Magistrate Huang enthusiastically gripped Lu Yuan’s hand. “Esteemed young Immortal Master, you are a young hero indeed. For undertaking the task of eliminating the demon, I thank you on behalf of all the people of Dongye County.”

Lu Yuan sneered inwardly. This Magistrate Huang truly knew how to speak for others, always thanking him on behalf of the entirety of Dongye County’s populace. It was rather amusing. If truth be told, besides the few people he was familiar with, the common folk of Dongye County mattered little to him. Had it not been for his elder brother, Lu Fang, and second brother, Lu Ye, serving in the Yamen, he wouldn't have bothered coming at all.

Magistrate Huang invited Lu Yuan inside the Yamen. Upon reaching the rear courtyard, they encountered two Daoists who possessed an air of true transcendence. These two certainly looked the part—aged around sixty or seventy, their beards and hair pure white, each holding a whisk. If such men didn't look transcendent, who would?

Not bad presentation, Lu Yuan mused to himself. Their outward appearance rivals even that of Elder Yuan Yuan of North Peak.

What a pity that their actual strength lagged so far behind.

Lu Yuan swept them with a glance and discerned that one Daoist possessed the spiritual power of the Fourth Level of Qi Condensation, mastering the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, while the other was at the Third Level, commanding the Twelve Principal Meridians. Their power levels were significantly lower than his own.

Magistrate Huang announced, “These two esteemed seniors are Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì.”

Lu Yuan nodded. Of course, despite his internal assessment of the old men's weak cultivation, he displayed nothing of it, merely chuckling, “So, it is Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì. I have long admired your names.”

Upon hearing Lu Yuan’s immediate flattery, Daoist Pichen was quite receptive. “May I ask the young friend’s background?”

Lu Yuan replied, “I hail from the North Peak of Mount Hua.”

Hearing this, Daoist Pichen’s expression immediately shifted. “So, you are from one of the so-called prestigious sects.”

It turned out that Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì were both rogue cultivators—the kind of cultivators whom the great temples refused entry and the small temples wouldn't accept. Such practitioners had stumbled upon cultivation methods through chance encounters but had failed to join established sects for various reasons. Generally, rogue cultivators held one of two attitudes toward prestigious sects: either boundless envy coupled with frantic sycophancy, or, as seen in Daoist Pichen and Piyì, an intense revulsion for the established great sects—a loathing born of jealousy.

Daoist Piyì mocked, “Indeed, we are not worthy to be compared with a disciple of the prestigious Mount Hua Immortal Sect. However, you are far too young for your supposed station. With such meager power, it would be best if you just wandered around aimlessly after descending the mountain, lest you be killed by a demon, which would be quite a waste.” The only reason Daoist Pichen dared to speak this way was that genuine, core disciples in the major orthodox sects were exceedingly rare. Usually, those encountered were merely ordinary disciples.

Ordinary disciples in the grand sects rarely received the best cultivation techniques, thus their strength wasn't imposing. Most ordinary disciples Lu Yuan’s age would be stuck at the Second Level of Qi Condensation, or at best, the Third. It was precisely because of this assumption that Daoist Pichen felt emboldened to ridicule them, never imagining that Lu Yuan was one of those exceptionally rare true disciples.

Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì’s attitude was decidedly unpleasant.

Lu Yuan, however, remained largely unfazed. While on the mountain, his master, Li Yuanbai, had forewarned him about the two peculiar mindsets of rogue cultivators. His master had advised him that rogue cultivators were mostly pitiable souls rejected by both large and small sects; if they wished to sling a few insults, let them, as a few stinging words wouldn't cost him an ounce of flesh. Furthermore, prestigious sects were expected to maintain a certain dignity.

Of course, this forbearance only extended so far. If the provocation became excessive, the rogue cultivators should not complain if they were killed. The fact that prestigious sects held their current fame and awed the Great Jin Dynasty was not built on mere decorum, but on relentless slaughter. Every foundation of a major sect rested upon piles of bleached bones and horrifying mountains of corpses; his master had drilled this into him many times while they were in the mountains.

