Black Peony also understood what Yuan Fang was about to do. However, she didn't pay it much mind, immediately opening two boxes and taking out snacks and wine.
At the inn, Yuan Fang reached the counter and, handing the manager the receipt, asked:
"Is this receipt authentic or not?"
The manager looked at it and instantly understood. Returning it, he said:
"Authentic. That dark-skinned girl just paid the money."
Yuan Fang took the receipt back without a word, his eyes gleaming as he turned to leave. This would do too.
He had only earned a few hundred gold in several years at the Southern Mountain Monastery, and here he was, getting so much money in a single day.
He returned, invigorated, and quickly approached Niu You Dao:
"Lord Dao, it's authentic." He leaned in and whispered to Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao shot him a sidelong glance, speechless. Yuan Fang was acting as if he'd never seen money before. How could a mere few thousand gold be more important than a human being? What mattered more to him, money or a person?
After arranging the snacks and wine, Black Peony took out a porcelain bottle and sprinkled white powder over everything, demonstrating that the food wasn't poisoned.
Yuan Fang took the porcelain bottle from her, examined it, then tasted the white powder on his tongue. Once he confirmed it was safe, he immediately returned the bottle.
Niu You Dao couldn't help but chuckle. He had forgotten that Yuan Fang understood medicine. He then gestured to Black Peony to place the book on wild animal records on the table next to him.
Black Peony respectfully lifted the records.
Niu You Dao took out the book, flipped through it, and found the page about Golden King Bears. He handed the book to Yuan Fang: "Take a look."
"What is there to see?" Yuan Fang looked at it with a hint of disbelief, then froze.
Niu You Dao waved his hand at Black Peony, telling her to sit opposite him, and at the same time, he spoke: "Black Peony, is that a nickname?"
Black Peony was inwardly delighted. He was finally deigning to speak to her. She smiled and nodded: "It's a nickname, and at the same time, it's my true name. I never knew my parents from childhood. I know I was dark-skinned since I was young, so they called me 'Dark Girl.' Later, when I met my master, he started calling me 'Black Peony'."
Niu You Dao asked: "And from which sect or school was your master?"
Black Peony: "He was a rogue cultivator. One time, he took me with him to the sea to gather spirit herbs, but we ran into robbers there. He was killed, and I escaped into the sea."
Niu You Dao raised his chin: "So, you're alone?"
Black Peony: "I used to be poor at judging people and was with a man. But that scoundrel later abandoned me for his friends. Now I associate with people like myself. We earn a living however we can in foreign lands."
Recalling the anger, resentment, and pain, she raised her glass and drank the wine.
Niu You Dao also supported her, drinking with her. Looking at Yuan Fang's bewildered face, he chuckled to himself.
Black Peony set down her glass and offered Niu You Dao some food.
"Sir, please try the food. Is it delicious or not?" She stood up and sat beside Niu You Dao. This position made it easier for her to pour.
Niu You Dao picked up his chopsticks, tasted the food a few times, and then asked again:
"What is your cultivation level, and that of your friends?"
"We've reached the Zhu Ji level. Otherwise, we wouldn't dare trouble you, sir." Black Peony poured the wine and asked: "Only, I don't know your name, sir."
"Huangdi Dao." Niu You Dao introduced himself with a smile, then pointed at Yuan Fang and said:
"His name is Jin Wei."
They had provoked such a powerful enemy as the Song family. Moreover, they had killed the Yan Kingdom's envoy. Now, they needed to conceal their identities. Yuan Fang, in principle, didn't even have a name. At the monastery, he was previously called Golden or Little Jin, which is why he took that name for himself. Yuan Gang also influenced him. Yuan Gang, it seemed, adopted such an imposing-sounding name because he wanted to appear fierce and strong. That's why Yuan Fang was also trying to emulate Yuan Gang.
Black Peony smiled and said:
"I just heard Jin Wei call you Lord Dao. So, that's where your 'Dao' comes from. Then I shall call you that too. But I don't know, from which sect does Lord Dao hail?"
Niu You Dao smiled: "Like you, I am a rogue cultivator."
Black Peony's face changed. She calmed down and smiled, saying: "Impossible."
Niu You Dao asked in surprise: "Why so?"
Black Peony: "Rogue cultivators cannot be this wealthy. Especially not to afford staying at the Yaoyue Inn. Moreover, judging by Lord Dao's youthful appearance and the free way Lord Dao conducts himself. And with him in attendance..." She glanced at Yuan Fang.
Meanwhile, Yuan Fang had closed the book of wild animal records. He sat at the table, upended his glass, and drank it in one gulp. He wanted to calm himself down somehow.
