CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 84 MY JUNIOR BROTHER IS STEADY AS AN OLD DOG (SEEKING INVESTMENT AND FOLLOWERS)

The prime minister is chosen from among local officials, and the general rises from the ranks.

In Hong Yuan’s past life, those who held high positions generally had "grassroots" experience. They had spent time gaining a deep understanding of the lives of the common people; if not experiencing it firsthand, they at least had some knowledge of it.

This was the mindset Master Lin Daoyan had.

He was building momentum for Hong Yuan early on. The idea was that once a lucrative position in the Refining Equipment Hall became available, Hong Yuan could leverage this experience to easily surpass many competitors and secure the role.

Hong Yuan understood this principle, but he wasn’t particularly keen on this rare opportunity to gild his reputation.

Stability of property ensures stability of heart. Having acquired a three-tenths share of Workshop A06 and increased his Life Span to over six hundred years, Hong Yuan no longer had such a great need for resources.

He truly had the capital to follow the Gou Dao and no longer needed to struggle as before, exchanging effort for the means to advance.

He was a disciple who already possessed the means of production!

Qian Qianpo was a cultivating disciple under the sixth Elder in the Refining Equipment Hall and had been in the sect for three years. He was now at the peak of the second tier as a Martial Artist and only a small step away from becoming a second-tier Artifact Refiner.

His favorite phrase was "close enough is good enough."

At this moment, Qian Qianpo stood in the wind and snow, waiting for his Senior Brother to emerge from the Refining Equipment Hall’s Deacon Hall. However, he couldn’t shake an ominous premonition in his heart.

I’ve made so many efforts; it’s impossible that I would be passed over, right? Qian Qianpo thought to himself.

The Phoenix Creek Sect’s various halls and divisions could only dispatch three to five disciples to Nanyang Government for experiential training. As a major division, the Refining Equipment Hall had five spots. Many disciples in the hall fiercely competed for these dispatch opportunities.

This dispatch was highly sought after. Not only could disciples gain experience and broaden their horizons, but most importantly, it represented a share of the resource pie up for grabs!

TAP, TAP.

A robust figure emerged from the Refining Equipment Hall’s Deacon Hall, and Qian Qianpo hurried to meet him. When he saw his Senior Brother’s serious expression, his heart sank.

Suppressing the unpleasant premonition, Qian Qianpo asked, "Senior Brother, are the results out?"

His Senior Brother clapped Qian Qianpo on the shoulder. "You’d better get rid of that ’close enough is good enough’ attitude. If you’d been more diligent, you wouldn’t have been passed over this time. Elder Lin’s disciple, Hong Yuan, is a second-tier Artifact Refiner. Your spot was just taken."

BOOM!

A bolt from the blue struck, and Qian Qianpo froze in place.

He had eagerly anticipated this opportunity for a long time and had made many plans, such as using his position to gather cultivation resources. Yet, it was unbelievable that he, a disciple with over three years in the sect, had been surpassed by someone who had joined only six months ago!

"How can this be..." Qian Qianpo said, dumbfounded.

"After all, he is Elder Lin’s disciple. We’ll try again next time," Qian Qianpo’s Senior Brother said consolingly.

「Elsewhere.」

Hong Yuan was currently holding an oil-paper umbrella, braving the wind and snow while walking towards his Senior Brother’s residence on the snow-covered ground.

Since I’m here, I might as well get settled.

Since he couldn’t avoid this reputation-gilding trip to Nanyang Government, he had to find a way to gather information and mitigate any unnecessary risks.

Therefore, asking his Senior Brother, Zhu Wushang, about the specifics of this trip was an excellent opportunity to gather information. He would not be like Lin Yiru, who had resources at her disposal but didn’t use them.

Getting closer, Hong Yuan looked up and saw the figure of his Senior Brother, Zhu Wushang. He quickened his steps.

"Hmm? Is that Yuan? What urgent matter does he have?" Zhu Wushang’s hand relaxed, and the snow hawk he held fluttered away, disappearing into the wind and snow.

