The Cave Abode Treasure Hunt Concludes

Jiang Yang fled the bamboo grove as though making an escape. The girl's expression had left his face burning and his heart racing, and he no longer knew how to face her.

He made his way out of the great array and only gradually slowed his steps once he had descended the mountain.

Standing beside the mountain path, Jiang Yang took the pale yellow paper crane from his sleeve again, cradled it in his hands, and murmured:

"Trace the hidden paths, guide the spirit to seek the trail... Ah, the hardest kindness to bear is a beauty's affection."

At heart, Jiang Yang was still only an ordinary youth. Even with the experience of his previous life, he remained a virgin. When it came to matters between men and women, nine of his ten apertures were open—the one that mattered was utterly blocked.

Fortunately, he was cheerful by nature and did not dwell on things that had yet to take shape.

Before long, he suppressed the tangle of emotions in his heart, then sprang along the mountain path toward Morning Rain Peak.

With his assigned duties finished, one last thing remained: he had to report to the General Affairs Office to turn in the assignment and have its status imprinted and registered. What was accepted had to be returned, or the Sect would come after him once the deadline passed.

Before long, Jiang Yang arrived outside the General Affairs Office on Morning Rain Peak.

The General Affairs Office was as busy as ever today, making the neighboring Enrollment Registry seem far quieter by comparison.

Jiang Yang glanced around before stepping inside. There were indeed plenty of cultivator disciples, both men and women.

Senior Brother Zhou Yanwei was still handling affairs in the hall, though two more disciples were assisting him off to the side. With so many people coming and going, one person could hardly manage all the assignments being accepted and turned in.

Preferring a familiar face to a stranger, Jiang Yang headed toward Zhou Yanwei. Several senior brothers and sisters were ahead of him, so he patiently joined the back of the line.

Soon, it was Jiang Yang's turn to stand before the desk.

Zhou Yanwei had his head lowered, making corrections in the Dao register with a vermilion brush as he asked:

"Are you accepting an assignment or turning one in, junior brother?"

Seeing how busy he was, not even lifting his head, Jiang Yang smiled and said:

"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother Zhou. I'm turning one in."

"Turning one in, then. Please hand me your waist token, junior brother..."

As he spoke, Zhou Yanwei raised his head and saw Jiang Yang standing before him. Surprise and delight mingled in his voice:

"Junior Brother Jiang?!"

Then, seeing the token Jiang Yang held out, understanding dawned on his face:

"Oh... Three months gone in the blink of an eye. I hadn't expected you to have finished your duties already."

Jiang Yang handed over the token and said:

"You've been busy with your duties too, Senior Brother Zhou. Thank you for all your hard work."

"Ah! I'm used to it."

Zhou Yanwei waved a hand and said:

"I merely take the Sect's stipend and loyally attend to its affairs. These days, I only hope for one thing: that Martial Uncle Lin returns soon and delivers me from this sea of suffering..."

Zhou Yanwei still had not shaken his habit of chattering. As he formed a finger seal and pointed at the token in his hand, he poured out an endless stream of trivial matters.

"How did you find it, junior brother? Dawn Rain Peak is a True Person's cultivation grounds, after all. Its spiritual energy must be abundant... Hmm?!"

At that moment, the token shone with clear light. Zhou Yanwei's eyes widened in astonishment, and he blurted out:

"An upper rating! Well done, junior brother!"

Hearing this, Jiang Yang promptly cupped his hands politely and said:

"It was all thanks to your care, Senior Brother Zhou. The duties were simple. I, Jiang Yang, merely followed the rules."

Zhou Yanwei could not help feeling pleased, but he still shook his head and said:

"Don't gild my face, Junior Brother Jiang. Since I took this post, hundreds upon thousands of assignments have passed through my hands. Not everyone earns an upper rating. Excellent is excellent; there's no need to be modest."

"Is that so...?"

Jiang Yang inwardly scratched his head. He truly thought it had been rather simple. Although the work had been somewhat exhausting and mentally draining, the only things that could be called difficult were those two minor Spells, and with a little effort, he had mastered them in eight or ten days.

Had he been assigned unfamiliar work such as farming or drawing talismans, he really would not have been confident of doing it well.

Having finished speaking, Zhou Yanwei pressed the token against the Dao register. Radiant light immediately shimmered as their spiritual auras mingled, completing the return of the assignment.

"Here you are, junior brother."

Returning the token to Jiang Yang, Zhou Yanwei asked:

"Your duties for this year are complete. Is there anything else you'd like to take on?"

