Chapter 82: and translation of chapter title

Clan Leader, you haven't heard? Outside, those wandering cultivators now call you "Old Wang"... no, they've changed it now!

Wang Zhitao came running in from outside in a flash, sweat still on his forehead, his face full of excitement, "They now call you 'Fierce Old Man'! There's even 'Talisman Fierce Old Man'! They say you, old sir, if you don't act it's fine, but once you act it shocks heaven and earth, even more fierce than that demon beast... cough, even more formidable!"

He had wanted to say "even fiercer than the demon beast," but upon reaching his lips he felt it improper, and swallowed it back.

Wang Shan was sitting cross-legged on a large stone in the courtyard; hearing this, he didn't even lift his eyelids, merely giving a faint "hng."

That nickname is actually quite fitting.

He never intended to be a kindly, approachable old good person.

In Heishi Town, looking kind and gentle only makes people think you're easy to bully.

Wang Zhize came out from the house holding a bowl of freshly brewed herbal tea, hearing this he couldn't help but laugh: "Clan Leader, Zhitao is right. Now those people in town, when they mention our Wang family, especially you, their gaze is different. Before it was curiosity; now... there's much more awe."

He handed the herbal tea to a clansman who was regulating his breath, "Especially after we teamed up with the Mercenary Guild, those who originally wanted to probe our details have all quieted down."

"Hmph, a bunch of opportunists." Wang Shan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears, "The Mercenary Guild isn't any benevolent party either; it's just mutual exploitation."

"That's natural, that's natural." Wang Zhitao nodded repeatedly, leaned in, lowered his voice, "Clan Leader, I've heard that the Shi clan, over this matter, are about to erupt in an uproar!"

……

Shi Clan manor, council hall.

"How unreasonable! This is sheer disgrace!" A stone-faced elder of the Shi clan with a face full of flesh slammed the table, making the tea cups tremble, "That Old Wang first crippled our people, then got cozy with the Mercenary Guild; now the whole Heishi Town is laughing at our Shi clan! Second Elder, how can we swallow this anger?"

"Exactly! Second Elder, the Wang family has only about twenty people, old and young; even if that old man has some talent, our Shi clan aren't pushovers! Let's just bring people and raze them to the ground, see if he still dares to be arrogant!" Another elder chimed in, spittle flying.

Shi Tianlei sat in the chief seat, his face so dark it seemed water could drip from it.

He naturally wanted to uproot the Wang family root and branch, but thinking of Wang Shan's unfathomable strength, and that boastful saying "My rules are the rules," he felt his scalp go numb.

"Level them? Said lightly!" Shi Tianlei gave a cold snort, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, "That Old Wang dares to act like this—do you really think he has no backing at all? Is the Mercenary Guild full of idiots? Would they support a family of unknown origin for no reason?"

"Second Elder, what you mean is..." The elder who had been shouting earlier saw his bluster diminish.

"That old coot, not only is his strength strange, his skill in alchemy and talisman-making is genuine." Shi Tianlei rubbed his aching forehead, "What the Mercenary Guild values is his ability to steadily provide pills and talismans. If we act rashly, we'd not only face an Old Wang of unknown depth, but also offend the Mercenary Guild—is it worth it?"

He paused, his voice turning colder: "Don't forget, the Wan clan's bounty is still active. The characteristics of the Wang family's old, weak, women and children... Hmm, if they really are them, and we Shi clan act rashly, we'd be doing the Wan clan's work for them—would any benefit fall to us?"

As soon as he said that, the council hall fell noticeably silent. They naturally knew about the Wan clan's bounty. If the Wang family really are the people the Wan clan are looking for, then the waters run deep.

"Could it be... that we just let it go?" A younger Shi clan member asked, unwilling to accept it; he was precisely the cousin of the sharp‑mouthed, monkey‑cheeked cultivator whom Wang Shan had scared into losing control of his bowels.

"Forget it? Of course we can't just forget it!" Shi Tianlei's eyes flashed with a hint of ferocity, "But a gentleman's revenge may take ten years. Since this Old Wang has utilitarian value, why can't we make use of him? He can sell pills and talismans to the Mercenary Guild—couldn't he also sell them to our Shi clan?"

He tapped the table: "Send someone to make contact, lower your posture. Tell him that past grudges can be written off. As long as he's willing to work for my Shi clan, terms can be negotiated. I want to see what this old fox is scheming in Heishi Town."

"Second Elder, wise!" everyone chorused in agreement, though many still harbored resentment and doubt in their eyes.

Shi Tianlei snorted coldly inside; this was merely a stalling tactic. He didn't believe that Old Wang could keep hiding his head and showing his tail forever. Once we learn his details, there are plenty of ways to deal with him.

