This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 407 The World is a Huge Makeshift Team

Upon receiving the message from the shop, Yue Huanjiang quickly rushed over.

A gentleman in white robes, with a jade belt and a folding fan, accompanied by two beautiful maids, one in green and one in red, who are childhood sweethearts and only care about the young master, and a female master with the cultivation of a grandmaster, they live the best life in Xiang Yuan's mind.

People are more mad than people.

Every time Xiang Yuan saw Yue Huanjiang, he felt ashamed of himself. Compared to the sect, he was ashamed to even mention his own sect; compared to his master, he was ashamed to even mention his own; compared to his maids, he could only rely on Chan'er; compared to his brothers, Yue Huanjiang had righteous young heroes like Xiang Wentian, while he only had comedians like Xiao He and Xu Jixian.

After much effort, he finally achieved mastery of his cultivation and became a powerful medicinal herb. However, he was always on edge wherever he went, fearing that his herbs would be kept as family heirlooms.

Sigh, he's having such a hard time!

"Brother, why do you have this face again?"

Yue Huanjiang walked over with a smile, and when she saw Xiang Yuan dressed as Li Xianyuan, she couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Why is your head and face covered? Are there any cultivators from the Sword Heart Sect nearby?
Hongxiao and Qingli followed behind Yue Huanjiang on the left and right, respectively. A small white cat was perched on the former's shoulder. When they saw Xiang Yuan's expression change, they became curious and forgot to stop. Before they knew it, they bumped into Yue Huanjiang and injured his arm.

Xiang Yuan: (_)
Brother, this won't do!

Although Xiang Yuan didn't have the old demon's ability to recognize a virgin at a glance, he could tell from Hongxiao and Qingli's behavior that Yue Huanjiang was incorrigible and hadn't let his two childhood sweetheart maids get what they wanted.

Yue Huanjiang's arm went limp, and he looked embarrassed. Reluctant to blame Hongxiao and Qingli, he stepped forward and pretended that nothing had happened.

"Brother, how dare you ask me why I'm too ashamed to face anyone? Look at what your sister-in-law has done." Xiang Yuan handed over the daily medicine and, in exchange, took the little white cat from Hongxiao.

"Sang Biao, do you still remember me?"

To manipulate things from top to bottom.

Let's get started!
The little white cat is Qu Rou's pet. Its name is Yu'er, not Sang Biao. The cats of wealthy families are very arrogant and always look at people with their cat eyes askance.

Even though Xiang Yuan's cat-petting skills were excellent, Yu'er still looked at him sideways, barely managing to elevate his evaluation from an ordinary passerby to an ordinary passerby with decent skills.

"Brother, who is sister-in-law?" Yue Huanjiang asked, puzzled, as he took the Daily Medicine News.

"Manager Qu."

"???" x3
The three of them froze on the spot, their already confused minds becoming even more bewildered.

Hongxiao and Qingli exchanged a glance, incredulous, then their eyes suddenly lit up, urging Young Master Xiang to have more; they loved hearing things that couldn't be said.

Yue Huanjiang's face turned red instantly. He waved his folding fan and shook his head repeatedly: "Brother, a gentleman does not believe, spread, or create rumors. Rumors stop with the wise. We must not talk nonsense."

If you say anything more, I'll get angry.

"Since it's just a rumor, why is your face so red, brother?" Xiang Yuan asked with a sneer.

"..."

Yue Huanjiang remained silent, covering his face with his folding fan, refusing to answer the question.

Ironically, before the Lunar New Year, Baiyun Manor and the Zhu family of Nanjinlin Pass had a minor disagreement over the Xiaodongtian (Small Cave Heaven) in the Qilin Mountains. The two families called on their friends and relatives to enter the Xiaodongtian and rely on their own abilities.

The Zhu family of Linguan lost a grandmaster, and Baiyun Manor also lost a great general.

Not only did Elder Wupan die in Xiaodongtian, but Qu Rou was also injured. Fortunately, she was rescued by Lingyu Jushi of Jianxinzhai, who took the unconscious Qu Rou to Baiyun Manor, thus saving her life.

Lingyu Jushi specifically handed the injured Qu Rou over to Yue Huanjiang, who hurriedly took his master to the meditation room, removed the robe covering him, and saw his master completely naked.

