Steward Ma's Gambling Luck, Friendship of Gentlemen

Ma Jiang looked at Lin Xuankong, his expression softening. "Of course I came to see you, our great contributor. Of the five Full Managers under me, all of them have been out fighting the Liao People Tribe. The other four fought like a complete mess, while only you rendered great merit and made the Yin Talisman Sect look upon you with new eyes.

"Such astonishing merit has brought great glory to my own face as well. I would have loved to come find you for a drink days ago.

"Unfortunately, we were dealing with the Liao People Tribe near Sifang City at the time. Only today did I finally have some free time!"

Lin Xuankong cupped his hands. "Steward Ma flatters me!"

Ma Jiang scrutinized him for a few moments, then sighed. "I had thought you were merely an elderly Martial Cultivator at Layer Two. I never expected your strength to be so astonishing!

"Though you are advanced in years, you truly deserve to be called a Four Seals genius. Your qi and blood have barely declined at all. I heard that you could fight continuously for the time it took two cups of tea to brew. Back then, I truly misjudged you. I am rather ashamed!

"It is only a pity that a meritorious man like you was secretly tripped up by some filthy bastard!"

Lin Xuankong was somewhat surprised. Tripped up?

Ma Jiang continued, "When I returned to the hall today, I had originally accepted a mission to assist a major town. Yet I heard about Ma Rusong transporting medicinal ingredients five days ago!

"That filthy cowardly scoundrel led over sixty disciples in transporting supplies, but upon encountering merely twenty Marsh Python Liao People, he hurriedly retreated back into the city. He even claimed it was to protect the medicinal ingredients and the rewards!

"What the hell kind of protection was that? He clearly had no face to come see you, nor any face to come see his former subordinates.

"Perhaps he saw that not only had you all come to no harm, but had even rendered great merit, so he flew into a rage from shame and secretly tripped you up!

"I could not hold back for a moment and went to curse that filth out. Yet that damned Steward Xu actually shielded his own, saying Ma Rusong handled matters steadily and deserved praise. He also said Ma Rusong was no longer under my authority and told me not to meddle in other people's business. I was so angry that I took the matter straight to the Hall Master."

After hearing him out, Lin Xuankong showed little expression on his face, but his heart had already turned cold.

If not for Ma Rusong, he would already have obtained the Turtle Agaric Miracle Pills and a hundred portions of medicinal ingredients. Who knew how much qi and blood he would have stored in his Destiny by now? The vast reserves of qi and blood in that Destiny were one of his most important trump cards, yet they had been delayed for several days!

At this rate, he would be delayed for at least several more days. Ma Rusong truly was a filthy bastard who ruined everything!

Ma Jiang clenched the dice in his hand until they crackled, then continued:

"You are clearly one of the sect's great contributors. It would have been one thing if they did not give you priority in supplies, but they still have not delivered your rewards even now.

"If I had not happened to return to the city, who knew how long they would have dragged their feet before sending over the supplies!

"This time, as I leave the city to assist Lindong Town, I took a detour to come see you. I also brought the rewards for you and the disciples. I hope these past few days have not delayed the cultivation of you and the disciples of Cattle Horse Street!"

Lin Xuankong's expression shifted at those words. Steward Ma had personally brought over the supplies and rewards?

Now he no longer needed to worry about the amount of qi and blood stored in his Destiny. He could drink the Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup to his heart's content and greatly increase his qi and blood!

And once the three Turtle Agaric Miracle Pills were in hand, it would not merely be his qi and blood that benefited. This immediate superior of his was truly not bad at all!

He rose and cupped his hands. "On behalf of the many disciples of Cattle Horse Street, this subordinate thanks Steward Ma."

Ma Jiang waved a hand. "We are all our own people. Why stand on so much ceremony? Also..."

He looked at Lin Xuankong. "Although Ma Rusong is both cowardly and filthy, the connections he has found are quite significant. Thus, Steward Xu thinks highly of him and has been drawing him close, assigning him to manage important matters such as the hall's supplies.

"It does not matter much if I curse Ma Rusong. I have been in the Yin Talisman Sect for over twenty years, and from top to bottom, all are old acquaintances. He would not dare trip me up. But Xuankong, in the future... do not take the initiative to provoke him. Still, if anything happens, do not worry. Tell me, and I will make him eat dust and lose all face!"

