Longevity: Starting From Getting Down The Mountain And Marrying A Wife

Within the borders of the Yan Kingdom, there are two major sects.

The Fire Cloud Sect is in the north, and the Crimson Sun Sect is in the south. Each sect has two Gold Core experts presiding over them, and their overall strength is comparable. They can be considered as the top-tier cultivation forces in the Yan Kingdom.

Below these two sects is naturally the Yan royal family.

Although the court is ruled by ordinary people, many members of the royal family and aristocratic families practice cultivation in the two major sects. Therefore, the power dynamics among the three parties are complex.

In Qingyang City, located in the northwest of the Yan Kingdom, it is officially under the rule of the royal family, but it cannot avoid the dominance of the Fire Cloud Sect within the area.

For example, in the southern district, the formations in the mansions are constructed and managed by the royal family. However, if one wants to open a market or a cultivator's shop in the city, they must obtain permission from the Yangquan Market.

It is now the middle of autumn.

As usual, the city lord's mansion sends gifts to the cultivator mansions in the city.

The Zhong family's mansion.

Xiaohuan sent the soldiers out of the mansion and counted the gifts. She thought she had made a mistake and counted them again twice.

Xiaoqing, a maid, asked, "Xiaohuan, what's wrong? There's no mistake."

Xiaohuan blinked repeatedly and said, "It's five times more than last year!"

"That's good. It means the city lord's mansion values our Zhong family!"

"You don't understand. The gifts during regular holidays are fixed and the same for every family. But this time, there are more than during the New Year."

After thinking for a moment, Xiaohuan called two other maids and said, "The people from the city lord's mansion just left. Take the gifts prepared by the madam and go to the Baifu and Chengfu mansions outside to wait from a distance. When the people from the city lord's mansion arrive, go over. No need to ask too much, just take a quick look. I'll go to the Lifu mansion..."

When she returned, she reported the situation to the mistress, Jiang Ping.

Two days later, Zhong Yan returned from the market and was surprised to hear the news. The Li mansion and the other two cultivator families received the same amount of gifts as in previous years.

Jiang Ping rubbed her protruding belly and said, "Husband, could it be because you have become a high-grade talisman master?"

Zhong Yan pondered for a moment and said, "That is certainly a factor, but not the main reason. There happens to be something I need to take care of. I will go to the city lord's mansion tomorrow."

Cheng Youliang from the Cheng family is an alchemist. Even if he is a lower-grade alchemist, he is more sought after than a higher-grade talisman master. However, he received fewer gifts than himself.

The next day, Zhong Yan went to the city lord's mansion and met with Qin Ben. He hinted at his intention to buy the ninth mansion in Wutong Lane in the future and obtained the right to renovate it.

There is a three-zhang-wide space between the ninth and tenth mansions in Wutong Lane, which is considered public space and cannot be privately renovated.

As for the matter of the gifts, Qin Ben didn't mention a word.

Zhong Yan didn't ask either, but he knew that unexpected things must have a reason. When the time is right, the other party will come to him.

After all, it's just ordinary people's belongings. There shouldn't be any major problems.

When he left the main hall and went far away, Zhang Shun, the military advisor of the city lord's mansion, spoke up, "This person's temperament is quite steady."

Qin Ben took a sip of tea and glanced over, "What do you think, sir? Is there anything wrong?"

Zhang Shun paused for a moment and said, "His cultivation level is a bit low."

"Realm does not represent strength."

Qin Ben smiled and continued, "When he first arrived in Qingyang City, he was only at the third level of Qi Refining. Li Henian, who is two levels higher than him, has been willing to deepen their friendship for many years and highly praises him. He must have his extraordinary qualities. Moreover, he has been able to go to the market several times alone without any harm. How could he not have some means? Even if it's just luck, luck is also a manifestation of strength."

"This matter is of great importance, and I am just worried about having more people..." Zhang Shun paused and changed the topic, "Whether he is here or not doesn't matter."

Qin Ben lightly tapped the table and pondered for a moment before saying, "I understand your caution, but we should seize the opportunity to invest. This person is resourceful and has the identity of a talisman master. It's a good opportunity now. If it doesn't work, we can kill him!"

Zhang Shun nodded and remained silent.

After a while, Qin Ben said again, "He seems to be quite diligent in taking concubines. Go inform Lin Xuelan."

"A female cultivator?" Zhang Shun asked in surprise, feeling quite puzzled.

"A martial artist. Choose a good one."

...

On the other side, Zhong Yan returned to his mansion.

A group of people were gathered in the pavilion in the courtyard, chatting and laughing.

The people from the Li mansion came again, even more diligent than before. The wives and concubines took turns coming, occasionally bringing their children. They didn't disturb much, just had a cup of tea and exchanged a few words before leaving.

"Liu'er greets Uncle!"

Li Yang, with a smile on her face, gracefully bowed. At nearly forty years old, she still looked like she was in her thirties, thanks to her wealth and beauty.

Don't be fooled by her gentle appearance. She is a sixth-level martial artist, higher than Yan Sandao's cultivation level.

