Rising Three Ranks in a Row

"Blue Scales Detached, no more than four shichen ago!"

Huang Boliu cupped his hands and said, "My conclusion is exactly the same as Island Lord Sima's. Congratulations, Elder Tong. Congratulations, Elder Tong. This truly is the Immortal's Gift of Scales. Sixty years of life—its value is beyond words!"

Even Tong Baixiong was stunned this time. He rose and looked at Sima Da. "Truly... truly within four shichen?"

Sima Da nodded. "The fish-scale fragments and blood have not dispersed in the slightest. It must have been within four shichen. I stake my life on it."

Huang Boliu also said, "I am willing to vouch for it as well!"

The guests in the hall rose one after another to offer their congratulations.

"Sixty years of life. Elder Tong's lifespan is now one hundred and twenty-six. He hasn't even lived half his life yet."

"You really ought to slap yourself. The Immortal clearly said he was adding sixty-six years. How could you..."

Fat Qianhu laughed. "With the Immortal's Gift of Scales, Elder Tong's fortune is beyond words."

Huo Duan also gave a sinister smile. "And what was bestowed was dragon scales, no less. Its value is indeed beyond words."

Fat Qianhu glared at him. The two exchanged looks, and the air between them was faintly explosive.

Tong Baixiong gently stroked his white beard and roared with laughter.

Tong Yukang's mind went blank. He looked at Zhang Yu, his face flushed bright red.

"This... This is impossible!"

"You're lying!"

"There was no Immortal's Gift of Scales! Wasn't there?"

Tong Baixiong shot Tong Yukang a glare. A perfectly good Immortal blessing had been turned into a case investigated by Young Master Tong. Not only had he spoiled the mood, but he had also made the heroes of the world laugh at the Tong Family's narrow-mindedness and lack of magnanimity.

He said blandly, "What else do you have to say? You lack the ability and sincerity to perform the Hundred Depths Cold Pool. Are you forbidding others from adding blessings and years to my life?"

Tong Yukang muttered incoherently, saying nothing. He only glanced at Zhang Yu, his eyes filled with endless malice.

The words Tong Baixiong had intentionally or unintentionally spoken—"lacking the ability to perform the Hundred Depths Cold Pool"—had struck the matter he dreaded most in his heart.

Born into a martial family, he had no aptitude for martial arts. No one could understand that pain. From childhood to adulthood, he had always felt that he was treated differently. His father's hopes for his two elder brothers were completely different from those he held for him.

"The Immortal has bestowed longevity. I shall personally come to receive it."

Tong Baixiong laughed as he walked into the hall and personally helped Zhang Yu up. "It was thanks to your sincere devotion that you moved the heavens and allowed me to gain another sixty years of life. If you weren't Brother Wu's direct disciple, I would truly want to take you as my final disciple."

Zhang Yu hurriedly said, "Devoting myself to the Divine Cult and doing my utmost for the Hall Master is only my duty. Though I hold a low position, I dare not forget your kindness."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Tong Baixiong said "good" three times in succession, then said solemnly, "Cloud Water Hall originally governed Guanzhong. Though only scattered remnants remain now, you are Brother Wu's direct disciple and also my nephew by association. I want you to go and open up a new sphere of influence in the capacity of Incense Master. What do you think?"

As soon as these words were spoken, even Qi Zhaogu was stunned. Being dispatched to govern a region had always been his dream.

If Zhang Yu could consolidate the remnants of Cloud Water Hall and establish a foothold in Guanzhong, he might become one of the Divine Cult's powerful figures in a few years. His position might even surpass Qi Zhaogu's.

Thinking it over carefully, whether considering Zhang Yu's own martial arts, his intelligence, or his status as Hall Master Wu's direct disciple, there was indeed a great chance that he could command Cloud Water Hall's scattered remnants and succeed.

The jealousy burning in Tong Yukang's heart was almost impossible to suppress. He stared coldly at the young man's handsome face and thought, I absolutely cannot let this boy get his wish!

Zhang Yu cupped his hands. "I am willing to serve you, Uncle. It's just that I am only a Deputy Flag Master. Rising three ranks in a row—would that perhaps..."

Tong Baixiong laughed. "Eastern Cult Master has said many times that talent should be promoted based on merit, and one must not cling rigidly to seniority and let a pearl remain covered in dust. Rest assured. Wind Thunder Hall will not bury talent. Your appointment will be issued shortly."

After the disturbance passed, and after the wine had gone around twice, Zhang Yu returned to his seat. The way everyone looked at him had changed.

The Incense Masters who had originally treated him with indifference suddenly became enthusiastic, addressing him as brother at every turn.

Several leaders and elders from affiliated gangs also came over under various pretexts to chat and drink with him.

