Boss of Forty-Two Alleys: Turtle Agaric's Miraculous Effects (Request Follow Reading)

As Lin Xuankong pondered, footsteps sounded outside. Steward Gu Beicheng was leading the Martial Cultivators who had passed the test into the Martial Arts Hall.

After everyone entered, they each stood near the martial arts platform. A few looked nervously at the mottled bloodstains on it, while most wore complicated expressions as they looked toward Lin Xuankong.

Clearly, everyone had already guessed why Lin Xuankong had been summoned alone to the Martial Arts Hall!

Gu Beicheng had already heard about Lin Xuankong from Steward Ma. He straightened his collar and cupped his hands toward Lin Xuankong.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lin, on being personally appointed Full Manager by Manager Jiang. I spoke rudely at the hall notice board before. I hope Senior Brother will forgive me!"

Seeing how courteous he was, Lin Xuankong could not help cupping his hands in return. "Though I have been appointed a manager, I do not know much about what a manager needs to do. I will surely need to seek your guidance in the future, and may even have to trouble you!"

"Not a problem, not a problem!" Gu Beicheng said with a smile. "Once the next couple of days are over, I will certainly treat Steward Lin to a proper meal and drinks as an apology!"

The Martial Cultivators around the platform were immediately astonished when they heard their exchange.

"A Full Manager? He was actually appointed Full Manager?"

"Not Deputy Manager, but Full Manager—and personally appointed by Grand Manager Jiang!"

"Ah, the difference between people truly is greater than the difference between a person and a dog!"

Quite a few people began whispering among themselves.

Li Er, who had been appointed Deputy Manager, rubbed his bald head and laughed. "The world is vast, and nothing is too strange. This time, I, Li Er, have truly been dumbfounded!"

Lu Guanchi, with his long face, had gone pale. He glanced around and abruptly discovered that quite a few Martial Cultivators seemed to have remembered how he had mocked Lin Xuankong earlier.

Everyone looked at him as though watching a joke unfold, and Long-Faced Lu Guanchi's expression immediately turned extremely ugly.

He gritted his teeth and frowned in thought for a moment. Then, to everyone's surprise, he directly apologized to Gu Beicheng, declared that he would no longer participate in the Combat Tournament, and left the Martial Arts Hall with a desolate expression.

As the many Martial Cultivators watched Lu Guanchi's solitary figure leave the Martial Arts Hall, they could not help recalling how, only a little over an hour ago, Lin Xuankong had stood alone amid everyone's gossip and Lu Guanchi's mockery!

They could not help sighing inwardly, feeling that the twists and turns of the world were truly mysterious and unpredictable. In the blink of an eye, some people turned their lives around, while others capsized their boats!

Once outside the Martial Arts Hall, Lu Guanchi stood alone in the Martial Arts Field. Looking back at Lin Xuankong, now envied by all, his eyes were filled with unwillingness, yet his heart brimmed with helplessness.

How could I have guessed that this aged old bastard would light up four marks and even be appointed Full Manager by the high-ranking Grand Manager of the Yin Talisman Sect... Had I known, only a fool would have mocked him!

Now that he is a Full Manager, how can I possibly have an easy time as a disciple in the Yin Talisman Sect from now on...

Inside the Martial Arts Hall,

Under Gu Beicheng's organization, the Martial Cultivators who had passed the first round of testing quickly began the Combat Tournament.

In order to win a prestigious manager's position, the competitors used every trick in their arsenal, fighting with extreme ferocity.

Even with Steward Ma standing guard nearby, ready to intervene at any moment, after dozens of matches, most of the Martial Cultivators had suffered serious injuries.

During the tournament, the Martial Cultivator named Guo Yun wielded his pair of Short Halberds with exceptional skill. But too eager to strike down his opponent, he made a careless mistake and was smashed in the abdomen by a hammer, nearly dying on the spot!

Yang Shan also suffered an unfortunate defeat. The spear techniques he displayed with his Red Tassel Spear carried the murderous might of a battlefield formation, but unfortunately, his opponent was at the Early Second Layer...