He had just learned that many people wanted to kill him and use him as a precious item. He only now understood how valuable his fur was. After all, outstanding armor could be made from it. Why did he show his fur? Now, his body was covered in a cold sweat.
Niu You Dao glanced at him, instinctively understanding what was going on. Then he smiled and asked: "Aren't you a rogue cultivator too?"
Black Peony knew what Niu You Dao meant. After all, she had also paid 10 gold to rent a room:
"Not like that. I just spent money to meet with Lord Dao."
Niu You Dao asked with interest: "And why is that?"
Black Peony didn't think Niu You Dao wouldn't know why she was looking for him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given her orders like that.
"I want to open my own sect. I want to escape the status of a rogue cultivator."
Niu You Dao: "That's good, but what does that have to do with me?"
Black Peony asked: "Lord Dao must know what is needed to establish a sect? This is not something a rogue cultivator can simply do. I cannot just declare that I am no longer a rogue cultivator, nor can I simply declare that I have founded a sect."
Niu You Dao nodded his head:
"First, the cultivation world's approval is needed, and only then can a sect be established. But not just anyone can acknowledge a sect. Only the universally revered Yuan Ying level cultivators, like the ruler of Zhaixing City, can do so. With a certificate from nine Yuan Ying cultivators, a sect can be founded! But besides that, one must also prove their strength and financial standing. It is also necessary for other sects to vouch for you. Did I state that correctly?"
Black Peony nodded: "Lord Dao said it all correctly. We are not masters from the top ten of the Dan List. And without the support of an influential cultivator, we cannot establish our own sect."
Niu You Dao: "Then what conditions have you met?"
Black Peony: "In terms of strength, we have proven ourselves. We have already completed 30 missions from the list of evil demons and criminals. What we lack now is the support of sects and financial resources."
The so-called "list of evil demons and criminals," as Niu You Dao knew, comprised individuals who violated the laws of the cultivation world or incurred the displeasure of universally recognized figures. Therefore, throughout the world, all cultivators were encouraged to eliminate these troublemakers and uphold the laws of cultivation.
If you want to be recognized as powerful, it's not enough to simply claim your strength. It must be proven. Tackling a villain from the list or completing a task from it can demonstrate your strength. In doing so, you also prove that you abide by the laws of cultivation.
Niu You Dao clicked his tongue: "Solving 30 tasks is quite difficult." He knew it was dangerous and complex.
Apparently, they had spent a lot of time and effort on this. It seems these people so desperately want to escape the status of rogue cultivators.
Looking at Niu You Dao, Black Peony said:
"More than 10 of our brothers died for the sake of eliminating 30 tasks. Now, only a few of us remain. We have paid a sufficient price."
Niu You Dao took a sip of wine and then slowly said: "And what is holding you back?"
Black Peony, looking at him with hope, said:
"We lack finances. We might still be able to find 10,000 gold. We also lack the approval of other sects. And 100,000 gold as a penalty fee, we definitely cannot acquire."
In reality, the 100,000 gold isn't needed by the applicant, but by the sect that acts as a guarantor for the new sect. When establishing a sect, strict laws are observed. Founding one isn't a game where anyone can create a sect whenever they want and disband it on a whim. Therefore, a guarantor sect won't vouch for just anyone.
If, within three years, any disciple leaves the sect, it signifies poor management within the sect. If you can't even take care of your basic disciples, how can you establish a sect?
In such cases, the guarantor sect would have to pay a fine of a hundred thousand gold to the Misty Pavilion. The so-called Misty Pavilion is the representative and enforcer of order in the cultivation world.
It's hard to find a sect that would simply speak well of you. And here, in case of failure, they have to pay hundreds of thousands of gold for you? Who would agree?
In such cases, what sect would want such a headache? Therefore, sometimes the applicant provides the hundred thousand gold themselves, and when the probationary period passes, the sect can return their money, or one must earnestly implore the guarantor sect.
At this moment, didn't Niu You Dao understand what Black Peony wanted from him?
It was difficult for rogue cultivators in this world. You wanted to join a sect, but for its own safety, a sect wouldn't just accept anyone as a disciple. Especially in such turbulent times. Of course, there were cases where sects took in outsiders only because they were useful to them to some extent. Furthermore, some rogue cultivators themselves didn't want to lose their freedom and be bound by sect rules.
But the most important reason why many cultivators wanted to establish a sect was that every sect, having its own benefits, after passing inspection through the Misty Pavilion, this organization of cultivators, could freely engage in trade. In the cultivation world, there was a law prohibiting any rogue cultivator from trading with ordinary people. This was because cultivators, by using their power, could interfere with the lives of ordinary people. Therefore, anyone who violated this law would be severely punished.
And in such a seemingly just law, rogue cultivators suffered the most, while sects reaped the benefits.