Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: An Acquaintance
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At Port One, the masts and sails were as dense as a forest.
However, most were fishing boats about thirty feet long; luxurious hundred-foot black-canopied boats were few and far between.
As some Junior Fishery Farmers left, new ones arrived. No matter how precarious the Yun Clan's situation became, it could still serve as a haven for low-level cultivators.
Chen Jianghe stepped ashore. As a veteran Fishery Farmer, the port held no novelty for him. He didn't pause or look around, but walked straight toward the market.
"Little Brother Chen?!"
Just as he reached the entrance of the Yuelai Inn, he ran into an 'acquaintance'—a lean, middle-aged man.
It was Wang Kui, the one who had tried to borrow spirit sand from Chen Jianghe back then.
"You—you've become a Senior Fishery Farmer?!"
Wang Kui saw Chen Jianghe dressed in a standard-issue silk long robe, a silver cloud embroidered on his chest, shimmering dazzlingly in the sunlight.
He was especially stunned by the aura of magical power emanating from Chen Jianghe, and he clicked his tongue in amazement. "A Senior Fishery Farmer at the third level of Qi Refining! You have a chance to become a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator in the future. A limitless future, truly limitless!"
A year ago, the Yun Clan had granted opportunities to a portion of the Junior Fishery Farmers. Some were promoted to Senior Fishery Farmers ahead of schedule, while others married into the Yun Clan.
Wang Kui had never imagined that Chen Jianghe would also receive such an opportunity.
"Brother Wang."
Chen Jianghe offered a standard smile and a greeting.
He held no grudge against Wang Kui. After his firm refusal to lend spirit sand the first time, the man hadn't caused him any trouble. In fact, the second time they saw each other from a distance, Wang Kui had even offered a friendly smile.
Several years had passed, and a few more wrinkles had appeared on Wang Kui's face. He had clearly aged quite a bit, likely having reached the age of fifty.
Judging by the aura of magical power coming from Wang Kui, he had yet to break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.
However, it was much denser than before, suggesting he was close to reaching the sixth level.
For a Junior Fishery Farmer like Wang Kui, whose cultivation and aquaculture talents were both lacking, he could only rely on unorthodox methods to scrounge up some spirit sand. It would be very difficult for him to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining.
"It was I who was blind to your worth before. If I offended you in any way, I hope Brother Chen won't hold it against me."
Wang Kui cupped his hands and said with a grand air, "I have some savings on hand. If Brother Chen is ever in need, feel free to ask."
"Alright, thank you, Brother Wang," Chen Jianghe nodded.
"Then I shall take my leave."
Seeing that Chen Jianghe was headed for the Yuelai Inn, Wang Kui knew he must have an appointment and naturally wouldn't linger.
When dealing with someone of potential, it was enough to humble oneself, resolve past misunderstandings, and foster a bit of goodwill.
Shamelessly fawning over someone was the act of a fool.
Chen Jianghe watched Wang Kui's departing figure and sighed inwardly. People who lived by their wits were the best at reading people and situations, knowing when to be firm and when to yield.
He then entered the Yuelai Inn and went up to a private room on the second floor.
Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun had already arrived.
They were both Junior Fishery Farmers, and their aquaculture waters were closer to the port, so of course they would arrive before him.
Furthermore, the potential Chen Jianghe now displayed made it impossible for them to not take him seriously.
"Brother Jianghe."
"Fellow Cultivator Chen."
A year had passed, and Gao Peiyao had blossomed into a graceful young woman. Her glossy black hair cascaded down to her waist. Her limpid, almond-shaped eyes, clear as autumn pools, shimmered with every glance. With her gently arched willow-leaf brows, high-bridged nose, and cherry-red lips, she was a beauty capable of toppling cities.
Her skin was like fine jade, her face like the mid-autumn moon.
Zhou Miaoyun's figure had also become more voluptuous and enchanting, like a ripe apple, fragrant, delicate, and tender.
"Peiyao, Fairy Miaoyun."
After sitting down, Chen Jianghe said, "Daniu's wife is about to give birth, so he couldn't make it to our gathering this year. He asked me to extend his apologies to you both."
