464 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

## Chapter 464: The Mysterious Long Gonghu In Haidong City, the Chu Qin Shop maintained its distinct charm. Nestled in a quiet alley amidst the city's bustle, it never overflowed with patrons. Yet, there were always one or two cultivators lingering inside, ultimately departing with small transactions. A man in a black robe stepped out of the shop. A long scar sliced diagonally through his left eye, from his forehead to his cheek. Perched on his shoulder was a black crane, pure and without blemish. As he observed his surroundings, he tilted his head to the side, examining everything with his lone right eye, sparing nothing—not buildings, nor passersby, nor shops. Those with keen perceptions might detect the ominous aura unique to rogue cultivators, accompanied by an eternal scent of blood. In Qiyun, such a figure would draw caution and attention from all. However, this was the outer seas—a region where order and morality crumbled away, even more treacherous than Baishan. After a swift and discreet glance at the people in the alley, he hurried on, traversing seven or eight streets, then joined the massive crowd in the city's center, slipping into a grand building. ‘Earth attribute cultivators, starting from the late Qi Condensing stage. Details upon meeting.’ ‘Fleet escort, starting from the mid Qi Condensing stage. Details upon meeting.’ ‘Temporary safeguard officer, starting from the Foundation Establishment stage, ten-year commitment. Terms negotiable.’ Indeed, similar to Baishan, Haidong City also boasted a hiring agency tailored for rogue cultivators. Not only was this one the largest in the outer seas, but even when compared to regions such as Baishan, Qiyun, and Jixia, none could rival this place. Unlike Baishan, where spirit plant cultivators thrived, the outer seas preferred combat cultivators for escort and adventure missions. It was the place to come if one wished to live by the edge of a sword. The three-story building saw the first floor bustling with cultivators at the Qi Condensing stage. People perused the recruitment plaques orderly, summoning attendants for details on the opportunities that caught their interest, and inquiring whether they needed further discussions with potential employers. With the escalating internal strife in Baishan, more and more loose cultivators fled to the outer seas, with Haidong City as their first port of call. Engaging in a manageable initial job was advisable to smoothly assimilate into the unfamiliar outer seas. Without sparing a glance at these, the scarred man went straight up to the second floor, where it was significantly quieter. Numerous hiring tasks were exhibited, but only Foundation Establishment cultivators could come up here. “Senior Long, you’re back?” The attendants here were unmatched in recognizing faces. If they’d met you once, they could call your name even years later, not to mention the distinctive scar over one of his eyes. “See, didn’t I say so? Three-straight weeks on Farstream Island—that’s just how reputable the Li family is. They wouldn’t cheat or default on payments.” The attendant sidled up, flattering while carefully inspecting a jade token passed by the black-robed man. Once a hired cultivator completed their job, the employer would mark the token with feedback on their performance, which affected their ranking for future gigs. “Guarding the island wasn’t hard, but it only lasted half a year and was quite a trek…” Grumbling as he threw a few scattered spirit stones their way post-inspection, he faked a complaint. “Relax. With your mid-Foundation Establishment level, combined with a successful hire under your belt, finding work will be much easier. Follow me.” The attendant earnestly led the way, introducing suitable, often long-term assignments. “Look at this one: good reputation, great pay, and secure work. Escort a mortal fishing fleet, spend four to five months at sea each year, and use the rest for cultivation on their island, which has a third-tier spiritual site!” Upon reaching a specific plaque, the black-robed man let out a heavy "hmm," laughing aloud: “Safe, easy work with high pay? Is this a charity? What kind of protection does a mortal fishing crew need? Don’t try to bamboozle me!” “You might be unaware, while ancient beasts on the mainland tend to stay put, sea beasts roam freely.” The attendant grinned placatingly, “This particular household suffered a calamity years ago, making them ultracautious in hiring cultivators, but I assure you, if they decide to hire you, the terms are just that good!” “Oh? A calamity?” The gleam in his lone eye brightened. “How can that be considered safe? Their house was attacked, seems there’s no point in serving such a master.” Left speechless, the attendant merely nodded: “You raise a fair point…” “Ahem! My friend, that’s quite a misjudgment!” Somehow, their conversation had been overheard by a nearby scholar in a white robe, who dashed over to assert, “It's true my family faced trouble, but we did not fall! Those bandits wouldn’t dare come back! Besides, escorting missions take place at sea. If you find our homestead unsafe, stay elsewhere.” “Humph!” The black-robed man's single eye glared, “How dare you eavesdrop!?” “It’s my family hiring, why wouldn’t I listen?” The youthful white-robed scholar, despite being at the early Foundation Establishment stage, appeared no older than fifteen or sixteen and