Chapter 189: Chapter 51: Taking Another Second Disciple
“Some days ago, a loose cultivator approached me,” Wen Yang whispered, explaining the origin and development of the situation, “saying that Kunlun intended to pay a high price for information about a traitor.”
“How odd,” Jiang Liyan clicked her tongue in amazement, “An orthodox sect has a traitor who leaks information to the Demon Cult, and then the orthodox sect goes to buy information about this traitor from the Demon Cult?”
“After all, for Qiu Changtian, who is now the apple of the eye of the Kunlun Taiqing Sect,” Wen Yang also sneered, “the bounty is so detailed that it even clearly marks the features and flaws of the cultivation technique he practices. How could the upper echelons of Kunlun sit still?”
“They have no way to deal with the bounty, but if they were to prohibit Qiu Changtian from going out, there would be no worries. However, the damn traitor is still within the sect, and that is the bigger hidden danger.”
“So, you plan to sell Song He to Kunlun,” Jiang Liyan nodded.
Wei Dongliu listened quietly by the side, gaining a deeper understanding of the Demon Cult’s operations.
To put it bluntly: interests are supreme.
Even the orthodox sect understands this, so they specifically entrusted a loose cultivator to come and convey the message, to see if they could buy information about the traitor—Wen Yang actually intended to take the offer, which shows that nothing is impossible when the interests are sufficient.
“I have recorded the message in this jade slip,” Wen Yang took out a jade slip and tossed it to Wei Dongliu, “The question now is, how to take it and transact with Kunlun.”
“Among the Three Pure Orthodox Sects, the Kunlun Taiqing Sect is the most hypocritical,” Jiang Liyan also sneered, “When dealing with the Taiqing Sect, don’t worry about them attacking you directly, but always beware of the hidden arrows from behind.”
Wei Dongliu: ………
Give me a break, as if I don’t know how the Kunlun Taiqing Sect treats members of the Demon Cult!
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No one understands Kunlun better than I do!
“Then, I shall leave it to Daoist Wei,” Wen Yang glanced again at Jiang Liyan, “After the matter is settled, you can have Daoist Jiang bring you to find me.”
Jiang Liyan sneered inwardly. Wen Yang was still wary, hinting that she should vouch for Wei Dongliu.
But based on her observations, Wei Dongliu was not the type to be dazzled by money… Of course, even if she was mistaken, there were ways to sever ties with Wei Dongliu.
Thus, she remained silent.
Seeing her tacit agreement, Wen Yang also felt relieved and heard Wei Dongliu speak again:
“However, I had planned to take a disciple today… This matter isn’t urgent, is it?”
“I trust Daoist Wei will not keep me waiting long,” Wen Yang said smoothly.
This statement was so equivocal that even the shameless Jiang the Witch couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
“By the way, what kind of disciple is Daoist Wei planning to recruit?” Wen Yang continued with a smile. “I have resided in both the Luoyang and Jinnan regions. Perhaps I could be of help… Of course, if you’re looking for a disciple with peerless talent, that might be a bit difficult.”
“I don’t need someone with peerless talent,” Wei Dongliu waved his hand, “Just someone clever and astute, good at handling matters, and articulate.”
Jiang Liyan let out a snort of laughter, while Wen Yang felt a little embarrassed and slightly annoyed upon hearing this.
He thought Wei Dongliu was making a dig at him, but Wei Dongliu’s expression didn’t seem to imply that. Noticing Jiang Liyan’s mocking smile, he immediately understood that he was overthinking.
“I see,” Wen Yang said earnestly, “So Daoist Wei plans to recruit a disciple to handle the sect’s mundane affairs?”
“Exactly,” Wei Dongliu stated.
“I suggest looking among the merchant families,” Wen Yang smiled, “Because merchants have to deal both with various officials and with people from all walks of life, they are quite capable and flexible in their actions… The only problem is finding someone with a good aptitude for cultivation, which is extremely difficult.”
“That won’t be an issue,” Wei Dongliu remarked, “As long as they’re not too poor in talent.”
Wen Yang then had an idea, guessing that Wei Dongliu didn’t intend to recruit any true disciple, but rather was looking for a nominal “worker.” He immediately laughed and said:
“That’s good, we can start by going to Luoyang.”
