Chapter 135: Gratitude, Financial Support, Guarantees
Fang Shu looked up upon hearing this.
A light smile appeared on Fang Lu’s face again: “Immortal Cultivator, Immortal Cultivator, if you leave the mountain, can you still be called an Immortal Cultivator? You would be mortal, not immortal.”
She also glanced around at the various instruments in the room, sighing: “Also, little junior brother, anyone who can come up the mountain isn’t necessarily a genius, but you and I have fought our way here from the crowd.
Now we’re just temporarily stuck in the mud on the mountain. Do you really have the heart to leave this place at the slightest setback and completely sink into the world below? It’s easy to go down the mountain, hard to come up.”
Now it was Fang Shu’s turn to respond, and without hesitation, he said:
“Of course I’m not willing. At least I have to endure a bit and give it a try.”
Fang Lu nodded: “We cultivators, the higher we go, the less anyone thinks they will be mediocre. Unless one is truly old and frail with no immortal path left, who would want to go down the mountain.
Not to mention me, your senior sister. Among you menial laborers, do you know what the most popular saying is?”
Fang Shu made a bow and asked for guidance.
Fang Lu calmly stated: “You are not menial laborers, just prospective disciples who have not yet refined qi.”
These words fell into Fang Shu’s ears, truly making him feel it was quite interesting and worth pondering repeatedly.
Not only on the mountain, but also below it, in the mortal world, in public and private, most people in the world seem to think this way.
From the casual chat, Senior Sister Fang Lu’s gaze flickered again: “In addition, the life you menial laborers live is harsh and hard to endure. I hear that the average lifespan of menial laborers on the mountain is only thirty-five. When the age comes, they are either kicked down the mountain, succeed in refining qi, or die on the mountain.
But while you live bitterly, we refining qi immortals live comfortably.”
More specifically, Senior Sister Fang Lu did not say much, just lightly remarking:
“Don’t think that because I’m like this, and you see me in my door and can call me senior sister or even lowly maid, pig, or dog, but once outside this door, you must call me Immortal Elder Lady.”
Fang Shu was slightly stunned and immediately understood her meaning. If he had not come as an “old acquaintance” or “guest,” he wouldn’t even have the chance to speak with her.
“Thank you, senior sister, for resolving my confusion and imparting your teachings!” He immediately stood up and made a bow.
“Alright, we’ve said a whole basket of idle complaints. You didn’t come today just to catch up with your senior sister.”
As Fang Lu spoke, she lightly shook her finger, grabbing the small box Fang Shu was carrying from afar. After opening it, she looked at the cochineal insect ointment inside and smiled:
“You even brought a gift. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen cochineal insect paste from Du Gu Guan. Thoughtful of you.”
She seemed very satisfied with this gift.
Fang Shu hesitated a moment, but seeing Senior Sister Fang Lu take the initiative to ask, he no longer held back and bowed again:
“Replying to senior sister, your junior brother came this time hoping senior sister can point out a way forward.”
He immediately explained his situation on the mountain, saying he would either test drugs for others, sell himself into slavery, or become a menial laborer and endure at least three years.
Upon hearing this, Fang Lu showed no surprise on her face, as if she had long expected Fang Shu’s situation and that he came for this reason today.
After Fang Shu finished, she said:
“Cultivation methods cannot be privately transmitted. Your senior sister can’t do that.
As for having your senior sister directly exchange the Spiritual Root Manual for you, that’s troublesome too, and unlike your first exchange, there’s no discount. If I spend contribution points, it would cost ten, and I really don’t have any on hand now.”
Fang Lu looked at Fang Shu with a half-smile: “But directly planting a spiritual root for you would be simpler and more convenient than you doing it yourself.”
These words made Fang Shu’s heart skip a beat.
Fortunately, the woman changed her tone: “But unless absolutely necessary, you wouldn’t be willing. Master should have explained the pros and cons. If I plant it for you, even with good intentions, you won’t be able to think about foundation establishment in the future.”
Fang Shu said nothing, just performed the courtesies even more meticulously.
Suddenly, Senior Sister Fang Lu asked: “How is your comprehension of gu technique now?”
Fang Shu pondered, neither humble nor exaggerating, and stated frankly:
“I have mastered all the third calamity gu recipes in the hall; they succeed as soon as I refine them. Master has given the fourth calamity gu recipes, and I have comprehended several thoroughly, but limited by expensive materials and needing spiritual sense assistance, I haven’t tried yet… If I have sufficient materials, junior brother can definitely try them out.”
Fang Lu nodded: “Not bad, that’s quite good enough. Whether you cultivate spiritual sense and true qi is the key to immortal cultivators’ skills.
You can proficiently refine third calamity gu worms; once your spiritual sense breaks through, becoming a gu master will be a natural progression. Your future refining qi life won’t be as bitter as your senior sister’s.”
Fang Shu’s heart stirred, and he gazed at her intently.
Meeting his fervent gaze, Senior Sister Fang Lu deliberately showed a shy smile on her face: “Junior brother, if you’re ever troubled in the future, come often to take care of sister’s business.”
She even stroked her lower abdomen coyly: “Could it be little junior brother doesn’t want to come in and see the beautiful scenery?”
Dignified, charming, seductive, gentle—various temperaments mixed in Senior Sister Fang Lu, truly making one’s mind blur.
If not for no anomalies on her body, Fang Shu would suspect she had secretly lit an aphrodisiac incense to confuse his mind.
