Chapter 105 - 104: Qian Yuan
Chapter 105: Chapter 104: Qian Yuan
After receiving the summons, Lu Zhao headed straight for the Recruitment Bureau in the General Affairs Hall.
The General Affairs Hall occupied a vast area, composed of several magnificent halls bustling with a constant stream of people. Above the door of a side hall hung a sign bearing the words "Recruitment Bureau," its calligraphy forceful and elegant.
Inside, the floor was paved with obsidian so polished it reflected like a mirror. The air was filled with the faint scents of sandalwood and ink. Various Outer Disciples and Outer Sect Stewards hurried about, either exchanging documents or conversing in low voices. The atmosphere was solemn and efficient.
Lu Zhao briefly sized up the hall before walking to a reception counter on one side. A Servant Disciple at Mid-stage Qi Cultivation quickly verified his identity, then led him through several corridors to the door of a relatively secluded Quiet Chamber.
"Brother Lu, please wait a moment. Brother Wang will be here shortly." The young disciple bowed respectfully and then withdrew.
Before long, a middle-aged Cultivator with sharp, competent features and dressed in a black robe pushed open the door and entered. He was of medium build with a calm gaze, and his steps were steady. His aura was impressively at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.
"Junior Brother Lu Zhao?" Wang Ping’s voice was not loud, but it was clear and forceful, carrying the practiced efficiency of someone long held in an administrative post. His gaze swept over Lu Zhao, confirming his identity. "Please sit, Junior Brother. We can take our time to talk."
Lu Zhao did as he was told, sitting down on a meditation cushion in the Quiet Chamber. "Thank you, Brother Wang."
Wang Ping didn’t waste any words. He walked directly to the head seat and sat down. Taking a smooth, cyan jade scroll from his sleeve, he flicked a finger, and the scroll flew steadily to hover in front of Lu Zhao.
"Junior Brother Lu, this is the information for your mandatory mission," Wang Ping said succinctly. "Read through the contents of the Jade Scroll first. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me then."
Lu Zhao nodded, reached out to take the Jade Scroll, and submerged his Divine Sense into it.
The information from the Jade Scroll flowed into his mind like water:
Mission Target: Qian Yuan (Wanderer)
Depiction: Image of a middle-aged man with ordinary features, a somewhat sinister gaze, and a faint scar on his jaw.
Cultivation: Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer
Cultivation Technique and Divine Abilities: Main Cultivation Method is unknown. His Spiritual Power has a gloomy, cold attribute.
Suspected to have mastered a highly effective technique for Concealment and Disguise.
He possesses an extremely swift Escape Technique, reportedly capable of instantly breaking free from the Divine Sense lock of Cultivators of the Same Tier.
Possibly skilled in using Poisoned Hidden Weapons or small, insidious Magical Artifacts.
Area of Operation: Southwest Bixia County, near the outskirts of the Cyan Ox Mountain Lower Courtyard. The specific location must be investigated independently.
Time Limit: Within three months of accepting the mission.
Objective: Kill the target, Qian Yuan.
Mission Rating: Level C (Medium).
The information was concise yet critical. The description of the Concealment and the Escape Technique, in particular, made Lu Zhao’s brow furrow slightly. He withdrew his Divine Sense, looked at Wang Ping, and voiced his first doubt:
"Brother Wang, shouldn’t a mission to hunt a Tribulation Cultivator like this normally be handled by the Law Enforcement Hall? Why has it fallen to us ordinary Outer Sect Stewards? Besides, the target is only at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer." Lu Zhao’s tone was calm, but his question cut straight to the core of the issue.
Wang Ping seemed to have expected this. He picked up the Spirit Tea beside him, took a sip, and shook his head. "You may not be aware of this, Junior Brother. The Law Enforcement Hall has limited manpower, so they focus their energy on handling major incidents involving Sect Disciples, affiliated forces, and other events that pose a significant threat."
