Buyout, Brother-in-Law

After Xiao Tongquan finished demonstrating his art, he swept his broad sleeve and turned back to the tea table, his bearing calm and composed.

Luo Tong watched, dazzled and utterly enthralled.

He had spent seventy or eighty thousand in Talisman Money just to establish a connection with Zhou Guang of the Forging Room and learn the Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art from the Records Room of the Labor Affairs Courtyard. Even now, he had yet to find his way through its door.

Never mind wielding it as freely as Xiao Tongquan, moving it with a thought-even the most basic Circulating Qi Practice was difficult for him.

Zhou Guang was a money-grubber who recognized nothing but money, with an outrageously large appetite. Even though Luo Tong regularly offered him gifts, all he received was a smattering of cursory advice.

There were many points of confusion, obscure keys such as "gather lead to replenish Li, use lead to replenish mercury" and "forge the primal true essence, command Qi to generate fire."

Luo Tong simply could not fathom them, so he could only send letters home to consult the clan elders.

Yet he could not write too clearly or copy out the original text, either. Otherwise, he would be suspected of leaking a Method Formula and punished under sect rules!

He stumbled along this road of cultivation and Spell Refinement, every step forward fraught with a thousand hardships.

"How magnificent, Senior Brother Xiao!"

Luo Tong was the first to praise him, flattering him to the utmost:

"With such command of True Qi and mastery over the nature of water, even Inner Peaks disciples could do no better!"

Xiao Tongquan spoke mildly, seemingly unimpressed:

"Do you mean that the Inner Peaks disciples are all wine sacks and rice bags, Junior Brother Luo? That after years of bitter cultivation, they cannot compare with an outer disciple like me?"

Luo Tong's plastered-on smile froze, and his face flushed crimson. Faced with Xiao Tongquan's merciless question, he could hardly extricate himself from the embarrassment and felt terribly ashamed.

Yet he dared not flare up, and gave an awkward, hollow laugh:

"You misunderstand, Senior Brother Xiao... that wasn't what I meant."

Xiao Tongquan stopped looking at him. He idly nudged his teacup twice, then suddenly rose. "The mood has passed. Let's meet another day."

With that, he strode away.

Wang Heng and Lu Yun were both perceptive men. Seeing Xiao Tongquan leave in a sweep of his sleeves, they naturally had no desire to linger. They cupped their hands to Jiang Yi and Li Ruohan, each found an excuse, and promptly departed.

In the blink of an eye.

Only Li Ruohan, Jiang Yi, and a deathly pale Luo Tong remained in the private room on Heshui Cave's second floor.

"Senior Sister Li... I..."

Luo Tong was at a complete loss, too frightened to speak. At first glance, he even looked rather pitiful.

"You should head back first, Junior Brother Luo."

Unable to help, Li Ruohan gently advised him:

"Senior Brother Xiao sometimes has a quick temper. Perhaps you happened to run into it today. Go back for now. We can discuss it another day."

Luo Tong stood dumb as a wooden chicken. Even now, he had no idea where he had gone wrong and displeased Xiao Tongquan.

"...I'll take my leave."

He rose as though his soul had left his body and tottered toward the door.

Just as he was about to cross the threshold, he abruptly looked back and saw Li Ruohan and Jiang Yi sitting comfortably opposite each other.

The former chatted and smiled, her eyes curving; the latter looked composed and spoke with easy assurance.

What am I going to do?! Senior Sister Li certainly won't help me again. Who else can give me a hand... Jiang Yi!

Luo Tong looked as though he had lost both parents, his head drooping like a stray dog driven out with its tail between its legs.

I'll beg Senior Brother Jiang! Ask him to put in a word for me for my sister's sake!

At this thought, everything suddenly became clear. Luo Tong felt as though he had grasped a lifesaving straw.

He lingered outside the door for a moment, then abruptly turned, found a seat in a corner of the first-floor hall, and waited anxiously for Jiang Yi to come out.

The evening clouds shone upon Cang Mountain's white snow. Scattered jade and shattered gems drifted past the railing into the room, where the warmth melted them into wisps of light vapor.

Her cheeks flushed, Li Ruohan held her teacup in both hands and raised it toward Jiang Yi as though offering a toast:

"Thank you for enlightening me, Senior Brother Jiang. So many things I couldn't understand fell apart like bamboo beneath a blade with just a little guidance from you!"

Jiang Yi replied with a smile:

"You're too kind, Junior Sister. It was no trouble at all."

After receiving the Heavenly Book's "anointment," and frequently comparing the original text with its analysis and diligently studying them, his accumulated understanding of cultivation and Spell Refinement had grown rapidly.

Even Li Ruohan, who came from the Bojun Li Clan, was sincerely convinced, filled with admiration and wonder.

"It's a pity Senior Brother Xiao left so soon. I'd wanted to properly introduce you and ease his troubles with Spell Refinement.

"With your talent, Senior Brother Jiang, you could certainly help Senior Brother Tongquan."

Li Ruohan spoke regretfully.

Although Wang Heng had taken the initiative in forming their association, Xiao Tongquan was its leader, with everyone else supporting him.

The reason was simple.

Xiao Tongquan was the most likely to enter the Inner Peaks. Once he did, he would inevitably need trustworthy people to manage things when he visited the Qianji Sect's resource grounds.

As long as Wang Heng, Lu Yun, and even Li Ruohan had yet to become Inner Peaks disciples, they could continue to bask in his reflected glory.

"My meager, shallow insights might not catch Senior Brother Xiao's discerning eye."

Jiang Yi left himself room rather than speaking in absolutes.

