Xuanqing Guard

Shen Hao had come into contact with quite a few people from the sects—like Nie Yun, Yu Shengjue, and those folks on Chang Baifeng. His impression was that cultivators from the sects, regardless of their cultivation level, always carried a hint of transcendence in their way of handling things, with no trace of street-smart flavor.

But the Master Wushan standing before him now, at least Profound Sea Realm Third Layer, gave Shen Hao the vibe of a booth seller in the market—his words were sharp, down-to-earth, and vivid.

No, there was another word: cunning.

First, he intentionally borrowed Shen Hao’s self-description to force Shen Hao to speak out his view on the "Named Disciple" status and explain it, making Shen Hao acknowledge the help he once got from Nie Yun and, in effect, the use of Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute’s name as shelter to dodge a crisis. At the same time, he probed Shen Hao’s current attitude toward the "Named Disciple" identity. Finally, after Shen Hao proposed a solution, he bypassed the topic of "status" and steered the conversation back to Shen Hao’s original purpose for coming.

This maneuvering, with such ease and freedom, drew the unguarded Shen Hao right in. Once Shen Hao spelled out his intentions, Lin Dashan cracked a smile. Maybe he was pleasantly surprised when he saw the Wuliangye, but in the end, the rich aroma couldn’t shake this boss’s focus.

"If you can’t explain yourself, you’d better let your two brothers leave it to fate." That was Lin Dashan’s exact words.

What does it mean to "explain yourself"? Explain what?

The meaning was pretty straightforward—he was pressuring Shen Hao to state his position. Implied: helping you out is easy for us. But you have to give us a reason to help you, just trying to bribe us won’t work.

This way of speaking is much more blunt than in officialdom, but it’s also fiercer—either-or, not leaving you any wiggle room. And the key lies in two words: identity.

Regarding the "Named Disciple" status, Shen Hao only now realized he’d probably been thinking about it all wrong. Maybe it was those prodigious youths in the recruitment ceremony at Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute that influenced him; all this time he’s seen himself as "non-tiered" or the runt, feeling inferior about his cultivation talent. He ignored the Black Beast Tattoo on his body, and didn’t realize that, with its help, his achievements had already startled the high and mighty sect bosses enough to turn their heads.

So, as far as the Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute’s intentions go, Shen Hao’s "Named Disciple" status is no longer just some emergency placeholder, or, rather, they don’t want it to remain a nominal title. Instead, they want to make it real!

These twists seem complicated, but with all the previous setup, they’re actually easy to piece together. Shen Hao instinctively swallowed, feeling quite complicated.

"Zhenren. I’m just an ordinary guy, or worse, a ruthless Xuanqing Guard bouncing through the red dust. The reputation I’ve earned isn’t exactly wholesome. I wouldn’t bring disgrace to the Institute, would I?"

Shen Hao knew he’d basically walked into the lion’s den; there was an absurd feeling, like a lamb entering a tiger’s mouth. So he couldn’t just make a choice right away—had to clarify some things first, so he wouldn’t screw himself over by overlooking something crucial.

"People come in all forms—you’re a hawker or a humble worker, maybe a highborn noble, or maybe someone entrenched in the Cultivation Sects—who isn’t a mortal in the world? You really think living atop the mountain in a temple makes you transcendent and detached? That’s a joke. If you can’t reach Creation, can’t defy heaven, who’s not just a lone boat adrift in the torrent of worldly affairs?

Your reputation can’t be worse than those punks from the Celestial Toad Sect, right? And Xuanqing Guard was established by the Jingjiu Dynasty—over all these years, it’s been more beneficial than harmful. A bit ruthless has its merits. That has nothing to do with bringing shame."

Lin Dashan’s words matched his name—very down to earth. Cultivators and ordinary folks, both roll along in the torrent of worldly affairs; where’s the distinction between transcendence and secular life?

This perspective was just how Shen Hao had always felt inside, but he’d never heard someone sum it up so directly. Instantly, he saw Master Wushan in a new light—a straightforward guy.

"If that’s the case, and if Zhenren doesn’t mind, should I start flaunting the Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute’s name to gild my face?" Saying this, Shen Hao bowed and clasped his hands once more.

Lin Dashan’s smile grew even wider at those words. Holding his Beast Horn Wine Cup, he walked up to Shen Hao, nodded with satisfaction and said, "Excellent. But you’re currently Gathering Spirit Realm Eighth Layer, and it looks like you’re not far from Ninth Layer. With this cultivation, it’s not really suitable to stay a Named Disciple. However, you were brought into the sect by Nie Yun, and you clearly hang your hat with Old Tree Peak, so it has to be up to Junior Brother Li to decide how to amend your status going forward.

Just, there’s no conditions for formal admission here right now, so everything will have to wait until we return to the sect for proper arrangements."

Lin Dashan pointed at the small silver gourd Shen Hao had worn at his waist since he entered Jingying Prefecture and added, "You don’t need to keep this stowed away in the future. Just carry it openly, no need to worry."

"Yes, Zhenren—no, Fourth Elder."

"Mm. That’s settled, then. Your two brothers are now, in a way, connected to our Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute. So we’ll naturally keep them in mind for any little favors. Later, as long as our lineage is dispatched south by the Daoxing Chief’s Office, I’ll make sure your two brothers get special attention.

By the way, you can just send that wine directly to me. It’s not a bribe—it’s your greetings to a sect elder." With that, he drained the wine in his Beast Horn Cup.

Without the barrier, things showed their true nature—once laid out, they’re simple as can be. Lin Dashan would never make some promise like "I’ll save so-and-so’s life." There’s no certainty in war; he can only say he’ll offer Zhang Qian and Gan Lin whatever convenience and care he can.

It’s not about that hundred jars of Wuliangye, but because, after confirming Shen Hao’s "Named Disciple" status, it makes things easier moving forward.

"Disciple thanks the Fourth Elder." Shen Hao didn’t bother to be modest, directly referring to himself as "disciple." The situation was nothing like what he’d anticipated, but the outcome wasn’t bad.

Having the status of a proud disciple of Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute wasn’t an insult—on the contrary, it was a boost. Yet, he hadn’t asked, and Lin Dashan hadn’t mentioned, whether, besides this matter, the established tacit understanding between the Jingjiu Dynasty and the sects might be disturbed by his tiny pebble and ripple in unknown directions?

Shen Hao even wondered if Lin Dashan had some other considerations at play?

With the main business done, Shen Hao grabbed a wine jar and poured for Lin Dashan, who had sat back down cross-legged. At this moment, all the aggressive force from earlier was gone; Lin Dashan looked entirely like a regular, small old man.

"Fourth Elder, will Deacon Nie be coming this time?" It had been ages since he’d seen Nie Yun or heard anything; Shen Hao just asked casually.

Lin Dashan paused slightly in his drinking, his smile faded a bit, and he sighed, "He won’t be coming. That rascal ran off east; no telling when he’ll be back. People—whatever their heart is set on, nobody can hold them back, you know..."