Priceless Despite Its Value

"Young Master!"

Suddenly, a servant dressed in gray appeared out of nowhere.

His steps were light and his body remarkably nimble. At a glance, he was clearly a Martial Artist skilled in lightness arts.

"Mountain Sparrow, didn't I tell you to keep watch on the Zhao Family? Why have you suddenly returned?"

Shao Jianbo's expression returned to normal.

Mountain Sparrow was a spy specially trained by the Shao Family, with exceptional lightness arts.

His usual duty was to keep an eye on forces that might threaten the Shao Estate. He would not leave his post lightly unless he had important news.

Ever since Shao Jianbo broke through to the Iron Skin Realm, his father had handed the Shao Estate's entire security operation over to him.

Although the estate had also hired several Force-Entering Realm experts as retainers.

They were not family, after all, and there was no guarantee they could not be bought off.

As the Shao Estate's young master and an expert at the peak of the Iron Skin Realm, no one was more suited than Shao Jianbo to protect the Shao Family.

He had accepted that responsibility without hesitation.

And that was the true reason he had refused to go to the Azure Cloud Sect.

It was not that he did not want to go, but that the Shao Family could not do without him!

Especially at such a turbulent time, he dared not leave even half a step.

The same was true of why he did not dare attempt to break through to the Force-Entering Realm.

Successfully entering the realm would indeed raise his martial prowess to a higher level.

But if he failed, even with a Pulse-Protecting Pill, his vitality would be severely damaged, and his strength would fall by at least two tiers.

Even if he could cultivate back to the Iron Skin Realm, it would take several years.

He did not dare take that risk.

"Reporting to Young Master, I discovered that members of the Zhao Family have been in contact with the bandits of Black Wind Fort. I just do not know what they are plotting!" Mountain Sparrow said in a low voice.

He was not very old, looking only seventeen or eighteen, with a face full of freckles.

"Is this true? How did you discover it? Tell me at once!" Shao Jianbo was immediately shocked.

"Reporting to Young Master, I have been watching the Zhao Estate's back gate these past few days. This morning, a carriage suddenly arrived, and a masked burly man stepped down from it. He was at least an Iron Skin Realm expert who had broken through Qi-Blood three times!" Mountain Sparrow replied.

"There are plenty of experts in this city. How can you be sure that man was one of Black Wind Fort's bandits?" Shao Jianbo asked.

"Reporting to Young Master, I could not be certain at first either, so I continued waiting. About an hour later, that man left the Zhao Estate, and I immediately followed him.

"But I saw him repeatedly take detours through the city, switch carriages four times, and then leave the city. I pursued him all the way out and finally discovered that he had gone up Black Wind Mountain.

"I did not dare continue following him, so I hurried back to report!"

"Then it is probably true! Has the Zhao Family gone mad? They actually dared collude with bandits?!"

Shao Jianbo's expression shifted as shock and fury surged within him.

Recently, the Zhao Family had targeted the Shao Family at every turn. They were practically on the verge of tearing off all pretense.

They had poached the Shao Family's capable shopkeepers.

Or sent people to cause trouble in their stores every few days.

For instance, they would disguise themselves as patients and make a scene at the pharmacy, claiming it sold fake medicine and that their illnesses only worsened after treatment.

Or they would hire escorts for goods, then claim that items had gone missing or been damaged during transport.

There had even been one occasion when they secretly sent someone to set fire to the medicinal herb warehouse.

If it had not been discovered in time, all the precious medicinal herbs in the warehouse would have been reduced to ashes!

Still, though these methods were underhanded, they could only be considered dirty tricks. As long as they stayed vigilant, they could deal with them.

At worst, they would lose some money and settle the matter.

But colluding with bandits would be crossing the line!

"Mountain Sparrow, how has the Shao Estate treated you?!" Shao Jianbo suddenly asked.

"I was originally an orphan. If not for the Shao Estate taking me in, I would have starved to death on the streets!

"This life of mine was given by the Shao Estate. Young Master, whatever you command, just say the word. Even if I have to stake this worthless life of mine, I will certainly accomplish what you entrust to me!" Mountain Sparrow said emotionally.

"Good! I want you to disguise yourself as a Martial Artist seeking to join Black Wind Fort. Find a way to infiltrate the bandits and gather intelligence! As for the Zhao Family, I will have Night Owl take over for you," Shao Jianbo said gravely.

