Chapter 186 - 117: Embracing the Pill Is Today

"And this is..."

Zhou Peng looked at Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan immediately straightened up and lowered her head slightly, no longer daring to look around as she had just been.

"She is my apprentice, Xuan’er. This is Zhou Peng, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Guiyuan Sect."

Mo Tingzhu introduced.

Bai Xuan hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Uncle Zhou."

Her voice was crisp and carried a sweetness unique to a young girl.

"No need for formalities."

Zhou Peng waved his hand dismissively. His gaze lingered on Bai Xuan for a moment before he looked away.

He turned to Mo Tingzhu, his smile fading slightly, replaced by a touch of wistfulness.

"However, I’m not an Inner Sect Disciple anymore. I’m already thirty, and I just recently became an Inner Sect Steward."

Zhou Peng said with a sigh.

In the Guiyuan Sect, if you’re over thirty and still haven’t broken through to the Postnatal Realm, you have to become an Inner Sect Steward.

Those without connections or a powerful background would even be sent to preside over the various prefectures and counties.

Zhou Peng’s previous trip to Hengshan County had been to earn merit points and plan for his future.

Fortunately, he was part of the Sect Leader’s faction, so his connections were naturally strong. Now that he had become an Inner Sect Steward, he could still remain within the Guiyuan Sect’s Mountain Gate.

Bai Xuan listened with a blank expression.

She, of course, didn’t understand the difference between an Inner Sect Disciple and an Inner Sect Steward of the Guiyuan Sect.

Mo Tingzhu, however, knew a little about the Guiyuan Sect’s situation. He smiled and said, "Brother Zhou, being able to remain within the Guiyuan Sect’s Mountain Gate already makes you luckier than countless other Martial Artists in the Jianghu."

That was the truth.

Mo Tingzhu himself was a wandering martial artist of the Jianghu.

A life of drifting through the Jianghu was not as wonderful as one might imagine.

To put it nicely, it was a life of roaming the Jianghu with a sword, seeking pleasure and vengeance as you pleased.

To put it bluntly, it was a life of aimless wandering in the Jianghu, with no place to call home.

He had seen too many Martial Artists drift through the Jianghu for half their lives, only to end up without even a place to settle down.

Some died in foreign lands, some were forgotten, and some didn’t even leave a name behind.

In comparison, for Zhou Peng to have a place within the Guiyuan Sect was indeed quite fortunate.

"Come, Brother Mo, let’s go have a proper drink."

Zhou Peng turned and led the way, taking Mo Tingzhu and Bai Xuan across a square and down a small, green flagstone path.

Verdant bamboo grew on both sides of the path. The leaves rustled in the wind, and the air was filled with a faint, refreshing scent of bamboo.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three arrived at a quiet courtyard.

The courtyard wasn’t large, but it was kept very tidy.

The courtyard walls were white, with several vines climbing over them, bearing small purple flowers.

In the center of the courtyard stood a stone table with four stone stools, a tea set resting on top.

Zhou Peng led Mo Tingzhu and Bai Xuan into the courtyard and had them sit at the stone table.

He then turned and went inside, emerging a moment later with a tray holding several small dishes and a pot of wine.

"Here, try this wine. It’s brewed with spring water from the mountain and grain we grow ourselves here in the Guiyuan Sect. You can’t buy it outside."

Zhou Peng filled three cups with wine. He pushed one to Mo Tingzhu, then glanced at Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan quickly waved her hands. "Uncle Zhou, I don’t drink."

"Then have some tea."

Zhou Peng smiled and poured her a cup of tea instead.

Just as the three of them sat down, they heard a knock on the gate.

"Huh? Senior Brother Zhou, you have guests?"

The visitor was Xie Guanchao.

He and Zhou Peng had gone through life and death together in Hengshan County, becoming close friends who could talk about anything. He would often drop by for a visit.

Xie Guanchao wore a set of cyan robes with a long saber at his waist. His features were handsome, and he looked quite a bit younger than Zhou Peng.

The moment he entered, he saw Mo Tingzhu and Bai Xuan. He paused in surprise for a second, then broke into a smile.

"Junior Brother Xie, come, have a seat. This is Mo Tingzhu. I’ve mentioned him to you before—from the Celestial Eagle Tower incident..."

Zhou Peng gave a brief introduction.

"So you’re the renowned Hero Mo. I’ve heard so much about you."

Xie Guanchao was a naturally friendly person and quickly grew familiar with Mo Tingzhu.

He sat down on a stone stool, poured himself a cup of wine, and downed it in one gulp. Wiping his mouth, he wore a look of satisfaction.

After a few cups of wine, Xie Guanchao couldn’t help but say, "Hero Mo, Senior Brother Zhou, the people from the Five Elements Sect and Medicine Valley have arrived too. Heh heh, I saw the folks from the Five Elements Sect, and every one of them looked grim. They really lost badly in the last dispute over the Hengshan County mines."

As Xie Guanchao spoke, a hint of schadenfreude touched the corners of his mouth.

He raised his cup and took another drink, then lowered his voice and continued, "You should have seen it. Among the people from the Five Elements Sect, there were several familiar faces. They were all losers we defeated back in Hengshan County, yet they dared to show up again this time. From the looks in their eyes, it seems they’re itching to avenge their past shame."

Mo Tingzhu had also heard about the Five Elements Sect and the Guiyuan Sect fighting over the mines in Hengshan County, and that the Guiyuan Sect had ultimately come out on top, securing the mines for themselves.

He lifted his cup and took a sip, savoring the sweetness of the wine as his gaze swept over Zhou Peng and Xie Guanchao’s faces.

"Brother Zhou, I heard the reason the Guiyuan Sect was able to defeat the Five Elements Sect in Hengshan County was because of Zhang Su. I’ve always wanted to ask, is this Zhang Su the same young hero who won two consecutive matches at the Celestial Eagle Tower?"

Mo Tingzhu asked.

His tone was calm, but his eyes held a hint of seriousness.

Back at the Celestial Eagle Tower, he had personally witnessed Zhang Su in action.

Though young, the man was decisive in his actions and his techniques were sharp, leaving a deep impression on him.

"That’s right, it was Junior Brother Zhang. Back in Hengshan County, Junior Brother Zhang cut down Jiang Taizhen and killed Dugu Jian, suppressing everyone from the Five Elements Sect all by himself until they couldn’t even raise their heads."

After speaking, Zhou Peng raised his cup and drained it in one go.

His gaze grew distant, as if he too was recalling the scene from that day.