Two Tokens

"You shouldn't have let him go." These were the first words Ye Zhengwen said to Sect Leader Kang Da after he emerged from seclusion upon hearing the news.

Within the Chongming Sect, Kang Dabao couldn't remember the last time anyone had dared to point out his mistakes to his face.

Upon hearing Ye Zhengwen's words, Kang Dabao was first taken aback, then opened his red eyes and calmly replied, "I know this is like raising a tiger to cause trouble, but given our current weakness, we have no choice but to do so."

Ye Zhengwen shook his head, clearly disagreeing, and walked with Kang and Zhou to a secluded spot, leaving behind the gatekeepers crowding in front of the archway.

The younger generation was very excited to have witnessed their sect leader displaying great power outside the formation.

It should be noted that the one who was forced to leave was True Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. There are very few like him in the entire Cloud Horn Prefecture. Any one of them would be a prominent figure here.

Even such a figure was easily driven away by Sect Leader Kang Da just now, which naturally made the younger generation feel honored.

Ye Zhengwen couldn't participate in the commotion. Sensing something was amiss, he waited until he was some distance from the crowd before whispering, "This matter isn't urgent. We can take the man back to our camp, let him hang out for a day or two, and then discuss it further. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

Kang Dabao closed his eyes in pain and asked in a questioning voice, "What do you mean?"

"You should know without me saying it that the best course of action is for Shan Xuerong to go back to Bian Wei. We've lost face, but gaining a favor is the right thing to do."

Ye Zhengwen spoke these words without any attempt to conceal his intentions, completely disregarding the Zhou Yixiu Yi was standing beside them. Fortunately, Sect Leader Kang Da quickly glanced at the latter and, seeing no unusual expression on his face, was relieved.

However, what Ye Zhengwen said was not accepted by Sect Leader Kang Da. He took out two more drops of the Clear Eyes Treasured Liquid, diluted it with water, washed his eyes, and then retorted:

"You're mistaken. That fellow is no good. Releasing Shan Xuerong back would not only harm the Shan Household, but it wouldn't be a good thing for us either."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhengwen's expression changed, and he thought to himself, "So Old Kang also has designs on the Shan Household."

At this point, Kang Dabao continued, "Since I can't put it back, a fight is inevitable. If I strike first, I can gain the upper hand. If he makes his move, I might end up being suppressed."

Ye Zhengwen said urgently, "Didn't you consider what would happen if you couldn't defeat that Bian Wei when you made your move?"

Sect Leader Kang Da was suddenly startled, opened his eyes, shook his head and smiled faintly, "Old Ye, you're overthinking it. How could we not win? We still have hostages and the protection of the formation, don't we?"

Seeing that Ye Zhengwen was about to argue, Kang Dabao gestured for him to finish his previous analysis.

Ye Zhengwen sighed and then said, "The best course of action is to use the word 'discussion' to keep Bian Wei in check. After a day or two, Uncle Black Shoes and Junior Brother Jiang, who were carrying out the mission, will have returned."

"At first, feign politeness and invite the Bian Household grandfather and grandson into the fray under the guise of receiving them in person. Then, seize the opportunity to surround and kill them to eliminate any future trouble."

Kang Dabao nodded and then shook his head, saying calmly, "You're being too simplistic. It's not that easy. Bian Wei is a seasoned killer; how could we possibly fool him in such a rush?"

"No matter what, we should at least give it a try, right?" Ye Zhengwen continued, not giving up.

Sect Leader Kang Da closed his eyes again, pondered for a moment, and then said, "You're right, this is indeed more prudent than my inferior plan. Even if it ultimately fails, it can at least buy some time. I misjudged this time and left myself with future troubles."

"If it were Kang Dabao when he was still in his early Qi Refinement stage, he would have figured this out without me even having to remind him." Ye Zhengwen looked directly into Kang Dabao's eyes, which had lost their bloodshot color, and said in a deep voice, "You've had it too easy these past few years."

Kang Dabao looked displeased and said bluntly, "I'm always careful in what I do."

