209: Chapter 208 Farewell to Yinling Again 209: Chapter 208 Farewell to Yinling Again Having left Yu Zhengxing’s place, Hou Niao hesitated not a moment and bolted toward Yinling, returning to his own territory.
He forwent his horse and ran even faster on foot.
Two days later, the three brothers gathered at Yinyue Castle to drink and chat freely,
“It’s a pity that both of us are of too low rank to accompany Brother in witnessing the outstanding figures of the Daoist Sects—I truly regret it,” Wang Mian sighed incessantly.
Fang Yazi was unsparing, “Even if you reached Bridge Connection, it’s not certain you’d be chosen.
If we’re talking about real ability, you might not even pass my test.”
Wang Mian became furious, “Young Master Fang, you’re getting too arrogant!
When have you ever beaten me in a sword fight?
Let’s have a match in front of Brother today, and whoever loses will be the junior brother forever and never change their tune.”
Fang Yazi remained unmoved, “While I’m not your match in a fencing bout, if we were to fight for life and death in the wild, I’m afraid you wouldn’t stand a chance!
Do you really think those Wu Sect Daoists would engage you in a fair close combat fight?
The two bickering was the norm, generally starting with an argument, followed by a swordfight, and then mutual trash talk—it was their daily routine.
Hou Niao paid them no attention and observed carefully only to discover that both of their dantians had been well-refined.
Now, they were just one step away from the fate of the Purple Mansion; this wasn’t something cultivation techniques could help with—it needed a bit of luck, a bit of spiritual affinity, and a bit of enlightenment.
“You two have been here for almost three years now, right?”
Wang Mian had a clear memory, “Two years and five months.
Originally, I came here looking for excitement, but Brother, you’ve been keeping things so tightly controlled that it took the fun out of it for everyone.
Now that you’ve left, leaving us two behind, it really is frustrating.”
With a smile, Hou Niao said, “If you want some action, there will be plenty of opportunities!
I’m just afraid when the chance comes, you won’t be up for it.
I see the troubles of Anhe Daoist Sect are endlessly complicated; the future holds many challenges, and it’s not something that can be settled by one Southwest discourse, nor something we minor cultivators can determine.
When the peaks billow smoke and heroes emerge side by side, if we’re still loitering below the Tongxuan Realm, then we won’t even catch a whiff.”
Wang Mian too became dispirited, “On the cultivation path, it’s all about following the scent, but how many can really follow it all the way up?
Like the few constables we had back then, only Zong Qian and you, Brother, managed to cultivate to Bridge Connection.
Jiang Nanying and Yu Guanglie, like me, are in the Grain Avoidance Realm.
Looking at them, their dantians aren’t well-refined yet, there’s more polishing to do; and as for Ma Rujun, there’s no need to mention him—he’s still in Essence Building, with no progress in three years.
It seems this path isn’t meant for him.”
Hou Niao hadn’t heard about these few constable friends’ recent situation before, “Did you go back to Jin City?”
Wang Mian nodded, “A few months ago, I went back for an elder’s birthday in the family, so I got updated; I learned from others that since our batch joined the Quanzhen Sect three years ago, the sect has had a tough time recruiting disciples.
The various schools and sects have been eagerly gathering talent, lowering their recruitment standards repeatedly.
Practically anyone willing from the Energy Induction Realm can join.
I really don’t know what they’re up to.”
Just as the duck knows first when the spring river warms, those who cultivate sense the hardships of the world early on.
It’s probably like that.
The three enjoyed a night of drinking and lively conversation, parting in high spirits; at their stage, it’s hard to make plans for the future, caught in the tides of fate, helpless.
To change all this, the Tongxuan Realm is merely the lowest starting point.
That’s the restraint within the cultivation system.
Hou Niao didn’t have much else to explain.
His brief stay of just over two years in Yinling—arriving quietly and now leaving quietly—was quite agreeable.
At least there was some explanation for the ordinary citizens of Yinling.
Within ten days, he had seen a few people, including his brothers from the Patrol lineage.
He had met with everyone he could find; he also saw Huang Xiaoxian and told him to maintain contact with Wang Mian and Fang Yazi more in the future.
The yellow weasel felt somewhat sentimental, but it was destined to be this way, sooner or later.
In his conversation with Yu Zhengxing, he also vaguely guessed his future.
Regardless of whether he succeeded or failed in the debates in the southwest, his current status as a recognized elite disciple of the Quanzhen Sect and his Realm at Bridge Connection made it unsuitable for him to stay in Yinling anymore, unless he replaced Xiang Zhiwen’s role, which was unlikely.
It was highly probable that he would be transferred from Yinling, to serve as a deputy guardian in towns of other state counties.
This was also a tradition of the Quanzhen Sect.
Their core principle of personnel arrangement was rotation to different places, not allowing one person to operate in one place for too long; of course, this referred to elite disciples.
If one was a common disciple who idled away his time, no one would bother with them, and they could die in the same place.
To climb higher, one must pay a price.
Gaining more exposure and experience was also a way to help with growth.
During his farewells with his brothers, he also confirmed his thoughts.
Li Jingxi, having been promoted to Bridge Connection, had been transferred away, and there were also transfer notices for several other old Patrol members, such as Feng Yaochen, Dou Gong, and Tu Xiu.
Yinling began to face a changing of the guard, and it was to be seen whether the few remaining old-timers could take on the responsibility.
He was very confident; both Wang Mian and Fang Yazi were not to be trifled with.
If a cultivator had connections and a network, this was a good opportunity to seek a position.
It would be too late to wait any longer; find key figures, offer generous gifts, clear the joints, remove obstacles, and move to a desired location.
There, in a suitable environment, one could make the final push for the Tongxuan Realm.
He did not have connections, and his network was very limited.
He was wary of Li Chuping and did not wish to owe him any more favors.
Yu Zhengxing, the old rascal, was beating around the bush and would not say a word about his future prospects, the old bastard.
But it did not matter.
When he was initially assigned to the bird-shit nowhere of Yinling, weren’t there many people who were not optimistic about his future?
And what was the result?
The key was still himself; he was a Spirit Stone that would shine wherever he went.
The gate guard of Ancient Stone Wall watched this senior brother come and go frequently within ten days and felt envious, knowing that Senior Brother Hou was going to be posted away for career advancement.
When would he have such a chance?
When he entered Yinling three years ago, he was only in the minor Essence Building Realm.
Now that he was leaving, he had reached Bridge Connection.
Advancing two Realms in three years, he was among the most distinguished in the lower-ranking disciples.
Could Yinling have an effect on accelerating one’s Realm progress?
The gate guard was starting to feel a little tempted.
Hou Niao headed east, without going to Miao Gao Town to see Yu Zhengxing again.
This uncle, in name the guardian of Miao Gao Town but in reality controlling several surrounding towns, had already helped him quite a bit, and it was not good to disturb him too much.
More importantly, he seemed to live luxuriously, but in fact, he was strapped for cash.
After one mission, Hou barely managed not to have to dig into his own savings.
It was better to keep his distance.
This was the surface appearance.
In fact, this uncle was as strange and mysterious as the Capital Commandant Li Chuping.
Before the deadline set by Yu Zhengxing, he had returned to Jin City.
He had been away from this city for three years and did not miss it since he was very aware that in his cultivation journey, he did not know how many such cities he would encounter in the future.
Since his rented house had long been given up, he could only stay in the outer courtyard of Sword Mansion and, to his surprise, discovered that the person in charge was still that old friend, Senior Brother Zheng.
He was in the Grain Avoidance Realm three years ago and remained so now.
Really, was he going to change careers to becoming a shopkeeper?