Seven Profound

Carrying sixty taels of silver and a wooden box, Jiang Ding left the Four Seas Merchant Guild, a flicker of excitement stirring in his heart.

Decades-old medicinal herbs naturally could not be consumed raw. That would be far too wasteful, and they might even be poisonous. He planned to commission a Great Medicine Pharmacy to refine them into pills.

Since he lacked the money to pay the processing fee and buy supplementary herbs, he could use some of the medicinal herbs to offset the cost.

"The Seven Profound Sect has returned?"

"Isn't that so? Seems like it's today..."

As he passed a teahouse, Jiang Ding's ears twitched. He stopped, went inside, ordered a cup of clear tea, and gazed out at the street.

Mm, he would not touch any food from this foreign world unless it had been treated first.

Jiang Ding was not the only one. The other patrons also looked over with interest.

The Seven Profound Sect had been rooted in East Spirit Prefecture for over a thousand years. Its roots ran deep and its branches flourished. Everyone present had likely crossed paths with the sect's businesses, and some might even have once been old disciples of the Seven Profound Sect.

"That is a long story..."

Yet the drinker abruptly paused and said no more, provoking curses from everyone around him.

"Yang Laoyao, are you hanging us up by our balls?"

"Waiter, bring this table a jug of Old Eastern Mountain Wine, a plate of pastries, and two plates of braised beef!"

Some tactful patrons called out as well.

"Everyone, it is not some great secret."

Seeing this, the drinker chuckled. "The Young Marquis has become engaged to Gong Caiyu, the Flying Snow Fairy, daughter of the late sect master of the Seven Profound Sect. Since the Seven Profound Sect and Marquis Zhen Dong's Estate are now one family, reestablishing the sect is naturally only right."

"Is that true? Aren't they afraid Golden Saber Sect's 'Splitting Sea Saber' will come again?"

"Exactly! Yang Laoyao, you brat, aren't you just here to swindle this lord out of wine and meat?"

The crowd broke into heated discussion. Some were excited, others hateful; every expression was different.

"Bullshit!"

After taking a sip of wine, Yang Laoyao snapped, "I heard it from my clansman uncle, who works at the Marquis's Estate! And it is happening today. How could it be false?"

The crowd was half-convinced, half-doubtful.

"That is possible."

Someone speculated, "Though Marquis Zhen Dong's Estate cannot compare to the Golden Saber Sect, it represents the court's dignity after all. It was once one of the Twelve Pillars Holding Up Heaven. The Golden Saber Sect may not dare touch the Marquis's in-laws."

"One must know that though the Golden Saber Sect is powerful, it cannot compare to the imperial court."

Just then, someone outside let out a howl.

"The Marquis, the Young Marquis, and a whole group of the Marquis's retainers have come out!"

Marquis Zhen Dong's Estate stood in the most prosperous part of the city, only a few streets away. Looking over from here, they could see rows of orderly black-armored soldiers surrounding a group of people. The nearby streets had already been sealed off, and the display was enormous.

The entire tavern fell silent, quiet enough to hear a needle drop. Then, with a boom, it erupted into frenzy as the crowd surged toward the area around the Marquis's Estate.

They truly had no choice but to care.

The Marquis's Estate and the Seven Profound Sect were both colossal forces. Any change involving either would affect many people's livelihoods. If mishandled, falling from rolling in wealth to utter poverty was entirely possible.

Before long, only the seated Jiang Ding and Yang Laoyao, who was wolfing down wine and meat, remained in the teahouse. Even the waiter and proprietor had vanished for the moment.

Yang Laoyao stuffed a slice of beef into his mouth and raised a cup of wine toward Jiang Ding from afar.

Jiang Ding gave a slight nod, tossed a grain-sized piece of silver onto the counter, and rose to leave.

Once outside, he avoided the places where the crowds gathered and headed toward Rotten Plank Street, where the general store was located.

Surrounded warmly by numerous dignitaries, Gong Caiyu suddenly glanced in a certain direction, but saw nothing.

"What is it, niece Caiyu?"

An old man with several strands of long beard noticed her distraction and asked through voice transmission.

