Thousand-Hammer Tempering Technique Advances; Trouble Erupts at Elbow and Armpit, Killing Intent Rises

Spring was tranquil. The cold tide had fully receded, and fresh green covered the land.

Inside a quiet room at Jiang Residence.

A palm-sized Straw Figure lay quietly spread across the table.

Its proportions were balanced, its skeleton clearly defined. Even within its tiny limbs, precise bones, joints, fascia, and flesh were linked together in perfect harmony. Its internal organs were also distinctly arranged in the center of its torso, each with a different texture.

Though a sparrow was small, it possessed all five organs.

Its five core organs had been filled one by one with Premium Quality materials of five differing colors and traits. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth seeds corresponded respectively to the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, and spleen.

This was the "Five-Elements, Five-Organs Infusion Method" he had developed through years of repeatedly studying medical texts, testing, and pondering.

By using Premium Quality materials corresponding to the five traits to manifest the circulation of the human body's Five Elements, he believed that if this step was done correctly, then a Straw Figure modeled after a human body would surely possess a more stable spiritual cycle than little Jiang Liu after being enlightened in the future!

It would not transform into a human only to slowly imitate the gait of Handan, babble like a baby, and take ages to awaken its intelligence.

Swish, swish, swish.

Jiang Tu bent over the table, threading needle and line with flowing ease. Pinching the fine needle carefully between his fingertips, he made the final skin stitches over the ribs formed from rice stalks around the Straw Figure's waist and abdomen.

The stitches were dense and even. As he finished, he lifted his wrist slightly, just about to tie the knot and seal it—

Hiss!

The end of the straw-rope thread slipped free, and a line of stitches loosened...! A fine gap now marred the previously flawless seam, with the thread end crudely poking out. The sight alone made one's heart burn with anger. A flawless jade had ultimately gained a blemish.

"Ah...!"

He slowly set down the needle and let out a long breath of turbid air, unable to reconcile himself to it.

"Just a tiny bit more!"

Rubbing his faintly aching forehead, he had already woven without pause for three days and two nights. His essence, energy, and spirit had finally reached their peak, and the perfect Straw Figure in his heart had lacked only this final touch. Yet unexpectedly, all his efforts had gone to waste at the very last step!

This was his 1,079th attempt. The last several had all come close to perfection, yet every time, when he was nearing the finish, he had fallen short by that final breath.

This was not really a matter of technique. He had personally seen the meticulous perfection of Ning E's craftsmanship, and he had always wanted to recreate her handiwork as closely as possible. Yet there remained a subtle sliver of difference between his own feel for needlework and hers, leaving him dissatisfied every time.

So far, the skeleton, internal stuffing, meridians, joints, and every other part he made had been flawless. Only at the final step of closing the skin seam did he lack that slight feminine delicacy.

His expression suddenly shifted as he thought of a solution... Since he could not close the final seam properly, what if Ning E did it?

This should still fall within the effective scope of the Straw Figure Technique! The main body of the Straw Figure was entirely made by the caster, and the enlightenment would likewise be performed by the caster. An outsider participating in only one tiny step should probably not affect its final animation.

"Next time, I'll ask my wife for help. Then the perfect Straw Figure will be complete!"

At that moment, a light knock sounded outside. Xueli pushed open the door and reported, "Master, Big Household Zhou has arrived! His complexion doesn't look very good. I'm afraid something urgent has happened!"

Jiang Tu closed the box lid and put away the half-finished Straw Figure. "Invite him to the rear hall for a talk."

In truth, he already knew what Big Household Zhou was anxious about. After all, Wang Congyun's letter had passed through his hands before reaching Big Household Zhou's desk.

In the rear hall.

Big Household Zhou was clearly indecisive. He paced back and forth through the room, his face filled with thought.

"Father-in-law."

"Enough! There's no need for pleasantries between us..."

Seeing Jiang Tu enter, he immediately slapped the letter onto the table and got straight to the point. "Good son-in-law, take a quick look at this letter! That Rong Yidao, the Field Steward Daoist master newly stationed in Welcoming Wind City! Daoist Wang specially wrote to warn us... What do you make of this?"

Jiang Tu sat across from him. Rather than answer immediately, he picked up the letter and read it carefully, putting on the appearance of serious contemplation.

He truly knew little about Rong Yidao. Still, he vaguely recalled seeing that name in the sequence feedback records. Rong had been a resident of Dajiang County's old county seat... one of the Farmers selected into the Daoist Sect alongside Li Xiaobing in the early years, and also one of only two surviving members among the original thirty-seven who joined the Daoist Sect's outer sect!

Among all Field Stewards, he was indeed of the oldest school. His cultivation might not have been outstanding, but his seniority naturally placed him above others. He had happened to catch the crucial turning point when the Daoist Sect switched to cultivating through killing, and had also escaped the Strange Calamity of Dajiang County. He could be considered lucky, a genuine old-timer.

Jiang Tu vaguely remembered that, at the beginning of the sequence event feedback, this man had been simple and dutiful when he first awakened Awakened Wisdom—diligent and steady, filled with reverence for the water and soil of the land. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for him to awaken it...