Heaven have mercy! Yue Huanjiang really had no intention of disrespecting his master. Little did he know that his master was completely naked under his robes, and Lingyu Jushi hadn't reminded him at all!

The worst was yet to come. Just as Yue Huanjiang was about to cover himself with his robe again and call for Hongxiao and Qingli, Qu Rou woke up.

Their eyes met, and the air was unusually silent.

Fortunately, Qu Rou was a wise and understanding person. She knew that her disciple's mistake was unintentional, so she did not scold him. She only reprimanded Yue Huanjiang for an hour afterward and punished him by making him face the wall for three days.

In short, because of this incident, the relationship between master and disciple became somewhat awkward, and Qu Rou is no longer as gentle with Yue Huanjiang as before.

ε=(ο｀*)))
Life is tough, even a gentleman sighs.

Yue Huanjiang couldn't blame Lingyu Jushi. He probably hadn't thought that far ahead. The blame lay with him for his rashness. He should have had Hongxiao and Qingli check on his master's injuries immediately.

"Brother, why are you covering your face? Are you feeling guilty?"

Xiang Yuan raised his voice, his aggressive stance as if he were upholding justice, immediately drawing the sharp gazes of Hong Xiao and Qing Li, who looked at Yue Huanjiang from the left and right, urging him to explain himself.

Tell me quickly, is Young Master going to have a junior brother?
There are always onlookers, whether it's the Bagua Palace, the Bagua Studio, or even Baiyun Villa; they all have plenty of people who enjoy this kind of entertainment.

Yue Huanjiang was attacked from both sides, sweating profusely and shaking his folding fan repeatedly.

"Alright, let's not make things difficult for you, brother. You should see what good things your sister-in-law has done!" Xiang Yuan stepped back and helped Yue Huanjiang out of the predicament.

"Absolutely, absolutely. Let's take a look at the daily medicine news first." Yue Huanjiang felt as if he had been granted a pardon and lowered his head to read it word by word.

Xiang Yuan stroked the cat and gave Hongxiao and Qingli a look.

Xiang Yuan: See? He didn't even deny his sister-in-law!

Hongxiao: Young Master, what other secrets do you know? Tell me all of them, and I am willing to spend a fortune to buy them, just to clear your name.

Qingli: That makes sense.

Xiang Yuan didn't meet the two maids often, but he was busy with many tasks and quickly became close to them, showing signs of colluding with them.

As for Yue Huanjiang, after reading the daily medicine news, he looked at Xiang Yuan with disbelief and asked incredulously, "Brother, you...you are Xiang Wentian?"

"hold head high."

"This... You were a Nascent Soul cultivator a year ago, how could you possibly be this Heavenly King?" Yue Huanjiang was utterly shocked.

At the same time, Hongxiao and Qingli, who were exchanging glances and gossiping with Xiang Yuan, also widened their eyes and covered their mouths to suppress their gasps.

Even the little white cat Yu'er in Xiang Yuan's arms stopped the Emperor Engine, its eyes wide like copper bells, its ears standing up like antennas, revealing a human-like look of shock.

Yue Huanjiang almost never missed a single issue of Baiyun Manor's Daily Medicine News, especially recently, when Baiyun Manor was supporting Prince Jing, Xiao Ning, and he had read this emergency extra issue.

Who is Xiang Wentian, the "Heavenly King"? His daily medical records are written down in great detail: he is a member of the Northern Qi's Benxin Dao, a member of the Liu clan, the Left Envoy of the Yellow Springs Dao, the son-in-law of the Prince Zhao's Mansion, and a Grandmaster...

This series of labels, each with an imposing background and immense influence, made it impossible for Yue Huanjiang to connect with his virtuous younger brother, Xiang Yuan. He simply assumed it was a coincidence of names, since Xiang Yuan was not an uncommon name, and in the vast Qianyuan Realm, there could be hundreds of Xiang Yuans in Western Chu alone.

Yue Huanjiang remembers clearly that when he first met Xiang Yuan, the latter was just a minor constable in Fengxian County. He had to haggle over the price of even a single Qi-Opening Pill, and his life was extremely difficult.

Hilarious! The Northern Qi's Benxindao, the Liu clan, the Left Envoy of the Yellow Springs Path, and the son-in-law of the Prince Zhao's Mansion are short of this little bit of silver?
Putting aside their cultivation levels, their backgrounds alone don't match up.