This man was Zhang Ziteng, the Fifth Elder of the Seven Profound Sect, known as the Eagle Iron Sword. Rumor had it that his sword descended like an eagle swooping from the heavens, like a bird of prey seizing a grass rabbit. His Sword Momentum was vast and weighty; ordinary experts would be dead before they could even take one strike.

When the Seven Profound Sect was destroyed, he happened to be away visiting relatives. And Splitting Sea Saber Wei Xian was far too proud to waste time specifically searching for him, so he had luckily escaped disaster.

Gong Caiyu forced a smile. "Fifth Uncle, it is nothing."

"Niece Caiyu,"

Zhang Ziteng continued his secret transmission, "I know you do not like Young Marquis Tang Qingjie. His reputation is somewhat unrestrained and dissolute, but none of that matters. The fleshly body is merely a skin bag, and the love between young people is no more than an Illusory Bubble. You will understand these things later."

"As long as the sect can be reestablished, as long as our patriarchs' foundation is not ruined in your and my hands, as long as you advance to the Innate Realm, then everything will have been worth it."

Gong Caiyu remained silent.

Entering Rotten Plank Street, Jiang Ding saw no lavish decorations along the old roadside buildings. The ground was pitted and uneven, and a strange odor hung in the air, yet he felt a certain relaxed, harmonious mood.

"You mongrel!"

"Beat him to death! How dare you steal my things!"

The relaxed harmony quickly vanished.

Jiang Ding glanced at the little beggar being beaten by a group of beggars, then continued toward the general store.

In a poor district, such things happened too often. It was hard to say who was right or wrong.

When poor, one could only keep oneself clean. There was too much to manage.

The little beggar did not make a sound. He neither resisted nor cried out.

After beating him for a while, the other beggars found it boring too and left amid curses.

A set of staggering footsteps came from behind, seemingly chasing after him with all his strength despite his injuries, as though this were his only hope of survival.

Jiang Ding paused and turned around.

The little beggar's clothes were ragged, reeking of grease and filth. His face and arms were covered in injuries; some had already scabbed over, while others still seeped blood.

Still, Jiang Ding could vaguely make out his appearance. He was the grandson of the herb-gathering old man from the ruined temple.

"Sir, my grandfather is dead."

The little beggar's long-suppressed emotions suddenly collapsed. He burst into loud sobs. "Those men in black killed him. Grandfather pushed me into the river, but he himself..."

Jiang Ding quietly listened to his incoherent wailing.

The other boy had gone through much these past days. Upon suddenly meeting Jiang Ding, someone who had once shown him kindness, his emotions had slipped out of control.

Not until his voice had become hoarse.

"Sir, can I follow you?" the little beggar asked softly.

"You can."

Jiang Ding said quietly, "My shop is still short a clerk. If you are interested, come and give it a try."

With that, he turned and left.

He would not take the initiative to do anything, but since the boy had come seeking help, and he was still a child, Jiang Ding would help him a little.

"Great kindness, sir!"

The little beggar was overjoyed. He had wanted to kowtow, but seeing that Jiang Ding had already gone, he hurriedly followed after him.

After winding left and right, they returned to his little shop. There were still few customers, with only one or two coming in from time to time.

The moment Huang Deyou saw Jiang Ding, his face turned deathly pale, and he froze where he stood.

Jiang Ding ignored him and returned to the small courtyard.

"Master..."

Not long after, Huang Deyou ran over, pale-faced. He tried to kneel, but a sword sheath tapped him into place. Cold sweat streamed down his body. He did not dare say a word and could only stand ramrod straight.

After a long while.

"It has only been half a month, yet you have already caused two major incidents for me, brat."

Jiang Ding sighed. "Manager Huang, you must know that everyone's patience has its limits."

Everything had a price. Letting Long San go had spent a favor of his.

"Master, Deyou knows his mistake," Huang Deyou said tremblingly.

"Knowing your mistake is good. Everyone makes mistakes; correcting them is enough." Jiang Ding pointed at the little beggar behind him and said blandly:

"This..."

"Sir, this lowly one is Han Lin."

"This little brother Han, arrange a suitable job for him. Also, start collecting animal specimens. I want insects, birds, mosquitoes, and other small things as well. The price will remain one copper coin per specimen for now."

"Yes, Master!"

Huang Deyou glanced from the corner of his eye at the little beggar's proper and courteous manner, and his heart tightened.