Yet according to Wang Congyun's description, he had become an entirely different man. As expected... when petty men suddenly grew rich, their natures could change drastically.

After awakening Awakened Wisdom, he had become someone above ordinary people. Now, with the Field Steward Daoist masters receiving Daoist decrees and scattering across the land, their status surpassed even county magistrates and city lords. They were surrounded like stars around the moon. Once a man gained success overnight, it was understandable for his ambition and desires to swell by the day.

Chen Cun had been an obvious example of exactly that!

"Father-in-law has operated in Welcoming Wind City for many years. If other Daoist masters had come to take charge in the past, how would you have handled them?"

Big Household Zhou did not conceal anything and casually replied, "For all goods carried by merchant caravans under a Daoist master's jurisdiction, we have to hand over twenty percent of the net profit. During festivals, we must also prepare generous gifts and additional payments. That's a must...! If we go through county magistrates, city lords, and other powerful figures, or encounter petty bandits blocking the road, we yield at most fifteen percent. We cannot put them above a Daoist master. This rule has been followed in the counties and towns around Welcoming Wind City for over a century!"

"As for Daoist masters who have just arrived, whether or not the business has anything to do with them, whether there will be any future ties of interest or not, we must first offer a generous gift as a door-knocker!"

"These Daoist masters pride themselves on being upright members of prestigious sects and care greatly about face. Generally, they are not excessively greedy. They prefer a thin stream flowing long, perhaps taking or demanding a little now and then. They are still manageable."

"But as the old saying goes, people do not fear scarcity, only unevenness. We must treat every Daoist master equally. No one faults a man for being overly courteous. If we can find another Daoist master familiar with them to make introductions over wine, then once we become acquainted, matters will be easier to discuss."

"Mm, there are also Daoist masters who appear lofty and upright and return the gifts. Then I have to find another way to send them back. In any case, we cannot give them less than they deserve."

Jiang Tu slowly nodded.

His father-in-law had tempered his heart and nature over the years, but he had not lost any of his experience or methods. Having an elder at home was like having a treasure.

"Father-in-law, since you already have a complete method for smoothing relations above and below, I think you should follow the old precedent. Treat it as a simple test, first observe his methods, then respond accordingly. There is no need to throw ourselves into disarray! If a Daoist master familiar with him can make introductions, that would naturally be even better."

Big Household Zhou sighed again. "That's exactly where the trouble lies! All the Daoist masters familiar with me in Welcoming Wind City have withdrawn. Not one remains!"

"It seems the days when Daoist masters were stationed everywhere to suppress evil are gone for good. Now it is an era where Field Steward Daoist masters take charge instead...! It seems I'll have to make a personal trip to Welcoming Wind City and properly serve this lord."

"Ah, business is difficult in times like these. Not only must we guard against strange creatures everywhere, human relations are also a profound discipline."

"When I return this time, I think we should pull back some of our outside business. Focusing on keeping the household safe and peaceful is the proper course... Worthy son-in-law, tell me, why have all the Daoist masters withdrawn so suddenly? Welcoming Wind City is such a large city, yet it does not retain even a proper guarding Daoist master. Instead, it lets a group of Field Stewards who farm the land take charge. Does that make any sense? Who knows what medicine they are selling from their gourd!"

Jiang Tu knew clearly that most of those Daoist Sect members had likely been transferred to the Horn-Sand Ancient Forbidden Land. It appeared that the forbidden land truly concealed some great secret, one significant enough for the Daoist Sect to spare no effort in mobilizing all its power.

Still, he did not believe the Daoist Sect would relinquish all local authority and hand everything over to Agricultural Path Field Stewards. Perhaps they had only appeared to withdraw completely; there must surely be spies in the shadows watching at all times.

The open sentries were gone, but perhaps there were even more hidden sentries!

"Father-in-law, this trip may involve much more than it seems. You must be extra careful on the road... You are already advanced in years. Would you like me to accompany you?"

"No need. Ning E will return in two days. Stay home and wait for her properly. You husband and wife have already been apart for over a month, so don't go astray again because of me! I can still handle this little matter!"

Jiang Tu did not insist. He merely said he would have the residence's guards accompany him, while he himself felt some longing for Ning E as well.

That was right. Ning E had promised to return home the day after tomorrow.

Ever since they had mentioned a business opportunity on the night of the Spring Festival, Jiang Tu and Zhou Ning'e had started a business selling cosmetics that preserved youth. On the surface, they still used the Zhou Household merchant caravans and Old Zhou House's shops in Welcoming Wind City, rather than starting something new. Both sides shared the profits and received their respective dividends.

They had already launched three products: moisturizing cream, youth-preserving balm, and whitening facial masks. The ingredients were health-preserving medicinal herbs mixed with a small amount of seed powder. They were not precious, yet the finished products commanded exorbitant prices. The profits were truly immense.

They were also sold in limited quantities every year. As long as a batch was released, it would inevitably be snatched clean. They had become the bestselling products among the wealthy households and rich circles of Welcoming Wind City.

