Forging Factions

When one man attained the Dao, even his chickens and dogs soared to heaven.

The first thing Lin Chang'an did after gaining influence was to smilingly plead for Li Han and Qi Feng. Not only was Zhang Qing not dissatisfied, he nodded in approval at once.

At the very least, it proved that Lin Chang'an was not someone who easily forgot kindness and betrayed righteousness. Zhang Qing and Elder Lu were eager for him to have ties here.

If not for the problems with Lin Chang'an's cultivation technique, then with talent like his, unless he gave them ten or eight children, he could forget about receiving these resources.

The next day, after changing into clean clothes, Qi Feng and Li Han sat in a restaurant as though they had been reborn into another lifetime, gazing dazedly at the bustling Market before them.

They had thought they would spend the rest of their lives in those sunless mine tunnels, yet in the blink of an eye, they were standing in a flourishing Market.

They had even put on clean Great Sword Sect cultivator robes. At that moment, the two felt as though they were dreaming.

"Brother Lin."

When Lin Chang'an entered the private room, Qi Feng and Li Han hurriedly rose to their feet. At some point, the two had become three parts more reserved before Lin Chang'an.

"Brother Qi, Brother Li, you are being far too polite."

Seeing them, Lin Chang'an was still as casual as ever. He smiled at them with mock annoyance and gestured for them to sit.

This sight warmed their hearts. Lin Chang'an did not carry himself with any lofty superiority; rather, the two of them had become somewhat restrained in front of him.

"If not for Brother Lin, the two of us would likely have spent our entire lives in those sunless mine tunnels."

After the three sat down, Qi Feng picked up the wine jug and filled Lin Chang'an's cup first, only then pouring for himself and Li Han.

Raising his wine cup, Qi Feng was filled with emotion. As the illegitimate son of a prince in the mortal world, he naturally understood one thing: whether others remembered such kindness was their business, but he himself absolutely could not become so carried away that he forgot everything.

"Brother Lin, the two of us offer you this cup."

Qi Feng and Li Han raised their cups. Without waiting for Lin Chang'an to speak, they drained them in one gulp, making Lin Chang'an shake his head.

"There is no need for such distance between the three of us."

Lin Chang'an also raised his cup and drained it. Though he said so, his heart was still full of gratification. After all, dealing with two people who knew gratitude felt entirely different.

Li Han, who had always been taciturn and inconspicuous, rarely showed such gratitude as well. "Brother Qi is right. If not for Brother Lin, the two of us truly would have spent our lives in the mines."

Yet Lin Chang'an laughed and teased, "You have that wrong. Half your life would be spent in the mines; the other half should be spent in bed."

The three instantly burst into laughter. With Lin Chang'an's teasing setting the mood, it was as though they had returned to the days when they were together before.

"Brother Lin is right. For the rest of our lives, we'll either be in bed or in the mines. Once we came to this place, they would not let us go easily without squeezing us dry."

Qi Feng said this with a laugh. Looking at the two, Lin Chang'an shook his head. "It is not as bad as you think. Before long, the sect will bring your families over."

At the mention of family, a rare tenderness appeared in Qi Feng's eyes. Though his tastes were somewhat wild, in this place without support or security, the children he would leave behind seemed to have become a warmth in his heart.

"By the way, Brother Li, what about you?" Lin Chang'an's gaze could not help falling on Li Han. Helping the two had only been a simple favor, though he had selfish motives as well. He wanted the sect to know that he was someone who remembered kindness, for those who forgot kindness and betrayed righteousness were unwelcome anywhere.

Qi Feng would establish a family here and gain ties, making him more easily accepted by the sect. Li Han, on the other hand, was different.

Seeing Lin Chang'an's gaze, Li Han gave a bitter smile. Qi Feng, beside him, seemed to understand something and could not help shaking his head with a sigh.

"Brother Li, there are some things you cannot avoid."

You, Li Han, had nothing to offer. Right now, the sect was giving you face. If you still did not know to accept that face, then what awaited you would be a complete tearing of relations.

