Trouble

When the caravan arrived at the warehouse where the goods were to be delivered, a steward had been waiting for quite some time.

"Hey, Chief Escort Wang! How was the journey?"

The manager smiled and stepped forward to greet him.

After exchanging a few perfunctory words, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) summoned his men and told them to prepare to unload the goods.

"Wait!" The manager suddenly stopped the group, turning around and saying apologetically:

"Head镖师 Wang, last time, I don't know which company's spirit herbs had some problems, the medicinal properties were damaged, which caused the quality of the pills to drop a lot."

The higher-ups blamed the alchemist, who then blamed me, believing I had taken their money.

I tried my best to explain that the Wang Family Escort Agency was aboveboard and would never do such a despicable thing; it must have been done by someone else.

Therefore, to prove our innocence, we specially invited a senior alchemist.

The three镖头 (head镖师) were taken aback. Only their镖队 (镖队) was responsible for transporting the spiritual herbs to these several pill pavilions; where did the others come from?

The two sides have been cooperating for fifty years, so it's no exaggeration to say they have a long-standing friendship.

Over the past fifty years, I have escorted the elixir more than four hundred times without ever experiencing a loss of medicinal properties. So why did something go wrong last time?

But to ensure his innocence, he showed no displeasure, and instead welcomed the greeting with a smile:

"Alright! Check all you want! I guarantee with the reputation of Wang Family Escort Agency, nothing will go wrong!"

"You think you can just guarantee something like that? I'd even guarantee that my pill will allow me to break through to the next realm on the spot after I finish it!"

Who among you believes that? If you do, I'll give you the magic pill for free!

From the storeroom behind the steward, a middle-aged alchemist dressed in loose cloth emerged.

Judging from his appearance, he was very well-preserved. If it weren't for the wrinkles around his eyes, he would almost be mistaken for a young cultivator.

He glanced at the smiling Third Chief Escort, snorted coldly, and turned around to examine the medicinal herbs one by one.

The manager smiled awkwardly, pointed to the middle-aged alchemist, and introduced him:

"Master Li Dan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, started as an apprentice here and has been a master alchemist for his entire life."

He might have a sharp tongue, but he's a very honest person, I can guarantee that.

While Master Li was leading his apprentices toward the truck at the back, the Third Escort couldn't contain himself and pulled his manager aside.

"Brother Zhang, give me a heads-up, what exactly happened this time?"

When he was still a porter, this manager was just an ordinary worker.

After they met, they found that their personalities and temperaments were extremely compatible, and over the years, their relationship became incredibly close.

Manager Zhang glanced behind him, making sure everyone was looking towards the medicinal herbs, before lowering his voice and whispering:

"The higher-ups think your fees are too high and they're switching to another security escort agency!"

"What! High fees? Five percent interest? That's how all escort agencies charge!"

Manager Zhang shook his head and said regretfully:

"There's a security escort agency that pays three-tenths of the profits. We've been using them for a year now, and nothing's happened."

"The claim that the drug's effectiveness has decreased is just an excuse; let's see what your attitude is."

"Three-tenths profit..." the head镖师 murmured.

"With so few, how exactly do they earn spirit stones...?"

"I don't know, but they did manage to do it."

Many of the merchants who have partnered with you have tried the service several times and are planning to switch to another security escort agency once their contracts expire this year.

Manager Zhang sighed; the Wang Family Escort Agency was in a very difficult situation.

If it weren't for the fact that we've been working together for so many years and are all acquaintances, making it awkward to bring it up, we would have replaced them six months ago.

"As mentioned above, even if the interest rate is reduced to 30%, the contract can still be renewed."

"Or... Old Wang, why don't you use your flying sword to send a message and talk to your family? It would be best to give them a reply before you return."

The third镖头 couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, his face full of embarrassment:

"Is time so tight? Even the best flying sword communication takes four days for a round trip. How can you only give us one day to make a decision?"

"But that's what the authorities say."

"Well... our contract still has seven years left, and the penalty for breach of contract is tens of thousands of spirits."

"It's only half a year without earning spirit stones. In the long run, you can save a lot of money."

Old Wang, you'd better inform your family as soon as possible.

Manager Zhang patted the Third Escort on the shoulder, unsure how to comfort him, and could only turn around to check on the situation of Master Li Dan's examination.

With a stern face, Master Li picked up a bundle of spiritual herbs wrapped in talismans, summoned two bodyguards, and said in an unusually calm voice:

"Do you all think that just because you affix a protective talisman to all the medicinal herbs in the world, they're safe and sound?"

Wang Shengsong and Amo exchanged a glance and said in unison:

"Otherwise what?"

"Otherwise what? Haha, that's a good point."

What would you do if I locked you in the cellar and only gave you a little water to drink?

Li Danshi suddenly flew into a rage, startling everyone who saw it.

"You need to understand, this is a living elixir! Not some stinky dog ​​poop on the roadside."

Dog poop, if left to ferment for too long, will become super fertilizer; a precious medicine, if left to ferment for too long, will become worthless!

The others were about to get angry, but when they remembered that he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, their anger vanished instantly.

Inside the carriage, Chen Lu suddenly heard these words and remembered that he still had a few medicinal herbs on him.

I know nothing about this. If I get the elixir in the future but don't know how to preserve it carefully, and the price drops when I sell it, it will be too late to cry.

He gestured to Zhao Dalong with his eyes, signaling him to keep an eye on things, then quickly climbed out of the carriage and respectfully asked:

"Then... senior, how should it be preserved?"

Li Danshi looked at him, and instantly, Chen Lu felt a chill run down his spine.

Li Danshi then looked at the others, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"Hiss, you kid, you're only thirty and you've already reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. With such talent, why do you insist on doing this miserable job?"

Chen Lu didn't hesitate. This was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an alchemist; it would definitely be good to build a good relationship with him.

"If metal-element cultivators don't engage in the path of killing, what else can they do?"

"you can--"

Li Danshi pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution.

For metal-element cultivators, it seems there's really nowhere else to go besides the path of slaughter.

He coughed awkwardly twice, removed the talisman from his hand, spread it out, and pointed to the base, explaining earnestly:

"For ordinary medicinal herbs, just attach a protective talisman and keep them away from light and water. No matter how good the herbs are, they can't be refined into any good pills."

However, some rare medicinal herbs, such as this one, are born with extremely delicate spiritual bodies, and are afraid of stuffiness and dryness.

To refine top-grade pills, the medicinal herbs must possess a divine essence. However, as the spiritual plants are removed from the soil, they will gradually dissipate. No matter how skilled the alchemist is, in the end, they can only refine high-grade pills.

To preserve its essence, it must be allowed some air circulation and protected by spiritual soil.

If you have money, use a jade box; if you don't, use a stone box. The thickness doesn't matter, as long as it's separated by wooden boards or metal.

When it comes to his profession, Master Li speaks eloquently and logically, without resorting to venomous words or sarcastic insults.

But the third镖头 (bodyguard) was getting impatient. He was eager to finish delivering the goods and then quickly send a message to his family via flying sword.

"Um... Senior Li, are there any problems with these medicinal herbs?"

"Let's let this problem go. If there are any special storage needs in the future, someone will notify you."

Li Danshi waved his hand, looking like he didn't want to say anything more.

He then turned around and quickly left with several apprentices.