Chapter 115: The Brat

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Azure Dragon Academy, Head Branch Chamber.

As usual, Lin Haitao sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, cultivating his power.

Azure Dragon energy densely surrounded his body, transforming into wisps of white vapor. The sight alone revealed how profound his internal strength had become.

“Whew!”

Only after a long while did he complete his cultivation, gently exhaling a breath of stale air.

“Master!”

Ding Jianyong’s voice came from outside the door. “The list for the latter half of the year has been finalized. Please make your decision.”

Lin Haitao replied calmly, “Come in.”

Ding Jianyong entered with the list in hand. As was customary, he briefly explained the origins, physiques, comprehension, temperament, and backgrounds of the disciples on it.

After listening, Lin Haitao stroked his beard and smiled. “Not bad. There are two disciples with excellent physiques this time.”

Although the Four Extremes Sect’s four academies appeared peaceful on the surface, there was actually a great deal of open and covert rivalry between them.

With the term of Floating Cloud Mountain’s use drawing to an end, the supply of Four Extremes Pills would certainly shrink substantially, and even the inner-court disciples might be affected.

The stronger a branch’s disciples were, the more resources it received. Conversely, a weaker branch would receive fewer resources.

If a branch held greater strength within its academy, its head naturally possessed greater influence within the Four Extremes Sect.

Ding Jianyong said, “Master, then shall we choose Li Zhanjun and Lu Qiang?”

Lin Haitao gave a slight nod. “Those two, then.”

Ding Jianyong hesitated for a moment. “Master, do you still remember Yang Xing?”

Lin Haitao frowned slightly. “Yang Xing? Who is that? What about him?”

“It is nothing.” Ding Jianyong cupped his fists. “I shall submit the list now.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the door.

Since even his master no longer remembered the man, there was no point in saying anything more.

Just as Ding Jianyong reached the entrance, Lin Haitao seemed to recall something. “Yang Xing… I remember now. He once possessed Senior Brother Shen’s token…”

Ding Jianyong cupped his fists. “That is correct. He later joined the Black Tortoise Academy.”

“The Black Tortoise Academy?”

Lin Haitao knew Huang Zhen’s temperament all too well, and his brows drew tightly together.

Yang Xing must have paid an enormous price to enter the Black Tortoise Academy.

But even if he had joined the Black Tortoise Academy, so what?

With his aptitude, he would merely be wasting resources. He would have been better off returning to some small city and establishing a household of his own.

Ding Jianyong pondered for a long while before saying, “Master, Lu Shaoyou submitted a report yesterday. Yang Xing has broken through to Elixir Force.”

“What?”

Although Lin Haitao tried his utmost to conceal it, a trace of disbelief still flashed through his eyes.

Within the Four Extremes Sect, Elixir Force practitioners were already considered the backbone of the sect. Of the nearly one hundred disciples in the four academies, fewer than twenty possessed Elixir Force.

The very best among them would become the next leaders of the Four Extremes Sect, while even those slightly inferior would one day form its backbone.

“Is this truly so?”

“It is.” Ding Jianyong nodded.

Lin Haitao drew a deep breath. “I imagine Lu Shaoyou would not dare to falsify such a report. I truly did not expect this boy to break through to Elixir Force.”

There was a hint of complexity in his voice.

Ding Jianyong hurriedly cupped his fists. “Yang Xing’s breakthrough was most likely due to some fortuitous encounter, or perhaps sheer luck…”

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“I was too narrow-sighted. Even with a fortuitous encounter, reaching Elixir Force is no small achievement.”

Lin Haitao waved his hand.

Ding Jianyong nodded. No matter how poor Yang Xing’s natural physique had been, he now possessed the strength of Elixir Force. There was no way to belittle that fact.

“This disciple shall take his leave.”

After a brief silence, Ding Jianyong rose and prepared to depart.

“Wait.”

Lin Haitao called him back.

After all, Yang Xing was Senior Brother Shen’s disciple. Should he send a congratulatory gift as a token of goodwill? It might also help draw them closer.

Ding Jianyong asked in confusion, “Master, is there something else?”

“...Forget it. You may go.”

After repeated consideration, Lin Haitao ultimately abandoned the idea.

If he sent Yang Xing a gift, he would first be admitting that he had misjudged the man, and second, it might appear that he was currying favor with him. As the head of the Azure Dragon Branch, Lin Haitao would find that somewhat difficult to bear.

...

The Yang Family Courtyard.

Yang Xing had long since grasped the intent of the Sky-Splitting Palm, and his own vitality was extraordinarily vigorous. Cultivating the Azure Dragon Scripture therefore proceeded as naturally as water flowing downhill, allowing him to reach the first level directly.

A moment later, a glow appeared within Heaven’s Mandate.

[Azure Dragon Scripture, First Level (1/20,000): Ten sessions of practice a day; diligence can make up for lack of talent. Mastery in half a year, minor achievement in three years.]

