Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Glowing Red Rock
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People lined up in a row before Yu Hyun.
"These are the most renowned herbalists and the leaders of the hunting bands from our county. Each of them has three or four underlings."
Yu Hyun nodded at the innkeeper's words and carefully examined each person one by one.
One with his upper body fully exposed, unable to even dress properly; another wearing only one shoe, his hair disheveled; an elder with wrinkles covering his face and missing most of his teeth...
"Elder, please head back home."
As Yu Hyun surveyed the group, he placed a silver tael in the hand of the hunched old man and said,
"Good heavens! My lord, how can you give me such a fortune..."
The elder, summoned merely from his bed, widened his eyes until the wrinkles on his face smoothed out as he stared at Yu Hyun.
"I've disturbed your sleep, so it's only right I compensate you for it."
"......"
Yu Hyun clasped the elder's hand and flashed a bright smile.
Of course. No matter how pressing the goal, he couldn't exploit an old man who could barely straighten his back.
He was, after all, the son of the Yu Clan Manor, who valued benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom like his own life...
But Yu Hyun's courteous demeanor struck the others—freshly roused from sleep, their faces etched with irritation and annoyance—in an entirely different way.
That one gleaming silver tael, sparkling so enchantingly.
It was a sum that herbalists couldn't earn even after ten straight days foraging for herbs on Huangshan, nor hunters after skinning dozens of rabbits.
And he handed it over just like that. For the mere reason of waking them.
What if they took on whatever task he requested?
The calculations in their heads complete, their sleepiness vanished in an instant.
A nobleman? No, a god of wealth.
Other highborn folk often ordered people around arbitrarily and stiffed them on payment.
But this nobleman hadn't even assigned a task yet and was already paying them. And with impeccable manners, no less.
This had to be done.
They absolutely had to catch his eye and be chosen!
Eyes that had been filled only with fatigue and annoyance now gleamed with greed.
Starting with one, everyone standing before Yu Hyun straightened their backs and corrected their postures all at once.
They widened their eyes, squared their shoulders, and boasted of their vigor and usefulness.
As everyone's stance changed, the old man's eyes trembled anxiously, his own heart growing uneasy.
This single silver tael? ...Just this?
"Me too! Give me a task, my lord! I can do it!"
"Pardon?"
"I have the most experience!"
"But your back is so hunched..."
Yu Hyun hesitated with a worried look, prompting the elder to slap his waist and forcibly straighten himself.
"This damn thing!"
*Crack, pop.*
"......"
"......"
An ominous sound rang out—one that shouldn't have.
Heh heh! You're too old for this, gramps; you'll snap your back. Go on, go! One silver tael is plenty—what's with the greed..."
Unable to watch any longer, the innkeeper prodded the elder.
"Let go, you brat! Let go! I can do it toooo!"
Seeing the elder struggle fiercely, Yu Hyun shook his head.
"Very well. Experience is needed, after all."
"Thank you, my lord!"
The elder, who had been glaring daggers at the innkeeper, bellowed his gratitude, drawing a chuckle from Yu Hyun.
Herbalists and hunters. Those who knew Huangshan better than anyone in the world.
Their experience, eyes, and ears would now serve as informants to pinpoint the exact location of the Child Ginseng.
"Now then, from this moment..."
*Gulp.*
As Yu Hyun began to speak, the hunters and herbalists swallowed dryly and perked up their ears.
Not to miss a single word from this god of wealth...
"You all must find a single rock on Huangshan."
"A... a rock?"
"Yes."
"......"
Not herbs or beasts, but just a rock? Everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
Had they not realized he was a god of wealth, they might have scoffed and waved him off. Find a rock on vast Huangshan?
And this after record-breaking snowfall.
The majestic snowscape was a sight to behold, but with everything blanketed in white, searching was no easy task.
"Um, my lord. Not that I have any particular thoughts, but with the record snowfall on Huangshan right now, the trees and rocks are all hidden..."