After several rounds of combat, even the four Martial Cultivators who emerged victorious at the end were badly wounded.

One had lost an arm, another had torn clothes, and another's thigh was drenched in blood... Yet those four had ultimately fought their way into Deputy Manager positions!

The other Martial Cultivators were wounded as well, but they could only start as ordinary disciples and slowly endure their way upward.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuankong, who had originally been mocked by everyone, had become the only one even more leisurely than Manager Gu Beicheng.

Everyone else had fought and risked their lives, struggling and competing, only to win Deputy Manager positions. Yet Lin Xuankong merely sat to the side, drank tea, clapped a few times, and obtained a prestigious Full Manager position!

Next came the appointment ceremony for the six managers and deputy managers, organized by Steward Ma.

More than a thousand Yin Talisman Sect disciples from the Mule Street hall, along with some managers and stewards, welcomed and congratulated them.

After the ceremony was completed,

Steward Ma carefully explained and arranged the rules they would need to heed in the future, as well as the affairs they would need to manage.

As a newly appointed manager, Lin Xuankong could not officially cultivate the Yin Talisman Art until he completed three Full Manager tasks. However, none of a Full Manager's benefits were lacking.

They mainly included:

A manager's Taoist robe,

A Sandalwood Steward Token,

A Monthly Silver Stipend,

Ingredients for Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup,

A Full Manager's Barracks.

To Lin Xuankong, the other items mattered little. What he cared about most were the medicinal ingredients!

As for subordinates, because the Yin Talisman Sect had repeatedly fought the Liao People Tribe and had also gone through a major battle with the Black Tiger Gang, Lin Xuankong was assigned relatively few people: forty-eight disciples.

This was a Full Manager, whose status was comparable to a deputy steward of a Black Tiger Gang hall, yet he had only this many subordinates... He had fewer underlings than even a random Black Tiger Gang boss. The Yin Talisman Sect truly was somewhat weak!

However, what greatly pleased Lin Xuankong was that six or seven newcomers, including Yang Shan and Guo Yun, along with Bald Li Er, had all been assigned under him. These people possessed superb martial skills and could all be considered elites!

Furthermore, the territory Steward Ma assigned Lin Xuankong to oversee suited him perfectly.

It consisted of Five Streets Forty-Two Alleys, including Wutong Alley, Cattle Horse Street, and Sheep Gut Street. It happened to be near Lin Xuankong's home!

Being the "Boss" of Five Streets Forty-Two Alleys near his own home was naturally a good thing!

By the time everything was settled, the sky had already begun to darken.

Lin Xuankong arranged with Bald Li Er, Yang Shan, Guo Yun, and the others to meet tomorrow at his manager's Barracks on Cattle Horse Street.

Then, carrying a wooden chest containing his new Taoist robe, sandalwood token, medicinal ingredients, and other items, he headed toward Wutong Alley.

When he reached the street entrance,

He looked up and saw that Old Man Zhang, who sold chive dumplings, was still busy at work. He walked over. "Give me eight chive dumplings."

Seeing that it was Lin Xuankong, Old Man Zhang's expression shifted. "brother Lin, you're all right? Today, you charged off recklessly saying you wanted to join the Yin Talisman Sect. I was afraid something might happen to you!"

How could Old Man Zhang know that the Lin Xuankong before him had not merely avoided trouble? He had already become the boss of Five Streets Forty-Two Alleys.

Those Martial Cultivators and Yin Talisman Sect disciples whom Old Man Zhang usually regarded with such awe would have to respectfully address this man as Steward Lin upon seeing him!

But Lin Xuankong had no intention of showing off before this impoverished Pie Old Man.

He smiled. "Nothing happened! But it is nearly nightfall now. Why are you still working so late, Brother Zhang?"

Old Man Zhang carefully examined him a few times. Only after seeing that he was indeed unharmed did he sigh.

