Weighing Interests

Port No. 1 was the Yun Household's largest port, and the deacon of the Outer Waters resided there.

The deacon of the Outer Waters was usually an elder from a collateral branch of the Yun Household or a direct-line descendant, typically at Qi Refining, Seventh Layer.

They could handle any unexpected incident in the Outer Waters.

Except for Lan Tianxiang's surprise attack on Port No. 2.

However, had Lan Tianxiang attacked Port No. 1, he might not have escaped.

Port No. 1 had not only the deacon of the Outer Waters, a Qi Refining, Seventh Layer cultivator, but also five Yun Household retainers at the late Qi Refining stage stationed there.

Even if they could not defeat Lan Tianxiang, who was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, they could still keep him from inflicting too much damage on the port.

Chen Jianghe arrived at Port No. 1 for the arranged meeting.

The usually bustling crowds were now sparse, with few people to be seen in the vast port.

Only a few dozen fishing boats were moored there.

Because of the attack on Port No. 2, the junior fisher-farmers who had previously gone to Port No. 2 and Port No. 3 had begun taking the longer route to Port No. 1.

On his way to the Welcoming Inn, Chen Jianghe heard some news.

Business at Port No. 2 and Port No. 3 had been suspended, and all junior fisher-farmers could only come to Port No. 1 to buy daily necessities.

"Brother Jianghe."

Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun approached together, meeting him outside the Welcoming Inn. Looking at the deserted entrance, neither could muster a smile.

"Peiyao, Fairy Miaoyun." Chen Jianghe nodded.

"Has Brother Daniu not arrived yet?"

"Why don't we wait for Fellow Daoist Yu in a private room first?"

The exchange between Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun made Chen Jianghe realize that Zhou Miaoyun had already told Gao Peiyao about Yu Daniu's lack of talent in the talisman Dao.

This also meant that Gao Peiyao would no longer harbor any hopes for Yu Daniu.

In other words.

The two women had already given up on Yu Daniu.

He had been completely isolated.

"All right, let's wait in a private room."

Chen Jianghe followed the two women into the Welcoming Inn.

Yu Daniu had already been isolated; he could not afford to be isolated as well. Otherwise, his safety could not be guaranteed during this turbulent period for the Yun Household.

Moreover, as long as he gained the two women's recognition, there was still room to ease the matter of Yu Daniu being kicked out of the alliance.

At the very least, they had to get through the current instability first.

"Brother Jianghe, I've already told Sister Miaoyun what happened at Port No. 2. Have you heard any news lately?"

As soon as they entered the private room, Gao Peiyao questioned Chen Jianghe directly, showing no intention of waiting for Yu Daniu.

Chen Jianghe sighed inwardly.

When they first established the Mutual Aid Alliance, he had known that their so-called mutual aid was not charity, but paid assistance offered when they had value to one another.

Yu Daniu lacked aptitude in his spiritual root, lacked talent in aquaculture, and now lacked talent in the talisman Dao as well. To them, he no longer had any value.

So at this moment, Gao Peiyao unhesitatingly chose to side with Zhou Miaoyun and isolate Yu Daniu together.

"I don't know much either. Apart from what happened at Port No. 2, there's only some news I heard when I arrived at the port."

"Port No. 2 was reduced to ruins by Lan Tianxiang's attack and has been closed. Perhaps out of concern that Port No. 3 would follow in its footsteps, they've closed that one too."

Chen Jianghe shared the news he had heard on his way there.

"It seems the news was true. The Yun Household is concentrating all its forces in the outer region on protecting Port No. 1 to keep the Outer Waters functioning normally."

Zhou Miaoyun nodded.

"Even so, I suggest that Sister Peiyao and Fellow Daoist Chen buy a month's worth of daily necessities each time from now on. Come to the port as little as possible."

The Yun Household's powerful cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining could not stay at the port forever, so the port still carried risks.

In fact, even the Outer Waters were dangerous, though far less so than the port.

"Sister Miaoyun is right."

