Imperial Jade Liquor Wine

After the lookout confirmed their identities, he let Ji Qinglin and his companion inside.

The vast factory building was dimly lit, with Xin Dong Street Merchant Association guards stationed around it.

Most shop owners had already chosen their prospective disciples and left early. The few remaining were chatting with the chairman.

Hearing the motorcycle, they all turned to look over.

"Qinglin, you're really late."

The speaking man looked barely over fifty. He wore a Dark Cyan Daoist Robe, and the golden dragon patterns engraved on his carbon-fiber alloy arm gleamed beneath the lights. His right eye socket held no eyeball, only a tiny red dot in its place. Only the rare connoisseur would recognize it as a top-grade Laser Eye.

He was Lei Qiong, chairman of the Xin Dong Street Merchant Association.

Ji Qinglin nodded in greeting.

"Chairman, sorry for the delay on the road. Why is this disciple recruitment site so hidden?"

Lei Qiong pointed at the iron door nearby.

"Go inside and you'll understand. Everyone else has finished choosing, so just take your pick from whoever's left."

Ji Qinglin had no idea what medicine Lei Qiong was selling in his gourd. After greeting the other bosses one by one, he headed toward the iron door.

He paid no heed whatsoever to the encrypted voice messages the bosses transmitted through the local network behind him.

"That brat is here again. He's young and handsome, sure, but his skin is truly thick. He never takes disciples, yet he never misses a single selection."

"The Free-Riding Master, right? Does he look like he has the money to take disciples? He hasn't even properly outfitted himself with a Cultivation Suit. He's only in the Foundation Solidification Realm—he probably couldn't even beat the receptionist at our hotel. Just squatting on a piece of land for nothing."

"Enough. He's still one of us from Xin Dong Street. But I heard someone has taken a liking to his plot of land."

Ji Qinglin arrived at the door and opened it through his sleeve.

Inside stood over thirty young men and women dressed in blue-and-white striped uniforms, each wearing a slender black collar around their neck. The moment Ji Qinglin entered, they stood neatly at attention.

The blue-and-white striped clothes were the uniforms of minor offenders in Bangkok Prison, while the black collars were Tracking Restraint Devices used by the prison.

One glance was enough for Ji Qinglin to understand why this disciple recruitment ceremony had been kept so secret.

It seemed Xin Dong Street had not been having an easy time recruiting people lately. Otherwise, Chairman Lei Qiong would not have brought in so many prisoners as prospective disciples.

He had probably pulled some strings with the prison and gotten these healthy minor offenders out for everyone to choose from.

Most prisons were private anyway. With money, anything could be discussed.

And for prisoners with no one and nothing to their names, the chance to become Qi Practitioners funded and supported by a corporation or merchant association was like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.

After the group saluted, they all stared wide-eyed at Ji Qinglin, hoping for a chance.

Ji Qinglin, meanwhile, said nothing. Like an emperor selecting consorts, he inspected every last one of them.

The room was deathly quiet. Everyone held their breath, trying to display their best side. Ji Qinglin was the last person to enter and make a selection, and also their final chance.

Ji Qinglin felt as though he could already hear the cries rising from the depths of their hearts: Choose me! Choose me! Choose me!

But unfortunately, Ji Qinglin was not moved by those gazes. In a place like this, pity could save nothing but his own conscience.

After finding nothing remarkable in his inspection, Ji Qinglin cleared his throat and assumed the bearing of an exalted master. "The path of cultivation depends on fate. How about this? I'll casually recite fragments of cultivation techniques. Whoever can continue them will prove that they were born with a stronger Dao heart and better spiritual roots. Perhaps we will have a greater destiny as master and disciple."

The prisoners were stunned. The elders who had entered before had either assessed their physical condition or used instruments to test the strength of their Nerve Interfaces. This man's method was far too casual, wasn't it?

But they had no right to choose. Moreover, Ji Qinglin looked younger than all the elders before him, yet he had arrived last. They could not help guessing that perhaps he was the most unfathomable of them all, and now they waited for the "cultivation techniques" from his mouth.

"Prosperity, democracy, civility."

Everyone stared at Ji Qinglin, assuming he would continue. Not one of them was prepared to answer.

"May the Force be—"

The sudden switch in language left even the prisoners preparing to spout nonsense unsure of what they were supposed to say.

Seeing that neither attempt had worked, Ji Qinglin sighed softly and casually asked a third line: "Imperial Jade Liquor Wine."

"One hundred eighty a cup."

The voice was not loud, but in a room where no one had managed to answer in time, it was more than clear enough.

Not only Ji Qinglin, but everyone else turned toward the source of the voice.

