They drank to their hearts' content and talked freely, and only when the candle tears had congealed did grandfather and grandson finally go to sleep.
The night passed without dreams, until noon.
Jiang Yi sat up and stretched his limbs, feeling refreshed in body and spirit, as though all hundred and eight thousand pores were giving off a clean fragrance. He scarcely seemed to possess a mortal body anymore.
"Impervious to heat and cold, free from every illness, rid of a body worn by toil. This truly is no longer ordinary mortal flesh."
He slipped on his cloth shoes and pushed open the straight-latticed window. Cold air came swirling in.
Outside, the sky had just cleared after the heavy snow. Heaven and earth shone so brightly that his vision blurred.
Several winter plum trees were in full bloom in the courtyard, their branches weighed down with snow. In the sunlight, they looked like jade trees with crystalline boughs.
A breeze passed, carrying their cool fragrance into Jiang Yi's face.
"Living in a big residence really is comfortable. A big bed, soft bedding, incense to soothe the mind."
His thoughts turned to the Large Compound of the Work Dormitory halfway up the mountain, and his own cramped shack, where even turning around felt difficult. He shook his head.
"When I'd never lived well, I could get used to it. Now, if I go back, I'm afraid nothing will feel right."
Jiang Yi smiled. The ancients had said it was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality. This was probably what they meant.
He put on his outer robe and finished dressing, then saw the young Daoist Attendant bringing hot water to attend to him.
"Tell Duty Officer Yang I'll take my leave first."
In front of outsiders, Jiang Yi still mainly addressed him by his "position."
After washing, he learned that Yang Xun was still asleep, so he left on his own without disturbing him.
With the year's end drawing ever closer, the Outer Sect's Four Peaks bustled with activity, stepping up work to finish the orders on hand.
Returning to the Large Compound, Jiang Yi drank some water and ate some meat, then began circulating his True Qi to advance his cultivation.
After dozens of complete circuits, warmth filled his bones and organs. His body felt as though it were soaking in a hot spring, wonderfully comfortable.
Primordial Essence arose within him, mingling with the Fire Nature of his True Qi and forming dense clumps the size of his thumb.
In Daoist books and Method Formulas, this was called "Transforming Qi and Refining Essence, Extracting True Lead."
If Jiang Yi cultivated the Fourth Level of Qi Refining to full completion, these pieces of true lead, heavy as silver and condensed like mercury, would gather into a single pellet!
Then he could ascend another floor and enter the Fifth Level of Qi Refining!
"There's no rushing it. Coordinating the organs and harmonizing Primordial Essence takes patience and meticulous polishing."
Jiang Yi opened his eyes and summoned the Golden Paper.
[I humbly beseech the Heavenly Book to show my current cultivation progress!]
A moment later.
[Deduction results follow] [Heavenly Book's Fated Master: Jiang Yi] [Realm: Fourth Level of Qi Refining (39%)] [Cultivation Methods: "Proper Meridian Qi Circulation Art" (ungraded), "Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art" (ninth grade)]
Jiang Yi nodded. The jar of Nine-Insect Wine his grandfather had treasured was truly extraordinary. It had made his cultivation surge by five percentage points overnight.
"The remaining 'seventy percent' will take three to five months at least, or half a year at most, before I can possibly reach completion.
"I swore so confidently before that I'd reach the fifth level before spring. Now it seems I was rather overconfident."
Jiang Yi only hoped that the Water Pool and Fire Marsh Eighth-Grade Ritual, which cost a full four hundred thousand in Talisman Money, would be worth the investment.
That it would let him successfully open the Inner Mansion of the Origin Gate and secure a place in the Inner Peaks.
This step was said to be extremely difficult. Even with Xiao Tongquan's background and supply of resources, he had yet to take it.
"That's four hundred thousand in Talisman Money... surely it ought to work."
Even if an outer sect Mortal Laborer endured two full terms of indenture, twenty-four whole years of labor, they could never earn that amount.
"After the fifth level, you're considered to possess the aptitude to cultivate the Dao. The Dharma Lineage will classify you as 'talent,' and you can be entrusted with important duties."
Jiang Yi's eyes flashed, and the dimmed sheet of Golden Paper brightened again.
He posed a question.
[I humbly beseech the Heavenly Book: given my current circumstances, what is the likelihood of encountering danger or an unexpected mishap if I accompany Yang Xun of Crimson Flame Peak's Quenching Room down the mountain?]
Jiang Yi had considered it carefully. Asking directly whether "something bad would happen to him" was too vague and covered too broad a range to yield an accurate answer.
Moreover, the sheer number of "variables" involved might make the deduction take an extremely long time.
Thus, Jiang Yi chose to humbly ask about "likelihood," using that to judge whether going down the mountain would be dangerous.
[Deduction time: ten hours]
"I'll wait patiently."
Jiang Yi smoothed away his distracting thoughts. He still leaned toward accompanying Yang Xun. If nothing else, broadening his horizons and getting some fresh air would be good.
"If I confirm the chance of something going wrong is low, with more than seventy percent assurance of safety, I can... try seeking a Fortuitous Encounter."
Confined to Crimson Flame Peak, or even the outer sect, he only ever encountered Mortal Laborers, Inspection Officers, and Duty Officers. How could a Fortuitous Encounter fall from the sky?
If he had a chance to go out and wander, perhaps the result would be different.
Crimson Flame Peak, Ice and Fire Cave.
A beaming Luo Tong walked inside, found Zhou Can, who had come over from Sewing Peak, and cupped his hands before taking a seat.
