Chapter 120 - Reflecting Upon Oneself (Part IV) (Patreon)

Inside a spacious room within the dockside warehouse where the newly formed Bo Merchant Chamber had settled, Silent Mountain Wei Zhang bowed slightly to his two hosts.

“This public servant thanks Fellow Daoist Miao and Fellow Daoist Bo for their time and hospitality,” he said with a smile. Then, he promptly straightened and retrieved one item from each sleeve.

In his left hand was a rectangular wooden box with a glass panel on one side, its craftsmanship and materials revealing considerable value. Inside rested a brush. The box floated toward the table between the three men, moving toward Grandmaster Miao, who carefully picked it up.

Observing it, Lucian perceived the dense concentration of Wood and Metal Qi emanating from within.

Turning his attention to Wei Zhang’s other hand, he saw a far less impressive object.

It was a scroll bound by thin metallic chains. While the chains themselves contained Metal Qi and another type of Qi that Lucian found difficult to identify, the scroll emitted nothing.

Holding the scroll with both hands, Wei Zhang offered it to Lucian.

“Vice-Lord Verdant Creek is deeply impressed by young Bo Xian’s heroic actions,” he said. “For single-handedly slaying the demonic cultivator Black Scale, an elder of the Tidal Cult, please accept this gift.”

Mildly surprised by how they changed the facts, Lucian accepted the scroll with a nod.

“Inside that scroll,” Wei Zhang continued, noticing how Lucian was examining it without the aid of Qi techniques, “you will find useful information regarding the misconduct, improprieties, and moral failings of various Council Members.”

Lucian’s immediate thought was simple. Blackmail material?

Casting Wei Zhang a curious glance, he remarked, “Vice-Lord Verdant Creek must have many friends.” 

Momentarily distracted by the low-grade replica of Lao Tsu’s Brush, Grandmaster Miao shook himself out of his thoughts and turned toward Wei Zhang.

“Fellow Daoist Wei, there was no need to bring us these gifts,” he said, slipping the box into his sleeve while securing it with Qi lines. There was no way he would give it back now.

Meanwhile, Wei Zhang knew perfectly well that the box was not a gift at all, but rather payment for information regarding Lucian’s whereabouts days ago. Besides, the scroll in Lucian’s hands was merely an apology.

The true gifts had yet to arrive.

“Please, sit,” Grandmaster Miao said. “Tea will be here shortly. I specifically asked them to bring some from the Endless Desert. That is your father’s homeland, is it not?”

Wei Zhang nodded and took a seat, while Lucian and Grandmaster Miao did the same.

Guarding the scroll, Lucian did not bother asking how to open it. Either someone would explain it if necessary, or it was one of those obvious matters every cultivator knew. And if it turned out to be the latter, he could ask Grandmaster Miao after the meeting.

Soon enough, tea arrived alongside dried algae, shrimp, and crab roe. No one touched the food, but both Wei Zhang and Grandmaster Miao took a sip of the tea.

“Good tea,” they said simultaneously before setting their cups down.

As the guest, Wei Zhang waited for Grandmaster Miao to begin discussing business.

And as the host, Grandmaster Miao was prepared to engage in small talk before approaching the real topic.

But as someone who didn't care about any of these, Lucian said, “I would like to ask Vice-Lord Verdant Creek to guarantee Grandmaster Miao a place in the upcoming tournament.”

Grandmaster Miao nearly choked on his saliva and stared at Lucian in disbelief.

Wei Zhang, meanwhile, visibly flinched. “What did you just say?”

It took a moment to notice he had used a cold tone instead of a cordial one. Recovering himself, he shook his head.

“My apologies, Fellow Daoist, but that is impossible,” he said, glancing toward Grandmaster Miao. “The City Lord has not yet announced how the representatives will be selected, and we will not know until the Sect Tournament becomes more than a rumor.”

Lucian nodded and immediately stood up.

“Very well. Return when that changes,” he said, turning to leave.

Grandmaster Miao frowned but said nothing, observing.

Wei Zhang, on the other hand, panicked.

Standing up, he hurriedly said, “Wait, Fellow Daoist Bo! I heard about your sewage plan. Don’t you need help with materials, recruitment, and permits? That scroll will only get you halfway there!”

Turning his head slightly, Lucian raised an eyebrow. “Nothing matters more than that spot in the tournament.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Grandmaster Miao felt his stomach drop.

Reaching my goals depends on three things, Lucian thought, coldly observing the other two. Having a way to gather and expend resources without being bothered, keeping my true strength as mysterious as possible, and most importantly, making my enemies overthink.

From experience, he knew exactly how intelligent people trapped themselves in endless speculation. He himself had made that mistake more than once, sparing enemies while they were weak because he assumed they possessed hidden strength or powerful backers.

Lucian was not accustomed to being the one forced to rely on deception and subterfuge, but he had spent centuries doing exactly that. His earliest years as a vampire had been one challenge after another.

While Lucian analyzed the two cultivators and considered his next moves, they were also reflecting upon his actions.

Wei Zhang silently noted that he needed to investigate whether the relationship between Lucian and the Bo Merchant Chamber ran deeper than expected, or whether they had gained influence over Lucian’s decisions.

Meanwhile, Grandmaster Miao was cursing Lucian internally. He knew very well that the more Lucian fought for his benefits, the harder it would become to stay away from him later!

All three men were momentarily deep in thought, yet each understood there was a time for contemplation and a time for action.

Wei Zhang cupped his hands and broke the silence.

“I will need to report this matter to My Lady,” he said. “Please forgive me for being unable to satisfy Fellow Daoist Bo’s request immediately.”

Waving a hand dismissively, Lucian replied, “Not an issue. Bring your answer before someone else does.”

Alarmed, Wei Zhang shot a glance toward Grandmaster Miao, who responded with nothing more than a gentle smile.

Without waiting for a reply, Lucian turned and left the room. He didn't say goodbye, focused on putting distance between himself and the other two.

Negotiating with a merchant and playing word games with a public servant is a waste of time, he thought. Let them deal with each other.

Moving swiftly through the warehouse, slipping past servants and stacks of cargo like a ghost, Lucian returned to his room and looked at the still-unconscious Wang Chen. Then, he took a deep breath and circulated Qi through his body with the Two-Leaf breathing technique.

With a shift, his dual-attuned Spiritual Root transformed into a triple-attuned one.

At the same time, his cultivation fell from the early stage of Qi Refining back to the early stage of Qi Gathering.

I reflected enough on Wang Chen’s insights and the cultivation manuals, he thought. It’s time to do some self-research.

Lucian had not become obsessed with cultivation to the point of ignoring everything else.

The truth was that before Grandmaster Miao interrupted him, he had been on the verge of testing a theory regarding cultivation through self-reflection. He wanted to know if he could connect Wang Chen's explanations with his memories to accelerate his cultivation!

Maintaining the Two-Leaf breathing technique, he closed his eyes. Then, Qi naturally flowed toward his Spiritual Root through his nose and mouth, and he focused his thoughts on the Bright Yang Meridian.

Symbol of a new beginning, the one that grants grace to other living beings, he thought while his Blood Essence stirred. I am very familiar with these.

With that thought, he recalled when he granted grace to another being for the first time.