"Brother, hearing your question makes me even more confused. Didn't your sister-in-law make a portrait?"

Xiang Yuan curled his lip. Baiyun Manor was too unreliable. They had already opened his box, but they hadn't even provided a headshot.

The world is a huge makeshift operation, which can be broken down into countless smaller makeshift operations, and most of the people involved are ridiculously incompetent.

Take Qu Rou, for example. Manager Qu, nicknamed "Green-Eyed Fox," manages the business of Baiyun Manor in an orderly manner. She is known for her shrewdness and competence and is regarded as an ideal role model by many female cultivators.

As it turns out, her apprentice Yue Huanjiang made a friend outside, who is now the biggest obstacle to Baiyun Manor, and she was completely unaware of it.

They could have easily settled the accounts with just a portrait, but when Xiang Yuan came to Yue Huanjiang's door, Baiyun Manor still knew nothing.

Now that Yue Huanjiang knows, he stares at Xiang Yuan in disbelief, his face full of incredulity. He glances at the description of Xiang Wentian in the Daily Medicine News, then at Xiang Yuan's smug face that says "I am the Lord," and still shakes his head repeatedly.

It was too sudden; he needed to process it.

"Brother, you know I'm a Grandmaster?"

"..." x4
"No, what I mean is, now that you know I am Xiang Wentian, look what your sister-in-law has done! She keeps speaking the truth, how am I supposed to face anyone in the future!"

Xiang Yuan was indignant. What kind of Northern Qi cultivator was he? The insults were too vulgar.

Yue Huanjiang didn't know what Xiang Yuan was angry about, but he wasn't Xiao He. He wouldn't cry and cry that God was blind just because Xiang Yuan was living a good life. He would only be happy for Xiang Yuan.

However... now that the two sides are enemies, he is caught in the middle and doesn't know what to do or how to start the conversation.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, "That's my master, not my sister-in-law."

Same meaning!
Xiang Yuan didn't believe these sophistry. He also had a master of unparalleled beauty, and he also had some immature thoughts... cough cough. Anyway, they were all his buddies. Yue Huanjiang pretended to be a gentleman in this matter and repeatedly made excuses. This was not a very decent thing to do.

Seeing Yue Huanjiang's troubled expression, Xiang Yuan didn't press him further, saying, "I'm here representing both the Zhaowang Mansion and the Tianzong Sect. Brother, the daily medicine news must be updated an extra episode. Xiang Wentian now also has the identity of the young sect master of the Tianzong Sect."

"..." x4
Upon hearing this, Yue Huanjiang was extremely shocked. He immediately understood the meaning behind Xiang Yuan's words and hurriedly said, "Brother, please wait a moment. I will go find our master and ask her to come and discuss this with you."

As expected of you, when you speak, you always have a style that's strict with yourself.

Xiang Yuan was complaining when he saw Yue Huanjiang turn around and leave, leaving Hongxiao and Qingli behind. He sighed that his brother was still the same brother, and took back his previous words, saying that his brother was really good at doing things.

"Wait, I'll go with my brother." Xiang Yuan stepped forward and followed Yue Huanjiang.

Yue Huanjiang stopped and said with a serious face, "Brother, I know you have the cultivation of a Grandmaster and are highly skilled. I can hardly imagine your methods now. But the Cloud Concealment Formation at Baiyun Manor is no ordinary formation. A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. It would be more appropriate for you to meet my master here."

Once they reached Cloud Hidden Peak and entered the mountain-protecting formation, everything was under the control of White Cloud Manor. Entering was easy, but getting out was difficult. Yue Huanjiang advised Xiang Yuan to be more careful and not to think that just because his elder brother was there, the journey would be smooth sailing.

What if I get detained?
“Brother is truly a gentleman. Anyone else would have tried every means to bring me to Cloud Hidden Peak.”

Xiang Yuan praised him, secretly feeling inferior, and then said, "Since you are here on behalf of the Heavenly Sect, you should visit Manager Qu at Baiyun Manor. Otherwise, it would not only diminish the reputation of the Heavenly Sect, but also disrespect Baiyun Manor and make it seem like a place of evil."

"But now, our two families..."

