A Disciple Cast Out, a Suspected Immortal Fished from the River; a Rogue Cultivator's Greed Sparks a Fight

You Wenrui, who harbored resentment after failing to marry into the family and was expelled from his master's school by Mo Ku, did not usually work as a fisherman by the river.

After all, when he left home, You Wenrui had to rely on a large sum of money from his clan to buy his tuition so that he could become Mo Ku's disciple. In addition to learning farming, he also gained a powerful backer.

You should know that the Ma Duo Ridge Mo Household is now a family that can afford to Foundation Establishment and make offerings, which is not comparable to ordinary families.

No matter how good the Mo Household was, it was useless to You Wenrui. This time, he had offended Mo Ku terribly because of his words. Even when Chongming Sect issued a decree that was in need of manpower, the old cultivator was unwilling to let the former join the army in the name of the Mo Household and sent him away himself.

Mo Ku's ruthlessness was infuriating to You Wenrui. However, he thought it would be too embarrassing to go back empty-handed. Having been stripped of everything and left penniless, he was worried about how to explain things to his father You Xiaobao, so he turned to Wang Qiaobei, a fellow Rogue Cultivator from Lush Forest Jia, for help.

However, he was surprised that he was able to pull a black-clad cultivator out of the river after only using Wang Qiaobei's spiritual net once. It was hard to say whether his luck was good or bad.

Wang Qiaobei was not bad-looking, appearing to be around forty years old, but his cultivation level was still lower than that of You Wenrui was half the age younger.

In his early years, he took advantage of the favorable conditions to lease a piece of spiritual land from the Chongming Sect on the outskirts of the Cold Crow Mountain Range. However, after several years of mismanagement, not only was the spiritual land taken back, but he also incurred a lot of debt.

In addition, because of his relationship with Yuan Jin's wife's family, the former head of the village Dong Hu, strictly controlled all the rules and regulations of the village, making it difficult to conduct any shady business.

This forced Wang Qiaobei to sell his possessions and pay off his debts before fleeing to Wei Mountain Bao to make a living.

The head of this village was appointed from the son of a relative by marriage to the Ma Duo Ridge Mo Household.

Mo Ku, this disciple who retired from the sect, was indeed loyal, and it was true that he was willing to sacrifice his family for the Chongming Sect. However, he came from a poor background and had finally reached this age to have some descendants, so he naturally valued family ties very much.

As people get older, they tend to become more soft-hearted, and thus they often turn a blind eye to many things.

If Wei Mountain Bao pays its dues in full and does not lag behind in providing manpower and resources for the Chongming Sect, Mo Ku will not bother to care and will only focus on cultivating crops and training disciples.

As a result, Wei Mountain Bao was somewhat chaotic and disorderly compared to the surrounding areas, causing dozens of households in the Baoyi to complain bitterly.

However, this situation is actually a good thing for rootless Rogue Cultivator cultivators like Wang Qiaobei who have some skills.

He usually made a living by collecting aquatic products, and when he was lucky, he would meet a few innocent and lovely passengers.

Those who can do this job are certainly skilled at judging situations and assessing circumstances.

Wang Qiaobei dared not provoke those of noble birth and high skill, but those who had no connection to either were about to be robbed of their resources and turned into dumplings by him without warning.

In addition, this scoundrel was adept at currying favors. Every month, he would send several fresh spirit fish and a basket of flattering words to the prominent figures in the local militia, which was enough to make him live a comfortable and content life in this wealthy place.

With the remaining earnings, he could even occasionally buy some elixirs at the market. Compared to when he was honestly running his business in Lush Forest Jia, he was much more carefree.

Wang Qiaobei knew that You Wenrui's father, You Xiaobao, was a veteran who managed affairs in Lush Forest Jia, a Jia-level territory, and also had some connections with many important figures in the Chongming Sect. That's why he was willing to lend You Wenrui his rank-level Spirit Net.

Unexpectedly, the latter immediately pulled a dead body out of the water, making him feel extremely unlucky.

Wang Qiaobei approached the spirit net, his brows furrowed, and he let out a hissing sound from his nose.

