The Sect Leader's Influence, Put to Use

"I'm only going with the Nalan Family to take a look. What reward could you possibly want?"

Yun Yun's alluring eyes flickered slightly as she felt that Gu Han seemed a little too greedy.

"You misunderstand, Sect Leader." Gu Han raised his head and met Yun Yun's gaze, saying solemnly, "I'm not asking for a reward. I simply cherish my life."

"I'm merely a lowly Dou Zhe. Ever since I came to Misty Cloud Mountain at the age of six, I've never gone back down. I have no idea what things are like outside."

"What if I encounter bad people who want to kill me over a disagreement? My death would be no great loss, but it would mean I had let down the sect's many years of training."

Yun Yun: "..."

It sounded reasonable, but he was really just afraid of dying.

"In the Jia Ma Empire, no one dares to openly kill a disciple of my Misty Cloud Sect," Yun Yun declared domineeringly.

Gu Han remained unmoved and asked seriously, "They wouldn't do it openly, but what about in secret?"

Yun Yun: "..."

"The Misty Cloud Sect has enemies too. Surely there are people within the Jia Ma Empire who hope to see the Misty Cloud Sect weaken?" Gu Han asked again.

Yun Yun was convinced. She smiled and shook her head.

"Fine. I'll arrange for an Outer Sect Steward to accompany you in secret. If you encounter danger, he'll act to protect you. But that is all."

Only flowers could grow in a greenhouse; towering trees could not.

"Thank you, Sect Leader." Gu Han felt that having a bodyguard was enough.

Any Outer Sect Steward who could remain in the sect was at least a Four-Star Da Dou Shi. The stronger ones had one foot in the Dou Ling realm. In the Jia Ma Empire, they would be the strongest experts of many large-city families.

He was merely a Three-Star Dou Zhe. Having the Sect Leader send a Da Dou Shi to guard him in secret was already excellent treatment.

"May I choose this steward myself?" Gu Han suddenly thought of Zhang Chuchen.

Yun Yun did not think he was pushing his luck. She was merely somewhat surprised. "It seems you already have someone in mind?"

From what she knew, aside from having some conflict with Mo Qing of the Mo Family—which had now been resolved—Gu Han had a very clean social circle. He had no particularly close acquaintances, much less a steward.

"Steward Zhang of the Outer Sect Training Hall. I've met him a few times, and I feel that he is a decent person," Gu Han said truthfully.

In truth, he had only met Zhang Chuchen once. However, from the information revealed by the Black Tortoise Shell, he knew that Zhang Chuchen was a good person.

Moreover, just one Fourth-Grade Pill would allow Zhang Chuchen to regain his cultivation talent and break through to the Dou Ling realm.

At that point, he would have a Dou Ling guard accompanying him.

If the Mo Family wanted to deal with him, even if Mo Cheng came personally, he might not be able to kill him.

And Zhang Chuchen was a good man. If he owed Gu Han a favor, their relationship would be more than simply that of guardian and protected.

Should the need arise, Gu Han could ask him to act. Even if Gu Han exposed some secret, Zhang Chuchen would be trustworthy.

"Zhang Chuchen?"

Yun Yun naturally knew the most valued disciple of the Punishment Hall Elder, who was close to the Sect Leader's faction.

Back then, she had also deeply regretted that he had been poisoned and lost his talent.

He truly was worthy of trust.

With that in mind, Yun Yun nodded. "This Sect Master has no objections, but you must convince him to go with you yourself."

"Thank you, Sect Leader." Gu Han cupped his fists in thanks. "Then I'll take my leave."

Seeing how impatient he was, Yun Yun smiled faintly and waved her hand. "Come here in seven days. I'll have Yan Ran take you to the Nalan Family."

"Yes." Gu Han cupped his fists, backed away three steps, then turned and left the great hall directly.

Afterward, he immediately went to the Outer Sect Training Hall to request an audience with Steward Zhang Chuchen.

"Gu Han?" Zhang Chuchen, who had been called out from an inner room by a disciple, yawned. When he saw that Gu Han was the one looking for him, he smiled in surprise. "Kid, what do you need from me?"

