After listening to that and watching the man named Hu leave, the corners of Feng Jiu’s mouth twitched, revealing a cunning smile. She stretched out her hand and flicked her sleeves. A cloud of dusty powder fell to the ground and disappeared without a trace.
After she returned, she went to redeem her reward before going back to the peak to help the others deliver the medical herbs. A day’s time passed busily just like that….
In the evening, while she was walking back to her cave dwelling, she saw Senior Brother Guo who had returned walking towards her with a big smile on his face.
“Feng Jiu, thank you for delivering medical herbs for me today. Come here, I brought this back for you.” As he spoke, he handed her something wrapped in a greased paper bag from his basket.
Before she even opened the paper bag, Feng Jiu could smell the scent. Her eyes lit up and she said in surprise: “Senior Brother Guo, is this roast chicken?”
“Haha, that’s right. Us mountain folk aren’t greedy. Whereas you won’t eat the Fasting Pill and like to eat these things instead. I can’t afford to buy spirit poultry, but I can buy this roast chicken for you.”
“Senior Brother Guo, you know me too well. Thank you. This is truly the best thing ever!” She said happily and then asked: “Senior Brother Guo, have you only just returned? Do you want to come over to my place for a couple of drinks?”
“Oh? You have wine?” He was a little surprised.
“Yes, a senior brother rewarded me a few days ago. I have a big jar! I haven’t drank any.” She grinned: “Since there is roast chicken, it’s perfect to have a drink with! Besides, it’s time for dinner now.”
“Since that’s the case, alright, let’s go to your place for a drink. Come on.” He smiled and nodded and went to the cave dwelling with him.
In the cave dwelling, the two men sat by the stone table drinking wine and eating roast chicken while chatting. They went from being sober to drunk by the time they had drunk one third of the large jar of wine.
“Come come come, continue drinking, finish this cup.”
Feng Jiu said. She held up a cup and drank another cup of wine then poured another cup for him. As she looked at drunk Senior Brother Guo, she grinned: “Guo, Senior Brother Guo, you are drunk.”
“How is that possible? I am not drunk, not drunk. Let’s continue drinking.” He waved his hand. His eyes were dazed and glassy, and his face was flushed. It was obvious through his vague words that he was drunk.
Upon seeing this, Feng Jiu pretended to accidentally say: “Senior Brother Guo, Third Sun Patriarch treats Senior Uncle Shangguan so well! Her cave dwelling is so much bigger than the ones we live in.”
“Yes, it’s pretty good. But you’ve only just got here, so you don’t know this. Core disciples are just in name, they haven’t gone through any ceremony, and, uh….”
He hiccuped and continued speaking: “The few of us who deliver medical herbs know that the Third Sun Patriarch is very strict. If he is not satisfied with the standard of the elixir pills refined by the five Senior Uncles, he will use corporal punishment.”
“Oh? Really? Corporal punishment means they beaten?” She asked, dumbfounded. She saw him shaking his head drowsily, and after a while, he collapsed.
“Senior Brother Guo?” She called out and nudged him. When she saw that he was asleep, she let out a sigh and let him continue sleeping.
Corporal punishment? Could this be the reason why her mother was beaten? The news in the peak rarely reaches them. She had only just learned out about this from Senior Brother Guo. So Master Third Sun would use corporal punishment on his disciples if he was dissatisfied with the elixirs they refined.
