Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Chunjiang Building was the number-one restaurant in Yunzhao County. Its head chef had been specially recruited from Yunzhou Prefecture, and rumor had it his monthly salary was a full hundred taels—an astronomical sum unimaginable for the average person.

The ingredients at Chunjiang Building were equally unique and precious. They were either shipped in from the prefecture or were rare mountain delicacies and wild game gathered from the surrounding hills.

Despite being Yunzhao County’s most acclaimed establishment, Chunjiang Building was not particularly large. It was a simple two-story courtyard building situated next to the river that flowed through the county seat. The riverbanks were adorned with lanterns and colorful ribbons, and the view of the nightscape from the restaurant’s second floor was exceptional.

The number of guests served each day was limited, and the clientele consisted exclusively of the rich and powerful. Naturally, the establishment didn’t need to be very large; if it were, the head chef wouldn’t be able to keep up.

Chunjiang Building was packed to capacity every day. Even the wealthy gentry and officials from within the county, and even prominent families from other counties, had to book a table three months in advance.

Despite this, patrons still flocked to the place and were always exceptionally well-behaved.

There was a simple reason why such influential patrons were so orderly: the owner of Chunjiang Building was a nominal disciple of the Vajra Sect. Of course, his name was merely on their roster; in truth, it was just a way of paying fealty to a local power.

Originally, he had been a "temporary guard" for the Longteng Escort Agency. But after Yu Chunsheng came to power, he used a combination of coercion and trickery to bring Chunjiang Building into the Vajra Sect’s sphere of influence, and the owner subsequently became a nominal disciple of the Sect.

Today, however, Chunjiang Building had canceled all of its reservations, not hesitating to offend its wealthy and powerful clientele, and had personally invited the Longteng Escort Agency to hold a victory banquet.

"The Escort Agency usually goes to Jude Building. But while Jude Building is bigger, the food is definitely a step down from this place. It can only rank second."

Xie Yuan sat on the second floor of Chunjiang Building, admiring the river view outside as he listened to Shen Longteng sigh beside him.

"Before we had even decided where to go today, Old Wu contacted me, saying it had been too long since I’d last had his food. Speaking of which, since Yu Chunsheng came to power, I really haven’t been back... But Old Wu has always been quick to see which way the wind blows. Heh heh."

Xie Yuan turned back and smiled.

"And you were still willing to come, Agency Head? Aren’t you afraid... hmm."

"Like I said, Old Wu is just a merchant, a master of seeing which way the wind blows. With the Vajra Sect gone, he certainly isn’t going to stay loyal to Peng Jie. I don’t blame him. He’s not a Martial Artist, and businessmen sometimes have no other choice."

Shen Longteng smiled faintly.

"Besides, aren’t Pharmacist Yu and Zhenyu keeping an eye on the kitchen? There’s no way we’re not eating this meal today."

Before Xie Yuan could speak, a portly, middle-aged man standing by the table wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a fawning smile:

"Agency Head, you must be talking about me. Aiyo, all these years, my body may have been with the Vajra Sect, but my heart has always been with Longteng! Every day I prayed for the Escort Agency’s righteous army to arrive and crush the Vajra Sect. Just look at you... what took you so long?"

"And now you’re blaming me for it!"

Shen Longteng burst out laughing, pointing at Boss Wu, the owner of Chunjiang Building, and gave him a sidelong glance.

"So you’re serious about making peace with the Escort Agency today?"

"It’s a homecoming!"

Old Wu declared with a self-righteous expression:

"I’ve been waiting for this day for so long! Every day at home, I couldn’t help but imagine myself holding an escort flag and shouting the calls!"

As he spoke, he dashed to the railing, faced the churning river, and bellowed:

"Longteng of Yunzhou, Yunzhou’s Longteng!"

After shouting, Old Wu turned back around, the wrinkles on his face crunched together in a wide grin.

"Ah, that felt good! See? Am I not one of the Escort Agency’s own?"

"Oh, you, Old Wu! I don’t know what to do with you!"

Shen Longteng laughed heartily and drained the wine from his bowl in one go.

Old Wu hurried over, snatched the wine jug from Xie Yuan’s hand, and refilled Shen Longteng’s bowl with a grin.