Ye Zhengwen still disagreed, saying, "If you were truly so prudent, you should have gathered us together to discuss a solution after such an incident. You used to always say, 'Even the wisest person can make a mistake,' but now you've completely forgotten it."

Moreover, within the sect, you have always been the one to make the decisions, and your disciples all love and respect you. From then on, the Chongming Sect became your personal fiefdom, and over the years, this fostered in you a habit of making absolute decisions in everything."

Ye Zhengwen paused here, causing Kang Dabao's face to visibly darken, but he did not change his mind and continued:

"I'm not saying this to reprimand you; letting Bian Wei go this time doesn't necessarily mean there will be any future trouble. I just want to warn you that if you act rashly again, you'll always suffer the consequences."

The Sect Leader Kang Da was displeased upon hearing this. He bid farewell to Ye and Zhou and went to the sect leader's courtyard to find Fei Shuhe.

---- Xuanwei City, Qi Household

Two toads leaped over a stone step and landed in a secluded chess pavilion, where two men and a woman were sitting and talking quietly.

The Daoist Black Shoes sat opposite the plump, beautiful woman with a face as rosy as a peach blossom, and chuckled softly, "Fellow Daoist is right. As long as Yuan Buwen make a move, those pampered sons of the Jingnan Yuan Household are nothing to worry about."

The former didn't rush to reply, but simply looked up at the sky, where the moon was bright and the stars were few.

The Daoist priest pondered for a long while, stroking his newly grown beard for a long time, before slowly asking, "To be honest, Madam Qi, now that I have obtained a Bright Moon Token from Gun Shilu, let's postpone the matter we discussed earlier."

Chu Yanran had clearly anticipated this, and was not annoyed or angry. She didn't even lose her gentle smile, but instead poured tea for the Daoist Black Shoes with her delicate hands, saying calmly:

"I have heard about how Fellow Daoist Black Shoes avenged Acting Sima Gun during the battle at Old Ox Mountain. But after all, only two people can enter with one token."

I have heard that you have two close junior disciples who have formed Dao Foundation. That token, apart from you, can only bring one person into the Mountain-Viewing cave abode.

If that's the case, then it seems a bit unfair to the one who couldn't get in, which is rather unreasonable.

The Daoist Black Shoes turned his gaze to Qi Buxiu beside Chu Yanran and asked suspiciously, "Does Fellow Daoist still have two Bright Moon Tokens?"

The beautiful woman nodded and pulled Qi Buxiu along, saying, "My husband wants to go in too."

The Daoist Black Shoes did not react. He was also concerned about whether Chu Yanran had considered the dangers of taking Qi Buxiu into the Mountain-Viewing cave abode. He then seriously considered the latter's suggestion.

Although this Mountain-Viewing Cave is merely a Golden Core cultivator's separate residence that has been explored by several predecessors, it is an absolute treasure trove for Foundation Establishment True Cultivator. If Jiang Qing could go there with Kang Dabao, he would surely benefit greatly.

After pondering for a while, the Daoist Black Shoes finally answered:

"In that case, let's follow Madam Qi's wishes. Our two families will form an alliance during this trip to Mountain-Viewing Cave, advancing and retreating together, each taking what they need. If the Jingnan Yuan Household dares to send anyone to cause trouble, I can also keep them calm."

Chu Yanran was quite satisfied with what she heard, and even Master Qi had been sitting beside her without saying a word, felt reassured.

However, this pleasant scene between host and guest did not last long, as Chu Yanran spoke again, "Since I have raised the price, could the Daoist Black Shoes also join in?"

The Daoist Black Shoes sharpened, showing no intention of engaging in witty banter with the beautiful woman before him, and asked directly, "Does Madam Qi have enemies in the Mountain-Viewing Cave?!"

"Yue Lan." Madam Qi's red lips parted slightly, and the name made the Daoist Black Shoes's eyes suddenly light up.

"Madam Qi's good deal is just a spot to enter the Mountain-Viewing Cave? I can handle Madam Qi's dirty dealings with the Yuan Household, but if you want me to deal with this elder of the Two Instruments Sect's Battle Hall, it's far from enough." The Daoist Black Shoes stroked his beard and shook his head repeatedly.