"Steward Zhang, my residence is right next door. Let's speak somewhere else." Gu Han raised a hand in invitation.

Seeing how serious he was, Zhang Chuchen thought that he had nothing else to do and nodded slightly. "Alright, let's go."

The two made their way together to Gu Han's small courtyard and entered the study.

"Please, have a seat, Steward." Gu Han took wine cups from his Storage Ring and placed them on the table, then pulled out a wine gourd and removed its cap.

"Hm?" Zhang Chuchen's nose twitched, and his expression immediately turned serious. "Monkey Wine?"

"It's only the most ordinary First-Grade Monkey Wine," Gu Han replied casually.

He had acquired this First-Grade Monkey Wine while cultivating in the mountain range behind Misty Cloud Mountain, following the guidance of an Opportunity.

It had some effect in restoring a cultivator's Dou Qi. First-Grade Monkey Wine was only somewhat effective for Low Grade Dou Zhe, and its effects were inferior even to a First-Grade Pill.

Yet if it were brought to an auction, so long as it encountered a buyer who loved wine, selling it for the value of a Third-Grade Pill would be perfectly normal.

"This isn't a matter of grade. This is fine wine, a gift from nature, the lifeblood of us Sword Cultivators." Zhang Chuchen took the wine cup Gu Han offered him, his expression reverent.

Gu Han: "..."

"One should not take favors without repaying them." Zhang Chuchen's Adam's apple bobbed as he forcibly restrained his craving for wine. "Junior Brother Gu, tell me what you need first. If I can't do it, I can't very well drink this wine."

The fact that he had already started calling him Junior Brother Gu showed just how powerful the wine was.

"This is merely a meeting gift for Steward Zhang." Gu Han raised the wine gourd and gave it a shake. "As for why I came to see you, if you refuse, then forget it. Only if you agree will this entire gourd of wine be my gift to you."

An entire gourd?

Zhang Chuchen felt that as long as Gu Han did not ask him to do anything that betrayed the Misty Cloud Sect, he could agree to any request.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Zhang Chuchen tilted back his head and drained the wine in his cup, revealing an expression of enjoyment.

A few breaths later, his expression turned solemn, and a trace of sharpness emerged from his body. "Junior Brother, speak."

"It's an important matter." Gu Han took out the Token Yun Yun had given him and placed it on the table. "The Sect Leader has asked me to handle something, but she fears that I may encounter danger, so she said she would send a steward to protect me in secret."

"Among the candidates the Sect Leader mentioned, I only know you, Senior Brother Zhang. When we first met, I felt that you were trustworthy, so I chose you."

"But the Sect Leader then said that your status was somewhat special. You are the disciple of the Punishment Hall Elder, so this matter requires your personal consent."

"Therefore, Junior Brother invited you here for wine."

What Gu Han said was half true and half false, borrowing Yun Yun's name.

Yet he was not afraid of being exposed. Yun Yun had indeed agreed to the matter, and the Sect Leader Token in his hand was genuine. Zhang Chuchen would not possibly go to Yun Yun to verify such a trivial matter.

"Protecting you in secret? Acting as your guardian?" A trace of sharpness flashed in Zhang Chuchen's eyes. Only then did he notice that Gu Han's aura was much stronger than it had been nearly a month ago, and he could not help asking curiously, "Junior Brother, what is your current cultivation?"

"Three-Star Dou Practitioner." Gu Han poured himself a cup of wine.

"Three-Star Dou Practitioner!?" Zhang Chuchen's eyes widened.

Rising two stars in a single month—what kind of monster was that!?

"I only broke through by chance." Gu Han pushed the wine gourd toward Zhang Chuchen. "Senior Brother, would you be willing to protect your junior brother for a time?"

"It seems Senior Brother has no reason to refuse?" Zhang Chuchen laughed freely.

He picked up the wine gourd, filled himself another cup, then put it away in his Storage Ring.

Protecting a sect prodigy like Gu Han and doing things for the sect and the Sect Leader was his duty.

Not to mention that Gu Han possessed the Sect Leader Token and knew how to conduct himself so well.

"Anyone who wishes to harm you must first ask my sword."