Promotion

As Zhao Ting's voice trailed off, the atmosphere within Linshui Pavilion stagnated for a subtle moment.

Xia Dong did not hesitate in the slightest; he immediately set down his wine cup, stood up, and bowed deeply to Zhao Ting with a solemn expression. "Many thanks to my elder brother for this cultivation. This younger brother shall act entirely according to your arrangements."

He knew full well that to prevaricate or feign ignorance at a time like this would only prove counterproductive.

Since Zhao Ting had extended this olive branch, it meant he had to demonstrate sufficient "ambition" and compliance.

In this whirlpool of intertwined interests, only by becoming "one of our own" could one secure the greatest safety.

"Hahaha, sit down, brother. It is all thanks to the court's cultivation; I am merely pushing the boat along with the current." Zhao Ting was extremely satisfied with Xia Dong's tact. He waved his hand with a smile, signaling for Xia Dong to take his seat.

Once Xia Dong was settled, Zhao Ting picked up a morsel of food and, appearing nonchalant, cut to the chase. "Brother, these batches of Wind-Riding Talisman are hot commodities among our Eagle-Wolf Guard and over at the Prefecture City. However, only producing Wind-Riding Talisman is a bit too eye-catching; people at the Thousand-Household Office are already starting to murmur. I've been thinking, it would be safer to vary the offerings. I wonder if you have... any other high-demand goods behind you?"

Xia Dong understood perfectly.

While Wind-Riding Talisman sold well, their utility was ultimately singular.

Zhao Ting was probing his bottom line, wanting to see how many more tricks he could pull from the "channels" behind him.

Xia Dong pondered briefly. Rather than giving a definitive answer, he seized the initiative. "That depends on what kind of supplies you are most urgently in need of, brother."

At these words, a sharp glint flashed in Zhao Ting's eyes.

Xia Dong did not say "I will go ask my superiors," but instead asked "What do you need?" This level of confidence convinced Zhao Ting even further that the forces behind Xia Dong were unfathomable.

He lowered his voice, his tone growing heavy. "The Linyuan Prefecture has suffered from drought for years, and in the last few months, the epidemic has shown signs of resurgence. The Unborn Cult is using the guise of curing illnesses with talisman water to recruit followers in the countryside. The intent of the Thousand-Household Office in the Prefecture City is that we must not only suppress bandits with blades, but also sever their hopes at the root. If there were a large quantity of talismans for 'warding off evil and curing illness'..."

Xia Dong nodded, his expression calm. "Understood. I will find a way to handle this matter."

Zhao Ting was overjoyed. "Brother, you truly possess vast supernatural powers! How long do you think it will take to acquire the first batch?"

Xia Dong silently calculated his current spiritual sense intensity and talisman-making speed, then gave a safe figure. "Half a month."

In truth, curing illnesses with talisman water was a specialty of that loose cultivator from a thousand years ago, Zhang Ping.

In the introductory chapters of the Peaceful Yin Talisman Scripture, there were extremely detailed records of these low-grade talismans used for dispelling epidemics and purging yin-evil.

During his dedicated cultivation over this period, Xia Dong had learned to craft the Disease-Dispelling Talisman in his spare time.

He had simply refrained from mass production because low-grade talismans lost spiritual energy easily and were difficult to store for long periods.

Xia Dong returned to Changchun Medical Hall and immediately began crafting talismans.

The process of crafting was, in itself, a tempering of his spiritual sense.

Every stroke of the brush and every outline of a spiritual pattern required his spiritual sense to resonate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. In this process of extreme exertion and recovery, Xia Dong's spiritual sense not only became tougher and more solid, but it also subtly promoted the circulation of the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art through his body's major meridians.

Concentrating on crafting, qi and blood feeding back, the Evergreen Qi-Circulation Art refined his bones and marrow.

Crafting talismans did not slow his cultivation progress; rather, it became a mutually reinforcing auxiliary method.

Half a month later.

As promised, Xia Dong arrived at the back hall of the Eagle-Wolf Guard with two hundred newly crafted, spiritually restrained "Disease-Dispelling Talisman."

