Chapter 4: The Eve of Departure

Upon hearing this.

Cheng Buzheng revealed an excited expression, as if the person who had been acting out of spite just moments ago was not him at all. He displayed a youthful, boyish temperament to the fullest, acting like a devoted little fan.

"Then many thanks, Brother Qian. I am well aware of your great reputation in town. However, as a mere medicine boy, no one would go out of their way to cause me trouble!"

Subsequently, the two chatted about interesting happenings and family matters in town.

Suddenly.

"Brother, has your family's convoy passed through Yaoshan Town in the last few days?"

Hearing this.

Qian Zhe did not hesitate for a moment and blurted out

"There is a convoy heading to the county seat tomorrow, and it happens to pass through Yaoshan Town!"

"You want to go to Yaoshan Town? What for?"

Qian Zhe reacted immediately and asked with considerable curiosity.

A nonchalant expression appeared on Cheng Buzheng's face as he said

"Isn't it because the pharmacy needs to restock some medicinal herbs? The doctor has gone out to visit patients again, and I'm just idle. It's a good chance to go to Yaoshan Town to purchase some herbs and take the opportunity to wander around."

As he spoke, an excited look crossed his face.

"As you know, Brother, to get to Yaoshan Town, one must pass through the Cangqing Mountains. That is a territory occupied by bandits; only your family's convoy can pass through unscathed. Other merchant caravans usually end up losing a layer of skin. If I go alone, it would surely be like throwing a meat bun at a dog—gone without return. Not to mention, there are countless wild beasts along the way waiting for a little lamb like me!"

Cheng Buzheng spoke jokingly, showing a helpless expression when mentioning the various difficulties.

But in his heart, he was not as helpless as he appeared; instead, he was filled with trepidation, waiting for Qian Zhe to make the final decision. This concerned the very first step of his path to immortality.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have shared the recipe and ingredients for the lobster delicacy with Qian Zhe. All of this was a setup orchestrated by him; from making it by the roadside until today, it was all to bait him.

Cheng Buzheng did not use this to trade with him. Doing so at this critical moment would make his intentions too obvious and easily detectable, which could lead to unexpected complications.

In town, only a few convoys had the strength to traverse the Cangqing Mountains.

Furthermore, the decision-makers of those other convoys were not people a mere medicine boy like him could approach, unless the doctor himself intervened.

Even if there were a safe way, he didn't want to take a gamble, even if it were just bandits or outlaws letting him pass because he looked poor.

He wouldn't be able to avoid attacks from wild beasts along the way either; those beasts wouldn't care if he was poor; they would only target the flesh on his body.

Therefore.

Cheng Buzheng could only exert all his wits to secure an opportunity to go to the county seat. He knew the Qian family's convoy departed every seven days, providing enough time to reach the county seat.

However, he did not say he was going directly to the county seat, but rather to Yaoshan Town, the closest point to it.

He feared his plan might fail if he aimed directly for the county seat; by mentioning Yaoshan Town, he had the perfect excuse to traverse that dangerous region.

After all, the time when the immortals recruit disciples in the county seat coincided with this period. Qian Zhe had mentioned that even going to Yaoshan Town to buy herbs required careful inquiry, which showed he had not completely let down his guard.

These powerful families did not wish for immortal families to exist under their rule.

Otherwise, it might threaten their family's dominance, yet they could not directly oppose the immortals' recruitment of disciples.

In fact, the bandits and outlaws in the Cangqing Mountains might even be supported by them!

*Caution prevents great errors.* He preferred to prepare for the worst-case scenario rather than expecting a beautiful outcome, lest his entire plan fall through.

Cheng Buzheng speculated secretly in his heart.

Ultimately, Qian Zhe did not disappoint him.

With a grand wave of his hand, Qian Zhe appeared quite magnanimous

"No problem. It just so happens that I need to return to the county seat tomorrow as well. You can set off with me then. It'll be good company for the journey!"

"It is my good fortune to be able to keep you company, Brother!"

Cheng Buzheng immediately began flattering him. At this critical juncture, he would not allow himself any slackness, even though he felt a bit disgusted by his own actions.

As the saying goes, in this life, one is often not master of one's own actions!

At the same time, Cheng Buzheng thought to himself, *"He is likely going to the county seat at this time to participate in the immortal selection as well! Otherwise, it wouldn't be such a coincidence! It seems once I reach the county seat, I must make some disguises to avoid being recognized by this 'good brother'!"*

After confirming the time with Qian Zhe, he engaged in another round of flattery, followed by a stream of witty remarks that left his "good brother" in high spirits.

