Chapter 35: I’ve Been Soaked In The Rain Myself, So I’ll Rip Up Everyone Else’s Umbrellas Too
After a day of work, Jiang Ce was slightly tired.
Handling the Michelin Tire Man was really too cumbersome, plus its already extremely foul smell was tormenting both mentally and physically.
“Uncle Chen, I’m heading out first.”
Jiang Ce took out his earplugs, threw them into the trash can, took off his work clothes, and said goodbye to Chen Mian.
“Little Jiang, wait a moment.”
Chen Mian came out from the workroom following the voice, his expression somewhat hesitant.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ce blinked, a bit curious.
Chen Mian hemmed and hawed: “About yesterday’s matter, don’t take it too seriously. My teacher is straightforward and speaks bluntly, without any other meaning.”
“No problem.” Jiang Ce waved his hand: “I quite like the old man, he’s an honest person. It’s all small stuff, Uncle Chen, no need to worry.”
“That’s good.” Chen Mian nodded, thinking to himself that he indeed hadn’t misjudged the person.
After bidding farewell to Chen Mian, Jiang Ce planned to go to the Gatekeeper Branch to report.
Just as he walked out the main door, he unexpectedly ran into the leader at the entrance, the Funeral Home’s deputy director Zhang Yuan.
“Director Zhang hasn’t gotten off work yet?” Jiang Ce greeted him.
Seeing Jiang Ce, Zhang Yuan’s expression was somewhat unnatural. He politely nodded to him, said “Hard work,” and then hurriedly went upstairs.
“In such a hurry, rushing to take a shit?” Jiang Ce muttered, shrugged, and didn’t take it to heart.
Anyway, he had never liked this pretentious leader. Zhang Yuan’s way of doing things always reminded him of that detestable guy Fang Yihang.
“I hope there are no such idiots in the Gatekeeper.”
Luckily, there was still money on the bus card. Jiang Ce smoothly took the subway, avoiding having to walk and saving quite a bit of time.
By the time he arrived, the person arranged to pick him up was already sitting in the lobby waiting for him.
It was no one else but Lu Yun, whom he had met once before.
Seeing Jiang Ce enter the lobby, Lu Yun quickly walked over, smiled and waved, greeting him.
“So your name is Jiang Ce. Yesterday was too rushed, didn’t get to ask your name. I’m Lu Yun, please take care of me from now on.”
Jiang Ce had no ill feelings toward this seemingly dull guy. Yesterday’s incident was just a misunderstanding. With the man welcoming him with a smile, there was no reason for him to put on a sour face. After all, they’d see each other often as colleagues, and more friends are better than more enemies.
“Please take care of me.” Jiang Ce also smiled and nodded, then asked: “Sorry to keep you waiting. Where are the others?”
Lu Yun was puzzled: “What other people?”
“Xiao Zhi Men, Hong Zhi Men, my martial uncle, and Master Ye and them.”
Lu Yun suddenly realized: “Oh, them. Except for Xiao Zhi Men, everyone else has already left.”
“Gone back?” Jiang Ce was stunned.
“Yeah, back to their respective guarded branches. Master Ye has gone wandering again, not sure when he’ll return.”
Jiang Ce was dumbfounded. So these big shots had come all the way here, soaked their feet, and gone back?
Could it be that only Luocheng’s branch clubhouse provides special services?
“What about Xiao Gatekeeper then? Can you let me see him?” Jiang Ce settled for the next best thing.
Lu Yun, however, had a strange expression: “You really aren’t afraid of death, are you?”
Jiang Ce was completely baffled, clueless as to why Lu Yun would say that.
“Well…” Lu Yun lowered his voice and leaned close to Jiang Ce’s ear: “I heard from the grapevine that yesterday you passed Four Gods Hall’s inspection, proving you weren’t an evil cultivator, so Jie Tan Gatekeeper smoothly let you join the Gatekeepers. Xiao Gatekeeper planned to take you under his wing for Jie Tan Gatekeeper’s sake, but somehow you pissed off Xiao Gatekeeper. Although he still let you stay in the end, Xiao Gatekeeper seemed pretty unhappy.”
Lu Yun glanced around, confirmed no one was paying attention, and then continued softly:
“All I can say is, offending other Gatekeepers is one thing, but offending Xiao Gatekeeper means no good end. Word’s spreading in the group now—some newbie with not-so-strong connections who looks down on us Gatekeepers here. Everyone’s thinking of teaching you a lesson.”
After hearing this, Jiang Ce’s mind was filled with just two words—ridiculous!
“What nonsense.” Jiang Ce felt baffled; when had he ever upset Xiao Lin?
Could it be that yesterday he hadn’t gauged the timing right and actually offended Wei Lao?
But that didn’t make sense either; if so, Jie Tan definitely would’ve tipped him off. Why would he leave without a word instead?