Calming his mind, Fang Shu knew that although Senior Sister Fang Lu hadn’t explicitly said it, her earlier words were both teasing and agreeing to help him.
He immediately performed a grand bow:
“Shu will remember today’s kindness. Thank you, senior sister, for teaching the way. I am willing to honor senior sister as Elder Sister, and will definitely take good care of you in the future.”
His formal and resolute response instead left Fang Lu a bit at a loss.
But this also made Fang Lu happy inside, her eyes showing a touch of emotion. Such stubborn and green flavor could only be seen on someone like Fang Shu, an inexperienced youth.
Once on the mountain too long, one becomes either a slick veteran or eccentric in temperament, never responding so seriously.
Fang Lu waved her hand: “Forget what I said earlier. Since you call me Elder Sister, we siblings should be more polite.”
But after saying that, she inexplicably added:
“However, your primordial yang, if you haven’t found a good family, don’t casually waste it. If you want to play around, definitely come find sister. Elder Sister will even give you a red envelope.”
Fang Shu looked up and nodded seriously.
He understood that regardless of gender, one’s primordial yang or yin essence aids cultivation, can even be used in medicine or tool refining, especially for immortal cultivators skilled in bedroom secret techniques.
Perhaps for Fang Lu, his primordial yang was the only thing useful to her. Since she was willing to help him in his time of need, Fang Shu naturally wouldn’t be stingy.
If not for some promises being too outrageous to say, he would vow to visit senior sister once he succeeded in refining qi and offer his primordial yang as celebration!
In the hermitage, the senior sister and junior brother chatted idly a few more sentences.
A yo-yo deer cry sounded.
Fang Lu summoned her own spiritual light white deer, sat sideways on it, and extended her fair wrist, signaling Fang Shu to come up too.
Fang Shu straddled the deer back, as if deliberately embracing his lovely senior sister.
The two rode one deer together, deer hooves clopping, carrying them out of the hermitage. Under Fang Lu’s urging, the spirit deer headed toward a certain place in the temple.
On the road, whether strangers or acquaintances, upon seeing them, they either envied or teased where Fang Lu had recruited such a young pretty boy, noting her good taste.
Senior Sister Fang Lu retorted boldly: “This is my little junior brother from Du Gu Guan.”
Bystanders chuckled:
“Good junior brother, exactly what we want—a junior brother makes it even closer kin.”
“Deer Sister is truly enviable; one’s own is more reassuring than wild ones outside.”
Fang Shu straddled the deer back, feeling the various intimacies, eyes on nose and nose on heart, but he didn’t pretend to pull away; body to body was fine, after all, senior sister’s kindness was great.
Soon, he further understood just how great Senior Sister Fang Lu’s kindness was.
He saw her carrying him to a grand building where refining qi cultivators came and went, laughing without bitterness. With her status, she even seemed a bit uneasy entering.
The siblings were eventually greeted by an attendant in the building, who politely led them to a private room:
“Jin Family Treasure Hall welcomes you two.”
Senior Sister Fang Lu directly said:
“My junior brother just arrived at the temple, as an immortal seed without contribution points, and doesn’t want to serve others or be schemed against. He needs a share of spiritual root cultivation method and various materials.”
The attendant shifted his gaze from Senior Sister Fang Lu, sizing up Fang Shu with surprise in his eyes. He had just thought Fang Shu was a plaything; now it seemed this pretty boy’s luck was truly good.
The Treasure Hall attendant then brought an abacus and a stack of papers, saying familiarly:
“Cultivation methods are not lightly given. Though our hall has deep seniority in the temple, we can’t violate sect rules and provoke anger. Spiritual root methods cannot be bought by menial laborers with mere money and grain.
Fortunately, my Jin Family has financial support, divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers. Upper tier promises to join Jin Family as a son-in-law after refining qi, producing at least three children, requiring special physique; middle tier promises to join as guest elder, working at least thirty years, requiring skills; lower tier mortgages the physical body—within the term, success or failure, if body perishes, Jin Family has right to claim the corpse; overdue non-repayment can be sold into slavery…”
Rattling off, the Treasure Hall attendant listed a bunch of benefits and conditions, finally adding:
“These all require thorough examination, peeking into some of your secrets, and a dao heart oath.
Additionally, if the conditions seem too harsh, there are simplified versions: either cultivation method support only, or spiritual material money and grain support only—one or the other.”
Before Fang Shu could ask, Senior Sister Fang Lu beside him answered for him:
“No need for simplification. One share each of spiritual root cultivation method and tribulation materials, and bring out all upper, middle, and lower tier supports for my junior brother to choose and combine himself.”
These words drew the gazes of both Fang Shu and the attendant.
The attendant politely said: “May I ask, honored guest, what to use as collateral? Does your esteemed junior brother have anything special? If so, adding some money and grain is possible.”
Fang Lu didn’t mention gu technique, smiling lightly: “Whether my junior brother has merits, I don’t know, but he has me as Elder Sister. Use me as collateral; I guarantee it.”
The attendant was stunned, then nodded and silently took out a contract.
On the contract, aside from Fang Shu’s own repayment terms, it stipulated that refining qi guarantees refining essence; if the principal dies or fails repayment, Fang Lu will repay on his behalf.
More specifically, Jin Family may require, but not limited to:
Fang Lu to give birth to one child for Jin Family, or serve as cauldron for ten months, or as servant dancer, or help sacrifice and refine fourth calamity magic tools, and so on… The conditions were broad, covering almost every imaginable way to use her, just not involving her life.
