Third Senior Brother’s breath grew rapid, with a hint of anger, "Chu Keqing! Am I not from the Cloud Sect? I am also Master’s direct disciple! What do you mean by this?"
"Literal meaning!" Chu Keqing sneered. "Third Senior Brother has always been smart; surely you understand what I’m saying."
There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a moment, Third Senior Brother took a deep breath, as if suppressing his emotions, his tone softened a little, "Alright, alright! I don’t want to argue with you as soon as we get in touch. After all, Master is gone, fewer and fewer Inner Disciples remain... We have lived under Master’s guidance for so many years as Senior and Junior, there’s really no need to make things unpleasant. Ah..."
After a long sigh, he paused for a moment, then in a softer tone, said slowly, "It’s almost New Year. After the New Year, it will only be a few days until Master’s memorial day. I’ll return to Jinling then and we can go pay respects to Master together."
Chu Keqing remained unmoved in her heart, simply responding with a light "嗯".
Pay respects to Master?
When have you, Third Senior Brother, ever been this filial?
Since leaving the sect, you’ve been thriving in Port City all these years, never once returning to pay respects.
Now, using sentiments of the same sect and the talk of paying respects to soften my heart?
Seeing Chu Keqing’s silence, Third Senior Brother assumed that his little Junior Sister was genuinely moved, then he continued, "Junior Sister, there’s one more thing I need to discuss today... That matter I discussed with you last time, have you thought it over?"
Chu Keqing frowned and said coldly, "Cooperation with that Mr. Zhong in Port City?"
"That’s right. Old Zhong and I were quite the rivals in Port City, we fought and negotiated. Over the years, as we’ve aged, our tempers have mellowed. Last time he approached me about cooperation, after much consideration, it seemed like a good opportunity..."
In Port City, the respect for Mystical Technique is strong, but resources have been dwindling in recent years. I have connections here, and my reputation is well established. There are also some special channels!
Junior Sister, you have a good reputation in Jinling Prefecture relying on our Cloud Sect, with many connections. If we cooperate..."
Chu Keqing interrupted Third Senior Brother, "I’m not interested!"
Chu Keqing said lightly, "That Mr. Zhong you mentioned, I’ve inquired about him. He claims to be a successor of the Southern School of Yin-Yang Art, but actually, we’re not at all aligned!
Early on, when the Southern School of Yin-Yang Art spread to Port City, that branch took a crooked path! Later, they even integrated some evil arts of the Southern Seas, utterly disreputable!
These people have long disgraced their ancestors, but instead of learning good, they follow those evil outsiders from the Southern Seas to use sinister techniques to amass wealth. I have no interest in following Senior Brother’s lead to make money this way!"
After pausing for a moment, out of a slight sense of kinship within the sect, Chu Keqing slowly advised, "I urge Senior Brother to be cautious.
The sinister methods within the Southern Ocean Evil Arts, although used to make money, can bring you instant wealth, but they deeply harm one’s ethics! Senior Brother must not forget the eight words Master taught us repeatedly: Cycle of fate, cause and effect!"
On the other end, Third Senior Brother’s breathing grew rapid, he was silent for a moment, then snorted heavily and hung up the phone.
Chu Keqing sighed – Forget it, different paths cannot work together.
Several months ago, this Third Senior Brother had approached her, trying to recruit her into a partnership with a mystical technique master named "Mr. Zhong" in Port City.
In Port City, respect for Mystical Technique is strong, over the years, those mystical technique masters who truly had some skill would make a fortune.
But due to the broader environment, with the economic decline in Port City, the wealth of the rich shrinking, and some people moving overseas...
Those within the realm of mystical technique, in this world, were essentially parasites, merely retainers attached to the wealthy.
If the wealthy were rich, you were rich. When the wealthy needed your services, then you could make money.
If the wealthy became poor or left, naturally your financial opportunities would decrease.
In recent years, the mystical art realm in Port City has gradually lost its former glory because there are too many monks and too little gruel.
The wealthy seek help from mystical technique practitioners for nothing other than wealth, longevity, and disaster avoidance.
The majority of requests are for wealth.
But the thing about fortune is, it is influenced by the broader environment.
In a small place like Port City, how much fortune can there be?
Originally, it’s just a small pond!
With changes in the broader environment, the already small pond has less and less water.
The local rich and powerful, competing fiercely, can they get much water from this increasingly dry pond? The limited fortune, how much can one person get?
At such a time, if you seek help from a mystical technique master to gain luck... The master’s methods at most help you take advantage and exploit loopholes to get more from the existing share of fortune – but cannot create fortune from nothing!
The pond water has dried up, no matter how much you try to take more, how much can you get?
If you can’t help them increase fortune, can’t help them make big money, gradually those wealthy local folks in Port City won’t believe you anymore.
This is the current situation in Port City.
Third Senior Brother seeking her out, Chu Keqing understood, he wants to come back to the Mainland to make money.