Besides, did Wei Lao need to resort to these petty tricks to deal with him?
So the issue was still with Xiao Lin.
But still, big shots of this level—unless they’re psychological perverts, who would deliberately mess with people like this?
Jiang Ce frowned, pondering back and forth, when a ridiculous idea popped into his mind: Could it be that he sees me as promising material, so he’s deliberately creating adversity for me to temper me?
I’m not freaking Xiao Yan; is that necessary?!
In the study, Xiao Lin was listening to a troubled big man report on the reactions from below.
After listening, Xiao Lin confirmed with the big man several times: “You’re sure they’ve all been stirred up?”
The big man stood before Xiao Lin’s desk, slightly bowing: “Some are already planning to cause him trouble.”
Xiao Lin nodded approvingly: “Well done.”
“But…” The big man looked puzzled: “Gatekeeper, why target a newbie just because he’s a connections guy?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” Xiao Lin sighed, stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and stood with hands behind his back, facing away from the big man: “For someone to become accomplished, adversity is the best way to temper the will. Only by overcoming these difficulties will he grow.”
“So Gatekeeper, you actually think highly of him?”
“Naturally, otherwise I wouldn’t have specifically had you bring him along. But keep it to yourself; don’t spread it around.”
“But I still feel it’s a bit off. Won’t this make his relationships with others bad, hindering his future development?”
“Others? Doesn’t matter. To him, they’re just whetstones—not even passing guests. Their approval means nothing to him.”
Xiao Lin sneered: “If this affects his development, it just proves he lacks a strong heart and will only mingle with mediocrity his whole life.”
“To be honest, Gatekeeper, you look a bit like a villain right now…” The big man’s face grew even more troubled.
“It’s because you’re in front of me that I’ll speak two sentences of truth. The world is
Xiao Lin turned around and said arrogantly:
“Everything he will go through, I have also experienced. Back then, I started as a lay disciple of the Lu Shan Sect and step by step became the Chief Supervisor of the Three Capitals, just one step away from Sect Leader. I don’t know how many Grievances and Tribulations I endured. In comparison, things among the Gatekeepers are already much friendlier and won’t have any real danger—it’s already child’s play.”
The burly man suddenly realized: “Gatekeeper, forgive my bluntness, but you got drenched in the rain yourself, so you want to tear up everyone else’s umbrellas too.”
Xiao Lin’s arrogant expression suddenly became somewhat unsightly.
“If you can’t speak properly, then don’t say anything!”
The sorrow in the burly man’s brows and eyes became even more intense.
“Go on, remember to make it clear to the other Blue Talismans that they are not allowed to get involved in matters targeting Jiang Ce. If I find out, they can prepare to leave.”
“Okay.”
After the burly man left, Xiao Lin sat back down at the desk, a slight arc rising at the corner of his mouth.
Heh, Cao Gong, rest assured, I understand your meaning. I will definitely train him into the most scheming and ruthless Gatekeeper of all. Even without you saying it, I can understand your great ambitions. By then, he will surely become your important asset in dominating the entire Cultivation World!
At the same time, Cao Zheng, who was dancing wildly, sneezed and frowned slightly.
“It seems like someone is maliciously speculating about me. Is it the Half-Immortal of the Gluttonous Ghost, or those old undead on Kunlun Mountain…”
The more Jiang Ce listened to Lu Yun’s various descriptions in the dedicated elevator, the more he felt his guess was probably correct.
Xiao Lin seemed to be deliberately grossing him out.
Although he wanted to train him, did he really need to pull off such outrageous operations?
Wouldn’t it be better to simply let him hide his identity and work diligently, then reveal it on the day he Soars to Success and let him put on a big show?
What the hell is going on now?
Having figured all this out, Jiang Ce couldn’t help but grit his teeth and mutter: “Grandma, playing dirty tricks with me, huh?”
“What did you say?” Lu Yun looked at Jiang Ce; he hadn’t heard what Jiang Ce said.
“Uh, no, I mean, why don’t you hate me because of this?” Jiang Ce Probeingly asked.
“Ah, I think it’s fine. Everyone has different personalities. Most of the time, I’m very willing to respect others. You’re not an Evil Cultivator, and you haven’t done anything to me, so personally speaking, I don’t dislike you.” Lu Yun honestly stated his Idea.
Jiang Ce suddenly felt a bit moved, with an impulse to shed tears.
How many years had it been? How many years since he had seen someone so pure? This was an angel—oh no, this was a living Ding Zhen!
Ding—
The elevator arrived at the target floor.
Watching the elevator doors slowly open before him, Jiang Ce smiled sinisterly, feeling a bit of anticipation in his heart.
If that’s really what you plan, Xiao Gatekeeper, then even if I cause some minor trouble, you probably won’t mind, right?
In that case…
Heh, I, Jiang Ce, Seventh Rank, afraid of workplace bullying?!
