TGCFNM -Chapter 263 What Is Divine Water?

After walking for about half an hour, Chu Ling and the others finally reached the large platform at the mountain’s summit.

A green-robed disciple soon approached with a smiling face, raising his foot to walk over. Looking at the group, he said, “You all came together, right? The place where you will temporarily stay at Tianjian Sect has been prepared. I’ll take you there.”

Chu Ling had been about to lose her temper when she arrived, but seeing the friendly smile, she had no choice but to suppress her anger as much as she could.

Uncle Wu stepped forward, smiling at the newcomer. “I didn’t expect to meet a familiar face on the mountain. Young hero Xu Chengshan, long time no see.”

Xu Chengshan chuckled in surprise. “Uncle Wu, what brings you up here? Aren’t your shops down below hard to manage without you?”

Uncle Wu smiled helplessly. “The younger generation at home doesn’t understand the rules. I was worried they might get into conflicts up here, so I came along to keep an eye on them.”

Chu Ling and the others stood obediently behind Uncle Wu, looking like well-behaved children.

Uncle Wu glanced at their docile expressions and was startled for a moment, then quickly turned his attention back to Xu Chengshan. “This time we’ve come up the mountain to find Sect Leader Mei. We must see him in person.”

Xu Chengshan’s expression turned serious. “Uncle Wu, what’s the matter?”

Uncle Wu took a jade box out of his bag and looked at Xu Chengshan. “A gift, and a piece of news. I need to see Sect Leader Mei personally.”

“The former sect leader hardly handles affairs now. Currently, Sect Leader Xie manages the sect. Should I go fetch Sect Leader Xie instead?” Xu Chengshan asked.

Uncle Wu frowned, thought for a moment, and firmly shook his head. “I must see the old sect leader. This matter is no trivial affair.”

Xu Chengshan nodded solemnly. “I understand. Please follow me.”

Uncle Wu responded with a simple “hm,” then beckoned for them to follow him.

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong, standing at the back, exchanged a surprised glance. They were really going to see Mei Zhongxue? He was the number one figure in the martial world!

Xu Chengshan led the way. Halfway up, he handed Uncle Wu and the others over to an inner disciple in a white robe, then left ahead of them.

Uncle Wu glanced at him and laughed, asking, “Are you going to fetch Sect Leader Xie?”

The white-robed disciple, Yuan Luo, smiled. “Yes. The sect leader should be informed; after all, Sect Leader Xie is Sect Leader Mei’s only disciple, and he would be worried about his master.”

Uncle Wu nodded in agreement. “That’s indeed appropriate. I didn’t expect that it would be the Tianjian Sect’s senior disciple, Yuan Luo, personally leading us.”

His words were also a subtle reminder to Chu Ling and the others behind him about the young man’s status.

Yuan Luo understood, but only smiled slightly and continued to politely lead the way.

After passing a vast plaza, Yuan Luo led them into a quiet, long pathway.

By this point, besides the flourishing plants on either side, there was no one else in sight—it was extremely quiet.

Chu Ling looked around curiously. “Wasn’t it said that the mountain top has snow?”

Yuan Luo laughed. “That’s still up there. If Tianjian Sect were truly in an ice-and-snow wasteland, no one could survive.”

Ling Da immediately protested, “How could they not survive? We are a clan blessed by the gods!”

“By the way,” Chu Ling asked curiously, “what exactly is your Divine Water? Is it just water? Do you have a spring, and you collect water from it?”

Yuan Luo gave a wry smile. “Because Tianjian Sect is the closest place to the snow mountain’s peak, disciples go up to gather snow lotuses. With some luck, they may also encounter a type of snow insect. These insects seem to emerge randomly from the snow, like tiny icicles the length of a little finger.”

“Using the Tian Mountain snow lotus and snow insects, along with various precious medicinal ingredients, we produce Divine Water. That is Tianjian Sect’s Divine Water. It’s truly precious and has excellent healing properties.”

Chu Ling clapped his hands in admiration. “Is Tianjian Sect being too generous?”

Yuan Luo’s eyes flickered slightly as he smiled faintly. “Tianjian Sect naturally expects something in return. So giving Divine Water is completely normal.”

Chu Ling exclaimed, understanding finally dawning. “What you give is proportional to what you receive.”

Yuan Luo looked at her with curiosity.

Chu Ling explained, “It means whatever you gain, you must pay an equivalent price.”

Yuan Luo nodded, saying openly, “Yes.”

Chu Ling asked again, “May I ask, then, what exactly must those holding the invitation do to obtain the Divine Water? Will they risk their lives?”

Yuan Luo shook her head. “They won’t die.”

Chu Ling silently wondered: then what is it?

Yuan Luo answered directly, “Actually, it’s different every year. For example, two years ago, it was about capturing a snow python. It was about the size of a person, incredibly strong, and very cunning. If you weren’t careful, it would slip back into the snowy mountains and become very hard to find, so people were needed to help. And the python’s skin, bones, blood, and flesh were naturally very useful to our Tianjian Sect.”

Chu Ling smiled faintly. “So this year it’s the treasure vault?”

Yuan Luo nodded. “Yes, the vault. And this time, the Sect Leader decided that if anyone happens to gain something from it, it belongs to them; the Tianjian Sect will not reclaim it. There is only one condition: everyone must work together to open a door.”

Ling Da suddenly realized, “So the door to the shrine hasn’t been opened yet. Better not open it—opening it could be deadly.”

Chu Ling tentatively asked, “What’s behind that door?”

Yuan Luo smiled. “It is said to be something that grants immortality.”

Chu Ling instinctively touched her arm and shook her head. “What’s the point of immortality? Your friends and family die, and you live on alone—afraid of death but unable to die. Doesn’t that feel lonely?”

“Yes, very lonely,” Yuan Luo admitted.

Chu Ling looked up and saw that they had unknowingly arrived at a small thatched hut. An old man with a head full of white hair stepped out and greeted them with a gentle smile. “It’s been a long time since anyone came to see this old man.”

Chu Ling was momentarily distracted by Mei Zhongxue before her: his white hair gave an eerie impression, but his presence carried an aura of righteousness.

Truly, a person’s deeds and character are ultimately reflected entirely in themselves.

Uncle Wu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed slightly. “Junior Wu Yong, greetings, Senior Mei.”

Chu Ling and the others quickly regained their composure and bowed together.

Yuan Luo respectfully cupped her hands. “Grandmaster, the Master will come shortly. The disciple will withdraw for now.”

Mei Zhongxue waved his hand with a smile. “Go ahead.” Then he led Uncle Wu and the others into the thatched hut.

Wan Sanjin muttered, “If it weren’t for seeing the disciple’s respect, I’d have thought they were mistreating the old man—just tossing him into a hut once he got old.”

Su He frowned. “Isn’t it cold on the mountaintop?”

Chu Ling quietly explained, “This is what being a person beyond the world means—not burdened by external things, returning to simplicity… Though when I get old, I definitely won’t live in a thatched hut.”

Wan Sanjin immediately said, “Of course not! We’ll live in a proper house. I heard old people get cold easily; we’ll need floor heating.”

Chu Ling was excited. “Cheap and still with a heated bed!”

Su He listened carefully, nodding repeatedly, clearly pleased.

Mei Zhongxue watched the group with interest. Uncle Wu looked up at the sky with a resigned expression, pretending not to hear.

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong kept their heads down, staring at their shoes, pretending not to know them.

Why would anyone chat so freely in front of the greatest martial artist in the world? Lowering their voices won’t help, and they’re talking about such nonsense…

The Sect Leader wouldn’t just throw them off the mountain, right?

Heaven help them!