Chapter 171: Advancing as a Means of Retreat, Guests at Sanyin

Fuhu Altar, a side courtyard somewhere.

The night passed without incident.

Chen Ci slowly withdrew from his meditative state and opened his mouth to exhale; a mass of white mist escaped from his nose and mouth, the cold air it carried causing the temperature in the quiet room to drop abruptly, only returning to normal after a long while.

Old Master Chen wore a sour expression, his eyes slightly narrowed, nursing his own sullen anger, unable to recover for a long while.

As for his Five Elements Yin Demon Art, it was another day of "focusing on participation."

It wasn't that Old Master Chen was disappointed by this; he was quite at peace with the progress of his own cultivation. The cheat just hadn't arrived yet, so what was there to panic about? Practicing Qi and techniques daily was less like cultivation and more like an affirmation of his ambition for Longevity, centered on the principle of perseverance.

What Chen Ci was angry about was that he clearly hadn't locked his door last night, sat there stiffly all night, and yet didn't wait for the "unspoken rules" he had expected.

Ahem, let it be stated beforehand: Chen here didn't actually want to do anything; it was mainly that little Chen hadn't fallen asleep, and he himself was prepared at any moment to righteously refuse, just to let these cheap fellow apprentices see what it meant to be the He Mountain Light.

And the result?

Hah.

"No special arrangements, just told me to keep him by my side and lay a solid foundation."

He could choose not to sleep, but you couldn't choose not to "submerge"; if you didn't "submerge," then not "submerging" was looking down on Old Master Chen.

"Uncle-Master Lin?"

Chen Ci's expression was inexplicably wistful, and he smiled bitterly: "I'm not afraid of Shixiong laughing at me, but I'm still only an Outer Transmission status. On the contrary, that kid is incredibly arrogant. Although he's just a Registered Disciple, Uncle-Master Lin has already promised him a future of Dao Foundation. I reckon he'll be taken back to the He Mountain Sect main altar for important use later. I have a headache over it too. Staying in Fuhu Altar now is not bad; it counts as a single lineage passed down."

Chen Ci smiled as he watched the back of this man surnamed Ye hurrying away. If this could still work out, Old Master Chen would accept it. So what if he became the Courtyard Master of the Fu Courtyard? Two jin of Five Elements Divine Sand a month—this was what the He Mountain Sect owed him.

Heh heh.

Ye Chuan was inexplicably stunned and asked subconsciously: "Uncle-Master Lin's disciple, why not keep him by your side to train?"

Ye Chuan joked with a smile: "One or twenty of them can always be accommodated."

He would rather give it to an outsider and pull in a helper than be isolated and helpless in the altar, with no chance left to enter the tripod as Temple Master.

Chen Ci waved his hand, feeling quite bored: "If it were a beautiful maid, that would be fine, but it's a troublesome burden."

"That is not yet known. Teacher hasn't sent word back yet, but it will be within these two days."

"As the Fu Courtyard Master of Fuhu Altar, Junior Brother will naturally have his own style."

Chen Ci complained slightly: "I was cultivating in that Changping County place before, a place where birds don't lay eggs. I'm not willing to go back. If I could stay in Fuhu Altar and take a post by Uncle-Master Shen's side, I'd be willing even without a salary."

Chen Ci gave a sheepish smile and said in a low voice: "I can't help but be in a hurry. Fuhu Altar is full of talent. Although I have Shixiong's recommendation and have shown a little bit of skill before Uncle-Master Shen, the matter isn't settled yet, which makes one uneasy."

"That is good."

Ye Chuan gave a dumbfounded laugh, understanding this feeling, and joked: "Xishan Prefecture has only been opened for less than a hundred years; it's considered a bitter and cold place in the entire Liang Kingdom. Only Xishan Prefecture is slightly more prosperous and worth living in. With your Fu technique cultivation that even Teacher praised, plus me as your brother, you can put your heart at ease."

"Then I will trouble you, Ye Shixiong."

If it didn't work out, Old Master Chen really wouldn't leave. It was time to let this man surnamed Ye know what it meant to invite a god in but find it hard to send him away.

This Dujiang Ye stroked his long beard and chuckled: "Chen Junior Brother, just don't be anxious."

