Chapter 91 : Chapter 91
Chapter 91: The Medicinal Fields
Xu Yuan understood immediately.
Zhao Qiusheng had been stuck at the Third Meridian for a long time, so naturally he longed to take another step forward.
Still, the fact that he was willing to ask Xu Yuan for help was a good thing.
Sometimes, kindness from strangers that expects nothing in return is even more troublesome.
Three Tongyuan Pills required ninety merit points to exchange for.
For Xu Yuan as he was now, that was not too much. But for stewards in the External Affairs Hall, who had no source of merit points, it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Thinking of Zhao Qiusheng’s care for him during this period, especially regarding Liu Yue’s matter, Xu Yuan readily nodded.
“Uncle Zhao, you’re too courteous. I'll exchange them first thing tomorrow morning. There’s no need to mention silver again. Just treat it as a small gesture of goodwill from this junior.”
Hearing this, excitement immediately welled up in Zhao Qiusheng’s eyes, and he cupped his hands repeatedly.
“This… how could I accept that? Xu Yuan, you’ve truly helped this old man tremendously!”
He had been stuck at the Third Meridian for many years. If he could get the help of the Tongyuan Pills, his chances of breaking through to the Fourth Meridian would become much greater, and his position might even rise a step higher in the future.
This favor was no small one.
After chatting a little longer, Xu Yuan got up and took his leave.
As he walked out of the Clerks’ Hall, he looked up at the sky. Time really passed quickly. Tomorrow, he will be heading to the medicinal fields.
…
Early the next morning.
A horse carriage with a blue canopy rolled out through the side gate of Shangyang Prefecture and headed out of the city.
Xu Yuan sat inside the carriage, resting with his eyes closed.
A simple bundle of luggage lay beside him, while three young servants sat opposite him with their eyes lowered. Their expressions held both nervousness and barely concealed excitement.
To be chosen as the personal servants of this newly advanced Five Meridian genius was, to them, a rare opportunity.
The carriage passed through the city gate and traveled along the official road for about half an hour before turning onto a fork in the road.
The path gradually narrowed, the trees on both sides grew lush, and even the air became much fresher.
After another half hour or so, the view suddenly opened up.
A broad, open valley appeared before them.
The terrain in the valley was flat and neatly divided into several sections. Each plot was planted with all kinds of herbs and plants. Some glimmered with a faint luminescence, while others gave off a light medicinal fragrance.
In the distance, several courtyards had been built against the mountain. Their white walls and gray tiles were arranged in pleasing disorder, and a large circle of stone fencing surrounded them.
“Sir, Field Ding has arrived,” the driver announced from outside.
Xu Yuan lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage, looking out over the scene. This medicinal field was even more expansive than he had imagined.
Encircled by green mountains, crossed by winding clear streams, and filled with quiet birdsong, it truly was a place blessed by nature.
The residence assigned to him was located on the eastern side of the medicinal fields. It was a house with three rooms and a courtyard.
With white walls and gray tiles, its layout was square and proper. Though it could not be called exquisite or luxurious, it was spacious and tidy.
An old scholar tree had even been planted in the courtyard. It swayed gently in the breeze, and beneath it stood a stone table and stone stools, lending the place a certain tranquil charm.
The three servants quickly began unpacking and settling things in.
Xu Yuan pointed at the sharp-eyed, clever-tongued servant among them, the one named Xiao Qi, and instructed, “From now on, all miscellaneous matters in the courtyard will be under your charge. Report to me anytime if anything comes up.”
Xiao Qi immediately bowed.
“Yes, sir. This lowly one will definitely do his utmost!”
After everything had been settled, Xu Yuan left the courtyard and headed toward the medicinal field guard station.
The guard station for Field Ding was a two-story wooden building located in the center of the medicinal fields.
When Xu Yuan stepped into the hall, more than ten people were already waiting inside. Seeing him enter, they all rose to their feet.
What surprised him, however, was that Tian Yang was also there, and at that moment, he even gave Xu Yuan a subtle look.
The personnel assigned to Field Ding had all been recruited from various places. Following the External Affairs Hall’s principle of keeping familiar people together when possible, they had assigned Tian Yang here as well.
At the head of the group stood a man around forty years old. He had a sturdy build, a somewhat dark complexion, and wore black brocade robes. He was Gao Xiaosong, the Fourth Meridian Field Guard of Field Ding.
He stepped forward and cupped his hands along with the others.
“This subordinate Gao Xiaosong greets Guard Commander Xu.”
His tone sounded respectful, but his gaze was somewhat cold.
Though Xu Yuan was puzzled, he did not pay it much mind. He swept his eyes across the group and gave a slight nod.
