The Guling Jiang Clan?
The moment those words were spoken, the lively chatter in the room abruptly stopped.
Everyone looked at Wang Heng, seemingly puzzled.
Where was Guling? Why had they never heard of it?
And how could a small town support a sizable clan?
Damn, I misjudged him!
Wang Heng's heart lurched, and the corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably.
What rotten luck!
How could he have anticipated that Jiang Yi, with his handsome features, clear-eyed vigor, and exceptional manner of speech, was actually a mere blade of grass among the common folk rather than a promising scion of a clan?
What a waste of such outstanding looks.
"Hahahaha!"
Ever the smooth operator who could handle people on all sides, Wang Heng suddenly laughed to ease the awkward atmosphere:
"So it's the 'Lujiang Jiang Clan'! My apologies, my apologies! Don't take offense, everyone. Junior Brother Jiang enjoys a joke. He deliberately said Guling to have a little fun with us."
Sitting beside him, Li Ruohan frowned:
"The Lujiang Jiang Clan? I've never heard of that branch. Have you, Senior Brother Lu?"
Lu Yun shook his head:
"My knowledge is limited."
Wang Heng coughed twice and brushed it aside lightly:
"Guling in Northern Mang lies between the Zhao Kingdom and the Sheng Kingdom, with Mount Lu at its waist, Hanyang Peak and Iron Boat Peak, and a great Dragon River.
"There's a very famous Dharma Lineage there with 'Sect' in its name, called the Mount Lu Sword Sect.
"So while Junior Brother Jiang calls it the 'Guling Jiang Clan,' it's actually in the Lujiang area."
Lu Yun gradually caught on.
Junior Brother Wang was trying to smooth things over.
He frowned and followed his lead, changing the subject:
"Everyone, try this Fish-Dragon Herb and Black Chicken Soup. Herb-Gathering Peak had a good harvest this year, with twenty percent more Spirit Plants surviving than in previous years. You wouldn't normally get to eat this."
Senior Brother Lu certainly knows how to handle things!
Wang Heng silently praised him, then chuckled:
"No wonder the owner of Heshui Cave puts Senior Brother Lu on a pedestal like a great Buddha. With Senior Brother Lu looking after him, his business must be flourishing by the day!"
As laughter and conversation resumed, the premium room filled with cheer once more.
Junior Brother Jiang's background is probably quite ordinary...
Sipping her Biluochun Tea, Li Ruohan belatedly understood as she watched Wang Heng and Lu Yun chatting merrily while no longer saying much to Jiang Yi.
It seems he isn't a direct descendant of a Qi Refining Clan. That 'Lujiang Jiang Clan' business was probably Senior Brother Wang putting a flattering face on things.
What a pity!
Li Ruohan set down her teacup, feeling the same regret as Wang Heng.
Junior Brother Jiang's speech, conduct, and composed bearing were very much those of a fine young prospect raised by a great clan.
Ordinary Mortal Laborers toiled like oxen and horses, their hair already turning white and their Qi and Blood declining.
How could they have his fine looks and graceful bearing?
Li Ruohan sighed softly, her bright eyes drifting away from Jiang Yi as she joined Lu Yun and Wang Heng's conversation:
"Senior Brothers, I've been hoping to exchange for a few Essence-Nourishing Pills lately to nourish my body and harmonize it inside and out, so I can break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining. Do either of you know a way?"
Wang Heng looked at Lu Yun, who waved a hand:
"That will be difficult. It's the end of the year, and the Inner Peaks are all rushing to audit their accounts. Essence-Nourishing Pills are part of the Inner Peaks senior brothers' monthly allotment. Consumption is already enormous, so it's hard to hold any back.
"Especially with Senior Brother Xu in charge of distributing them. Lately, he's been... in a foul mood. A while ago, he went to inspect the outer peaks and even killed a Mortal Laborer who didn't know better."
At this point, Lu Yun finally deigned to glance at Jiang Yi:
"Right, that happened in the Quenching Room on Junior Brother Jiang's Crimson Flame Peak."
Zhao Fang, the newest and least senior among them, hurried to speak when he heard that it concerned Crimson Flame Peak:
"I heard about that too. Senior Brother Xu paid eight thousand in Talisman Money as compensation!"
