Fellow Disciples, Divergent Paths; The Old Monk Conceals a Sharp Edge

---- Phoenix Cry Prefecture, Office of the Duke of Qin

"Hmm, that charlatan from the Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall, who can't even worship the true Buddha, is no match for the combined forces of the three families." Kuang Liuting nodded for a moment, looking at the letter in his hand, and finally his gaze fell on Qin Sufu, who was standing in the hall, and he asked gently:

"Commander Qin, seeing how much your lazy brother has improved, what are your thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Sufu replied without hesitation, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Excellency, Marquis of Martial Peace has rendered new service and is now a worthy minister of the Immortal Dynasty and a pillar of the Duke's household. This humble official is naturally honored to share in his glory."

"Hehe, not bad. He hasn't seen you for years, you're quite easygoing." Kuang Liuting didn't care whether Qin Sufu's words were true or false, he just praised him and then said, "Once this war is over, I will have Zhu Tong prepare your Core Formation supplies properly."

Seeing that Qin Sufu was about to bow deeply upon hearing the sound, Kuang Liuting waved his hand to stop him, but did not speak further.

To be fair, the former is merely Azure Leaf Dao Foundation cultivator. Even if he were lucky enough to Core Formation, at best he would only achieve a low-grade core.

However, Qin Sufu's good point is that he is loyal and diligent, and since he is only the legitimate son-in-law of the Yue Household, he can be considered to be all alone. In fact, he has far fewer entanglements than Kang Dabao is now.

Such individuals have served the government for a long time and are of decent quality, so they naturally deserve some attention and resources for cultivation.

After finishing their conversation, Qin Sufu Kuang Liuting turned his gaze to Buse clerk of the Duke's mansion.

This monk, Original Buddha Sect, has recently become a bit too disciplined. Unless specifically summoned, he is often unavailable, to the point that Kuang Liuting sometimes forgets that such a person even exists in the Duke's mansion.

All fronts are short-handed, but Zhu Tong has taken notice of this lazy fellow and specifically brought him to Kuang Liuting to put him to use.

The thought had barely formed in his mind when Kuang Liuting raised his voice slightly and called out, "Buse Secretary Bu Se,"

"The lower-ranking official is here."

"Marquis of Martial Peace has already led his troops toward the Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall. Although most of his troops are still trapped in Si Prefecture and have difficulty returning, the Rouge Temple and Thousand Buddha Grove are ultimately weak and may not be able to hold out for long."

To avoid any unforeseen complications, could you perhaps make a trip to Huo Prefecture? I've heard that you once received a helping hand from Marquis of Martial Peace; if you could go, it might become a celebrated story."

"Your Excellency has given the order, how dare this humble official not do his best?!" At this moment, Buse disregarded all decorum and immediately bowed deeply.

Kuang Liuting was used to such respectful behavior, but he still showed some satisfaction. "Good! Go."

Seeing that Buse and Qin Sufu bowed again and then left the hall, Kuang Liuting's gaze fell once more on the huge map behind him, and he secretly pondered:

"Has Bai Canhong colluded with all those Demon Beasts? Opening the Demon-Suppressing Barrier is tantamount to the Star-Picking Pavilion destroying its own defenses! With so many lives lost, what benefit will the Star-Picking Pavilion gain?! These local tyrants are truly arrogant, showing absolutely no regard for national righteousness!!"

A hint of annoyance gradually appeared in Kuang Liuting's eyes, but after his anger subsided, he realized it was futile. So he turned his gaze back to the mountainous and picturesque Huo Prefecture region and softly recited:

"Very well, let's deal with this idle fellow at the Star-Picking Pavilion first, and then see what Bai Canhong will do next."

Only after leaving the Duke's council hall for a long time Buse seem like an ordinary Golden Core at all!"

