Jiang Chen was quite helpless.
From the moment they entered the courtyard, Chongxuan Sheng had not let go of his hand.
Of course, showing respect to the worthy and being intimate were not problematic at all. Chongxuan Sheng had to make this gesture—even though he and Jiang Chen were already so close, there would still be no shortage of people secretly trying to contact Jiang Chen.
And if he showed even the slightest distance from Jiang Chen, the number of people trying to poach him could probably queue all the way outside the gates of Tianfu City.
This was a future Inner Palace realm cultivator! In all the world, an Inner Palace realm cultivator could be considered an undisputed powerhouse, a local hero!
Chongxuan Sheng had to dispel those people's filthy thoughts. He didn't even mind if they had filthy misunderstandings.
So he gripped Jiang Chen's hand even tighter.
Let them misunderstand however they want!
"Old Jiang, you've done me a huge favor! Before we entered the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, we agreed—if we failed, everything would end and we wouldn't mention it again. If we succeeded, we'd celebrate lavishly and share the rewards!"
Chongxuan Sheng's saliva flew as he spoke: "Techniques, arts, treasures, beauties—whatever you want, just ask!"
"Let go of my hand first."
"Hahaha." Chongxuan Sheng didn't feel embarrassed at all. He insisted on pulling Jiang Chen to the seat of honor before finally releasing him. "Before, for the sake of preparing for the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, I was tense every day, walking on thin ice. I didn't have time to properly entertain you. Come, try the delicacies of our great Qi!"
At this moment, the entire courtyard was decorated with colorful banners, the lights were bright and clear—a scene of prosperity.
However, if one could notice the solemn and silent gaze of Fourteen outside the door, perhaps one could truly appreciate the weight of Chongxuan Sheng's words "walking on thin ice."
Who knew if today's flourishing prosperity wouldn't wither like tomorrow's fallen flowers?
The table wasn't laden with many dishes, but each was exquisitely prepared, with unique flavors.
Among them, Jiang Chen's favorite was the Five-Flavor Jerky—the taste was excellent, and the broth was exceptionally fresh. It was said that to make the broth for this dish, one had to separately crush beef and lamb bones, boil them to extract the juice, skim off the foam, let it settle until clear, and only then add it to the dish.
As for the tea-infused vegetables that the people of Qi were quite fond of, Jiang Chen wasn't accustomed to them. The so-called tea-infused vegetables—using tea in cooking—had a certain elegance. But it was hard to avoid the astringent taste.
He thought, it's too bitter. An'an definitely wouldn't like it.
After several rounds of wine, Chongxuan Sheng brought up the old topic again.
But perhaps because he had been drinking, his words now sounded much more sincere, without that overly deliberate smoothness: "You traveled thousands of miles to come to Qi to help me. Before we entered the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, I still made you swear a vow on the Heart Demon Curse. Brother, this was not right of me. But the Celestial Residence Secret Realm is too important to me! I truly couldn't afford to take even the slightest risk."
As he spoke, he moved closer to Jiang Chen: "Whatever requirements Brother Jiang has, please speak freely, so I can show my gratitude. Otherwise, I really can't ease my conscience."
Jiang Chen shook his head: "There's no need for more thanks. The Inner Palace realm itself is already my reward. You don't owe me anything."
At the table, only Jiang Chen and Chongxuan Sheng were dining. Fourteen stood outside the door like a statue, silent and wordless. Always clad in armor, always ready for battle.
If one were to hear Chongxuan Sheng's true thoughts—perhaps Chongxuan Zun had the right to relax or even indulge, but where did Chongxuan Sheng get the right to "celebrate lavishly"?
Now, he had barely gained the qualification to stand before Chongxuan Zun.
All the ostentation displayed now and for some time to come was merely a necessary show of force.
He had to display his confidence, otherwise he couldn't win others' trust.
The battle for succession in a family like the Chongxuan clan was as fierce as that in any small kingdom.
"Brother Jiang, I won't be vague. I've managed to open up the situation, but the circumstances are still difficult. I don't have many trustworthy people under me—I'm desperately short of talent! Especially someone like you. I hope you'll condescend to become my retainer and help me out!"
"You said you wanted to travel the world and hone your cultivation. But in the Chongxuan clan, standing on my side, you'll encounter more and fiercer challenges! Whether it's Chongxuan Zun or Wang Yiwu—they're all first-rate talents! If you spar with them, what need would you have to roam the world for training?"
"And I will fully guarantee your cultivation resources!"
This fat man was quite eloquent, somehow turning bad things into good and dangers into opportunities.
But actually, for Jiang Chen, it seemed not unacceptable.
Seeing Jiang Chen still hesitating, Chongxuan Sheng added: "You mentioned before that something happened in your hometown and you don't want to return for now. You couldn't say what it was, so I didn't ask. Although nominally you'd be a retainer, I actually consider you a friend. If one day you need my help, no matter how far or near, I will be duty-bound to assist!"
Previously, helping Chongxuan Sheng explore the Celestial Residence Secret Realm could be considered an openly priced transaction. If he chose to leave now, there would be no problem at all. Chongxuan Zun wouldn't do anything to him either.
