Chapter 78: If the Mountain Won't Come to Me, I'll Go to It

Chapter78: If the Mountain Won't Come to Me, I'll Go to the Mountain

Gu Yong, having inhaled Five Stone Powder, fell into a state of manic excitement; he didn't notice Li Jun's coldness at all, and continued to laugh loudly:

"Although the Main Family is dissatisfied that we only seized one-fifth of the Heron rank badges, fortunately Li Jun killed Wu Jinfeng. On the whole, the merits outweigh the faults; the Main Family still commended Shu Dao Logistics."

"One-fifth?" Li Jun chewed on those words, a half-smile playing on his lips.

This son of a bitch has some nerve, daring to embezzle a portion of such a meager haul?

Then again, Gu Yong saying this now was likely an intentional hint for him to keep the secret.

Seeing Li Jun tactfully not expose him, the smile on Gu Yong's face grew even broader.

"The position of Security Director was bestowed upon you by the Main Family; truth be told, I also find this reward a trifle meager. So, Li Jun, whatever else you desire, just say the word—I'll pay for it out of my own pocket!"

What did he want?

Li Jun barely hesitated. "I'm rather interested in the Agriculturalists' Twenty-Four Solar Terms Elixirs. Young Master Yong, just bestow a few vials—Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, whatever."

Agriculturalists' elixirs? And Summer and Winter Solstice at that?

Gu Yong's breathing suddenly grew rapid; high on the Five Stone Powder, he nearly leapt up, raising a hand to slap Li Jun awake.

Leaving aside the fact that these two elixirs have never appeared in Chengdu Prefecture—likely only the Great Clans of Beizhili, or the Agriculturalists' own Group Headquarters, possess them.

Furthermore, a single vial of 'Spring Equinox' is worth millions in treasure notes; do you know how much 'Summer Solstice' and 'Winter Solstice' are worth?

Damn it, I don't even know!

"Sure, no problem. I'll arrange for someone to look around and see where they're sold later."

Gu Yong barely maintained the stiff smile on his face, hastily changing the subject. "But I recall your gene collapse issue was resolved, wasn't it? Why do you still need these elixirs?"

Li Jun naturally wouldn't say he could pop pills for stat upgrades.

And judging by Gu Yong's expression, he probably couldn't produce them anyway. So he casually replied, "Better safe than sorry. You know what I've been through, Young Master Yong; I've been burned before, so I'm gun-shy."

"The world is a level path; where are so many pits? Li Jun, you can't be bitten by a snake once and fear the well rope for ten years."

Gu Yong adopted an earnest, advisory air. "Besides, medicine is three parts poison; even the Agriculturalists' wares should be taken sparingly. Didn't you know their ancestor died tasting a hundred herbs?"

"Moreover, as long as you don't attempt to advance to Sequence Seven, the people of Buddhism and Daoism won't come looking for trouble. You're Shu Dao Logistics' man now; they wouldn't dare lay a hand on you."

The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.

"Ah!"

Du Shisan-niang suddenly shrieked, her face deathly pale, looking at Li Jun with reproach. "Director, you're pinching me!"

"You're not that fragile, are you? Haha, this Director was wrong; I'll be gentler next time."

Li Jun laughed it off casually, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, feigning nonchalance on the surface:

"Buddhism and Daoism manage heaven and earth; now they even oversee advancing to Sequence Seven? Wouldn't that mean I have to go donate some incense money to them?"

"It's not that they want to meddle with you; it's that you have to go looking for them."

The Five Stone Powder's potency surged up; Gu Yong seemed to have fallen into some illusory realm, his words revealing a manic madness.

"Incense money? Hahahaha, you should give people money, alright—but not incense money. It's hush money to buy back your life."

Life-buying money?

Li Jun narrowed his eyes. "This subordinate is dull; I don't quite grasp your meaning, Young Master Yong. Could you be explicit?"

"Not understanding is right. You must never understand."

Gu Yong sprang up from the couch, leaning toward Li Jun, the smile on his face terrifyingly eerie.

"Those are Native Buddha Bones and Crimson Dao Blood—living, breathing lives! Listen to this Young Master: stay an honest Sequence Eight, work diligently for Shu Dao Logistics, and I'll guarantee you a lifetime of glory and wealth!"

After uttering these words, Gu Yong's eyes bulged, his gaze fixed and vacant; he had completely sunk into the Five Stone Powder's hallucinations.

No complete sentence left his mouth again, only the repeated, jumbled phrase: 'I can enter officialdom.'

Seeing he could extract nothing more, Li Jun fell into deep thought on his own.

Native Buddha Bone, Crimson Dao Blood—literally speaking, they should refer to the native flesh and blood of Sequencers from the Buddhist and Daoist sects.

If they were bionic, they would be Mecha-Bones and White Blood.

But what do these things have to do with advancing to Sequence Seven? Could the Ritual require them?

Judging from Gu Yong's fragmented words just now, that seemed the only possibility.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have said that even if the two teachings didn't come for him, he would have to go to them.

This is the mountain not coming to me, so I go to the mountain.

"Requiring mutual slaughter from the Ritual onwards—is this engraving hatred into the genes?"

Li Jun stroked his chin, letting out a wry laugh.

"Director, what are you laughing at?"

The beauty in his arms, long neglected, finally couldn't help but pat Li Jun with her soft hands.

"With a beauty by my side, how could I not be happy?"

Li Jun cast his tangled thoughts to the back of his mind, laughed heartily, scooped Du Shisan-niang up horizontally, and strode toward the depths of the courtyard.

At this moment, he was also a bit weary; he might as well pass the examination today, and think of other matters later.

When the Duty Spirit on the Imperial Almanac shifted from Yutang to Gouchen, Li Jun finally left the Jiaofangsi.

Unlike the dragon's stride and tiger's step of his last departure, this time his gait appeared much more floaty.

Having stayed in the Jiaofangsi for a full four days, Li Jun had truly witnessed what 'industry leaders,' 'the best in Western Shu,' and 'you get what you pay for' meant!

If his body allowed, he even wanted to install a neural link to try out what 'spirit-gaming' felt like.

However, the Jiaofangsi's ability to burn through gold was also terrifying; Li Jun deliberately glanced at the bill upon leaving—these past few days he had spent a quarter vial of 'Spring Equinox'.

No wonder people in Chengdu Prefecture, whenever mentioning the Jiaofangsi, loved to say with sour envy: 'In conversation, great scholars; in company, no commoners.'

What commoner can afford this place?

If it weren't charged to Shu Dao Logistics' account, a Sequence Eight like him couldn't afford it either.

"Work-life balance achieved; time to get down to business."

Blending into the flowing crowds, Li Jun lazily stretched, his right hand pressing unobtrusively against his ear.

Moments later, Lord Ma's resonant voice rang in his ear.

"Rest assured, Old Ma isn't an unreasonable man; the Seventh-Rank Internal Art has long been prepared for you."

Hearing the resentment in the other's words, Li Jun couldn't help but grin. "I'm not here to collect a debt."

"Then why contact me?"

Lord Ma's voice paused, suddenly rising several octaves. "Not another fight, is it? It's only been a few days; my body hasn't even healed yet!"

"Calm down, calm down. I just want to ask you a few things, and place a custom order on the side."

Lord Ma visibly relaxed. "Meet in person, or talk right here? If it's important, best not to say it here."

"Let's meet in person."

Half a shichen hence, Fifth Street, Sheng Hua District. I shall wait for you here.