Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Over the next two days, Chen Qing’s small courtyard lost its usual tranquility.

Many Inner Sect Disciples, and even some Stewards, came to pay him a visit.

Most of these visitors came from Noble Families or were affiliated with certain powerful factions.

Their goal was simply to sound out Chen Qing, to see where he stood. They also wanted to make themselves known, build a little goodwill, and pave the way for future interactions.

Chen Qing saw these social calls for exactly what they were.

He was not one for commotion and was even more reluctant to get drawn into the complex vortex of factional politics so early on.

Therefore, he received most of them politely, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then saw them off one by one, using the excuse that he needed to consolidate his Cultivation. His attitude was neither overly friendly nor discourteous.

Meanwhile, Zhu Yu’s status on Xu Wang Mountain rose as a rising tide lifts all boats.

Everyone knew he was Chen Qing’s "lackey." Many of the small cliques on Xu Wang Mountain, knowing it would be difficult to approach the reclusive Chen Qing directly, turned to currying favor with Zhu Yu instead, inviting him to join their circles.

Faced with these olive branches, Zhu Yu remained perfectly level-headed.

He knew full well that his entire lot was tied to Chen Qing. If he tried to play both sides now, he would only displease his benefactor.

Thus, he tactfully declined all invitations from other cliques.

The change became most palpable to him at Wanxiang Hall.

When he went to check the Sect’s missions as usual, intending to take a few to earn Contribution Points, a certain Steward Ruan—who normally wouldn’t even give him a pleasant look—actually approached him to recommend a long-term mission: guarding one of the Sect’s Treasure Medicine Gardens.

The mission required no arduous travel and no life-or-death combat. All he had to do was perform regular patrols, and in return, he would receive a steady three hundred Contribution Points every month!

To put that in perspective, Zhu Yu was ranked in the seventies on Xu Wang Mountain, and his fixed monthly stipend was a mere fifty Contribution Points.

Three hundred points a month was an enormous fortune to him—enough to cover his daily consumption of Cultivation Elixirs with even a little left over.

He knew full well that such easy and lucrative missions were always claimed internally or reserved for disciples from powerful families. They would never be offered to a disciple like him, who had no backing whatsoever.

The Steward from Wanxiang Hall was clearly doing this for Chen Qing’s sake.

’So these are the benefits of latching onto a powerful backer...’ Zhu Yu marveled internally. His gratitude toward Chen Qing deepened, and he became even more dedicated to his tasks.

He threw all his energy into the guarding mission, while also paying closer attention to the various happenings within the Sect, ready to report to Chen Qing at a moment’s notice.

One day, after finishing his spear practice and tidying up, Chen Qing prepared to head out.

’First, I’ll go repay the nine thousand points I owe Elder Pei, and then I’ll find Brother Qu.’

Chen Qing thought to himself.

He had been too short on funds to repay the nine thousand Contribution Points Elder Pei had advanced, but now that he had the massive sum of thirty thousand "delivered" by Han Xiong, he naturally had to repay it at the first opportunity.

Paying it back sooner rather than later would be a weight off his mind.

His second task was to find Brother Qu.

Just as Chen Qing was preparing to set out for True Martial Peak, another knock came from the courtyard gate.

Chen Qing went to open the gate and saw a middle-aged man in a brocade robe standing outside, a friendly smile on his face.

"Young Hero Chen, forgive my intrusion."

The man cupped his fist in salute and introduced himself. "I am Shen Ming. I have come on behalf of the Second Elder to pay you a visit."

’Someone from the Second Elder’s faction of the Shen Family?’

Chen Qing stepped aside to let him into the courtyard. "Please, come in."

The two of them sat down at the stone table in the courtyard.

Shen Ming’s gaze swept subtly over the small courtyard before landing on Chen Qing. "Young Hero Chen," he said, "word of your magnificent display on the Seven-Star Platform has now spread throughout the Upper Sect. It was truly awe-inspiring. Considering the long-standing friendship between my Shen Family and the Wutai Sect, everyone in my clan was delighted to hear of such a breathtaking performance."

Chen Qing’s expression remained calm. He merely offered a faint smile. "Steward Shen, you flatter me. The Sect is full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons; I wouldn’t dare to be so arrogant."

Seeing Chen Qing’s placid reaction, Shen Ming changed his tack. "To be honest with you, Young Hero Chen, the family’s prior considerations regarding the marriage alliance were... not as thorough as they could have been. As for Han Xiong... alas. When a Noble Family acts, it must inevitably weigh many factors. If any of this has caused you displeasure, Young Hero, I hope you will be magnanimous. The family has already decided to withdraw all of its resource support for Han Xiong."

He watched Chen Qing’s expression as he spoke. When he saw that the young man still looked completely unconcerned, he inwardly breathed a small sigh of relief.

’It seems he isn’t a petty or narrow-minded person, at least not on the surface.’

Chen Qing’s face remained impassive, but he was thinking, ’How ruthless these Noble Families are. They rush to invest in anyone they see as valuable, only to discard them the moment that value is gone. Han Xiong was just defeated, and the Shen Family has already cast him aside like a worn-out shoe. It’s chilling, but that’s the reality of it.’

Sensing he had laid sufficient groundwork, Shen Ming went straight to the point. His expression turned solemn as he said, "Brother Chen, I am here today on behalf of the Second Elder and our family to sincerely invite you to serve as a Tributor for the Shen Family!"

He deliberately stressed the word "Tributor." "This is by no means comparable to an ordinary Honored Guest Elder. The family is prepared to support you with all its strength—resources, intelligence, connections—whatever you require. As long as it is within the Shen Family’s power, we will give our full assistance to help you achieve the rank of True Disciple as soon as possible!"

Chen Qing listened but did not respond immediately, mulling over the offer for a long moment.

The full support of a top-tier Clan would be a massive boon for any disciple aspiring to become a True Disciple.

Not only would he gain access to secret information, but he could also directly request aid from the Shen Family when needed.

However, Chen Qing didn’t accept immediately.

The Shen Family’s relationship with the Ruan Family, a Noble Family with a thousand-year history, was strained. And thanks to his connection with Senior Sister Ruan Lingxiu, he had already established a degree of goodwill with the Ruan Family.

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