Chapter 62: Lu Mountain Sect
“Can’t say it that way. The rules are definitely fair; otherwise, they couldn’t convince everyone.”
Xiao Lin saw Jiang Ce’s strong reaction and realized he might have taken it out of context, so he explained:
“Some White Talisman Gatekeepers can’t do normal work for personal reasons, so they always stay at the base. That’s why they have subsidies to receive.
But the subsidies aren’t given for free. They need to earn them through patrols, reconnaissance, or even doing odd jobs. So rather than calling it subsidies, it’s more accurate to call it wages.
However, the base pay for these subsidies is low. It’s mainly based on commissions from work quality. If there’s not much to do, the subsidy amount might not be as stable as a normal job.”
“Oh, I get it.” Jiang Ce summed it up simply: “They’re like poor students, working and studying frugally.”
“Your wording is a bit odd, but the meaning is close enough.” Xiao Lin nodded: “So personally, I encourage everyone not to quit their original jobs. It’s relatively easier, safer, and more stable that way.
Just take on occasional missions. The cultivation resources you get are far more precious than money.”
“If we complete this mission smoothly, will I get a reward too?”
“Naturally. This is your first mission. If everything goes well, you’ll get one thousand Merit Points.”
“One thousand?!” Jiang Ce was shocked.
Xiao Lin smirked: “How about that? Pretty generous, right?”
Jiang Ce shook his head: “No concept at all. I’ve never even heard of Merit Points.”
Hearing this, Xiao Lin had veins popping on his forehead. He waved impatiently: “Go ask if you don’t know. You don’t even know the basics. I have no idea what you do all day wandering around.”
“No one ever mentioned it to me.” Jiang Ce muttered softly and left Xiao Lin’s office.
The double doors were closed by Jiang Ce. Only then did Xiao Lin solemnly take out the letter clipped in the book.
This was his record of the key points Wei Lao mentioned on the phone about future action plans and some other trivial matters.
One of them was that he must give Jiang Ce good treatment without letting him notice.
Xiao Lin frowned tightly, doubting his judgment for the first time: “Could it be that what Cao Gong said about me knowing what to do wasn’t to target Jiang Ce and make him grow through adversity? Or does Wei Lao not understand Cao Gong as well as I do? That shouldn’t be. So what does this mean exactly?”
Following the information in the document, Jiang Ce went downstairs to Xiao Lin’s office and found the Leader’s Purple Talisman.
Each Purple Talisman has their own grand hall. In the center was a Heaven-Reaching Dharma Master from the Taoist school, wearing a water-blue Daoist robe and holding a fly whisk, lecturing several young Daoist Cultivators.
His dharma name was Xuan Qing, a loyal supporter of Xiao Lin. Though not as favored as Tian Yongle for various reasons, among the Purple Talismans in the You Sha Branch, his status was absolutely pivotal, and he had the most hope of becoming the new Gatekeeper in the future.
He saw Jiang Ce arrive but had no intention of stopping the lecture. Jiang Ce didn’t want to interrupt, so he stood by waiting.
Finally, Xuan Qing finished the lecture and sent the young ones away before calling Jiang Ce over.
This was the first time Jiang Ce had heard of this person, so he didn’t know who he was and stayed reserved, simply relaying what Xiao Lin had instructed.
Xuan Qing nodded with a smile: “No need to be so formal. Those kids don’t know the inside story, but I’m one of the informed. Don’t worry about how I’ll treat you.”
Jiang Ce was stunned and instantly relaxed: “I was worried you’d look at me unfavorably like them, Daoist Priest.”
“How could that be?” Xuan Qing laughed heartily: “Those kids have been spoiled and gotten arrogant. It’s good that you taught them a lesson. Without you, how would they all be diligently cultivating like this now?
By the way, that Confucianism kid has been at Eighth Rank for two years. Maybe he was stimulated by you that day. After going into seclusion, he reached Seventh Rank a few days ago. He’s at the same realm as you now, so you can’t slack off.”
Jiang Ce was somewhat surprised, not because Liang Zhi Zhou had reached Seventh Rank, but because advancing only one level in two years seemed no different from being disabled in Jiang Ce’s view.
Moreover, Xuan Qing had old information and probably hadn’t probed his strength, so he didn’t know Jiang Ce was already at Sixth Rank.
