Chapter 124: The Mysterious Qingcheng Taoist Temple!

"Dragon King's Birth?"

The family medicinal catalog was a legacy passed down by ancestors. Under normal circumstances, few people ever bothered to leaf through it. Even the head of the family, Luo Rongyao, kept it tucked away like a precious treasure, with little knowledge of the herbs contained within.

Seeing the unusual expression on Ye Wushang’s face, Luo Rongyao could not fathom what he meant. Instinctively, he leaned in and said, "Let me see."

Gazing at the entry, he pondered for a moment before saying with trepidation, "Since it is recorded in the medicinal catalog, then this Dragon King's Birth must surely exist."

"What is the matter, Mr. Ye? Has this Dragon King's Birth offended your eyes, or..."

"No, no, that is not it."

Ye Wushang shook his head, struggling to suppress his excitement. He suddenly bowed and said respectfully, "Patriarch Luo, I have an immodest request. I hope you will grant it."

"Mr. Ye, you are too kind. You are my savior and an honored guest of the Luo family. There is no need for such formalities. Whatever you require, just ask."

Luo Rongyao helped Ye Wushang up. Being an old fox, he naturally sensed there was more to this. He asked, "Does Mr. Ye intend to do something with this Dragon King's Birth?"

"If possible, I would like to have one..."

"That won't do!"

Before he could finish, Luo Sen suddenly interrupted.

Luo Rongyao glared at him immediately. "What do you mean it won't do? Whatever Mr. Ye requests, we must fulfill it! It is just one Dragon King's Birth, is it not? Since he wants it, why not just give it to him?"

Luo Sen wore a bitter expression, aggrieved. "Patriarch, it is not that I disagree. It is because the herbs on this page belong to the 'Qingcheng Taoist Temple.' Do you forget? This set of catalogs was obtained by your father from Daoist Zhenlong, who explicitly emphasized that while all other herbs in this book could be provided, those on page twenty-three could not. If we break that vow, the fate of the Luo family will be sealed!"

Boom!

Hearing this, realization dawned on Luo Rongyao. He checked the catalog again and confirmed that the Dragon King's Birth was indeed on page twenty-three. His face turned troubled, and he said awkwardly, "I apologize, Mr. Ye. I am afraid I cannot provide you with the Dragon King's Birth..."

"What is the specific reason?"

Ye Wushang felt disheartened but refused to give up. "This Dragon King's Birth has nothing to do with your health, but it is extremely important to me. Now that I know its whereabouts, no matter how difficult it is, I want to try my best to secure it."

The source of the five types of medicine came from a cultivation journal his father had left him years ago. All five herbs were rare in this world. As he progressed, the difficulty only increased—not only was the harvesting process complex, but the growth environment was also extremely harsh. The Dragon King's Birth was a rare gem among herbs; he had expected it would take years just to find a lead. Now that he knew it grew at the Qingcheng Taoist Temple, he would not give up, no matter what!

"Sigh."

Luo Rongyao heaved a long sigh and said helplessly, "It is like this. My Luo family built our fortune from the ground up, and in the early years, we kept many hired thugs. We relied on the Qingcheng Taoist Temple to provide medicinal herbs for their treatment, and they helped us in other ways to reach where we are today. You could say the Qingcheng Taoist Temple is a benefactor to the Luo family. Every year, they provide whatever we need. Their only demand is that we send them young men with good physical fitness to learn Qimen Dunjia or boxing and combat sports."

"Their background is very mysterious. To this day, we only know a little. But we know they possess formidable strength, so we dare not provoke them. We have an unspoken agreement of mutual non-interference. Therefore, their rule that the herbs on page twenty-three cannot be touched is absolute."

At this point, he felt ashamed. "Perhaps you should look at something else..."

"I only want the Dragon King's Birth."

Ye Wushang shook his head. After a moment of silence, he said, "Since this puts you in a difficult position, Patriarch Luo, I will not force the issue. I will go to the Qingcheng Taoist Temple in my own name to seek the medicine. Please, just tell me its specific location..."

"Mr. Ye!"

Hearing this, Luo Sen stepped forward and said solemnly, "The Qingcheng Taoist Temple is far stronger than you imagine. If you go alone, not only will you fail to get the medicine, but you might also attract other troubles. How about this? I have a decent relationship with a young acolyte at the temple; I will help you inquire about it first. Once I have results, I will explain the details to you. Does that sound acceptable?"

