"I appreciate your regard, Elder Song, but there are so many mountain-men inside and outside the mountain willing to work for the Hundred Herb Hall. Why choose an unknown young man like me?"
Su Yan was confused and also cautious. Did finding a single Treasure Plant really require him specifically? There were so many mountain people; even if he was luckier, he couldn't beat the sheer number of people searching.
"It's a private matter, not the Hundred Herb Hall's official business. Also, your skill in finding and identifying herbs is greater than that of ordinary mountain people." Song Qi merely hinted, without explicitly mentioning Su Yan's possible ability to keep some kind of small exotic beast.
Whether it was a Treasure-Seeking Mouse or a Mountain-Trekking Dog, being able to tame such creatures was a skill in itself for mountain people, and a valuable one at that. These methods were closely guarded secrets, typically only held by experienced mountain-men and hunters. While precious to mountain people, they weren't so important to Song Qi that he would personally go into the mountains to hunt for such a beast. Whether the beast would even listen to him was another matter.
Song Qi was deliberately vague, but Su Yan immediately realized that his use of the Dark Water Centipede to dig up herbs had likely been noticed.
'This Song Qi probably only suspects I have a helper but doesn't know what it is. It's common for mountain people to raise trekking dogs or hunting eagles, though only a few possess the ability. A person of his status wouldn't personally bother to go into the mountains to chase after a rabbit.'
His eyes flickered as he quickly thought: 'It won't hurt to hear him out.'
"Elder Song, it's hard to say if a Blood Vein Flower exists in the mountains. Even though I can find and identify herbs, I can't guarantee anything."
He did not agree immediately. Hearing this, Song Qi said, "I have received information that the three inner mountain ridges near Cloud-Front Village and Dagou Village have had rumors of it. You can look around. I am not asking you to trade the Blood Vein Flower for my recommendation. If you agree to try, I will first tell you about martial arts practice."
As Song Qi spoke, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Su Yan's shoulder.
Su Yan was startled, his expression instantly changing as he tried to dodge the large hand. Unexpectedly, the slow-moving hand was unavoidable; his attempt to dodge felt like he was actively moving toward it.
Not good!
He sensed danger, and the dry, thin hand clamped onto his shoulder like an iron hoop. He struggled to break free, but Song Qi gently pressed down, and an immense force held his shoulder, leaving him unable to move.
"Good. Your muscles and bones are maturing at fifteen or sixteen. Although you're a year or two older than the ideal age, it's still suitable. Gaining the strength of a young calf in a month, your Root Bone (innate aptitude) must be quite good."
Song Qi released Su Yan's shoulder and said, "It doesn't matter if you don't find it. Consider this a matter of fate, and I'm simply guiding you."
Song Qi had risen from humble beginnings, only achieving his current status after the Hundred Herb Hall's owner took him in as a refugee. Seeing Su Yan, though from a low background, striving for success, he felt a certain fondness and curiosity since the incident with the Hundred Herbs Illustrated Guide. Now, going along with the flow and doing him a favor was an investment.
The three martial arts academies in Yun Cang Town had their own masters, but they also had varying degrees of closeness with forces like the Hundred Herb Hall, weapon shops, wealthy gentry, and gangs. Su Yan had good Root Bone and could find herbs; he might become a capable individual in the future. Sending him to an academy allied with the rival Small Mountain Association would not be ideal.
Su Yan didn't understand all the intricacies, but he knew this was beneficial and harmless to him.
'The relationship between the academy and this Song Qi can wait. If I offend him now, I can't resist him. My reliance is on the Ominous Bug Cauldron system, not entirely on the martial path, so I have room for error.'
Quickly making up his mind, Su Yan, as if without a second thought, cupped his hands and replied, "Su Yan is willing to try."
Seeing Su Yan agree, Song Qi took out a name card from his pocket.
"You have no background and aren't a genius, so you can't get one of the official magistrate or city guard slots. I doubt you'd be willing to be an apprentice at the Hundred Herb Hall or a weapon shop for several years."
Song Qi hit the nail on the head: "Take my name card and present it to the Golden Ape Martial Academy. This will save you a year or a year and a half of work, allowing you to directly begin your Stance Training. Whether you can enter the inner circle depends on your own fortune."
Su Yan took the name card, his face showing surprise.
"Didn't they say you can learn genuine skills once you join the academy?"
"Do you think a mere set of skills is worth fifty taels?" Fifty taels was very expensive, as ten taels of silver could be a matter of life or death for the poor.
Even selling oneself into slavery might not fetch the sum of fifty taels.
But then he recalled the martial artist who killed a tiger with a single finger. How could such power be measured in a few dozen taels of silver?
He shook his head, and Song Qi continued: "Those who pay to enter are mostly physically weak. They temper their bodies and learn some fighting techniques so they can at least bully ordinary people. But to learn anything genuine, they must serve as registered disciples for several months, perhaps a year."
