Early in the morning, as the sky just started to brighten, Duan Rong walked out of the cave yawning.
Outside the cave, mist was swirling around. Duan Rong looked up at the sky, seeing clouds as thick as lead, layering everywhere...
The weather on Changling Mountain was known for its being cloudy most of the time. Duan Rong had been in the mountains for half a month and hadn’t seen the sun even once...
"What an unlucky year!" Duan Rong muttered, unsure if he was lamenting the weather or his own circumstances.
After washing up, he contemplated that after finishing alchemy, Shang Xiangyu would likely have some leisure time.
Of course, there were still two corpses in the alchemy cave. However, Duan Rong figured that if the Judgement and Rectification Department got involved, the scene would likely have to be preserved as evidence for a few days.
After all, there were only Pan Yong and him, the registered disciples on Shang Xiangyu’s side. Duan Rong decided to go over, greet Pan Yong, and then head to the Medicine Pavilion to verify the accounts.
Duan Rong reached the entrance of Pan Yong’s cave and just as he peered into the dark cave, he caught a glimpse of the corner of the cliff not far away, where Pan Yong was walking back with a wooden basin and towel.
Pan Yong smiled and asked, "Junior Brother, do you need something?"
Duan Rong explained that since he was new to the sect, his Contribution Points were running low, and he intended to go to the Guanglu Institute to pick up some tasks to earn more Contribution Points. As for verifying accounts at the Medicine Pavilion, Duan Rong did not want to make it public for now.
Pan Yong didn’t say much, just assured him to handle things as he saw fit and if anything came up, he’d reach out to him.
The two finally exchanged a few polite words before Duan Rong left.
After leaving Pan Yong’s place, Duan Rong didn’t head straight to the Medicine Pavilion via the iron chain but went into the secluded forest first.
Duan Rong walked slowly in the crisp morning forest, occasionally hearing birds chirping among the leaves.
He reached the depths of the secluded forest, beside a remote large green stone.
Duan Rong circled the green stone, looking around to ensure no one was there, then squatted down, dug open the soil at the stone’s base, and retrieved a small porcelain bottle.
He tucked the porcelain bottle into his sleeve and used his foot to stomp the displaced dirt back down before turning away.
Inside the small porcelain bottle was the auxiliary medicine for cultivating the Fourth Layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture, Green Pupil, which he had stashed away here a few days earlier.
Duan Rong planned to audit accounts for a few hours at the Medicine Pavilion and then head to Xiao Yu’s place to begin cultivating the Fetal Concealment Scripture tonight.
Arriving at the Medicine Pavilion, a gray-walled, black-tiled three-story building, Xia Honghua behind a curved counter gave him a sharp glance.
Hadn’t Duan Rong been absent for several days?
They had agreed that Contribution Points would be settled monthly, meaning that even though Duan Rong hadn’t shown up these days, Xia Honghua still allotted two Contribution Points to him daily.
The more she thought about it, the more irked she got.
But Duan Rong felt that he had earned those Contribution Points with his skills. Regardless of whether he showed up, as long as he did the work well, it shouldn’t matter.
When Duan Rong passed the counter, he greeted Xia Honghua warmly.
Xia Honghua pouted, "Oh, you do remember to show up? I thought you’d forgotten about this place."
Duan Rong replied, "Madam, even if I forget my own name, I wouldn’t forget matters concerning you!"
Xia Honghua raised an eyebrow and said, "Talk is cheap. I don’t fall for such flattery."
"Here." Xia Honghua pulled out a note from her sleeve and handed it to Duan Rong.
"What’s this?" Duan Rong took and looked at it intently.
Xia Honghua explained, "From now on, I’ll check your progress every half month to ensure you complete the task before the half-year accounting period ends. If you haven’t made the required progress when I check, I’ll deduct your Contribution Points."
Duan Rong glanced at the note, nodded, and said, "Alright."
Xia Honghua was momentarily surprised, expecting Duan Rong to bargain with her, but he agreed directly.
Duan Rong placed the note on the counter and turned to leave.
"Aren’t you going to take it with you?" Xia Honghua asked.
"No need." Duan Rong shot a glance at the note in Xia Honghua’s hand and walked away.
The progress Xia Honghua wanted to check was much slower than his own timeline; why bother taking it, he thought.
Watching Duan Rong’s figure vanish at the door, Xia Honghua blinked in slight confusion. "Why does he seem so unconcerned? Does my plan not work?"
Duan Rong had indeed fallen behind a bit during his absence these few days.
He spent over four hours in the cramped, dim room catching up on his progress.
By the time Duan Rong left, Xia Honghua’s expression had improved somewhat.
After all, Duan Rong hadn’t bailed after the usual two hours of work; he stayed for over four hours today.
Xia Honghua suddenly felt that her strategy had worked, keeping Duan Rong on task.
Feeling cheerful, she couldn’t help but hum a little tune...
Duan Rong left the Medicine Pavilion and headed to the cliffside, traversing the cable to the mountain peak where the Stone Workshop was located.
Having visited once, and with his natural knack for remembering routes, Duan Rong quickly found his way into the Stone Workshop.
Duan Rong entered the Stone Workshop and went to where Xiao Yu had been carving statues last time. After searching around the area, he didn’t see anyone.
Duan Rong’s gaze shifted, and he went to wait by the roadside not far from Xiao Yu’s cave.
Duan Rong speculated that Xiao Yu should be done working and would return soon.
Sure enough, Duan Rong didn’t wait long before seeing four graceful and elegant women approaching, chatting and laughing as they walked together. Xiao Yu was among them, all carrying basins and towels.