An Alliance

The Welcoming Inn, in a private room on the second floor.

Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu were both digesting the news Gao Peiyao had brought.

The Yun Household's prosperity was closely tied to every Fisher-Farmer, themselves included. Once the Yun Household fell from the ranks of the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans, they, too, would sink into a mire of danger.

The cruelty of the cultivation world was evident from the Lan Household's recruitment of short-term spirit farmers. In the eyes of those cultivation aristocratic clans, cultivators at the bottom were mere ants, their lives worth no more than grass.

And this was only the tip of the iceberg of the cultivation world.

Without the Yun Household's protection, the waters of Mirror Moon Lake would likely descend into chaos at once, engulfed by rampant killing and plunder.

They were only at the early Qi Refining stage. They would surely bear the brunt of it, becoming meat on someone else's chopping block.

"Brother Jianghe, Brother Daniu, I'd like to change our agreement." Gao Peiyao's words were startling.

Chen Jianghe glanced at her.

Old Gao, Chen Jianghe, and Yu Daniu had discussed and settled on the agreement among the three of them to exchange information and discuss the Dao.

"What changes would you like to make, little sister Peiyao?" Yu Daniu asked.

"Our agreement is too simple to provide any substantial help with our cultivation."

"You're both only in your early twenties, and I'm just sixteen this year. The path to immortality stretches far ahead. We should help and support one another so we can travel farther along the Immortal Dao. Even if foundation establishment remains a distant prospect, we can at least look toward the late Qi Refining stage."

Gao Peiyao looked at them sincerely. "Now that the Yun Household has met with this upheaval, we should stand together all the more. Even if a colossus like the Yun Household collapses someday, we'll have one another to rely on as we seek a chance to survive the chaos."

Chen Jianghe's expression shifted slightly. He was shocked to hear Gao Peiyao say such things. Was this really the same naive, timid little girl from two years ago?

If they changed their agreement as Gao Peiyao proposed, it would amount to establishing a mutual aid alliance.

Their relationship would advance a step further, creating shared interests that would be difficult to separate.

When one prospered, all would prosper; when one suffered, all would suffer.

"I'm still young. If I've said anything wrong, please don't take offense."

Gao Peiyao rose gracefully and cupped her hands, speaking softly. "You can both go home and think it over first. If you're willing to form a mutual aid alliance, we can meet at the Welcoming Inn again in three days to discuss it."

Chen Jianghe nodded, then left the private room.

"Little sister Peiyao, I'll go back and think it over." Yu Daniu also rose and took his leave, hurrying after Chen Jianghe.

Gao Peiyao stood by the window, watching Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu walk away together down the street.

Grandfather once said that Chen Jianghe keeps a low profile and acts steadily, while Yu Daniu is honest and straightforward. Both are worth befriending. If we form an alliance, they'll surely become a great help on my Immortal Dao toward foundation establishment.

"Brother Jianghe, I feel like little sister Peiyao has changed a lot."

Aboard the 512 Fishing Boat, Yu Daniu recalled what Gao Peiyao had said at the Welcoming Inn. He felt that the once-naive girl had suddenly become very mature, and her words were full of insight.

"Yes, she's matured a great deal."

In Chen Jianghe's view, it was far more than mere maturity, even if Old Gao had taught Gao Peiyao a great deal before his death.

After all, those had only been spoken lessons over a short period, not firsthand experiences. How could they have brought about such a change?

Gao Peiyao did not feel at all like a girl who had come from a mountain village. Rather, she seemed like a direct descendant raised in a cultivation aristocratic clan.

Otherwise, how could she possess such insight?

Who would benefit the most from forming a mutual aid alliance?

Naturally, the most talented person would benefit the most.

It might not be apparent early on, but as time went on, it would become increasingly clear that the mutual aid alliance's resources would all tilt toward Gao Peiyao.

That was because Gao Peiyao possessed a four-element false spiritual root and had the best chance among them of reaching foundation establishment.

