I was selling peach wood swords on a live stream, how did I become a Taoist ancestor?

Longhu Mountain.

Celestial Master Zhang Yunpu had already received a formal inquiry letter from the Night Watch headquarters.

The letter was very polite, only stating that an anomaly had been detected and asking if assistance was needed.

But he understood the underlying meaning perfectly.

"Senior brother, what's the news?" Zhang Minghao asked.

"Just say there are indeed unusual phenomena," Zhang Yunpu said. "But it's related to the Longhu Mountain tradition, so I can't go into details. Thank you for your concern."

Will the Night's Watch believe it?

"There's nothing I can do if you don't believe me." Zhang Yunpu glanced at his junior brother. "Do you think you can explain it clearly?"

Zhang Minghao was speechless, nodded with a wry smile, and prepared to reply.

"Wait a minute," Zhang Yunpu called out to him, "Did Master Li receive the gift?"

"I received it, but I sent a message saying it was too expensive and I'm sorry."

"Okay." Zhang Yunpu nodded. "Then I'll send some more."

"You're giving it away for free?"

"Send it, but do it cleverly." Zhang Yunpu thought for a moment, "Isn't Master Li making peach wood swords? Send him that set of rubbings of woodworking tools from 'Tiangong Kaiwu' that we have in our collection."

"That set is a unique copy..." Zhang Minghao hesitated.

"Only a rare copy shows sincerity," Zhang Yunpu said. "Remember, befriending Master Li will greatly benefit Longhu Mountain."

"Yes."

Zhang Minghao accepted the order and left.

Zhang Yunpu sat alone in the quiet room, looking out the window.

A mountain breeze swept by, and the pines rustled in the wind.

He still feels lingering fear when he recalls the scene of the statue bowing over that day.

The kind of suppression in terms of status was something he had never experienced in his sixty years of cultivation.

"His Taoist name... Shouqing... Zhang Shouqing..."

"Third Uncle... what exactly did you foresee back then...?"

He didn't think about it anymore.

Knowing too much about some things is not necessarily a good thing.

……

the other side.

The Night Watchers' internal chat software exploded shortly after the headquarters meeting ended, with private chat groups among the heads of various branches going viral.

[Nancheng-Liu Zhenguo]: Have you all seen the video files? The statue bowed, and although Longhushan didn't say it explicitly, they tacitly agreed.

[Beidi-Zhao Tieshan]: After seeing it, my scalp tingled. The oldest of those statues in Longhu Mountain is almost a thousand years old, right?

[Donghai-Chen Tao]: The key point is that small sword... the one the Taoist priest gave away in the lottery? It caused such a big commotion?

[Xiling-Sun Hongmei]: So here's the question: if Master Li's casually made toys have such power, what level of cultivation must he be at?

There was a few seconds of silence in the group chat.

[Nancheng-Liu Zhenguo]: It's hard to say about the level of understanding, but one thing is certain: Longhu Mountain has gained a great advantage this time.

【Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe】: How so?

[Nancheng-Liu Zhenguo]: The Celestial Master's Mansion has already returned the favor with a top-quality bluestone statue of the True Martial Emperor, which was just delivered to Qingfeng Temple during the day.

[Beidi-Zhao Tieshan]: Damn it!

[Donghai-Chen Tao]: That was quick!

[Xiling-Sun Hongmei]: Longhu Mountain is openly trying to win them over. They and Master Li are in the same profession, both being Taoists, so they have a lot in common. Let Zhang Tianshi stir things up a few more times...

The rest of the sentence was left unsaid.

But everyone understands.

By then, Master Li's relationship with Longhu Mountain will have progressed rapidly, and those who came into contact with him first will become outsiders.

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: We should also do something; we can't just stand by and watch.

[Beidi-Zhao Tieshan]: The question is, how should we express our gratitude? Send money? That's too vulgar. Send a ritual implement? Theirs are better than ours. Send materials? We've already sent that batch of lightning-struck wood from the East China Sea.

[Donghai-Chen Tao]: Don't even mention it, I packed up all the best materials in my warehouse and sent them over.

[Xiling-Sun Hongmei]: If I give too much, people might get suspicious; if I give too little, it's not presentable. It's a dilemma.

The group fell silent again.

At this moment, the head of the Central Plains branch suddenly spoke up.

