Chapter 223 - 198: Seeing Wenn Quan Again, Cultivating Wang Hui
Chapter 223: Chapter 198: Seeing Wenn Quan Again, Cultivating Wang Hui
「Three days later.」
The Array of Lu Zhao’s Cave Mansion swirled, and an upright figure appeared outside his Quiet Chamber. The visitor was Wenn Quan, his aura profound, having already reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.
Seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion, Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes. As he looked at Wenn Quan, the corner of his mouth lifted in a barely perceptible smile. His voice was calm, yet tinged with a hint of nostalgia:
"Junior Brother Wenn, it’s been more than ten years since we’ve seen each other, hasn’t it?"
Upon hearing this, Wenn Quan immediately bowed. His posture was respectful without being servile, and his voice was clear and firm. "I am undeserving of such an address, Junior Master. I am truly humbled. It has indeed been more than ten years since we parted at Black Bone Mountain."
"Your successful ascension to Foundation Establishment and your great strides on the path of cultivation make you a true role model for our generation. I have always held you in the highest esteem, but I dared not disturb you without cause."
Lu Zhao nodded slightly, gesturing for him to dispense with the formalities. "Sit. After reaching Foundation Establishment, I’ve been swamped with various duties and haven’t dared to slacken my cultivation. As a result, I’ve neglected to keep in touch with old acquaintances."
"Your own cultivation has advanced significantly, Junior Brother. To have reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer means you are not far from the threshold of Foundation Establishment. Congratulations are in order." His gaze swept over Wenn Quan as he spoke.
Wenn Quan did as instructed, sitting on a meditation cushion below Lu Zhao with his back straight. "You flatter me, Junior Master. My meager progress is entirely thanks to the Sect’s nurturing and your guidance back at Black Bone Mountain. You shoulder heavy responsibilities for the Sect and cultivate tirelessly. How could I dare disturb your seclusion for personal reasons?"
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, reminiscing about their time at Black Bone Mountain and discussing recent events in the Bixia Sect. The atmosphere was amicable enough, but Wenn Quan knew perfectly well that Junior Master Lu hadn’t summoned him today just to catch up on old times.
Sure enough, Lu Zhao changed the subject. His tone remained placid, but it now carried an undertone that brooked no argument. "Junior Brother Wenn, will you be free for a while?"
Wenn Quan’s focus sharpened. ’Here it comes.’ He immediately replied, "Reporting to Junior Master, I completed a year-long mandatory mission last year. According to Sect rules, I shouldn’t have any more mandatory assignments for the next year or so, unless there’s a special draft. My schedule is relatively open."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Lu Zhao’s eyes. "Good. In that case, you can help me with something."
Without a moment’s hesitation, Wenn Quan cupped his hands. "I will follow any command from you, Junior Master, and I will not dare to disobey! I will do my absolute best!"
Lu Zhao wasted no words. With a flick of his sleeve, a heavy Storage Bag flew steadily toward Wenn Quan. The bag was slightly ajar, allowing a dense wave of Spiritual Qi to escape. Inside lay a thousand neatly stacked Lower Grade Spirit Stones!
"There are one thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones in here." Lu Zhao’s voice was crystal clear. "Take them and establish a small, personal trade caravan for me outside the Bixia Marketplace. It doesn’t need to be large—just the initial framework will suffice. But I have two requirements."
He held up two fingers, his gaze sharp as lightning as he stared directly at Wenn Quan. "First, the caravan’s guards must include at least two Late-stage Qi Cultivators. Their cultivation must be solid, and they must have extensive experience in Magical Combat."
"Second, and most importantly, all the guards must be dependable! I want people who are level-headed and honor their commitments, not greedy opportunists who would flee at the first sign of trouble. Quality over quantity is paramount!"
’Lu Zhao had his reasons for choosing Wenn Quan. Back at Black Bone Mountain, the young man’s cultivation wasn’t top-tier, but he had a quick mind and a smooth way of handling matters. He was especially good with people and knew how to read a situation, which left a deep impression on me.’
’A task like this—building a framework, recruiting personnel, and coordinating the initial setup—is best handled by someone with high "emotional intelligence" like Wenn Quan, someone I know and understand. He’s the perfect man for the job.’
Wenn Quan took the Storage Bag, and its weight made his heart leap. ’A thousand Spirit Stones! That’s nearly a lifetime of savings for most Late-stage Qi Cultivators!’
’Junior Master Lu is truly generous. This shows just how much importance he places on this task.’ His expression turned solemn as he replied, "Rest assured, Junior Master! I understand completely! I will be rigorous in my selection and recruit only reliable people for the caravan! You can count on me!"
However, after accepting the task, a hint of hesitation flickered across Wenn Quan’s face. He looked like he wanted to say something but was holding back.
Lu Zhao, ever perceptive, noticed at once. "Speak. Is there a problem?"
After a brief hesitation, Wenn Quan braced himself and said, "Junior Master, with all due respect, finding a group of reliable guards and a few Late-stage Qi Cultivators in Bixia Marketplace... it truly isn’t that difficult, especially by paving the way with Spirit Stones and leveraging your prestigious name."
"I’m also fairly confident I can build the initial framework for the caravan within a few months. It’s just..."
He paused, his tone apologetic yet tinged with a subtle urgency. "I’m concerned about the long-term commitment. My own cultivation path is far from over. I need time to polish my skills and attempt a breakthrough, and my energy is limited."
"If you need me to manage and operate this caravan for the long haul, I’m afraid I won’t be able to divide my attention. My abilities would fall short, and I might jeopardize your important plans."
He was nearly fifty, with only a decade remaining before the age of sixty, when his Qi and Blood would begin to decline. His chances of reaching Foundation Establishment were slim, but not nonexistent. Every moment from here on out was precious. He absolutely could not squander the next one or two years—or possibly even longer—on worldly tasks like managing someone else’s caravan. This was his biggest concern.
Lu Zhao’s expression remained unchanged after hearing him out, as if he had already anticipated this concern.
He said calmly, "You need not worry about that. All I’m asking is that you establish the framework, recruit qualified people, and get the caravan’s structure in place. As for the subsequent operations, management, trade routes, and other such affairs, I will assign someone else to take over. You are only responsible for the ’startup’ phase. After six months, once your replacement is up to speed, you can step away and focus entirely on your cultivation. How does that sound?"