Her son, Li Shangwu, also came along and respectfully saluted, "Nephew pays respects to Uncle!"

"Aunt." Zhong Yan returned the greeting and chatted with them, inquiring about the situation in the Li mansion.

Li Henian had been away for more than a year, and the family business gradually transitioned to Li Shangwu's management. With the help of Li Yang and the steward, the current situation was still good.

Before long, Li Yang got up to take her leave and smiled, "Uncle, you are busy with your cultivation affairs. I won't disturb you much. I'll come to your mansion another day when I have time. Take care of yourself, and tell Ping'er to take care of her health."

Zhong Yan: "Alright."

A group of wives and concubines: "Take care, sister-in-law!"

After the two of them left with their attendants and maidservants, Zhong Yan looked at his wife and saw her shaking her head, indicating that they hadn't discussed anything important earlier. The Li family was still stable.

"Dao'er, go find some construction craftsmen and connect the two courtyards together."

"Yes, husband."

A few days later.

A messenger from the Lord of the City's Mansion delivered a letter.

Zhong Yan glanced at the letter and saw that it was only an invitation, so he immediately understood that it must be related to the Mid-Autumn Festival gift.

As they approached the Lord of the City's Mansion at night, Bai Siyuan happened to come from another direction.

"Brother Dao!"

Bai Siyuan's eyes flashed with surprise, and he blinked before asking, "Do you know what's going on?"

Zhong Yan smiled and said, "I was about to ask you the same thing!"

Bai Siyuan's gaze flickered, and he lowered his voice, saying, "I suspect it has something to do with the attendant monk."

Zhong Yan was taken aback and asked, "What do you mean?"

He knew about the attendant monk. In the Yan Kingdom, there were a total of 127 cities, and each city, in addition to the Lord of the City, was assigned a cultivator by the court. They didn't participate in the management, but served as supervisors and handled some matters related to cultivators. They were called attendant monks.

Although they were called "attendants," their status was equal to or even higher than that of the Lord of the City.

Most of the attendant monks were from the royal family, but there were also those from various sects and families who came to gain experience.

However, this prestigious and lucrative position was not something an Independent Cultivator could obtain.

Bai Siyuan looked around and said, "Brother Dao, you haven't been in Qingyang City for long, so you may not know. Qin Ben has been in charge of Qingyang City for seven years, and during that time, three attendant monks have inexplicably died!"

Zhong Yan raised an eyebrow.

Bai Siyuan continued, "No one has been sent to the city in the past three years, but a few days ago, I heard from a soldier that another one has come."

Zhong Yan suddenly realized, and his eyes flickered.

He had thought that Qin Ben was managing the city well and had a good relationship with the guest cultivators in the city, so there was no attendant monk.

Zhong Yan jokingly said, "Brother Dao, you have a keen sense of the inexplicable!"

Bai Siyuan gave him a look that said, "You'll understand when you experience it yourself," and walked ahead.

They entered the Lord of the City's Mansion, where there were dedicated soldiers waiting to lead them to a side hall.

Inside the hall, Qin Ben sat at the head, with a fair-faced scholar named Zhang Shun standing beside him with his hands folded, his eyes lowered.

There was also Yang Yanqing, who was at the peak of the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, sitting at the end of the table, holding a cup, and when he looked over, his eyes also flashed with surprise.

"Immortal Bai, Immortal Zhong, welcome, welcome!"

Qin Ben stood up to greet them, handsome and elegant, with a warm smile.

"Lord Qin, Fellow Daoist Yang!"

Zhong Yan showed proper courtesy and also greeted the military advisor Zhang Shun with a cupped fist salute.

After the greetings, they all took their seats.

Fine wine and delicious food, beautiful women singing and dancing.

They only talked about the local customs and various anecdotes of Qingyang City.

Until more than half an hour later.

Qin Ben waved his hand to dismiss the dancing girls, his gaze shifted from Yang Yanqing to Bai Siyuan, and finally fell on Zhong Yan, and he said directly, "Immortal Yang and Immortal Bai have been partners for a long time. Fellow Daoist Zhong, I would like to ask for your help in killing someone."

"Who?"

"The new attendant monk who will arrive in seven days."

"What is his cultivation level?"

"The peak of the Qi Refining Eighth Layer."

"Alright."

After Bai Siyuan's earlier reminder, Zhong Yan had already considered and prepared various countermeasures. Now that Qin Ben had directly informed him, he had no choice.

As a Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator, facing someone at the peak of the Qi Refining Eighth Layer was like sending himself to his death. However, with Yang Yanqing and Bai Siyuan present, he would just be a bystander, and it was actually Qin Ben who was giving him an opportunity.

As for why he was chosen, in addition to his relationship with Li Henian, Zhong Yan suspected that Qin Ben had also investigated him privately.

"Fellow Daoist Zhong is straightforward!"

Qin Ben slapped his thigh and stood up, raising his cup. "Come, let's toast to the success of the three Immortals!"

After that, the five of them went to a study room on the side and made detailed plans.

...