One good turn deserves another. Ye Wushang had let go of past grievances and helped him change his name, allowing him to integrate into the Luo family. To him, this was a massive favor. Therefore, even though the Qingcheng Taoist Temple was incredibly formidable, he was willing to take the risk to scout the situation for him.

Hearing this, Ye Wushang was moved to tears. "Then I will trouble you, Steward Luo. As for the specifics..."

"Three days. Within three days, I will find out the specific news and contact you. Isn't the medicine you prescribed for the Patriarch also due to be prepared by then? We can settle everything together at that time!"

...

It was decided. They agreed that in three days, Ye Wushang would return to treat Luo Rongyao. Incidentally, he would receive the specific news about the Qingcheng Taoist Temple, and regardless of the outcome, Luo Sen would accompany him.

When they reached the door, Jiang Hongwei said with shame, "I apologize, Mr. Ye. Previously, I not only misunderstood you but also spoke harshly to you. I am truly ashamed."

Ye Wushang waved his hand. "President Jiang, there is no need to dwell on it. Under those circumstances, it would be normal for anyone to be suspicious of me."

"Indeed, President Jiang. Mr. Ye is not only highly skilled but also a man of integrity; he will not be so petty." Zhang Heifa, now a favored subordinate of Jiang Hongwei, was deeply grateful to Ye Wushang. His eyes rolled, and he said, "I think since Patriarch Luo has shown such sincerity, shouldn't we show some as well?"

"Of course I want to thank him, but compared to the Luo family, the things I have here are truly not worth mentioning." Jiang Hongwei said awkwardly, "How about this: I will hire Mr. Ye as the Vice President of my Black Dragon Society. One person beneath me, ten thousand above. From now on, my Black Dragon Society will be considered a part of your assets. Whenever you have any needs..."

"President Jiang is too kind. That is quite unnecessary."

Ye Wushang shook his head and said solemnly, "If you are truly sincere, President Jiang, I do have a small favor I hope you can grant."

"Oh?" Jiang Hongwei raised an eyebrow. "Please speak, Mr. Ye."

"Let Zhang Heifa tell you for me."

Hearing this, Jiang Hongwei looked at Zhang Heifa with suspicion. It seemed they had already reached an understanding. If it weren't for the fact that Ye Wushang had cured Luo Rongyao and dismantled most of Peng Haidong’s influence, he might have suspected the two of them were betraying him.

"Heifa, speak."

"Actually, it is nothing major. Mr. Ye just needs to borrow a few of our veteran craftsmen from the society. Let’s be clear: it is just a loan, not a permanent request. They will be returned after use. Of course, if Mr. Ye has needs in the future, we should not be stingy. I don't think it's a big problem. President, what do you think?"

Jiang Hongwei was stunned. The veteran craftsmen were his primary tools for money laundering. Over the years, without these old fellows, the Black Dragon Society would not have developed into such a large organization. These people valued their craftsmanship and character; they were one in a hundred. The request for these people made him hesitate.

Pondering slightly, he asked tentatively, "Mr. Ye, would it be convenient to tell me the reason you need these people?"

"It is actually a bit inconvenient." Ye Wushang shook his head and smiled. "President Jiang, I know what you are worried about. Rest assured, I do not want these craftsmen to engage in commercial activities, nor will they participate in any underground struggles. I simply value their skills and need them to help me with a small task. If this is difficult for you, President Jiang, it does not matter. Consider it unsaid."

Having said this, he turned to leave.

Jiang Hongwei hurriedly pulled him back and nodded. "Fine, no problem. You are the savior of the Luo family and a lucky star for my Black Dragon Society. Although we have only just met, I believe we will have opportunities for deeper cooperation in the future. It is just borrowing a few craftsmen? I will lend them to you!"

With that, he took a pure gold token from his pocket and handed it to Ye Wushang. "Mr. Ye, this is my exclusive token. Please take it. When you have time, go to the headquarters yourself and find 'Bi Haichao,' who is in charge of managing the craftsmen. Like Zhang Heifa, he is my confidant—the two of them are my right-hand men. Once you show the token, he will understand what it means."

"Many thanks, President Jiang!"

Ye Wushang put the token away. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he hailed a taxi and left the Luo residence.