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: I have an idea.

[Nancheng-Liu Zhenguo]: Lao Zheng, you say it.

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: Sending a "just right" gift will not make Master Li feel awkward, but will also show our thoughtfulness.

[Beidi-Zhao Tieshan]: Stop keeping me in suspense, be more specific.

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: Let Zhou Wenyuan handle it. He has business dealings with Master Li, so giving him a gift is perfectly reasonable.

[Donghai-Chen Tao]: What should I send?

【Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe】: A sword.

A row of question marks appeared in the group chat.

[Xiling-Sun Hongmei]: A sword? A handicraft? Old Zheng, are you kidding me?

【Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe】: This is not an ordinary sword; it is the "Zhenxie" sword from my Zhongyuan branch.

The group chat fell silent the moment those words were spoken.

A few seconds later.

[Nancheng-Liu Zhenguo]: Old Zheng, are you crazy?! That thing was something the General Administration specifically ordered to be sealed off back then!

【Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe】: That's why it's suitable.

Zheng Shanhe types very slowly, as if he is carefully considering his words.

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: That sword is a menace to others, but for Master Li... it might be just right.

[Donghai-Chen Tao]: Are you trying to... test me?

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: Not entirely. That sword is an ancient artifact from the Han Dynasty, having drunk countless lives, its murderous aura is hard to dispel, and ordinary people cannot withstand it.

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: But Master Li is capable of making such magical artifacts, which is unfathomable. Giving him this sword is firstly to cater to his tastes, and secondly... to see his reaction.

No one spoke in the group.

Everyone is digesting this bold idea.

half an hour.

[Nancheng-Liu Zhenguo]: How are you going to explain this to the General Administration?

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: I just reported it, and it's been approved by the higher-ups.

[Xiling-Sun Hongmei]: Okay, since the higher-ups agree, let's give it a try.

[Beidi-Zhao Tieshan]: Old Zheng, you played a risky move.

[Nancheng-Liu Zhenguo]: I hope nothing goes wrong.

[Zhongyuan-Zheng Shanhe]: Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.

The chat has ended.

Local officials may be offline, but they all have things on their minds.

……

Zhongyuan City, Special Office.

Zheng Shanhe closed the encrypted chat software and lit a cigarette.

He was in his early fifties, with a square face and a rugged look between his brows.

After smoking half a cigarette, he picked up the internal phone.

"Wen Yuan, come to my office."

Five minutes later, Zhou Wenyuan pushed the door open and came in.

"Director Zheng, you wanted to see me?"

"Sit down." Zheng Shanhe gestured to the chair opposite him. "How's the order process at Qingfeng Temple going?"

"The first batch of one hundred protective amulets has been delivered, and their effects far exceeded expectations," Zhou Wenyuan said. "The second batch of two hundred amulets, along with the peach wood sword, is currently in production."

"Hmm." Zheng Shanhe nodded. "How was the collaboration?"

"It was very pleasant. Master Li was very easy to talk to, and his master, Master Zhang, was also a kind person."

"That's good." Zheng Shanhe flicked his cigarette ash. "Here's what you'll do: under the guise of a pleasant cooperation, send Master Li a small gift."

Zhou Wenyuan was slightly taken aback: "A gift? What kind?"

Zheng Shanhe got up and took out a long wooden box from the safe.

The wooden box was old, with faded runes engraved on its surface.

"Send this to him." Zheng Shanhe pushed the wooden box over. "Just say... it's a souvenir from the research association, a worthless little thing."

Zhou Wenyuan took the wooden box.

It's quite heavy, probably weighing twenty or thirty pounds.

At the same time, for some inexplicable reason, he felt that his hand holding the wooden box was a little cold and slightly stinging.

It felt like something was pricking his hand with ice needles.

"Director Zheng, could this be...?"

"Don't ask," Zheng Shanhe interrupted him. "Just do as I say. Remember, be natural. Just say it's a replica made by the research association. Don't arouse Master Li's suspicion."

Zhou Wenyuan looked at the wooden box in his hand, then at Zheng Shanhe's serious expression.

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away."

He left the office with the wooden box in his hand.

Zheng Shanhe stood by the window, looking at the gloomy sky outside.

"To ward off evil..."

He muttered to himself.

"What will it become in your hands?"