The black-clad cultivator in the net was soaked to the bone. His dark robes were swollen from being soaked in the river water and clung tightly to his body. The skin on his exposed wrists and neck was an abnormal bluish-white. Even the rise and fall of his chest was so faint that it was almost invisible. If it weren't for the occasional unconscious twitch of his fingertips, anyone would have thought that he had pulled up a freshly soaked corpse.

"What bad luck! Absolutely terrible bad luck!" Wang Qiaobei took two steps back, the river water splashing at his feet. "Young Master You, this spirit net is for catching spirit fish and shrimp, but you, you've caught a 'living dead' right off the bat! This net will probably be tainted with death energy from now on, and it'll be hard to catch anything good again!"

As he spoke, he kicked the edge of the spirit net with his toe, as if there was something dirty on it.

You Wenrui knew that the title "Young Master You" used by Wang Qiaobei was not to be taken seriously. He lacked experience and was indebted to Wang Qiaobei, so he felt somewhat ashamed.

However, he was also bad at talking, otherwise he wouldn't have failed to become the son-in-law of the Ma Duo Ridge Mo Household and would have been kicked out by his master Mo Gu.

Therefore, even after hearing Wang Qiaobei's resentful words, You Wenrui could only bury his head and avoid the conversation, instead going closer to see the life and death of the people trapped in the net.

You Wenrui squatted beside the spirit net and reached out to touch the black-clad cultivator's wrist, only to find it icy cold to the touch, unable to detect even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.

At this moment, he also had his doubts, but he still forced himself to say, "Brother Wang, don't be hasty. This person looks like a cultivator; perhaps he's hiding some treasures. Let's take a look first?"

You Wenrui recalled the embarrassing situation of returning home empty-handed and being questioned by his father. If he could find something on this cultivator, he could at least save face.

Wang Qiaobei glanced at him sideways, reached out and pushed You Wenrui's hand away. After scanning the Divine Sense, he was certain that the black-clad cultivator was completely naked. He then sneered again.

"A treasure? I think it's trouble! Look at him! The robe is made of nice material, but the edges are all worn out, and there's not even a trace of Storage Bag on him. He's probably already been robbed by other cultivators!"

As he spoke, he leaned closer to the black-clad cultivator's face, scrutinizing him closely, then muttered irritably, "He's quite handsome, what a pity. If he hadn't been soaked to death, he could have been sold to the Elephant Maiden Hall for a few Spirit Stone."

He suddenly noticed a trace of dark red blood at the corner of the black-robed monk's mouth, which dripped down his chin onto the spirit net, spreading into a small, dark mark.

"Take another look at his wound," Wang Qiaobei, using a harpoon to pry open the black-clad cultivator's robes, revealing a gruesome wound on his chest. The edges of the wound were a dark purple, and even though he couldn't understand it, he still made it sound as if he were absolutely certain.

"This wound looks fresh, so it's probably from before he fell into the water. Whether he'll survive is another matter. Do we really expect to get anything out of him?"

"Don't end up not saving him but getting yourself into trouble. If his enemies come looking for us, our meager skills won't even be enough to fill their teeth!"

You Wenrui felt a little uneasy after hearing what he said, and the stories he had just gone through in his mind vanished from his memory.

At this moment, You Wenrui, who had been intimidated by Wang Qiaobei, softened his tone and hurriedly said, "Brother Wang, don't be angry. If that's the case, I'll just throw him back into the river."

"Yes, yes, hurry up! This spiritual network is essential to my livelihood, I can't borrow it from you for long, don't delay, hurry, hurry!"

Wang Qiaobei stood by the riverbank, hands on his hips, pebbles splashing into the water at his feet, his tone full of impatience. "What are you dawdling for? Don't tell me you're reluctant to part with this 'living dead'? If you delay any longer, my spirit net will be tainted with even more death energy, and if I can't catch any spirit fish in the future, are you going to compensate me for the loss?"

You Wenrui squatted by the spirit net, his hand just touching the black-clad cultivator's cold arm before he withdrew it.

Looking at the pale yet handsome face of the black-clad cultivator, he recalled his own plight after being expelled from his sect and felt a pang of pity. They were both in dire straits; throwing them back into the river would be too cruel.

But I'm afraid of getting into trouble and not being able to explain it to my family. "I... I'll throw it away right now."