But the moment he became Chongxuan Sheng's retainer, truly participating in the competition between Chongxuan Sheng and Chongxuan Zun, he would undoubtedly be drawn into some of Qi's most dangerous whirlpools.
The risk was undeniably great, but the rewards were also considerable.
First, what was immediately visible was the resource support that belonged to Chongxuan Sheng himself. Jiang Chen was currently destitute—no sect, no backing. Roaming the world alone, he had nothing but a single person, a single sword, and the Ethereal Realm. He needed resources.
Second, he needed power. Whether facing the Bone Path or Zhuang Ting, unless he could achieve the impossible and stand alone against a nation, relying solely on himself would mean revenge remained forever hopeless.
If he could help Chongxuan Sheng seize the position of successor in the Chongxuan clan, then the power Chongxuan Sheng controlled could also be used by him. Of course, this was the most difficult goal to achieve, but it was also what tempted him the most.
At this thought, Jiang Chen stopped deliberating and said directly: "I came to Qi because I believed in you. Today I help you, and when the day comes that I come to your door, you must not refuse."
"Whatever you ask, I will respond!" Chongxuan Sheng promised solemnly.
Wine cups clinked together—the sound of youth.
...
...
The State of Chen.
In the Valley of No Return.
A stream babbled, a yellow dog lay idle, and chicks pecked at rice.
A woman wearing a faceless mask drifted down before the stream, casually throwing a person in front of the cottage as if discarding a lump of trash.
She shouted: "Old man! Old man!"
From the wooden cottage instantly came an aged roar, surprisingly full of vitality: "Who are you calling old man? No respect for your elders, no sense of propriety! Your elder here is still in his prime!"
The woman couldn't help but mutter: "Damn it, he hears that clearly enough."
But she walked forward and said loudly: "Back then, you insisted on cooperating with the Bone Path. Now the Bone Path is gone—not even a bone of Ouyang Lie remains! Who do I go to?"
The old man dawdled for a while before walking out of the wooden cottage. He slowly yawned, then said: "What Bone Path?"
The woman had long since resigned herself to this, continuing loudly: "That skeletal sect! They still have an elder—the one who's always rolling his eyes!"
"Hahaha, foolish, aren't you, Yanzi? That's not rolling eyes—that's the Innate Nether Eye!"
The woman forced down her bulging veins: "The point is, Xiong Wen is dead, and you told me to go look! The entire Maple City domain is trapped in the gap between the Netherworld and the mortal realm—all clues are gone! I just grabbed someone randomly from outside the Maple City domain."
"Sigh." The white-haired elder waved his hand and sighed: "He's dead. What's there to look at?"
"You told me to go look."
The voice inexplicably grew very low.
Even as slow as this white-haired elder, he felt a chill.
He couldn't help but shrink his neck and change the subject: "Who is this person?"
"Don't know. Don't recognize him. Just grabbed him randomly." The woman was no longer angry and began her lifeless narration.
But after all, the person opposite her was her boss—the first of the Nine Great Human Demons.
She couldn't help but add: "He should be the only living person left in the Maple City domain."
"Oh. Then let him stay." The old man's reaction was very bland.
"Just search his soul and ask a few questions, then let it go. Keep him for what? He's consumed the Blood Returning Pill. His foundation is already destroyed. Unless he rebuilds his meridians from scratch."
"Then rebuild from scratch." The old man said lightly: "Soul searching is unnecessary. So weak—what could he know?"
"The pain of reconstructing Dao meridians—can someone like him bear it? I'm not holding my breath."
"Don't underestimate the power of hatred."
"Don't underestimate the power of uselessness. Some useless people, no matter how you prod them, will never have strength." The woman seemed to be saying something more.
The old man didn't seem to understand, just sighed: "Let's try it for now. Sigh, the vacancy left by Little Tiger needs to be filled."
"Boss, Little Tiger has been dead for a very, very, very long time! The last Ninth Human Demon was Little Bear! Ah呸, it was Xiong Wen!"
The white-haired elder had already crouched beside the person lying on the ground, seemingly not noticing the woman's words. He asked: "What's this person's situation?"
"Oh, he seems to be crazy."
The woman kicked the person on the ground with her foot.
The person suddenly rolled over and shouted: "I'm not useless! I'm not useless!"
His eyes were vacant, his expression manic.
The white-haired elder simply waved his hand in front of the person's face, and he calmed down.
"Not completely crazy. Just couldn't handle the shock temporarily. Easy to fix."
The woman shook her head—she wasn't interested in this: "Well, I'll leave him to you. I'm leaving now."
"Yanzi."
The old man spoke while turning to look, but the woman had already vanished.
Truly swift and decisive.
He couldn't help but slap his own forehead: "What was I going to say?"
"Forget it."
It was as if there was nothing in this world worth his attention.
Nothing couldn't be "forgotten" or "let go."
He slowly turned around, stunned for a moment, unsure what he was thinking.
The old yellow dog lying at the door suddenly barked.
The old man seemed to wake up.
He looked down at the vacant person on the ground, extended his wrinkled, thin fingers, and tapped the person's forehead.
The person froze for a moment, then his vacant eyes gradually came alive.
Disgust, hatred, sadness, anguish... as if all emotions were squeezed together, appearing in those pained eyes.
"Boy, what's your name?"
"Fang... Fang Lin!"