I Live Forever In The World of Cultivation World (Patreon)
Content
Tn: Chapter 75 is just the author telling his reader that he's taking a leave.
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Chapter 76: Ambushed
Could it be...
He Song forcefully suppressed the urge to ask further. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Zhao Lin, wanting to hear what he had to say next.
In front of him, Zhao Lin cupped his hands in a salute and spoke with a heavy heart.
"I have failed you. The person I entrusted with the task died several days ago, and your spirit farmlands have been unattended since then."
For the past half-month away from the Immortal Market, everything had been fine.
The person Zhao Lin found had been diligently tending to He Song's seven acres of spirit farmlands for a reward of thirty spirit stones.
However, several days ago, the situation changed.
That person was suddenly killed.
It wasn’t until Zhao Lin returned today that he learned of the incident and discovered that He Song's farmlands had been untended for days.
Upon hearing this unfortunate news, Zhao Lin felt deeply guilty for betraying He Song's trust, which was why he came to visit and make amends.
However, while he hesitated outside He Song's house, He Song happened to return and spotted him, leading to the current situation.
As Zhao Lin bowed and apologized, He Song, after hearing the explanation, let out a sigh of relief.
Farmlands left untended and lacking spiritual energy would naturally yield less produce.
If left for another ten days or so, the lack of spiritual energy would cause irreversible damage to the yield.
Fortunately, only a few days had passed, and replenishing the spiritual energy in time would mitigate the issue.
He thought something much worse had happened.
So, this was it?
"This matter is of no consequence. I’ll just cast Spirit Rain Technique for an extra hour later, and the spiritual energy will naturally replenish, causing no loss. Daoist Zhao, you’re being too formal."
He Song waved it off, indicating he didn’t mind.
Since no losses had been incurred and the previous caretaker’s death had no direct connection to him, He Song didn’t dwell on it.
From his perspective, Zhao Lin was overreacting.
"Sigh, it’s my fault for entrusting this to the wrong person. If this had caused any real losses, Daoist He, please don’t hesitate to come to me. I will fully compensate for any damage," Zhao Lin quickly promised.
Although He Song didn’t mind, Zhao Lin couldn’t let it go. He firmly believed the responsibility lay with him.
After all, He Song had paid for the service.
Even though the caretaker was now dead, and the promised thirty spirit stones didn’t need to be paid, Zhao Lin still felt accountable for what had happened.
Seeing Zhao Lin’s reaction, He Song could only wave his hand helplessly.
However, he quickly recalled what Wei Fan had mentioned earlier.
"If you truly feel uneasy about this, my friend is currently helping me apply for the position of herb garden manager. If possible, I’d appreciate it if you could put in a good word for me. Let’s consider this matter resolved, shall we?"
Back when he was with Wei Fan, the latter had mentioned this opportunity.
Although Wei Fan was a steward and a late-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivator, he belonged to the Spirit Builder Pavilion.
Helping He Song apply for a managerial position in the Spirit Herb Pavilion wasn’t impossible, but if Zhao Lin, a Spirit Herb Pavilion manager himself, supported the application, He Song’s chances of success would significantly increase.
Taking this opportunity to secure the matter seemed like a good idea.
"Very well, leave this matter to me," Zhao Lin promptly agreed.
He Song’s words made it clear that someone was already helping with the application.
Who that person was didn’t matter. What mattered was that Zhao Lin only needed to add his support.
Whether or not He Song ultimately became the herb garden manager, Zhao Lin would have done his part and earned He Song’s gratitude.
With the matter settled, the atmosphere between the two naturally grew more cordial.
Inside He Song’s home, the two enjoyed tea and chatted, though the drink wasn’t wine, the fragrance of the tea was soothing.
Time passed swiftly.
After the Immortal City Enforcement Squad arrived and departed from the Immortal Market, He Song’s life returned to its usual calm.
Through conversations with others in the market, he soon learned what the Enforcement Squad had done during their half-month stay.
Initially, most cultivators in the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market didn’t realize what was about to happen when the Enforcement Squad arrived.
Many, like Zhao Lin, didn’t think of fleeing.
Some even believed the Enforcement Squad’s presence would improve the market’s atmosphere.
However, after the Enforcement Squad successfully took over the local enforcement squad, rooted out a few evil cultivators, and purged the corrupt elements within the squad, everything took a dramatic turn.
The Enforcement Squad began arresting people under their command.
Reckless individuals with notorious reputations were taken away one by one, with resistance leading to immediate execution.
Some wandering cultivators and even affluent residents of the market mysteriously vanished.
Their residences, in some cases, were left in ruins; in others, untouched.
The common thread?
The Immortal City Enforcement Squad had visited each location.
Everything happened quietly until that day when the Enforcement Squad, alongside the market enforcers, raided the Spirit Herb Pavilion.
There, they killed one steward and two managers on the spot and interrogated everyone in the pavilion.
Those found guilty were executed immediately, while the innocent were allowed to leave.
The disappeared individuals were brought forth one by one and executed publicly.
That day, outside the Spirit Herb Pavilion, heads rolled, and blood flowed like a river.
A message soon spread:
One steward and two managers from the Spirit Herb Pavilion had colluded with evil cultivators, deliberately allowing them into the market. The Immortal City Enforcement Squad had been ordered to eliminate them.
Before departing, the Enforcement Squad used this event as a warning.
This bloody purge left a deep impression on everyone in the market.
As He Song was processing these revelations, another explosive piece of news shook the entire Azure Cliff Immortal City.
The Immortal City Enforcement Squad, shortly after leaving Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, was ambushed on their way back to Azure Cliff Immortal City.
Two mid-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivators were killed on the spot, and one late-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivator was surrounded and slain.
The remaining two late-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivators barely escaped with their lives, using their most precious life-saving treasures.