Chapter 95: Advice from a Senior

The grand competition ended.

In the end, Liu Tong was chosen by Jiang Lin, and will depart next month to cultivate at Huaqing Sect.

This drew envy from countless others.

Qinghe had gone three years without a single candidate being accepted into Huaqing Sect; Liu Tong had undoubtedly become the center of everyone’s gossip.

Yes.

The competition passed without incident or drama—no dark horse emerged, no one rose unexpectedly; it was no different from previous years, and even shorter, lasting only one hour.

The crowd dispersed.

Li Rui left calmly.

A seventy-year-old man like him had virtually no chance of entering Huaqing Sect through conventional means, unless Huaqing Sect was hiring janitors.

Work as a cleaner for a Fortune 500 company?

Li Rui smiled faintly.

He had seen too many storms.

He was not so weak as to agonize over missed opportunities or succumb to envy and jealousy.

To claim all fortune at once—does he really think he’s the chosen one of this realm?

Forcefully rush onto the stage and win the favor of some noble patron?

Please.

That kind of novel plot was already crushed before he even reached the stage, by the Huaqing Sect disciples waiting below.

Just walk your own path—no need to overthink anything else.

But this trip was not without gain.

Qinghe Branch.

Li Residence.

Lanterns lit, a silhouette.

Li Rui stared at the small wooden box in his hand, his heart pounding.

“It must be a precious treasure!”

During today’s grand competition, he had been secretly observing Jiang Lin; had he not feared the terrifying intuition of martial experts, he would have glued his eyes to Jiang Lin.

It was spiritual matter.

With his Spiritual Eye, Li Rui could perceive the spiritual matter inherent in all things, and he had discovered that different objects contained slightly varying amounts of it.

Jiang Lin, as an elder of Huaqing Sect, wore spiritual weapons and armor that, to Li Rui’s eyes, radiated pure wealth.

But one golden glow caught Li Rui’s attention.

Because that golden glow matched exactly the spiritual matter emitted by the small wooden box in his hand.

Anything Jiang Lin carried with him must be extraordinary.

“This object is so precious, and was taken from Chi Lian.”

Li Rui’s heart jolted.

That assassination attempt before—was never aimed at Tang Sheng or money; it was aimed at him.

“The Ghost Ming Sect must be searching for this item.”

His expression turned grave.

The only silver lining was that the Ghost Ming Sect currently only knew the item was with the Heaven and Earth Alliance—they didn’t yet know it was him.

Li Rui pondered:

“This item cannot stay in the residence.”

The box’s value far exceeded imagination; keeping it close would only invite disaster.

Since he couldn’t open it anyway, better to hide it somewhere secret first.

As for the Ghost Ming Sect—

When Chi Lian died, he was only a Ninth Rank; even if they suspected, their first targets would be Tang Sheng, then Ge Hong and Zhang Yang.

It wasn’t his problem to worry about.

Three days later.

Yang Yong drove a cart full of swill out of the Qinghe Branch.

If Li Rui buried the wooden box himself,

it would be like hanging a sign that read “Here lies silver”—easily spotted by the Ghost Ming Sect.

Each residence in the Qinghe Branch was responsible for its own swill removal, once every seven days; Li Residence had always assigned this task to Yang Yong; having Yang Yong do it would not arouse suspicion from the Ghost Ming Sect.

No one would notice.

Tianyi Hall.

“Boss Li, Liu Tong wants to gather a few of us from Tianyi Hall.”

Zhou Shulin said.

Li Rui put down his book and smiled lightly:

“How thoughtful.”

Liu Tong was truly riding high now—become a disciple of Huaqing Sect, his future prospects were assured.

Haven’t you seen Zhang Yang lingering every day in Liu Tong’s sister’s room?

Zhang Yang helps these relatives.

Just so he can be repaid someday.

Liu Tong’s entry into Huaqing Sect also boosts his standing in the Heaven and Earth Alliance—a win-win.

“Boss Li, Liu Tong said he’ll host the gathering in his own courtyard at the branch.”

Zhou Shulin added.

He wanted to go.

After all, Liu Tong was destined for great heights; though he’d already clung tightly to Li Rui’s leg, he had no objection to clinging to more.

This was specifically requested by Liu Tong himself.

Li Rui chuckled: “If I don’t go, it would seem unfeeling.”

Liu Tong had already invited him once before.

The location was Huayelou.

Li Rui had declined; he hadn’t expected Liu Tong to be considerate enough to change the venue to the branch this time, with only himself, Zhou Shulin, and Liang He present.

Evening.

Li Rui arrived at Liu Tong’s courtyard with Zhou Shulin and Liang He.

Technically,

Liu Tong, as an ordinary disciple, had no right to a private courtyard.

But due to his special status and Zhang Yang’s maneuvering, he had been granted this courtyard.

Though smaller than the branch chief’s residence, it still clearly signaled status.

As soon as he knocked,

Liu Tong opened the door with a cheerful grin.

Zhou Shulin and Liang He had expected, given Liu Tong’s nature, that the courtyard would be filled with concubines and springtime beauty.

But they found only three servants, all over fifty years old.

Li Rui raised his estimation of Liu Tong slightly.

The playboy in public was actually a workaholic?

That required immense depth of character and perseverance; few who indulged daily in wine and women ever truly woke up.

Liu Tong cooked several small dishes himself and warmed a pot of wine.

When Liu Tong finished, Zhou Shulin asked in surprise: “Brother Liu, I didn’t know you could cook.”

Liu Tong sat down, wiping sweat from his brow: “Learned it long ago.”

Zhou Shulin fell silent.

Clearly, Liu Tong’s current glory masked a difficult past at his ancestral home.

Compared to Liu Tong, his own childhood had been comfortable.

At least he never had to cook for himself.

Liu Tong raised his cup: “Master Li, I toast you. Back at the hall, you let me off easy—otherwise, just for skipping work, I’d have been in deep trouble.”

He openly admitted his fault.

And he still called Li Rui “Master Li”—instantly narrowing the distance between them.

Li Rui and the other two smiled knowingly.

Sincerity was the ultimate weapon.

Seeing Li Rui drink his cup, Liu Tong finally wore a satisfied smile.

After three rounds of wine,

he took the opportunity, slightly drunk, to ask Li Rui: “Master Li, what should I watch out for when I go to Huaqing Sect?”

This banquet was arranged solely to seek Li Rui’s advice.

Liu Tong deeply admired this Master Li’s steady demeanor—no other deputy branch chiefs rose and fell like him; only Li Rui steadily advanced.

He was Liu Tong’s role model.

Li Rui took a small sip of wine.

Liu Tong became a disciple of Huaqing Sect only because of his role in the campaign against the Ghost Ming Sect—he was the best among three candidates.

In Huaqing Sect, innate talent in cultivation is everywhere.

“Little Liu, once you’re in Huaqing Sect, you must highlight your strengths and play to your advantages.”

Liu Tong listened carefully.

“Since you’ve got a good appearance, make the most of it—find out more about fellow disciples with wealthy families, especially senior sisters or even senior aunts.”

Liu Tong: “(○д)ノ”

Then his eyes lit up.

(End of Chapter)