He looked at Su Yan: "Of the three martial academies, Golden Ape is friendly with the Hundred Herb Hall, so I still have some face there. Black Stone only cares about money. To learn their Stance Skills, martial techniques, and supplementary arts completely, you'd need no less than a thousand taels of silver, and the old Black Stone guy would still have to be willing to teach you."
"As for Seven Blades, they have connections with the Small Mountain Association."
Song Qi merely sneered. Su Yan's eyes shifted: 'I heard that the Small Mountain Association, the Lin Family, and the Hundred Herb Hall rely on Cloud Ridge Mountain for their sustenance and often have disputes. It must be true.'
'His recommendation to the Golden Ape Martial Academy is likely a way to keep me from moving toward the Small Mountain Association. More importantly, it's about the Blood Vein Flower.'
"Thank you for the guidance, Elder Song. This junior understands."
"Since you understand, go back now. Hurry to the city; fifty taels of silver is enough to draw the attention of rogues."
Song Qi began to dismiss him. He had said enough to Su Yan; whether he succeeded was up to his own fortune. Over the centuries in Cloud Ridge Mountain, few people managed to climb out of the mud and make something of themselves. Like Song Qi, it was only by good luck. This young man's fate remained to be seen.
Su Yan walked out of the inner hall. Bai Shan had been waiting for him and handed him the settled payment. Su Yan took the silver, shouldered his empty basket, and walked straight through the line of people toward the market exit.
As he walked, he pondered the day's events. He hadn't immediately understood everything Song Qi said, but the mention of the Golden Ape Martial Academy and the Seven Blades Martial Academy's connection to the Small Mountain Association made sense. It was simply the Small Mountain Association's competition with the Hundred Herb Hall's interests, and they naturally wouldn't want him to align with their rivals.
But that was secondary. The most important thing was the Blood Vein Flower; it was crucial to Song Qi.
'For a manager of the Hundred Herb Hall like Song Qi, finding a substitute to enhance blood energy shouldn't be difficult. The real value must lie in its ability to repair tendons and muscles.'
Su Yan's eyes narrowed: 'Is Song Qi injured, and did the Small Mountain Association do it? Why else would he be so secretive?' If the Hundred Herb Hall could acquire it, the Small Mountain Association could too. If Song Qi made a big show of it, the rivals would have a hundred ways to ensure he never got the item.
'I'll worry about their feuds later. The mere fact that this name card can save me several months, even a year, is enough.'
Su Yan didn't have a choice. If the Golden Ape Martial Academy insisted on physical tempering for a year before teaching martial arts, the other academies were probably similar, if not stricter. He couldn't afford to waste time; the sooner he started practicing martial arts, the better. Only by becoming strong himself could he ensure his own safety.
Su Yan returned home. From a distance, he saw a large basket, covered with fern leaves and packed full of goods, sitting at his doorstep. Xie Yuzhu stood nearby, looking as if he had been waiting for a long time.
"Uncle Xie, what is this?"
Xie Yuzhu smiled when he saw Su Yan: "Thanks to you, there were many Cinnabar Ganoderma and some Purple Ganoderma in those spots. They're all valuable herbs. Deeper inside, there were many fungi. We collected four large baskets in total and brought one to you." The basket was completely full, looking as if they had collected a full load from the mountain and added even more on top, spilling over the sides.
"Uncle Xie, you don't need to do this. Those nests..." Su Yan began, but Xie Yuzhu interrupted him.
His face was stern: "How can we not? The location of the nests was yours. If you hadn't told us, it would all be yours. We took advantage of you. If you don't take it, I won't leave."
At this point, Xie Yuzhu meant what he said. If Su Yan didn't accept, he would simply sit at the door.
"Alright, thank you, Uncle Xie." Su Yan reluctantly accepted, but a thought about his father suddenly prompted him to ask, "Uncle Xie, let me ask you something. Did my father really go to pick Stone Ear Grass that day?"
The question shocked Xie Yuzhu. His body stiffened, and his expression changed. He quickly said, "Why are you asking that? You mustn't risk it! It's not worth it." His eyes darted around, and he quickly added: "Yes, he was picking Stone Ear Grass. He just didn't tell me when he went up. Don't think about anything else. Take this basket, sell it for money, find a wife, buy two mu of land, and live a good life."
He finished speaking and quickly turned to leave. "I'm heading back now. If you need anything, call me. As for the money you owe, if anyone comes looking, I have a little extra to cover the shortage. Just don't get into a conflict with anyone." Xie Yuzhu quickly left the doorway and entered his own mud-walled courtyard, almost hiding inside his house.
Su Yan's eyes glittered. He mused: 'Uncle Xie knows something. He's worried about conflict, but that may not be my choice.'