Chapter 418: Fan Hongjiao

Although Duan Rong did not clearly understand what efficacy the Bone Marrow Gray Matter from those two bottles of Origin Beast spines actually had, judging by the reactions of Fan Hongjiao and the other two, he could guess that this item was by no means an ordinary, mundane object.

Duan Rong knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and said respectfully, "Thank you, Master, for your generous gift!"

Seeing that Duan Rong observed the etiquette very strictly and dared not overstep the rules by even half a step, Zhu He smiled slightly and said, "I have already given orders to prepare a table of wine and dishes. Let us, master and disciples, have a casual meal together."

As Zhu He spoke, he turned his head to look at Fan Hongjiao and the others, saying, "Times have been busy; it seems we haven't eaten together in a long time, have we?"

Fan Hongjiao laughed and said, "We few often gather together. As for being with Master, I remember it was a few years ago, when Junior Brother Wang Yue first joined the Sect!"

Zhu He laughed heartily and said, "I have been quite overwhelmed these past few years. Hongjiao, you are their Senior Sister; you must help me look after these Disciples more!"

Fan Hongjiao said with a smile, "Rest assured, Master! The Disciples are all very well-behaved."

As Fan Hongjiao spoke, she turned her head and swept a coquettish gaze across the room; Duan Rong was fine and felt nothing, but Wu Shidao and Lu Geng both got a layer of goosebumps.

Zhu He nodded and said, "Let's go, let us take our seats together."

The group left the room where they had been discussing matters, walked along a veranda for a distance, and turned into another room.

This room was slightly more spacious, and the furnishings and decorations were much more opulent and pleasing to the eye; there were even a few calligraphy and painting scrolls hanging on the walls. Duan Rong took two glances at them, and the brushwork was quite extraordinary.

On a rosewood round table in the middle of the room, many dishes had already been set out, and as the group entered the room, some hot dishes were brought in one after another.

The group took their respective seats.

As soon as they sat down, an Attendant who was serving came over and poured wine for them one by one.

Duan Rong sat there quietly, not speaking.

On such occasions, one generally had to wait for Zhu He to speak first.

Zhu He paused before smiling and saying, "It has been a long time since I ate with you all; it is I, your Master, who has been a bit lacking in sentiment. I shall punish myself with a cup first!"

As Zhu He spoke, he picked up his wine cup and drank it in one gulp.

This opening remark made the hearts of all the disciples feel warm.

The Attendant nearby immediately refilled Zhu He's wine.

Zhu He said, "Come, let us drink a cup together to welcome your Junior Brother Duan Rong to Yunfu Peak."

Upon hearing this, the others all raised their wine cups.

Zhu He continued, "However, this wine is not drunk for nothing. I expect to be even busier in the coming years. As for your little Junior Brother here, his talent and character are both excellent; if there is anything I fail to look after, you must make up for it on my behalf. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you all accountable."

Duan Rong's expression remained unchanged, but in his heart, he understood what Zhu He meant by being busier in the future. Clearly, the struggle for the position of Sect Master was drawing ever closer; how could he not be busy?

Lu Geng smiled and chimed in, "Fine! I knew that drinking Master's wine would definitely come with conditions."

Zhu He laughed heartily and said, "You guessed right this time. Lu Geng, the task of taking Duan Rong to choose weapons and cultivation techniques in a while is left to you!"

Lu Geng smiled and said, "Master, you only pick the soft persimmons to squeeze."

Zhu He glared at him and said, "Nonsense! You are big and burly, where are you soft?"

Once these words were spoken, the whole room burst into laughter.

In fact, this job was supposed to be Lu Geng's anyway. Lu Geng was merely making witty remarks at the banquet.

With Wang Yue absent, Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao both had higher seniority than him, so the task naturally fell to him. When he joined the Sect back then, it was also Wu Shidao who took him to choose weapons and cultivation techniques.

