Where should I go if I abandon my dwelling? Leaving the Great Wilderness Market is not an option; the Great Wilderness is dangerous, with a perilous environment for survival. Find another uninhabited stone house in the night?
"Daoist Jia! I am Fang Wu!"
"I have a favor to ask of you."
Fang Wu was the Loose Cultivator who had provided him with intelligence and had previously "aged" the stone house.
Jia Ren did not let his guard down. It could not be ruled out that Fang Wu had been coerced by the Five Elements Sect to reveal his intelligence and had come to capture him.
"What is it, Daoist Fang?"
Jia Ren did not push the stone bed aside. With the Spirit Shield and Turtle Prime Spirit Armor protecting him, along with the Breeze Robe and Silkworm Inner Armor as two Low-Quality Magical Artifacts for defense, an ambush would still ensure his safety.
"Daoist Jia, your skills in making a home seem old are superb. I just narrowly escaped disaster and have not yet thanked you for your life-saving grace."
"A very close friend of mine also wishes to make a stone house look old, and I hope Daoist Jia will not be stingy in lending a hand."
Jia Ren sighed in relief, pushed the stone bed aside, and looked up.
Standing beside the bed were two people: Fang Wu and another Cultivator with an unfamiliar face.
"Daoist Jia, I am Qi Yulong, and I have long admired your reputation."
Qi Yulong, seeing Jia Ren fully armed, first bowed with clasped hands and showed an obsequious smile on his face.
"Could you help me age a stone house?"
"I understand the rules."
Having said that, he respectfully offered up two Spirit Stones.
Jia Ren did not look at the two Spirit Stones, staring coldly at Fang Wu and the unfamiliar Loose Cultivator.
"Daoist Fang, it’s a bit too much to barge into my dwelling without permission, isn’t it?"
A visit in the middle of the night only increased the risk of exposure. No wonder Jia Ren was angry.
Qi Yulong’s hand, holding the Spirit Stones, paused in mid-air, and the smile on his face gradually stiffened.
"Daoist Jia, I will be sure to take note next time."
"If it weren’t a matter of great urgency, I wouldn’t have imposed upon you," Fang Wu said, chuckling awkwardly, trying to ease the atmosphere.
"I understand your urgent feelings. The night is too dangerous, so please, both of you return home," Jia Ren replied.
"Heh heh, it’s fine if you don’t want to help. But if I’m captured by the Five Elements Sect, I don’t mind disclosing Daoist Jia’s whereabouts..." Qi Yulong said, unhappy with Jia Ren’s attitude, his tone containing a hint of threat.
If the situation wasn’t resolved properly, a fierce battle would be unavoidable. A battle would attract the Cultivators of the Five Elements Sect, and he would also have trouble escaping. An unwarranted disaster!
Jia Ren’s expression turned grim as he considered ways to break the deadlock.
"Daoist Qi, what nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Daoist Jia at once," Fang Wu interjected. "Daoist Qi is joking, please don’t take it to heart, Daoist Jia. It’s better for everyone to make money in a friendly atmosphere."
The two played good cop and bad cop.
Qi Yulong forced a smile and insincerely apologized, "Daoist Jia, I’m straightforward to a fault, please don’t mind it."
Jia Ren was clear-headed; he knew refusing to help could create enmity.
"Five Spirit Stones!" Jia Ren stated. "You should understand the danger of this matter! If not for Daoist Fang’s sake, no amount of Spirit Stones would persuade me to do it! Set the time for tomorrow. I won’t take action at night."
Despite disliking the two, Jia Ren didn’t want to escalate the situation. Five Spirit Stones might make Qi Yulong back down, which would be ideal.
Qi Yulong, worried Jia Ren might change his mind, quickly handed over the Spirit Stones. "Daoist Jia, for any offenses, please forgive me. There are seven Spirit Stones here; consider the extra two as an apology."
Qi Yulong still needed to rely on Jia Ren to age the stone house, which concerned his own safety. He did not want any trouble and certainly didn’t want to end up in a lose-lose situation with Jia Ren. It was better to mend the relationship.
Jia Ren accepted the Spirit Stones, and the matter was settled.
After the two left, Jia Ren hesitated for a moment but chose not to leave. Another stone house not far away was not necessarily safe. If the Five Elements Sect found Qi Yulong, it would also implicate him. Rashly changing residences might lead him right into the Five Elements Sect’s crosshairs. Of two evils, choose the lesser. The troubles he currently faced were still within controllable limits.
