Eighth Grade in the Womb

Jiang Tu: "..."

He looked into Wang Congyun's earnest eyes and sighed inwardly.

The other man's question practically laid it all out in the open—there was a problem with the Daoist Sect... He couldn't keep playing the fool any longer.

Yet this question was truly difficult to answer; a light response was useless, while a heavy one would invite disaster upon himself.

He racked his brains, hesitating for a long time before speaking: "Listen more, watch more, speak less, and do less. Absolutely never do anything you shouldn't do, and never ask about anything you shouldn't know."

Wang Congyun fell into deep thought.

Every action Jiang Tu had taken previously embodied this principle: never stand out, never court attention, never show off, steadily guarding his own small patch of land, year in and year out.

"Then..." Wang Congyun hesitated. "If I have already perceived that there is a problem here, a secret, how should I react? Should I inquire and question? Will it endanger me later?"

Jiang Tu was left speechless: "What problem? What secret? You know nothing at all, why would you react?"

Wang Congyun started, then immediately caught on.

That was right! He only needed to pretend he knew nothing at all!

With a tacit mutual understanding, never touching upon taboos, they could maintain surface peace!

Slap—

He smacked his forehead, his mind instantly clearing with a sudden burst of enlightenment!

Seeing this, Jiang Tu added one more sentence: "Remember, no matter what you perceive, those above are always right. You must follow and unconditionally obey, and holding fast to that is enough."

Wang Congyun understood completely.

No matter how alienated his heart became from his master and the Daoist Sect, no matter how much resentment he felt, he could never show it.

He had to be like Wang Goudan in his childhood, who completely trusted his master, maintaining absolute respect for the Daoist Sect on the surface. This was the correct answer.

Brilliant!

Wang Congyun finally felt a measure of calm in his heart. All the panic, anger, and suspicion of the entire night settled down at that moment, and he could not help letting out a long breath.

"...Brother Jiang, I have one last question."

Jiang Tu frowned: "Just how many last questions do you have?"

He had already given away the previous answers for free, so how could they just keep pouring out one after another?

Wang Congyun rubbed the back of his head with some embarrassment, lowered his head to rummage through his robes, and fished out several elixir bottles, a small pouch of gold and silver valuables, and finally retrieved a scroll of ancient sheepskin, pushing them all toward Jiang Tu.

"Brother Jiang, it is I who am too abrupt! Blindly seeking guidance while forgetting to offer compensation... Rest assured, from this day forth, as long as I, Wang Congyun, draw breath, I shall never forget the great kindness and virtue of Brother Jiang's instruction today!"

Jiang Tu glanced at the items on the table.

Seven or eight elixir bottles, a small pouch of gold and silver valuables of considerable weight, and that roll of sheepskin ancient text—clearly orthodox Daoist Sect inheritance.

He stood on no ceremony either, reaching out to pick through them. Premium Quality precious elixirs—accepted; gold and silver valuables—all the valuable pieces taken... He didn't even look at the sheepskin ancient text, and pushed the elixir bottles bearing the Daoist Sect's seal right back.

"Ask."

Seeing this state of affairs, Wang Congyun felt an even deeper surge of respect.

No wonder this fellow was able to live so damn well!

What should be taken was taken, and what shouldn't be touched wasn't touched even slightly, with boundaries grasped to perfection.

He immediately turned solemn and said: "Brother Jiang, I have already... well, stepped into the mire. How can I extricate myself?"

He deliberately changed his wording, no longer bringing up the secrets of the Daoist Sect.

Jiang Tu felt a certain degree of satisfaction... At least the other man had truly taken his words to heart, showing considerable growth.

"Since you have already entered the mire, becoming a lotus is impossible. The only thing you can do is ensure you do not sink any deeper, and do not stain yourself with any more filth... Then try to forge a retreat for yourself."

Wang Congyun pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned his head to look at the woman sleeping soundly in the neighboring room.

An Agricultural Path Cultivator.

Wasn't this his most crucial retreat?

If he could secretly guard this path of cultivation so it didn't fall, while continuing to hide his true capacities and keep a low profile within the Daoist Sect without deepening his involvement or using the Dao to raise his cultivation realm... perhaps one day, he would still have the chance to completely abandon the Daoist Sect's path and switch to the Agricultural Path.

He understood.

Master Jiang, he understood!

Wang Congyun stood up, bowed deeply to Jiang Tu in thanks, completely sincere.

Jiang Tu waved a hand: "I said nothing today, and you asked nothing. No need for thanks."

"Understood, Brother Jiang."

Three days later.

The Jiang Family Courtyard, guest room.

The pregnant woman and her four children had rested and recuperated here for three days. With plenty of food and drink, warm bedding, and hot soup, their condition had improved dramatically.

The woman's surname was Qin, given name Xian. According to her, her husband's family name was Zhao, and her husband had perished in the Strange Calamity of Dajiang County, so people commonly referred to her as Qin Niangzi.

Qin Niangzi possessed a warm disposition and felt deeply grateful for the life-saving grace of Wang Congyun and the others. These past few days, whenever she was awake, she could never stay idle, dragging the servants and farmhands of the courtyard over to talk endlessly about the knowledge of Agricultural Path farming.

How to distinguish soils, how to select seeds, how to observe the weather—she explained everything with crystal clarity.

