Chapter 393: Reward
Chaoyue City was a city in the northern end of Ling Province. It wasn’t large, but it was next to the mountains and river, making it a rather picturesque place.
The Zheng Clan was a prestigious clan of Chaoyue City famed for its scholars. Although it couldn’t compare to the five great clans of Canglong Prefecture, it was an ancient clan with a hundred years of history.
The Zheng Estate.
Standing beneath an evergreen tree and gazing at its dense foliage, Zheng Shufeng appeared rather distracted and nostalgic. “I remember when I was first married off, how I bitterly wept as we parted underneath this evergreen tree. Twenty years have gone by, and while this evergreen is still the same, the people have changed. If I return now, I do not know when we will next meet.”
Lightly stroking the old evergreen tree, she spoke in a very melancholy tone.
“Aunt, why does it sound like you’re going to leave?” a clear and refined voice said.
Turning around, Zheng Shufeng saw a young woman gracefully walking over.
Her name was Zheng Huajun, and she was the daughter of Zheng Shufeng’s younger brother. As she was the youngest in the clan, she was also the most spoiled.
Zheng Shufeng had been married off before Zheng Huajun had even been born, and this visit back was their first time meeting each other, but they actually got along rather well. Zheng Shufeng was very fond of this niece of hers, so she squeezed out a smile and said, “The Wei Clan has had a lot of problems lately, so I can’t not go back. It will only be a few days, and then I will return. I’m still preparing the carriage and have yet to go around saying my farewells, but your sharp ears have already heard the news. Right, have you gone to see your grandmother?”
“Mm!” Zheng Huajun firmly nodded. “Grandmother is extremely energetic today, eating more than half a bowl of porridge. Aunt, that medicine is truly incredible.”
Zheng Shufeng indifferently said, “That’s only natural. This is the Life Restoring Pill of Shaohua Mountain. It could even save a dead man. A single one costs tens of thousands of spirit coins…”
Zheng Huajun covered her mouth and chuckled. “The cultivator serving Aunt’s family isn’t just loyal, but also extremely capable.”
Zheng Shufeng sighed. “Of course he’s capable, or else he wouldn’t have been able to become a servant student only three years after entering the estate. But this loyalty must be reevaluated.”
Zheng Huajun’s eyes flashed. “Aunt, Huajun does not understand these words. Why is it that Aunt is worried rather than happy after Tang Jie had someone send over the spirit pill, even thinking that he is not loyal enough?”
Zheng Shufeng extended a finger and lightly tapped Zheng Huajun’s forehead. “Stubborn girl, don’t play dumb with me. If you can’t even understand the reason for this, then you’re not worthy of my evaluation of you.”
Zheng Huajun laughed again, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. “Grandmother was on her last legs, but with the pill, she can now hold on for many more days. This should have been a good thing, but the Wei Clan is currently in an autumn of many troubles. If Aunt has to keep Grandmother company, you cannot return to the estate to handle the business. Did that Immortal Tang do this on purpose? Or was it a coincidence? But it seems to me, Aunt, that you are prepared to bear the disrepute of unfiliality to return.”
“I just need to go and handle a few matters. It’s not like I’m not coming back.” Zheng Shufeng glanced at her niece. “And if you have something to say, just say it. What are you laughing about?”
“Should I cry, then?” Zheng Huajun put down the handkerchief and pulled on Zheng Shufeng’s arm. “Aunt is the lady of the Wei Clan, so you have only concern for the Wei Clan. But I have never even seen anyone from the Wei Clan. For my Zheng Clan, Grandmother’s health is much more important than the Wei Clan. So long as Grandmother is healthy, I don’t care about what is happening to anyone else. Moreover… if the Wei Clan’s misfortune can be exchanged for the health and safety of my Zheng Clan, I would not mind making this trade.”
She spoke these last words very softly, but Zheng Shufeng still heard them. Her face darkened, and she gave her niece a sharp prod. “You stubborn girl, what nonsense are you saying? Be careful that others don’t hear.”
Zheng Huajun smiled. “Aunt, there is only you and me under this evergreen tree. There are no outsiders here.”
“The heavens know and the earth knows, and you know and I know. Moreover, the spell arts of Immortals are profound and mysterious. Could a mere mortal like you understand them?”
“Aunt, since you know to be fearful, why attempt to oppose a cultivator?” Zheng Huajun casually asked.
Zheng Shufeng’s face fell. “Zheng Huajun, what are you trying to say?”
