Sharing the Sweet, but Not the Bitter

"...I have no respect for the way the Jiang Household conducts itself."

"When trouble struck the Willow Source outer sect this time, before anyone had even handed down a verdict, the first thing the lineage did was cut ties. Fine, cut ties with an applicant like me who hasn't even joined yet. But you, Uncle Chuan? An Embryonic Breath cultivator named in the genealogy, who has worked for the lineage all these years-didn't they treat you exactly the same?"

"Today, when I had a chance to enter the Main Gate, the lineage elders chased me ten miles, apologizing and making amends. If I slip up at the Main Gate tomorrow, will they drive my parents back into that cave dwelling again?"

"If they can share the sweet but not the bitter, there's nothing more to say."

Jiang Weichuan sighed heavily.

He knew Jiang Che was right. The lineage's conduct chilled his heart too, extinguishing his own desire to keep pleading its case.

But there was still one other thing to consider:

"But...without the lineage providing the resources you need for cultivation, what will you do?"

This concern was purely for Jiang Che's sake:

"I've heard that those who enter the Mystic Orthodox Sect are either prodigies backed by powerful lineages, or exceptionally gifted disciples whom sect masters take a liking to and accept as personal disciples. And often, those two are one and the same. Exceptionally gifted prodigies have their lineages supplying resources, so they needn't worry about mundane tasks. Their cultivation advances a thousand miles a day, and that's what wins them the favor of the sect masters..."

"If you go alone, you'll have to earn whatever resources you lack yourself. You'll need to handle mundane duties and contribute to the sect to obtain more cultivation methods and resources. But your cultivation will fall behind. You won't match those with lineage support, and your progress will slow."

Facing his worried Uncle Chuan, Jiang Che smiled instead. "I'd rather fight my own way forward than leave a source of trouble at my back. From what I've seen of the Jiang, not only are they unwilling to share hardship, they'll drag me down even when we're sharing good fortune."

Jiang Weichuan fell silent.

Indeed, if Jiang Che achieved nothing after joining the sect, that would be one thing. But if he achieved even a little success, the lineage would probably immediately use his name to swagger around Willow Source, earning people's hatred and giving them leverage against him.

He could picture that scene perfectly.

"All right. I won't try to persuade you anymore."

"Thank you for understanding, Uncle Chuan. There's one more thing I'd like to entrust to you."

"Tell me."

"I may be leaving for the Azure Mystic Main Gate soon, and I don't know when I'll be able to return. I'm going there to fight for my future. You know how difficult it is to seek the Dao. The only people in Willow Source I can't stop worrying about are my parents."

He bowed deeply to Jiang Weichuan.

"Uncle Chuan, I'd like you to look after my parents for me. All I ask is that they live their days in peace, without anyone bullying them. You're the only person I trust with this."

"What are you doing? Get up!"

Jiang Weichuan hurried to his feet and helped him up with both hands, continuing:

"Rest assured. I, Jiang Weichuan, give you my word today: as long as I have a breath left in me, I won't let your parents suffer the slightest mistreatment!"

"Thank you, Uncle Chuan."

After parting with Uncle Chuan, Jiang Che sat alone on the courtyard's stone steps, watching the lingering sun sink inch by inch behind Western Mountain. His heart settled into a rare calm.

Every word he had just spoken to Uncle Chuan had been sincere.

He truly worried about his parents alone, and nothing else.

As for cultivation resources, he had something to rely on that no one else possessed.

His consciousness sank, and he arrived in that boundless Pure White Space.

His spiritual body drifted within it. Judging by its size, he had eight journeys left.

Originally, he had only seven remaining, but during the earlier battle to wipe out the Heaven Pillar Remnants, he had absorbed the spirit essences of three Embryonic Breath cultivators, gaining another.

Traveling through time fragments was the greatest opportunity he had encountered since transmigrating. It was from a time fragment that he had obtained the clue and found that cave, giving him the chance to catch those important figures' attention.

Besides, the instance's rewards were already excellent in their own right.

A C rating alone could earn him a spiritual treasure like [primordial origin first spirit], or a middle eighth-grade cultivation method. If he could raise his rating to B or A, what rewards might await him?