"This Qian Yuan’s Cultivation is low, and the harm he causes is limited to the outskirts of the Lower Courtyard. He mostly preys on insignificant Wanderers or small merchant caravans. In the eyes of the Law Enforcement Hall, he’s nothing more than a minor skin rash, not important enough for them to personally deal with. These ’small fries’ are often assigned as mandatory missions to Outer Sect Stewards or exceptional Outer Disciples, serving as both a training exercise and a method of resource allocation."
Lu Zhao understood. A Major Sect had its own rules and priorities. He continued, "I see. In that case, what exactly did this Qian Yuan do? He’s merely at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, yet he requires the Bixia Sect’s Outer Sect to hunt him down?"
Wang Ping set down his teacup, his tone flat. "It wasn’t anything earth-shattering. Just the usual business of a Tribulation Cultivator: murder and robbery. It’s just that he chose an inappropriate location, far too close to the territory of the Cyan Ox Mountain Lower Courtyard."
"Even though the outskirts of the Lower Courtyard aren’t considered a Core Area directly under the Sect, frequent activity from Tribulation Cultivators is ultimately a slap in the face to the Bixia Sect, and it doesn’t look good if word gets out. So, the Sect added him to the mandatory mission list as a matter of convenience. It’s a way to appease the area around the Lower Courtyard and also to deter other troublemakers."
He paused and added, "Actually, two people were assigned this mission before you."
Lu Zhao’s eyes narrowed. "Oh? And the result?"
"The first one to take the mission was an Outer Disciple at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer." A barely perceptible, scornful smile touched the corner of Wang Ping’s mouth. "He went off eagerly but came back with his tail between his legs, unable to even find a trace of Qian Yuan. He did, however, bring back one useful piece of intel: he confirmed the Jade Scroll’s theory about the Concealment and Disguise technique. Apparently, Qian Yuan is quite skilled in that regard; his movements are secretive and he’s difficult to pin down."
"The second time, an Outer Sect Steward at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer took the job." Wang Ping’s expression grew more serious. "That junior brother was quite capable. By following a few faint clues, he actually managed to find Qian Yuan’s hiding place and even clashed with him briefly."
"And the result?" Lu Zhao pressed.
"The result?" Wang Ping snorted. "That fellow’s Magical Combat abilities are mediocre. A Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer cultivator against a Sixth Layer one should have been a guaranteed capture. But the moment Qian Yuan saw things were going south, he refused to engage at all and immediately used that life-saving Escape Technique of his. According to that junior brother’s report afterward, he just saw a crimson shadow flash, and in an instant, Qian Yuan was gone, disappearing beyond the absolute limit of his Divine Sense. Unbelievably fast! There was no way to even give chase."
A chill went through Lu Zhao. ’Concealment and Disguise, plus an Escape Technique with an instantaneous burst of speed far beyond others of his tier... no wonder Qian Yuan has remained at large for so long. He clearly has an ace up his sleeve.’ The difficulty of this mission was by no means as simple as the "Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer" tag suggested.
He mulled it over for a moment before asking the most critical question: "Brother Wang, what is the Merit reward for completing this mission? And if... I fail to complete it, what is the penalty?"
Wang Ping glanced at Lu Zhao, seemingly approving of how thorough his questions were. "Hm, it’s good to be cautious. Given that the target’s Cultivation is low but his methods are strange, and that the last two attempts have failed, the Sect has rated this a medium-difficulty Level C mission. As such, the Merit reward is double that of a normal mandatory mission, for a total of twenty Merit."
"As for the penalty for failure..." Wang Ping’s tone became a little more relaxed. "It’s not too severe. After all, the difficulty is plain to see, and it is a mandatory mission. If you fail to complete it within three months, you’ll only have five Merit deducted."
’Twenty Merit! And only a five-point deduction!’
