Connections

In a corner of the crowd.

Second Uncle Chu Xianghai and Second Aunt Liu Shi had originally come to watch the excitement. Now, squeezed to the outermost edge of the throng, they stood on tiptoe and saw the young man in blue whom the County Commandant was questioning personally, surrounded like the moon amid a host of stars.

The sunflower seeds in Liu Shi's hand had long since spilled all over the ground.

She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to call out "Big Brother" and borrow a little reflected glory through that flimsy bond of kinship, but the words caught in her throat and refused to come out.

Her face alternated between red and white. Her eyes, usually filled with shrewd calculation, now held nothing but embarrassment and bewilderment.

"Is that... is that Chu Bai?"

She murmured under her breath, her voice unsteady. "He really passed? And took first place? Even the County Commandant is being so polite to him?"

She instinctively drew in her neck and glanced guiltily around, terrified that someone might recognize her as Chu Bai's Second Aunt.

The memory of how she had mocked him at the doorway that day was now a thorn, pricking her with discomfort from head to toe.

"He... he probably hasn't seen us, has he?" Liu Shi tugged at her husband's sleeve, her voice trembling. "Husband, if we went over now and acknowledged him as family, do you think he might... might give us a pleasant look?"

Second Uncle Chu Xianghai's face was stiff as well, his gaze impossibly conflicted.

Looking at his spirited nephew, he remembered his own indifference as he hid behind the screen that day, and the laughable relief he had felt afterward.

Chu Xianghai considered himself a merchant of many years who rarely misjudged anyone. When his brother had borrowed money, he had indeed lent a helping hand at first, but then he had feared being dragged into an endless burden. Who could have imagined it would lead to this awkward predicament?

"Acknowledge him as family? On what grounds?"

Chu Xianghai gave a bitter smile, his voice steeped in regret. "He paid us back that day, principal and interest. He wanted to settle everything between us. If we'd kept him for a meal then, or even just shown him a pleasant face... things would be different now!"

As he watched Chu Bai's composed bearing, a powerful wave of remorse welled up inside him.

He had not merely missed a business opportunity. He had missed a pillar of support, a chance to truly transform his family's standing.

"Let's go."

Chu Xianghai sighed and pulled Liu Shi, who was still wavering over whether to approach, out through the crowd.

"He's a cloud in the heavens now, and we're mud on the ground. Going over will only make us a laughingstock."

Their retreating figures looked especially forlorn amid the cheering crowd.

Meanwhile, Chu Bai was surrounded by the town's enthusiastic wealthy households and had not noticed these two relatives in the corner at all.

"Champion Chu! Congratulations, congratulations! I'm the steward of the Li family in the east of town. My master has prepared a humble feast at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and hopes you'll honor him with your company!"

"Young Master Chu! I'm the proprietor of the Zhao Cloth Shop. I've prepared a congratulatory gift especially for you. Please accept it!"

"Young Master Chu, you've accomplished so much at such a young age. Are you betrothed? My daughter is sixteen..."

Invitations flew in like snowflakes, every face piled high with ingratiating smiles.

These people, all figures of standing in their everyday lives, now argued until their faces reddened just for the chance to exchange a word with Chu Bai.

Standing at the center of the crowd, Chu Bai faced this sudden flood of adulation with a smile that remained polite but distant.

"Thank you all for your kindness."

Chu Bai cupped his hands and looked around. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable firmness. "But now that I've received this good news, I ought to inform my master and parents first and report it to my elders."

His words were watertight, leaving no opening for anyone to object.

"Of course you should!"

Though disappointed, everyone could only voice their approval. No one dared insist that he stay.

Chu Bai finally managed to escape the crowd's entanglements. Handling such situations was not exactly his strength.

Gu Qinghe had been waiting for some time. When Chu Bai emerged, he clapped him on the shoulder. There was a trace of dejection in his eyes, but far more sincere happiness for his friend.

"Brother Chu! The Three-Grade Champion! Your name really has resounded throughout Anping this time!" Gu Qinghe said excitedly.

"Just luck." Chu Bai smiled, then looked at Gu Qinghe. "Brother Gu, you..."

"I'm fine." Gu Qinghe smiled easily. "Failing was within my expectations. But I didn't come away empty-handed, either."

Chu Bai nodded. That was true enough. Though Gu Qinghe had failed, those several rounds had still tempered him.

As for what came next...

"You can keep going to the Zhao Residence as a sparring partner if you have time. Zhao Xing may be arrogant, but he's a decent fellow and pays readily. Besides, now that you've broken through to Qi Refining, you'll earn even more..."

Gu Qinghe leaned close to Chu Bai with a conspiratorial air and lowered his voice. "Tutor Liu sought me out specifically after learning I'd broken through to Qi Refining. He said the academy was short-handed and wanted to hire me as a teaching assistant to help guide the outer disciples. Not only would I receive a monthly salary, I'd have plenty of time to cultivate, and I could borrow books from the academy's collection."

"A teaching assistant?"