Everyone nodded, stealing glances at Yu Hyun as the blunt-faced man spoke cautiously.
Fair enough.
But now it was time to truly summon the spirits.
"If any of you have seen it before, or find it from now on..."
*Jingle.*
"......!"
Yu Hyun lifted a pouch that looked large and heavy at a glance, and the crowd's eyes widened even more than before as murmurs erupted.
At that amount, they had to find it.
Not just a stone—they'd scour for every grain of sand if needed.
Every able-bodied person in the village, snot-nosed kids aside, had to comb Huangshan like a thief's pockets.
"I'm not asking you to find a pebble rolling on the ground. It's likely a rock that's held its place for a long time."
"......"
"You've all traversed Huangshan like your own front yard, so you might have already seen it."
The people leaned in again at Yu Hyun's words.
"A rock that emits its own red light."
"Pardon?"
"......"
Everyone wore baffled expressions at Yu Hyun's description.
"My lord, how can a mere stone emit light on its own? Red light, no less?"
"Exactly. I've never seen a rock like..."
"Sigh..."
Sighs rose from all around, and Yu Hyun nodded as if he understood.
Truth be told, even he had found it absurd when he first heard it.
A rock emitting its own red light? What nonsense was that?
The only known luminous mineral was night pearl.
Hmm, so it wouldn't be that easy...
But at that moment, the elder—Eoksu, who had expected nothing—tilted his head and muttered,
"Could it be that one?"
"......?"
All eyes instantly turned to the elder Eoksu.
"Elder, do you know something?"
When Yu Hyun asked, Eoksu furrowed his brows deeply as if wringing out his memory, speaking uncertainly.
"I've seen it once or twice, but I can't say for sure if it's what you're looking for."
"Please tell me."
"It's not exactly glowing on its own, but there is one that gives off red light."
"......"
"In my younger days, wandering the mountains, I saw it a few times. When the sun dips to the west, it catches the sunset's red glow for a brief moment. Like it's shooting out a beam of red light."
"......!"
Yu Hyun's eyes widened at Eoksu's words.
Red light? Sunset?
What if that rock was quartz?
From afar, it could look like the stone was emitting red light by reflecting the sunset.
This is why experience matters.
If he'd sent away the old man for his age and hunched back, he would have regretted it deeply.
"Where is it?"
"Well..."
Eoksu suddenly frowned and hesitated.
"Elder!"
Growing impatient, Yu Hyun urged him, and Eoksu let out a deep sigh before answering.
"There's a place deep in Huangshan called Pagoda Peak..."
"Pa-Pagoda Peak!"
"Eoksu, gramps!"
"That's!"
The moment Eoksu opened his mouth, the hunters and herbalists paled and erupted in clamor.
What was this? Why did everyone look so terrified?
Just what kind of place was Pagoda Peak?
"My lord, you can't go there."
"Pardon?"
One of the herbalists shook his head gravely.
"No herbalist or hunter sets foot there."
"Is... is it that treacherous?"
"Not at all. For folks like us who climb cliffs for herbs without a second thought, rough mountain paths are no issue. It's just that you'd need two lives to make the trip."
"......Lives? What do you mean?"
"Because the Nine Dragons Stronghold is there."
"Nine Dragons Stronghold? You mean bandits?"
"Not just any bandits. Ferocious outlaws who've been around since my father's time, and his father's before that."
"......"
What? What kind of talk was this?
Three generations of banditry? What bandit group had such an ancient history?
But something felt off.
Anhui was the Nangong Clan's domain.
No matter how far Huangshan was from their base in Hefei, would they leave a longstanding bandit group that terrified the people unchecked?
In a land held by a righteous faction, letting the common folk suffer would tarnish their reputation...
"Did the authorities just stand by? The Nangong Clan too?"
"There were a few subjugation campaigns."
"......?"
"But they always came up empty. Those who've made Pagoda Peak their home for ages know the terrain better than anyone, and they're elusive as ghosts..."
