Chapter Eighty-One: Accepting the Assignment

“Brother Liu, are you truly planning to take on the task of becoming a medicine attendant at the Dan Hall on Cangyun Peak?” There was a subtle, peculiar note in Qin Ling’s words.

Qin Ling knew well that although Liu Pan was younger than him and his cultivation was no higher, as long as Liu Pan could enter the Dan Hall—even as a lowly medicine attendant—his status would surpass Qin Ling’s. Thus, after Liu Pan revealed that he had been a disciple of an alchemy master in his former sect, Qin Ling did everything possible to draw closer to him. He overlooked the usual busywork of introducing new disciples to the sect, and even changed his form of address from “Junior Brother Liu” to “Brother Liu.”

Qin Ling understood that the best opportunity to get close to Liu Pan was now. It didn’t matter whether Liu Pan ultimately entered the Dan Hall, or how long he might remain there once admitted. As long as there was even the slightest chance, his efforts would be worthwhile.

At first, Liu Pan had thought he would have to go to some lengths to meet the elder in charge of Water-Method Alchemy in Yunliu Sect. But after hearing Qin Ling’s explanation, Liu Pan realized he had overestimated the difficulty.

The elder, named Zhao Huan, held a significant position within Yunliu Sect, and his temper matched his status—if not outright eccentricity. While other elders personally sought out disciples with talent and potential, this Elder Zhao did things differently: he never accepted disciples, only medicine attendants, and even then, only through official sect tasks.

According to Qin Ling, this Elder Zhao had recruited many medicine attendants over the years, but every disciple was driven out within days. The reason? Supposedly, he simply disliked the look of them.

For this very reason, the Dan Hall on Cangyun Peak still lacked a permanent medicine attendant, and the recruitment task remained perpetually posted on the sect’s task board—available to be taken at any time.

In fact, when Qin Ling learned that Liu Pan wished to study Water-Method Alchemy under Elder Zhao, he briefly regretted it. The odds of Liu Pan lasting in the Dan Hall were exceedingly slim, if precedent was any guide. But in the end, Qin Ling chose to help anyway. It cost him nothing, for the two medicinal herbs he’d been given were Liu Pan’s to begin with.

Liu Pan nodded, offering no further explanation. After hearing Qin Ling describe Elder Zhao’s temperament, he understood the undercurrent in Qin Ling’s words.

He had come to Yunliu Sect precisely to study Water-Method Alchemy. Now that he stood at the threshold, there was no possibility of turning back.

Perhaps because these were busy days with new disciples joining, the task hall was rather empty. The attendant handling Liu Pan’s request was a young woman of about twenty, with a pleasant appearance.

When Liu Pan explained that he wished to take on the task of medicine attendant at the Dan Hall, the young woman looked up at him in mild surprise, then swiftly took his identity token to record his details.

“A newcomer, aren’t you? You’re quick on the draw—the first of your cohort to take this task. No need to wait in line; just head straight to Cangyun Peak after this.” She busied herself with the records, speaking as if to herself, without giving Liu Pan any chance to reply.

Liu Pan paused, only then realizing the significance of the lack of a queue. Because Elder Zhao was notorious for his capriciousness, the senior disciples all knew this task was pointless. Only newcomers, full of enthusiasm, would rush to accept it.

After all, a task posted by a Dan Hall elder carried weight. Liu Pan thought that had he arrived a day or two later, he might actually have had to wait in line.

“All done—here you are.” The young woman quickly returned his token, then offered a word of warning: “This task is somewhat unusual. There’s no reward, but remember one thing: if you fail, you must report back immediately to end the task. Otherwise, you’ll bear the consequences yourself.”

Liu Pan thanked her earnestly.

He glanced up at the task, which, though now assigned to him, still hung in the most prominent spot on the task board, and felt an odd sense of foreboding. He then turned to join Qin Ling, who was waiting at the hall’s entrance.

“You got it?” Qin Ling inquired with concern.

“Yes, I have. Many thanks for your help, Brother Qin.” Liu Pan nodded, a faint smile on his lips.

“No need for thanks—I didn’t do much,” Qin Ling replied with a casual wave. “Besides, even if I hadn’t helped, you’d have learned all this within a few days. It was only a matter of time before you took on the task.”

Liu Pan smiled, saying nothing more. He knew Qin Ling spoke the truth. Still, he understood that if he lingered in the sect for a few days, he would likely encounter trouble.

At present, those who knew he possessed a large number of spirit herbs were all newcomers like himself. In a few days, that would change. Facing a single senior disciple, his identity as the former disciple of an alchemy elder might command respect. But against several—or dozens—of seniors, his title would be of little use.

Indeed, after learning about Water-Method Alchemy in the sect, Liu Pan thought that if he publicly announced his intention to become a medicine attendant on Cangyun Peak, surrounded by covetous senior disciples, they would show him even less courtesy.

After some thought, Liu Pan signaled to Qin Ling, and the two of them moved to a quiet corner.

Liu Pan took four spirit herbs from his storage pouch and handed them to Qin Ling. “I know, Brother Qin, you doubt my chances of staying at Cangyun Peak. Here—take these four spirit herbs. Two are the ones I gave you earlier; the other two are payment for bringing me here. If you have no confidence in my chances, you should keep them.”

Qin Ling hesitated, his gaze flickering with inner struggle, before finally pushing the herbs back. “You should keep them, Brother Liu.” A flush rose on Qin Ling’s cheeks, and his voice trembled slightly. “When you learned the situation on Cangyun Peak, you didn’t hesitate to accept the task. For that resolve alone, I believe you’ll succeed.”

Liu Pan was slightly surprised by Qin Ling’s decision. Ever since he had revealed his purpose of studying Water-Method Alchemy, he had sensed Qin Ling’s uncertainty. Now, offering the spirit herbs was partly because Liu Pan himself was unsure after learning the realities of Cangyun Peak, and wished to settle the favor early. The other reason was precisely Qin Ling’s hesitation: it was, after all, a gamble on Liu Pan’s prospects. If Qin Ling lacked confidence, Liu Pan thought it only fair to let him decide again—especially since, when Qin Ling first returned the herbs, he hadn’t known Liu Pan’s true goal.

Putting the herbs away, Liu Pan exchanged a few more polite words with Qin Ling, then left the newcomers’ group and made his way straight toward Cangyun Peak.

Only after Liu Pan had disappeared from view did Qin Ling turn to organize the remaining new disciples, leading them on to continue familiarizing themselves with the sect.