"It's alright. What kind of formation hasn't 'Heavenly King' Xiang Wentian broken through? It's just the mountain-protecting formation of a top-tier power. He's been through it many times." Xiang Yuan was full of confidence, telling Yue Huanjiang not to say anything more and just to lead the way. Today, they were going to walk through the main gate standing up.

Although Xiang Yuan had never broken through any of the protective formations of the Tianzong, Wushuang Palace, and Jianxinzhai sects, and had been detained every time, Baiyun Manor was clearly not as well-established as these three sects, even though they were all top-tier sects.

Wushuang Palace has Bai Wuyan, Jianxinzhai has Menfeng Jianzun, Tianzong has the Tianzong Grand Formation left by Yan Xuanhe, what does Baiyun Manor have?
It would be best if there was something there. Xiang Yuan came here today to find out who the mastermind is. It would be disappointing if there was nothing.

Seeing Xiang Yuan's determined expression, Yue Huanjiang still refused to comply. He earnestly offered some warnings, and Xiang Yuan, holding his arm, directly teleported him to Yunyin Peak.

Outside Changle County, there are clear waters and green mountains.

Baiyun Mountain Villa faces the surging river and is backed by the majestic Yunyin Peak. Enveloped in clouds and mist, it is truly an ideal place for spiritual practice.

"Brother, we're at the door now. This is your house, so please lead the way!"

"My dear brother, you..."

Yue Huanjiang sighed, having no other choice but to lead the way.

Xiang Yuan handed the little white cat to Hongxiao, took a waist token at the main gate, and followed Yue Huanjiang into Baiyun Manor. After the two maids left, he simply stopped acting and revealed his true colors.

Yue Huanjiang watched with a bitter smile, momentarily unsure whether he had become a traitor or had lured the enemy in.

But there was one thing he really agreed with: Xiang Yuan was incredibly audacious, and the nickname "Heavenly King" was well-deserved.

The two walked to the reception courtyard, where Yue Huanjiang invited Xiang Yuan to sit down and poured him a cup of tea. Then, a beautiful figure in purple robes gracefully appeared from the side corridor.

Qu Rou.

Shopkeeper Qu was slender and graceful, with a striking appearance and a captivating charm. She possessed a mesmerizing allure that was not only the ideal model for many female cultivators but also the vixen in their eyes.

Qu Rou held the little white kitten in her arms, surprised that Xiang Yuan had come to her door on his own initiative. She didn't show it on her face, but said "A friend has come from afar" and smiled slightly. Her beauty and elegance were dignified, but there was also a hint of charm.

Sister-in-law, stop flirting, your brother is watching!
"Cough cough!"

Xiang Yuan clenched his fist and coughed lightly. He stood up and bowed, pointed to Yue Huanjiang, then to himself, and wiped his face, revealing Li Xianyuan's face.

Qu Rou was stunned by the concise self-introduction.

To everyone's surprise, the junior who followed Yue Huanjiang around last year was actually the "Heavenly King" Xiang Wentian.

Qu Rou looked at her apprentice with a strange expression and asked in surprise, "You have such a powerful brother, why didn't you say so earlier?"

Yue Huanjiang smiled bitterly; he had only found out today that he had such a capable brother.

After briefly explaining his identity as one of their own, Xiang Yuan said in a businesslike manner, "Xiang Yuan of Tianzong greets Sister-in-law!"

“Ahem…”

Yue Huanjiang coughed repeatedly, his face turning as red as a pig's liver. He quickly winked at Yuan, signaling him to stop talking nonsense.

Please, I'm begging you, I'm kneeling down!
"Sister-in-law?!"

Qu Rou looked around, but where was her sister-in-law? Who was her sister-in-law?
If it's her, when did she get married? How come she doesn't know?
"My brother told me that although Manager Qu is his master, he has long had... It turns out these things cannot be said."

Xiang Yuan looked at Yue Huanjiang with annoyance and self-blame: "Brother, you didn't explain yourself clearly, causing me to misspoke and reveal your respect for teachers."

Qu Rou's eyes twitched. She glanced at Yue Huanjiang but didn't criticize him. Instead, she gave him a sharp glare.

I'll deal with you later!

Yue Huanjiang's face was ashen, and he was completely numb.

Xiang Yuan, judging others by his own standards, felt that Yue Huanjiang had been rewarded and was deeply gratified.

