Fire Dragon Daoist

Duan Anle was honest and straightforward, not one to keep secrets, so he didn't keep his two junior brothers in suspense. As soon as they met, he told them the news directly, "On my way back, in a teahouse, I overheard two rogue Rogue Cultivator talking about how our Double Brightness Trade Market is going to open a brothel."

The newly built Double Brightness Trade Market has no actual affiliation with the Chongming Sect, but Duan Anle still habitually uses the word "us" whenever he mentions it.

"Our family used to be affiliated with Linghe Market..." Pei Que stopped mid-sentence.

He suddenly remembered that Dai Yuanjiang hadn't even survived the beast attack during the Three Incense Cult incident; some gossipy people even said that the Widow Ma who had once relied on Dai Yuanjiang had come to Chongming Market to make a living because she had reconnected with her master Kang Dabao.

Since Linghe Market and Dai Yuanjiang are no longer there, the rules originally set by the Chongming Sect and Linghe Market prohibiting people from entering brothels and gambling dens are naturally no longer valid.

Not to mention, the current Double Brightness Trade Market was actually built under the supervision of a special commissioner sent by the state government. Since the officials were involved, there were virtually no restrictions on what could or could not be done in the market.

According to information gathered by Sect Leader Kang Da himself, Double Brightness Trade Market will not only have brothels built this time, but also gambling dens and opium dens.

According to the accountant surnamed Deng, who spoke privately, he would accept any business that could earn him a lot of Spirit Stone.

The chief accountant surnamed Deng, who was sent by the state government to take charge, looked young and fair-skinned. At first, he pretended to be indifferent to worldly affairs, which made even the Sect Leader Kang Da, think that he was a scion of a wealthy family who was ignorant of practical matters.

It wasn't until later that Kang Dabao learned that all the brothels, gambling dens, and entertainment venues that were to be built in Double Brightness Trade Market were arranged and brought in by him.

Furthermore, after making inquiries from various sources, Sect Leader Kang Da also learned that this accountant surnamed Deng was not only a fellow townsman who had followed Fei Nanying all the way from Ying Prefecture to Cloud Horn Prefecture, but also a close disciple of the newly appointed Acting Sima Gun.

The Green Lotus Courtyard opposite Chongming Sect is Fei Shuhe's villa. Several of the managers in the Double Brightness Trade Market next door are also Fei Household members. Even the Chongming Sect, which Sect Leader Kang Da, is nominally a sect controlled by Fei Household's son-in-law.

With the continued growth of their influence in these three places, it is only a matter of time before the Fei Household gradually encroaches on Pingrong County, brings it under their control, and even manages it so thoroughly that it becomes impenetrable.

It's not that Pingrong County, being such a remote and inaccessible place, held much appeal for the Fei Household; it was simply a matter of how large Lineage like theirs operated.

They have enough capital to spare, so they're happy to make a few casual moves in seemingly insignificant areas. If they profit, everyone's happy; if they lose, there's no need to regret it.

If the chess piece grows strong enough, it might even receive some unexpected benefits, which would be an even greater good.

However, these things were still too far removed from the lives of these young cultivators.

Pei Que and He Yuanbing weren't concerned with those things; their eyes lit up when they heard the word "brothel" in Duan Anle's words. It's normal for young people to have some longing for certain places.

"Tsk, the world is going to the dogs. I never imagined the state court would build such a filthy place in our Double Brightness Trade Market." Pei Que coughed first, then spoke seriously, his expression strange.

"Absolutely, absolutely, we definitely won't go," He Yuanbing said, swallowing hard. He was only twelve years old, but he was at the age when he was most curious about matters between men and women.

Seeing this, Duan Anle simply nodded. He was honest and straightforward, not stupid, and naturally could see through his two junior brothers' insincerity. But so what? Even he himself was actually quite interested in going to a brothel to see what it was like.

The three talked for a while longer, and Kang Rongquan, who had just assigned Yuan Changsheng his homework, also came over.

This chubby boy didn't come here specifically for the training of the mechanical puppets. Among his peers, he was closest to Duan Anle. He came here because he heard the news of Duan Anle's return and came specifically to find him and have some fun.

Ye Pingshui, who had just finished tidying up the equipment room for Yuan Jin, passed by and, seeing the lively scene, joined in for a chat.

Because of several major upheavals that had befallen his family, the newly initiated Ye Pingshui was quite cautious in his actions, a quiet and reserved person who didn't even dare to raise his voice among his fellow disciples.

Fortunately, there were no bullies in the Chongming Sect, and the atmosphere was good. The current senior disciple Han Yundao, was also a very responsible and helpful senior brother. He personally helped Ye Pingshui adapt for quite some time.

As a result, the latter's temperament improved considerably, and he dared to interact normally with his fellow disciples. This lively gathering of the disciples was interrupted not long afterward by the arrival of Elder Ye Zhengwen, the Elder in charge of external affairs.

"What brothels and red chambers? You've all made remarkable progress in your cultivation, haven't you? You're all on the verge of Foundation Establishment, aren't you?!"