Whatever, he could still be crushed as needed.
But on the surface, Jiang Ce thanked Xuan Qing for the kind reminder.
After learning the departure time and assembly location from Xuan Qing, Jiang Ce planned to use the free time to ask Ling Xun what Merit Points were, but Xuan Qing, who seemed hesitant to speak, stopped him.
“Daoist Priest Xuan Qing, is there something else?”
Xuan Qing looked hesitant but couldn’t help saying: “Jiang Ce, I hope you don’t hold a grudge against Xiao Gatekeeper.”
Jiang Ce was taken aback and immediately waved with a smile: “How could I?”
But seeing Xuan Qing’s serious expression, he gradually restrained his smile and probed carefully: “Does Daoist Priest Xuan Qing have any advice?”
“You might not know, but before we became close friends, we used to dislike each other.”
Just the prelude alone captured Jiang Ce’s attention, igniting his gossip soul.
Close friends? Could these two Daoist Priests have some story?
But what Xuan Qing said next wasn’t what Jiang Ce expected. Xuan Qing didn’t talk about himself but told Jiang Ce about Xiao Lin’s past.
“At first, I always thought he was very obsessive. He was too harsh on others and himself, using any means for his goals. I thought this didn’t fit the Taoist idea of purity and non-action, until I later learned he came from the Lu Mountain Sect.”
“Lu Mountain Sect?” Jiang Ce’s knowledge of Taoism was shallow. As a former monk, all Taoist classics were more taboo than erotic books; he had no chance to access them.
What he knew was limited to the Celestial Master’s Mansion that used Lightning Magic, Wudang Mountain with Tai Chi, Mao Mountain with talismans, and Quanzhen Sect with swords. He’d never heard of Lu Mountain Sect before.
“Yes, the Lu Mountain Sect isn’t well-known, but it’s actually a very powerful sect. Its founding ancestor is Xu Xun, also one of the four Celestial Masters, on par with Zhang Daoling.
But the Lu Mountain Sect’s origins are actually related to sorcery. It’s a branch developed from ancient sorcery, sorcery techniques, and sorcery teachings under the influence of Taoism, so its core teachings differ somewhat from other traditional Taoist sects.
People only know Mao Mountain techniques, but Lu Mountain Sect techniques are also mainly aggressive and domineering spells, based on the idea of either you die or I die. Whether against ghosts or opponents, they’re extremely destructive methods, even more ruthless than Mao Mountain Sect.
This also causes Lu Mountain Sect disciples to be influenced from childhood, forming a survival-of-the-fittest, strong-rule-all mindset. Their ideologies are mostly obsessive, and those who reach the top are extremely so.
Xiao Gatekeeper was once one step away from the Lu Mountain Sect Leader position, so you should understand why he treats you this way. In his view, without experiencing tribulations, one won’t become strong.”
Xuan Qing seemed to want to convince Jiang Ce not to hold grudges and emphasized: “But I know his actions toward you are really inappropriate, so I hope you won’t be disappointed in Xiao Gatekeeper because of this, or even in the Gatekeepers.”
Jiang Ce looked at the white-haired, youthful elder before him, momentarily at a loss for words.
For a Purple Talisman to earnestly explain to a White Talisman like this was sincere enough, no matter how you looked at it, and quite exaggerated.
Jiang Ce wouldn’t flatter himself into thinking this was special treatment on first meeting, so only one possibility remained: Xuan Qing didn’t want Xiao Lin to be misunderstood.
Even though Xiao Lin himself didn’t care, Xuan Qing did, and in a way, he was obsessive about protecting Xiao Lin.
After a long silence, Jiang Ce finally nodded: “I understand what you mean, Daoist Priest. I’ll remember your words well.”
“Mm, then go. Assemble in the main hall tonight. Don’t be late.”
Xuan Qing smiled and instructed Jiang Ce.
Jiang Ce turned and left the grand hall, silently memorizing the name Lu Mountain Sect.
Xiao Lin was his superior; even if unhappy, he could at most disgust him a bit.
So this account would naturally go on Lu Mountain Sect. Debts have owners; for those who brought him suffering, Jiang Ce always harbored the most simple-hearted desire for revenge.
To compensate for yesterday, posting early today.
