Chapter 374: Supreme Treasure
It wasn’t worth the risk of backing the wrong team for such a small amount of aid.
“Forget it. Junior Brother Chen has his own plans; we shouldn’t interfere too much…”
Han Chou sighed softly and said,
“In any case, Junior Brother Chen is still young. Even if he spends three years training in the Fishing Pavilion or the Hunting Pavilion, he’ll only be twenty. It’s not necessarily a bad thing for him to have more life experience.”
Ning Chong nodded and didn’t press the matter any further.
Afterward,
Chen Cheng left first, citing the need to recover from his injuries.
Ning Chong, as sociable as ever, dragged Han Chou along for a meal.
During the meal, the main topic of their conversation was, without a doubt, Chen Cheng.
As the conversation went on, they all agreed they had to find a way to introduce Chen Cheng to a reliable patron. They couldn’t let him languish in the Fishing and Hunting Pavilions for too long just because he lacked funds.
…
「Sword Pavilion, Ancient Stele Forest」
Dusk crept up from the horizon of the distant mountains, gradually enveloping the ancient, wordless steles in a somber gloom.
Yuan Feiche sat cross-legged before a hammer-marked ancient stele. With his eyes closed and his breathing long and even, he listened as the disciple carrying a Horse-Cutting Saber finished recounting the day’s events regarding Chen Cheng’s fist exchange.
“…Chen Cheng. That young man is truly extraordinary.”
After a long moment, Yuan Feiche narrowed his eyes slightly and sighed.
“I originally thought Yun Shuanglin was trying to move against me by forcing one of her cronies into the Sword Pavilion. I never imagined she would recommend a genius capable of Eight Blood Over Nine Blood.”
“Master…”
The disciple with the Horse-Cutting Saber on his back said suggestively,
“That kid can’t really be said to have fought above his station… He’s injured. In a real fight, he wouldn’t last three moves.”
“Nonsense!”
Yuan Feiche’s eyes snapped open, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
“Why don’t you try it? I’ll have your Third Senior Brother hit you with his full strength. If you’re still standing after that, I’ll make you *his* senior brother!”
“Th-this disciple wouldn’t dare.”
The disciple shook his head repeatedly, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“Wouldn’t dare?”
Yuan Feiche said coldly,
“You are a Core Disciple of the Sword Pavilion. Chen Cheng accomplished something that you yourself could not. What reason do you have to be unimpressed?”
“…This disciple was wrong.”
The disciple hung his head, thought for a moment, and quickly changed the subject.
“Oh, right, Master. On my way here, I saw Zhou Wansen heading toward the Third Elder’s location. He must have been going to discuss Chen Cheng as well.”
“Heh. That Zhou Wansen… his potential in the Martial Arts is limited, but he certainly has a sharp eye.”
Yuan Feiche said flatly,
“I don’t even have to guess. He’s definitely planning to recommend Chen Cheng to the Third Elder. If he succeeds, a genius with limitless potential like Chen Cheng will owe him a massive favor!”
“Should we stop him?” the disciple asked.
“Of course not! I’ve told you before, don’t try to be clever, and don’t go looking for trouble!”
Yuan Feiche snapped, then his tone turned solemn.
“Right now, I just need to wait for the Pavilion Master to step down. The day I take control of the Sword Pavilion, the power of life and death will be mine to command with a single thought.”
“Besides, I never said I wanted to go after Chen Cheng. I have no quarrel with him. I was just worried that he, under Yun Shuanglin’s influence, might ruin my plans!”
“But from what I’ve seen these past few days, he hasn’t done a single thing to undermine me. So why should I go out of my way to suppress him?”
Yuan Feiche paused, then raised his head. His gaze pierced through the Stele Forest, settling on the hazy gray sky in the distance.
“In the future, if he comes around and is willing to join my faction, I might even accept him… and cultivate his talent…”
“…Yes, Master is right.”
The disciple kept his head bowed, verbally agreeing, but an almost imperceptible glint flashed in his eyes.
…
「Dragon Pavilion, Jade Dragon Dock」
The sun had completely set, the last golden ray swallowed by the Sea Marsh. Only a thin, dark purple line remained where the sky met the water.
Jiang Yujiao stood at the edge of the marsh, facing the boundless water.
She raised a hand.
Slowly, she removed the black-veiled conical hat from her head.
In an instant, a cascade of silken black hair poured down like a waterfall, tumbling straight to her waist.
The moonlight on her hair cast a faint, silvery sheen, as if it were laced with frost.
The moment the hat came off, her stunning face seemed to illuminate the surrounding night.
It was an ethereal beauty, so cold and aloof it seemed almost unreal.
Her brows were like distant, dark-hued mountains, naturally defined; her eyes, like a still, cold pond reflecting the moon, were placid and clear.
She had a high-bridged nose, and her lips were slightly pursed. Her skin was so fair as to be almost transparent, flawless and lustrous as if saturated by moonlight.
Individually, her features were not stunning, but together they formed an intimidating beauty that one dared not gaze upon directly, as if a second glance would be a profanity.
A breeze blew in from the Sea Marsh, stirring her long hair. A few silken strands drifted across her cheek, but she paid them no mind, simply gazing quietly at the distant horizon where water met sky.
The roar of the tide grew louder. The reef at her feet was slick with spray, and droplets shattered into a thousand silver stars in the moonlight, landing on the hem of her dress before quickly vanishing.
She stood there like a jade statue, sculpted by the Sea Marsh and the moonlight itself.
Unspeaking, unmoving, not even seeming to breathe. It was as if she herself were the tide, the moonlight, the night wind—a part of the world itself.
“…Master.”
Gu Qianqian, having finished her report on Chen Cheng, had been waiting quietly for a long time. At last, she couldn’t stop herself from asking,
“Are… are you listening?”
“…That Chen Cheng… is indeed a genius.”
Jiang Yujiao finally spoke, her voice clear and ethereal, devoid of any inflection. She sounded as if she were stating an established fact, not a topic for debate.
“Tomorrow morning, take two Golden Flesh Carp and bring them to him. If he is willing to join the Dragon Pavilion, bring him here to see me.”
“…Master.”
Gu Qianqian’s brow furrowed. She twisted her fingers inside her sleeves, finally unable to hold back a tone tinged with reluctance.