Chapter 110 : Chapter 110
Chapter 110. Returning to the Residence Once More
Inside the main hall of the Chief Overseer’s residence,
Yang Cang sat in the seat of honor. When he saw Xu Yuan enter, he merely gave a slight nod and said in an indifferent tone,
“You’re here. Sit.”
Xu Yuan did as instructed and took a seat below him, his expression calm.
Yang Cang lifted his teacup, stirred the floating leaves inside with the lid, and spoke slowly without looking at him.
“Ever since Chief Guard Li died in battle, the Wu Fields have remained without anyone in charge. The new Chief Guard will still need some time before arriving to take up the post.”
He paused, then raised his eyes toward Xu Yuan. “You are now one of the old hands of the medicinal fields, and your conduct has been fairly steady, so I was thinking of having you temporarily manage the Wu Fields as well. You would receive a bit of extra compensation each month. What do you think?”
Xu Yuan sneered inwardly.
First they had cut his share of medicinal treasures and suppressed his merit rewards.
And now they wanted him to manage two medicinal fields by himself, reducing his cultivation time even further. They really meant to work him like a beast of burden.
He cupped his hands and let a trace of apology show on his face. “Many thanks for the Chief Overseer’s favor, but…”
After a brief pause, he met Yang Cang’s gaze and spoke evenly.
“This subordinate was fortunate enough to break through recently and has now reached the Sixth Meridian. With the conflict between the two families growing more intense and the front line under increasing pressure, this subordinate has considered the matter carefully and still wishes to return to the Level Three zone and fight for a future there.”
“What did you say?”
The teacup in Yang Cang’s hand suddenly stopped. His eyes turned sharp. “You broke through to the Sixth Meridian?”
“Yes.” Xu Yuan lowered his head, his expression calm.
Yang Cang stared at him, his gaze sweeping across Xu Yuan’s body. Only after a moment did he slowly set down the teacup.
As he carefully sensed Xu Yuan’s aura, he finally realized that it had indeed become much more rounded and solid. The vigor of his qi and blood far surpassed what it had been when he was at the Five Meridian stage.
He had actually broken through!
Yang Cang remained silent for several breaths before slowly leaning back into his chair. His voice revealed neither joy nor anger.
“You’ve only just broken through to the Sixth Meridian, and already you’re eager to leave the medicinal fields… Does Chief Guard Xu dislike this place that much?”
Xu Yuan kept his head lowered, his words earnest. “This subordinate absolutely does not mean it that way. But the medicinal fields are the foundation of the family. After fortunately breaking through, this subordinate feels all the more keenly that his cultivation is still insufficient, and fears failing the Chief Overseer’s trust.”
“And now, with the fighting at the front line in full swing and people badly needed, this subordinate is willing to go there and temper himself, so that he may become a pillar of the family sooner and repay the Chief Overseer’s past kindness in cultivating him.”
Every bit of that polite speech was watertight.
He had expressed loyalty while making his reason for leaving about serving the family, leaving no flaw for anyone to seize upon.
“What a silver tongue.”
Yang Cang stared at him for quite a while, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.
“Since you have already made up your mind, I will not force you to stay. However…”
His tone shifted. “The selection of the new Chief Guard will still take some time. Until that person arrives, the Wu Fields will still be temporarily under your management. There must be no mistakes.”
Xu Yuan knew that this was the other man’s final attempt to make things difficult for him, but since it would not last long, he accepted it calmly.
“This subordinate obeys.”
“You may go.” Yang Cang waved a hand, picked up his teacup again, and said no more.
Xu Yuan bowed once more and then slowly withdrew from the hall.
Only after he stepped out through the main gate of the courtyard did that prickling sensation on his back finally disappear.
Xu Yuan did not slow his steps. With a calm expression, he headed toward the Ding Fields.
…
News of Xu Yuan’s breakthrough to the Sixth Meridian quickly spread.
The other Chief Guards were shocked, and after that came only sighs.
After all, in the entire medicinal fields, only Xie Yun of the Jia Fields was at the Sixth Meridian. Everyone else was still only at the Five Meridian stage.
What followed that shock was confusion and incomprehension.
By all rights, Xu Yuan was still so young and had already reached this realm. If he stayed in the medicinal fields, his status would only continue to rise. So why would he choose to go to the dangerous Level Three zone?
Some people had vaguely heard certain rumors, and with Xu Yuan already on the verge of leaving, there was no point in trying to build any relationship with him.
So most people did not come to congratulate Xu Yuan.
And among them, the one with the most complicated feelings was naturally Zhang Cheng.
Though he did not want to admit it, he truly had stabbed Xu Yuan in the back back then.
With this breakthrough, Xu Yuan had shown everyone one thing clearly: so what if you had seniority? No matter how much seniority you had, what use was it?
If you wanted to make it in this world, then either you needed backing, or you needed talent.
Though Zhang Cheng felt regret in his heart, he had no face to go and congratulate Xu Yuan.
Whenever he caught sight of him, he turned away from a distance.