"And with an attitude like mine, you still sent Master Lu and Doctor Yu to keep an eye on things... Ai, never mind that I’ve always been loyal to the Escort Agency at heart. Even if I had sided with the Vajra Sect, they’re gone now! I’m no fool. Why would I still be chasing after Yu Chunsheng’s... big white hook?

"Besides, with a man of Master Xie’s caliber right here, even if I had any sinister ideas, wouldn’t I be afraid he’d just lop my head off with a single swing?"

Despite his words, Old Wu knew better than to advise Shen Longteng to withdraw his men.

He then turned to pour wine for Xie Yuan, his face beaming.

"Master Xie! Aiya, your reputation truly doesn’t do you justice! Not only is Master Xie incredibly powerful, but you’re also so handsome—you look just like a royal prince! It’s truly humbling. Master Xie, this toast is to you! Thank you for saving this old Wu from the depths of hell!"

Boss Wu did indeed give Xie Yuan a second look. His establishment was always filled with distinguished guests. Even those who weren’t naturally handsome were always dressed to the nines. He was a man of broad experience, yet he had rarely seen someone of Xie Yuan’s caliber.

Furthermore, Xie Yuan had practically annihilated the Vajra Sect single-handedly. His strength already placed him among the top Martial Artists in Yunzhao County, and his potential was boundless. Boss Wu’s fawning praise for him was second only to the flattery he laid on Shen Longteng; he had a masterful grasp of just how far to go.

In less than half a day, Xie Yuan’s already burgeoning reputation had reached a new height, making him a household name in Yunzhao County. On the way to Chunjiang Building, people constantly pointed him out and whispered amongst themselves, treating him like a celebrity.

Listening to the slick-tongued Boss Wu’s flattery, Xie Yuan’s expression was a little strange. Though he had been praised often since he began his martial arts training, he had never encountered anyone with Boss Wu’s level of skill in it before.

’It’s actually quite pleasant,’ he thought.

As for the possibility that Boss Wu might still be working for the Vajra Sect... ’A clever man like him would, with absolute certainty, not continue to serve the Vajra Sect now that its power is broken.’

’Even if he tried something, not counting our men watching the kitchen, I have Zheng Qingyang’s antidote and body-nourishing cultivation method. I’m the last person who needs to fear poison.’ So, he calmly continued to savor the delicacies of Chunjiang Building.

"Everyone, a toast to Xiaoxie!"

"Master Xie, we owe today to you!"

"Xie Yuan, well done. If there wasn’t a matter of seating arrangements... you might as well take my seat as Agency Head!"

"...I couldn’t possibly."

Between Shen Longteng’s high praise, Boss Wu’s flattery, and the endless rounds of toasts from everyone at the banquet, Xie Yuan began to feel a little tipsy.

Aside from Wei Zhen, who was still recovering from his injuries and couldn’t attend, everyone else had returned to the Escort Agency, and the effects of the poison had worn off after half a day. With the formula Xie Yuan brought back from Zheng Qingyang, it wasn’t difficult for Pharmacist Yu to follow the recipe and counteract the poison’s effects. The toxin was extremely effective at weakening the body, but it left no lasting residue. In fact, it would dissipate on its own half a day after leaving the area, which made one suspect Peng Yue had tortured the recipe out of some lecherous rogue.

Chu Sheng, Zhao Xingyang, and Lu Zhenyu took turns plying Xie Yuan with wine, to say nothing of the other Darts Masters. After this battle, though he had yet to reach the Fourth Training, Xie Yuan’s strength was now implicitly second only to Shen Longteng’s. Beneath their friendly demeanor, everyone showed a certain reverence. Even Zhao Xingyang and Chu Sheng no longer treated Xie Yuan as a junior, but as an equal.

But Xie Yuan was not one to let it go to his head. He remained respectful toward his seniors, which only made them appreciate him more. Who wouldn’t like someone so powerful yet so humble?

After several rounds of drinks, Xie Yuan, feeling pleasantly buzzed, suddenly remembered something.

"Boss Wu, your food really is a cut above the rest... I was wondering, could I get a couple of dishes to go? For a midnight snack?"

Xie Yuan asked with a smile.

Boss Wu thumped his portly chest, producing a dull thud.

"It’s my honor that Master Xie enjoys my food! Say no more, leave it to me! I’ll have the kitchen prepare all the remaining ingredients. Everyone, take some home tonight!"

