Chapter 25 – To Be a Master (IV)

Chapter 25

To Be a Master (IV)

Elder Qin mused silently at the barely hidden expression of panic that the man in front of him presented. Though Elder Lu had changed, he’d also remained the same; he could not be faulted for being a coward, though, as his talents truly were bottom of the bottom.

He was the result of a karmic knot being unwoven, and the sect silently endured it for the sake of their Sect Master.

However, Elder Qin was slightly surprised upon arriving. The previously dilapidated house was standing much ‘taller’, the stench nonexistent, and the floorboards much smoother. He’d also spotted the nestled foundations of a building in the corner behind the house, as well as the pair of disciples who, though extremely low in cultivation, seemed to not be in want of anything.

It was especially so for the young girl who had served the tea–with his discerning eyes, Elder Qin had noticed that she was poisoned, her Qi stagnant like the water in leaf-infested gutters. And it was precisely the served tea that was the medicine to the ailment–Mildew Qi Tea had few uses outside of its mild taste, and one of them was its counteractive property to combat poisons.

Though he didn’t know precisely what poison ailed the girl, it was evident that the tea was the key to making her better.

Did Elder Lu identify it too? And if so… how?

“Don’t worry,” Elder Qin broke the silence with a smile. “You are not among the Elders tasked with this.”

“Oh, thank–I mean, whatever the sect demands shall be so.” Elder Qin held back a laugh.

The man did change, and though nobody else in the sect probably noticed it, he did. Over the years, he’d often interact with the slightly pudgy Elder Lu as he’d seek more loans at the Administrative Hall. It was mostly well understood by everyone there that those weren’t really ‘loans’ and were instead gifts, but nobody said anything.

Until recently, any time Elder Lu and he would interact, the former would never dare even look him in the eye, let alone converse; he’d stutter and plead, his voice a muted whisper. And he was extremely secretive, even if all desires were cleanly displayed.

Whatever the reasons, Elder Qin would not probe.

The heavens were vast and inscrutable, their designs unending. So long as the man did nothing to thwart the sect’s progress, nobody would probe his changes. He himself had gone from a scheming, flippant youth to someone who could not stand such injustices, and it was not merely due to growing up.

“I have heard that you’d made a bet with Daoist Mu,” he changed the subject.

“I did.”

“Are you confident?”

“I am.” He really seemed to be; Elder Qin glanced at Long Tao, the last kid who took a Master in the latest batch.

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Though the kid’s countenance was admirable, the talent was…

Even with deeper resources and nurturing, it was unlikely that the kid would even reach the first stage of Qi Condensation, let alone any further. It would be a miracle to even last ten breaths, let alone defeat any of the Daoist Mu’s disciples.

However, Elder Qin did not step in; these bets were fine as they encouraged the Elders and Deacons to better nurture the kids. As for the fallout of the bet, he’d naturally mediate and disallow Elder Lu from being kicked out. With his and Sect Master’s backing, there would be nothing they could say.

“… I’d be even more confident if a few more gifts came up the mountain…” Though the words were muffled, Elder Qin heard them, and heard them as he’d raised the teacup halfway to his lips. His fingers trembled and his eyelids twitched; glancing over, he saw the middle-aged man behave almost like a child, his eyes darting to and fro.