The burly elder Ye Zhengwen, with his ferocious appearance, was a formidable elder whose reputation was no less than that of Jiang Qing in the eyes of the disciples. After hearing his reprimand, all the younger disciples obediently lowered their heads and remained silent.

After dismissing the group of juniors, Ye Zhengwen's brows remained furrowed, clearly indicating that something was still troubling him.

He Swift Movement to the courtyard of Sect Leader Kang Da, sent out a communication talisman, and a few breaths later, the door opened by itself without any wind. Ye Zhengwen stepped inside, and Sect Leader Kang Da had already come out of the cloud room and was sitting at the chess table waiting for him.

Having finally managed to enter a meditative state, Kang Dabao, who had intended to settle down and cultivate peacefully for a while, looked somewhat helpless and sighed at Ye Zhengwen, "Junior Brother Ye, why are you in such a hurry?"

The chilly spring breeze, mixed with a light drizzle, couldn't dispel the sorrow etched on Ye Zhengwen's brow. He said in a hoarse voice, "Do you know who the Foundation Establishment is coming to Double Brightness Trade Market?"

Kang Dabao rarely saw Ye Zhengwen like this. To him, the latter had always been a jovial and disrespectful person, rarely appearing so distressed. So he replied seriously, "They said earlier that a rogue cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, recruited by the state court, named Fire Dragon Daoist, would be coming."

Before Sect Leader Kang Da could finish speaking, Ye Zhengwen interrupted him, saying, "You recognize him."

"Do I know him? Probably not. I heard that this senior has been cultivating in Pu Prefecture for the past few years and is not well-known in Cloud Horn Prefecture. I have never heard of him before. I only know that the letter from the prefectural court said that even if he comes, he will only be in charge of the market, and all affairs will proceed as usual."

"Do you remember who gave you the scar on the back of your neck?!"

"Boom!" Just as Ye Zhengwen finished speaking, a thunderclap resounded in the sky. The Sect Leader Kang Da also stood up upon hearing the sound, his face solemn, and the terrifying wound on the back of his neck began to throb with pain.

"That time at the Jiang Household Trading Company, it was him!" Kang Dabao's mind was flooded with memories.

That year, he had just prepared the tuition fee for Yuan Jin to become Master Qi. Jiang Qing also asked the old man of the Ming Household to take care of him, and found a person with influence in the Jiang Household Trading Company.

The little bit of wealth he had accumulated with the help of a few close friends was almost entirely invested in that big deal he made with the Jiang Household Trading Company, but unexpectedly, they were ambushed by the Black Ghost Bandits.

If it weren't for the numerous and powerful life-saving items left to him by the old man, Kang Dabao would have certainly died, let alone been able to save Ye Zhengwen as well.

At that time, the Foundation Establishment's blade light was at least five zhang away from him, yet it was able to easily sever the Second Tier Geng Metal round shield talisman left by the old man. If Kang Dabao had reacted any later, even with the protection of the Second Tier talisman, he would have only ended up with his head separated from his body.

Even after so many years, Sect Leader Kang Da still feels lingering fear when he thinks about it now.

The Jiang Household Trading Company was originally one of the top trading caravans in Cloud Horn Prefecture, but after this battle, the Jiang Household, which lost two Foundation Establishment and a large number of Qi Refinement core members, was completely ruined and ended up being devoured by several small clans under its jurisdiction in collusion with foreign enemies.

Those Jiang Household members who were lucky enough to survive could only follow in the footsteps of Jiang Xue, who sought refuge with the Fellow Cultivators Association, and flee to various remote and desolate places with their skills, just to eke out a living.

Feeling a sense of shared sorrow, the Black Ghost Bandits were jointly wiped out by various factions. Although this gang of roving bandits was not severely damaged due to their elusive nature, they still roamed freely in Cloud Horn Prefecture for a while.

However, after the state government took up residence in Cloud Horn Prefecture, bandits like the Black Ghost Bandits received special attention from the two Sima, Fei and Gun. The Black Ghost Bandits' name was listed in the proclamation of the suppression of bandits at the end of the 425th year of Qianfeng's reign.

Now that I think about it, if Fire Dragon Daoist is indeed the Foundation Establishment who almost killed Sect Leader Kang Da back then, as Ye Zhengwen said, then he shouldn't be Rogue Cultivator recruited by the state court, but rather a bandit who was granted amnesty.

"How to get along from now on is a real problem." Kang Dabao and Ye Zhengwen remained silent. At this moment, the thunder in the sky gradually subsided, just like before.

Unlike Sect Leader Kang Da and Elder Ye, who still vividly remembered the Fire Dragon Daoist, this somewhat mediocre and aged Foundation Establishment could no longer recall the two Qi Refinement cultivators who had escaped his clutches.

They have been thieves and robbers for decades or even centuries. They even obtained most of the resources for purchasing Foundation Establishment spiritual items through plunder. Murder and arson are commonplace for them.

