Chapter 35: Hardship of the Sect
Ji Xiao coughed lightly. “I lost myself for a moment. Apologies.”
He was still puzzled. Why had Meng Xueli suddenly decided to “raise the jade dragon and die for the sovereign”? How could engraving “Transient” on the spear inspire him? Just yesterday, Meng Xueli had said there was no need for strict master-disciple etiquette, but now he wanted to uphold the dignity of a master?
As long as he didn’t cry, it was fine. Ji Xiao could only apologize, nod, and agree.
Tonight was the first time Ji Xiao had seen Meng Xueli cry. Back when they first met in the outer realm, the spirit ferret had been gravely wounded, barely hanging on—yet he hadn’t shed a tear. Even during the painful process of reshaping his body, he endured in silence, without a single tear.
Meng Xueli, hearing Ji Xiao say “I lost myself,” felt his earlobes redden. The nape of his neck, touched by Ji Xiao’s hand, tingled faintly. Back then, he had internal injuries and weak limbs, often curling up in Ji Xiao’s arms. Sword Sovereign, would occasionally smooth his fur, stroking him gently from head to back.
But seeing Ji Xiao’s calm expression now, with a hint of helpless amusement in his eyes, made Meng Xueli feel he might have overreacted.
Just as he was about to speak, he sensed someone approaching. He turned to see Yu Qishu running up the mountain path from afar.
Yu Qishu’s anguished cry echoed: “What did you do?! My grass?!”
The junior disciple of Changchun Peak was dumbfounded.
Yesterday, he had promised not to sleep in and miss the early morning again. Today, just before dawn, urged by the persistent nudging of the golden mouse in his blanket, he washed up and dressed, stepping onto the moonlit observation platform. But the once smooth, lush green meadow was now crisscrossed with trenches, the soil and stones scattered, and grass debris everywhere. If it weren’t for the overwhelming scent of grass and soil in the air, he might have thought he was dreaming.
—Dreaming that I was diligently waking up early to practice, while in reality, my lazy body was still nestled in the warm bed by the creekside pavilion.
Meng Xueli quickly put away his spear. “Let me explain!”
Yu Qishu suddenly noticed something. “You broke through? Condensed Spirit Realm?”
Meng Xueli, regaining his pride, patted Yu Qishu on the shoulder. “Impressive, right?”
“Not bad, Master!” If the disturbance was due to a breakthrough, it was understandable. The meadow could grow back.
Yu Qishu hooked his arm around Meng Xueli’s shoulder, sighing, “What’s it like in the Condensed Spirit Realm? Brother Meng, when do you think I can break through too?”
Ji Xiao listened to their banter, with titles all mixed up, but he was nearly accustomed to it. He chuckled and said, “Junior brother, the first business deal on Changchun Peak will need your help.”
Meng Xueli clapped his hands. “Good reminder! I almost forgot. Xiao Yu, you see all those golden silk peach trees blooming everywhere. They’re just sitting there idle, so why not make some money? I went to the largest pawnshop in Hanmen City yesterday, ‘Hengtong Juyuan’…”
Yu Qishu was still basking in the joy of Meng Xueli’s breakthrough when he heard this, like a bucket of cold water was poured over him.
So, the sect had fallen to the point where they couldn’t practice in peace and had to sell trees to make a living? How many spirit stones could they earn by selling saplings?
Would they be selling trees in Hanmen City today and performing street arts in the market tomorrow? —Changchun Peak’s master and disciples giving heartfelt performances: the disciple walking barefoot on nails, the master catching bowls in midair.
Before Meng Xueli could finish, Yu Qishu turned pale. “Are we short on money at Changchun Peak?” He pointed upwards and whispered, “I heard this formation is expensive, costing thirty thousand spirit stones annually.”
Meng Xueli, haunted by Qian Yuzhi’s mantra of “three million a day” and “gift you fifteen hundred years,” blurted out, “It’s not that expensive, really quite cheap.”
