Benefactor

The side gate of the small courtyard swung open without a breath of wind.

Su Yuan slipped in sideways with great care, not daring to overstep in the slightest.

The courtyard was steeped in bleak autumn desolation.

The tiny pavilion was unexpectedly piled high with fallen leaves.

A gaunt old man in white robes was playing chess against himself.

Seeing this scene, Su Yuan could not help shaking his head with a bitter smile.

This immortal residence had once been bustling with visitors, yet now it was deserted and cold.

Everything about his benefactor was good, except that he had far too much scholar's pride.

Though his thirst for power burned as fiercely as fire, he put on the air of one content to admire his own purity.

Su Yuan did not dare delay. He quickly took a packet of fine tea from his robes.

He skillfully heated water, poured the tea, and placed it by the old man's hand.

"Benefactor, please try this tea. It was made from the essence of Western Geng Metal and Xin Metal, then refined over civil and martial fires for seven times seven, forty-nine days. It carries a naturally keen edge."

The old man set down the white chess piece in his hand.

He picked up the teacup and sensed the golden glimmer within, but did not drink. He merely said mildly,

"Little Su, shouldn't you be busy with Southern Heavenly Gate affairs? What are you doing visiting an idle old man like me?"

"Have you received the project's final payment and advance payment? Do you need this old man to sell a little face for you?"

Su Yuan's heart tightened. It sounded as though his benefactor was concerned for him.

But he was clearly reminding him that people did not visit a temple without a reason.

Su Yuan hurriedly explained.

"Oh, my benefactor, you manage countless affairs every day, and you still remember such a trivial matter of mine?"

"Besides, can't I visit you even when there's nothing wrong? I got the money long ago! I came especially to see you."

Only then did the old man raise the cup and take a light sip, praising it.

"Fine tea, fine tea. One sip feels like swallowing a blade. You've been thoughtful, lad."

Su Yuan secretly sighed in relief, and his body relaxed somewhat.

He eagerly refilled the cup, then changed the subject and began closing the distance between them.

"If not for my benefactor selecting me back then, I'd still be doing surveying and layout work on the Jade Pool Phase Three Project."

"Of course, there's nothing wrong with surveying and layout, but project management gives me much broader horizons."

That single remark seemed to pull the old man back into the past.

During the Jade Pool expansion project, it had been this young strongman before him who stopped the old man and insisted that he wear a safety helmet before passing. That unyielding integrity had left a deep impression on him.

A trace of complexity passed through the old man's eyes, and he sighed softly.

"I've burdened you. This old man has committed a monstrous blunder, yet you still do not despise me."

Su Yuan hurriedly said,

"You overstate it, Benefactor! What mistake did you make? To put it plainly, wasn't this all just infighting among you people?"

The old man shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Sun Wukong rebelled against the Heavenly Court. Someone had to take responsibility. Other than this old man, who had been ordered to recruit him into Heaven, who could be more suitable?"

"See? The monkey had barely left when this old man was sent home to idle away his days."

Su Yuan wisely did not pick up that thread. Matters involving struggles among the higher-ups were best merely heard, not carelessly discussed. Reckless interjections could get one killed.

He tactfully changed the subject and brought up the news he had just learned that morning.

"I heard that demon monkey has raised the banner of 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven' on Flower-Fruit Mountain, gathering the wilds beneath him. Quite something, isn't it?"

The old man's hand holding the cup paused, and surprise flashed through his eyes.

"Has this monkey gone mad? How could His Majesty tolerate such insolence from him?"

Su Yuan said,

"You guessed correctly, Benefactor. This morning, His Majesty flew into a thunderous rage and ordered Heavenly King Li to personally descend to the mortal realm. The Third Prince is going with him to capture the demon monkey."

The old man's lips curled in a faint sneer.

"Those father and son are so loving and filial that naturally they cannot act separately. What a pity for that demon monkey, born of Heaven and Earth. After a century of bitter cultivation, he may soon turn to ashes."

Su Yuan silently mocked him. Had that monkey really cultivated all that bitterly?

