At those words, Liu Yu's heart stirred. He knew the matter was as good as settled.
He immediately took out the yellow token and handed it over.
Yan Hongyu took the token, glanced at it, and put it into her Storage Bag before rising unhurriedly.
"Come. Let's go to the General Affairs Hall and get your matter taken care of."
With that, she led the way out of the cave residence.
Once outside, Yan Hongyu slapped her Storage Bag and took out the Red Carpet Artifact. She tossed it into the air, where it expanded to fifty or sixty feet in length and width.
After stepping onto it, she glanced at Liu Yu. No words were needed; he jumped aboard.
Once they were both standing securely, she formed a hand seal. The Red Carpet Artifact became a streak of red light, racing toward Clear Spring Peak like wind and lightning. It was more than three times as fast as Liu Yu's sword flight.
At the Red Carpet Artifact's speed, they reached Clear Spring Peak in less than two hours and headed straight for the General Affairs Hall.
People still came and went on Clear Spring Peak, but news of the Spirit Stone Mine War seemed to have spread everywhere. Many disciples wore uneasy expressions. None knew whether they would survive the coming war.
Many quick-witted disciples were still working their connections, hoping to secure a posting in the rear or a mission that would keep them off the front lines. Like Liu Yu, they were making one final effort, though who knew how many would be lucky enough?
The General Affairs Hall was much busier than it had been yesterday. Many people had come hoping against hope to accept a garrison mission, but those assignments that required no fighting had long since been claimed by the children of the Three Great Factions' senior members or people with special connections. Ordinary disciples had no chance at them.
The moment Yan Hongyu entered the General Affairs Hall, those inside noticed the fluctuations of her Foundation Establishment Realm spiritual power. A steward immediately came forward, bowed, and asked respectfully:
"What important business brings you here, Uncle-Master? Just give the word, and this disciple will attend to it immediately!"
His eagerness was utterly unlike his usual manner of looking down his nose at ordinary disciples, leaving many of those in the hall inwardly disdainful.
All these changes came from strength and cultivation realm. Cultivation realm was the foundation of everything. Those in the Foundation Establishment Realm were seniors, and in the cultivation world and the sect, where cultivation determined seniority, disrespecting a senior was no small offense.
"No need for such ceremony. I have an important matter to discuss with your deacon. Just lead the way."
Yan Hongyu did not spare him a proper glance. As a direct descendant of a Golden Core lineage, she had little reason to concern herself with ordinary Qi Refining Period disciples. Had Liu Yu not saved Yan Qun'er, their paths would never have crossed.
"Yes. Please follow me, Uncle-Master."
The steward's smile did not fade in the slightest. With no hope of advancing further, he only wanted to skim a little more profit from his position in the General Affairs Hall and smooth the road for his descendants. He dared not voice the slightest complaint about a Foundation Establishment Realm senior's attitude and continued leading Yan Hongyu with perfect respect.
Yan Hongyu told Liu Yu to wait there for news, then headed into the rear hall.
Liu Yu nodded in acknowledgment, walked to an inconspicuous corner, and lowered his head in thought. He only hoped he could get what he wanted and find somewhere to cultivate in seclusion. With the Immortal Mansion in hand, he lacked neither pills nor spirit stones. Once he broke through the bottleneck to late Qi Refining, his cultivation would be a smooth road all the way to Foundation Establishment. Given a few years, he could soon reach the peak of Qi Refining, and his strength would increase considerably.
As he pondered, someone suddenly tapped his shoulder, interrupting his thoughts.
"Junior Brother Liu, you really do keep your mountains hidden and your waters concealed! To think you quietly managed to persuade someone like Uncle-Master Yan. It looks like a rear garrison assignment is practically in the bag!"
The speaker was none other than Senior Brother Qian, whom he had met yesterday. Standing before Liu Yu with his hands clasped behind his back, he spoke with a broad smile.
"Just luck, just luck. I can't compare with your far-reaching powers, Senior Brother Qian. As a sect steward, you only need to manage affairs in the rear and have no need to worry about this. I truly envy you!"
Liu Yu answered casually, attributing everything to luck in a few words without letting anything slip.
"Yesterday, you won Uncle-Master Geng's appreciation and received a token from him. Today, you managed to enlist Uncle-Master Yan, a deacon with considerable influence in the sect. You really are remarkable, Junior Brother Liu. When we have time another day, how about gathering at the Heavenly Fragrance Tower for a good chat?"
Senior Brother Qian still refused to give up, hoping to probe Liu Yu's background. He was deeply curious how a cultivator who had been an ordinary outer disciple just a few years ago had successively gained the favor of two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in the sect.
