ATPnovel Chapter 998 - 998 244 Autumn Sun
Chapter 998 - 998 244 Autumn Sun
998: Chapter 244 Autumn Sun 998: Chapter 244 Autumn Sun From Qi Capital Linzi to Qiu Yang County, one only needed to pass through Ji Chuan County.The official ways throughout Qi Country were extremely spacious and smooth, so even though Jiang Wang had not requested speed, the carriage managed to arrive in Qiu Yang County before the night fell.
At dusk, waiting outside the territory of the Zhongxuan Clan was a ruddy-faced old man.
Jiang Wang remembered him well: an old servant from Zhongxuan Xin’s residence, the same Zhongxuan Laifu who used to throw his weight around in Green Sheep Town.
At that time, he had been considered a dependable ally by Hu Shaomeng’s father, Hu You…
Only a year had passed, but it felt like a lifetime ago.
That year saw so many events unravel, with more ups and downs than many people experience in their entire lives.
The world was immensely vast, with countless stories beginning or ending every moment, and in every corner, geniuses rose and heroes fell.
Jiang Wang traveled back and forth across thousands of miles, sometimes by chance, sometimes with determined purpose, rushing headlong into the fray.
Substituting Zhongxuan Sheng to perform rituals at the ancestral temple of the Zhong Xuan Family wasn’t something one could simply decide to do and set off.
Of course, Zhongxuan Sheng would have had to notify them in advance.
Upon receiving news of Jiang Wang’s impending arrival, Zhongxuan Laifu had already been waiting outside the clan’s territory.
As soon as he saw the carriage coming from Linzi, he hurried over, his face brimming with eagerness: “Young Master Jiang!
This way, please.
I have prepared a room for you.
You must be weary from your journey.
Rest for tonight, and we can attend to the worship at the temple tomorrow.”
Where was the slightest hint of his previous arrogance?
He had been born into servitude, highly trusted by his employers.
He had served several generations in Zhongxuan Xin’s residence and had even been graced with the Zhongxuan surname, thus he no longer needed to refer to himself as ‘this old servant’.
Such a reference, if ever used, would only be directed toward Zhongxuan Xin himself.
Today, in front of Jiang Wang, he was deliberately lowering himself.
Even Zhongxuan Xin, who nowadays eagerly groveled and respectfully called him ‘big brother’, was eager to win Jiang Wang’s favor.
Not to mention a mere servant like himself.
Jiang Wang was not one to harbor past grievances, only responding with a warm smile: “I appreciate your efforts, old sir.”
With that, Zhongxuan Laifu, whose heart had been raised to his throat, felt relieved, his entire being felt grounded.
He had prepared himself for any insult, any mistreatment when coming to welcome Jiang Wang.
Because of their previous conflicts, he could have avoided the encounter entirely.
With Zhongxuan Sheng’s current status in the family, there were plenty who could have received Jiang Wang.
But since his own Young Master Xin had now aligned himself with Young Master Sheng, and Jiang Wang was Sheng’s close friend and most trusted confidant…
He didn’t want his presence to cause any discomfort in Jiang Wang’s heart.
This time, by stepping forward, he was offering his face for Jiang Wang to strike, hoping to appease him.
But unexpectedly, this young genius, whose fame spread across the islands, was so amiable!
“How can I deserve the title ‘old sir’ from you, young master?
Just call me Laifu,” Zhongxuan Laifu said, wiping the corner of his eye and quickly turning around: “Please, follow me.”
Taking a detour around the pavilion, they quickly arrived at the guest room.
The room was meticulously arranged with fresh bedding and all new furnishings.
After Jiang Wang expressed his satisfaction,
Zhongxuan Laifu stood at the door, hinting eagerly: “Young master, you must be tired after your long journey.
May I have a few people massage your feet?
They are talented young individuals with handsome features and skillful, smooth hands.”
Jiang Wang: …
Thinking that Jiang Wang was hesitating, Zhongxuan Laifu considerately persuaded him: “Rest assured, their skills are top-notch.
They will take turns massaging you, and it will definitely relieve your fatigue.
If a few aren’t enough…
we can have a dozen or so.”
He was fully invested in securing his place with his own Young Master Xin.
Jiang Wang, patience running thin, said: “I really need to rest, alright?
You may leave now.”
“Right away!” Zhongxuan Laifu nodded and bowed as he closed the door behind him.