Qin Sufu seemed still immersed in Kuang Liuting's promise, ignoring Buse's mutterings. However, Bu Se's self-talk didn't last long before he found Qin Sufu to speak to again:

"Does Commander Qin have some free time? Would you be willing to come to my residence for a chat?"

"Would you like to come to my residence for a chat?" Qin Sufu frowned almost imperceptibly, for although he and Buse had served as ministers in the same court for many years, they rarely interacted. In recent years, the latter had not only failed to achieve any notable accomplishments, but had also rarely made public appearances.

Those with ulterior motives outside said that this was because he had bet on the right horse, and since he had no hope of reaching the Nascent Soul, he was just waiting for Kuang Liuting to ascend the throne the next day so that he could enjoy a peaceful and prosperous life as a former official of the Prince's residence.

Qin Sufu initially dismissed this claim, but as time went on, he began to have doubts.

However, Buse was a proper cultivator after all. Even though he had been criticized by high-ranking officials like Zhu Tong behind his back, it was not Qin Sufu's place to say a word.

Furthermore, although their official ranks were not much different, their actual social statuses were worlds apart. Buse, how could Qin Sufu refuse Bu Se's invitation?

"I have long heard that Chief Sufu is an expert in the art of tea and has inherited the refined drinking tradition of the Original Buddha Sect. I have wanted to pay him a visit for a long time, but I was afraid of being presumptuous. I am truly honored to be invited by Chief Secretary!"

"Haha, General Dian is too modest. Please,"

"Please,"

The two chatted and laughed all the way to the Buse Temple. However, the interior furnishings had none of the simple and plain style of the Exoteric Buddhism Emperor. The dazzling array of rare and precious ornaments created an atmosphere of luxury and nobility that was overwhelming. As for the pretty maids dressed in thin clothes, they were simply too numerous to look at.

This scene did not cause Qin Sufu's gaze to wander even slightly; he remained calm and composed, demonstrating that his mental cultivation far surpassed that of his peers.

Qin Sufu was already used to this scene. After all, if Buse was truly a devout ascetic, why would he travel thousands of miles to join Kuang Liuting's cause to make a living?

Seeing that Qin Sufu remained calm, the Buse's expression also remained unchanged. He simply led Qin Sufu into the quiet room, where they drank tea and chatted intimately.

The old monk wasn't in a hurry to speak. Even after offering Qin Sufu tea time and time again, filling his belly to the brim, he still maintained a warm expression. Finally, it was Qin Sufu who broke the ice and spoke directly:

"Sufu is unworthy of such favor from the Chief Secretary. I wonder what brings you here today? Please speak frankly. Unless there is something beyond Sufu ability, I will comply."

Qin Sufu's directness seemed to Buse on the head. The old monk chuckled for a while, then sighed wistfully before his smile became more genuine.

"I just heard from the Duke that I was ordered to go to Huo Prefecture to assist Marquis of Martial Peace. This battle is dangerous, and the Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall is notorious for its unorthodox practices. What if something goes wrong?"

Qin Sufu raised an eyebrow, as if she had guessed something, and then said frankly, "Chief Secretary, please speak frankly. In matters of state and military importance, Sufu am but a lowly person and cannot offer much assistance."

Buse knew that Qin Sufu's words were not an excuse. After all, the latter was a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, and it was already a miracle that he hadn't been stripped of his official post by Kuang Liuting. How could he possibly offer any help?

However, after hearing the Buse, a warm expression returned to his face, and he heard the voice say:

"Then I shall be so bold as to speak frankly. The Commander and Marquis of Martial Peace are old friends of many years, and their sworn brotherhood is well known. I would like to shamelessly ask the Commander for a letter, so that I may ask Marquis of Martial Peace to take good care of me."

Qin Sufu may have already guessed some of what was going on, so when he asked for the Buse, he didn't seem to find anything amiss. However, he still felt the need to emphasize. "My lord, it's not that Sufu heartless, but rather, as you just said, Sufu and Kang..."