He had not expected the Demonic Dao's traditions to maintain such a severe monopoly over Cultivation Method commentaries, either.

Although the original texts could be made public, their essential analyses were kept secret, leaving even direct descendants of local clans struggling to comprehend Method Formulas.

Instead, a mere porter repeating the Heavenly Book's analyses like him had become a "Spell Refinement prodigy" in Li Ruohan's eyes.

Looking at it this way, that Manuscript Grandpa gave me really is worth its weight in gold!

Only now did Jiang Yi realize it, and his heart stirred.

His thoughts ebbed and flowed as he chatted with Li Ruohan a while longer. Only when they saw how late it had grown did the two rise to say their farewells.

After stepping out of Heshui Cave, Jiang Yi watched Li Ruohan leave, then turned back and entered the hall again.

He exchanged a few words with an attendant, then headed straight for a secluded private room in the rear courtyard.

About an incense stick's time later, Jiang Yi sat opposite a middle-aged cultivator in a brocade robe, whose bearing was dignified and gracious.

This man was Heshui Cave's steward, one of Elder Xu's trusted subordinates.

"This junior, Jiang Yi, greets Steward Xu."

Jiang Yi saluted neither servilely nor arrogantly, then took a small bottle from his robes:

"This is Green Zhi Pulp that I improved from an ancient recipe. Please appraise it, Steward."

Steward Xu accepted the jade bottle, removed the stopper, and sniffed lightly. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He fetched a jade cup, poured a little into it, and examined it closely. The liquid was crystal clear, with a faint, fresh fragrance of plants.

He touched it with the pad of his finger and found it cool and moist. After a small sip, gentle medicinal potency slowly spread through him.

"Pure medicinal properties that gently nourish every bone in the body. Rarer still, its color and flavor are excellent, too. It is indeed considerably better than the ordinary goods in the market!"

Steward Xu nodded slightly, quite satisfied:

"Junior Brother Wang truly did not exaggerate! What price did you have in mind, young Jiang?"

He had only come to discuss this transaction with Jiang Yi out of consideration for Wang Heng.

Given Jiang Yi's origins as an insignificant mortal, Steward Xu had never taken this "ancestral medicinal recipe" seriously and had expected nothing.

After appraising it, however, he was pleasantly surprised. This Green Zhi Pulp was of superior quality, perfect as a foundation-nourishing drink for Heshui Cave to serve at gatherings and banquets for Inner Peaks disciples.

Jiang Yi had prepared beforehand and already rehearsed his words. He said softly:

"I am willing to sell this recipe to Heshui Cave for just one hundred and fifty thousand in Talisman Money."

Steward Xu fell silent in thought, a trace of surprise passing through his eyes.

He had assumed Jiang Yi would ask for a long-term partnership, letting a thin stream flow forever. He had not expected him to be willing to sell the recipe outright.

Following his usual business style and desire to maximize returns, he ought to have settled the details with Heshui Cave and supplied it every month...

"You're truly willing to part with it, young Jiang?"

Steward Xu asked with a smile.

One hundred and fifty thousand in Talisman Money was not a large sum for Heshui Cave.

Inner Peaks disciples earned money easily and spent generously. As long as the quality was superior, they never begrudged the expense.

"To be frank, Steward, I am determined to cultivate, and my heart is set on the Inner Peaks. Everything else is merely twigs and leaves."

Jiang Yi understood Steward Xu's concerns and said candidly:

"If I cannot enter the Inner Peaks, what use is earning a little more Talisman Money? In the end, it will still all come to nothing.

"If I enter the Inner Peaks, I will be a Dharma Lineage cultivator, a talent of the Demonic Dao. How could I lack ways to make money!"

Steward Xu was taken aback, then offered heartfelt praise:

"You have a good head on your shoulders, Junior Brother Jiang. Then it's settled: one hundred and fifty thousand in Talisman Money for the Green Zhi Pulp recipe!

"I'll pay fifty thousand as a deposit first and make up the balance tomorrow, then have Junior Brother Wang deliver it to Crimson Flame Peak. How does that sound?"

"Agreed!"

Jiang Yi nodded, a great stone lifting from his heart.

With this one hundred and fifty thousand in Talisman Money as a foundation, it would be much simpler for Grandpa to arrange the Ritual Ceremony and construct the Water Pool and Fire Marsh.

Huddled in a corner of the hall, Luo Tong waited a long time before seeing Steward Xu of Heshui Cave emerge from the private room.

He saw the steward summon an attendant and tell him to fetch fifty thousand in Talisman Money from the till, count it carefully, and pack it up.

"I'll bring another hundred thousand tomorrow. Give it to Junior Brother Wang Heng and have him deliver it to Junior Brother Jiang Yi of Crimson Flame Peak. Do you remember?"

"I'll remember!"

Pretending to settle his bill while actually eavesdropping, Luo Tong craned his neck and saw the attendant packing bundles of bright red Talisman Money into a bag. He also keenly caught the words "fifty thousand," "a hundred thousand," and "Junior Brother Jiang Yi."

Towering waves instantly surged through his heart!

One hundred and fifty thousand in Talisman Money! What did Steward Xu of Heshui Cave discuss with Jiang Yi? He actually has such ability?

Luo Tong's throat bobbed, his eyes almost shining.

That iron rooster Zhou Can might not produce this much even if I squeezed him dry!

If my sister could get together with Senior Brother Jiang... no, Brother-in-Law Jiang, why would I need to worry about my prospects being unclear?!

His eyes darted, and he strode quickly out of Heshui Cave. While the sky had yet to darken completely, he headed straight for the outer sect's Sewing Peak!