Lin Xuankong frowned at Steward Ma, wondering inwardly, What price did Ma Rusong pay, and what sort of powerful figure did he find as a backer, that even Steward Ma speaks this way?

Seeing his expression, Ma Jiang said, "That cowardly bastard has something good passed down by his ancestors. The person who accepted his gift is a major figure at the Sixth Layer. Just remember what I said!"

With that, he rose and headed outside. "Xuankong, I have placed the medicinal ingredients and rewards in the courtyard! Recently, several demons such as the Marsh Python, Vile Lizard, and Evil Goat have been beaten until they are frazzled and at their wits' end. The Liao People Tribes they have sent to harass the twenty-nine towns have become increasingly fierce. Assisting Lindong Town is urgent. We will drink again next time!"

Han Lu was somewhat surprised. "Master, you are leaving already?"

Lin Xuankong followed beside Ma Jiang and touched the Dragon Wandering Amulet Hand on his right arm. "Steward Ma, is this trip to Lindong Town dangerous? This Dragon Wandering Amulet Hand..."

Ma Jiang shook his head at Lin Xuankong. "What danger could there be? As for this Dragon Wandering Amulet Hand, last time I bet on you winning, and sure enough, I won. This time, I am betting on you again—but I am betting that you will fare better than Ma Rusong in the future!

"From now on, consider this Dragon Wandering Amulet Hand the stake I leave with you. I hope you will accomplish something in the future, Xuankong. Do not disappoint me!

"And you, Han Lu, remember this well. If you have not reached the mid-stage layer two by the next time I see you, you will have hell to pay!"

With that, he burst into hearty laughter and leaped away.

Leaning on his crutch, Han Lu looked rather miserable. Lin Xuankong watched Steward Ma's figure vanish into the distance, his heart somewhat stirred.

Steward Ma had actually left the priceless Dragon Wandering Amulet Hand with him as a "stake." He thought so highly of and valued an old man like him. Come to think of it, he had not known Steward Ma for very long!

In the blink of an eye, however, he could not help shaking his head again. As the saying went: a friendship of gentlemen felt like old friends at first sight. Steward Ma Jiang treated him with such boldness and loyalty, so why should he care how long they had known each other?

As for the Early Second Layer Ma Rusong having a backer...

Lin Xuankong's brows lifted slightly, and a trace of resolve appeared in his eyes.

In this world where strength was revered above all else, one's own strength was the greatest backer.

With the [Old and Vigorous] Destiny and his unceasing cultivation, his cultivation speed would only grow faster and faster. Every day, his strength increased at a pace dozens of times greater than others'!

A backer? How laughable. Let us see how long you can lean on one!

Once the rewards arrived, Lin Xuankong sent someone to summon the many disciples of Cattle Horse Street. After distributing the medicinal ingredients and silver taels, everyone was naturally overjoyed. Li Er, the bald fellow, laughed loudly in delight and nearly rushed over to lift Lin Xuankong into an embrace.

However, when he recalled his manager's ferocity and violence when killing Liao People, Li Er decisively suppressed that impulse and turned to hug Yang Shan instead!

Yang Shan was both ashamed and furious. He had not even taken a wife, much less embraced a woman. Yet his first intimate embrace had actually gone to a bald man! Gritting his teeth, he hugged him back. How could a man allow himself to suffer a loss?

Seeing his disciples so happy, Lin Xuankong naturally felt delighted as well.

He returned the several portions of medicinal ingredients he had borrowed to Han Lu and the others. After everyone departed, he brought one hundred and twelve portions of medicinal ingredients and three Turtle Agaric Miracle Pills back to his bedroom.

Of these, one hundred portions of medicinal ingredients were rewards, while the others were his Full Manager's salary. Steward Ma truly handled matters carefully and had not forgotten to bring him those wages.

Taking out the three Turtle Agaric Miracle Pills, Lin Xuankong stared at the pills that emitted a strange fragrance and thought to himself:

Previously, the first Turtle Agaric Miracle Pill had increased his lifespan by three years and granted him a continual increase of twenty points of Layer Two qi and blood each day. Even now, his qi and blood was still continuously increasing.

He did not know whether his body had developed any resistance to the Turtle Agaric Miracle Pills.

After taking these three pills, how much lifespan would they add, and to what extent would they raise the daily increase of his qi and blood?