Three people flew into the air on their swords from the mountain, only to hear Wen Yang continue,
“In terms of business, Luoyang’s prosperity far surpasses that of Guanzhong and Jinzhong. Among them are over a hundred and twenty merchant families of considerable wealth and fame who often send various resources to our sect, hoping to have their family’s offspring embark on the path of cultivation.”
“However, there are not many among their kin who barely pass muster in terms of cultivation aptitude. Friend Wei, if you don’t mind, I shall take you to meet these families.”
After arriving in Luoyang, Wen Yang led the two to the Wang Family estate.
When it comes to the wealth of Luoyang, the Wang Family is generally considered first; the current patriarch, Wang Lin, serves as the Minister of Revenue for the Great Xia Dynasty, in a position ‘hot enough to scorch the hands with power.’
Of course, compared with the Cultivator Families of the Xu Family of Southern Heaven, the Longxi Guan Family, and the like, they simply do not measure up… These elite families have essentially severed all dependencies on secular authorities, whereas the Wang Family is still pursuing positions and power within the imperial court.
Upon hearing that Elite Judge Wen Yang of the Nether Ghost Path was visiting, the patriarch Wang Lin, who was resting that day, immediately came out to greet him and anxiously inquired about the purpose of the Immortal’s visit.
“There’s no particular matter with you,” said Wen Yang, pointing to Wei Dongliu beside him, “but my friend here is looking to select an honorary disciple from among you to handle mundane affairs for his sect.”
Wang Lin quickly ordered his servants to summon all the young members of his family, who then lined up in the courtyard for Wei Dongliu to choose from.
Wei Dongliu scrutinized the assembly carefully.
Most here were under twenty years of age, likely because the older offspring had already been filtered through numerous screenings and had essentially been deemed devoid of any talent for cultivation.
There were also noticeably more females than males, clearly revealing a calculating intention on the part of the Wang Family leader—if Wei Dongliu were fond of beauty, then the likelihood of a female being selected was greater; if not, it was no loss either way.
As Wei Dongliu’s gaze swept over them, most bowed their heads respectfully while a few boldly met his eyes. Some of the pretty ones even dared to flutter their eyelids, attempting to flirt but not daring to do so outright, looking pitifully adorable in their restraint.
“Ah Jing,” Wei Dongliu asked in the Sea of Consciousness, “how is the cultivation aptitude of these people?”
“The third one in the first row, the fifteenth one; the twenty-second one in the second row—these have the best talents among them,” answered the Kunlun Mirror, “but they’re only passable in comparison. If these three were to go to the Kunlun Taiqing Sect to seek discipleship, they probably wouldn’t even meet the threshold for outer sect disciples.”
“Of course,” Wei Dongliu said nonchalantly, “the Orthodox Sects might be picky about innate talent, but we in the Demon Cult embrace all. As long as the talent is just about adequate.”
He raised his arm and singled out the three individuals identified by the Kunlun Mirror, signaling for them to step forward.
The two youths in the first row were of a delicate scholarly appearance. Wei Dongliu spoke with them for a bit and discovered they both had a significant scholarly foundation… a pity they had been brought up on literature alone, almost devoid of experience handling family affairs.
The one from the second row, however, was a young girl. She was not breathtakingly beautiful, certainly no match for the likes of Jiang the Witch or the captivating Wen Yang, but her appearance was decent and proper compared to the rest.
It was just the pair of dark eyes, always rolling about, that did not give the impression of someone particularly straightforward or honest.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“To answer the Immortal, my name is Wang Cong,” the girl replied.
Jiang Liyan frowned slightly at this, since the origin of “Cong” suggests clinging plants, which carries a disparaging connotation.
Seeing this, Wang Lin hurriedly explained,
“She is my younger brother’s daughter, given a humble name for ease of upbringing.”
The justification was clearly an embellishment, as the truth surely was that little care was given to naming due to her being an illegitimate child.
However, Wei Dongliu was unconcerned with this and continued to ask,
“Have you ever engaged in business?”
“I have managed a pharmacy owned by my mother,” the girl caught on that the Immortal seemed to have a preference for “those with commercial experience” and took the initiative to add, “on a day-to-day basis I assisted the shopkeeper grandfather with purchasing herbs, bargaining, dealing with patients seeking medical advice, and also with debt collection…”
“Enough,” Wei Dongliu waved his hand dismissively and said, “You’ll do!”