"I'll cover Daniu's share of the expenses for this year's gathering."
For the first half of the year, Chen Jianghe hadn't received any letters from the other three. It wasn't until the end of the year that he finally received one from Yu Daniu.
In truth, it was normal for him not to receive their letters.
Zhou Miaoyun, Gao Peiyao, and Yu Daniu didn't know which water region he was in, so they couldn't have the egrets deliver letters to him.
As for Yu Daniu's letter, it was only because he had managed to find out Chen Jianghe's water region number on Lakeheart Island.
It wasn't that Chen Jianghe didn't want to write and inform the three of them of his location; the cost was simply too high. A single letter cost one spirit sand.
Three spirit sand. He figured it was better to just tell them at the year-end gathering.
However, there was one nice perk: Senior Fishery Farmers in the inner waters didn't have to pay the egrets for receiving letters.
"Give birth?!"
Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao exchanged a look of astonishment, finding it incredible.
"Yes, it should be within the month."
Chen Jianghe had also been quite surprised when he read the letter. It was common knowledge that it wasn't easy for cultivators to conceive.
To be giving birth at the end of the year, what did that mean?
It meant that Yu Daniu's wife had become pregnant within two months of their marriage at most. This news would be enough to infuriate those cultivators who desperately wanted descendants and had toiled for years without success.
"Since Fellow Cultivator Yu married into the Yun Clan, he should prioritize the clan's affairs. With his wife about to give birth, it's only natural that he should be there to care for her."
Zhou Miaoyun said calmly, not seeming to care much whether Yu Daniu came or not.
Although Yu Daniu had married into the Yun Clan, it was a widely accepted fact in the cultivation world that a live-in son-in-law had the bleakest prospects.
"I can't believe Brother Daniu is having a child so soon. We'll get to see our little nephew at next year's gathering, hehe," Gao Peiyao said with a playful smile.
They didn't dwell on the matter of Yu Daniu.
Chen Jianghe told Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao his number in the inner waters and then shared some details about the region.
Things like the spirit qi in the inner waters and how Senior Fishery Farmers could go to Lakeheart Island on New Year's Eve to purchase cultivation resources.
This made Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao's eyes gleam with envy.
"Since Fellow Cultivator Chen can go to Lakeheart Island, you won't have to rely on others when you need to buy a Calamity Dispelling Pill to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining in the future."
Zhou Miaoyun raised an elegant eyebrow and chuckled softly.
Yu Daniu lived on Lakeheart Island, yet Zhou Miaoyun seemed to intentionally or unintentionally ignore this fact, clearly not optimistic about his future.
Or perhaps something unpleasant had happened between her and Yu Daniu while he was trying his hand at talisman arts.
Chen Jianghe noticed this but wasn't foolish enough to press for details.
"Fairy Miaoyun, do you know the uses of the Little Azure Fish?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"Once a Little Azure Fish advances to a spirit beast, it has a wide range of uses. Its meat is delicious and rich in spirit qi. When prepared by a Spirit Chef, its effects are no less than that of spirit pills."
"The blood of a Little Azure Fish can be used to make spirit ink, its core can be used in alchemy, and its scales can be refined into defensive magical artifacts."
Listening to Zhou Miaoyun's explanation, a single spirit beast-grade Little Azure Fish, when broken down, was worth as much as six spirit stones.
No wonder the Yun Clan spent so much to cultivate Little Azure Fish; the profits were truly substantial.
Afterward, their conversation shifted to the Yun Clan.
It seemed that with the Yun Clan's Foundation Establishment Ancestor nearing the end of his life, the death of a ninth-level Qi Refining elder, and the increasing pressure from the White Clan of Qiyun Mountain...
The Yun Clan had begun to contract its sphere of influence. In the past year, it had shrunk from a radius of eight hundred li to just three hundred li.
This was to guard against major powers like the White Clan, as well as to defend against sneak attacks from the Lan Clan remnant, Lan Tianxiang.
This information came from Zhou Miaoyun's family.
Shixia Town, three hundred li north of Mirror Moon Lake, had now become the new border between the Yun and White Clans.