Chapter 4 Offering a Plum
"That scared the hell out of me! Thank goodness I didn't look down on Ning Huan and deliberately make things difficult for him."
"Otherwise... even if we are both Soul Masters, I would definitely not be his match."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Zhen instinctively shivered.
Only then did he realize that his back was soaked with cold sweat, and a gentle breeze brought a chill.
Coming to his senses, he couldn't help but feel secretly glad that he had acted cautiously, but he also couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
Snap!
Ning Zhen suddenly raised his right hand and slapped himself hard.
His slightly cunning face was now filled with regret.
Why hadn't he noticed this rising star before?
Before being sent to Tianluo City, Mingming had repeatedly told the sect's deacon not to underestimate any weak Soul Master.
During the pre-job training, the senior staff repeatedly recounted examples of Soul Masters achieving success against all odds over the past ten thousand years.
In the end, he didn't keep this matter in mind and wasted a golden opportunity for everyone involved to rise to prominence.
However, his years of experience in adapting to changing circumstances allowed him to quickly regain his composure, hurriedly get up from the ground, and sit back in his chair.
"No! It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost!"
"I absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die!"
"At least I have never mistreated him in the past few years, and now I still have the opportunity to leave a legacy of love before he leaves."
"What if he happens to remember me someday? Wouldn't I still be able to rise to prominence?"
With urgent whispers, Ning Zhen pondered how to mend this relationship that had never existed.
money?
Despite his seemingly glamorous life and the fact that he manages the clan's businesses across the entire city, he may not be as powerful as he appears.
But given Tianluo City's geographical location, it's neglected by both its parents and offers very little financial reward.
Moreover, he needed to bribe officials at all levels, and after several years, he hadn't saved much money at all.
It would be embarrassing to give it away.
resource?
Ning Huan truly didn't believe that he could cultivate to such a level on his own without anyone paying attention to him, unless he had some special method.
A twelve-year-old Soul Sect—that's not something that can be achieved solely through cultivation talent.
Furthermore, spirit rings cannot be faked.
He can't be the one hunting in the Star Dou Great Forest every time.
This shows that he must have powerful backers.
If someone were to report this to higher authorities without authorization, it turns out that the little tyrant's backer is one of the three Grand Priests or even the Sect Master...
Wouldn't he just explode on the spot?
After much deliberation, Ning Zhen realized that he only had a few semi-public sect information to offer.
"Well, things have come to this, so let's give it a try. It's better than waiting until retirement."
"Someone come here! Prepare a top-notch feast. I'm going to entertain...Young Master Ning Huan!"
Unfortunately, he never expected that the more carefree he was now, the more uncomfortable he would feel when it came time to pay the bill.
...
Half an hour later, Ning Huan, who had been invited, sat down at one side of the round table and began to enjoy his meal.
On the other hand, Ning Zhen sat opposite him, on the verge of tears, his heart bleeding.
But this time, he still went out of his way to spend money to curry favor with him, and he had to endure the pain no matter how much it hurt.
'I knew he had powerful backers!'
'Otherwise, with the meager monthly allowance from the sect, how could a mere child have ever been to the best restaurant in the city!'
'They only order the expensive items...they really don't know the cost of living until they're in charge!'
On the other side, Ning Huan, whose mouth was greasy from eating, also noticed something was wrong and chuckled to himself.
In fact, he had roughly guessed Ning Zhen's thoughts when he received the invitation earlier.
He simply wanted to take advantage of this last chance to curry favor with him, and then use this relationship to get promoted and make a fortune.
However, he didn't seem to have much resistance to it.
Although he has always hated trouble, he is not a stupid person.
In his view, social obligations are still very necessary.
Especially when you are weak, it's always good to leave yourself an out.
Moreover, he went to such lengths, spending most of his savings to treat him to a meal.
Why not come?
And so, with their own thoughts, one ate and the other watched, neither of them spoke, creating an extremely strange atmosphere.
Finally, when only a few scraps of food remained on the round table, Ning Huan stopped what he was doing and wiped his mouth clean.
He then treated him with a cold face, exuding an aura of indifference.
"Deacon Ningzhen, speak, what is it you want to say?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhen, who was already heartbroken, suddenly froze on the spot, staring blankly at the person in front of him, his mind blank.
It seems a bit different from what's written in the script.
Is this the normal procedure?
Shouldn't it be that I reluctantly emptied my pockets, and you reluctantly accepted it after repeatedly declining?
Why did you start asking questions as soon as you put down your chopsticks?
Could it be that I've been at the border for too long and haven't kept up with the times?
"However, one meal is not enough."
"Tell me, what else have you prepared?"
Hey!
That's just right!
That makes sense!
If you don't ask for it, how am I supposed to climb up?
Clearly, Ning Zhen was quite pleased with this domineering attitude.
Combined with his shifty-eyed appearance, it gave him a unique comedic charm.
"Young Master Ning, one of the purposes of this banquet is naturally to bid you farewell."
"Secondly, it is out of my personal will that I wish to tell you the general situation of the sect, in order to establish a bond of friendship."
Ning Huan remained expressionless upon hearing this, but inwardly he was quite satisfied with Ning Zhen's attitude.
Straightforward, without any concealment.
Besides... no one dislikes hearing nice things.
'He's quite sensible; we might need him in the future.'
"Yes, go ahead and tell me, I'm listening."
Ning Zhen immediately became extremely excited, his face flushed with excitement.
He knew he had passed the test!
Leaving Tianluo City is just around the corner!
In the not-too-distant future, he may very well be recalled to the sect and placed under the command of the young man before him.
"Yes! Then let me start with the sect's organizational structure..."
So, for the next two and a half hours, Ning Huan once again relived the boring life of attending large lectures in his previous life.
From the sect's structure and strict rules, to its daily activities and requirements, and even the personalities and hobbies of the various elders and the sect leader.
Ning Zhen recounted everything he knew, word for word.
The thoroughness of the explanation left him completely stunned.
No, buddy!
I won't say anything about what came before!
How did you find out about the preferences of the sect leader and the Priests?!
Are you qualified to be assigned to a remote and obscure Soul Sect?
Seemingly sensing his future master's confusion, Ning Zhen scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and explained:
"Young Master Ning may not know this, but in order to ensure long-term internal stability, the sect is particularly strict with its management personnel, especially the largest group of stewards."
"A systematic training must be conducted before taking office in order to prevent offending senior management or bullying disciples."
"Those things I mentioned before are exactly part of the course."
Ning Huan: "..."
Given this steady approach, it seems there's a reason why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has been able to maintain its tradition of using support martial spirits as its main focus for ten thousand years...
Ordinary forces probably couldn't do that!
[end of the chapter ]