Because he already possessed a foundation in the Black Tortoise Scripture, Yang Xing would need only half a year to reach the second level of the Azure Dragon Scripture and develop Azure Dragon energy.

This filled him with a trace of anticipation. If two different energies arose within his body, would he be able to make them coexist peacefully?

Yang Xing secretly pondered, “Black Tortoise energy is balanced and gentle. Even if I fail, the consequences should not be too serious.”

Time passed, and half a month vanished in the blink of an eye.

Yang Xing opened the first of the twelve primary meridians, the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. The Black Tortoise energy in his dantian increased by roughly twenty percent.

His strength was now completely stabilized at the lower level of Elixir Force.

Knock, knock!

“Is Senior Brother Yang at home?”

At that moment, the voice of an outer-court disciple came from outside.

Yang Xing opened the door. “I am. What is it?”

The outer-court disciple respectfully said, “Senior Brother Yang, this is your transfer order.”

Has there been news?

Ever since Lu Shaoyou had said he would submit Yang Xing’s name, more than half a month had passed before any word finally arrived.

Yang Xing opened the envelope and glanced at the contents.

It was a transfer order signed by the Sect Master of the Four Extremes Sect, appointing Yang Xing as steward of the medicinal fields on Floating Cloud Mountain. He would receive a monthly allowance of one thousand taels of silver, along with two premium Four Extremes Pills and three bottles of ordinary Four Extremes Pills as a stipend.

Seventy percent of the Four Extremes Sect’s medicinal fields were located on Floating Cloud Mountain, making its protection a matter of paramount importance.

“I will have money soon.”

A smile touched the corner of Yang Xing’s lips. “It seems tonight is the perfect time for a celebration. It has been so long since I last had a meal with Yuniang and Senior Sister.”

...

The prefectural city, Auspicious Cloud Street.

On the western side of the street stood a newly erected signboard bearing three large characters: Hall of Benevolent Healing.

Yang Xing’s teacher’s wife was taking the pulse of a woman.

The woman asked nervously, “Doctor Wang, my monthly cycle has stopped. Could it be that…”

“Congratulations, Madam. You are with child.”

His teacher’s wife smiled and said, “Yuniang, prepare a dose of medicine to protect the pregnancy for this lady.”

“Of course.”

Zhao Yuniang hurried to the medicine cabinet to prepare the prescription.

Ever since arriving in the prefectural city, she had come to the Hall of Benevolent Healing to study medicine while helping Madam Wang manage the apothecary.

“Wonderful! Wonderful!”

Upon hearing the news, delight appeared in the woman’s eyes.

“Congratulations!”

The other patients behind her also offered their congratulations.

Zhao Yuniang was preparing the medicine when, all of a sudden, a small, grimy hand reached into the cabinet.

“Wait!”

Zhao Yuniang tried to stop it, but she was too late. The filthy hand seized a bundle of herbs and crushed them into fragments.

“Hee-hee… fun…”

The culprit was a boy of four or five, his dirty hands reaching repeatedly into the medicine cabinet as he kneaded the herbs into powder for his own amusement.

Zhao Yuniang grabbed the boy and called out to those around her, “Whose child is this?”

“He is mine. What of it?”

At that moment, an old man with a head of white hair and a vigorous bearing emerged.

Zhao Yuniang recognized him as Peng Xiao, the proprietor of Harmony Pawnshop, and hurriedly said, “Master Peng, your grandson has ruined all these herbs. Please control him.”

Peng Xiao spread his hands and shook his head. “My youngest grandson is rather naughty. There is no controlling him.”

Zhao Yuniang looked at the trampled herbs. “But…”

Peng Xiao replied with an indifferent air, “He is only a child. What harm is there in letting him play? They are not particularly valuable.”

“Hee-hee… fun…”

At that moment, Peng Xiao’s son, Peng Ju, reached his filthy hands toward Zhao Yuniang’s chest.

“Ah!”

Startled, Zhao Yuniang hurriedly retreated.

Seeing her reaction, Peng Ju grew even more excited. “...Play… I want to play…”

Peng Xiao did nothing to stop him. Instead, an ambiguous smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Just then, Madam Wang stepped in front of Zhao Yuniang and asked, “Master Peng, is there some ailment you wish to have examined?”

Peng Xiao gave a mocking laugh. “What? Does that mean I cannot come by unless I am sick?”

Madam Wang’s willow brows knitted slightly. “That is not what I meant…”

This street was close to the Four Extremes Sect, and anyone able to open a pawnshop here generally had some connection with its disciples. Madam Wang therefore did not wish to offend him.

“Then that settles it!”

Peng Xiao ignored Madam Wang, picked up his grandson, and walked out of the apothecary. “Little Ju, we are going home. Grandpa will buy you some meat tonight.”

Perched on Peng Xiao’s shoulder, Peng Ju kept clawing toward the back with his hands. “Grandpa, I still want to play…”

“Play with what?”

At that moment, a calm voice rang out.

...