Moreover, the higher Gao Peiyao's cultivation rose, the more resources they, as her allies, would receive in return.

But the prerequisite was helping Gao Peiyao advance her cultivation.

"Should we form an alliance?" Yu Daniu asked, looking at Chen Jianghe.

"What do you think?"

Chen Jianghe did not answer directly, instead tossing the question back to him. "I think it could work. Little sister Peiyao is more talented than either of us. She's only just stepped onto the Immortal Dao, yet she's caught up with us in just two years. In the future, she'll probably leave us far behind."

"Forming an alliance now would bring great benefits in the future."

Chen Jianghe nodded in agreement with Yu Daniu's words.

Although they might have to devote considerable effort to helping Gao Peiyao reach foundation establishment in the future, once she succeeded, they would receive unimaginable rewards as well.

"Peiyao is right. This sudden upheaval has struck the Yun Household, and we still don't know whether they can weather it. If Mirror Moon Lake descends into chaos, staying closely united will give us a much better chance of surviving the crisis."

Chen Jianghe voiced his opinion.

"All right, Brother Jianghe. Let's meet again at the Welcoming Inn in three days."

With Chen Jianghe's answer, Yu Daniu left the 512 Fishing Boat, satisfied.

Afterward, Chen Jianghe also left his fishing boat and searched the harbor for Gao Peiyao's 511 Fishing Boat.

A short while later, he arrived at the 511 Fishing Boat, and Gao Peiyao invited him into the cabin.

A girl was a girl, after all. Gao Peiyao's cabin was much more prettily furnished than Chen Jianghe's, and it carried a faint, pleasant fragrance.

"Did you need something, Brother Jianghe?"

Gao Peiyao asked with a faint smile.

"I came to return the spirit stone Old Gao lent me."

Without sitting down, Chen Jianghe took out the spirit stone Old Gao had given him and placed it on the table.

"Why rush to return it now, Brother Jianghe? Just keep it and use it."

"When I'm short of spirit stones, I'll ask you." Chen Jianghe nodded and smiled, expressing his friendliness.

"All right, then I'll accept it."

Gao Peiyao understood what Chen Jianghe meant. She stopped politely declining and accepted the spirit stone.

"That's how it should be."

Chen Jianghe nodded. It was not appropriate for him to linger in a girl's cabin, so he promptly took his leave.

He returned to his own fishing boat.

With the shrewdness Gao Peiyao has shown, she should have understood where I stand on the alliance.

Returning Old Gao's spirit stone at this moment, while explicitly saying he would borrow from her again when he needed to, made his friendly intentions more than clear.

He supported forming an alliance not because of Old Gao, but because he valued Gao Peiyao's talent.

He had a long lifespan and Xiao Hei, his Golden Finger, but he needed time to grow.

Gao Peiyao was more talented than he was, and she also had Old Gao's decades of savings. She should be able to cultivate to the sixth level of Qi Refining within a short time.

As long as Gao Peiyao encountered sufficiently fortunate opportunities, she could break through to the late Qi Refining stage.

Then he would have an ally at the late Qi Refining stage, giving him another measure of protection for his life.

Thus, for him, the benefits of forming an alliance outweighed the drawbacks.

Three days later.

Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu arrived at the Welcoming Inn together. Upon entering the private room, they saw Gao Peiyao already waiting for them.

However, Gao Peiyao was not alone in the room.

There was another young woman, dressed in a short, coarse-cloth skirt like Gao Peiyao. She was a Junior Fisher-Farmer of the Yun Household.

She had slender, willow-leaf brows, lively almond eyes, a high nose, and lips red as cinnabar. Her features were delicate and lovely.

She was chatting and laughing with Gao Peiyao.

Seeing Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu enter, Gao Peiyao rose to greet them. "Brother Jianghe, Brother Daniu, you're here. Let me introduce you."

(End of chapter)