After the group drank a few more cups, Duan Rong stood up and began to toast them one by one.

Whether it was to his Master, Senior Sister, Second Senior Brother, or Third Senior Brother, Duan Rong called each one more affectionately than the last. Especially with Fan Hongjiao; when Duan Rong toasted her, she insisted on drinking a cross-cupped wine with him, and Duan Rong had no choice but to rub his nose and agree.

After Duan Rong finished his round of toasts, Zhu He sat for a little while longer before leaving.

At this moment, only the four fellow disciples remained at the table.

No sooner had Zhu He left than Fan Hongjiao picked up her wine cup and walked over to Duan Rong.

Seeing Fan Hongjiao approach with wine, Duan Rong was about to stand up, but Fan Hongjiao pressed one hand on his shoulder and pushed him back into his seat.

With her hand resting on Duan Rong's shoulder, Fan Hongjiao leaned over slightly, her breath as fragrant as orchids.

As Duan Rong turned his head, he clearly saw her fair neck extending downward, and not far from that extension were two...

Fan Hongjiao looked at Duan Rong with seductive eyes and said, "Come! Little Junior Brother, since we are meeting for the first time, Senior Sister will feed you a cup of wine. How about it?"

Duan Rong said anxiously, "Senior Sister Fan, how can this be?"

"What of it..."

As the two pushed and pulled slightly, the wine spilled onto Duan Rong's body.

Fan Hongjiao let out an "Oh my," put down the wine cup, and used a handkerchief to help Duan Rong wipe off the spilled wine.

"Look, you've spilled it all over yourself; Senior Sister will help you wipe it off."

As she wiped, she soon began to rub slightly against Duan Rong's chest.

Fan Hongjiao's eyes were even more watery as she said, "Little Junior Brother, you are quite sturdy!"

Duan Rong grabbed Fan Hongjiao's hand and stood up, his face turning bright red with embarrassment.

Seeing Duan Rong's shy and anxious look, Fan Hongjiao smiled even more charmingly and said, "Little Junior Brother, why are you grabbing so tightly? You've hurt Senior Sister!"

Duan Rong immediately let go of Fan Hongjiao's hand! He had not expected that the dignified Senior Sister of Yunfu Peak would act in such a manner; for a moment, he was truly at a loss!

"Sit, Little Junior Brother, it's fine, Senior Sister won't eat you."

Fan Hongjiao smiled, pulled Duan Rong down to sit, and then pulled up a chair and sat directly beside him.

Fan Hongjiao poured a cup of wine, tilted her head, and downed it in one breath. With seductive eyes, she turned to look at Duan Rong again and asked with an ambiguous tone, "Little Junior Brother, seeing how shy you are, you wouldn't still be a virgin, would you?"

As Fan Hongjiao spoke, she covered her mouth and laughed.

Duan Rong remained silent, his eyes looking somewhat helplessly at Wu Shidao and Lu Geng opposite him.

Fan Hongjiao raised her cup and said, "Since you don't want Senior Sister to feed you, we can at least have a drink together, right?"

Looking at the wine cup Fan Hongjiao held out in front of him, Duan Rong felt a bit awkward, so he had no choice but to raise his cup, clink it with hers, and then they both drank it dry.

Seeing that Duan Rong had drunk it, Fan Hongjiao felt quite happy and said, "Little Junior Brother, I know quite a few talented Junior Sisters in the Sect. When the time comes, I, your Senior Sister, will play matchmaker and pull some strings for you. Oh, right, that Jiang Hanyan is not bad; she is the apple of Lin Youjian's eye. If you can win her over, perhaps in the future, Lin Youjian will stand on Master's side. That would be a great contribution! Don't say Senior Sister didn't teach you!"

Duan Rong smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Senior Sister, but... I am already married."

"Ah?!"

It was not only Fan Hongjiao who was surprised; even Wu Shidao and Lu Geng felt a slight shock in their hearts.