"Fellow Daoist in Black Shoes, this Mountain-Viewing Cave is the cave abode of the Exalted Cultivator Guanyu," Madam Qi emphasized.

The Daoist Black Shoes remained unmoved. "Madam Qi is mistaken. That is merely a secluded residence for Exalted Cultivator Guanyu. If it were truly extremely precious, even ordinary Golden Core cultivators and top-tier False Core would hesitate to enter. How could it possibly be our turn?!"

"The Daoist Black Shoes, that's Mountain-Viewing cave abode that only opens once every thirty years." Madam Qi was still unwilling to give up.

The Daoist Black Shoes showed no sign of being manipulated by Madam Qi, and his tone remained unchanged. "Then I will go and find the Yuan Household or Lang Yi myself, ask them for a spot, and see if they want me to deal with Yue Lan."

"Fellow Daoist is right, my price is indeed a bit low." Chu Yanran remained silent for a while, then glanced at Qi Buxiu beside her before continuing, "If you want Fellow Daoist to deal with Yue Lan, do you have any other conditions?"

"The Golden Core Formation Pill left behind by the legendary Exalted Cultivator Guanyu in the Mountain-Viewing cave abode can be given to you, fellow Daoist. As for the Evergreen Vine, I only need half of it."

After mentioning the two most famous treasures from the legendary Exalted Cultivator Guanyu Biefu collection, the Daoist Black Shoes paused, then said, "It is said that you once obtained three dou of Illusory Gold Sand at the King Yu Circuit. I urge you to part with them."

The beautiful woman's smile vanished, replaced by shock in her eyes. "Where did you obtain such information, fellow Daoist?"

The Daoist Black Shoes stroked his beard, silently watching Chu Yanran without answering.

"So be it, the Illusory Gold Sand. I've wasted so many years and have long since given up on the idea. Since you've spoken, I'll give it to you." A hint of dejection flashed in Madam Qi's beautiful eyes. With a gentle flick of her sleeve, a palm-sized white jade dressing case appeared on the table.

The Daoist Black Shoes carefully accepted the item and examined it closely. After confirming that it was correct, he said, "Thank you, fellow Daoist."

A bitter smile appeared on the beautiful woman's face, her reluctance evident. Standing to the side, Master Qi, seeing this, sighed inwardly, "A hero's spirit is rare indeed, but the kindness of a beautiful woman is hardest to bear."

"Bah!" Master Qi spat to himself inwardly, "Where is there even a trace of heroism in me, Qi Buxiu?"

The two sides reached an agreement, and the beautiful woman handed over the token, inviting the guest to serve tea. The Daoist Black Shoes was about to accept it when he received a message from the Chongming Sect. After glancing at it briefly, he stroked the newly acquired Bright Moon Token in his hand, lost in thought.

With a "crack," the teacup slammed heavily onto the chessboard stone table that someone had always cherished.

"Isn't what he said infuriating?!"

Fei Shuhe glanced at Kang Dabao, who was still complaining, and found it amusing. After placing the chubby Kang Changyi back into his birth mother Huo Ying's arms, Fei Shuhe stood up and smiled sweetly:

"As the sage once said, honest advice is hard to swallow. Junior Brother Ye and I are old friends, and what he said may be a bit blunt, but it's not without reason. If you have faults, correct them; if not, strive to improve. So why get angry?"

Kang Dabao was somewhat dissatisfied and said bluntly, "Fine, instead of speaking up for me, you try to reason with me! Okay, let's not talk about it anymore, let's go inside!"

This fellow is shameless. Not only did he pull Fei Shuhe aside, he also carried Kang Changyi down to be looked after by Ping'er, and then, with Huo Ying who had freed up some space, he wanted to go into the house together.

His Sect Leader Kang Da to Xuanwei City to pay a visit to Chief Secretary Buse. He not only retrieved the "Formless Heart Sutra" for Yuan Jin, but also obtained a set of dual cultivation Secret Method for single male and double female.

In fact, due to the personal likes and dislikes of its founding emperor, the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty was plagued by a lack of Buddhism and Daoism from the very beginning.

