Chapter 816 - 245: Covering the Tracks
Zhao Wuji felt a surge of excitement.
In the Outer Sect, even after ten years, he might not have the chance to even say a word to the top figure, let alone have that figure speak to him.
Thinking of this, Zhao Wuji couldn’t help but sigh, "Your luck is truly extraordinary. You’ve only been in the sect for a few days, and even a figure like Elder Nangong knows your name..."
"It’s just a fortuitous encounter," Chen Yan casually replied with a smile. "I don’t have good talent and come from a background as a Loose Cultivator, with no roots or backing. I just happened to stumble upon this case, which gave me the opportunity to have an influential figure send a message."
"That’s still luck!" Zhao Wuji remained envious.
Chen Yan was about to say a few polite words and take his leave, but suddenly saw two Snow Cliff Pass warriors in leather armor quickly approaching down the corridor.
"Who is Zhao Shanhe?" the warrior on the right asked in a deep voice.
"I am," Chen Yan turned to look at the two men.
"The Town General has a message for you," the warrior, with a steady demeanor and sharp eyes, said, looking at Chen Yan.
Chen Yan’s heart skipped a beat with a hint of surprise: "Please go ahead!"
"The Town General said, since Zhao Shanhe took our Gu Family’s ship and paid for it, regardless of the route taken, be it open or secret, encountering such an incident means the Gu Family did not adequately care for the passengers, causing distress. Ignoring it would mean losing the Gu Family’s grace.
Later, you helped capture the culprits involved in the ship interception case, which is a merit.
You were a guest of the Gu Family and helped capture thieves for the Gu Family. Such acts must certainly be repaid!"
Upon saying this, the warrior turned around, took a jade bead—a type of one-time storage equipment—from his companion, and presented it to Chen Yan with both hands.
"Inside this are two thousand coins. Please accept it with a smile as a token of the Gu Family’s gratitude."
Chen Yan raised an eyebrow and, without hesitation, reached out to accept the jade bead.
Why not take it!
This is pocket money from Consort Mother to her favorite son!
Why shouldn’t he accept it!
Moreover, in Jinling Prefecture, he’d supported her for half a year! Now, in the Domain Realm, why shouldn’t a mother give her son some pocket money!
What’s the big deal!
Besides, just two thousand coins?
Consort Mother, you’re being stingy! With your status, not giving a hundred or eighty thousand? That’s a disgrace!
·
Alright, thinking he received too little was just a joke in Chen Yan’s heart.
Two thousand coins in the Domain Realm wasn’t small change.
In Snow Cliff Pass, an experienced hunter warrior had to venture out several times, killing eight or nine Fierce Beast Race members, risking life and death, facing the possibility of dying with no burial place, just to earn such an amount.
·
Beside him, Zhao Wuji was left speechless, his mouth agape.
This new disciple named Zhao Shanhe was just a witness to the incident days ago, and in such a short time, he transformed, becoming an Outer Disciple of the Saint Sect, equal in rank to him!
He had been ingratiating himself to Senior Brother Jiang Mo from the Inner Sect for so long, yet Jiang Mo didn’t show much appreciation, while Zhao Shanhe immediately gained the favor of Senior Brother Nangong Sheng from the Inner Sect—they were even going to have drinks together tonight!
Moreover, now he had caught the eye of Nangong Yuan, the top figure in the Outer Sect!
He also received a grand gesture of gratitude from the Town General at Snow Cliff Pass from the Gu Family! His name was now noted in their records!
For a moment, a sense of uncertainty welled up in Zhao Wuji’s heart.
All these years in the sect, currying favor with one person today, another tomorrow, and what did he get out of it?
·
Chen Yan returned to the small courtyard outside the Southwest Cemetery and had just entered when he heard the sound of "tap! tap! tap!" from inside.
Senior Brother Wang next door was holding a chisel, steadily working on a piece of wood.
When Chen Yan entered, Old Wang didn’t even look up, focused entirely on his work.
Meanwhile, the stove by the door was still burning.
Chen Yan walked into the courtyard, smiling proactively, "Senior Brother Wang, busy as usual."
Without looking up, Old Wang continued chiseling and shouted, "Back already?"
"Yeah."
Old Wang paused, raised his head, and gave Chen Yan a closer look.
"What’s up?"
"The way you said ’yeah’ has a bit of a Gu Family accent."
The Gu Family? It was clearly the accent from the Northeast!
Chen Yan chuckled, "I just came back from Snow Cliff Pass, where there are quite a few Gu Family members, and I picked up the accent from them."
Old Wang then withdrew his gaze, "The fire in the stove isn’t strong enough, add some wood. Once the pot’s hot, clean it up; I need it ready to steam the meat."
"Alright!"
Chen Yan first returned to his room to put away his belongings into the Storage Jade Pendant, rolled up his sleeves, and stepped outside. He went to the well to fetch water to wash his hands and then started adding wood and stoking the fire at the stove.
The water in the iron pot was already hot. Chen Yan picked up a bamboo brush and scrubbed the pot clean.
These tasks felt so natural to him—as if it was second nature—while other cultivators would just cast a cleaning spell and walk away, never washing by hand.
But Chen Yan grew up in the countryside and was used to doing such tasks since childhood, completing them seamlessly.
When he finished, he realized Old Wang was watching him.
"You sure are a remarkable fellow; seems like you’ve done this work quite a bit."
Chen Yan smiled, "Before I attained the Way, I was a mortal. My family was poor, so I was used to doing chores since I was a kid."
Old Wang nodded, "Staying true to one’s roots is good indeed."
Old Wang then thought for a moment, "Since you know how to do these chores, you might as well steam the meat today. I’m busy, otherwise, I’d have to clean up myself first."