To be able to enter Yunfu Peak and become a disciple of Zhu He, their talent was naturally quite excellent.

With high talent, their Dao Heart was naturally high-reaching as well, which was why they had no plans for marriage yet. But they had not expected that Duan Rong, who looked less than twenty years old, was already married.

Fan Hongjiao froze for a moment, an expression of disbelief appearing in her eyes, and said, "Disciple, you are already married?"

Duan Rong smiled faintly, drank a cup of wine, and said, "Yes. Once married, a person can be more settled."

To be able to have a family was a long-cherished wish of Duan Rong in his previous life.

Wu Shidao praised, "Although Disciple is young, he sees things quite clearly."

Duan Rong gave a sheepish smile, noncommittal.

Fan Hongjiao, however, rolled her eyes, looked at Duan Rong, and asked, "Is your wife also a disciple in the Sect?"

Duan Rong said, "She is."

Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao exchanged a look. Fan Hongjiao asked, "Who is she?"

Duan Rong said, "Senior Sister and Senior Brother would not know her. She is still in the Tower Forest."

"Is that so!"

Fan Hongjiao's body suddenly relaxed, and her hand rested on Duan Rong's shoulder like a snake again, saying coquettishly, "Actually, it's good to get married early. People who are married know better how to cherish others."

Fan Hongjiao had originally been afraid that Duan Rong's wife was also a member of the Sect, and that if she flirted with Duan Rong, it would cause a scandal later. Now that she heard she was still in the Tower Forest—and might not be able to come out for a year or two—what did she have to worry about?

As Fan Hongjiao spoke, her hand began to stroke Duan Rong's chest again.

Wu Shidao frowned, suddenly looked at Lu Geng, and said, "Disciple Lu, didn't Master tell you to take the Junior Disciple to pick out weapons and cultivation techniques?"

Lu Geng's eyes flickered, and he said, "Ah, right! I see the time is about right. Junior Disciple, let's go."

As Lu Geng spoke, he stood up, pulled Duan Rong, and walked outside.

"Sigh..." By the time Fan Hongjiao reacted, Lu Geng had already pulled Duan Rong out of the room in a flash.

Fan Hongjiao sat up straight, looked at Wu Shidao with an angry expression, and chided, "Why did you ruin my good deed?"

Wu Shidao said coldly, "Senior Sister, you should restrain yourself."

Fan Hongjiao snorted coldly and said, "Wu Shidao, get your status straight; I am the Senior Sister. Are you trying to lecture me?!"

Wu Shidao sighed and said, "Senior Sister, do you still remember that during the Yougu test three years ago, there was an Outer Sect Disciple who was half a step away from stepping onto the Altar?"

Fan Hongjiao's eyes flickered. During that test three years ago, she had gone out of the mountains to carry out a mission and only returned after more than half a year. She seemed to have heard someone mention it upon her return, but she had not paid any attention to it.

"You mean the Junior Disciple..."

"Exactly!" Wu Shidao said sternly, "That Outer Sect Disciple who was half a step away from the Altar is named Duan Rong. If not for that, why would Master have given away two bottles of Origin Beast spinal bone marrow gray matter the moment the Junior Disciple entered Yunfu Peak? Among us, who has received such treatment?"

The expression in Fan Hongjiao's eyes changed instantly at Wu Shidao's words!

Wu Shidao continued, "And the Junior Disciple is already married. If something were to happen, who do you think Master would punish?"

Fan Hongjiao sneered and said, "In that case, I suppose I should thank you for your good intentions."

Wu Shidao: "That is not necessary. If Senior Sister is truly lonely, I can keep you company."

Fan Hongjiao laughed, "Get lost! I know you, you're cold and aloof."

Wu Shidao stood up and smiled, "Since that is the case, I shall take my leave."

After Wu Shidao finished speaking, he walked out of the room.