Yu Qishu, hearing this, thought they must be desperate.
He immediately untied his storage pouch. “I have some money here. Take it for emergencies! Except for the ‘Willow by the Pool,’ you can sell everything in this pouch—pills, clothes, cushions, small picture books. You could probably gather over three thousand spirit stones.”
Meng Xueli was slightly taken aback. “Where did you get so much money?” Considering White Egret City sent him as a hostage, they couldn’t have treated him well.
Yu Qishu lowered his gaze to the pouch. “My mother gave it to me. She said, ‘Traveling alone thousands of miles away, life must be hard in the cold mountains.’ So, she gave me all her savings when I left, along with a dozen new outfits she tailored.”
“I wrote to her last night, telling her I’m doing great, not alone…”
At this, he felt a pang of sorrow, shoving the pouch into Meng Xueli’s hands. Now that the sect was struggling, and they had to sell their belongings, he resolved to cultivate diligently and rise above this!
Meng Xueli quickly returned the ‘entire fortune’ to him. “You’re mistaken, we’re really not short on money. The wealth your master’s husband left behind is enough to last several lifetimes.” He then explained in detail Qian Yuzhi’s plan to sell the golden silk peach blossoms at a high price.
Yu Qishu, still skeptical, eyed the two of them. “You’re not tricking me, are you? I need to hear it from senior brother.”
He knew Meng Xueli had read countless storybooks and could spin tales effortlessly.
Ji Xiao assured him, “….I vouch for it, it’s true.”
Yu Qishu felt slightly reassured.
Meng Xueli thought, Yu Qishu was quite reliable in handling matters and had a good sense of dealing with people. Besides, this task was straightforward—money for goods. He should manage without issues.
He carefully explained the route to ‘Hengtong Juyuan,’ how to announce himself at the door, and that someone would guide him.
But he forgot to mention that Qian Yuzhi was a cultivator in the Mahayana realm.
For the past two days, Yu Qishu practiced in the peach forest, wielding the ‘Willow by the Pool,’ training to stab a peach blossom’s stamen at the moment it fell.
He practiced until he was dizzy, and the little money mice in the forest recognized him. Sometimes, a small one would follow him back to his pavilion for a nap.
When the day arrived for the meeting with Qian Yuzhi, Yu Qishu carefully selected twenty peach blossom branches and headed down the mountain.
‘Hengtong Juyuan’ was well-known. Yu Qishu knew the way without Meng Xueli’s guidance. On days off from the discussion hall, younger disciples would sneak down to have a look. The display shelves, filled with rare treasures in crystal-clear cases, were always changing with new items.
Yu Qishu enjoyed the VIP treatment, guided by the head manager, feeling slightly inflated as he reached the top floor. The manager opened the door for him and silently stepped back.
Entering the study, he saw a scholar-like cultivator with a youthful appearance, exuding a refined and scholarly aura, engrossed in a thick book.
Yu Qishu grew nervous. Even if a powerful individual deliberately suppressed their aura, their natural presence would still betray their strength. He thought, this person’s depth was unfathomable, likely in the Mahayana realm. He respectfully bowed and asked, “Sorry to disturb you. Is Qian Zhenren here?”
“I am,” the scholar smiled.
Just as Qian Yuzhi finished reviewing the accounts, he was in a good mood. He casually poured a cup of tea for the visitor and pulled out a chair. “You must be Xiao Yu? Meng Elder’s second disciple, come have some tea.”
Yu Qishu was stunned.
Though he claimed to be the great-grandson of Daoist Revered Lingxu and the grandson of Daoist Teacher Chongyuan, he was merely an ordinary descendant among the many in the Yu family of Bailu City. He had never seen his esteemed great-grandfather, Daoist Revered, in person, and even seeing his grandfather required bowing deeply during holidays along with all the younger generations.