Gao Peiyao looked at Chen Jianghe and said gently, "Brother Jianghe, don't leave Mirror Moon Lake during the fish dormancy period either." "Mm."

Chen Jianghe gave a word of assent.

He was not in the habit of taking temporary work, much less during this unusual period.

Even the waters of Mirror Moon Lake were not particularly safe. The lands outside were fraught with even greater danger and had probably already begun descending into chaos.

"The current turmoil does offer opportunities for me to profit. Here are two spirit stones. I'll lend them to you for cultivation first, Fellow Daoist."

Zhou Miaoyun took out two spirit stones. With a point of her delicate finger, she wrapped them in magical power and sent them before him.

"And these two Water Escape Talismans-one each for Sister Peiyao and Fellow Daoist Chen. They can save your lives at a critical moment."

"Then thank you, Sister Miaoyun." Gao Peiyao accepted the Water Escape Talisman and thanked her sweetly.

Looking at the two spirit stones and the Water Escape Talisman before him, Chen Jianghe hesitated for a moment, then put them away as well and thanked Zhou Miaoyun.

Two spirit stones would be very useful to him right now.

They could buy a Qi-Nourishing Pill for him to take and refine after the New Year, at which point he could break through to Qi Refining Third Layer.

He would then be able to practice the Water Escape Technique included in the Origin Returning True Water Art.

It was a life-saving spell.

Especially at this time of instability for the Yun Household, learning the Water Escape Technique would give him a means of preserving his life.

As for that Water Escape Talisman, Zhou Miaoyun had not exaggerated. It really could save his life at a critical moment.

Using the Water Escape Technique required magical power.

Chen Jianghe estimated that the magical power of someone at Qi Refining Third Layer would allow at most two or three uses before running dry.

A Water Escape Talisman required no expenditure of magical power.

He only needed to tear the Water Escape Talisman to trigger the Water Escape Technique stored within, and he could escape far away through the water.

As for how far he could escape, that depended on the Water Escape Talisman's grade.

A low-grade Water Escape Talisman contained a water escape spell cast at the full strength of Qi Refining Third Layer, allowing an escape of at most two li.

A Middle Grade Water Escape Talisman could carry him ten li.

The Water Escape Talisman Zhou Miaoyun had given him was low-grade, but it was still quite valuable.

Among low-grade spirit talismans, life-saving talismans were the most valuable.

Offensive spirit talismans generally cost one spirit stone each, while defensive ones cost two spirit stones each.

Five-Phase Escape Talismans and Divine Movement Talismans cost three spirit stones apiece.

In other words, Zhou Miaoyun had directly handed over resources worth five spirit stones.

She had taken an interest in Chen Jianghe's "talent for aquaculture" and believed that investing now would yield a large return in the future.

At the same time, this was also making Chen Jianghe choose.

Yu Daniu's value fell far short of Zhou Miaoyun's, and keeping someone with no value in the alliance would only waste resources.

Chen Jianghe inwardly counted himself fortunate.

Fortunately, he had already sent Yu Daniu a letter telling him not to act rashly and voluntarily withdraw from the alliance.

As long as Yu Daniu did not offer to withdraw from the alliance, Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao could only have Chen Jianghe cooperate in isolating him, making him leave of his own accord.

However, Chen Jianghe would not be swayed by anyone. The two spirit stones and the Water Escape Talisman were Zhou Miaoyun's investment in him, and he would have to repay them in the future.

That was precisely what the one core principle and four requirements for establishing the Mutual Aid Alliance stipulated.

He owed no one a personal favor.

Just then, the private room's door opened.

Seeing that everyone was there, Yu Daniu came over with a hint of embarrassment and sat down beside Chen Jianghe.

"Brother Jianghe, Sister Peiyao, Fairy Miaoyun, you're all here already."

"Daniu, why are you so late?" Chen Jianghe asked with a smile.

"Brother Jianghe, something major has happened to the Yun Household."

(End of chapter)