By now, Fire Dragon Daoist has lost count of how many mortals have died at his hands, so he certainly doesn't care about those two mere Qi Refinement from back then.

At this moment, Fire Dragon Daoist Huolong was sitting on the futon opposite Fei Nanying. Since surrendering to the state court, he had rarely been summoned by such an important figure, so he was cautious and only dared to touch half of his buttocks on the futon.

Sima Fei remained seated, engrossed in his abacus, showing no intention of speaking to the Fire Dragon Daoist.

This was a unique habit of Sima Fei when he summoned people; he seemed to always have endless accounts to settle, constantly working on his gleaming golden abacus. As a result, his subordinates gradually deduced a pattern: the sooner Sima Fei stopped using his abacus to speak with you, the more respect he held you in high regard.

In Sima Fei's eyes, the Fire Dragon Daoist was clearly not very valuable. The latter spent a long time calculating before finally raising his eyelids to give the Fire Dragon Daoist a cursory glance, his words devoid of any warmth. "It's been a long time since I've seen you, fellow Daoist. How have you been?"

However, despite the brief and understated greeting, Fire Dragon Daoist felt extremely uncomfortable and immediately stood up, bowing deeply. "I will never forget Sima's kindness in showing mercy back then!"

Despite both being Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, Fire Dragon Daoist treated Sima Fei with the utmost respect, like a junior.

This was all because Sima Fei's "Great Alligator Pushes the Mountain" move was too fierce when he wiped out the Black Ghost Bandits. Of the five Foundation Establishment on the Black Ghost Bandits' side, only Fire Dragon Daoist was still breathing after that one move.

It wasn't that the Fire Dragon Daoist was particularly skilled; rather, he was just lucky Sima Fei glanced at him and decided that the other four were more of a nuisance, so he chose him as a mouthpiece.

Before this, Fire Dragon Daoist often boasted about his Fire Element- based Daoist techniques. After all, among those of the same level, his fighting skills were quite formidable, far superior to those of Jia Wenze, who had died among Qi Refinement Refining cultivators.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to give himself such an overstepping title as "Fire Dragon Daoist".

But once he saw Sima Fei make a move, he understood why people often said, "Green Leaf Foundation Establishment is not truly Foundation Establishment." It was because in front of the two Simas, he was indeed as fragile as a porcelain doll.

Having finally met the true god, the Fire Dragon Daoist, who had always been narrow-minded and ignorant, should naturally lower his posture to ensure a better future. These days, he was no longer the carefree mountain king he once was; now he was dependent on others and had to live at their beck and call.

"You're too kind, fellow Daoist." Seeing the Fire Dragon Daoist's humility, Sima Fei only replied with a nonchalant tone.

Having finished the polite words, Sima Fei changed the subject, saying, "With your meager skills, I searched quite a few places before finally getting you a job. Do a good job and don't embarrass yourself."

"I will certainly do my best and live up to Sima's expectations!" Fire Dragon Daoist promised.

"I have no expectations or promises for you," Sima Fei shook his head. "You just need to guard the market gates and make sure those petty scoundrels like the Three Incense Cult don't embarrass our state again. Although that place was chosen by the Earl, it's still not fully developed, and I don't have enough manpower available right now. Be diligent and careful not to cause any more trouble."

"I understand, junior. When we arrive, I will bring several market magistrates to guard the gates." Fire Dragon Daoist hurriedly agreed and accepted the order.

"You're mistaken. Feng En, the Left Accountant of the Market, is a long-time head of the Anshan Gun Household; Deng Baichuan, the Right Accountant, is from Ying Prefecture and is a direct disciple of Gun Shilu; Xu Yingshi, the Acting Market Officer, is a member of the Dai County Xu Household and a descendant of the Nascent Soul; and Kang Dabao, the Market Officer, is the son-in-law of my Fei Household."

Sima Fei first outlined the backgrounds of the various officials in Double Brightness Trade Market, then paused and said, "Once you arrive, all you need to do is ensure the safety of the market. Otherwise, follow their instructions in turn."

Fire Dragon Daoist listened with his head drooping, and finally understood. So, he, a dignified Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, couldn't even be a manager in a rural place like Pingrong County, and had to be a lackey for a few young masters.

"This is truly a rebellion against the Heavenly Gang!" The Fire Dragon Daoist was extremely frustrated, but dared not show it in the slightest. Although he was indignant, he remained outwardly composed, not daring to utter a single complaint, and bowed his head in agreement.

"Yes, I understand."

"Yes, especially that City Commandant Kang Dabao. You must work well under him. Not only because he is the eldest son-in-law of the Fei Household, but also because of some other things. Even our Lord has some impression of him. Don't offend him. His elders are not to be trifled with. Be careful not to get killed by his sword."

At this moment, Sima Fei spoke again indifferently, and then stopped looking at the Fire Dragon Daoist. The sound of an abacus echoed in the study again.

As the Fire Dragon Daoist left, he thought to himself, "Since Sima values Kang Dabao so highly, I must be careful not to offend him!"

Thank you all for reading, subscribing, commenting, and voting.