Even after smoothing relations along every route and allowing the Zhou Household to take the greater half, this dividend income still surpassed the yield from Jiang Household's thousand mu of fertile fields.

Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants might rank last, but there was nothing lacking in their ability to make profit. Fortunately, Old Zhou House had its network and experience in handling every connection. With everyone receiving a share of the cake, the business had remained secure without giving rise to other troubles.

But now that this Field Steward Daoist master had arrived, the situation seemed to have grown more complicated.

During the first few shipments, Jiang Tu had accompanied Ning E to Welcoming Wind City. But more than four years had passed, and he had discovered that Ning E handled matters impeccably and left no drop unaccounted for. She could also manage every aspect of business. Even if he went with her, there was nothing he could do, so later he returned to farming at home.

Ning E was not someone who enjoyed traveling about either. At most, she accompanied one or two shipments a year, each trip lasting only a little over a month. The husband and wife's feelings remained as they always had been, sticky as glue and close as lacquer.

Watching his father-in-law board the carriage, Jiang Tu stood at the entrance, lost in thought.

He needed to pay closer attention to Rong Yidao and developments in Welcoming Wind City!

After the Agricultural Path split apart, the Insect Spirit Intelligence Network had become like an arm severed from his body, depriving him of more than half his intelligence sources. He wanted to learn more, yet felt powerless to do so. Perhaps he would have to rely on his father-in-law's channels to gather news from Welcoming Wind City...

Three days later.

A table overflowing with dishes was laid out in Jiang Residence's main hall.

Zhou Ning'e had returned!

She was somewhat thinner than when she had left, which made her tall, graceful figure and proud, full bosom stand out all the more.

She was still at the most beautiful age for a woman, with not the slightest sign of change. At first glance, one could vaguely see traces of a young girl's charming innocence. Dressed in a lotus-purple gown, her hair pinned up with a silver hairpin, the corners of her eyes and brows overflowed with boundless allure, sorrow of parting, and longing when she saw Jiang Tu.

Xianggua and Xueli gathered around her, asking this and that. She answered them with a smile, then unpacked several little trinkets and distributed them to the two girls.

After the meal, Xueli and Xianggua tactfully withdrew.

Jiang Tu took her down into the underground farmland to look at the empire of Premium Quality seeds they had built.

"Was the journey smooth?"

"The goods were sold, and everything was settled. Before leaving, those Daoist masters said we could continue using their names in Welcoming Wind City in the future. It seems our years of smoothing relations were not in vain. The Old Zhou House clerks should be able to rest a while longer after this season."

Jiang Tu looked at his graceful wife without interrupting. While they had been eating earlier, he had sensed that Ning E's mood was off, as though something was weighing on her heart.

But Ning E had never kept secrets from him. Without needing him to ask, she spoke on her own.

"The day before yesterday... something happened. Rong Yidao, the new Field Steward Daoist master in charge, came to our Old Zhou House! He spoke nicely enough, saying he wanted to buy goods, but the moment he entered, he kept asking questions and prying into my affairs. Later, he simply came close and said—"

Her delicate brows furrowed as she spoke with great disgust.

"He said the Daoist Sect possessed life-extending spiritual pills, priceless treasures that could not be bought even with a thousand gold, and that they could extend my father's lifespan. As long as I was willing to share a bed with him for one night, he would give me one... He even told me not to fail to appreciate kindness, saying that being favored by a Daoist master like him was my honor."

"I was so angry I laughed, but I thought that while away from home, I should not offend such a petty man. So I politely said, 'Please conduct yourself with dignity, Daoist master. This humble woman already has a husband, and our feelings run deep... If Daoist master has come for Old Zhou House goods, we have everything you could need. If you came for anything else, then we have not half a bit. Take care, and I will not see you out.'"

"He came forward to grab at me and said he liked women with husbands. The guards surrounded him."

"Seeing that he was truly possessed by lust, I stabbed at him with my words. 'Could it be that Daoist master has no regard for the Daoist Sect's face? In broad daylight, do you intend to commit robbery by force? Take another step forward, and this old lady will cut off your descendants! Do not forget that my Zhou Household knows more than just one Daoist master!'"

"Those words blocked him. He could not save face, and perhaps because he had heard that our Zhou Household had long-standing ties with many Daoist masters, he did not dare entangle himself too far. He left in a huff."

"But the more I thought about it, the more sickened I became, so I hurried home... How could the person now in charge of the Daoist Sect in Welcoming Wind City be such a filthy scoundrel, buzzing about like flies and hounds...! Husband, I think I should stop traveling outside to do business from now on. At worst, we simply won't earn this money."

"The winds in Welcoming Wind City have changed!"

Jiang Tu listened quietly from start to finish. His face remained calm, neither pleased nor angered, but cold thoughts gradually climbed within his heart.

In the blink of an eye, thirty years had passed since he had crossed into this world. He had always handled matters calmly and cautiously, treated others kindly, and avoided becoming entangled in external karmic ties. Yet for the first time, killing intent rose within him.

"Welcoming Wind City... Rong Yidao, I was just worrying over what identity I should use to spread the Dao, and then you came to me."

"Should I say your fate is too good, or that you are courting death?"