"Uncle Chu, what is this?"
Seeing the vast amount of spiritual herbs stored here, Chen Xiao's eyes revealed surprise.
Any single spiritual herb among these, if taken outside, would be priceless, fetching at least tens of millions at an auction.
Yet, here they were, piled up like mountains, giving Chen Xiao the illusion of seeing winter-stored cabbages.
Chu Qingbai smiled proudly and said faintly, "Mr. Chen, these are nothing. What lies ahead is the main event."
As he spoke, Chu Qingbai walked to the end of the secret chamber, where a large chest, two meters square, was placed. The surface of the chest was free of dust, indicating it was frequently cleaned.
Given the secrecy of this place, the person cleaning it must have been Chu Qingbai himself.
When Chu Qingbai opened the chest, a surge of medicinal fragrance immediately filled the air.
Chen Xiao looked inside and saw an entire chest filled with pills, stacked like chocolate beans.
Chu Qingbai said, "Mr. Chen, this entire chest is filled with the highest grade Qi Gathering Pills. Combined with these spiritual herbs, this is the entire inventory of our Medicine King Villa."
"Uncle Chu, what do you mean by this?"
Chen Xiao couldn't help but ask.
Chu Qingbai said lightly, "Chen Xiao, these spiritual herbs and Qi Gathering Pills are all yours."
Chen Xiao was stunned, speechless. Even with his extensive experience, he was overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of Qi Gathering Pills and spiritual herbs.
He asked in confusion, "Uncle Chu, why so many?"
Chu Qingbai smiled slightly, "This is the entire fortune accumulated by my Chu family over two hundred years! Chen Xiao, in less than a month, the Tianyuan Sect will send special envoys to Medicine King Valley."
"This is all I can do to help you, Uncle Chu!"
Chen Xiao remembered Chu Qingbai telling him that ninety percent of the spiritual herbs produced in the Medicine King Valley's blessed land had to be tribute to the Tianyuan Sect.
The remaining ten percent belonged to Medicine King Valley. Over these two hundred years, through accumulation, Medicine King Villa had amassed a considerable fortune.
What was stored in this secret chamber was more than just Qi Gathering Pills and spiritual herbs; it represented the hopes of the Chu family for two hundred years.
The ancestors of the Chu family, with their foresight, had been planning for this day since Chu Qingbai was exiled to Medicine King Valley.
Suddenly, Chen Xiao felt the weight on his shoulders increase significantly, but this did not bring him any pressure. Instead, it fueled him with boundless motivation.
"Chen Xiao, I hope you can improve your strength as much as possible during this period. This way, when the Tianyuan Sect envoys arrive, you'll have a better chance of winning!"
Chu Qingbai said, "If you need anything else, just ask Uncle Chu. As long as Uncle Chu can do it, I will satisfy you!"
Chen Xiao shook his head, "I don't need anything else, but I have a question for Uncle Chu."
"Ask away!"
Chu Qingbai readily agreed.
Chen Xiao asked directly, "Why me? Do you think I am your best choice?"
Chu Qingbai shook his head, "Chen Xiao, I haven't thought about such questions. I don't know if you are our best choice, because you are our only choice!"
Chen Xiao smiled slightly, "Having received so many benefits from you, it would be quite unreasonable if I didn't exert my full strength to help you."
Saying this, he stretched, "Uncle Chu, I am ready. During this period, I do not wish for anyone to disturb me, including you."
"I understand. Then Uncle Chu will take his leave. We shall... meet again another day!"
Chu Qingbai bid farewell to Chen Xiao and left the secret chamber.
Chen Xiao looked at the spiritual herbs and Qi Gathering Pills before him, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
...
Time flew by, and the ninth day of September arrived in the blink of an eye.
During this period, two major events occurred in Medicine King Valley.
The first event was the passing of the valley's old esteemed elder, Zhu Hanshan.
Valley Master Chu Luo presided over his funeral, a grand ceremony. All one hundred and four people of Medicine King Villa wore mourning attire.
The second event was that a week after Zhu Hanshan's funeral, Valley Master Chu Luo dismissed all the household servants, courtyard workers, and most of the herb farmers of Medicine King Villa.
In fact, even if Chu Luo hadn't dismissed them, they would have slipped away secretly.
In their eyes, the death of a disciple from a hidden sect in Medicine King Villa meant that Medicine King Villa was on a countdown to destruction.
When a great ship is about to capsize, no one wants to stay behind to be buried with it.
Rather than letting them escape secretly, it was better to dismiss them early and preserve the last bit of dignity for both sides.
Only thirteen people remained, all of whom were loyal to the Chu family with unwavering hearts.
Besides the three members of the Chu family, there were the Four Golden Core cultivators led by Zhu Xuanqing, and Zhu Xuanqing's daughter, Zhu Xiao'e.
The remaining five were five experienced herb farmers.
Although the severance pay given by Chu Luo was enough for them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, even for generations, they had been in constant companionship with herbs and could not bear to part with this idyllic land.
The eighth day of September, night, the autumn wind rustled.
The three members of the Chu family gathered with Zhu Xuanqing.
"Big Brother, the Tianyuan Sect's special envoys will be here tomorrow, but Mr. Chen still hasn't come out. Should we go and call him?"
Chu Qingsong asked anxiously.
Chu Qingbai shook his head, "Chen Xiao said that no one should disturb him before he comes out."
"But, do you think it's possible that he's scared and doesn't dare to come out... And if we all die, no one will know of his existence. Once the Tianyuan Sect's special envoys leave, all of our Chu family's two hundred years of foundation will be pocketed by him."
Chu Qingsong muttered, as if he felt it was wrong to speak ill of others behind their backs.
Chu Luo heard this and immediately snorted, "Second Uncle, you don't understand Brother Chen's character, so I'll forgive you this once. If you dare to judge a noble person with a petty mind again, I will expel you from Medicine King Valley!"
"Yes, Valley Master, I know I was wrong. I won't talk nonsense next time."
Chu Qingsong said respectfully.
Although Chu Luo was almost a commander without troops, a Valley Master must have the dignity of a Valley Master.
Zhu Xuanqing also spoke, "I also believe Mr. Chen would not do such a thing. He was chosen by my father, and I trust my father's judgment."
Chu Qingsong sighed impatiently, "Alas, alright, alright, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have judged a noble person with a petty mind... But the problem now is, when those envoys arrive tomorrow morning, and he still hasn't come out, what should we do?"
"We'll do what we have to do!"
Chu Qingbai, after all, was the backbone of the Chu family, and he made the final decision, "We will face the soldiers as they come and the water as it rises. The only thing we can do now is to be united and buy time for Chen Xiao!"