"Yes, Young Master!"

Mountain Sparrow turned to leave, only to find Shao Jianbo gripping his arm.

"Act according to the circumstances. You must come back alive!" Shao Jianbo said with a serious expression.

Warmth filled Mountain Sparrow's heart, and a smile could not help appearing on his freckled face.

"Young Master... I will!"

Then his figure flashed, and like a little bird, he vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

Watching the direction in which Mountain Sparrow had disappeared, Shao Jianbo let out a soft sigh.

After Second Senior Brother helped their master away, Jiang Che continued eating for quite some time.

However, he no longer had the heart to savor the food. His mind remained occupied by what his master and Second Senior Brother had said.

From what his master meant, once he entered the Force-Entering Realm, he could be recommended to the Azure Cloud Sect to cultivate immortality.

He just did not know whether every disciple who entered the Force-Entering Realm could go, or whether there was only one chance for recommendation.

Jiang Che had thought this was a world of martial arts, where the Force-Entering Realm stood at the absolute peak.

He had never expected there to be immortal cultivators above it!

"Immortal cultivation..."

Jiang Che's gaze flickered, and a trace of longing rose in his heart without him realizing it.

But he immediately shook his head.

"I haven't even broken through to the Stone Skin Realm yet. It's too early to think about that..."

Jiang Che set down his chopsticks and rubbed his already round, bulging stomach.

He felt that the hundred taels of silver he had spent on snow ginseng had been earned back in just this one meal.

Seeing that Shao Jianbo had yet to return, while some of the other guests had already finished eating and left.

Jiang Che did not feel it was right to keep lingering there, so he bid Shao Shiliu and Master Shao farewell.

Shao Shiliu invited him to remain for dinner as well, but Jiang Che used having matters to attend to as an excuse and did not stay.

Seeing that Jiang Che insisted on leaving, Shao Shiliu no longer pressed him and arranged for a servant to take him to collect this month's stipend and Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat.

"I wonder what this Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat is like..."

Jiang Che began looking forward to it.

He followed the servant to the storeroom.

There, he saw an elderly man with white hair and beard checking the accounts.

Though the man looked very old, his breath was steady and his Qi-Blood vigorous. He was clearly a Martial Artist.

After the servant stepped forward and explained the purpose of their visit, the old man looked somewhat incredulous.

He looked Jiang Che over from head to toe.

He wondered why the Shao Estate's retainers were either at the peak of the Stone Skin Realm or in the Iron Skin Realm.

Why had a youngster in the Ox-Hide Realm appeared now?

"It was Fourth Miss's order."

The servant moved closer and spoke in a low voice.

The old man nodded and asked no further questions before going inside to retrieve an oil-paper parcel.

Then he fished a Gold Leaf out of a drawer.

"Name?"

"Jiang Che. Jiang as in river, Che as in clear."

Jiang Che hurriedly said.

The old man took out an account book and carefully recorded it before handing over the oil-paper parcel and the Gold Leaf.

Jiang Che carefully accepted them and took his leave.

As he departed, he vaguely heard the old man sigh.

After returning home.

Jiang Che placed that small package of Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat on the table, feeling rather excited.

This was not Low-Grade Exotic Beast Meat that could be bought anywhere.

A hundred taels per jin, and even then, it was priceless despite its value!

More importantly, its ability to replenish Qi-Blood far surpassed that of Low-Grade Exotic Beast Meat.

It was precisely what he needed right now.

Jiang Che carefully untied the thin hemp cord and opened the oil paper.

Inside were several black dried insects, each about the length of a little finger.

Jiang Che picked one up and sniffed it. It had a pungent odor, like paint.

He hesitated, but still tossed one into his mouth and began chewing.

The dried insect was extremely hard. Jiang Che felt as though he were chewing oxhide.

And it tasted both sour and bitter, with an irritating sensation that choked his throat.

His cheeks felt as if they were about to burst before Jiang Che finally managed to chew up and swallow the dried insect.

Not long afterward, he felt an extremely distinct warmth rise from his lower abdomen.

This tiny dried insect was actually equivalent to the effect of nearly half a jin of the Low-Grade Exotic Beast Meat jerky he used to eat!

"This is way too outrageous..."