Jiang Yang shook his head and said:

"I have enough Dao Merit, so I have no such plans. Right now, I only want to focus on cultivation, break through my realm, and advance, striving to touch the threshold of Foundation Establishment as soon as possible."

The year-end Court Examination was his highest priority. Jiang Yang did not want to waste any more time on sect duties. The Dao Merit he had just earned was still warm in his hands; he ought to put it to use at once.

Zhou Yanwei nodded in agreement:

"Cultivation realm comes before all else. It seems you already understand what matters most and what can wait, junior brother. We'll discuss sect duties again next year, then."

With official business finished and no one waiting in line behind him, Zhou Yanwei kept Jiang Yang there to chat about sundry matters.

Jiang Yang would never have guessed that this Senior Brother Zhou, with his thick brows and large eyes, secretly enjoyed collecting gossip, rumors, and strange tales. Once he started talking, there was no stopping him.

One moment it was disciples of some peak having secret trysts; the next, it was a steward in some hall with peculiar habits. Whether credible or not, he poured out quite a collection of curious stories in one breath.

Listening to these secrets, Jiang Yang could neither join in nor offer a reply. He could only sit tongue-tied, nodding and making sounds of agreement.

Fortunately, Zhou Yanwei did not need anyone to play the straight man. He asked and answered his own questions, talking away with immense pleasure. Jiang Yang could not have stopped him if he tried.

As he talked, Zhou Yanwei eventually brought up Fang Xu and asked Jiang Yang:

"Did Junior Brother Fang come looking for you, Junior Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Yang naturally answered in the affirmative, then smiled and said:

"Senior Brother Fang? I did indeed meet him. He came so abruptly that I wouldn't have dared agree if he hadn't mentioned your name."

A pleased look appeared on Zhou Yanwei's face. He patted Jiang Yang on the shoulder and said:

"That lad Fang Xu may look ill-tempered, but he's not a bad fellow. He's just a little impulsive and impatient. He gave you a fright, didn't he, Junior Brother Jiang?"

A splendid sedan chair needed many hands to lift it. Since Zhou Yanwei had introduced Fang Xu, Jiang Yang naturally would not embarrass him, so he chuckled and said:

"Not at all. Senior Brother Fang has the warm heart of an old-fashioned gallant. He was even willing to share the legacy of a cave abode with others, which I truly admired... I only regret that my strength was lacking and my cultivation realm too low, leaving me unable to go."

"What a pity..."

Zhou Yanwei sighed, then offered another suggestion:

"But that lad has struck it rich lately. The Cave Abode he explored was quite well preserved, and I heard he made a modest haul. If you have time, Junior Brother Jiang, you could pay him a visit. You might be able to pick up something good."

Jiang Yang's heart stirred at this, and he thought:

There really was a Cave Abode? Could it be that he wasn't trying to deceive me?

He could hardly be blamed for harboring suspicions. Fang Xu had appeared out of nowhere and showered him with praise during their conversation, which instead put Jiang Yang on guard. Even the existence of the Cave Abode had been uncertain, and the whole affair had smelled of a trap.

Now, it seemed Jiang Yang truly had misjudged him. Fang Xu had evidently returned from hunting treasures in the Cave Abode, and judging by Zhou Yanwei's words, his gains must have been considerable.

Thinking it over, Jiang Yang felt there might be only one reasonable explanation: Fang Xu had done it for Senior Brother Zhou Yanwei, who stood before him. Jiang Yang had merely been introduced by Zhou Yanwei and thus happened to bask in some of the reflected glory.

Whatever his thoughts, Jiang Yang revealed none of them on his face. His eyes brightened, and he smiled:

"Really? Then I must call on him and trouble him for a while. Now that I have Dao Merit in hand, I've been wondering where to spend it. I really ought to pay Senior Brother Fang a visit."

"Go right ahead."

Zhou Yanwei swept out a hand and said:

"If my duties didn't keep me tied here, I'd go with you no matter what to have a look—and bargain his prices down while I was at it!"

"Hahaha..."

Jiang Yang laughed heartily, then cupped his hands with a smile and said:

"I'll remember your kindness, senior brother. Still, let's not make things difficult for Senior Brother Fang.

Everything is settled, so I won't disturb you any longer. Please carry on with your work, senior brother. I'll take my leave."

Then he composed himself and bade Zhou Yanwei farewell.

Zhou Yanwei escorted Jiang Yang all the way outside the hall, repeatedly assuring him that visiting would be no trouble. He practically wished Jiang Yang would come every day to sit with him and pass the time.

Jiang Yang could only murmur his agreement as he made his way out.