Magistrate Huang, listening to the exchange between the three cultivators, thought to himself that this young Immortal Master certainly had pedigree, hailing from a major sect—excellent, excellent. Although the young Immortal Master was very young and inexperienced, if he suffered a great setback and reported back to his sect, he could summon help from the Mount Hua Immortal Sect, and any subterranean demon would instantly be reduced to ash. With this thought, Magistrate Huang’s mind settled immediately. “Very well, very well. Esteemed Immortal Masters, I have prepared a banquet. Please, join me for the feast.”

——————

Magistrate Huang truly lived up to his title as a county magistrate; this welcome banquet was quite sophisticated. The Fragrant Double Flower Salad was aromatic; the Lemon Oolong Ribs were perfectly balanced between sweet and sour; the Crispy Ribs were vividly red; the Sauced Mandarin Fish was bursting with umami, complemented by the freshness of green onions; the Spicy Beef Tendon had a striking color and excellent chewiness; the expertly prepared Shark Fin was superb in texture... The Spicy Diced Chicken, bright red from the chilies, was tantalizing just to look at. The accompanying cold dishes, like Garlic Pork Slices, were neither greasy nor fatty, possessing just a hint of spice that suited the palate perfectly, and the Cucumber Salad was delightfully refreshing.

Essentially, before Magistrate Huang could even offer a formal toast, Lu Yuan was already thoroughly enjoying himself. He couldn't help it; he had always been fond of eating and was quite gluttonous. Faced with such a spread, how could he possibly be polite? A few sips of yellow wine, a mouthful of savory dish—the meal was thoroughly satisfying.

Lu Yuan paid no mind to propriety, while Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì maintained their transcendent composure, sampling only a few delicate bites of every dish—a perfect facade. Magistrate Huang observed them and became increasingly convinced that Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì were men of great ability. Lu Yuan, being just a young Immortal Master, was naturally inexperienced and unreliable.

Magistrate Huang, being a shrewd man, revealed none of his thoughts and began trying to extract information from the three cultivators. This was precisely what Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì had been waiting for. They launched into long, flowing narratives of their exploits slaying demons and vanquishing devils—how today they slew one demon, and tomorrow they eradicated another. The magistrate, who only had hearsay knowledge of the cultivation world, was left gaping in astonishment, further solidifying his belief in the profound capabilities of Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì.

Lu Yuan found it highly amusing listening nearby. Pichen and Piyì were exaggerating far too much. The strength of the demons they described was inflated beyond reason; if such powerful demons truly existed, let alone these two rogue cultivators, even Lu Yuan himself would stand no chance.

The meal concluded harmoniously. Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì enjoyed their boasting, and Magistrate Huang reveled in listening. The more they boasted, the more reassured the magistrate became: with these two mighty Immortals present, any mere demon would surely be dealt with effortlessly. Lu Yuan, though seeing through the act, didn't expose them, focusing instead on his food. Given this dynamic, how could the atmosphere not remain harmonious?

In the following days, Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì frequently performed so-called “immortal arts” in the Yamen—conjuring fire from their fingertips, transforming talismans into water, or solidifying talismans into ice. This display captivated everyone in the Yamen, cementing the deep admiration the entire staff, including Magistrate Huang and Lu Yuan’s brothers, Lu Fang and Lu Ye, held for the two venerable Daoists whose appearances already radiated transcendence.

As for Lu Yuan, he naturally slept in late. Since the day set for demon eradication hadn't arrived, what else was there to do but enjoy a long rest? As for Daoist Pichen and Daoist Piyì enjoying their little shows to garner worship, that was none of his concern. Lu Yuan now understood why they worked so hard: apparently, there was a mine in Dongye County that yielded a single Low-Grade Spirit Stone annually, and they were coveting it. They dared not seize it directly, as rogue cultivators of their low standing feared the might of the Great Jin Dynasty. Thus, they resorted to displaying their divine prestige to earn the worship of the Yamen staff. Once the demon was dealt with, a little pressure would naturally compel the entire administration to offer tribute. One Low-Grade Spirit Stone per year was incredibly alluring to rogue cultivators of their meager power. One Low-Grade Spirit Stone a year held no appeal for Lu Yuan; he’d rather sleep late.

(Two chapters tonight; this is the first.)