…
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Just as Xu Yuan had expected, the new Chief Guard arrived at the medicinal fields very quickly.
After all, compared to the front lines, where danger lurked everywhere, the medicinal fields were stable, and from time to time there were supplies of medicinal treasures and spirit beast meat. In many people’s eyes, it was a highly desirable post.
And after what had happened with Wang Tao, the Shangyang Residence had grown stricter in reviewing candidates, but there was still no shortage of people willing to come.
The handover of duties went smoothly.
Xu Yuan clearly handed over all the registers and inventories of the Ding Fields, then exchanged a few simple courtesies with the newly appointed Chief Guard.
Though the man was polite, there was also a trace of curiosity in him. Clearly, he too had heard of Xu Yuan’s deeds here.
On the night before leaving, Xu Yuan summoned Gao Xiaosong, Tian Yang, and a few other familiar subordinates, and set out a simple table at the guard post.
After several rounds of wine, Gao Xiaosong was already somewhat drunk. With a sigh, he said,
“Chief Guard Xu, once you leave, our Ding Fields won’t have a backbone anymore… As for the new one, who knows what kind of temperament he has. Sigh.”
He truly was somewhat worried.
Not every Chief Guard was as easy to deal with as Xu Yuan, someone who did not skim off the rations of those beneath him and handled matters relatively fairly.
“I thought the man spoke politely. He should be someone easy enough to get along with,” Xu Yuan said with a smile.
“That’s how he is toward you. Toward us, that may not necessarily be the case,” Gao Xiaosong said, shaking his head.
Tian Yang sat nearby. His eyes flickered once, and he suddenly raised his wine cup with a smile. “Once I break through to the Third Meridian, I’ll come to the Level Three zone to join Brother Yuan… I also want to go there and try my luck.”
Xu Yuan glanced at him and raised his own cup.
“Sure. It’s just that my destination still hasn’t been decided. I don’t know where the family will assign me yet.”
Although it was said that once one reached the Sixth Meridian, one could hold the post of workshop master,
The Shangyang Residence only had four workshops in total.
Each slot was already occupied, one radish to one pit. For an ordinary person, squeezing into one of those positions was hardly easy.
“Don’t worry. With your talent, it’s bound to come easily!” Gao Xiaosong raised his cup and offered a string of flattering words.
The group had originally been chatting merrily, but not long afterward, Gao Xiaosong was called away by the new Chief Guard.
Before leaving, Gao Xiaosong wore a long face and shrugged at Xu Yuan. The meaning was obvious.
See? I told you so.
At that, Xu Yuan could only spread his hands in helpless amusement.
The next morning,
Xu Yuan boarded a carriage with Xiao Qi and several servant attendants, leaving behind the medicinal fields where he had spent a little over a month.
The carriage jolted along, and the scenery outside gradually changed from rows of medicinal ridges to ordinary wilderness.
Xu Yuan rested with his eyes closed, but inwardly he was already calculating the path ahead.
…
Shangyang Residence, Affairs Hall.
Over the past few days, Zhao Qiusheng had vaguely heard some rumors. He knew that Xu Yuan had rendered great service at the medicinal fields, though there seemed to have been some twists and turns afterward.
Worried about him, Zhao Qiusheng guessed that if Xu Yuan returned, he would first come here to handle the necessary procedures, so he had come early and waited near the hall entrance.
Before noon arrived,
He saw a familiar figure strolling into the Affairs Hall.
The man’s bearing seemed even straighter than before, his presence deep and steady. Even in the way he walked, there was a natural rhythm and order. It was clearly Xu Yuan.
“Brother Xu!”
Zhao Qiusheng’s eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward, a broad smile spreading across his face. “So you’ve finally returned. I heard you rendered another great service at the medicinal fields?”
The two of them walked inside side by side, and Zhao Qiusheng lowered his voice.
“Driving back the Bai Family, preserving the Purple-Gold Eel… truly remarkable. To achieve such a great feat in a situation like that, quite a few of the higher-ups in the residence have been full of praise for you.”
Xu Yuan merely shook his head with a bitter smile and explained the hidden twists of the matter to him one by one.
“What?”
After hearing it, Zhao Qiusheng’s expression immediately changed. “Yang Cang actually dared to do that? That is clearly an abuse of authority and suppression of rising talent. He’s got some nerve!”
“If he dared do it, then naturally he has the confidence to do so.” Xu Yuan’s tone remained calm.
Zhao Qiusheng fell silent for a moment and could only let out a long sigh. How could he not understand?
Yang Cang was a seven-meridian martial artist, and his seniority was also great. Even if the family knew of this matter, they would never truly punish him heavily for it.
At most, they would reprimand him a few times and dock some of his salary, nothing more.
“Forget it. Let’s leave that aside for now.”
Zhao Qiusheng shook his head, then seemed to remember something. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he sized Xu Yuan up. “Now that you’ve come back this time… could it be that you broke through again?”
Xu Yuan nodded. “By luck. I entered the Sixth Meridian a few days ago.”