"Alright!"

The crowd roared in agreement, laughingly praising Boss Wu’s generosity.

Shen Longteng smiled and suddenly beckoned. When Boss Wu leaned in closer, he whispered:

"Old Wu, I hear that the manager of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect’s Outer Sect has dined here before?"

Old Wu’s beady eyes blinked rapidly, and he nodded.

"Can you get in touch with him, then? If I needed you to make an introduction..."

Shen Longteng asked.

Without asking any questions, Old Wu nodded firmly.

"Not a problem."

"As expected of our Escort Agency’s nominal guard."

Shen Longteng said with a smile, patting Boss Wu on the shoulder.

Boss Wu immediately beamed. By asking for a favor and verbally acknowledging him, Shen Longteng was finally letting bygones be bygones. A weight lifted from Boss Wu’s shoulders.

Xie Yuan was right beside them. Listening to the conversation they made no effort to hide from him, he became lost in thought.

’Cloud Mountain Sword Sect? The number-one Sect in Yunzhou... Why would the Agency Head want to contact them?’

Before long, Xie Yuan found out why.

The banquet came to an end. Amid Boss Wu’s effusive farewell, the group left Chunjiang Building and returned to the Escort Agency.

Shen Longteng called Xie Yuan aside privately and handed him a brocade box the length of a forearm.

"This is a Tiger Demon Bone—the bone of a true Tiger Demon," he said. "Its properties for strengthening bone and nourishing blood are potent enough to be useful even for someone at my realm. You’re currently in the Bone Forging stage, so take it."

Xie Yuan looked at the thick bone in the box, which emitted a faint, fluorescent glow. He didn’t stand on ceremony, but accepted it with the utmost care.

This item, while perhaps not a true ’earthly treasure,’ wasn’t far from it. It was especially useful for him at his current stage; consuming it would almost certainly allow him to break through to the Fourth Training immediately.

Though it was precious, Xie Yuan felt he had earned it with his contributions. If he were to refuse, it would likely make Shen Longteng feel uneasy.

Sure enough, Shen Longteng nodded in satisfaction.

"Xie Yuan," he said, "sooner or later, you plan to leave the Escort Agency, don’t you?"

"...Why do you say that, Agency Head?"

"Heh heh, there’s no need to hide it. It’s nothing to be concerned about. With your talent, the Escort Agency will soon have nothing left to offer you. This pond is too small to contain a fledgling dragon like you. Sooner or later, you’re destined for a wider world."

Shen Longteng said with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm.

Xie Yuan fell silent for a moment before admitting frankly,

"My plan was to wait until I approached the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm. Then I might travel the world, or perhaps join a Sect, to seek the next stage of my path."

Although Shen Longteng was in the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm, he had broken through by a stroke of luck, and his progress had since stagnated.

To obtain a systematic method for further advancement, Xie Yuan knew he couldn’t rely on the Escort Agency. While he had his own means and channels, the agency could offer him little in terms of the four essentials of cultivation: wealth, companionship, methods, and location. At that point, staying with the agency would be less beneficial than venturing out on his own.

Xie Yuan had long considered this, but he hadn’t expected Shen Longteng to see it so clearly as well.

Shen Longteng was pleased with Xie Yuan’s candor, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and regret.

"It’s a pity the Escort Agency is too small and isn’t a proper Sect. Otherwise, if we could throw all our resources behind a prodigy like you, you could lead us to new heights... But in the end, an Escort Agency has to do business. Our way of life is different from that of a Sect."

"Given your contributions, if you were to stay, it would only be right to hand the Escort Agency over to you. My own children have no future on the Martial Dao; I’ll just have them live out their lives as ordinary, wealthy men. But you won’t be putting down roots here, and I don’t think Xingyang will either. In the future, it would be best to let Zhenyu take charge."

"Heh heh, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Since you have such lofty ambitions, even if the Escort Agency can’t help you soar among the clouds, we must at least do our best to pave the way for you. I’d heard that Old Wu is a good businessman who even has dealings with people from the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect, which is why I asked him about it today."

"Xie Yuan, you heard him. If you’re interested, you just need to have Old Wu make the connection. The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect is the number-one Sect in Yunzhou; they have many Grandmasters among their ranks. Only by standing atop Cloud Mountain can you truly look down upon the vast martial world."