In the corner of the formation stood a young woman. A little mud smeared her face, obscuring her features. Her loose hair had just reached her shoulders, and she was tall. The baggy prison uniform concealed her figure well, but judging from the curves that showed, the odds of uncovering a top-tier body were high.

When everyone looked at her, the young woman showed no fear whatsoever. She merely raised her head and looked at Ji Qinglin.

Ji Qinglin was equally surprised. After all, his method was not scientific, and it had never worked before.

But he did not show it. Still smiling, he walked toward the young woman.

"How did you know that line?"

"Reporting to Elder, I answered it on instinct."

Her answer was just as crisp and direct. Her voice was rather clear and airy, a standard cool mature-woman voice, her tone faintly cold without the slightest coquettish lilt.

Instinct? Just muscle memory? Without memories of the Old Era, that would be impossible to believe. Was this girl lying? Pretending to be stupid, just like I did back then?

With everyone watching him, Ji Qinglin did not press her further here. He merely nodded. "Very good. Come out with me first."

The young woman hesitated briefly, but followed him nonetheless.

The people inside, having missed their final opportunity, could not help feeling disappointed. But Ji Qinglin knew that, given Chairman Lei Qiong's habits, he would surely give these people something to keep their mouths shut.

Noticing that Ji Qinglin had actually brought someone out, the elders who had yet to leave curiously gathered around.

Once they realized it was a young girl in the bloom of youth, they exchanged meaningful smiles.

"Tsk, she looks like an ordinary person who hasn't had any prosthetics or Cultivation Accessories installed. Looks like the Free-Riding Master wants to freeload on something else this time."

"Young people are full of fire. Understandable."

"That little girl actually seems pretty good-looking. How did I not notice earlier? That brat actually got to pick her up."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, nothing. I said that little lecher's Dao heart is crooked."

Chairman Lei Qiong examined the young woman Ji Qinglin had brought out. She indeed did not appear to have cultivated before.

The reason they had tapped into prison resources was to give elder members more choices. After all, not every physique was suited for cultivation, and finding someone with a foundation would naturally be best. Yet Ji Qinglin had chosen an ordinary young girl. Could that kid really have let lust go to his head? "Qinglin, this is the disciple you chose? You won't look around some more?"

"No need, Chairman. Is there any paperwork that still needs to be handled?"

Ji Qinglin's attitude was firm.

"Fine, then. I'll handle the paperwork. The prison activity fee for a selected disciple should originally be split between the master and the merchant association, but since this is your first time selecting a disciple, I'll cover your share."

As Ji Qinglin heard that, he slipped his wallet back into his pocket and shook his head.

"Chairman, how can that be acceptable?!"

Ignoring Ji Qinglin's perfunctory politeness, Chairman Lei Qiong directly handed him the remote control for the Tracking Restraint Device collar and the young woman's file. "This batch of prospective disciples has unusual identities, after all. Before taking her in as an official disciple and beginning cultivation, you must teach her carefully. Are you really sure you'll be fine, kid? Do you want me to send a disciple to help pass on teachings? You know that this year, the bottom-ranking elimination system for disciples and shop spaces may be reinstated."

It was clear the chairman was genuinely worried about Ji Qinglin's abilities. After all, he was still only at the most basic Foundation Solidification Realm.

"Thank you for your kindness, Chairman, but I still want to try it myself. If I need help, I'll report it immediately."

Since it involved the Old Era, it was best not to let anyone else get involved.

Hearing this, Lei Qiong pulled Ji Qinglin aside for a private word. "I heard someone wants to buy your shop recently?"

"Chairman, your information network is truly impressive. That's true, but don't worry—I naturally won't sell."

"If you dare sell it, be careful Old Hu comes for your life. Do you need the merchant association to step in and turn them down?"

Chairman Lei Qiong remained as considerate toward the association's members as he was toward his own family.

"No need. I already refused."

With all his attention on the young woman, Ji Qinglin did not elaborate to the chairman and took his leave.

But after leaving the warehouse with the young woman, he discovered that the merchant association Qi Practitioner who had ridden him there on the motorcycle had long since departed. It seemed there had just been a passing shower.

This master thing really had no pomp to it at all.

"Ahem. A rainy night is nice. Prospective disciple, walk back with your master. I happen to have some questions for you along the way."

A crazed voice in the young woman's heart said: Damn it! I knew handsome men couldn't be trusted—he's a pauper! Her cool mature-woman voice replied: Watch your mouth. At least he got us out of that hellhole.

"Yes."

The young woman answered softly, pulled the merchant association coat distributed to her tighter around herself, and hurried after Ji Qinglin.

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