"Not at all. I merely happened to become acquainted with Uncle-Master Hongyu. I don't deserve such praise, Senior Brother. When I have time next, I'll certainly treat you to a drink at the Heavenly Fragrance Tower."
Who knows when 'next time' will be? Next time, certainly, Liu Yu added inwardly.
Now that he had been promoted to the inner sect, he no longer needed to perform chores, and his cave residence had been settled as well. Senior Brother Qian could no longer hold anything over him, so he had no desire to play along with empty pleasantries.
Liu Yu then took out the token for his cave residence on Greenwood Peak, handed it over, and exchanged a few casual words with him.
Seeing that Liu Yu was distracted, Senior Brother Qian did not cling to him and invite a rebuff. After a few more words, he walked away.
With Yan Hongyu's status as a direct descendant of a Golden Core lineage and her influence, securing a garrison assignment with a word should not have been difficult. Yet until it was confirmed, no one could guarantee that nothing unexpected would happen. Liu Yu could do nothing about it. Anxious though he was, he could only rein in his thoughts and wait quietly.
After roughly seven or eight minutes, Yan Hongyu emerged from the rear hall. Her face was expressionless, revealing nothing, so he could not tell whether the matter had been settled.
As she passed Liu Yu, she merely signaled for him to follow. The two headed out of the hall, one behind the other.
Though anxious, Liu Yu restrained himself from asking. This was no place to talk.
Once they were outside, she chuckled and said:
"I didn't expect a junior like you to be so composed at such a young age."
With that, she took a token from her Storage Bag and tossed it to Liu Yu.
"Your mission is to guard one of the sect's resource sites on the border of Qing Province, near Mirror Province, for five years. Four outer disciples will accompany you, and you will lead this mission."
Liu Yu caught the token, feeling both joy and worry at her words.
He was glad he would not have to participate directly in the war and would have time to cultivate and improve his strength. What worried him was that the garrison site lay close to Mirror Province. Small groups of enemy cultivators might infiltrate it to cause destruction, and then a fight would be unavoidable.
"These are the details of your mission. Read them carefully when you return. Seven days from now, between five and seven in the morning, meet the four outer disciples at the foot of Clear Spring Peak. Notify the General Affairs Hall, then depart immediately for your assigned location. There must be no delay."
"Don't blame me, either. By now, all the easy, low-risk assignments have already been claimed through connections. This is already one of the better garrison missions remaining."
Yan Hongyu then took a jade tube from her Storage Bag and handed it to Liu Yu, explaining her reasons as she did so.
This junior had saved her niece Qun'er and presented two rare spirit herbs, yet she had only secured him an ordinary assignment. That left her feeling somewhat embarrassed. Otherwise, she would never have deigned to explain herself to a Qi Refining Period cultivator.
"I wouldn't dare. That you were willing to help me at a time like this already fills me with endless gratitude, Uncle-Master Hongyu. How could I possibly complain? I will engrave your kindness in my heart and never dare forget it!"
Liu Yu cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he looked "deeply moved."
Yan Hongyu nodded, quite satisfied with his attitude. As for what this junior truly thought, what did it matter?
With the matter settled, she took out the Red Carpet Artifact and prepared to leave.
After jumping onto the red carpet, Yan Hongyu remembered the matter of Yan Qun'er and addressed Liu Yu sternly:
"I want Qun'er to focus on her cultivation. Before she reaches Foundation Establishment, she must not let romantic affairs distract her and delay her progress. There is no need for you to associate with her anymore. Do you understand?"
She stood above him on the Red Carpet Artifact, her words carrying a tone that brooked no argument.
A smile appeared on Liu Yu's face, and he immediately replied:
"Rest assured, Uncle-Master. I have absolutely no such intentions toward Senior Sister, and I certainly won't disturb her cultivation!"
Yan Hongyu's expression revealed neither pleasure nor anger. At his answer, she nodded slightly, then guided the Red Carpet Artifact into a streak of red light that vanished into the horizon.
Watching the red light disappear into the horizon, Liu Yu's smile gradually faded.
Thank you to the readers Likes Reading Cultivation Farming Stories, Flying Cherry Blossoms, 20180220010927944, Chenghai Muzi, Hunan Warlord, Ranking Card, Radish Coconut, My Favorite Is Cultivation Farming Space, and others for your recommendation votes!
Thank you to Love Left and the Wind Stopped for the tip of 100 coins!
If you like this book, please support it with a vote. Changting bows in thanks!