Zhu Wushang stood in the frosted forest, quietly waiting for Hong Yuan to arrive.

"Senior Brother."

"Hmm."

"Senior Brother, I’d like to ask some questions about the Nanyang Government assignment."

"Go ahead and ask."

Hong Yuan didn’t hesitate, directly voicing the questions in his heart, causing Zhu Wushang to repeatedly raise his eyebrows. The more Zhu Wushang listened, the more his frown deepened; this Junior Brother seemed excessively cautious.

What if someone tries to hijack the flying boat en route?

What if the powerful local families in Nanyang Government are resentful and deliberately target me?

...

Are these even real problems? Zhu Wushang couldn’t comprehend it.

"Stop, stop, stop, Yuan! What is all this nonsense? These are trivial matters," Zhu Wushang hastily interjected, cutting off Hong Yuan’s stream of questions.

Zhu Wushang proudly tilted his head, a disdainful smile on his face, and said, "We are the cultivating disciples of the Phoenix Creek Sect. In Yong State, or even Qing State, not even the Daxuan Dynasty’s imperial family can compare to our status!

"It’s always been us causing trouble for others. Anyone else? Heh.

"Many cultivating disciples, including several True Disciples, are accompanying you to Nanyang Government this time. The flying boat will be perfectly safe."

Zhu Wushang glanced back and saw his Junior Brother still looked unconvinced. He shook his head helplessly. "You probably don’t know how the Phoenix Creek Sect earned its reputation as an overlord. In that case, come with me."

Following his Senior Brother, Zhu Wushang, Hong Yuan entered his courtyard and arrived at his study.

His Senior Brother’s study was much like his Master’s, with a similar layout. At Zhu Wushang’s gesture, Hong Yuan stood quietly to the side, observing his Senior Brother compose a letter.

Soon after, Zhu Wushang finished writing, blew the ink dry, and asked Hong Yuan without turning his head.

"Yuan, I originally intended to have your Fifth Senior Brother assign you as a mine master. The illicit gains you could amass there would be extremely substantial.

"However, since you’re apprehensive about your first assignment away from the sect, I’ll have Fifth Senior Brother arrange a position for you in the inner city. The specific duties will depend on his arrangements.

"Is that alright?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Yuan quickly nodded.

The inner city is so much safer; safety is good.

If he hadn’t come, his Senior Brothers would probably have arranged for him to gain experience at a mine. Mines are notorious for attracting ruthless individuals and scores of desperadoes. No matter how lucrative, he wasn’t interested.

"Thank you, Senior Brother! Thank you, Senior Brother Zhu!" Hong Yuan quickly expressed his gratitude.

Zhu Wushang felt a twinge of helplessness. His other martial brothers were all fierce like eagles and tigers, or at least as steady as resolute bulls. Why was this Junior Brother so cautious, as wary as an old dog, merely wanting to live a quiet, stable life?

「Two hours later.」

Hong Yuan stored away the personal letter from his Senior Brother, bid farewell to his Senior Brother, and left his Senior Brother’s courtyard.

Amidst the vast expanse of swirling snow, Hong Yuan walked with a light and nimble step, his oil-paper umbrella in hand.

Thanks to the information from Senior Brother Zhu, Hong Yuan now had a clear understanding of this reputation-gilding assignment and felt considerably more at ease. Much of his fear of the unknown had dissipated. For the remaining half-month, he just needed to learn a movement technique.

If some peerless villain truly attacked the Phoenix Creek Sect disciples, he just had to make sure he could run faster than his teammates.

Which movement martial skill should I learn?

The pros and cons of the Cloud Ladder Step, Light Martial Skill, and Misty Smoke Fast echoed in Hong Yuan’s mind as he weighed his choices.

The Cloud Ladder Step excels at explosive advances, the Light Martial Skill is good for agile maneuvers, and Misty Smoke Fast specializes in escape and pursuit.

Soon, Hong Yuan made up his mind.