Wang Heng asked curiously:
"Why is Senior Brother Xu Yan in a foul mood? He's one of the foremost talents in the Inner Peaks. As Elder Sui's disciple, his standing isn't much below those in the sect master's line."
Lu Yun, who was always well informed, went straight to the point without keeping them guessing:
"Didn't I just mention Herb-Gathering Peak's good harvest this year? They refined two extra Hanyuan Pills, but Senior Brother Xu didn't get any. The sect master's line took them all."
Hanyuan Pills?
Jiang Yi, who had been neglected and cold-shouldered, whether intentionally or not, raised his eyebrows. He seemed to have seen that piece of news the first time he humbly asked the Heavenly Book to reveal a fortuitous encounter.
"That certainly is infuriating! They only produce about five Hanyuan Pills a year. They finally made two extra, yet he didn't get so much as a taste! I wouldn't stand for it either!"
Wang Heng voiced his agreement. Hanyuan Pills gathered the essence of a hundred herbs and could purify the spiritual workings drawn in through breathing, reducing the effort needed to circulate and refine them.
Taking one saved several years of arduous cultivation. They were precious indeed!
"And that's not all. Apparently, Senior Brother Xu wanted to kick up a fuss, but Elder Sui stopped him and specially pointed him toward a fortuitous encounter as compensation.
"Heh, guess what happened? That fell through too!"
Lu Yun laughed heartily. Making conversational fodder out of the embarrassment of someone more formidable than himself inevitably gave him some pleasure.
"Senior Brother Xu really is terribly unlucky."
Li Ruohan frowned as she asked.
"How could a fortuitous encounter already in his grasp fly away?"
Lu Yun explained with a smile:
"I only heard this from a duty officer on Herb-Gathering Peak. Apparently, Elder Sui calculated that somewhere among the Outer Sect's Four Peaks, Yin-Yang would converge and mingle with Earth Qi, gathering Moonlight Essence and dripping Flowing Essence... It's an exceptionally rare substance!
"It can cleanse and refine the body, clear all the bones, and greatly advance one's cultivation! But Senior Brother Xu searched for seven whole days and simply couldn't find the place!"
This Senior Brother Xu and I certainly share quite a connection!
Jiang Yi thought.
So the Moonlight Essence Flowing Essence I swallowed was actually his fortuitous encounter?
He silently lowered his head and earnestly savored the bowl of Fish-Dragon Herb and Black Chicken Soup, rich in Spiritual Qi, as though he had never eaten anything so fine.
Seeing this, Wang Heng and Lu Yun lowered their opinion of him another notch.
It seems Junior Brother Jiang really is a blade of grass from the countryside. His horizons are far too narrow!
Everyone is enjoying a lively exchange of experiences and knowledge, yet all he knows is to freeload on Spirit Cuisine and fine medicine!
Li Ruohan looked anxious as she returned to the matter at hand:
"Do you have any way, Senior Brother Wang? They'll be filling additional Inner Peaks seats when spring begins. I must use Essence-Nourishing Pills to improve my chances of breaking through."
Wang Heng pondered silently, not daring to make any guarantees:
"I'll ask around for you, Junior Sister Li, or ask Senior Brother Xiao. He's already at the fifth level of Qi Refining, and his entry into the Inner Peaks is a nailed-down certainty. Perhaps he'll have a way."
Li Ruohan rose to thank him:
"Thank you, Senior Brother! As long as I can exchange for Essence-Nourishing Pills, any amount of Talisman Money is fine!"
With that topic finished, they turned to idle conversation.
Jiang Yi gulped down three bowls of the medicinal Spirit Cuisine in succession, eating until he was eight-tenths full.
Seeing that it was already dark outside, he tactfully rose, cupped his hands, and took his leave.
Wang Heng made no attempt to keep him, merely nodding coolly to see him off.
Once Jiang Yi had left the room, Lu Yun teased with a laugh:
"It's rare for you to misjudge someone, Junior Brother Wang! Haha! Bringing a mere blade of grass of a mortal here among us!"