"That bad?"
"Yes. Moreover, they only target Zhejiang or Jiangsu, not Anhui, so the Nangong Clan eventually lost interest. It's been quite a while since the last campaign."
"Hah!"
Giving up because it didn't affect them.
Growing young dragons needed merits, and bandit-hunting was perfect for that...
Didn't they know? Junior disciples seeking fame always went after bandits or water pirates at every opportunity.
But thinking the other way around, it was truly ingenious.
With no one but the Nine Dragons Stronghold frequenting the place, the existence of the Child Ginseng wouldn't have leaked out.
Yes, that's the place. Definitely.
A cold smile crept onto Yu Hyun's lips.
"Elder, can you guide me to Pagoda Peak, where the Nine Dragons Stronghold is?"
"Pardon?"
Not just Eoksu, but everyone there jumped in shock at Yu Hyun's words.
"No, that's throwing your life away for nothing..."
"I have a compelling reason to go. I'll give you all the money I have."
"......"
Eoksu stared at the pouch in Yu Hyun's hand, then squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
Money wasn't the issue.
No matter how precious, could it compare to a human life?
"My lord, I spoke out of turn. Please reconsider..."
"I must go. If guiding me is difficult, at least tell me the location. You may not understand, but that place is my entire life."
"Pardon? My lord, who even are..."
"I am Yu—"
Yu Hyun started to say his name but paused.
If there truly were bandits as the elder said, blood might be spilled.
And the martial world was a place where unforeseen dangers lurked, so revealing the Yu Clan Manor's name outright wasn't wise.
"...Jin Wi-gang. That's my name."
"Jin..."
Eoksu stared long into Yu Hyun's resolute eyes before letting out a long sigh.
He had lived long and seen many people.
The man who called himself Jin Wi-gang.
His voice sounded youthful, but those fine wrinkles and sagging skin suggested around thirty, perhaps older.
He didn't know why this man insisted on going to Pagoda Peak with the Nine Dragons Stronghold, but people with eyes like that never backed down from their stubbornness.
If they refused to guide him, he'd likely go alone.
A snow-covered mountain was hell for anyone unfamiliar with the paths.
Eoksu opened his mouth as if resolved.
"Whew, alright, my lord."
"Eoksu, gramps!"
"Quiet! At my age, how much longer can I live..."
"......"
Eoksu firmly silenced the concerns pouring in from all sides.
"I'll guide you right up to where Pagoda Peak is visible. But in return, promise you'll turn back if it seems off."
"Thank you!"
Yu Hyun beamed and grasped Eoksu's hand.
Still, better safe than sorry.
The chances were high, but Pagoda Peak wasn't guaranteed to be the place.
"Could the rest of you search other areas? If you find any similar rocks elsewhere, please let me know."
"That's no trouble, but..."
"I beg you."
"Sigh. Understood, my lord."
"Thank you."
Satisfied with securing a backup plan, Yu Hyun nodded approvingly.
Then, saving one silver tael for emergencies, he emptied all his money and valuables onto the table.
Money was just money.
Was the Yu Clan Manor poor? His father was a bit of a show-off, wasn't he?
Once this was done, a single letter home would refill his pockets in no time.
"My lord, this?"
"Advance payment. I don't know what'll happen once I head up Huangshan."
"......"
"However."
Yu Hyun selected the most valuable item among the valuables—a jade pendant from the Yu Clan Manor—and handed it to Eoksu.
"This one is for you, Elder."
"Pardon? This precious thing... Pagoda Peak might not even be the place you're seeking."
"It's fine."
"Hmm..."
Eoksu pondered briefly before shaking his head.
"If it's truly the place you're after, give it to me then."
"......"
"Rest well in the meantime. Traversing a snow-covered mountain is tough without experience, and daytime is better than night."
"Yes."
Yu Hyun smiled brightly in response, and the people dispersed to their homes to prepare for the mountain trek at dawn.