Chapter 219 – A Warm Welcome - Part 3

Li Yuan had been waiting for his

seeds

to sprout, his path to a fifth rank breakthrough. But after speaking with Gu Xuejian, he was keenly aware that no powerful force could ever be allowed to discover his secret.

He understood that achieving the fifth rank required a full inheritance of cultivation knowledge—something that always signaled involvement with a formidable faction.

The ramifications of openly revealing that he was a fifth rank martial artist, or that he had developed new techniques and drawn three new visualization aids, would be beyond his control. He’d be dragged into complicated power struggles with no way to turn back.

That wasn’t the life he wanted.

From his conversation with Gu Xuejian, Li Yuan had also learned that past the fifth rank, weapons themselves were less critical; true experts sought

spirit weapons

instead.

Forging a spirit weapon typically required two main materials—top-quality blood gold crystal and a fifth rank martial artist’s source blood. After that, the real question was the skill of the weaponsmith. Each spirit weapon was

bound

to its future owner from the moment it was forged. No one else could ever wield it.

But that created a difficult problem for Li Yuan. Once he reached the fifth rank, he would definitely need a spirit weapon. And to get one, he would have to commission a weaponsmith, who almost always served a larger faction.

As soon as Li Yuan handed over his source blood for forging, his fifth rank status would become known. That would surely raise suspicions about his power and attract exactly the kind of attention he was trying to avoid. Fortunately, he still had time to prepare.

After a brief hesitation, Li Yuan decided to step into the blacksmith’s shop. The two men hammering away didn’t so much as glance at him, but a middle-aged man with a pleasant smile emerged from the back and sized him up.

“Welcome!” he said. “What are you looking for today?”

Li Yuan gave a small bow. “I noticed your sign offers custom spirit weapons. I was curious.”

Pleased, the shopkeeper replied proudly, “That was Master Zhu’s idea. He told us to put that on the sign.”

“Master Zhu, he’s a smith, right?” Li Yuan asked. “You have a full-time weaponsmith stationed here?”

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The man chuckled. “This is actually a branch of his workshop. Officially, the store belongs to Master Zhu.”

“And is Master Zhu currently inside the city’s third gate?”

“No, he’s taken residence in the deep mountains beyond the city. Says he needs to commune with nature to craft truly unparalleled spirit weapons.” Glancing at Li Yuan, the man added, “Are you hoping to have him forge something for you?”

“I am,” Li Yuan said, deciding on the spot. “I’d like him to forge a sixth rank weapon for my own use.”

He needed an excuse to meet the smith in person. At the mention of a sixth rank weapon, the shopkeeper’s expression turned reverent. He bowed politely. “If that’s the case, please leave your name and address, and we’ll inform Master Zhu. If he agrees to see you, we’ll send word.”

Li Yuan nodded, wrote down his name and

Peach Blossom Alley, No. 78

, then left.

Back on the street, he heard snippets of conversation drifting his way.

“Have you heard? A deputy temple master of the Holy Tree Temple just took a direct disciple!”

“A direct disciple? That’s a big deal. Whose child is it?”

“Not from some big clan. They say she brought him in from outside; he’s only seven years old.”

“Seven?! You’re joking. Why would she choose a seven-year-old?”

From nearby came a different voice. “What do you mean

why

? Isn’t it obvious? The Holy Tree Temple doesn’t just hand out direct discipleships for no reason. Must be some kind of

connection

.”

Another person chimed in, “Connections? Since when does the Holy Tree Temple accept disciples based on favors?”

“Then explain how a seven-year-old kid gets personally taken in. We have plenty of geniuses here, why him? He’s seven! Probably hasn’t even entered ninth rank.”

Someone else asked, “Who is this kid anyway? What’s his name?”

“No clue. It’s all very mysterious, apparently the deputy temple master handled everything herself.”

Li Yuan listened quietly to the rumors swirling around him. Before long, he arrived at the Great Mercy Clinic, intending to purchase some medicinal herbs.

“Flamebright day blossom? Pure vermillion fruit? We’re out of both,” the man at the counter said curtly. “No idea which back-alley quack prescribed those for you. People who just go around swallowing random medicines...don’t blame us when things go wrong.”