Both of them waited early, fearing that Jia Ren might make a run for it.
"Lead the way," Jia Ren said.
Qi Yulong’s residence was no more than three miles away, and it didn’t take long to reach it. Fang Wu and Qi Yulong were responsible for keeping watch, while Jia Ren swiftly aged the stone house.
Even though he didn’t like Qi Yulong, he still did his job conscientiously. While busy, he took the opportunity to ask Qi Yulong for more information. He was happy to get some free intel.
"The Five Elements Sect sent out Loose Cultivators to war, and those who returned alive... less than one-tenth survived," Qi Yulong explained. "The Bizarre Evil Qi still played a role; the Cultivators and Spirit Beasts of Thousand Beasts Mountain were infected, and it had a significant impact. For the time being, the Five Elements Sect has the upper hand."
Qi Yulong’s intelligence was more detailed than Fang Wu’s. It seemed he had a special channel for information. Of course, without real abilities, one would just be among the first wave sent to die as cannon fodder.
"What about the Inner City?" Jia Ren asked.
The Bizarre Evil Qi wreaked havoc, mainly affecting the Outer City District, with little impact on the Inner City. The Cultivators living in the Inner City either had unique skills or were in the Late Stage Qi-Refining. Whether in terms of status or influence, they were far beyond those in the Outer City. Even if someone were infected by the Bizarre Evil Qi, buying an Evil Warding Talisman wouldn’t be a problem.
Mentioning the Inner City, Qi Yulong felt a wave of frustration. "The Inner City? Their lives are far more comfortable than ours. The Inner City Cultivators have conscripted those with Cultivation skills, serving as support personnel. The participation of ordinary Loose Cultivators in the war depends on personal volition, and the rewards are much higher than in the Outer City District, enticing many with profit."
The Five Elements Sect hadn’t gone completely mad yet. There were numerous Late Stage Qi-Refining Loose Cultivators in the Inner City, and if they rebelled, the Five Elements Sect would face troubles both internally and externally. Safety in the Inner City also hinged on a key factor: many relatives of Five Elements Sect Disciples lived there. Forcibly conscripting them would cause their own disciples to become disheartened and disloyal. As for the Outer City... It’s not their lives being lost, so they wouldn’t worry their heads over it.
Jia Ren felt envious upon hearing this. He had been concerned about the safety of Yang Shengwu’s family, but now he could rest easy. They’re living better lives than his own... Alas, it’s a pity he hadn’t gone to the Inner City. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have to live in constant fear every day.
Both of them shared similar thoughts and exchanged silent glances.
Jia Ren finished the job at top speed, making some final adjustments, all in less than half an Hour.
"Daoist Qi, making an old stone house is important, but maintaining it is even more so..." Jia Ren gave a brief reminder to prevent Qi Yulong from courting death. He didn’t want to lend a hand once and then be responsible for after-sales service.
"Thank you, Daoist Jia."
The two bade farewell with clasped hands, and Jia Ren quickly returned to his dwelling with Fang Wu. They encountered no danger along the way, and Jia Ren felt a great sense of relief.
"Daoist Jia, I’m especially grateful for today," said Fang Wu. "I have something to discuss, though I’m not sure whether it’s appropriate to mention it."
Jia Ren turned and glanced at Fang Wu, noticing the flicker in his eyes.
"If you have something to say, please speak."
For some reason, Jia Ren felt trouble might be brewing.
"I have a mutually beneficial business proposition," said Fang Wu. "Many Daoists have a need to age stone houses, and with Daoist Jia’s skills, it wouldn’t be difficult to make a large amount of Spirit Stones."
It wasn’t until this moment that Fang Wu revealed his crafty nature. If there were no benefits to be had, who would be so eager to help others? Without needing to guess, Jia Ren knew that Fang Wu had profited from making introductions. Having tasted the sweetness, he had no intention of stopping.
"Daoist Jia, it’s not easy for a Loose Cultivator to earn Spirit Stones, and this is a great opportunity," Fang Wu said, leaning in and speaking mysteriously. "Daoist Jia, I know a way. For just two hundred Spirit Stones, I can get you into the Inner City."
Jia Ren felt a headache brewing; he didn’t want to risk his life to earn Spirit Stones. Spirit Stones are important, but life is even more so. Enter the Inner City? Even if there truly were a way, Jia Ren wouldn’t consider it; it meant putting his life entirely in someone else’s hands. Besides, did he truly believe the Inner City was paradise?