"Greetings... Duty Officer Zhou."
After some thought, Luo Tong still chose that form of address rather than calling him "brother-in-law" to draw them closer.
After all, there was still Senior Brother Jiang waiting on the other side.
"Why be so formal with family? There's no need to address me by my 'position' outside."
Zhou Can smiled amiably, but his sinister features made him difficult to approach.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, he asked:
"Have you obtained the Essence-Nourishing Pills?"
Luo Tong nodded and replied:
"Duty Officer Zhou Guang of the Forging Room is a respectable man who takes Talisman Money and gets things done. No sooner had I paid the full amount than he sent over the Essence-Nourishing Pills. Three to a bottle, each the size of a longan. Definitely genuine."
The corner of Zhou Can's eye twitched, but his expression showed no obvious change. He said softly:
"What a pity. I just met Senior Brother Xu Yan of the Inner Peaks. He still has some Essence-Nourishing Pills to spare. They should be cheaper than Zhou Guang's asking price."
Senior Brother Xu?
Luo Tong's face twitched with astonishment, as though he had never expected the unremarkable-looking Zhou Can to know Xu Yan, whose standing ranked among the top ten in the Inner Peaks.
"Senior Brother Xu will be stationed in Heart-Seizing Forest for the long term, and that resource site produces Sewing Peak's main materials. That's why he came to speak with me."
Zhou Can's tone was casual, but the look in Luo Tong's eyes changed. He hurried to flatter him:
"Brother-in-law, with a connection to Senior Brother Xu, you're bound to soar to success and rise straight into the clouds! Let me offer you a toast in congratulations!"
At this point, Luo Tong no longer spared a thought for Senior Brother Jiang.
If Senior Brother Xu truly wanted to draw in the Duty Officers of Sewing Peak's various rooms, then with this connection, Zhou Can was better suited to be his "brother-in-law"!
"I heard Qian'er mention that you've always wanted to join that Inner Peaks association Wang Heng and Lu Yun are organizing?"
Zhou Can raised his wine cup and took a small sip.
"What they're really running around for is resources from the Inner Peaks.
"In my view, there's no need to go to such lengths to befriend them. I can ask Senior Brother Xu to do me a favor and let you accompany them to Heart-Seizing Forest."
Has my luck finally come?
Luo Tong felt as though a meat pie had fallen from the sky and struck him on the forehead. Last night, he had gotten a hundred and fifty thousand in Talisman Money from his elder sister, and today he had received such astonishing good news.
It was simply a new bridegroom hiring a midwife-double happiness at the door!
Luo Tong made a token show of courtesy:
"Brother-in-law... wouldn't that be inappropriate? I'm merely an outer sect Mortal Laborer at the Third Level of Qi Refining. How could I enter an important site of the Dharma Lineage?"
Zhou Can waved a hand expansively.
"What Third Level of Qi Refining or fourth level? It's only a matter of whether you have enough resources. Eat a few more bottles of Essence-Nourishing Pills, and advancing another level will take no more than a snap of the fingers."
"Don't worry. Although there are dangers in the resource site, I'll also have Senior Brother Xu assign someone to look after you.
"Qian'er and I love each other and have promised to grow old together. We'll be family in the future. Now that you've joined the Qianji Sect, I'll spare no effort to help you enter the Inner Peaks and fulfill your wish."
Luo Tong's heart surged. Remembering the humiliation of being scorned by Xiao Tongquan, Li Ruohan, and the others in Heshui Cave two days earlier, then driven out like a stray dog, he could not help feeling his blood rise.
He had swallowed it without lashing out then because he knew he was no match for them.
Now that he had latched onto the great tree of Senior Brother Xu through Zhou Can, things would be different.
Xiao Tongquan, Li Ruohan, what do they have to be so smug about! If I had resources like theirs, my achievements would never stop here!
Luo Tong offered toast after toast, currying favor with Zhou Can in every possible way, truly accepting him as his brother-in-law.
The two exchanged toasts and drank their fill, only parting around midnight.
Luo Tong was thoroughly drunk, swaying as he walked. Waving goodbye to Zhou Can, he suddenly had a thought:
With Senior Brother Xu backing me, there's no need to keep bowing and scraping, shamelessly pandering to Xiao Tongquan and Li Ruohan.
There's even less reason to bother with Jiang Yi. I don't have enough Essence-Nourishing Pills for myself. Why give him one? What a waste!
Elsewhere, Zhou Can stood quietly on the mountain path, his thin, shriveled figure between the dark sky and the thick snow.
That dog was quick. He spent every last coin the moment he got his hands on the Talisman Money!
I'd meant to send you to the Yellow Springs, then take back those hundred and fifty thousand...
Zhou Can's gaze was icy. With his miserly nature, how could he tolerate an outsider reaching into his purse?
Whether Luo Qian'er's feelings were genuine or feigned, her younger brother Luo Tong was an eyesore.
The best solution was to plot his removal.
Even taking ten thousand steps back, helping Luo Tong enter the Inner Peaks would not benefit Zhou Can in the slightest.
With a close relative who was an Inner Peaks disciple backing Luo Qian'er, how could he keep her under his thumb afterward?
Without Luo Tong, Luo Qian'er can only rely on me.
Zhou Can thought darkly as he slowly descended Crimson Flame Peak. When he reached the foot of the mountain, the name "Jiang Yi" suddenly popped into his head.
Now that I have Senior Brother Xu behind me, I needn't fear Yang Xun.
If that brat doesn't know his place and comes to block my path, I'll dispose of him just the same!
Before you continue