"Hi, there must be many Shixiong eyeing the position of the Five Courtyards Master. It's not that I don't trust you, Shixiong, it's just that I'm afraid someone will get there first."

Judging the big by the small, working with this man surnamed Ye would definitely not yield many benefits.

"This..."

Ye Chuan laughed freely and gestured to Chen Ci: "Just right, I'll go ask Teacher when he's coming back and settle this for you, Junior Brother. Rest assured, I have everything covered."

"Hahaha~"

Before Ye Chuan could ask in detail, Chen Ci poured out his grievances all at once: "It's a disciple Uncle-Master Lin took in. I don't know what the relationship or background is, but he just told me to take him back to Xishan Prefecture to train him well, saying he'll be of great use later. Since he's by my side, I can only bring him along."

"Ha, haha, easy to say. Uncle-Master Lin's disciple naturally must be taken good care of."

Chen Ci waved his hand: "I thought that when I brought him back to Changping County, the kid would make a fuss. Now that we can stay in Fuhu Altar, it's justifiable. With Uncle-Master Shen suppressing things from above, the kid should be able to be more obedient. By the way, Shixiong, I'll bring him into the altar to live later. Yesterday I was only thinking of visiting you, Shixiong, so I left the kid at the inn. Who knows what kind of trouble he might stir up."

This man surnamed Ye is truly tactless.

"Is it a beautiful maid?"

Ye Chuan's eyes narrowed inexplicably, he paused, and asked with a dry laugh: "By the way, how did Uncle-Master Lin arrange for this disciple?"

Chen Ci nodded and agreed with satisfaction. Seeming to recall something else, he asked: "By the way, Ye Shixiong, where is the Fu Courtyard located, and what are the conditions? Can I have people accompanying me? If the residence is too small, it won't be convenient."

"Eh?"

Telling you not to use "unspoken rules," telling you to be a busybody, wanting to scheme against your Old Master Chen.

Chen Ci went out to find the main person, raised his hand in a salute, and then asked curiously: "Can Uncle-Master Shen return today?"

Chen Ci curled his lips, tidied his Qi again, and managed his expression before rising leisurely and leaving the side courtyard.

"I don't know. Uncle-Master Lin said he had important matters at the Sea Market, so he had me bring him back."

"Ye Shixiong!"

Promised a Dao Foundation future?

Specifically brought back to Xishan Prefecture?

And what the hell is "single lineage passed down"? What does that mean?!

Ye Chuan's expression flickered, and he asked with an inadvertent smile: "Did Junior Brother hear something in the altar? With me here, just rest assured."

Chen Ci originally thought he would have to wait a day, but he didn't expect this man surnamed Ye to not even bother pretending. After only half a day, he hurried back. Seeing Chen Ci, he inexplicably revealed a look of shame, his acting slightly exaggerated.

Ye Chuan smiled warmly, though he felt some disdain inside. The vision and stature of a cultivator from such a small place were just like this. It was only by chance that he practiced the Soul Fixing Talisman Method. If it weren't for the fact that he had no talent under his own command and didn't want the Five Courtyards positions to be occupied by those two Shixiong, he would never have given this position to Chen Ci.

"Junior Brother Chen, ah, I am ashamed."

The man surnamed Ye slightly raised his sleeve, looking as if he were sorry for Chen Ci: "It really happened as Junior Brother Chen said. Teacher still needs three or five days to return, and as a result, two Senior Brothers in the temple have already occupied the Fu Courtyard, this..."

"It's fine, it's fine, Shixiong doesn't need to mind."

Chen Ci didn't show any disappointment; instead, he comforted the man surnamed Ye: "If the Fu Courtyard is gone, it's gone. Isn't there still the Dan Courtyard? I actually know a little bit about alchemy. By the way, the Qi Courtyard—which of us He Mountain Sect cultivators isn't an expert in artifact refining? Shixiong, don't worry, I will definitely be qualified for this post. If that doesn't work, the Shou Courtyard is fine too. I raised hens for a few years back at Sanyin Temple, it should be about the same. I certainly won't lose face for you, Shixiong."

Hesitating for a moment, Chen Ci gritted his teeth, seemingly resigning himself to fate: "I won't make things difficult for you, Shixiong. Even if it's the Cai Courtyard Master, as long as I can stay in Fuhu Altar, I'll accept it."