You Wenrui gritted his teeth and tried to untie the knots in the spirit net, but the knots were swollen from being soaked in water and he couldn't untie them no matter what he did. He was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead and his fingers turned red from being rubbed.

Wang Qiaobei grew impatient and kicked the spirit net, yelling, "Useless! You can't even untie a knot!"

He bent down and roughly pulled at the spirit net, the edges digging into the black-clad cultivator's arm until it turned red. The black-clad cultivator's fingertips suddenly twitched, the twitch more violently than before, as if in resistance.

Wang Qiaobei paused, squinting at the black-clad cultivator's fingers. "This 'dead man' still has a bit of life?" He poked the black-clad cultivator's cheek with the tip of his harpoon, and the latter's eyelids actually twitched.

"Brother Wang, perhaps... we should wait a little longer? He still seems to be breathing; maybe he'll wake up." You Wenrui offered his help.

Wang Qiaobei casually waved his hand and said repeatedly, "Without inner spirit and without strength in your meridians, do you really think we can find a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator? It's nothing more than a last gasp before death. Don't waste your time!"

Urged again, You Wenrui stepped forward to the black-clad monk, ready to make a move. He noticed the monk's handsome features and felt a pang of regret.

The more I looked at it, the more familiar it seemed.

"I think I've seen this somewhere before."

You Wenrui paused, for he was more knowledgeable than Wang Qiaobei. After a closer look, he realized the man's appearance was increasingly similar to one of the portraits that hung in the Mo Household. A few moments later, a storm raged within him:

"This person seems to be Elder Jiang, the sword Chongming Sect."

The young cultivator felt reassured, and a number of thoughts raced through his mind. He turned to Wang Qiaobei expression had become even more unpleasant, and explained:

"Heaven cherishes life. Since you, my brother, do not wish to delay important matters, I suggest that I take this man home and see if I can help him save his life."

A hint of doubt flashed in the latter's eyes, and he sneered, "Even if this person could be saved, he would be a useless piece of trash. Not to mention how much money it would cost. Even if your father is shrewd, how could he bear to spend that much?"

You Wenrui muttered again, "He is, after all, a cultivator. Even if he can't recoup his initial investment, he can still keep it at home as a stable hand. Over several decades, he should be able to pay back eight or nine tenths of it."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiaobei's suspicions gradually subsided, and the playfulness in his tone lessened considerably. When he spoke again, it was a half-praise, half-concealment. "If that's the case, it's not bad. Young Master You's business acumen is not much different from your father's."

You Wenrui was preoccupied with legal troubles and didn't want to continue dealing with Wang Qiaobei. Fortunately, the latter didn't press the matter further, and the two were about to part ways.

If it were up to You Wenrui himself, he would naturally carry this black-clad cultivator, who was probably Jiang Qing, to the Mo Household. After all, no matter how much Mo Ku disliked him, the latter's respect for the Chongming Sect was hard to fake.

However, with Wang Qiaobei by his side, he couldn't afford to go the wrong way, lest the fellow become suspicious.

You must understand, if he were truly Chongming Sect Elder Jiang Qing the Chongming Sect on his back, it would be an immense achievement for the You Household of Phoenix Forest Mountain! How could he possibly share even a fraction of that with Wang Qiaobei?

After taking only a few steps, the black-clad cultivator suddenly trembled for some unknown reason, leaned on You Wenrui's back, and vomited something that shimmered with precious light.

"Second Tier demon core?!"

"Oh no! Perhaps Elder Jiang swallowed it temporarily to ward off water!!"

Wang Qiaobei's gaze, which had been filled with lingering doubts, suddenly became intensely burning, so much so that You Wenrui could hardly look directly at him.

"Good lad, I knew it!!"

Wang Qiaobei was certain that You Wenrui was going to hog all the spoils, so he unleashed both his spiritual net Law Artifact and harpoon Law Artifact. True to his reputation as someone who lives on the edge, he was ruthless from the very first move.

"Brother Wang, wait! The esteemed person I'm carrying is Elder Jiang from the Upper Sect! Brother Wang, please be careful. If you act rashly, you may face annihilation!"

Wang Qiaobei hadn't held back at all, but when he heard You Wenrui's warning halfway through, he was still startled and suddenly turned his magical Law Artifact around. The sudden stop and turn caused him intense pain in his meridians, leaving him with almost no minor injuries.