Zhao Ting took the stack of talismans and personally pulled out a few, sensing the pure and gentle fluctuations of spiritual energy within them. He could not hide the joy on his face, thinking to himself:

Good stuff! Truly good stuff! With this batch of Disease-Dispelling Talisman, not only can I resolve the urgent crisis of the current epidemic, but I can also secure a great merit at the Thousand-Household Office!

Zhao Ting knew well that these talismans were the capital he needed to firmly secure his position as a Hundred-Household and perhaps even climb higher.

He immediately pulled a secret letter stamped with the official seal of the Eagle-Wolf Guard Flag-Bearer from his robes and showed it to Xia Dong.

"Brother, this is a letter of recommendation for your promotion, written in my own hand. Tomorrow, I will set off for the Prefecture City to present these talismans and the recommendation letter to the Thousand-Household. You can rest easy and wait in the county; in as little as half a month, or at most a month, your 'Flag-Bearer' appointment papers and official uniform will certainly be issued!"

Xia Dong bowed in thanks. "Many thanks for your patronage, my lord."

When working, one must naturally address the rank.

Xia Dong performed the etiquette perfectly.

Zhao Ting laughed heartily. "Brother, when I return, I have another surprise for you."

Xia Dong smiled slightly. "Then I shall thank you in advance, brother."

He guessed that the surprise was likely the Purple Blood Organ-Nourishing Pill that Zhao Ting had mentioned earlier.

Since that conversation, Zhao Ting had never brought it up again. But given the martial arts talent he had displayed, Zhao Ting surely knew what he needed most right now.

Zhao Ting not mentioning it directly was, of course, a precaution. If he failed to bring it back, he could offer other benefits to compensate Xia Dong without losing face.

Xia Dong then bid farewell to Zhao Ting and returned to Changchun Medical Hall.

For him, the official rank of "Flag-Bearer" in the Eagle-Wolf Guard was not exactly a massive temptation. What truly moved him was the real power that came with the position.

According to the regulations of the Great You Dynasty, a full-strength Hundred-Household Office should have five Flag-Bearers, each commanding fifty Ti Cavalry. In reality, however, Zhao Ting, as the newly appointed Hundred-Household, currently only had the Flag-Bearer he had brought with him.

The remaining four Flag-Bearer positions were all empty shells. The imperial court provided the establishment and the title, but did not allocate sufficient military pay or cultivation resources.

If Zhao Ting wanted to become a Centurion in more than just name, he had to find a way to generate revenue himself, build up the framework of these four empty Flag-Bearer positions, recruit soldiers, and secure resources.

This was the fundamental reason why Zhao Ting spared no effort to win over Xia Dong, even going so far as to offer him a Flag-Bearer position with real authority.

After becoming a Centurion, it was clear that old Zhao needed to rely on Xia Dong as a source of wealth even more.

On the other hand, only when Xia Dong's interests were completely tied to Zhao Ting's could both sides truly feel at ease.

And this was precisely the outcome Xia Dong desired.

On a deeper level, once Xia Dong became a Flag-Bearer, he would possess relatively independent administrative and financial power. He could legitimately recruit personnel in Pingyang County and use the resources at his disposal to cultivate a core force that was entirely loyal to him.

Moreover, the imperial court's influence did not penetrate deeply into Linyuan Prefecture. The Eagle-Wolf Guard here could be said to be "the heavens are high and the emperor is far away," possessing immense autonomy and freedom.

If they were in the Capital City or those prefectures firmly controlled by the imperial center, an Eagle-Wolf Guard Flag-Bearer would never dare to privately withhold resources or secretly develop their own forces, no matter how much they earned.

But in Linyuan Prefecture, as long as one could pay the required "tribute" to those above on time, many things could be turned a blind eye to.

Furthermore, it would be much more convenient for him to cooperate with Wan'er later if he had this identity as a cover.

Inside the main hall of Lone Moon Peak on Qixia Mountain.

A graceful and charming woman sternly rebuked Qin Wan:

"Junior Sister Qin, how dare you open the secret vault behind Master's back and sell off supplies? What crime do you plead?"