Even as he spoke, a maid in green rushed in, asking, “Doctor Ma, have you prepared our order?”

The man grinned obsequiously. “All ready.” He ducked behind the counter and emerged with a bundle of herbs tied neatly together. Handing them over, he assured her, “They include our hundred-year pure vermillion fruit; rest assured it’s the best.”

Li Yuan took in the scene, said nothing, and left.

But a new dilemma was forming in his mind. He needed to balance keeping a low profile with asserting himself enough to get things done. If he suddenly brandished Gu Xuejian’s name, it would draw too much attention. Yet the larger the faction, the messier its external and internal entanglements became.

Simply invoking Gu Xuejian’s authority might drag him into all sorts of complications, and she herself was clearly concealing Li Ping’an’s true nature, not wanting anyone to discover the boy’s innate shadow blood. If he went about flaunting connections, he might inadvertently reveal what she was trying to hide.

On his way home, Li Yuan took a detour to check on the newly opened Ginger Tavern. Back in Gemhill County, the Ginger Tavern, Hundred Lotus Distillery, and Purejade Merchant Association had all been thriving. Here, though, they stood in a lonely street, their entrances deserted. One of the attendants was outside, calling to passersby at the top of his lungs:

“Ginger Tavern, quality vintage wine! Three Spring Wines! Springwater, Springtime, and Springdream, a seasonal specialty! One cup to make you tipsy, one pot to knock you flat. Come sample it, don’t miss out!”

Despite his best efforts, nobody stopped. Finally, he managed to usher two customers inside.

Moments later, they came out cursing under their breath.

“What kind of rotten swill is that? You call this wine fit for human beings?”

Someone from inside tried to argue with them, but those two visitors were clearly no pushovers. They shrugged off any attempt at confrontation and left.

Li Yuan quietly took in the scene, eyes narrowed. Then he headed back to Peach Blossom Alley. To his surprise, an ornate carriage was parked at his front gate. Stepping inside, he found a blue-robed man drinking tea in the main hall of the front courtyard, flanked by two burly retainers. No one else was seated.

The stranger wore an unhurried smile. He had sharp eyebrows and a poised demeanor, and above his head, Li Yuan could see 1,250~2,780.

Li Yuan frowned slightly. This uninvited guest was a fifth rank martial artist, albeit likely at the lower end of fifth rank...probably around the one- to three-strand level. His stats weren’t much higher than Li Yuan’s own sixth rank range of 2,100~2,850.

Hearing Li Yuan enter, the man rose with deliberate calm, cupped his fists courteously, and spoke. “I am Guo Guangdan, elder of the Holy Tree Temple. A pleasure to meet you, Mister Li.”

Li Yuan hastened to return the greeting. “Elder Guo, to what do I owe the honor? I regret not welcoming you properly.”

Guo Guangdan smiled. “No need for small talk. I’ll be frank.”

“Please go on.”

“I have a request, though I’m sure it’s an imposition. I’d like your assistance.”

Motioning for everyone else to leave, he continued in a low tone. “I know that Deputy Gu has just accepted your son as her direct disciple. There’s word around the Holy Tree Temple that she owes you a favor. That is precisely why I’m here. I hope, if at all possible, that you will

sell

me that favor. I can offer substantial compensation.”

He paused for a moment and then sighed. “Allow me to explain. I’m the old patriarch of the Guo Clan, and our current clan head is an inner disciple of the Holy Tree Temple. He’s aiming to become an elder as well, but according to our rules, half the elders must approve a candidate’s promotion. Frankly, my clan’s head has rubbed quite a few people the wrong way, so there’s no chance he’ll secure half the votes.”

Guo Guangdan gave a wry chuckle. “However, there’s another rule. If a deputy temple master supports you, it counts as the support of three elders. That’s why I’m here, thick-skinned as I may be, to see if you’ll help me secure Deputy Gu’s endorsement. I do hope you won’t refuse.”

Li Yuan’s eyes flickered as he replied, “I need time to think it over.”

“Please don’t take too long,” Guo Guangdan said lightly. “I’ll return in three days.”

Despite his courteous smile, there was an undeniable threat beneath his words, an intangible pressure that settled onto Li Yuan like a sharpened blade.