Elder Jiang?!

Wang Qiaobei's expression turned even uglier. He muttered something under his breath, still wondering if You Wenrui was telling the truth. But when he looked up, he saw the few drops of blood on the tip of the harpoon he was holding, the same spots left from when he pierced the handsome face of the black-clad cultivator.

Suddenly, Wang Qiaobei felt the Law Artifact he had been with for many years burning hot, and he almost threw it away!

"Brother Wang, since we can't hide it from you, we should quickly send Elder Jiang to the Upper Sect's mountain gate to claim credit. That would be a great stroke of luck!" You Wenrui's serious expression made Wang Qiaobei's mind wander.

However, the latter's heart sank quickly, for he knew that high-ranking cultivators in sects were always unpredictable.

I wonder if Jiang Qing remembers his transgressions just now. If he does remember even a little bit, then forget about wealth and glory, he might even lose his life with a single sword strike.

After making money through illicit means, Wang Qiaobei would spend a lot of time in brothels but rarely in gambling dens, so he wasn't a heavy gambler.

He wasn't greedy; he knew that if he could take their lives now, he could at least obtain a Second Tier demon core, enough to compensate for a hundred years of hard work!

Rather than risk being remembered by a powerful elder who is comparable to False Core cultivator, it's better to end it cleanly so he can die in peace. Someone like him, who can be Rogue Cultivator, would never entrust his life or death to the mercy of any important figure!

However, You Wenrui's cultivation was not weak, and Wang Qiaobei had no confidence in silencing him. He still needed to feign compliance for a while.

"Oh dear, it's all thanks to you, brother! Otherwise, I would have made a grave mistake!" Wang Qiaobei forced a look of lingering fear, and after putting away the Law Artifact, he hurriedly advised, "If that's the case, then let's send Elder Jiang to the Ma Duo Ridge Mo Household as soon as possible. A hefty reward will be within our grasp!"

On the other side, You Wenrui visibly relaxed, then a look of pain appeared on his face before he said, "Brother Wang knows I have a grudge against the Mo Household, how can I give him credit for nothing!"

Wang Qiaobei feigned sudden realization, then asked, "Where does my brother prefer to go?"

You Wenrui pondered for a moment before saying, "Back at Phoenix Forest Mountain, my father knows many high-ranking cultivators from the upper sects, so the credit won't be taken away by others!"

"Indeed, indeed, my brother is truly intelligent." Wang Qiaobei forced a smile, showering him with compliments, while his fingers were already forming hand seals in his sleeve. He slowly walked towards You Wenrui, ready to make his move.

Unexpectedly, a blazing flying sword struck first, landing on him.

"Good lad!"

Wang Qiaobei was not entirely unprepared. Despite being injured, he managed to escape with his life. He quickly unleashed his spirit net and harpoon, engaging the Li Fire Sword in battle.

Having discerned Wang Qiaobei's thoughts, You Wenrui was unimpressed, nor did he find his feigned evasiveness superior. He simply shouted, "You, surnamed Wang, do you know what you're doing?!"

Wang Qiaobei had long felt he had nowhere to run. Ignoring the horrific wound on his chest, from which blood was gushing out, he still desperately used his magical Law Artifact, shouting in response:

"You're a fool! This Jiang fellow has always been incredibly arrogant; even Double Brightness disciples rarely see him smile. Now that we've seen him in this sorry state, do you think you'll have any future?! He dies today, only then can we live! That Second Tier demon core is yours alone, I don't want a single penny!"

You Wenrui's expression changed slightly, but he still said, "That's alarmist!"

The flying sword in his hand was purchased by his father, You Xiaobao, at the cost of all his living expenses, and he also had the advantage of striking first. Although Wang Qiaobei was much more cunning, he still lost his life in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

You Wenrui didn't even bother to pick up Wang Qiaobei's Storage Bag at this moment, and was about to carry the black-clad cultivator straight to the Mo Household.

But halfway through, he remembered Wang Qiaobei's seductive words, and his movements suddenly stopped. He stared at the black-clad cultivator and the glowing Second Tier demon core, his gaze shifting uncertainly.