Wang Heng sighed helplessly:
"I've made a fool of myself before you, Senior Brother. Among all the Mortal Laborers attending lessons at Guanlan Terrace, Junior Brother Jiang had the finest bearing. He didn't seem like an ordinary person! Who could have imagined... ah!"
Li Ruohan consoled him:
"Don't be upset, Senior Brother. Since Junior Brother Jiang can attend lessons in the Inner Peaks, he must have some ability. Perhaps there will come a day when he proves useful."
As the three chatted, Zhao Fang, who had been as inconspicuous as Jiang Yi, spoke hesitantly:
"So you don't actually know Inspection Officer Jiang, Senior Brother Wang?"
Wang Heng froze and looked at Zhao Fang, who had only just been recruited into the Qianji Outer Sect, asking in astonishment:
"What Inspection Officer Jiang?"
Zhao Fang faltered, then stammered:
"That Senior Brother Jiang just now is the Inspection Officer of Crimson Flame Peak's Quenching Room, and his methods are extraordinary!
"A few days ago, the Inspection Officers of the Engraving Room and the Forging Room opposed him. That very night, he beat one to death and crippled the other. He was quite formidable!
"Word of this has already spread throughout Crimson Flame Peak..."
Wang Heng's eyes widened. He could scarcely believe it and wondered whether he had misheard.
"Why didn't you say so earlier, Junior Brother!?"
Anger colored his voice.
If Junior Brother Jiang really was a room's Inspection Officer, that meant he had a duty officer backing him.
Coupled with his apparent practice of Daoist techniques, he should possess considerable talent and was entirely worth treating well!
Zhao Fang mumbled:
"I heard you speaking with such certainty about some Lujiang Jiang Clan, Senior Brother, and thought you knew his background..."
Wang Heng's face went livid, then pale with anger. For a long while, he could not squeeze out a word.
Lu Yun, seated beside him, was equally astonished. That Junior Brother Jiang had actually risen from among the grass-like commoners to gain a duty officer's favor, be promoted to a room's Inspection Officer, and practice cultivation?
He truly was an anomaly!
"Don't be disheartened, Senior Brother. We all misjudged him. Junior Brother Jiang wants to advance, so he's bound to have dealings with us again. When the time comes, we can arrange a meal and clear things up."
Li Ruohan spoke prettily, her tone gentle:
"Besides, forgive me for being mercenary, but even if Junior Brother Jiang enters the Inner Peaks, he'll probably struggle to cultivate without a clan supporting him.
"He'll likely still have to rely on us quite a bit to give him a helping hand."
Wang Heng felt much better upon hearing this and nodded with a smile:
"You're right, Junior Sister Li. Establishing oneself in the Inner Peaks and cultivating properly is no easier than working in the outer sect."
Lu Yun also said:
"Quite right, quite right. It's not as though we're petty snobs, nor did we belittle Junior Brother Jiang excessively.
"Even if he truly holds a grudge, it's no great matter.
"Besides, with Senior Brother Xiao around, what waves could a mere grass-like mortal stir up?"
Wang Heng let out a long sigh:
"What should have been a good thing ended up botched. What a shame!"
What a pity. I was too embarrassed to drink another two bowls...
Leaving Heshui Cave, Jiang Yi rode a Flying Crane straight back to Crimson Flame Peak.
After returning the jade token, he headed toward the Large Compound. Wind and snow weighed on his shoulders as his thoughts quietly turned:
That meal today was worth several days of cultivation. We're all Mortal Laborers, yet people like Zheng Dajiang and Wang Heng can live so comfortably. Having a clan support you really does make life pleasant!
At that thought, a sudden sense of urgency welled up in Jiang Yi's heart. There were not many additional Inner Peaks seats. According to Duty Officer Yang, there were only a handful in total.
Each of the Outer Sect's Four Peaks had three major workshops, and every duty officer could recommend one person.
By a rough count, there were quite a few competitors!
Jiang Yi stepped into the Large Compound but did not enter his room.
He stood quietly for a moment, organizing his thoughts. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a thick, solid layer of ice over the large water vat in the corner.
"Winter is here."
His eyes flickered, and the golden paper appeared.
[I humbly beseech the Heavenly Book: show me an auspicious day to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining?]
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