so well? These disciples guarding the mountain have seen countless people, and they're never friendly to anyone. Why are they being so polite to you? I tried to bribe them before, but all I got were cold shoulders!"

What's your focus here?

Gu Shuxian thought to himself, but said calmly, "It's just a coincidence that one of my senior brothers has the same hobby."

Thinking of this, Gu Shuxian suddenly realized that he hadn't asked Chen Wenyan about the sequel to "The Legend of the Swordsman".

Sigh, we were so busy discussing the plot... Gu Shuxian sighed inwardly.

"I've heard about this abandonment of disciples from Deacon Sun before," Qian Le nodded, then cursed, "Pah! They're a bunch of mad dogs, even targeting us menial disciples!"

However, he then chuckled and said:

"But don't worry too much. Our clothes are valuable in some ways, but worthless in others. If we do run into someone, we'll keep the receipt safe and say we're farmers. Who would know?"

Gu Shuxian nodded and said nothing more.

Qian Le went down the mountain many times without incident, so there was no need for me to worry unnecessarily.

As we descended the mountain, we registered any disciples guarding the mountain we encountered.

A mountain breeze blew in, swirling up a few withered yellow leaves that swept past my feet.

After walking for about 15 minutes, the mountain slope gradually flattened, and the trees on both sides of the road were gradually replaced by low shrubs.

Upon reaching a fork in the road at the foot of the mountain, Qian Le suddenly stopped and whistled.

What is this guy doing?

Gu Shuxian raised an eyebrow. Had Qian Le laid an ambush with axemen here? Had he himself been ambushed?

He soon realized he had been overthinking things.

A person emerged from behind a pile of stones by the roadside.

He was carrying a bamboo basket, looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, and walked with his shoulders hunched, appearing timid and hesitant.

It was Deng Shifan, the handyman disciple who shared room number nine with Gu Shuxian.

"Boss, Brother Gu, Junior Brother Gu," Deng Shifan greeted.

This person had a slight stutter, but other than that, Gu Shuxian didn't have any particular impression of him.

"Is everything ready?" Qian Le asked.

"All prepared, not a single one is missing." Deng Shifan patted the bamboo basket and smiled ingratiatingly.

Qian Le turned to Gu Shuxian and explained with a smile, "We collect and sell them on the same day, but there's not enough time. We collect them a few days in advance, hide them, and then have Junior Brother Deng secretly transport them down the mountain on the same day."

Then he pointed to Deng Shifan.

"The three of us will take the lead, you will be responsible for recognizing characters and herbs, and Junior Brother Deng will be responsible for these heavy and arduous tasks."

"Three people? Where is Senior Brother Meng Ping?" Gu Shuxian remembered that Qian Le had mentioned that Meng Ping had asked him for directions down the mountain.

"Meng Ping?" Qian Le was taken aback, then said in a muffled voice, "I don't know. That guy is very mysterious. He usually acts alone and is elusive."

"They used to work with us in the mountain produce trade for a while, but then they quit. It's really baffling, a waste of my connections..."

Seeing that Qian Le's expression was getting worse, Gu Shuxian wisely stopped asking any more questions.

At this moment, Deng Shifan carried a bamboo basket on his back.

"Boss, Junior Brother Gu, I'm leaving now."

After saying that, without waiting for a response, he walked ahead.

Gu Shuxian frowned, about to remind him of the safety issue, when Qian Le stopped him.

Gu Shuxian turned his head and saw Qian Le's expressionless face, looking thoughtful.

Qian Le seemed to read his mind and gestured with his lips:

"Although Steward Sun turns a blind eye to the work we do, it is still against the rules. If we are unlucky one day and get caught by the patrol, someone will have to take the blame."

"Junior Brother Deng isn't very capable, and he's not doing well in the menial staff quarters. I made it clear to him that we'll split the money equally when it's distributed, and if anything goes wrong, he'll have to take the blame alone."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shuxian remained silent.

Everyone has their own way of surviving.

Seeing that his reaction was not intense, Qian Le added, "We should also keep our distance from him in the servants' quarters and pretend we don't know him."

Gu Shuxian nodded.

No wonder they're never seen together on weekdays; Qian Le is really cautious.

Qian Le smiled and said no more.

The three of them then walked towards Dayuan City, one in front of the other.

Dayuan City is not far from Suishan, about twenty li away.

After walking for less than an hour, the outline of the gray city wall could be seen in the distance.

The closer you get, the more you can feel the grandeur of the city wall.

Long queues formed at the city gate, including farmers carrying loads, merchants driving mules, and mostly ragged vagrants and beggars, who squatted in groups of three or five by the roadside, staring blankly at passersby.

The guards, fully armed and in good spirits, lazily checked those entering the city.

Among those refugees, some were clearly middle-aged men, yet they were emaciated and skin and bones from hunger.

Gu Shuxian shook his head inwardly after reading it.

If I hadn't been lucky enough to join the Suishan Sword Sect back then, I'd probably be living a life of hunger and hardship right now.

These migrants may have previously lived a peaceful life farming in the countryside or living quietly in a city.

But in chaotic times, even the slightest storm can destroy a carefully maintained life.