"I..." Li Han gave a bitter smile, then could only nod helplessly in the end. "I understand."

Clearly, he did not want to leave any ties behind here, but this sect was no charitable hall.

"Brother Li, I offended you greatly back then. Today, let me offer you an apology." At this moment, Qi Feng rose, lifted a cup of wine, and drained it in one gulp before Li Han, apologizing for his earlier rudeness during the examination outside the mountain gate.

Li Han could not help smiling at this sight. Though he knew it was because the two needed to huddle together for warmth here, Qi Feng's attitude was truly not something an ordinary person could manage.

After several rounds of raised cups and exchanged drinks, the three seemed to return once more to the days when they had first entered the sect and huddled together for warmth.

"From now on, I will mostly be refining pills and cultivating in the Market. If you have any matters, you can come find me there."

After Lin Chang'an told them where he lived in the Market, Qi Feng and Li Han smiled sincerely and congratulated him. "Congratulations, Brother Lin."

"Li Han and I have both been transferred to the Patrol Guard. Of course, this is all thanks to Brother Lin."

Li Han and Qi Feng also smiled as they spoke of their current circumstances. They were not among the best, but they were better than those below them. At the very least, they had one foot in the sect now. With time and adjustment, the sect would gradually accept them as well.

No matter what, it was far better than being so-called pigs. At the very least, they were no longer outsiders.

"Of the four of us, only Murong Yue is missing."

When the three suddenly remembered there was one more person at their table, they exchanged glances and smiled. Qi Feng even teased, "With little sister Murong Yue's talent, the sect would never bear to waste it. They will definitely invest heavily in training her."

With the aptitude of a High-grade Spirit Root, as long as she was carefully nurtured, reaching late Qi Condensation was guaranteed. On top of that, she was a female cultivator who could spread branches and leaves in the future. It was simply a blood-profit bargain.

Of course, only the Great Sword Sect had sufficient reserves. If it were some smaller faction, even if it had such resources, it would not raise an outsider. A fine commodity like Murong Yue would only be sold for a good price.

"Great kindness needs no words of thanks. If Brother Lin has any need in the future, just command the two of us."

Qi Feng and Li Han were also returning a peach for a plum. Considering Lin Chang'an's future, as well as the bond between men who had endured hardship together, rather than relying on someone else and seeking a backer, they might as well directly follow Lin Chang'an, who had shown them kindness.

Lin Chang'an wore a broad smile as well. Had he not done all this precisely to begin gathering his own people?

In this place, he too was newly arrived and all alone. Compared to those who had been deceived into coming here alongside him, especially cultivators from the same batch, they were more likely to become his own people.

They had been deceived together, endured hardship together, and now enjoyed fortune together. They were all his own people.

As for the other fellow cultivators from the same batch, neither Qi Feng nor Li Han mentioned them. They could barely look after themselves; how could they have the ability to care for others?

Lin Chang'an likewise chatted and laughed with the two without mentioning the others. Of course, he had not abandoned them. These people were the ones most likely to become his own.

But what was gained too easily would not inspire much gratitude. Qi Feng and Li Han were two examples. He wanted to show everyone that Lin Chang'an was not a cold-blooded man: they would see Li Han and Qi Feng, then see what they themselves were going through.

Then, as he gradually grew stronger and gained more say, he would pull these people out of the darkness step by step. Only then would they feel even more gratitude and reverence toward him.

In the world of cultivation, once you became strong enough, you could indeed sweep everything aside. But while still weak, you needed to forge factions and gather together every force you could unite.

The world of cultivation was not only about fighting and killing; it was also about human feelings and worldly affairs.

As for ambition, Lin Chang'an merely smiled. This was a world where strength reigned supreme. To a sect with a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, these little actions of his were nothing worth putting on the table. Thus, the more he acted this way, the less those above would fear him; they might even be delighted to see it.

Thanks to all fellow cultivators for your support.