Ye Chuan: "."

No, what gave you the illusion that you would definitely be able to become one of these Five Courtyards Masters? Who are you, and are we even that familiar?

"This."

Ye Chuan wore a troubled expression, hoping Chen Ci could understand the implication himself and retreat in the face of difficulties.

"Shixiong, it isn't that the positions of the Five Courtyards have all been taken, is it?"

"Mm."

The one surnamed Ye nodded and sighed.

"Hmph!"

Chen Ci slammed the table and stood up abruptly: "This is going too far!"

Ye Chuan was also shaken by this sudden outburst, a flash of suppressed anger crossing his eyes; this fellow surnamed Chen really thought too highly of himself.

"Shixiong, this isn't just slapping your face, this is slapping my backside!"

Chen Ci was indignant: "Yesterday, I faintly heard apprentices in the temple whispering privately that you, Senior Brother, were being squeezed out and suppressed by the two Senior Brothers, Luo and Xue. I didn't quite believe it at first. Senior Brother is such a good person, eager to help others and always taking the lead. Now it seems that it is precisely because you are too kind and too easy to talk to that you are being bullied by those two. No, Senior Brother might be able to endure it, but I, your Junior Brother, cannot!"

Ye Chuan: "." Wait, where is something wrong here?

"Don't worry, Shixiong. I will stay at the Altar for a few days. When Uncle-Master Shen returns, I will go and file a complaint. With my cultivation in talisman arts, if not me, then who should be the Master of the Fu Courtyard?"

Ye Chuan: "."

"Even if Uncle-Master Shen doesn't look at talisman cultivation, he must at least consider Lin Shixiong's face, right?"

Chen Ci waved his hand grandly: "I like to speak the truth. Shixiong, this matter cannot be endured. The more you endure for a moment, the angrier you get; the more you step back, the more you lose. As He Mountain cultivators, how can we swallow this kind of insult?"

"Between fellow disciples, let's not say such things that hurt our feelings."

Ye Chuan was stunned for a long while before coming to his senses, and he sighed: "I also do not wish to ruin the friendship between fellow disciples for the sake of a courtyard position."

"So that means, Ye Shixiong, you are going to ruin the friendship between us?"

Chen Ci gave a dark laugh, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Shixiong, when you invited me to be the Master of the Fu Courtyard, you already had your own agenda. Out of respect for Brother Yan Shan, I treated you like my own brother and agreed to it. But in the end, you were the one who backed down, giving me hope only to destroy it. Do you know how much this hurts me? Now, this matter isn't something you can just walk away from because you say so."

"You!"

Ye Chuan felt a flicker of anger, but for some reason, he felt inexplicably in the wrong, his confidence weakening by more than thirty percent. He could only say in a low voice: "Junior Brother, you are an outsider after all; you won't be able to win against those two Senior Brothers. Listen to my advice, let's just drop this."

"Heh, isn't this matter still involving you, Shixiong?"

Chen Ci sat down and sighed leisurely: "Besides, I have nowhere else to go. If not for this Fuhu Altar, where else can I settle down?"

Glancing at the one surnamed Ye, Master Chen felt an inexplicable sense of melancholy: "My Daoist temple in Changping County doesn't earn a few silver coins all year round. I heard that starting this year, Uncle-Master Shen wants to increase the tribute. And I have a burden to look after; what am I to do?"

"We cultivators should not be blinded by the red dust of the mortal world. The more secluded it is, the more beneficial it is for cultivation."

Ye Chuan subconsciously offered two words of advice, his eyes shifting: "The Teacher does have the intention to increase the tribute for the Outer Sect Disciples of Xishan Prefecture. After all, expanding the Fuhu Altar also requires a lot of silver. How about this: I will take the initiative to reduce the tribute for Changping County by half, treating it as the daily cultivation resources for Uncle-Master Lin's disciple. How does that sound?"

"That kid is taken care of, but what about me, Junior Brother?"

Chen Ci sighed, his tone resentful: "My heart has been broken. The position of Master of the Fu Courtyard that was promised is gone, and what about the two catties of Five Elements Divine Sand tribute every month? This matter cannot be settled in a few words. Perhaps I should wait for Uncle-Master Shen to return and discuss it then."