However, he didn’t leave immediately; instead, he hesitated outside the door before saying, “I can even find you a ‘Rabbit Lord’ if you wish…”
“Get out!”
Zhongxuan Laifu clamped his mouth shut firmly and hurried off.
This time, he really left.
People are complex.
On the one hand, this fellow, relying on the prestige of the Zhong Xuan Family, had frequently lined his own pockets.
The time he swaggered in front of Jiang Wang likely wasn’t the only occasion.
On the other hand, he was indeed fiercely loyal to Zhongxuan Xin.
Once he submitted, his servitude was meticulous and all-encompassing—from head to toe.
It was just as Zhongxuan Sheng had said—everyone has their uses, if needed.
Although Jiang Wang wasn’t going to further hold a grudge against Zhongxuan Laifu, he also wouldn’t engage in an aimless tussle with him.
Regarding the tea, flowers, candles, and incense in the room, Jiang Wang merely gave them a cursory glance, ensured they were safe, and then sat cross-legged on the couch, entering a detailed cultivation state.
After the battle at the End of the World Platform, many praised him as the top Neifu Cultivator of the Near Sea islands.
That title, of course, sounded glorious.
But he could not afford to lose clear self-awareness.
He had managed to overpower all Neifu Cultivators of the Diao Hai Building with his Three Mansion cultivation only because there was a gap in the top disciples of that level at Diao Hai Building—the previous group had advanced to the Outer Building or even God Arrives, while the latter had not yet had enough time to grow.
That didn’t truly mean he was invincible among the Neifu Cultivators.
Even with the prefix ‘of the Near Sea,’ it wasn’t a guaranteed claim.
Putting aside everything else, even within the ranks of Yang Valley, there might be Neifu Cultivators who could match him in battle.
It’s just that Yang Valley saw no need to take the initiative in demonstrating this.
Moreover, even being the number one Neifu Cultivator of the Near Sea islands wasn’t enough to halt his progress.
The peak he aspired to reach was still far out of reach.
Cultivation was mostly about grinding away patiently, the nurturing of each Path Origin, the dissection of each Dao Technique…
For a moment of glory, one must undertake a decade of arduous cultivation.
Jiang Wang had understood this principle from an early age.
He opened his eyes when dawn was yet to break and left the room.
His accommodations were arranged by Zhongxuan Laifu in a guest room that was not at the core of the Zhong Xuan Family’s territories.
Zhongxuan Laifu probably did this for the convenience of subsequent “arrangements,” after all, it would be inappropriate and ill-advised to openly invite people into the family grounds for “foot massages.”
This, however, made it easier for Jiang Wang.
He left without making a sound, unnoticed by anyone.
According to the information provided by Lin Youxie, Chu Mi and his master being punished to go to the Lost World had a significant connection with Liu Xuanhu from the Fufeng Liu Family, a person of repute.
Liu Xuanhu had mediocre talent and average cultivation, which no amount of resources could enhance.
Yet, he was from a distinguished lineage.
Regardless of his own incompetency, the treasures he possessed were beyond what many others could even fathom in their lifetime.
Naturally, he caught the attention of those with ulterior motives.
Chu Mi’s master was one of them.
The risk involved in ‘stealing a beard from the tiger’s mouth’ was imaginable.
Stealing from Liu Xuanhu was like stepping on the Fufeng Liu Family’s face.
It was fortunate that the Liu Family members did not kill them on the spot.
No matter how declined the Fufeng Liu Family had become, they were once among the top aristocratic families of Qi Country.
Their reputation could not be easily sullied, and not just any Beam Top Building could afford to offend them.
Strictly speaking, the punishment of Chu Mi’s master to cleanse his sins in the Lost World was not unjustified.
In fact, Chu Mi’s fellow disciple who joined their “Master Grandfather” in crime ended up dying at the hands of the Liu Family.
As for whether Chu Mi himself was involved, and whether his later confession was an attempt to seek survival before impending doom or truly to share the burden of his master’s guilt…
Even Lin Youxie’s side could not confirm.
Now it had become an eternal mystery.
The only thing Jiang Wang could confirm was that man’s cry before crossing the Boundary River—”Cross the river!”
Thus, he who had lived to leave the Lost World, no matter what, deserved a visit.
Even if Chu Mi had not uttered a word in his final moments,