"There's no helping it! After my son was swallowed by a monster, only my old wife, daughter-in-law, and two young grandsons remained at home. If I do not earn more money to keep us alive, how can I support so many people?"

Lin Xuankong was somewhat surprised. "Brother Zhang, do you live in the Outer City? How did you still encounter a monster?"

Living in Wutong Alley, he had never heard of monsters appearing nearby!

Old Man Zhang sighed. "I live on Sishui Street in the western city. We never encountered monsters before! My son was a fisherman who fished on the Sishui River all year round, and it was always safe. Who could have expected that, some time ago, he would run into a fish demon that had slipped in along the current? Ah!"

Lin Xuankong's heart jolted after hearing that. Sheep Gut Street, which he oversaw, was not far from Sishui Street and lay close to the Sishui River.

"What happened afterward? Did they catch that fish demon?"

Old Man Zhang shook his head. Hatred surfaced in his eyes as he lowered his voice. "Sishui Street is Black Tiger Gang territory. They only sent people to conduct a perfunctory search once. They failed to catch it, and when the fish demon did not appear again afterward, they stopped caring. But my son and those fishermen had still lost their lives for nothing!

"Ah, let us not speak of this anymore. brother Lin, the dumplings are ready!"

Lin Xuankong accepted the dumplings and thought to himself, Since that fish demon has not appeared again, it should have fled the city!

Besides, I cannot possibly be so unlucky that I would encounter a fish demon right after becoming the manager of Sheep Gut Street, can I?

When he arrived before his own Wooden Building,

He cast aside the worries in his heart, and a smile and anticipation quickly appeared on his face.

He had entered the Yin Talisman Sect as he wished and was even the only one among more than a hundred Martial Cultivators to be promoted to Full Manager. He wondered whether his little foodie would be happy upon hearing the news?

Pushing open the wooden door, he entered the outer room and looked toward the second floor. "I'm back!"

The second floor was utterly silent.

Somewhat surprised, Lin Xuankong went upstairs and pushed open the door, only to find that Li Xiaolan was not in the room. He looked toward the backyard, where the Old Willow Tree swayed in the wind and the courtyard stood empty!

Where had this little foodie run off to?

Lin Xuankong frowned and walked toward the staircase. Just as he reached it, he froze.

Beside the table in the outer room, an oil lamp had been lit. Young Lady stood there watching him, while no fewer than eight meat dishes sat on the table, including steamed crucian carp and braised tenderloin.

"Manager Lin, you take office tomorrow, yet you did not even think to reward me, your wife and master? Hmph, these eight dishes cost a total of three taels and four qian of silver. Put it all on your tab!"

Li Xiaolan stood beside the oil lamp with her brows furrowed, looking very dissatisfied. But when Lin Xuankong stared at the dishes with astonishment, she could no longer hold it in and burst into laughter.

Looking at the smiling Young Lady, Lin Xuankong could not help feeling a little smug. "You already knew?"

Li Xiaolan shot him a sidelong glance. "Do not get cocky. If I had gone, I might even have been recruited as a steward, or perhaps a Great Steward!"

"Perhaps," Lin Xuankong said awkwardly, thinking of Young Lady's formidable martial strength.

Yet tenderness rose in Li Xiaolan's eyes as she carefully looked at him.

"The last time I returned from hunting monsters, you prepared so much food for me! This time you came back, do these dishes I bought suit your taste?"

Lin Xuankong answered decisively, "As long as you prepared it, I love it!"

"As if I would believe that! Stop standing there foolishly and eat. I'm hungry!"

"Okay!"

"The braised chicken from Fragrant Tower really is delicious!"

"Wasn't it prepared for me? Can you leave me one chicken leg?"

...Watching Young Lady gnaw a chicken leg without a care in the world and looking at the abundant dishes spread over the table, a smile appeared at the corner of Lin Xuankong's lips.

Life was slowly getting better! In the past, this table had never held eight substantial dishes!

It was not merely that there had not been eight substantial dishes before. They had never even bought eight chive dumplings!