“Guard Gao, there’s no need for such courtesy. Everyone, please sit.”
The group sat down one after another.
Xu Yuan said a few formal words, then had everyone report their names and duties.
Field Ding had two guard squads, each with six members, and both squad leaders were Third Meridian martial artists.
Aside from that, there was Gao Xiaosong, the Fourth Meridian Field Guard, who handled the day-to-day practical affairs.
Xu Yuan nodded slightly. After everyone had gotten acquainted, he told them to go on their respective patrols, then pointed at Tian Yang and said:
“I’ll walk around here for a bit and familiarize myself with the environment. Just have an ordinary team member accompany me… you, then.”
Once everyone had dispersed in order, Tian Yang finally walked over and spoke in a low voice.
“Brother Yuan, long time no see. I never expected that you’d already broken through to the Fifth Meridian.”
Unable to help himself, he thought of various things from the past and said with some emotion,
“Sorry, I still haven’t had the chance to congratulate you.”
“No need for all that empty talk.” Xu Yuan waved a hand. Compared with the others, Tian Yang undoubtedly put him more at ease.
“They don’t seem to know the two of us are acquainted. You never mentioned it?”
“Right. I never deliberately brought it up.”
Tian Yang nodded, his expression calm and steady.
As the saying goes, once bitten by a snake, one fears ropes for ten years.
Ever since the night in the outer courtyard when he had nearly been strangled to death, he had never again shown off in front of others.
“You really have matured quite a bit.” Xu Yuan smiled, then got to the point. “Tell me about the situation in the medicinal fields.”
“Alright.” Tian Yang nodded and walked slowly with him through the medicinal fields, softly explaining as they went.
“The medicinal fields outside the city are divided into nine sections in total, from Field Jia to Field Ren. Each field has one Chief Guard, and all of them are placed under the unified management of a Chief Overseer at the Seventh Meridian.”
“Normally, there aren’t many major incidents in the medicinal fields, but small matters never stop. Low-level spirit beasts often break in, though only once in the middle of each month is there a larger-scale spirit beast assault. That’s the only time Brother Yuan would need to step in personally.”
Xu Yuan nodded silently. It sounded like the post of Chief Guard was even more leisurely than being a Street Guard.
“So your benefits here should be fairly good, then?”
Tian Yang nodded and said with a smile,
“That’s true enough. Spirit beasts run around everywhere here on ordinary days. Even if a portion has to be handed over in the end, the accumulated treasure meat can still amount to quite a lot.”
“As for the downside, this area is relatively stable, so it’s quite hard to obtain merit points. That’s why I’m thinking of working here a few more months, then heading to the Tier-3 Area once I break through to the Third Meridian.”
“Then you’d better do it soon.”
Xu Yuan looked at him and reminded him, “The Tier-3 Area is still fairly stable at the moment. After some more time passes, that may not remain the case.”
“There’s nothing I can do about it. An ordinary Second Meridian martial artist can’t earn many merit points.” Tian Yang let out a bitter laugh.
“I’m not like you, Brother Yuan. Your breakthrough speed is so fast. I can only wait a bit longer.”
Xu Yuan nodded, then suddenly asked,
“Oh right. I noticed that Gao Xiaosong’s attitude toward me was cold, and he even seemed faintly hostile. What’s the reason for that?”
At this, Tian Yang scratched his head.
“I think… it has something to do with his older brother?”
“Apparently, Gao Xiaosong has an elder brother who broke through to the Fifth Meridian in the Tier-4 Area. He had originally also chosen the assignment at Field Ding, but in the end, you displaced him, Brother Yuan.”
So that was it.
Xu Yuan instantly understood. No wonder Gao Xiaosong dared to give him attitude.
But the reason behind it was also perfectly clear to him. He himself had become a Five Meridian martial artist before even reaching eighteen.
And just from Gao Xiaosong’s age, it was obvious that his older brother had only now broken through to the Fifth Meridian. In the eyes of the Shangyang family, Xu Yuan naturally had greater potential, so the choice had been easy to make.
That said, given the Shangyang family’s methods, it was also unlikely that they would truly neglect the other party.
“That is rather interesting.” Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes.
Though it was only mildly interesting, that was all.
As the saying goes, an official one rank higher can crush a man to death—let alone when it was a martial artist, with power gathered into one body.
‘No matter what thoughts he has in his heart, as long as I keep him suppressed and make him honestly fulfill his basic duties, that’s enough. I have no desire to concern myself with the rest.’
Xu Yuan felt that he probably would not remain in the medicinal fields for very long. Since he already had a team under him, however crude, he could only make do with it for now.
…