Wang Congyun listened with extreme seriousness, even going down to the empty ground outside the courtyard to plow two furrows himself, with genuine enthusiasm... clearly treating the Agricultural Path as his future retreat.

Meanwhile, Qin Niangzi also attempted on several occasions to exchange farming techniques with Jiang Tu.

"Brother Jiang, I heard Old Zhou say that you are a top-notch farming expert in Xiaopei County. I have some insights I wish to discuss with you..."

"Brother Jiang, take a look at this seedling. I sense something unusual about it, as though it is about to produce a Premium Quality yield..."

"Brother Jiang..."

Every time, Jiang Tu smiled and declined politely: "You've worked hard, Qin Niangzi. In your delicate condition, you should rest more and not overwork yourself."

Panicking like crazy inside.

He was far too worried!

He feared Qin Niangzi would also awaken the Awakened Wisdom of the farmhands and servants in his courtyard. If even a few Ninth Grade farmers were to emerge among these thirty-odd people in the compound, and the news spread, leading the Daoist Sect to come and recruit disciples, how could he possibly remain in this manor?

On the surface, he remained amiable, while inwardly urging Qin Niangzi and Wang Congyun to set off quickly.

Of course, as long as the Agricultural Path wasn't mentioned, Jiang Tu treated Qin Niangzi and her children quite well. Food and provisions were fully supplied, and he even specifically had the cook stew chicken soup and ginseng soup to nourish her health, while also subtly hinting to her in private...

"Qin Niangzi, your kind intentions are a good thing, but in the current world, it is better to keep certain matters hidden. You would do better to teach the child in your womb—that is the proper course."

Qin Niangzi responded with a look of half-understanding.

Fortunately, the thing Jiang Tu worried about did not happen; no one in the courtyard awakened their Awakened Wisdom, and everything remained as usual.

On the evening of the fourth day.

Wang Congyun was set to leave with Qin Niangzi and the four children.

Before their departure, two lanterns were lit in the courtyard, casting a dim, yellowish glow. The four children tugged at Jiang Tu's sleeves, looking up with reddened eyes: "Uncle, will we come back to visit you in the future?"

Jiang Tu smiled cheerfully on the surface: "Good, good, come play often."

Don't come back! Please, absolutely don't ever come back!!

Wang Congyun walked over and, in an uncharacteristic move, gave Jiang Tu a tight embrace: "Brother Jiang, cultivation knows no years, and I know not if there will be a day to meet again. This parting may well be eternal, so take good care of yourself."

"Take care of yourself too."

Wang Congyun released him and lowered his voice: "Remember well, Brother Jiang, never trust any Daoist priest stationed in Xiaopei County, especially do not let them channel true qi into you to heal your injuries!"

Jiang Tu's heart gave a violent jolt.

Channeling true qi?

Was this implying that the Daoist Sect's true qi had a problem...?

Yet he showed not the slightest trace of it on his face, instead signaling Wang Congyun to shut his mouth quickly and urging him to leave.

Saying no more, Wang Congyun turned to pull Qin Niangzi along. Having already packed her things, she carried a small bundle, supported her waist with one hand, and stopped abruptly just as she was about to step through the courtyard gate, clutching her abdomen as her brows furrowed slightly.

"What is it?" Wang Congyun asked.

Without answering, Qin Niangzi turned to look at Jiang Tu with a complex gaze: "Brother Jiang, this unborn child of mine... seems to genuinely like you."

Jiang Tu froze.

"Each time he saw you these past few days, he kicked lively and excitedly within my womb, yet just now, the moment we prepared to leave, he grew restless and kicked me until it hurt. I suppose this is some affinity between you and the child... Might Brother Jiang bestow a name upon this child? This uncultured woman knows nothing of conventional ways, so I will listen to you."

Jiang Tu let out a dry laugh, a chill running down his back.

They said infants could see things others couldn't, and this child was already a Ninth Grade before birth—could it truly sense the particularity within him?

No! Absolutely do not let there be any affinity!

"Qin Niangzi, I am merely a rustic farmer, barely literate and incapable of coming up with a good name. Furthermore, we don't even know the child's gender, so please don't make things difficult for me." He spoke with a solemn expression. "With the mountains high and roads long, take care, Qin Niangzi... To properly guide and teach the child henceforth will be the best repayment to Young Daoist Wang and Old Zhou."

Qin Niangzi's lips parted as if she wanted to say more.

The next moment—

She abruptly pressed both hands against her abdomen, bent forward, and let out a low gasp.

"Ah!"

Jiang Tu's heart jumped.

A thin strand of Dao rhyme rose from within her womb, faint yet distinct, carrying the heavy, solid essence unique to cultivated earth. That aura erupted outward from within on its own accord, naturally and smoothly, like a grass seed breaking through the soil.

The lanterns in the courtyard flickered as this formless energy swept past them.

Wang Congyun also froze for a moment.

Then, the Sequence Golden Codex deep within Jiang Tu's consciousness gave a violent leap—

"Event triggered"

"(New) Ninth Grade 'Farmer' (Unnamed) has received enlightenment and guidance from the Lord of the Great Dao, advancing to Eighth Grade 'Field Steward' in the womb (Karmic Value +120)"

Jiang Tu's pupils contracted sharply: "!!!"

In the womb! Eighth Grade!

Enlightenment and guidance? Who guided you?

It wasn't me, I didn't do it! Child, don't randomly attach karma to me!!