was similarly headstrong. Their gazes met, neither yielding, tension rising—near to escalating into a duel outside town. Merely a running assistant at the Qi Condensing stage, the attendant dared not meddle in such disputes. Yet, familiar with the fiery tempers of outer seas cultivators, he quickly summoned a Foundation Establishment enforcer to mediate, finally calming the two impassioned figures. ... Three years later, on the vast ocean, a dozen massive sea vessels arrayed in a semicircular formation advanced slowly. Two figures, one black and one white, flew ahead of the fleet, wielding magic instruments that cast radiance into the waters, herding the dense schools of fish into the encircling formation. With the formation gradually tightening, net after net of bountiful catch was hoisted onto the ships, eliciting wide smiles and shoulder pats from both cultivators and mortals alike, celebrating in camaraderie. “This went smoothly. Seems we might head back soon!” Landing on the lead ship’s prow, the white-clothed youth—a scholar in attire, early Foundation Establishment, with a cap—shared in the crew’s joy, flashing a bright, genuine smile. “Just call me when we dock.” The older black-clad figure, mid-Foundation Establishment with a lone eye and scar, seemed perpetually mired in grim severity, forever distant, aloof. He brushed off others' presence, disappearing behind the cabin doors without a word more. “This Long Gonghu fella, taking our family's offerings for three years now, never changes that haughty attitude. Truly insufferable!” With the black-clad man absent, young Qi Condensing disciples gathered beside the white-robed scholar, casting disparaging glances in the direction of the other’s cabin. “Show him some respect! He’s had injuries and won’t make it to immortality, so his demeanor’s just reclusive, but he’s alright. Remember last year when he single-handedly held off that third-rank sea serpent, saving several boats of lives? That’s no ordinary hire. Given our Long family’s isolated situation, encountering a fellow surname seeker from afar is fate indeed.” The white-robed scholar defended the black-clad man, “And lest you forget, back when we faced tribulation, the mole was someone universally praised, networked elaborately, yet so detrimental. It's these sorts to watch out for. Gentleman Long, who only emerges to fulfill his duties, couldn’t spy even if he wanted to, which I find reassuring.” “But he’s from Baishan, and our histories with Baishan cultivators were… less than amicable,” a voice chimed in opposition. “Pfft, do you even understand how vast Baishan is? We clashed with a few north regions; he’s southern, an unaffiliated rogue…” “Baishan riots drove scores of rogue cultivators to Haidong; don’t trust blind waters!” “Post last incident, legacy guest identities undergo stringent scrutiny by elders, his should be fine.” They drifted into conversations about the guest cultivator’s surname of Long Gonghu, delving into his Baishan origins, and meandered into legendary tales of the ongoing Baishan civil war, eventually reminiscing about old events at Mount Siguo. “Hundreds of thousands in battle formations, four Nascent Soul masters in an epic skirmish, altering heaven and earth! Just hearing my father’s recount makes one yearn for the grandiose ferocity of it all.” “Alas! Back then, our family swept through the realm, ultimately retreating intact; nowadays, we’re marooned on one island, staring at the sea all day.” “Word is, everything fell apart due to one red-clad madwoman, singlehandedly countering three Nascent Souls. Astonishing indeed. My grandma claims she’s hideous and oozing pus, clear evidence of deranged evil cultivation. How can the Qiyun Sect still harbor her?” “If only I were born twenty years earlier to partake in that war—I'd have fought tooth and nail to eradicate those Baishan scum!” A few Qi Condensing disciples, on their first sea expedition, had never encountered any formidable sea beasts and fearlessly bantered amongst themselves. To the white-robed scholar of the Foundation Establishment stage, their chatter seemed especially naive. Last time, though the sect was threatened, it ultimately led to an unexpected unity among the previously divisive elders. They finally cast aside unrealistic ambitions of recuperating and someday returning to their homeland or seeking revenge on Baishan. Instead, they focused solely on stability. With this clarity of purpose, in recent years, the family had been on an upward path, with more cultivators reaching higher realms and the vitality within them restoring faster. However, the island's growing population forced their sea-voyaging vessels to venture farther each year for fishing, making their journeys increasingly perilous and demanding stronger escort capabilities annually. "Next year, if we head deeper into the sea, I'm afraid Brother Gonghu and I might not suffice to protect this fleet." The white-robed scholar mulled over these concerns, as the fishermen finally wound down their exhaustive tasks and began singing the boat's tune in unison, “Once we planted rice and mulberries, now we weave nets, tirelessly striving for clothing and food, gazing westward at the sunset hey~.” The melodious song drifted over the ocean, reaching his ears. Joining in with them, the white-robed scholar turned westward, softly singing along with the melody: “To the west where the sun sets is my homeland…” (To be continued)