Zheng Huajun lowered her head and said, “Please forgive Huajun for her rudeness, but though Huajun is a woman, she is still able to see through the meaning behind the delivery of the medicine. Aunt’s intelligence is known about in both estates, and Immortal Tang spent three years in the Wei Estate, so he should understand this even more than Huajun. How could he believe that Aunt would not see the true goal of that medicine? He probably had no intention of hiding it from Aunt.”
Zheng Shufeng was startled. “You’re saying…”
Zheng Huajun coolly said, “You must make a choice.”
Zheng Shufeng trembled. “Have you gone crazy? Saying something like this! You’re asking me to betray the Wei Clan!”
“How could it be called a betrayal?” Zheng Huajun looked as if she had been unjustly accused. “Clearly, Aunt is performing her filial duty to her mother and has no time for other business.”
Zheng Shufeng rebuked, “Absurd! In the end, the Wei Clan is my husband’s clan, and Danbai is my husband. How could I just sit back and watch as my husband and clan fall into a hopeless situation?”
Zheng Huajun chortled. “If Immortal Tang wanted to put the Wei Clan into a hopeless situation, he could do it easily. Why go through all the trouble?”
Zheng Shufeng fell silent.
Zheng Huajun smiled. “Aunt is a wise person. In truth, nothing terrible will happen to the Wei Clan. It will just have to deal with a few small problems. Right now, Aunt is here, and all of these things have nothing to do with Aunt. If you go back, you might not be able to help the Wei Clan and might only disappoint Tang Jie. The gains simply do not outweigh the losses. And further provocations might only spur stronger attacks, adding to the problems.”
“You…”
“And Huajun remembers that when Aunt first heard of this matter, you were deeply concerned, even writing a letter to Uncle. Huajun does not know what Aunt wrote, but Huajun knows that Uncle definitely didn’t listen. Since Uncle does not take Aunt’s opinions seriously, even if you went back now, how useful could you really be? In the end, the head of the Wei Clan is Uncle, not you!”
These words left Zheng Shufeng deeply pained.
Yes, had she not sent letters attempting to make her husband see reason?
Alas, Wei Danbai had not listened to her. After the first incident, rather than trying to atone, he had chosen to withdraw his people midway through the search. After the first time, one could rebuke him for being a fool, but after the second time, one could only say that he had gotten too conceited, only seeing the distinction between master and servant and forgetting the difference between Immortals and mortals.
When she heard of the matter again, she was so angry that she could hardly speak, and she knew that it would be hard to settle things positively. All she could do was beg Tang Jie to be magnanimous enough to not punish the Wei Clan to the point of no return, to only mete out a minor punishment.
To her surprise, Tang Jie hadn’t taken revenge, but because of his influence, he had still managed to drag the Wei Clan into a pit of endless problems.
These problems actually weren’t problems for Zheng Shufeng. So long as one resolved oneself to transfer the stores and stop the expansion, one could quickly solve the problems. Even if Wei Danbai wasn’t willing, Zheng Shufeng had enough influence in the Wei Clan to force these actions through.
But Tang Jie’s medicine had made her understand what he wanted.
He did not want Zheng Shufeng to go back.
This medicine was to repay Zheng Shufeng’s kindness and also to beat down Wei Danbai.
“So…” Zheng Huajun continued, “Rather than returning to help Uncle with his plans, it would be better to remain here and carry out your filial duty to Grandmother. Once it’s time to return, you can go back, and wouldn’t it be great if you were able to work hard and just barely save the Wei Clan from its desperate crisis?”
Zheng Shufeng’s gaze gradually chilled. “You’re asking me to be disloyal!”
“The exact opposite. This is Aunt’s chance. The Wei Clan can only prosper if Aunt is leading it!”
This was like a thunderclap in Zheng Shufeng’s ears, causing her body to shudder as she cried out, “This is impossible! I am a woman, and the Wei Clan has the venerable master and second master. How could a woman ever assume the position of clan head?”
As she talked, she realized that she had lost her composure, and she lowered the volume of her voice.
Zheng Huajun smiled. “Extraordinary times require extraordinary people to be at the helm. Aunt, it’s not like you haven’t realized this. It’s just that your affection for your husband makes you unwilling to think of it. This is why Huajun has risked offense by saying all this. Aunt, if you want to do the best thing for the Wei Clan, you shouldn’t go back right now!”
Zheng Shufeng fell silent.
Standing under the evergreen tree, Zheng Shufeng said nothing, her chest heaving up and down.
It was clear that she was greatly conflicted, and Zheng Huajun couldn’t help but get nervous.
At this moment, a maid came over and bowed to Zheng Shufeng. “My lady, the carriage is ready.”