Brother, there's no need for thanks. You've treated me like family, so I should naturally reciprocate. This is all I should do!

Qu Rou, the head manager of Baiyun Manor, had seen all sorts of foul-mouthed people. She simply smiled and regained her composure as she had when she first appeared, assuming that Xiang Yuan had taken the initiative.

However, this time, her smile lacked some of its seductive charm.

It has nothing to do with the title of "sister-in-law". Xiang Yuan and her apprentice call each other brothers. The fact that she uses seductive arts on her apprentice's friend makes it seem strange.

"Xiang...Left Envoy, what did you mean by Tianzong Xiang Yuan just now?" Qu Rou asked calmly.

The two sat facing each other under the eaves, with Yue Huanjiang serving them tea and water.

"As you should know from the literal meaning, Manager Qu, I am a disciple of Ji Wuzhou, the sect leader of the Heavenly Sect. My master and I cleared up the misunderstanding, and the Heavenly Sect turned its support to the Prince Zhao's Mansion. As a result, I also became the young sect leader of the Heavenly Sect." Xiang Yuan replied with a smile.

The information about Baiyun Manor is outdated. Sitting in front of you are not only the Benxin Daoist, the Liu Clan, and the Yellow Springs Left Envoy, but also the Young Sect Master of Tianzong!
Thinking of this, Xiang Yuan complained. He had asked Ji Wuzhou to spread the word about this matter a couple of days ago, but Baiyun Manor still hadn't received any news. He couldn't even handle such a trivial matter. What use was this broken sampan master?

Qu Rou's expression changed several times, and after a long silence, she said, "Congratulations, Young Sect Master. With the help of the Heavenly Sect, the Yellow Springs Path, and the Great Awakening Temple, the Zhaowang Mansion is now unstoppable, and the throne is already in our grasp."

Not only that, there's also Jianxinzhai and Wushuang Palace!
Xiang Yuan's smile remained unchanged: "That's not quite right. In my opinion, behind the Prince Zhao's Mansion is Baiyun Villa. What do you think, sister-in-law?"

I already told you, your sister-in-law isn't here! x2
Qu Rou remained noncommittal, closing her eyes as if deep in thought.

Xiang Yuan wasn't in a hurry. He gave Yue Huanjiang a look, signaling, "Brother, don't just stand there. Quickly pour tea for your brother and sister-in-law."

Brother, it doesn't matter. Sister-in-law, you should put in some effort to persuade her to change her mind and abandon the darkness as soon as possible.

Yue Huanjiang said he couldn't understand Xiang Yuan's gaze, and stood there like a lackey, not moving an inch.

Xiang Yuan waited for a long time but Qu Rou didn't speak. He smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, since ancient times, those who know when to yield are the heroes. I came to Baiyun Manor because we are family and we don't need to speak in a formal way. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come. Wouldn't it have been better to use the heads of the fellow villagers of Baiyun Manor to exchange for some merit?"

"When the reckoning comes, they'll beat the dog when it's down. Even if White Cloud Manor survives, how many will live? What if it gets split into Black Cloud Manor and Green Cloud Manor? Has Sister-in-law ever thought about that...?"

"To change your mind now would be to say that the Forgotten Sword Manor is acting unilaterally. Your two families have been fighting each other for years. Now that such a good opportunity to serve the emperor is right in front of you, what is there to hesitate about?"

He spouted platitudes about the inevitable trend, all for the sake of Baiyun Manor, making it hard to refute him.

After a moment, Qu Rou opened her eyes: "What the young sect leader said makes sense, but this matter is of great importance and involves too many things. I alone cannot make a decision. I need to discuss it with the other elders."

"Who are you consulting with? Is it the person behind Baiyun Manor?" Xiang Yuan's smile widened.

Qu Rou exclaimed in surprise, puzzled, "Who could be behind Baiyun Manor? Why would the young sect leader say such a thing?"

"It's nothing, just hearsay. A few days ago, I was discussing Dao with Sword Venerable Su Ran at Jianxinzhai. She told me that the Baiyun and Wangjian manors have someone behind them. That person is the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor, and the two families have been obeying his orders for a long time!" Xiang Yuan said quietly.

"..." x3
Instantly, Qu Rou and Yue Huanjiang's breath hitched, and the little white cat's eyes widened, then narrowed to slits.

(End of this chapter)