I Am Immortal in Great Yu

"And you, Ge Changgeng! If it weren't for you, none of this would have happened! Just you wait. All of you, just wait…"

As for Zhou Changfa, he was of the Upper Three Grades and about to leave anyway. The man didn't dare resent him; it would be useless. But he still dared to harbor hatred for Sun Shouchai and Ge Changgeng.

Although both Zhang Henshui and Sun Shouchai had pledged allegiance to that powerful figure, they couldn't stand each other. Their relationship was merely that of superficial colleagues.

...

「Leaving the Zhang Mansion.」

'Zhang Henshui? Heh! If I don't crush you, how can I come out on top? How else will I receive an imperial title when rewards are handed out and get a chance to break through to Upper Grade Spirit Master?!'

Sun Shouchai looked in the direction of the Zheng Family's estate. 'Even a fight to mutual destruction takes courage. You strike with all your might at first, but that energy wanes, and is soon exhausted...'

'The Zheng Family is a big fish that's already taken the bait. Once the Lord arrives, we'll just have to play them for a bit longer before reeling them in.'

He muttered to himself, his eyes glinting. 'In all this, maybe I can...'

...

One day, Fang Rui went to White Cloud Temple to visit Ge Changgeng.

While he was "injured and bedridden," Ge Changgeng had visited his home three times. He brought a Jade Talisman on one visit and medicine on the other two. Naturally, it was now time for Fang Rui to pay a courtesy call in return.

「Within White Cloud Temple.」

The sun was setting, and a sea of brilliant gold clouds churned in the sky. The soughing of the pines sounded like crashing waves. Beneath an ancient pine, the two of them sat facing each other at a stone table.

The Qing Yan Little Child brought a pot of light tea and poured it for Ge Changgeng and Fang Rui.

"How are your injuries, young friend?" Ge Changgeng asked, stroking his beard.

"They're almost completely healed."

Fang Rui said, pulling a crystalline blue Jade Talisman from his robes, "I haven't had to use the talisman you gave me yet, Daoist Ge. I was hoping I could ask you today—what kind of Jade Talisman is this?"

'You could exchange Contribution Points for Jade Talismans within the Divine Capture Bureau, but the cost was extremely high. Besides, I've never seen one that looks like this.'

'However, the cloud-like patterns within it were far more intricate than those on the Fireball, Light Body, or Golden Bell Jade Talismans. It was clearly much more valuable.'

"Ahem. That's a Great Rejuvenation Jade Talisman."

After giving its name, Ge Changgeng added, "Since you haven't used it, young friend, how about you give it back?"

'Looks like this Jade Talisman is even more precious than I thought. Good thing I didn't waste it on an experiment.'

Fang Rui thought to himself, snatching the Great Rejuvenation Jade Talisman back. "How can you ask for something back after you've already given it away, Daoist? I wouldn't want to put you in such an awkward position."

"Forget it!"

Seeing Fang Rui's shamelessness, Ge Changgeng's cheek twitched. He sighed in resignation. "This Great Rejuvenation Jade Talisman can instantly heal a significant amount of damage. Only an Upper Grade Spirit Master can create one, and even then, they need a Magic Technique Atlas and the Talisman-Making Secret Technique."

"I can't make them myself, so every one used is one gone forever. Use it wisely, young friend."

"By the way,"

He suddenly recalled what Fang Rui had asked about a while back and couldn't help but inquire, "Young friend, have you been cultivating the techniques of the Imperial Spirit Masters recently?"

"No."

Fang Rui shook his head. "You tested my aptitude yourself, Daoist... Besides, I don't want to be shackled and restrained."

'Ever since he learned the drawbacks of becoming an Imperial Spirit Master, he had completely given up on the idea of advancing his Qi Eating Technique.'

'If he was going to advance, he would definitely follow the path of the Ancient Spirit Masters. But he didn't have a cultivation technique for it, and it wouldn't be right to ask Ge Changgeng for one.'

'Besides, with his current shortage of Tribulation Points, Fang Rui didn't want to divide his focus anyway. Wasn't it better to concentrate on Martial Arts? To shatter all techniques with overwhelming force?'

"That's good."

The two of them continued to chat idly.

Just then, the Qing Yan Little Child ran over, calling out, "Master, Director Zhou is here! He says he's come to say goodbye!"

"Haha!"

Before Ge Changgeng could even invite him in, Zhou Changfa strode in with a hearty laugh. "Younger Brother Ge? Oh, and Fang Yinzheng is here as well?"

"Lord Si Zheng!" Fang Rui stood and greeted him with a bow.

"I've already left my post ahead of schedule, so I'm no longer the Director. Since you're a friend of Younger Brother Ge's, I'll take the liberty of calling you Little Brother Fang. If you don't mind, you can just call me Brother Zhou."

Zhou Changfa didn't stand on ceremony. He made himself at home, sitting down and drinking a cup of tea before speaking. "Younger Brother Ge, watch out for Zhang Henshui! I tried to arrange his death to eliminate that problem for good, but it failed. Now he's thrown in his lot with a powerful figure, so it's not so easy for me to make a move anymore."

"You too, Little Brother Fang,"

He looked at Fang Rui. "The man is petty and vindictive. Once he finds out you're close with Daoist Ge, he'll most likely take his anger out on you."

"Thank you for the warning, Brother Zhou." Ge Changgeng and Fang Rui both cupped their fists in gratitude.

"Hah, it's nothing."

Zhou Changfa waved his hand dismissively. "Zhang Henshui is just a minor player, nothing to be afraid of. The real trouble is the powerful figure behind him—the incoming Director of the Divine Capture Bureau!"

"Do you know anything about him, Brother Zhou?" Ge Changgeng asked.

"I hear he's from the Zhen Family in the State City and has powerful backing. He and I made a deal: I crack down on the Zheng Family, and he gives me a Demigod Medicine. I leave my post early, and he gives me another one. That's why my injuries healed so quickly a while back."

"The man is a deep schemer and extremely generous. But the more generous someone is, the more they want!"

Zhou Changfa shook his head. "I won't be around to see how that plays out! Younger Brother Ge, Little Brother Fang, you two must be careful here in Huaiyin Prefecture. Don't get caught in the fallout."

He held nothing back, telling them everything. He had already resigned as Director of the Divine Capture Bureau and was about to leave anyway, so he didn't care about breaking any taboos.

"Now that you've stepped down as Director, where will you be heading, Brother Zhou?" Fang Rui asked as he poured Zhou Changfa a cup of tea.

"Brother Zhou…" Ge Changgeng sighed, also looking toward him.

"To the southern secondary capital, Shangluo. I'm going to live out my retirement there!"

Zhou Changfa chatted with Ge Changgeng and Fang Rui for a while longer before putting down his teacup and rising to his feet. "My family has already gone on ahead. I just came to say my goodbyes. It's getting late, so I should be on my way."