He had only spoken halfway when he was interrupted by Buse laugh. But then he heard the latter earnestly say:

"This old monk has been traveling from the Central Prefecture to the southwestern regions for over a century. Even if my cultivation is far from perfect, I believe I still possess some meager ability to judge character. The relationship between the military commander and the Marquis of Martial Peace may be difficult for others to discern, but this old monk feels I can understand it perfectly."

Seeing that Qin Sufu's expression remained unchanged, Bu Buse took out another item and said calmly:

"This Ancient Treasury Pill has a wonderful use for cultivators to comprehend the pill-forming Method Formula. This old monk only asks for a letter, nothing else. As long as Commander Dian is willing to spare some time to help, then this pill will be this old monk's gift of gratitude."

Qin Sufu and Kang Dabao had both been taught by Old Sect Leader He. Even though the former outwardly wanted to be more mindful of "face," their down-to-earth and pragmatic nature was actually inherited from each other.

Therefore, upon hearing the old monk's words, Qin Sufu, wanting to gain practical benefits, had no reason to refuse, and thus, overwhelmed with emotion, picked up his pen and wrote the letter.

In just a few breaths, Buse carefully read through the letter, which still smelled of ink.

Qin Sufu could see a hint of satisfaction appear on his face. Afterwards, he pushed the Ancient Treasury Pill in his hand onto the low table in front of him and said cheerfully, "Thank you for your noble assistance, Palace Master."

At this moment, the jade bottle in Qin Sufu's hand burned his palm painfully. Only after forcing a serious expression and exchanging Buse did he slowly retreat from the Changshi Temple.

He had only taken a few steps when he suddenly froze on the spot.

At the same time, a question seemed to echo in his mind, "Commander Qin, seeing that your lazy brother has already made such progress, what do you think?"

What are you thinking?

Qin Sufu murmured to himself for a while, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his face. He glanced at the jade bottle in his hand, took a deep breath, and after calming himself down, sighed wistfully and muttered to himself, "My younger brother is truly remarkable. Thinking back, which close elder had any high hopes for him? But now..."

After sighing, Qin Sufu did not linger. He walked for a while, then, as if lost in thought, a gentle breeze swept away much of the gloom on his face.

"It's alright, it's alright, it's just the Core Formation. If even this is difficult to accomplish, how can I, Qin Sufu, have the face to call myself a disciple of Lord Shan?! You all say I was wrong about what happened back then, but I want you all to know that 'sacrificing petty benevolence for the greater good' is the true principle of the world!"

This truth was not understood by Lord Shan when he passed away, and it also implicated Brother Kang, bewildering him as well. Only when I straighten out the Dao Path, accomplish great things, and help the Immortal Dynasty cleanse the world and quell the rebellion, will you realize that I have never been wrong.

Qin Sufu's grand ambition was so profound that it caused the surrounding spiritual atmosphere to sink, and even the clouds above his head seemed to be lowered.

However, just as Qin Sufu made his grand vow, the old monk in the temple was still examining the letter Qin Sufu was holding for a while, his eyes full of mockery:

"Going to Huo Prefecture is a good idea; at least there's a barrier between us and that person at the Star-Picking Pavilion. My 'Lion Hidden Thunder Art' isn't fully perfected yet, so it's true I can fool that fool Yueyin. But when Jiangxue saw me last time, she seemed a little suspicious. If I were to meet Bai Canhong directly, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to hide it from him."

The thought had Buse formed in his mind when Bu Se casually put down the letter in his hand and muttered a few curses to himself:

"Hey, how come that guy from the Star-Picking Pavilion still doesn't know whether he's a traitor or a collaborator? He doesn't even have a powerful backer, yet he insists on using his accumulated wealth from several lifetimes to fight Kuang Liuting? What's the point?"

No wonder when my senior brother Abbot sent me to Cloud Horn Prefecture, he specifically warned me not to provoke Bai Canhong. He said that even if he were to fight against Bai Canhong, who was not very bright, he might not have a complete chance of winning.