Still, he wondered whether the forty-some veteran disciples who had been in the sect for many years would obediently follow the orders of an aged, newly appointed manager like him when he took office tomorrow.

And he had to complete three tasks before he could officially begin cultivating the Yin Talisman Art. He wondered when those three tasks would be assigned and whether they would be dangerous.

At that thought, Lin Xuankong's brow furrowed slightly.

But when he looked at the smooth, full skin of his hands, a surge of lofty spirit rose within him.

He possessed the [Old and Vigorous] Destiny, and his cultivation speed far surpassed that of others. Now, he no longer needed to worry about medicinal ingredients, and the Late Second Layer was within reach... Other Yin Talisman Sect cultivators could sit firmly in a manager's position, so why should he be so burdened with worry?

As the master of these Five Streets Forty-Two Alleys, what was there that I, Lin Xuankong, could not do!

After eating with Young Lady, Lin Xuankong told her about the illusion he had encountered during the test, wanting to see whether she knew what had happened.

Although Li Xiaolan was far stronger than him, she had clearly never encountered such a situation. Her little face was full of surprise and bewilderment!

Lin Xuankong could only suppress the doubts in his heart and see whether he could ask other Yinfu disciples indirectly in the future!

However, Li Xiaolan had heard of the Yin Talisman Sect's Turtle Agaric Miracle Pill.

According to her, only the Yin Talisman Sect could produce Turtle Agaric Miracle Pills. They were extremely famous throughout the Tens of Cities of Great Marsh Prefecture. Taking one could continuously replenish one's qi and blood for dozens of days, making them highly sought after by Martial Cultivators!

If one occasionally made its way outside, it would often sell for more than a thousand taels at auction. It was also something money could not buy; often, even a single pill was impossible to obtain!

After saying this, Li Xiaolan rubbed her full little belly. Then she seemed to think of something and shot Lin Xuankong a glare.

"Hmph, that Taoist Nun Manager from the Yin Talisman Sect gave you such an incomparably precious pill the first time she met you? She must be quite pretty, huh?"

Lin Xuankong was happily thinking about the Turtle Agaric Miracle Pill's considerable value. Hearing that, he casually replied, "Pretty? She looked ordinary enough! I was surprised she gave me the pill too!"

She looked ordinary enough?

Li Xiaolan stared at him carefully for a while. Only after seeing that he continued to wear an innocent expression did the corners of her mouth rise.

"This Turtle Agaric Pill is so miraculous. Would you like to try some too, Young Lady? How about we split it in half?" Lin Xuankong asked.

Li Xiaolan glanced at the Turtle Agaric Miracle Pill. "Hmph, no interest! Eat it yourself. Just do not choke on that little Taoist nun's pill!"

Lin Xuankong: ???

...Returning to his small room, Lin Xuankong carefully inhaled the pill's fragrance. Then, with a flick of his hand, he placed the Turtle Agaric Miracle Pill, worth several thousand taels, into his mouth.

The pill melted as soon as it entered his mouth, rapidly turning into a warm current that settled in his lower abdomen. It then gradually spread through his limbs and bones, nourishing every corner of his body. Even the roots of his hair felt pleasantly warm!

Very soon, Lin Xuankong felt the qi and blood in his body gradually filling up.

He thought to himself, According to what the young lady said, taking one is equivalent to drinking one dose of Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup every day, and its medicinal effect lasts dozens of days. If I could get a few more, why would I need to worry about medicinal ingredients at all!

But if this pill is worth several thousand taels, its value for money is not actually that great! Tsk, tsk, several thousand taels could buy over a thousand doses of Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup!

Just as that thought crossed his mind, he suddenly discovered that the two lines of large text in his Destiny showing his lifespan and qi and blood were both rapidly changing!

Lin Xuankong's face lit up with joy. Aside from replenishing qi and blood and allowing him to cultivate without worry... this Turtle Agaric Miracle Pill could actually extend the consumer's lifespan?

Overjoyed, he carefully sensed the changes in his remaining lifespan!