As an all-round master who "wears many hats," Jiang Beiran had his days packed tight. During daylight hours he had to go out triggering system options, while nights were spent tinkering with alchemy, formations, forging and other "projects."
Often stretched too thin, he simply had no time to go down the mountain collecting various rare materials difficult to obtain within the sect. Thus with no alternatives, Jiang Beiran could only carefully select a few outstanding "errand boys." Wu Qingce was the first candidate Jiang Beiran picked.
Firstly, this second-generation warrior had once clashed head-on with him, making him one of the few who knew a sliver of Jiang Beiran's true capabilities. Secondly, a full year after the incident, Wu Qingce had indeed kept his mouth tightly shut, never revealing Jiang Beiran's strength to anyone.
Of course, the most crucial point was that when Jiang Beiran prepared to "recruit" him, the system provided no dangerous options—meaning exposing part of his abilities to Wu Qingce wouldn't pose any risks. And so, having unknowingly passed layer after layer of tests, Wu Qingce was invited by Jiang Beiran to the back mountains for a deep conversation.
The latter already inexplicably admired Jiang Beiran, considering him a trustworthy senior brother, so he agreed to the terms after just a few words. The condition was that Jiang Beiran would provide him with various weapons, pills, formations, and poison gu, while in return Wu Qingce had to run errands for him. ......
"Senior Brother...you almost really knocked me out earlier."
Wu Qingce applied medicinal wine to the two large bumps on his head as he spoke. Jiang Beiran shot him a sidelong glance.
"If I didn't hit you hard enough, would you have remembered the lesson?"
"I was wrong. I'll never recklessly charge into a formation you set up again."
"You—!"
Jiang Beiran raised his hand to strike again, but seeing those two bright red lumps, he restrained himself.
"Do you think I'm angry because you barged into my formation? I'm angry because despite teaching you so many times, you still made every single mistake you shouldn't have! First, what did you do when you smelled something strange?"
"I held my breath," Wu Qingce answered.
"Sigh... Do you think if I really wanted to knock out intruders with knockout powder, I'd let it have any scent?"
"Ah..."
Wu Qingce froze, then asked, "So Senior Brother made me smell it on purpose to get me to hold my breath?"
"What else? Tricks like knockout powder are child's play in the eyes of many experts. If something feels off with their bodies, they have countless ways to expel it. But if you deliberately let them smell it, they'll react exactly like you—immediately holding their breath. Although cultivators can go without breathing for an hour without issue, prolonged oxygen deprivation... I mean, prolonged breath-holding will gradually dull your mind, robbing you of your usual rationality and judgment."
"In the end, you become as foolish as you were just now—knowing full well you couldn't escape the formation yet stubbornly charging in again anyway."
"So that's how it is..."
Wu Qingce had an epiphany. When trapped earlier, he had indeed lost his temper, charging in again without much thought. Looking back now, it truly felt like he'd been possessed.
"I'll epiphany your—!"
Unable to hold back, Jiang Beiran nearly lashed out again but forced himself to calm down first. Don't get angry, don't get angry. I chose this, I chose this.
No wonder Jiang Beiran was so furious. He had repeatedly warned Wu Qingce to play the flute when arriving instead of entering the formation himself—it was dangerous inside. That Eight Directions Asura Formation earlier was purely a killing array designed to deal with uninvited guests attempting to force their way in.
If Jiang Beiran hadn't arrived in time, his top underling would've become the formation's first victim. Who could he even complain to about that? Taking a deep breath, Jiang Beiran changed the subject.
"What did you come to me for this time?"
Seeing his senior brother finally let him off the hook, Wu Qingce hurriedly replied, "I won first place in the JB District sect disciple martial arts tournament and came specially to report the good news to you, Senior Brother." Jiang Beiran immediately understood—no wonder this kid suddenly got cocky.
As the name suggested, the JB District sect disciple tournament was a competition between young disciples of various sects. Anyone under twenty could participate, and taking first place officially crowned one as the undisputed top among young disciples.
"So that's why you dared charge into my formation?"
Wu Qingce quickly wiped the pride off his face.
"I mainly wanted to show Senior Brother my progress. On the way here, I studied the Forward and Reverse Four Symbols Formation repeatedly and gained some insights, so I..."
"Enough. Winning is cause for celebration, so I won't lecture you further. But remember—the moment you're most proud is also when you're most likely to stumble. Got it?"
"Yes, Qingce will remember your words."
Nodding in satisfaction, Jiang Beiran looked at the young man before him—now the number one disciple in JB District—and couldn't help sighing inwardly. The Heart Returning Sect truly rides on my back. Naturally, Jiang Beiran knew Wu Qingce's capabilities inside out.
After a year of "cooperation," Jiang Beiran gradually began genuinely treating him as a junior brother, frequently gifting him pills to enhance physical strength or cultivation, occasionally even sparring with him to point out combat flaws. Yet he never expected this guidance would directly produce the "JB District's number one."
"Oh right, one more thing. The birch forest you told me to monitor has changed recently—a second-grade Lightning-Striped beast has taken up residence there."
Jiang Beiran's movements paused momentarily before he nodded.
"Good. Keep observing to see if more exotic beasts move in. If three or more appear, notify me immediately."
"Understood."
After agreeing, Wu Qingce hesitated before asking, "Senior Brother...might I ask what your plans are?"
"Why, is something the matter?"
Given their long-standing rapport, Wu Qingce typically wouldn't question Jiang Beiran's instructions—just followed them without fuss.
"Yes."
Wu Qingce cupped his hands respectfully.
"My cultivation has improved significantly recently, so I wish to challenge a second-grade exotic beast to break through to Mysterious Master in one go."
Oh?
Finally about to break through? Fine, I'll take you along when I visit the birch forest and keep watch for you.
"Many thanks, Senior Brother!"
Wu Qingce said joyfully, clasping his hands. As they spoke, the two arrived at Jiang Beiran's "secret base" in the back mountains. Generally, a nominal disciple like Jiang Beiran wouldn't have access to private cultivation grounds in the back mountains.
But thanks to his superb chess skills and frequently helping hall masters resolve "minor issues," he managed to secure special privileges.
"Every time I come to this purple bamboo forest, it feels even more comfortable than last time. Senior Brother, how exactly do you nurture these bamboos?"
Wu Qingce clearly remembered when he first brought these purple bamboos—each barely reached two meters tall. Yet now they practically scraped the sky, forming a dense canopy blocking out sunlight.
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't. Come have some tea."
(End of Chapter)