Chapter 129: Chapter 111: Recruitment Time Again, the Past Feels Like a Lifetime Ago

“’Just who is the grandpa and who’s the grandson here?’”

The Little Daoist Child, standing guard far from the main gate of the residence, glanced back into the main hall and couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

He saw Yang Xun leaning forward, his back bent, looking for all the world like a humble student seeking instruction.

Jiang Yi, however, sat upright in his chair, his expression serene, like a teacher giving a lesson.

The scene truly made it difficult to tell who was the senior.

“Grandpa, just do as I say. Like this, and like that…”

Jiang Yi instructed him, word by word.

After listening, Yang Xun’s face filled with difficulty, his bald brows twitching slightly.

“Isn’t this… a bit too despicable?”

Jiang Yi frowned and said,

“Grandpa, you’re being far too soft-hearted! Sui Liushu already sees you as a ’Daoist Can.’ Are you still going to talk about morals and righteousness with him?”

“Besides, we are Demon Cultivators! We’re supposed to be unscrupulous!”

The corner of Yang Xun’s mouth twitched. He had lived for more than half his life, and this was the first time anyone had ever called him “soft-hearted.”

Before he joined a Dharma Lineage to pursue Cultivation, he had been a Border Military Officer and had killed men like cutting grass.

Later, when he followed Sui Liushu to consolidate the local clans, he’d done his fair share of exterminating entire families.

“Ah Yi…”

Yang Xun looked embarrassed, hemming and hawing, unable to get the words out. The mere thought of the methods Jiang Yi described made his skin crawl.

“If you told me to take a blade and hack that Old Dog Sui to pieces, I’d be more than willing.”

“But to make me pretend to be moved to tears with gratitude, doting on him, asking if he’s warm or cold, even cooking for him and drinking with him… It’s just too repulsive!”

But Jiang Yi said,

“If you don’t treat Sui Liushu as your ’Benefactor,’ how will you ever gain his trust?”

“In this world, nothing puts a person’s mind at ease more than having someone indebted to them.”

“Sui Liushu is a master of manipulation. He loves to control his subordinates, and he has perfected the art of bestowing favors and projecting power.”

“If you accept his favor and appear grateful for his kindness, it will be very difficult for him to suspect anything. That way, we won’t alert the enemy.”

Yang Xun stared blankly at the youth’s serene face, as if seeing him for the first time. He seemed like a stranger.

He had seen plenty of Qi Cultivation Lower Cultivators who styled themselves as adhering to some “ancient custom,” who took pleasure in killing and reveled in evil, but none of them possessed the true nature of the Demon Dao like Jiang Yi did in this moment.

A dim Ding Fire was hidden in those eyes, like a deep pool or an ancient well, and looking into them was somewhat startling.

Jiang Yi continued slowly,

“A Cultivator of Ding Fire is best at fathoming people’s minds and grasping their thoughts. They are also, paradoxically, the most addicted to the feeling of controlling others.”

“If you use emotion and loyalty to move him, I guarantee Sui Liushu won’t be able to tell what’s real and what’s fake. He’ll spend all day worrying and fretting over you.”

With his current Cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to beg the Celestial Book Mirror to investigate Sui Liushu, who was at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.

At most, it would take seven or eight days to get a result.

“Then… I’ll give it a try, I suppose.”

Yang Xun pursed his lips, his face still full of reluctance.

“Grandpa, just think of it as doing it for me.”

Jiang Yi’s tone was flat, his expression impassive.

“In the Merit Supervision Institute, I suppress the Fire Cave and Water Cave. Every day, I suffer the torment of Bing Fire searing my body and Ren Water scouring my flesh. The feeling is beyond description.”

“If Sui Liushu were gone, the stalemate between Observing Sun Peak and Observing Fate Peak would be broken. Perhaps then I could have some relief.”

These words tugged sharply at Yang Xun’s heart, filling him with pain for the boy.