Fan Hongjiao sat alone in the room, pouring and drinking a few more cups, but she felt increasingly annoyed. She held her wine cup and sighed, "Half a step from the Altar, isn't that the same as Yang Sixuan back then? Is the Junior Disciple really that powerful? No wonder Master was so busy yet still ran over to take this disciple!"

Lu Geng led Duan Rong out of the corridor.

Lu Geng looked at Duan Rong beside him and said, "Junior Disciple, Senior Brother has a word of advice for you. Usually, stay away from the Senior Sister. When there is a mission, just talk about the business. Try to avoid being alone with her."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, and he said, "Many thanks for the reminder, Senior Brother Lu. I will."

Lu Geng smiled and patted Duan Rong on the shoulder. "But you don't have to worry too much. Although the Senior Sister has a bad reputation in some respects, she is actually quite loyal."

Lu Geng first found the History Supervisor responsible for leading the way to weapons and cultivation techniques and had him process the paperwork for Duan Rong directly.

Normally, an Inner Sect Disciple coming to the Inner History Department to handle such procedures would have to wait at least ten days after submitting an application. But Lu Geng had been at Yunfu Peak for seven years, and he was already very familiar with all the ins and outs of the department.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lu Geng took the paperwork and went with Duan Rong to the place where weapons were issued.

The Qi of Heaven and Earth is violent in its attributes; ordinary iron is simply difficult to bear the weight of the Qi of Heaven and Earth.

And Inner Sect Disciples who have left the Tower Forest can all receive a weapon. This one item alone shows the foundation of the Sect.

If it weren't for the Taiyi Sect controlling the resources of the entire Qingzhou, how could it refine so many weapons that are not ordinary iron?

Moreover, if an Inner Sect Disciple's weapon is lost while on a mission, it is also a grave crime and will be severely punished.

The Sect will mobilize the entire secular power to issue a wanted warrant for this weapon.

Because such weapons, if left to drift in the secular world, are also a potential threat to the Sect's rule.

Lu Geng brought Duan Rong to a cold and desolate mountain peak not far from Cuiwei Peak.

For some reason, the mountain peak was bare, without a single tree, and in the crevices of the rocks, one could not see the dense ferns found on other mountain peaks.

Duan Rong looked at this strange mountain peak and asked, "Senior Brother, where are the trees on this mountain?"

Lu Geng said, "On this mountain, trees cannot survive."

Duan Rong said, "There is a problem with the soil."

"Junior Disciple has a good eye." Lu Geng's eyes flashed as he explained, "This mountain peak is used for refining weapons all year round. And what is refined here are not ordinary weapons. The materials that are not ordinary iron are quite a headache to process, and it is inevitable that some special means are used. Therefore, over hundreds of years, the soil of this mountain has long been filled with various toxins; let alone trees, even grass that takes root in the topsoil cannot survive."

Duan Rong guessed the soil problem because he had already seen that the soil in the rock crevices had a certain strange luster. With his experience, he could see the problem at a glance.

Duan Rong followed Lu Geng to the entrance of a hidden cave.

Before the two of them even got close to the cave, Duan Rong already felt several very powerful Divine Senses sweeping across them.

At the moment those powerful Divine Senses swept over, Duan Rong noticed Lu Geng beside him frown.

In that instant, Duan Rong's heart tightened.

So, this person also practiced the Womb Treasury Sutra!

This piece of information was quite important to Duan Rong. Lu Geng's Womb Treasury Sutra was likely not learned in secret; it was very probable that Zhu He had passed it on to him.

Of the Womb Treasury Sutra in Duan Rong's hands, only the twelfth level remained unachieved. Now that he had become a disciple of Zhu He, he should have the opportunity to obtain the supplementary medicinal ingredients for cultivating the twelfth level of the Womb Treasury Sutra.

However, the Womb Treasury Sutra definitely had more than twelve levels!

How to obtain the subsequent techniques of the Womb Treasury Sutra had become his most pressing task at present.

After all, Mental Power was the core of cultivation!

(End of chapter)