Chapter Seventy-Two: Stewardship of the Apothecary

Could it be that the higher-ups at the Immortal Market are truly as indifferent as I once suspected, turning a blind eye to the actions of these people?

"Did you not already have your suspicions, my friend? Why ask me again?" Wei Fan shook his head with a wry smile as he handed He Song a cup of tea.

He had observed all the changes in the Immortal Market over the past half month. However, the disturbances had only affected the outer areas, and as a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, they held little consequence for him. Moreover, He Song, to whom he was closely connected, had already left the Market before the city’s law enforcement arrived. Naturally, though Wei Fan paid some attention to the plight of the outer disciples, he was not overly concerned about their fate.

In the mortal world, people know that human life is cheap. Yet, what they do not realize is that in the world of cultivation, a cultivator’s life is just as expendable.

On hearing Wei Fan's response, He Song shook his head but chose not to press further. Suspicions are one thing; facts another. Over half a month ago, learning that the law enforcement squad was due to arrive, he had already sensed what might unfold within the Market. Otherwise, he would not have left so abruptly, preferring the thin spiritual energy outside to remaining within the Market itself.

But when the truth lay before him, He Song, though he had guessed at it, still wished to hear it from Wei Fan, to learn what had transpired these past weeks. Yet, with a single rhetorical question, Wei Fan made him see clearly.

What was done was done. No matter what had happened in the Market over the past half month, it could no longer return to the way it was. The corpses of the slain cultivators would surely have been cleared away by now. In time, the outer dwellings would be repaired, and the once-deserted streets would again bustle with life, just as before. All would be erased by the passage of time.

Rather than ask more, it was better to remind himself to be ever more cautious in his future dealings.

Only by doing so could he avoid disaster and preserve his own life and path.

As one who seeks longevity—

A cultivator such as himself must exercise even greater caution than ordinary practitioners.

Having thought it through, He Song clasped his hands in thanks to Wei Fan. "Thank you, Brother Wei, for your insight. But as for the important matter you mentioned before..."

Although he had not learned the full details of what had happened in the Market, He Song did not mind so much now. There would be time enough to discover the truth later. For now, it was best to learn what it was that Wei Fan wished to discuss.

He had not forgotten that Wei Fan’s message, sent via transmission crane, had requested his immediate presence upon returning to the Market, citing urgent business.

And what, exactly, was this urgent business?

"Would you be interested in managing the Herbal Pavilion?" Wei Fan asked instead of answering directly.

"The manager of the Herbal Pavilion?" He Song arched an eyebrow, but quickly understood Wei Fan’s meaning.

Why would Wei Fan ask him such a question now? Could it be...

"If you are willing, I can recommend you to those above us. With your cultivation at the fifth layer of Qi Refining and your status as a cultivator of spiritual plants, you would have a very good chance," Wei Fan said, seeing that He Song had caught on.

"Three days ago, one of the Herbal Pavilion’s stewards, along with two managers, were killed inside the Pavilion. Their positions are now vacant."

Upon hearing this, He Song suddenly understood.

No wonder. No wonder Wei Fan had sent his message so promptly once the law enforcement team had left. It was because the stewardship and managerial positions at the Herbal Pavilion had been left empty by those deaths.

Having spent over a decade at the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, He Song was well-versed in its rules.

The Herbal Pavilion, the Technique Pavilion, the Construction Pavilion—these places ensured the smooth running of the Market, and their positions were clearly delineated. The roles of spiritual plant cultivator, receptionist at the Technique Pavilion, and receptionist at the Construction Pavilion could be filled by any cultivator, marking them as the lowest rung.

To become a manager at any of these three pavilions, however, required some standing within the Market—these were the middle ranks.

At the top were the stewards of each pavilion, a role reserved for late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, members of the Market’s upper echelon.

Of course, the highest authority in the Market always remained with the Foundation Establishment cultivators. Beneath them, no matter one’s position, without reaching Foundation Establishment, the summit would always be out of reach.

Wei Fan himself was a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator and a steward of the Construction Pavilion—thus, part of the upper echelon. The former Meng Guan was a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator and manager of the Herbal Pavilion—thus, middle management. As for He Song, though at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, he was only a spiritual plant cultivator, still among the lowest ranks.

There were exceptions, of course. For example, Ping’er of the Technique Pavilion had become a manager while only at mid-stage Qi Refining, though He Song did not know the reason—surely, there must be one.

Managerial roles depended on status. Although He Song was mid-stage, his tendency to focus solely on cultivation and spells had made him all but invisible in the Pavilion, so it was natural he remained a lowly spiritual plant cultivator.

However, should he break through to late-stage Qi Refining, he could immediately be promoted to steward in any pavilion, joining the upper echelons—so long as he remained at the Market.

Late-stage Qi Refining was already considered advanced in this small Bamboo Mountain Market. This was precisely why Wei Fan enjoyed such a comfortable life here. The Market was too small; to retain late-stage cultivators, it had to offer them status and support. Otherwise, they would all leave for the Immortal City, leaving no one to manage the Market at all.

"Brother Wei, do you know why they were killed?" He Song, learning of his sudden opportunity for promotion, was not overly moved. The manager’s role at the Herbal Pavilion was not so different from that of a spiritual plant cultivator—otherwise, he would have fought for it before, rather than waiting until now.

What concerned him more was the reason a steward and two managers of the Herbal Pavilion had been slain.

A steward was at least late-stage Qi Refining, a member of the Market’s upper echelon. Yet even so, they had been killed, and within the Pavilion itself.

He did not even need to think to know that the law enforcement team from the Immortal City must have been involved. Otherwise, such killings would have caused an unprecedented uproar within the Market.

But as things stood...