Zheng Shufeng seemed to wake from a dream. She looked at the maid, and then she looked at Zheng Huajun. Her feet began to carry her out of the estate.
Zheng Huajun watched her walk away, and as she drew farther and farther away, she finally shouted, “Aunt, please rethink this!”
Zheng Shufeng froze.
She stood there, gazing into the distance. After a long while, she said, “I hear that Swallow Mountain’s Shaoyang Monastery venerates the Supreme Aspiration Spirit, which ensures the health and peace of the region. With my esteemed mother being ill, I should go and make a wish.”
With this said, she walked away.
Zheng Huajun’s face broke into a smile.
Zheng Huajun slightly grimaced, but she simply bowed and said, “But I cannot compare to Aunt. I wish for Aunt’s swift return.”
Zheng Shufeng murmured in reply before leaving.
Once Zheng Shufeng was gone, Zheng Huajun went back.
When she returned to her own small courtyard, a young man was seated in front of the small pond, blowing on a bamboo flute.
Zheng Huajun came up behind the young man and bowed. “I have fulfilled my mission!”
The young man continued to play the flute for a while before stopping.
“Good job.” The young man turned his head, revealing himself to be Mu Yi.
He threw over a small book and said, “If you can advance to Spirit Lake in three years, you may come to the Seven Absolutions Sect to find me.”
“Thank you, Immortal Master!” Zheng Huajun deeply bowed.
When she rose, Mu Yi was no longer there.
After leaving the Zheng Estate, Mu Yi twirled his flute as he walked along the road, eventually arriving at a fish pond. Nearby, Tang Jie stood with his hands held behind his back, and not far from him squatted the figure of Shi Jingzhai. He was doing math with his fingers while Yiyi rode on his neck like he was a horse.
Mu Yi came over and said, “The matter is done…”
Tang Jie waved his hand. “Don’t tell me if anything is done or not. I didn’t ask you to do anything, and everything you did has nothing to do with me.”
Mu Yi was taken aback, and then he chuckled. “Yes, yes, yes, you didn’t ask me to do anything. It was all my own idea, thinking myself more than I was and getting too sentimental, meddling in matters that had nothing to do with me. I supposed I’ve made a fool of myself.”
“So long as you know,” Tang Jie firmly replied.
Mu Yi sullenly said, “I say, aren’t you being a little unreasonable? You clearly hope to see the Wei Estate encounter misfortune, and are even intentionally drawing people in to cause trouble, but you insist on pretending you had nothing to do with it. Isn’t doing things this way rather unpleasant? A true man differentiates between grudges and gratitude. Wouldn’t it be much better if you handled things as straightforwardly as my Great Brother?”
Tang Jie smiled. “Clearly differentiating between grudges and gratitude sounds easy, but things get difficult when you run into matters that are difficult to differentiate. I don’t deny that I want to see the Wei Estate in trouble, but it’s not to the extent where you can say that I’m drawing people to cause trouble. All I’m doing is making something that would have happened in three to five years happen in thirty to fifty days.”
Mu Yi nodded. “That’s true. Even if you didn’t do this, the Wei Estate would have to face these problems eventually, but perhaps not all at once like they are now. But the power of a sudden burst has always been greater than a smooth and steady flow.”
Tang Jie sneered. “That’s Wei Danbai’s problem. I have no obligation to think for his sake.”
Mu Yi clapped his hands and laughed. “There we go! You’ve finally exposed your true self. You’re trying to get him to step down.”
Tang Jie replied to him, “Change ‘try’ into ‘think’ and you’re right.”
“Yes, yes, you’re only thinking, not doing. But you’ve made your thoughts known, and when an Immortal thinks of something, the mortals must try their best to make it happen! Those people working against the Wei Clan right now aren’t offending you, but gaining your favor!”
Mu Yi’s words resounded with force and confidence as he revealed the truth of Tang Jie’s actions.
Sighing, Tang Jie turned to leave.
Mu Yi ran to catch up. “Hey, where are you going?”
“Back to the academy, to treat you.”
“I just ran out from the academy, and now you’re having me go back?”
“How much do you really think that trash you brought with you is worth? If I don’t go and get the reward money to buy you medicine, how can I treat you?”
“That’s quite the tone. Sure enough, sudden wealth changes a man. What about the Wei Clan?”
“I originally left it up to the heavens, but you made it sound like I was ordering the heavens around. Since that’s the case, I should withdraw early to avoid suspicion and to give the Wei Estate some time.”
“Then won’t the Wei Estate’s short-term pain become long-term pain? That won’t be good for them.”
“You see? It’s bad if I interfere, so is it also bad if I don’t interfere?”