“Besides, if you can turn the tables and devour Sui Liushu, eliminating a major threat for the Sect Leader, the position of Observing Fate Peak’s Elder might just be yours for the taking!”

Jiang Yi added another sentence, and at his words, the skin on Yang Xun’s face twitched, and an uncontrollable tide of emotion surged within him.

It was as if a fire had suddenly flared to life, setting his blood boiling.

Jiang Yi’s tone wasn’t loud, yet it boomed like the beat of a great drum, DONNG, DONNG.

“Look across the Five Domains! Without exception, Upper Cultivators see Lower Cultivators as nothing but pigs and dogs, as Medicinal Materials, as tools—to be consumed completely and then discarded!”

“Grandpa, are we just supposed to let them devour us? Why not let loose and have a taste of this Daoist Can yourself? Become a True Demon Cultivator!”

Yang Xun felt his cheeks flush and his blood surge. He slammed his hand on the table and roared,

“I’ll listen to you, Ah Yi! Isn’t it just like my old days in the Green Forest, treating Old Dog Sui like my own sworn brother? I’ll go all out!”

Jiang Yi nodded slightly. These tricks were just minor details. The real deciding factor was the attitude of Observing Sun Peak.

But he believed that under the Spiritual Aura of the [Upper Flame Gold Forging Appearance], Liu Huan—who had decisively forced Sui Liushu’s retreat right after breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer—would surely understand that delays breed trouble and would never let this matter drag on.

’As for Sui Liushu supposedly having a daughter who joined an Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineage?’

Jiang Yi’s eyelids lowered. ’A fierce tiger descending a mountain sees no gullies; a coward sees obstacles everywhere.’

He couldn’t just be timid and hesitant, letting Sui Liushu swallow Grandpa Yang Xun whole like a Daoist Can.

It came back to the same thought: he even dared to take on an Immortal Dao Emperor!

Jiang Yi sat for a while longer to make sure Yang Xun had taken his words to heart and wouldn’t mess things up, then he finally rose and walked out of the residence.

…

…

Halfway up Red Flame Peak, Jiang Yi, clad in his Black Shadow Magical Robe, stepped into the Big Mixed Courtyard once more, looking entirely out of place.

“I told Brother Yi not to see us off, but he had to make the trip anyway!”

He the Venerable had already packed his bags. He had arrived empty-handed, and now he was leaving with little more than a few extra satchels.

“Brother He may not want to acknowledge me as a friend, but I remember how good everyone here was to me in the past.”

Jiang Yi said teasingly as he walked closer with a smile.

Perhaps it was the expensive-looking Black Shadow Magical Robe, or maybe the extraordinary air about him, but the old acquaintances in the Big Mixed Courtyard were more reserved than usual.

Old Li’s wife tugged her husband’s sleeve.

“Stop calling him ’Brother Yi,’ ’Brother Yi.’ That was before! Now, according to the rules, we should call him ’Senior Brother Jiang.’”

Just as Old Li was about to correct himself, Widow Qin came out with her hands on her hips, her voice bright and clear.

“What ’Senior Brother Jiang’? I only see Brother Yi as my little brother.”

“From now on, it will be hard for us to meet again. Even though Brother Yi is successful and impressive now, he’s a person who cherishes old bonds.”

“If any of us run into trouble, I’m sure he’ll still lend a hand if he can.”

Widow Qin, as straightforward as ever, walked briskly up to Jiang Yi. She looked him up and down and then suddenly smiled.

“So tall! I clearly remember when you first came to the Big Mixed Courtyard, you were only about my height. Now you’re taller by more than half a head.”

Jiang Yi reined in the Qi Mechanism contained within his eyes, appearing just like the boy he once was in his dusty gray Daoist Robe.

“Sister Qin, once you’ve found a place to settle down the mountain, you must send word to let me know.”

“When I’m out one day, I’ll come knocking for a hot meal and some hot water.”

Widow Qin rolled her eyes at him. She was acting a bit more flamboyant than usual today.

“There will always be a meal for you.”

