Trouble

Another month passed just like that.

After the three families visited, Kang Dabao still couldn't resist and sent a letter to He Dezong.

Aside from some perfunctory greetings, the letter mentioned his desire to join a caravan.

Although Chongming Sect is not lacking in resources for cultivation, it has almost no income.

Kang Dabao was getting anxious about simply living off his savings and wanted to start a business that would generate a steady, long-term income.

He Dezong was quite enthusiastic and replied that Chongming Sect could first select a few people to be placed in some of the safer merchant caravans so that they could gradually become familiar with each other.

Once they are capable of handling things independently, the people will be separated and a new caravan will be formed, with pack animals, merchants, and trade routes all arranged. At that time, it will be handed over to the Chongming Sect's family to manage.

After that, the He Household would not interfere with the Chongming Sect's management of the caravan, only taking a 10% cut for the first ten years, and then handing it over completely to the Chongming Sect after ten years.

Kang Dabao was pleased after reading He Dezong's reply, thinking to himself that the terms were quite generous, and that his drinking those past few days hadn't been in vain!

However, Chongming Sect was short-staffed and could not spare suitable personnel for the time being. Jiang Qing was eager to try after hearing the news, but Kang Dabao would not give him the opportunity.

After some further deliberation, it was decided that the Lu Household head would lead the team, which made him very happy as he selected one cultivator from each of the other three families.

Kang Dabao believed he could still control the Lu Household head and wasn't afraid of being usurped. He was just waiting for the Chongming Sect to have enough reliable people so he could go and reap the rewards.

On the other hand, even though Kang Dabao had already diverted as much attention as possible from the destruction of the three bandit families to the other two,

Even though Chongming Sect had been in seclusion for a month, this matter still caused some discussion in the cultivation circles of Pingrong County. The name of the Chongming Sect had finally returned to everyone's ears.

This was a major sect that had Foundation Establishment in the past. Not to mention Pingrong County, even in the entire Cloud Horn Prefecture, thanks to the reputation that Patriarch Zhang had earned in that great battle a hundred years ago, Chongming Sect had a certain reputation.

It's just that the descendants have been unworthy, and now the place is in utter ruin.

Unexpectedly, a sect leader at the Middle Qi Refinement, leading two smaller Lineage with even lower status, managed to wipe out the three bandit groups Ghost Horse Owls, Fire Saber Stronghold, and Jia Mountain Bandits.

In the rather isolated Pingrong County, this is quite a topic of conversation, even if it's just a small one.

Thus, after many years, outside the Chongming Sect, rogue cultivators once again appeared, claiming to pledge Rogue Cultivator.

This time, Kang Dabao did not refuse them all.

Unlike in the past, Jiang Qing and Yuan Jin are now able to take on some responsibilities, and Pei Yi has also returned to the sect.

Han Yundao, Duan Anle, and Pei Que have all entered the Dao and will grow up in a few years. Jin Shilun and Kang Rongquan are both promising talents. Hmm, there's also Mo'er who can be an extra.

The Chongming Sect is now showing signs of revival, and it has long since passed the point where it fears a few low-level Rogue Cultivator who might have a negative impact on the sect.

As the business expands further, manpower will inevitably become increasingly scarce.

However, we must be selective and choose wisely, ideally selecting some capable individuals.

Only three rogue Rogue Cultivator came to serve this time, and they were all at the Early Qi Refining Stage.

The first one was an acquaintance, the same rogue cultivator who had led the way to the Rogue Cultivator of the Jia Mountain Bandits last time.

This man's surname is Du, and he looks to be in his early forties. I wonder what happened to those dozens of Spirit Stones that Kang Dabao gave me last time.

At this moment, he was so destitute that he didn't even have a robe, and his silk clothes were almost tattered into strips, his face full of misery.

Even without looking at him, Sect Leader Kang Da could smell the shabby air about him, and it was easy to guess that he wasn't living a very good life.

The Du family's Rogue Cultivator was originally an ordinary mortal from a wealthy family. By fortuitous opportunity, he obtained a Cultivation Method, but his aptitude was not good. It took him one or two decades to finally enter the Dao. Now, after nearly forty years of cultivation, he is still only at the Qi Refining Second Layer.

The reason he was somewhat famous in the cultivation community of Xuping County was because he married twelve wives and concubines and had more than forty children.

It wasn't surprising that they were all children without Spirit Root, but what was truly astonishing was that there wasn't a single son among them, only daughters. Some of his fellow practitioners, who enjoyed chatting and laughing, bestowed upon him the title of "Xuping's Grand Father-in-Law."

However, his reputation was of little use to Kang Dabao. Seeing his current predicament, Kang Dabao had no interest in even speaking.

These rogue Rogue Cultivator with no connections or background, even if they were to sell themselves, might not be able to scrape together enough Spirit Stone for a low-grade magic Law Artifact.

Kang Dabao thought this to himself, but still politely asked, "What brings you here, Fellow Daoist Du?"

The Rogue Cultivator surnamed Du had nowhere to sit in the Chongming Sect's hall. After bowing deeply once more, he said, "Because of a previous incident, I, Du, have ruined my reputation in Xuping County and have nowhere to stay. I humbly request Sect Leader Kang to take me in."

"Heh." Kang Dabao chuckled softly. Of the fifty Spirit Stone you earned, that amount was part of this.

In a transaction where money and goods are exchanged, you acted as a guide for people from other counties, which inevitably angered the local forces. Everyone was aware of this consequence beforehand, so no one can be blamed.

Why don't you look at this? They were both collaborators, but why didn't the Tanggu Kuai Household family face retaliation?

Kang Dabao wasn't interested in the story; having paid the money he was owed, he wouldn't bother with any trouble that wasn't his concern.

"I, Du, currently possess nothing of value except a manual on weapon crafting, which I am willing to offer as a token of my sincerity." Seeing Rogue Cultivator Kang Dabao showed no interest, the rogue cultivator surnamed Du could only manage a wry smile and, with his hunched back, presented a well-worn manual on weapon crafting.

Kang Dabao nodded and accepted it. Regardless of whether Chongming Sect accepted him or not, he could take this thing for his own use. This was a demonstration of the sincerity of a patron.

He gave a few more perfunctory replies and sent the Rogue Cultivator surnamed Du back to await further instructions.

The second person to enter was a middle-aged female cultivator dressed scantily cladly. She wasn't particularly attractive, and it was clear that she had practiced some rudimentary, seductive arts.

With just a few words, Kang Dabao figured out that this person was trying to infiltrate the Chongming Sect because the current leaders were all middle-aged male cultivators and there wasn't a single female cultivator in the entire sect.

Most of these low-level, seductive cultivators who mingle in the lower ranks of the cultivation world don't care about cultivating properly; they're only good at these sordid things!

But she miscalculated. Putting aside the deep bond between her fellow disciples, she wasn't even sure if her underhanded tricks would work.

Even the Sect Leader Kang Da is not someone who is indiscriminate in his desires; he has very high standards!

In particular, the female cultivator's stench of vulgarity was so strong it was frightening; it evoked disgust from a distance, making her utterly unappealing.

This probing remark caused Kang Dabao to give them a cold shoulder and immediately try to kick them out.

Upon seeing Kang Dabao's behavior, the female cultivator squeezed out her tears and, in a disgusting attempt to imitate Xi Shi clutching her heart, offered herself as a concubine.

This frightened the Sect Leader Kang Da so much that he almost had Jiang Qing draw his flying sword and send him flying.

The third person to enter was an elderly monk who looked like a scholar. His blue robes were starting to turn white, and his deeply lined face spoke volumes about his life.

Upon entering and seeing Kang Dabao seated in the hall, the old cultivator glanced at him with his cloudy eyes and immediately said, "Sect Leader Kang, do you know that your Chongming Sect is doomed?"

Thank you to reader 20180122215759091 for the 500 points reward, and thank you to reader 20190728233927000 for the Extended Net Moon.

(This chapter is a bit rushed. Something came up at the workshop and I had to get back to work early. Please forgive me, dear readers.)

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