However, in recent years, the Jungju Zen Central Prefecture Chan Buddhism, with Original Buddha Temple in Capital Circuit Province as its center, and the Snow Mountain Esoteric Buddhism, with Original Response Temple in Snow Mountain Circuit as its center, have risen to prominence at the same time.

It is worth mentioning that although both schools belong to Buddhism, their philosophies and precepts are quite different. Among the few things they have in common, besides having two Nascent Soul in the world, the only other thing is that they are both extremely skilled in the art of cultivating joy.

Despite his seemingly virtuous appearance, the Buse Chief Secretary was a master of this art. He even had a large courtyard outside Xuanwei City where he kept hundreds of concubines.

This dual cultivation technique has always been a legitimate Daoist practice, and given Sect Leader Kang Da's ambition, he naturally wants to learn it earnestly.

After talking with Buse for a while, Kang Dabao felt that the latter was indeed an extraordinary individual expert. With just a few words, he clarified what had puzzled him, making him feel that he had gained a lot.

That's something to be admired, but there's nothing we can do about it.

A good chef can only hone their skills by tasting both delicacies and simple meals. Buse's skill was honed through hard work with hundreds of concubines, something that Sect Leader Kang Da doesn't yet have the opportunity to do and will find difficult to catch up with in the short term.

"Ah!" Fei Shuhe was not as submissive as Huo Ying. Even though she was blushing with embarrassment, she still kicked the Sect Leader Kang Da hard in the groin.

"What sweet dreams are you having?!" Fei Shuhe, the noblewoman of the Fei Household, was still not satisfied. Her light punches brought with them a fragrant breeze, all landing on the Sect Leader Kang Da. After a while, Fei Shuhe finally got up, but before she did, she glared at Kang Dabao fiercely, her face flushed, truly full of charm.

The couple was arguing when Yu'er came over with a flushed face to announce that Yuan Jin had arrived.

Kang Dabao was saved by his junior brother, and Fei Shuhe instantly transformed back into the dignified and elegant noblewoman she once was.

Yuan Jin entered with a smile, "I overheard Junior Brother Zhou telling me from outside that you and Senior Brother Ye had a bit of a quarrel and some unpleasantness. So I came to hear your complaints, so you wouldn't annoy your sister-in-law."

As brothers for decades, Yuan Jin guessed Sect Leader Kang Da's behavior perfectly the moment he entered the room.

Fei Shuhe felt a sense of warmth upon hearing Yuan Jin's words. She removed the fake smile from her face and put on a relaxed expression. She had Yu'er and Ping'er attend to her while she and Huo Ying carried Kang Changyi into the sect leader's room.

Speaking of which Kang Dabao's courtyard is indeed a bit cramped. Before, when the Sect Leader Kang Da lived alone, it didn't seem strange, but now that Fei Shuhe has come, it feels quite crowded.

Since the Sect Leader Kang Da, had no intention of abandoning his disciples and going to Green Lotus Courtyard to rest, Fei Shuhe had no choice but to compromise for the time being.

Yuan Jin knew that Sect Leader Kang Da was not one to hold grudges, so he didn't take Ye Zhengwen's previous frank advice to heart at all. He only talked to Kang Dabao about Shan Sheng's departure.

"He's eager to go home." Sect Leader Kang Da wasn't surprised at all; he could understand Shan Sheng's feelings. Any Foundation Establishment nearing death, carrying a Five-Pattern Heavy Peak Stone, would probably feel the same way as Shan Sheng.

Yuan Jin then spoke up, "Before Senior Shan left, my junior brother asked him about what Senior Brother had told him. He said that Bian Yu was just an ordinary orphan Rogue Cultivator back then. He was homeless and had no job, and his background was clean. That's why he applied to be recruited as a son-in-law and sold himself into the Shan Household. The Shan Household didn't know anything about his background."

As for the origins of Bian Wei, who suddenly appeared and claimed to be their great-grandfather, the Shan Household had no idea.

Upon hearing this, Kang Dabao frowned, stroking a gold-framed, black-faced token in his sleeve, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

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