……

Li Clan manor.

Li Clan head Li Changqing, a middle‑aged man with an elegant, scholarly appearance, was listening to his subordinate's report.

"Oh? The Wang family has teamed up with the Mercenary Guild? Over at the Shi clan, that old fox Shi Tianlei actually restrained himself?" Li Changqing lifted his teacup and gently blew on the floating tea leaves.

"Yes, clan head. The Shi clan not only didn't make a move, but reportedly also intends to win over that Old Wang." The subordinate answered respectfully.

"Interesting, truly interesting." Li Changqing set down his teacup, a hard‑to‑read smile touching his lips, "Heishi Town hasn't been this lively in a long while. A 'Old Wang' who can concoct pills and draw talismans, a lurking river‑crossing dragon... it seems the waters are about to be stirred up."

He pondered for a moment: "Prepare a modest gift, send someone to the Wang family, and say I, Li Changqing, wish to befriend Old Wang. No need for too much formality—just a token gesture."

"Yes, clan head."

The undercurrents of Heishi Town, because of the arrival of the Wang family's river‑crossing dragon and his cooperation with the Mercenary Guild, have grown increasingly turbulent. All factions are watching and probing. The Wang family homestead, for a time, became the eye of the storm, yet paradoxically acquired a delicate balance.

Inside the Wang family homestead.

Wang Shan distributed the first batch of spirit stones he had exchanged with the Mercenary Guild, along with some basic cultivation supplies sent by Qian Sihai as a gesture of goodwill, to the clansmen.

"Take these spirit stones and cultivate. Swiftly increasing your strength is the foundation for us to establish ourselves in Heishi Town." Wang Shan looked at the faces, somewhat weary yet full of hope.

"Clan Leader, with these I feel I'll soon break through to Refining Body Stage Four!" a young clansman exclaimed excitedly.

"Me too; the depleted qi and blood I had before will be replenished in these few days."

Wang Boyan gazed at the scene before him, feeling a myriad of emotions. Thinking back to when the Wang family was glorious in Qingyang City, they never once worried over such a trifling amount of spirit stones. Yet now, this bit‑by‑bit accumulation concerns the very survival of the family.

"Shan'er, the Mercenary Guild, as well as the Shi and Li families, are not easy to deal with. We..." Wang Boyan said, somewhat worried.

"Uncle, rest easy." Wang Shan cut him off, "I know my limits. They're not moving against us now because we still have utilitarian value, and also because they haven't yet figured out our details. This precious breathing space, we must seize it."

He looked at Wang Zhize: "Zhize, keep in touch with the Mercenary Guild side; we can supply pills and talismans in small, frequent batches—no need to rush. As for price, let them decide; at this stage we need their channels and information."

"Yes, clan head."

"Zhitao," Wang Shan turned to Wang Zhitao, "keep gathering information outside, especially about the movements of the Shi and Li families, and the reactions of other wandering cultivators in town—report everything to me."

"Understood, clan head! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Wang Zhitao slapped his chest.

Having arranged everything, Wang Shan returned alone to his room.

With a thought, he entered the system space.

Looking at the thriving Spirit Blood Branches in the space, and the few seedlings of the Essence Blood Pill main herb carefully cultivated in the corner, Wang Shan silently calculated.

"Spirit Plant Points are still too few."

Part of the spirit stones obtained from cooperating with the Mercenary Guild was used for the clansmen's cultivation; another part he unhesitatingly funneled into the system, buying more Spirit Blood Branch seeds and some special fertilizer to accelerate spirit plant growth.

The Spirit Blood Branch is currently the highest‑cost‑effectiveness choice; it can not only be used to refine Essence Blood Pills, after maturation be directly absorbed, but also slowly boost qi and blood strength.

"Refining Body Stage Eight Midphase... there's still a distance to go before reaching Stage Nine." Wang Shan felt the power within him.

The strength he currently shows is merely the tip of the iceberg; his true trump card isn't ready to be revealed yet.

"Foundation Establishment Pill... Purple Monkey Flower..." he murmured, recalling the scattered bits of information he'd heard from Qian Sihai about these things.

The Mercenary Guild's intelligence network is indeed powerful, but it only provides some baseless rumors; it's still far from any genuine leads.

"No rush, step by step."

Wang Shan closed his eyes and began to circulate his cultivation technique.

The murky water of Heishi Town has only just begun to stir. What the Wang Family must do is not only self-preservation, but also to reap sufficient profit from this turbid water, to carve a bloody path for the family's future!

As for those covetous gazes, those potential enemies… hum, sooner or later, he will make them know the consequences of provoking the Wang Family!