Mu Yi laughed. “My bad.”
After some thought, Tang Jie said, “Actually, you’re not wrong. If I didn’t want to get too involved, I should have been more patient and waited. But I was in too much of a rush, meaning that I failed to be sufficiently aloof. It’s best to get out now while I haven’t meddled too much. In any case, if something really happens to the Wei Clan, Shi Meng will tell me.”
Mu Yi praised, “This is for the best. Just leave them to their own fate for a few days.”
Putting the Wei Estate to the side, the two of them went back to the academy.
Without permission, Mu Yi couldn’t enter the academy, so Tang Jie had him and Shi Jingzhai stay in the Student Forest while he went to see Xie Fengtang.
Entering Westwatch Pavilion, Tang Jie saw that Xie Fengtang was focused on drawing a talisman.
Xie Fengtang’s talismans were considered top-class in the Basking Moon Sect. He was currently drawing a Free Roaming Talisman. Free Roaming was a rare first-class spatial spell art. It was said that it could be used to instantly travel vast distances, which was a real manifestation of a cultivator’s divine abilities. But this also made it difficult to master, and even a Celestial Heart True Person might not succeed at cultivating it, let alone setting it into a talisman.
Xie Fengtang was very focused on his drawing, so Tang Jie stood to the side and watched.
As spiritual energy was inserted, the talisman lines glowed and dimmed. After some time, there was a brilliant flash of light that soon faded away.
Xie Fengtang laughed as he picked up the talisman. “Success at last!”
Tang Jie stepped forward. “Headmaster, congratulations on successfully creating an Immortal talisman.”
Xie Fengtang looked at Tang Jie and grunted. “This Free Roaming Talisman took me sixty days and fourteen hundred sheets of talisman paper, and I only successfully made two of them. I didn’t think that I would end up making the third just as you returned. Perhaps this is thanks to your good luck.”
Tang Jie hastily said, “This lowly one would not dare to claim achievement for Headmaster’s abundant fortune.”
“‘Would not dare’?” Xie Fengtang snorted as he waved around the talisman. “You seem quite daring to me. Fighting the Seven Absolutions Sect by yourself, forcing back Wang Juemie, executing the Stone Gate Sect with your tongue, and even staging a little plunder party, cleaning out the Stone Gate Sect’s treasury. Tell me: is there anything you wouldn’t dare to do?”
Tang Jie smiled and said, “This disciple did it all for the sect, with no thought for my own desires.”
Xie Fengtang looked at the ingratiating smile on his face. Originally, he had been planning to try and intimidate him some more, but on second thought, he knew that this show wouldn’t frighten Tang Jie in the slightest, so he laughed and said, “Good job, kid. Truly, a newborn calf has no fear of the tiger. You managed to turn a simple mine inspection into a heaven-shaking case. Sure enough, the young generation will surpass the old with time.”
“It is all thanks to Headmaster’s instruction.”
“I don’t need your flattery. You’ve come for the reward money from the sect.”
Tang Jie awkwardly scratched his head. “How could I? I only came to see Headmaster.”
Xie Fengtang indifferently said, “That’s good. It just so happens that the money hasn’t been distributed yet.”
“Huh?” Tang Jie was dumbfounded. “It’s been more than two months, so how come it hasn’t been sent out yet?”
Xie Fengtang laughed. “And you still say you didn’t come for the reward?”
Tang Jie blushed. “Headmaster is wise.”
Xie Fengtang roared with laughter. “I’ll stop teasing you now. The rewards from the sect arrived ten days ago. The others have already taken their share. I only have yours and Shi Meng’s here with me.”
Xie Fengtang took out a small box and threw it at Tang Jie. “Look for yourself.”
There were three items in the box.
One was a spirit coin voucher for 3.75 million coins.
There was a key that symbolized that the ninth floor of Heaven One Pavilion would be open once more to him.
Finally, there was a booklet. One of the pages had Tang Jie’s name, and underneath it was written: 1,000 contribution points.
Tang Jie hadn’t even become an official disciple yet, but he had already accumulated one thousand contribution points for the sect. This was unprecedented in the history of the Basking Moon Sect. As for the ninth floor of Heaven One Pavilion, it was opening to Tang Jie for the second time. Although Tang Jie had already grasped much of the Divine Firmament Sword Classic, he had yet to study the Violet Jade Mantra.
Any one of the three items in front of Tang Jie was something that most people could only dream about, but Tang Jie’s mind was abnormally calm as he looked at them.
At that moment, the form of the little tiger appeared in his mind.
The joy that came from this enormous achievement was greatly di
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