This was still an age in which "loyalty and righteousness" existed. Thousands of years of cultural tradition had constrained development in many areas, yet had also left this troubled age with something precious.
And Master Tiger was trapped by those precious things.
He was a Tiger Guard of the old era, steadfast in his creed.
Now, however, his beliefs had come into conflict.
Protect the people of his hometown.
Remain loyal and righteous toward his commanding officer.
These two seemingly sound convictions were now... utterly incompatible.
In the end, Master Tiger merely let out a quiet sigh and said, "The magistrate still needs Old Daoist Sun to refine pills."
That one sentence laid bare his predicament.
Cui Jiuyang had already suspected as much during their three-way conversation that night.
Seeing Master Tiger's dejected expression now, how could he fail to understand the circumstances?
Cui Jiuyang could broadly understand his wish to repay the kindness of someone who had recognized his worth, but could not fundamentally agree with it.
Magistrate Chen had clearly abandoned certain things for high office and wealth-things that had once been his convictions as a scholar, his ambitions when he first came to Yangshan.
Yet Master Tiger remained trapped in his own loyalty and righteousness, forgetting that his commanding officer had long since discarded those things.
Though Cui Jiuyang could not resolve Master Tiger's inner dilemma, he could resolve the practical one.
He refilled Master Tiger's tea and said, "Master Tiger, last night I drew yin energy into the clouds, and the rain drenched the demonic qi throughout the city. I'm afraid Old Daoist Sun won't be able to refine any more pills."
Master Tiger raised his head and set his cup aside. "Really?"
Cui Jiuyang took out a silver ingot and tossed it to him. "Believe