Imprint Talent

"However..."

Ruan Chen said, his tone taking a sharp turn.

"You remember what I said earlier about why Deacon Baili came here, don't you?"

"Even if there are those with innate talent in this Songshan County."

"I fear they can only..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

With an intriguing expression on his face, he raised his wine cup for a light sip, then squinted his eyes to watch the dancing girls.

Qin Jiu naturally understood what he meant and pondered, "If this humble one were to offer up the secret recipe of the Qin Family, I wonder if it would be possible to obtain an opportunity to join the sect?"

"As for that..."

Ruan Chen turned his head and said, "I know what Junior Brother Qin means."

"Therefore, before coming here, Deacon Baili specifically instructed that if you only wish to become a retainer, it would only require five thousand taels of silver. But if you wish to become a disciple of the Divine Fist Sect, not only is that secret recipe required, but also ten thousand taels of silver. After all, while that recipe is precious to you, to the Divine Fist Sect, it is merely average."

"I wonder if Junior Brother Qin is willing to part with it?"

"If you choose the latter."

"Your Qin Family may return to the sect with us, and from then on, the deacon will ensure that you, or someone from your Qin Family, becomes a disciple of the Divine Fist Sect at the earliest opportunity."

Hearing this, Qin Jiu pondered for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"That would be no problem."

"It is just that I still have doubts. Currently, Demons run rampant in Songshan County, and in the shadows, there are even those capable of killing martial artists at the Internal Strengthening realm, or even those above Internal Strengthening like the County Magistrate. Can your esteemed sect truly guarantee our safe departure from this place?"

"You need not worry about this matter."

Ruan Chen chuckled, "We have medicine issued by the sect that can avoid the Demons; we will certainly be able to protect you and ensure your safe return to the sect."

Hearing this.

Qin Jiu quietly activated Ghost Illumination.

He immediately saw two wisps of pale gray mist rising, though he did not pay much mind to it—as long as they held no malice toward him, it was fine. He then turned his head to look at Qin Xuanzhou.

The latter understood and immediately walked out of the hall.

Ruan Chen and Song Wenruo exchanged a glance.

They knew the matter was settled.

Not long after.

When Qin Xuanzhou returned to the hall, he was carrying a tray.

"This is the secret recipe for raising spirit beasts from our Qin Mansion, and this ten thousand taels in silver notes. Please accept them, two senior brothers, and present them to Deacon Baili on my behalf."

"In addition, these are for the two senior brothers."

"Please do not refuse."

Qin Jiu handed over the secret recipe and the silver notes, then gave each of them a thousand taels in silver notes.

Seeing this, Ruan Chen and Song Wenruo.

Their expressions remained unchanged.

"Then we two shall shamelessly accept."

"Junior Brother Qin is generous."

"In the future, I ask for the two senior brothers' kind guidance. This Qin toasts you both."

For a time.

Cups were raised and exchanged at the table, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.

The surrounding dancing girls also gathered around.

Fragrant scents swirled.

At sunset.

Ruan Chen left the Qin Mansion with a wavering gait.

Song Wenruo walked beside him, smacking his lips as if savoring the memory, and said, "Those little beauties were truly something."

"A bunch of wilted flowers."

"It's just you, Old Song, who has seen so little of the world."

"Heh, I was wondering why Senior Brother Ruan remained so unmoved; so it turns out you didn't think much of them. That's true—no matter how enchanting these girls are, at the end of the day, they are just women of the brothels. How could they compare to the moon of the Han Family?"

Hearing this, Ruan Chen...

A look of frustration involuntarily appeared on his face.

"The moon is beautiful, indeed."

"But it is truly too cold and distant. After all this time, I haven't even held her little hand. I wonder when my dream will finally come true."

Song Wenruo listened to his muttering and couldn't help but say speechlessly, "Senior Brother, if this were in the past and Han Zheng were still alive, I could understand your hesitation. But now that Han Zheng is dead, I don't know what you are still waiting for. If it were me, I would have forced the issue long ago."

"That is easy for you to say..."

Hearing this, Ruan Chen paused his footsteps.

Immediately, his expression returned to normal.

"Forget it."

"I still have some matters to attend to. Take this secret recipe to the deacon, and remember not to mention anything about the silver."

He handed the secret recipe to Song Wenruo.

Then, he turned and left.

Soon after, he hurried to the Han Mansion.

"Senior Brother Ruan, I wonder what brings you here at night? Does Elder Baili have any instructions?"

"Junior Sister Han..."

Ruan Chen looked at the elegant beauty before him, images of the dancing girls from earlier swirling in his mind. Unable to hold back any longer, he said, "Qingyue, let us get married. Right here in the county. Once we are wed, we can return to..."

"Senior Brother Ruan, have you been drinking?"

Han Qingyue frowned, and just as she was about to say something, she saw the figure before her lunge forward.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She dodged in a panic and spoke hurriedly, "Senior Brother Ruan, I have already considered the matter of marriage."

"Is that so?"

Ruan Chen stopped in his tracks, looking at her with a face full of pleasant surprise.

"And what is your thought on it?"

"First of all, my father has just passed away, and I must still observe the mourning period." As Han Qingyue said this, she caught a flash of fierce light in Ruan Chen's eyes and quickly added, "If it were only that, it would be fine. After all, we are both people of the pugilistic world and are not bound by such formalities."

"However, Senior Brother Ruan, you are currently near the completion of the Three Refinements, just one step away from breaking through to Internal Strengthening."

"If you were to lose your primordial yang now, it would be of no benefit to your breakthrough."

"It might even cause your progress to stagnate."

"The Senior Brother Ruan in my heart is a hero of this age. If your martial path were hindered because of this, I would rather die by hitting my head against the wall than see you become just another ordinary person."

Tears welled up in Han Qingyue's eyes.

Seeing this, Ruan Chen felt a pang in his heart, and his voice quickly softened.

"Junior Sister, listen to me."

"I am now at the completion of the Three Refinements. As long as I save enough contribution points for the Heart Protection Pill, I will surely be able to break through to Internal Strengthening in one go. My martial path will never stop here."

"The Heart Protection Pill? That item is sought after even by Elder Baili."

Han Qingyue said through her tears, "At your current rate, when will you ever save enough sect contributions?"

"Rest assured, it will be soon."

"Today, the Qin Family not only handed over the secret recipe but also gave ten thousand taels of silver. Plus, when the deacon returns to the sect, he will surely reward us both. As long as I continue to visit other forces in the county, I will definitely be able to gather what is needed for the Heart Protection Pill..."

"Ten thousand taels?"

"The Qin Family's assets are worth at least two hundred thousand taels of silver. If you could demand more, and with the support of my Han Family, Senior Brother would not have to toil so hard."

Han Qingyue lowered her head, her voice soft and weak.

It sounded as if she were complaining.

Upon hearing this, Ruan Chen's breathing suddenly quickened.

"Two hundred... thousand taels?"

Qin Mansion, East Wing.

A piece of iron that resembled ice was placed on the table.

Qin Jiu looked at the Ice Crystal that had just been brought back by a servant. He reached out and grasped it, then focused his mind. The bone-chilling cold in his hand vanished, and the Red Seal rumbled in response.

Within the sanctuary of his mind.

The Ice Toad Compendium slowly faded away.

Following that, a strange, icy sensation spread throughout his body.

"Flawless..."

"Just as I expected."

"This talent will allow my physique to be immune to all poisons."