But aloud, he said, "Benefactor, this disciple still believes you should make preparations early."

The old man looked up. "What preparations?"

Su Yuan lowered his voice.

"If, and I mean if, the Heavenly King fails to achieve complete success on this expedition, or is even driven back by the demon monkey, then..."

The old man's brows furrowed tightly as he declared firmly,

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Leaving aside fools like Giant Spirit God, the Yaksha General, and the Fish Fork General, the Third Prince is one of the Heaven Realm's foremost fierce generals. Capturing a mere demon monkey would be effortless for him."

Su Yuan hurriedly explained.

"Of course this disciple is not saying the Third Prince is incompetent. I am only advising you, Benefactor, that success comes to those who prepare, while those who fail to prepare are ruined. If the campaign truly fails, the court's policy will surely shift from war to peace."

"If His Majesty then sends an envoy down to recruit him..."

He looked at the old man meaningfully.

"Besides you, Venus Star Lord, a man of high virtue and distinctive character, who else could be more suitable?"

As he spoke, Su Yuan casually placed a bulging storage pouch on the small table.

Venus Star Lord's expression changed abruptly as he stared at the pouch.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Seeing that Venus Star Lord questioned him rather than directly sending him away, Su Yuan's heart settled completely.

He was not afraid of being questioned. What he feared was being thrown out without even being asked.

Su Yuan wore a face of utter sincerity as he spoke from the bottom of his heart.

"Benefactor, this disciple knows that you have always been noble and upright, and dislike such worldly things."

"But as the saying goes, 'Human dealings are politics.' If you wish to fulfill your ambitions, money must inevitably flow back and forth to smooth relations above and below."

"Consider this a token of filial respect from your disciple. May you soon spread your wings and soar straight into the azure clouds."

Venus Star Lord was silent for a long time, his gaze shifting between Su Yuan and the storage pouch.

Finally, a streak of white light flashed, and the pouch on the table vanished.

"If there truly is a recruitment mission..."

Venus Star Lord's voice returned to calmness.

"This old man still lacks a deputy envoy. It is time for you to move as well. What kind of man spends every day soaking at a construction site?"

Su Yuan chuckled.

"Isn't that doing my part for the Heavenly Court's infrastructure efforts?"

"You..."

Taibai pointed at Su Yuan.

"Everything about you is good, except that your mind has fallen into a money pit. In the Heavenly Court, cultivation is ultimately what commands respect."

"Rest assured, Benefactor!"

Su Yuan immediately straightened his back.

"This disciple cultivates and comprehends the Dao diligently every day, never daring to slacken. I have now reached the peak of the Heavenly Immortal Realm."

He extended an arm.

"Benefactor, would you like to check my pulse?"

Venus Star Lord extended two fingers and placed them on Su Yuan's wrist.

Within the Heavenly Court, divine sense was forbidden, so one could only use one's own cultivation to probe another.

After a moment, Taibai sensed the vast and pure spiritual energy within Su Yuan, along with his incomparably solid foundation. He nodded slightly, and his tone became more relaxed as he began chatting about everyday matters.

"I heard that Wang Lingguan stopped you a few days ago. Did he give you trouble?"

Su Yuan's heart went cold. The old fox who had drifted through officialdom was indeed sharp-nosed; no matter how large or small, no matter what happened in the Heavenly Court, nothing could be hidden from him.

"It was nothing, just a small misunderstanding."

He answered vaguely.

"Go ahead and do it."

Venus Star Lord said only four words, but the meaning of backing and endorsing him overflowed from them.

At that moment, something in his sleeve glowed faintly. It was a communication jade talisman.

Taibai glanced at it.

"What a coincidence. It's a meeting notice from the Heavenly Court Central Office. The live demon-capturing convention will be held the morning after tomorrow. Come with this old man and watch the battle. Whether it will be war or peace may be decided then."

Su Yuan bowed. "This disciple obeys."

As he left the small courtyard, Su Yuan had only one thought in his mind.

Money was never spent for nothing.