Zhang Yu drank thirty cups in succession before showing three parts of drunkenness, yet he still refused no one who came.

His capacity for drink and his bold manner truly caused some people to view him differently.

He and Sima Da, Lord of Long Whale Island, and Huang Boliu, Leader of Tianhe Gang, hit it off exceptionally well. They nearly became sworn brothers.

After the wine had gone around three times, the banquet became less restrained.

People from the martial world began moving about, gathering in groups of three or five to chat.

Zhang Yu looked at the red-faced Qi Zhaogu beside him and said with slight drunkenness, "Brother Qi, there's something I want to ask you. Technically, I shouldn't, but to be honest, I have no one else in Wind Thunder Hall I can speak frankly with."

"I know what you want to ask."

The two walked to a corner of the courtyard, somewhat farther from the crowd.

Qi Zhaogu said softly, "The Third Young Master once wanted to take Hall Master Wu as his teacher."

"He was refused?"

Qi Zhaogu let out a cold laugh. "These words leave my mouth and enter your ears. You must not let them slip. The Third Young Master lacks talent in the martial way, but he is clever, stubborn, and suspicious. He will certainly figure out that I was the one who told you."

"Rest assured, Brother Qi. Don't you trust Zhang Yu's character? Then... I suppose I've suffered an undeserved calamity as well." Zhang Yu smiled bitterly.

Qi Zhaogu laughed gleefully. "One drink, one peck; one gain, one loss. You only want to take advantage without suffering any losses. Wouldn't that violate the natural order of cause and effect?"

He had his own motives for revealing the truth to Zhang Yu.

The Tong Family's Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master were both Incense Masters of the Divine Cult, stationed year-round in the Capital City and Shuntian Prefecture.

Tong Yukang, who remained in Pingding City, always looked down on disciples like them, who came from "outside."

He suspected that his repeated failures to be transferred elsewhere were connected to Tong Yukang.

"It's fortunate that you can take up your post in Guanzhong. Sigh, to tell the truth, I envy you. If you rise to prominence one day, brother, don't forget your old friend."

"If I become rich and noble, I will not forget you."

Zhang Yu cupped his hands, then sighed. "The Third Young Master behaves like that... I hope everything goes smoothly."

He suddenly thought of Mount Hua, which was located in the Guanzhong region, and became distracted for a moment.

The two could not remain away from the crowd for long. After exchanging a few more words, they returned to the inner hall.

At that moment, Tong Baixiong seemed somewhat unusual. He picked up his wine cup several times only to put it down again. He forced smiles at the people beside him, glanced toward the main gate from time to time, and occasionally frowned faintly, as if he were in low spirits.

As time passed, his behavior became increasingly obvious.

Zhang Yu said, "The Hall Master doesn't seem to be in very high spirits."

Qi Zhaogu said, "My adoptive father is waiting."

Zhang Yu asked, "Waiting for what?"

Qi Zhaogu sighed. "Waiting for someone."

Just then, a voice came from outside.

"Envoys of the Eastern Cult Master have arrived!"

Tong Baixiong suddenly rose and rushed out of the inner hall and across the central courtyard. He went all the way to within ten paces of the main gate to receive the two envoys.

The two Purple-robed Envoys wore purple robes. One held a wine jar, while the other carried a Yellow Cloth Edict.

"By order of the Benevolent, Righteous, Heroic, and Wise Cult Master of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, Dongfang: Tong Baixiong has diligently served the Divine Cult and achieved outstanding merits. On the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, he is bestowed one jar of fine wine to comfort his labors."

Tong Baixiong knelt on the ground, tears immediately pouring down like rain.

"The Cult Master's Holy Grace! Even if I die ten thousand times, I could never repay it!"

Zhang Yu sighed inwardly.

He could see that the "Pillar of the North" from Wan Chonglou's gift, Qi Zhaogu's "Filial Son's Blood Scripture," and his own Immortal's Gift of Scales combined still could not compare with this single jar of wine from Dongfang Bubai.

What kind of person was Dongfang Bubai, really?

How could he make a proud hero like Tong Baixiong bow his head to him and submit with utter devotion?

Huo Duan looked at Fat Qianhu beside him and sneered. "Wan Chonglou's 'Pillar of the North' is inferior to one mere jar of weak wine. All your efforts were wasted."

"We Central Plains people value loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness. The rough folk of the martial world are no different. How could an outsider fox understand that?"

"Heh heh. That outsider fox will overturn the Han Family's cooking pot sooner or later."

Fat Qianhu said coldly, "You're saying this within the territory of the Great Ming. Aren't you afraid you won't make it back to the grasslands?"

Huo Duan threw his head back and laughed. "Then let's see."