Damn it!

Recruiting an Outer Sect Disciple from Xishan Prefecture wasn't a big problem. Although this fellow surnamed Chen was close to Lin Qinhu, he wasn't from the same lineage. Among all the He Mountain Outer Transmissions in Xishan Prefecture, who didn't call Lin Qinhu 'Shixiong'?

But to recruit a disciple of Lin Qinhu into the Altar, especially one who seemed to have a background—let alone how those surnamed Luo and Xue would mock him, he feared that in the Teacher's eyes, he, the Dujiang Ye, would be seen as having a screw loose. The Teacher's actions clearly aimed to bring the Fuhu Altar into his own lineage. Although it was difficult and there was no certainty yet, if anyone dared to drag their feet, there would definitely be no good outcome.

This person must not be allowed to stay at the Fuhu Altar; he must be sent away, the sooner the better.

"Full exemption, the annual tribute for Changping County will be fully exempted. What does Junior Brother Chen think?"

Ye Chuan felt a slight pain in his heart. Although he was one of the Three Capitals of the Altar, he was only one of them. Exempting a portion could be managed through his position, but to fully exempt a county's tribute, he would likely have to pay out of his own pocket every year to balance the books.

A bloody loss!

"I see."

Chen Ci nodded slightly and said casually: "But my Sanyin Temple has been in disrepair for a long time. I don't mind, as I'm used to a hard life, but I'm afraid that kid, relying on his background, won't be used to it. Shixiong, can I apply for a sum of money from the Altar to renovate the Sanyin Temple? Since I can't be the Master of the Fu Courtyard, I at least want to live in a grand residence. Shixiong shouldn't break my heart again over this small wish, right?"

Ye Chuan: Your mother!

Tsk.

Ahu's name was still useful. He didn't even need to borrow much; just the title of his disciple was used quite smoothly here in the Fuhu Altar.

Anyway, Master Chen had recouped all the expenses he had spent at the Fuhu Altar and even made a small profit. Although the one surnamed Ye didn't look very happy, but... what did that have to do with Master Chen? It wasn't like he would refuse the money just because this fellow was in a bad mood.

Although the bond between fellow disciples was deep, in the end, it wasn't as sweet as money.

Chen Ci left the Fuhu Altar leisurely, went to the city of Xishan Prefecture to pick up Geng Yuanqing, bought two good horses, and traveled day and night with this cheap nephew toward Changping County.

Don't mention it, he actually quite missed that dilapidated Sanyin Temple. How to put this feeling... a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as Master Chen's... uh, forget it, no need to disparage himself like that.

Anyway, now that he had money, he could really fix up the Sanyin Temple properly.

Because he was traveling with a mortal disciple, it took Chen Ci five days to return to the territory of his own Sanyin Temple. Having been uninhabited for more than half a year, the temple was clearly somewhat desolate and dilapidated, with wild grass and small trees growing lushly everywhere, and traces of wild animals visible in many corners.

It was habitable, but to live comfortably, it would be difficult without putting in some effort.

"I wonder... eh?"

As soon as Chen Ci pressed his hand against the main gate, his expression changed slightly. Although there were no signs of strangers outside his Sanyin Temple, a cultivator was hiding inside. Although the cultivation was not high and very shallow, judging by the behavior, it seemed like they were hiding from something.

Chen Ci returned to his own temple without much thought, and naturally, he didn't hide his presence. The two good horses galloped all the way, making quite a commotion. The cultivator inside, upon sensing the movement outside, immediately hid. This behavior didn't look very normal no matter how you looked at it.

Good fellow, how long had Master Chen been away, and his own temple had been eyed by some 'fellow traveler' from who knows where?

With a light snort, Chen Ci's mind stirred, and the Five Little Ones jumped out from behind him, disappearing into the void to scout the temple.

After confirming that there was only a cultivator who had just entered the Dao hiding inside, Chen Ci pushed open the temple gate abruptly, stepped inside, swept away the stagnant air with a wave of his sleeve, and said faintly: "Come out. Guests are welcome. How have you been living in my Sanyin Temple?"

(End of chapter)