Since arriving at Han Shan, he had only seen the sect leader and the elders during the year-end assessments in the main hall, all of whom appeared as dignified elders.
Now, however, a great cultivator of the Mahayana stage was personally serving him tea. Yu Qishu thought, “This is like my grandfather serving me tea.” He quickly took the tea cup, feeling extremely uneasy.
He respectfully offered a storage pouch with both hands. “The task assigned by senior has been completed. Here are twenty branches of golden silk peach blossoms for your review!”
Qian Yuzhi took the pouch, and with a quick scan of his spiritual sense, he understood its contents. “Will you be delivering the peach blossom branches from now on?”
Hearing the question, Yu Qishu stood up, ready to bow. “Yes, senior.”
Qian Yuzhi pressed him back into his seat and took a pouch filled with spirit stones, flashing a standard merchant’s smile. “No problem. Here is the payment for this batch; count it. Next time, bring more, at least a hundred branches, to save yourself the trouble of going up and down the mountain.
“‘Hengtong Juyuan’ will soon launch peach blossom cakes, peach blossom rouge, and peach blossom sweet wine, expanding from the north to the south… If you have any suggestions during our cooperation, feel free to share. Don’t be shy.”
Yu Qishu accepted the pouch as if holding a hot iron. Seeing Qian Yuzhi’s friendly demeanor made him even more nervous. He stood up again, repeatedly saying, “I wouldn’t dare.”
Qian Yuzhi pressed him down again, slightly frowning.
How are we supposed to talk like this? He waved his ‘Harmony Begets Wealth’ fan, frustrated, considering changing the fan’s inscription. “You seem to have some misunderstandings about me. Look around; where do you think you are?”
Yu Qishu cautiously replied, “Reporting to senior, this is a pawnshop.”
“Exactly. We also deal in consignment and auction services,” Qian Yuzhi mocked. “I’m a heartless merchant. Everyone comes here to spend and make money! What, are you here to make friends?”
After being reprimanded by the merchant, Yu Qishu felt oddly more at ease. “Alright. I’m just not used to it…”
Later, as they grew familiar with each other, Qian Yuzhi even had someone help deliver Yu Qishu’s letters home, throwing in two boxes of peach blossom cakes for his mother. Because ‘Hengtong Juyuan’ had a trade route to Bailu City, the fastest flying artifact could reach it in a day.
However, at this moment, young Yu Qishu had no idea that the shocks and grandeur he was to experience in his life were just beginning.
…
Meng Xueli taught his younger disciple close combat techniques smoothly, but when it came to his eldest disciple, he was a bit conflicted.
He asked “I don’t know sword techniques. Did you practice swordsmanship before?”
Ji Xiao didn’t want to lie and nodded.
Meng Xueli, thinking his father had indeed taught him, felt the pressure lighten. “That’s good. Practice the way you used to. If you encounter problems, I’ll take you to consult the sect leader. Although I can’t teach you swordsmanship, there’s something else I can teach you. Starting today, I’ll teach you how to read!”
With that, he pulled out a book titled Introduction to the Dao from his robes and solemnly opened the first page.
Ji Xiao’s expression became slightly embarrassed.
Meng Xueli: “Don’t underestimate an introductory book. Every word is filled with profound meaning. What kind of look is that? Do you want to learn or not?”
Ji Xiao: “…I’ll learn.”
Meng Xueli, pleased, said, “Learn well. You have excellent innate talent. If you can reach the late stage of the Qi Refining realm before I head to the Hanhai Secret Realm, I’ll be relieved.”
Ji Xiao honestly said, “That’s easy.”
In his previous life, he pursued the Dao to its utmost limit. Now, even walking and breathing were acts of cultivation. He just worried about progressing too fast and attracting attention, so he planned to maintain the same pace as the old Ji Xiao.
In hindsight, compared to understanding the mind of a young dao companion, cultivation was the easiest thing.
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