Chu Bai's eyes lit up, and he felt genuinely happy for his friend. "That's an excellent position! You'll have a steady income without delaying your cultivation, and you can spend a few years building a solid foundation at the academy. Congratulations, Brother Gu!"

For an ordinary family, a respectable, stable position within an established institution was already an excellent path forward.

"Yes, I'm content." Gu Qinghe patted Chu Bai's shoulder and said wistfully, "Brother Chu, once you enter the Dao Academy, you'll be a true immortal. Just don't forget your brother when you make it big."

"What nonsense." Chu Bai punched him in the chest and laughed. "Once you reach Qi Refining, you're already a cultivator. There's no need for that between us. Wherever we are, we'll always be classmates."

After chatting a while longer, Chu Bai was about to leave.

He still needed to inform his master. Now that he had taken first place, he could at least say he had lived up to his expectations.

Just then.

"My disciple."

The voice was quiet, yet carried a power that soothed the heart and mind.

The noisy crowd instantly fell silent, and everyone turned toward the voice.

A middle-aged Daoist in blue robes stood smiling on the steps nearby, a horsetail whisk in hand. He released no oppressive aura, but his air of transcendence prompted those around him to clear a path of their own accord.

"Daoist Zhang!"

"It's Daoist Zhang from Azure Cloud Academy!"

People in the crowd immediately recognized this figure from Anping County's cultivation circles and bowed to him.

At the sound of his voice, the distant courtesy on Chu Bai's face vanished, replaced by heartfelt respect and joy.

He strode forward and sank to the ground like a golden mountain toppling and a jade pillar falling, performing a full formal obeisance to Daoist Zhang before the people of the entire town.

"Your disciple Chu Bai pays his respects, Master!"

"I have not failed your charge. Your disciple took first place!"

Daoist Zhang gazed at the disciple who had made him so proud, his eyes filled with gratification.

He reached out to help Chu Bai up, brushed the dust from his shoulders, and smiled. "Good! Good! Get up. Now that you're the champion, you're a person of standing. There's no need to kneel at every turn from now on."

"A teacher for a day is a father for life. Everything I can do was taught by you, Master. Wherever I go, I cannot abandon that rule." Chu Bai's expression was solemn.

The onlookers nodded inwardly at the sight.

Fine talent was rare enough, but a nature that so honored one's teacher and teachings made him all the more worthy of esteem.

Daoist Zhang laughed heartily, clearly in excellent spirits.

He turned, swept his gaze over the wealthy townsfolk eager to strike up a connection, and declared, "Everyone, my humble disciple has only just received his results today. He must return with me to honor the ancestors and give thanks to his teacher. If you are willing, I will host a banquet at the Gathered Worthies Tower tonight. Please honor us with your presence, so my disciple may make your acquaintance. I hope you will look kindly upon him here in Anping County in the days to come."

Everyone was delighted to hear this.

Daoist Zhang was hosting a banquet himself—what an enormous honor! And it was also a perfect opportunity to formally establish a connection with Chu Bai.

"We'll be there! We'll certainly be there!"

"Thank you for inviting us, Daoist Zhang!"

That evening, the Gathered Worthies Tower blazed with light, its seats filled with distinguished guests.

Nearly every person of standing in Anping County had come.

Even County Commandant Zhang Cheng, so stern and impartial during the day, sent someone with a congratulatory gift.

During the banquet, Daoist Zhang led Chu Bai from table to table to offer toasts.

"This is the head of the Li family in the east of town. He trades in medicinal herbs. If you need any spirit herbs in the future, you can seek him out."

"This is the chief escort of the Mighty Faraway Escort Agency. His body-hardening martial arts are exceptional..."

"This is..."

With every introduction, Chu Bai bowed respectfully, neither servile nor overbearing.

Daoist Zhang was not merely hosting a feast. He was drawing on the connections he had accumulated over many years to pave the way for Chu Bai.

He knew that after entering the Dao Academy, connections and resources would matter just as much as cultivation.

In a corner of the banquet hall, Gu Qinghe, as Chu Bai's close friend, had also been specially assigned a seat at a good table.

Watching his friend remain poised and calm amid all those stars clustered around the moon, he still felt the disappointment of failing, but even more than that, he felt proud to share in his friend's glory.

"This is how a true man should be..."

After three rounds of drinks, hosts and guests alike were thoroughly pleased.

Once the last guest had departed, Chu Bai supported the slightly tipsy Daoist Zhang back to the Zhang Residence.

"Master, you went to... a great deal of trouble today," Chu Bai said softly. He knew perfectly well that his master had staked his own standing on this banquet to help him secure a foothold in Anping County.

"Silly child."

Daoist Zhang patted the back of Chu Bai's hand. Though his gaze was a little hazy, his tone was remarkably clear. "This is about all your master can do for you. Once you enter the Dao Academy, you'll be in a true battlefield of slaughter. When that time comes, you'll have to rely on yourself for everything."

"Go and rest in your room. Early tomorrow morning, you must enter the Dao Academy to receive your ordination register. That will be the true beginning of your path to immortality. Don't be late."

"Yes. Your disciple takes his leave."

Chu Bai bowed and withdrew.