"Among the Buddhist sects today, the only one whose cultivation can rival that of my abbot brother is the Gelie of Original Response Temple on the Snow Mountain Circuit."

His thoughts shifted, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. "What exactly is Kuang Liuting's trump card? He can't possibly think he can compete with Bai Canhong just by relying on Jiangxue and Yueyin."

---- Xian Prefecture, Tang County

Tang County, as the seat of Xian Prefecture, is adjacent to the Ghost Sword Sect's immortal mountain, and its Spirit Vein are naturally of high quality. Therefore, it was naturally chosen by Sect Leader Kang Da as a key node for the transportation and supply of the army attacking Yun.

Kang Rongquan, who had just displayed his prowess in Huozhou and led his men to behead the fake alchemist, was injured after his reckless actions. Therefore, his sect leader had transferred him here to work with Ye Zhengwen to oversee various matters.

This place is quite far from the front line, but under normal circumstances it is considered safe and secure.

As Ye Zhengwen gets older, he seems to be destined to be a busybody, needing to handle everything, big or small, before he can feel at ease.

Kang Rongquan was quite happy to have some free time. These days he has been staying at home, focusing on studying the many new spirit seeds he had recently collected, and has not gone out for a long time.

Only after he had swallowed the Grain Avoidance Pill a few times and felt that his mouth had lost its flavor did he push open the door and go out again.

They had only walked a few steps when they saw a group of wounded soldiers surrounding a minor official who was speaking from a high place in the training ground. They listened intently, their eyes fixed on him.

"Tang Wufeng of the Three Trees Tithing Tang Household River West Precinct, East Willow Ward, killed six people in the Middle Qi Refinement and captured one person in the Early Qi Refining Stage. He was also injured by the invasion of cold air, which damaged his heart meridian. He is hereby granted a commendation for his merits."

From then on, he received six stones of Red Spirit Grain, one mid-grade Law Artifact, and two Jia-Chou Military Stronghold by flying boat within ten days. Afterwards, he received three stones and six liters of Tea-Colored Grain annually, and was allowed one member of the Tang Household to enter the Crimson Zhang Guard for examination.

Zhao Weiyu of Zhao Household family, Turtle Mountain Precinct Red Plum Tithing in Facing Tiger Ward, killed three Late Qi Refinement in battle, earning a mid-to-high rating in merit.

"The original intention was to repatriate the wounded soldiers so they could be properly cared for."

This scene of clear rewards and punishments, rarely seen in other sects, did not seem novel to Kang Rongquan. He only glanced at it briefly before continuing his search for delicious spiritual food.

But then he saw a familiar-looking person on the road and called out to him, "You Xiaobao, where are you going?"

You Xiaobao paused for a moment before rushing over to bow and hurriedly replying, "It's all thanks to Elder Zhu's good fortune. I was recommended by Elder Zhu Yunsheng for this commendation and have been promoted to the position of Fire Chief of the Crimson Zhang Guard. I'm going to the camp to collect my armor and weapons."

"You earned this credit yourself, why are you thanking me?!"

If it weren't for seeing You Xiaobao reminding Kang Rongquan of Yuan Changsheng, he wouldn't have bothered to exchange pleasantries with this insignificant figure.

Just as Kang Rongquan was about to send You Xiaobao away, a message from the Transport Office made him exclaim softly, "The Rouge Temple and the Thousand Buddha Grove are so useless?!"

After a soft exclamation, Kang Rongquan frowned again, then turned to You Xiaobao and said, "Those wounded soldiers will be returning home without anyone to care for them. Afterwards, you, the Fireman Horse, can come along on the flying ship and provide protection."

The assignment came suddenly, You Xiaobao was stunned for a moment before respectfully responding. However, Kang Rongquan had no time to chat with him and rushed back to Ye Zhengwen's place to make arrangements for the meeting.