At that thought, he felt the urge to enter again.

But he restrained himself.

His injuries had not fully healed. There was no hurry.

He would use these next few days to recover and hone his swordsmanship. Entering the instance in better condition would give him a chance at greater gains.

Over the following days, Willow Source County became quite lively.

News that Jiang Che had entered the Dao, received personal praise from an Azure Mystic True Disciple, and stood a chance of entering the Mystic Orthodox Sect soon spread throughout the county town. Many people sent visiting cards, hoping to come and make his acquaintance.

But whether they wanted to build a connection or sound out the truth, Jiang Che ignored them all. He did not even need to appear; Jiang He and Jiang Weichuan turned them all away at the gate.

Though Jiang He was only a villager, he would brook no interference when it came to his son's secluded cultivation.

Jiang Weichuan stood guard outside the courtyard as an Azure Mystic outer disciple. Those who hoped to force their way in on the strength of their standing could only retreat sheepishly when they saw him.

That included the Jiang.

They still wanted to try persuading Jiang Che. After all, he was the only disciple in forty years with a chance of entering the Azure Mystic Main Gate.

But Jiang Che had made up his mind and refused to see them.

They could not force him either.

After all, Senior Brother Luo was still in town. He was a genuine Main Gate disciple in the Qi Refining Period, and the Jiang could not afford to offend him.

In truth, though, whether this man was busy putting the Willow Source outer sect's affairs in order or simply thought nothing of a boy who had only just entered Embryonic Breath, he showed no intention of paying Jiang Che any attention.

That was fine too. This was not the time to sidle up to him with eager eyes. Jiang Che knew the regard he had received stemmed from a single remark by their True Disciple, which had prompted Senior Brother Luo to lend his support. It did not mean Jiang Che had truly caught his eye.

For three full days, Jiang Che stayed in that little courtyard without stepping outside.

Every morning, he first circulated his cultivation method once, using the ceaseless vitality of the Azure Heaven Wind Dew Embryonic Breath Method to gently nourish the injury in his chest. Then he went into the courtyard and practiced the Azure Torrent Sword Art from beginning to end with the sword Du Yongchang had given him.

On the evening of the third day, Jiang Che finished his practice and stood with his sword withdrawn, letting out a long breath of stale air.

His injury was essentially no longer a hindrance, and his swordsmanship had grown more practiced. The time had come.

He returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and sank his consciousness, arriving once more in the Pure White Space.

His spiritual body drifted toward the floor tile shimmering with azure light and touched it with practiced ease.

The familiar voice echoed through the space: "Year seventy-nine of Yongzhen..."

The first half of this journey through time differed little from his previous attempts.

Jiang Che's entry into Embryonic Breath gave Jiang Zongcheng, who oversaw the teleportation formation, some misgivings. But his startling words, and the fact that Jiang Zongcheng could discern he was telling the truth, still persuaded him to let Jiang Che enter the formation. He merely confiscated his sword.

Once inside, the five watched him more closely, but after much persuasion, the story ultimately moved forward with little change. Liu Bingyuan still grew suspicious of Huo Shen, who was struck down by the [Copper-Flame Talisman Mirror] while fleeing and died beneath a sword.

When it came time to leave the cave, Jiang Che studied the peaks and traced their veins. In reality, he was watching the two Jiang brothers at every moment.

Judging that the time was about right, and seeing Jiang Yunlin approach Liu Zicheng while Jiang Yunwei approached Liu Bingyuan, Jiang Che suddenly shouted:

"Young master, watch out! Jiang Yunwei and Jiang Yunlin mean to betray you!"

Those words exploded like a thunderclap!

Jiang Yunwei's expression changed violently. Abandoning all pretense, he drew his longsword, its gleaming blade shooting straight for Liu Bingyuan's throat!

Last time, Liu Bingyuan had managed to defend himself even without a warning. This time, needless to say, he drew his sword and blocked.

Unfortunately, Liu Zicheng still died in Jiang Yunlin's sneak attack.

The four clashed in battle.

Seizing the opening, Jiang Che picked up Liu Zicheng's sword and joined the fray, fighting alongside Liu Bingyuan against Jiang Yunwei.