In the afternoon.

Cheng Buzheng walked out of the Liuxian Restaurant with a light step. A gentle breeze blew against his face, giving him a momentary jolt of sensation.

The slight joy on his face vanished quietly, and he silently warned himself: *"Until the matter is settled, I must not be careless in the slightest!"*

After a moment of adjustment.

Cheng Buzheng returned to a calm, unruffled state. He looked at the bustling streets: young villagers haggling with vendors over a single copper coin; old men and women selling their homegrown vegetables, small fish, and tofu on both sides of the street.

The lives of mortals were so similar; this was the brief life of a commoner. Perhaps, in the future, he too would toil and struggle for a living.

*Born as an ant, one should possess the ambition to transcend the immortals.*

Cheng Buzheng made a silent vow, a flash of determination crossing his face. He did not linger further and headed toward the town's post station.

At dusk, at the Bairen Pharmacy.

Xiao Li, who was on duty, was lying listlessly on a large chair, his eyes half-closed as he stared blankly into the sky.

Suddenly.

Xiao Li felt a shadow block him. Startled, he let out a scream and then patted his small chest, looking as if he had been scared to death.

"Senior Brother Buzheng, you scared me to death! You have to compensate me with a stick... two sticks of candied haws, or else this isn't over!"

Looking at Xiao Li's chubby little face, Cheng Buzheng smiled and said

"You... The doctor is home, so why aren't you lively? As soon as he leaves, you become so listless!"

"How can that be the same?" Xiao Li glanced sideways at Cheng Buzheng and pouted.

Seeing Xiao Li's lethargic state half-lying on the chair, Cheng Buzheng found it quite amusing. In his heart, he treated the medicine boys like younger brothers and looked after them regularly.

But he was setting off tomorrow. He didn't know if Xiao Li would be recruited by an immortal, but even if he wasn't, Cheng Buzheng would not return to be a medicine boy.

When he returned again, it would be unknown how many years or months later.

Just as he reached out, Xiao Li dodged him.

"I won't let you pinch me anymore!" Xiao Li looked at him huffily.

Cheng Buzheng smiled and teased, "Do you believe me when I say I wasn't going to pinch you?"

"I don't...!"

Cheng Buzheng turned his head, glanced at the sky, and said

"Alright, keep watch for one more hour, then prepare to close up. Get some rest early!"

Hearing this.

Joy immediately appeared on Xiao Li's face, and he thought to himself

*"This is much earlier than the usual closing time!"*

"Thank you, Senior Brother... Senior Brother, do you want to pinch me now?"

As he spoke, he leaned his joyful face closer.

"Next time!" Cheng Buzheng waved his hand and turned toward the stairs.

Returning to the second floor, he glanced at the doctor's bedroom. The door was tightly shut, and a copper lock hung from the handle, securing it firmly.

Cheng Buzheng's heart stirred slightly.

Returning to his own room, he sat in his chair, pulled a sheet of white paper from the desk, took out a brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing about his upcoming journey.

The script in this world was vastly different from his previous life. Having been reincarnated, he knew that literacy was the most important matter; otherwise, he would be restricted in everything he did in the future.

Unless, of course, he intended to spend his whole life scavenging in the dirt.

Thus, he had practically dragged his brother along to learn secretly from the village scholar. Relying on the wisdom of his past life, he was able to read books fluently in less than half a year. Although he couldn't write a proper essay, he was more than capable of being a teacher.

His brother, however, was much slower. By annotating the characters with phonetic symbols, he finally taught his brother to read and write, sparing him from having to memorize tens of thousands of characters by rote.

The result was gratifying; eventually, after a year, his brother could also read books fluently.

Cheng Buzheng wrote about his journey, but he did not write everything in full—such as his participation in the immortal selection or his use of the Qian family's convoy.

Although the doctor had treated him well and he didn't want to disappear without a word, he also didn't want to cause trouble. He wrote what he could and remained vague about what he couldn't.

A quarter of an hour later, he finished writing.

Cheng Buzheng waited quietly for the ink to dry, reviewing his plan to see if anything had been missed.

Half an hour later, Cheng Buzheng pushed open his door and looked around. Seeing no one outside, he walked to the doctor's door, took a letter from his robe, and slid it through the gap under the door into the doctor's room.