He the Venerable waved his hand and briskly walked to the courtyard gate.

“I’ll be in the Sanhe District! Remember that, Brother Yi! Now hurry down the mountain. The Land Ship doesn’t come often. If you’re late, you’ll have to travel on your own two feet!”

Old Li, with his one remaining hand, held his wife’s arm and smiled at Jiang Yi.

“If there’s no work down the mountain, Bro… Brother Yi, you have to take me in!”

Jiang Yi agreed to each of them. He walked with the group to a fork in the road at the foot of the mountain, took out several packages from his sleeve, and handed them out.

“It’s a long journey. Take some dry rations to fill your stomachs.”

Widow Qin accepted hers with a grin.

“Brother Yi, you said you’d give me a big gift when you reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. You’re already at the Sixth Layer now.”

Jiang Yi said softly,

“I’ve disappointed you, Sister Qin. I left in a hurry and didn’t have time to prepare a gift. I’ll be sure to make it up to you next time we meet.”

Seeing Widow Qin accept it, the others didn’t refuse either.

Before long, the group had walked far into the distance.

On the main road, Old Li’s wife fiddled with her package.

“Brother He, what do you think is inside?”

He the Venerable pursed his lips and feigned profundity.

“Our past friendship!”

Old Li and his wife pondered this for a good while before they finally couldn’t resist peeling back a corner. The sight of bright red talisman money met their eyes.

Old Li quickly tied the package shut and sighed with emotion to his wife.

“Brother Yi is such a good person!”

He the Venerable, however, waited until he had boarded the third-class cabin of the Land Ship before he took a peek.

Inside were some jars and pots, labeled with things like “Cyan Ganoderma Dew,” “Bone-Strengthening Powder,” and “Leopard Embryo Ointment.” Underneath them were a few prescriptions.

“Heh! I knew Brother Yi was thinking of me! Afraid I wouldn’t be able to make a living in the Sanhe District!”

Widow Qin didn’t open her package until she had disembarked from the Land Ship and saw the old locust tree at the entrance of her home village.

Several bottles of lustrous white Nourishing Essence Pills lay quietly inside the cloth pouch.

She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, tears welling up in her eyes.

…

…

Jiang Yi stood at the foot of the mountain for a long time. Only after their figures had vanished from sight did he turn to leave.

He had only taken a few steps when he heard the lively hubbub of a crowd. Following the sound, he saw a long line of people queuing below the steps of a few white-walled, black-tiled buildings, whose entrance was guarded by stone lions.

Behind a long table sat a Daoist in a gray robe, calling out names and registering people one by one.

Jiang Yi had a moment of daze.

’So it’s that time of year again, for new recruitment.’

Just then, a Daoist dressed as a Steward walked out of the Lower Courtyard. Upon seeing Jiang Yi wearing the Black Shadow Magical Robe, he immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed in greeting.

“I was not aware of which Senior Brother was gracing us with his presence!”

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back and reminded him with a smile,

“Senior Brother Lin, you don’t remember? You once gave me a share of two thousand talisman money.”

Steward Lin cautiously raised his head and took a closer look. When he recognized the face, his eyes went wide, and he began to stammer.

“S-Senior Brother Jiang! This lowly one is not worthy of being called ’Senior Brother’ by you!”

Jiang Yi replied with a smile,

“I’m not some incredible Lord True Inheritance. We’re all just trying to make a living in the sect. It’s fine to call each other Senior and Junior Brother.”

But no matter what Jiang Yi said, Steward Lin just kept bowing lower and lower, his legs trembling like he had a fever, on the verge of dropping to his knees.

The many “Mortals” lining up for the entry-level selection watched this scene unfold.

’That youth in the wide-sleeved robe is so impressive!’

’Could he be one of the sect’s Inner Peak Disciples?’

Expectation bloomed in their eyes as they all thought the same thing:

’After I join the Dharma Lineage and become a Mortal Servant, I’ll be like that one day! I’m going to become a Cultivator!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep