Early one morning, He the Venerable knocked on Jiang Yi's door and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Brother Yi, a Preaching Elder is giving a lecture on the Inner Peak today. Are you still going?"
"Of course I'm going! Why wouldn't I? I've been waiting for this!"
Jiang Yi pushed the door open, full of vigor. There was no trace of sleep in his eyes; he had clearly been awake for a while.
Even when he didn't have to work, this Inspector was not one to slack off. His mind was consumed with thoughts of entering the Inner Peak, and he never dared to be lax in his daily training.
Especially after the Celestial Book gave him that "Superior Cultivation Plan," he had redoubled his efforts.
From morning to night, from eating to sleeping, every two-hour block of his day was scheduled down to the last detail.
[Deduction Results as Follows]
[At the hour of Zi, rest indoors using Lying Zen. Relax your body like an unstrung bow, empty your Heart Spirit, think of nothing, and let your breathing become long and as fine as a silk thread to nurture the nascent Primordial Yang Qi within your body...]
[At the hour of Mao, you can meditate and practice Breathing on the east side of Red Flame Peak as dawn breaks. At this time, the world shifts from yin to yang, and the sensation of qi is at its purest and most active. Long-term practice gives an extremely low chance of triggering a "True Qi Surge," which is equivalent to half a day of arduous cultivation...]
[At the hour of Chen, return to your residence or find a secluded spot to perform Circulation Transport, refine your Fire Attribute, and forge your Primordial Essence...]
All twelve two-hour periods of the day were scheduled without a single gap. Having followed this Cultivation routine for the past two days, Jiang Yi felt completely at ease, without the slightest hint of fatigue.
Although there were no major changes in the short term, he believed that if he persevered, his Cultivation would naturally bear fruit when the time was right.
Seeing Jiang Yi so refreshed and energetic, He the Venerable couldn't help but feel a little envious. They, the Mortal Servants, toiled in the workshops year-round, rapidly consuming their vitality and having their life force worn away.
Thus, it was easy for them to appear "prematurely aged."
Brother Yi trained hard, with remarkable results. His bearing became more and more extraordinary, making him resemble the True Inheritances of the Daoist Lineages and Magic Lineage Cultivators from the storybooks.
He the Venerable chuckled and said:
"Alright then. Let's go see Marshal Zhou at the Forging Room in a bit. I've already paid the talisman-money for you."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi immediately pulled out a few slips of talisman-money and stuffed them into He the Venerable's hand:
"How could I let Brother He spend money on my behalf! It's not easy for any of us to earn this talisman-money. Take it!"
He the Venerable tried to refuse—after all, Brother Yi had stood up for him, killing Dong Ba and crippling Zhang Chao. The subsequent smoothing of things over must have cost a fortune.
Though He the Venerable was usually frugal to a fault, he understood the principle of repaying a kindness.
"Brother Yi, I see you've been training day and night without a break. You must be aiming for the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer to take over Marshal Yang's position.
Old He here has no special skills and can't help you much. This is just a small gesture..."
Jiang Yi waved his hand dismissively as he walked toward the courtyard gate, his tone bright and clear:
"Brother He, just focus on overseeing the chores in the Quenching Room. Don't worry about anything else.
The Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer is still a long way off, and a few pieces of talisman-money won't speed up my progress much. If all I cared about was money, why would I have rejected Zhang San and Dong Si back then?"
Jiang Yi had always believed in "spending money to get things done." Whether the sum was large or small, as long as it was put to practical use, it was worth every penny.
Ever since he activated the Celestial Book and glimpsed that sliver of a chance to change his fate, his goal had never wavered.
It was always about entering the Inner Peak to pursue Cultivation.
Currying favor with Yang Xun was for this purpose. Killing Dong Ba and crippling Zhang Chao to avoid future entanglements was also for this purpose.
Jiang Yi was unwilling to stoop to the level of those two vicious dogs. On one hand, he looked down on their petty profits;
On the other hand, he knew that once he got involved, conflict would inevitably arise from greed, and trouble would stem from wealth.
It was better to solve the problem once and for all, and eliminate the root of it completely!
"Let's go, Brother He. Any more delays and you'll be late for work."
On his way out, Jiang Yi stopped by the kitchen to grab a few warm flatbreads.
It was the breakfast Widow Qin had specially saved for him.
Ever since he had borrowed money from her, the two had grown closer, their relationship more like that of a brother and sister.
"Right then."
He the Venerable hurried to catch up, sighing to himself:
'Brother Yi really is changing day by day. Sooner or later, he'll become a Servant in the Quenching Room, just as impressive as Old Yang.'
The two of them went to the Forging Room together. As it happened, the Servant, Zhou Guang, was supervising the work there today, saving them an extra trip.
Unlike Yang Xun, who had a long face, bald eyebrows, and a vicious expression, Zhou Guang had a round face like a Maitreya Buddha. He was always smiling, with a large belly, and had a leisurely air about him.
"To borrow a Flying Crane and attend the Preaching Elder's lecture on the Inner Peak..."
Zhou Guang sized up Jiang Yi. It was rare to see such a spirited young man on Red Flame Peak.
"You must be Marshal Jiang of the Quenching Room, then?"
Jiang Yi bowed and replied:
"To trouble the Marshal to ask, this junior is Jiang Yi, and I do indeed serve in the Quenching Room."
Zhou Guang chuckled, his fleshy cheeks jiggling.
"So, the Dong Ba I promoted was killed by you? It seems you've practiced Marshal Yang's Fire Manipulation Technique to quite a profound level."
A tremor ran through He the Venerable. Whether it was from Zhou Guang's imposing aura or a fear of Servants that ran bone-deep, he was about to drop to his knees and start explaining.
But Jiang Yi took a step forward, blocking him, and spoke unhurriedly:
"Marshal, please understand. The situation that night was desperate, and this junior's hand slipped, causing the loss of a talent you had promoted.
This junior has already apologized to Marshal Yang for the matter. Thanks to his understanding of the difficult circumstances, he did not punish me severely.
In the future, I will certainly be more mindful of my actions. I hope Marshal Zhou can be magnanimous."
'What a sharp-tongued brat!'
Zhou Guang narrowed his small eyes, which darted over Jiang Yi twice. He remained silent for a long moment.
After a moment, he burst out laughing.
"Marshal Yang has really found a treasure. I have always been a fair man. Business is business. Since I've accepted your talisman-money, I won't pursue the matter further.
This is the token for riding the Flying Crane. Hold onto it. If you lose it, you won't be able to get back.
Remember, once the evening bell rings, if you are still lingering on the Inner Peak, you will have broken a taboo."
Jiang Yi accepted the exquisite Jade Token with both hands and said respectfully:
"The Marshal is magnanimous. This junior is deeply impressed."
Zhou Guang waved his hand and said with profound meaning:
"Go on, go on. If you enter the Inner Peak in the future, I might even have to call you 'Senior Brother'."
"The Marshal jests. This junior wouldn't dare to have such extravagant hopes."
Jiang Yi's face was a mask of humility, as if such a thought had never crossed his mind.
He the Venerable, listening at the side, was completely bewildered.
'The Inner Peak?'
'Brother Yi could actually enter the Inner Peak?'
'That was a place even more prestigious than being a Servant...'
He stared blankly at Jiang Yi's back as he walked toward the "Crane Garden," his mind a whirlwind of emotions.
Before, he had only thought that Brother Yi was lucky to have earned Old Yang's favor;
After the incident with Zhang San and Dong Si, he had come to admire Brother Yi's methods and courage;
But now, it seemed...
'Back when I was studying Daoism, the teacher always talked about "between the wood and the wild goose, the transformation of dragon and snake," and I never understood it.
Only now do I get it. He was talking about people just like Brother Yi.'
A hundred emotions welled up in He the Venerable's heart as he pictured a scene of Jiang Yi draped in a Profound Robe, respectfully addressed as "Senior Brother Jiang" by a crowd of Servants.
He couldn't help but smile in relief and mutter to himself:
"I've lived half my life in mediocrity, with no hope on the path of the Dao. I just hope Brother Yi can go further, to see that wider world on behalf of us insignificant Mortal Servants."
At this thought, he lifted his head, squinted his eyes, and gazed at the figure riding a white crane and gradually disappearing into the clouds, murmuring softly:
"It's a wonderful thing, to be able to fly up... Come to think of it, I used to ride this crane too.
Go on, Brother Yi. Fly higher, and reach the Inner Peak's Qingyun Road soon."
With that, he raised a hand in a wave and turned, striding toward the Quenching Room.
He still had to get to work today!