Lu Zhao quickly did the math in his head. ’A reward of twenty Merit is quite good. I remember toiling for two months on a regular mission and only earning sixteen Merit. The penalty of losing five Merit, while painful, is still within an acceptable range. It won’t be a crippling blow.’
"Understood. Thank you for clarifying things, Brother," Lu Zhao said with a nod. He then asked one last question: "Brother, I’m a complete stranger to the area around the Cyan Ox Mountain Lower Courtyard. To get a handle on Qian Yuan’s movements and the local situation quickly, who should I connect with? Would it be feasible to approach the Lower Courtyard directly?"
Hearing this, Wang Ping shook his head slightly. "The Lower Courtyard? Junior Brother, I’d advise you to give up on that idea. Disciples of the Lower Courtyard, even those in its outer section, are still Official Disciples of the Bixia Sect. Their status is different from us Outer Sect Stewards. They have their own pride and are busy with their own affairs. They wouldn’t have the time, much less the willingness, to bother with the trivial matters of us ’Outer Sect Stewards.’ If you go there rashly, you’ll most likely get the cold shoulder and waste your time for nothing."
He paused before offering his advice: "In my opinion, you’d be better off seeking out the local Foundation Establishment Clans. There are quite a few such clans in Bixia County who are affiliated with our Sect. They have been operating in the area for many years, have deep roots, and are the best-informed. You just need to show them your Identity Token as an Outer Sect Steward of the Bixia Sect and explain that you are on a Sect mission and need to understand the local situation. As long as your request isn’t too outrageous, they’ll generally give you some face, offering assistance and information. After all, being on good terms with a Sect Steward is beneficial for their families."
Lu Zhao’s eyes lit up. This was indeed a practical and excellent suggestion. In their own territory, the Foundation Establishment Clans were the local power players. Their information networks were far more extensive and grounded than those of the Lower Courtyard disciples. "Thank you for the guidance, Brother! That is an excellent idea."
Wang Ping waved his hand, a rare, gentle smile appearing on his face. "We’re all brothers in the Sect. It’s not easy to carry out missions outside, so it’s only right that we offer each other pointers. You have a meticulous mind and act with deliberation. Though this mission is thorny, with your abilities, it’s not necessarily impossible. Go on now. I wish you swift success."
"I’ll take you up on those auspicious words, Brother. I will take my leave now." Lu Zhao rose and gave Wang Ping a formal bow.
As he left the solemn great hall of the Recruitment Bureau, the light outside made Lu Zhao squint. He glanced back at the sign for the "Recruitment Bureau," feeling a swirl of emotions.
Within the Bixia Sect, the hierarchy was strict, competition was fierce, and personal connections were typically shallow. Since joining the Sect, most of his peers he had interacted with were strictly business-like. Someone like Wang Ping—who had not only efficiently explained the mission details but had also proactively shared the results of past attempts and offered practical advice with a gentle and patient attitude—was a true rarity.
’Looks like my luck isn’t too bad,’ Lu Zhao muttered to himself, a barely perceptible smile touching his lips. Wang Ping’s unexpected helpfulness had certainly saved him a great deal of fumbling around and given him more confidence in the mission ahead.
He squeezed the Storage Bag at his waist, which held the Jade Water Golden Scale Shield, an assortment of Talismans and Pills, and other supplies for a long journey. His gaze shifted to the southwest, toward the Cyan Ox Mountain region.
’Qian Yuan... Concealment and Disguise, an unparalleled Escape Technique...’ A sharp glint flashed in Lu Zhao’s eyes. ’Those twenty Merit are as good as mine.’
He didn’t depart immediately. Instead, he turned and headed for the Library Pavilion in the Outer Sect area. Know the enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
Before heading to Cyan Ox Mountain, he needed to consult as many records as possible on Concealing Techniques, Tracking Techniques, and ways to counter Escape Techniques. He would also copy a map while he was there; after all, accessing such common records didn’t cost any Merit.