Free Web NovelChapter 842: Chapter 96 Each a Fish, Mutual Bait
"Seeing Jiang You today has made this old woman feel much younger!"
"Being fortunate enough to receive Granny’s teachings, Jiang Wang has also benefited immensely!" freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
An elder and a youngster, the two of them strolled out of Zheng Sheng Hall, chatting and laughing.
Granny Bizhu and Jiang Wang were not yet far when Xu Zhilan, the Sect Leader of the Five Immortal Sect, and the elder Fan Qingqing, having received a notification, almost immediately left the Duan Xing Hall and hurried to catch up.
"There is still some time left..." Granny Bizhu vaguely passed over the matter of Zhu Bijin and asked with concern, "Jiang You, where do you plan to stay? Why not come back to Huai Island with this old lady, and let me show you some hospitality?"
"To be honest, Jiang Wang still has cases from the Imperial City Inspection Mansion to handle, so I need to stay on other islands for a while and cannot visit Huai Island so soon," Jiang Wang now said, his face not betraying the lie.
Although the Golden Needle case had concluded, when he said he still had other missions, Granny Bizhu could not prove otherwise.
Granny Bizhu shook her head, "I understand, I understand. Young people should indeed strive vigorously. By the time one reaches my age, even if willing to strive, there is neither time nor energy for it."
"Please, look at what you’re saying. I see ’God Arrives’ is within reach for you, within these few years!" Jiang Wang also took on the role of a politely agreeable junior, "You have plenty of time and energy!"
This seemed to have struck a chord with Granny Bizhu, who smiled so that her wrinkles softened considerably, "I’ll take your auspicious words!"
If it were not for the pursuit of ’God Arrives,’ breaching the limits of life, and locking her cultivation, why would she agonize over this struggle?
To cultivate peacefully and seek the Dao with all one’s heart—who wouldn’t envy that?
But could one do so without resources?
Could one achieve the Dao without the struggle?
Even though she knew that Jiang Wang’s words were nothing but flattery, she genuinely liked them.
It was then that Xu Zhilan, the Sect Leader of the Five Immortal Sect, and the elder Fan Qingqing came forward.
"It’s wonderful to see two getting along so well at first sight!" Xu Zhilan spoke up, "I’ve arranged a banquet to honor you both. It would give our disciples of the Five Immortal Sect the chance to meet distinguished guests and receive some instruction. How about it?"
"No, thank you," Granny Bizhu waved her hand, not giving them the honor, "There are many matters to attend to in the tower, and I must return."
She looked at Jiang Wang, "And what about you, Jiang You?"
Her persistence showed that she was still worried about Jiang Wang, afraid that he would remain in the Five Immortal Sect and cause trouble, pushing him to leave.
It seemed she was keeping a tight watch on the fat meat within Five Immortal Sect’s bowl.
Jiang Wang inwardly sneered, but outwardly responded calmly, "I too must depart. After all, I shoulder great responsibilities and dare not neglect them."
Grinning, Granny Bizhu ignored Xu Zhilan and Fan Qingqing’s repeated invitations, and took another good look at Jiang Wang. Her gaze rested on his waist, "That Yu Jue of yours is quite exquisite."
The white Yu Jue hanging at his waist was, of course, the New Year’s gift Jiang Anan had bought for him.
Jiang Wang glanced down at it and replied with an easy smile, "It’s not anything of great value. A keepsake from an old friend, something to remember them by."
Such an ordinary Yu Jue would naturally not be regarded by a cultivator.
But without further comment, Granny Bizhu rummaged through her bosom, and drew out a sea-blue Jade Pendant.
Handing it over with a kindly face she said, "As a gift for our first meeting, I don’t have anything more impressive to offer, so take this as a gift. It’s not very valuable either. But if there’s any trouble, you can bring it to Huai Island to find this old lady. My words still carry some weight in the Near Sea Archipelago."
She could have given this meeting gift in Zheng Sheng Hall if she had wanted to.
Bringing it out only now was yet another warning, a caution to Xu Zhilan and Fan Qingqing.
It served as a reminder that her relationship with Jiang Wang had already grown close, advising them to relinquish any other intentions they might harbor.
Nobody present was blind to this implication.
Jiang Wang naturally accepted it with a feigned surprise, "An elder’s gift, I dare not refuse. Thus, Jiang Wang shall boldly accept."
Xu Zhilan and Fan Qingqing both had ordinary expressions, as if they never had any other thoughts and were indifferent to the scene before them.
"Seeing you reminds me again of my poor disciple...alas," Granny Bizhu said mournfully again before continuing, "I should leave now."
Turning around, she stepped into the air and departed.
"Let me accompany you," Sect Leader Xu Zhilan of the Five Immortal Sect hurriedly followed.
Jiang Wang knew that Granny Bizhu would not truly fly far away unless he left, so he too rose into the sky, choosing a different direction. "Thanks for the hospitality, I am eternally grateful. Jiang Wang shall take his leave!"
Fan Qingqing followed him: "Let me escort Brother Jiang a little way."
Granny Bizhu headed directly east, back to Huai Island.
To avoid overlapping with her route, Jiang Wang veered slightly southeast.
Soon, Youxia Island was already receding from view. The figures of Granny Bizhu and Xu Zhilan had long since become indistinct.
"A thousand miles of companionship ends in parting. Elder Fan, please go back," Jiang Wang said.
Fan Qingqing bit her lip, as if wanting to say something, but she hesitated.
After all, it seemed that Granny Bizhu got along too well with Jiang Wang. If she tried to make overtures now, she might end up being betrayed instead.
"Take care, young Brother Jiang. Feel free to visit the Five Immortal Sect whenever you can," she eventually said politely.
"Of course, Elder Fan is kind and amiable, Youxia Island is picturesque, and your sect’s five palaces are uniquely charming. If I have the chance, I would truly like to return to listen to the music," Jiang Wang said cheerfully, casting out a lure: "And bring my friends along. Jiang Wuyou and Zhongxuan Sheng, they would both probably like it here!"
Jiang Wuyou, the Lord of Hua Ying Palace. Zhongxuan Sheng, the legitimate heir of the Zhong Xuan Family.
Fan Qingqing obviously hadn’t expected that under such circumstances, with Granny Bizhu from Diao Hai Building personally trying to befriend him, Jiang Wang was still scheming.
Her eyes suddenly brightened, and her smile became much more sincere: "When the time comes, our sect will certainly treat you well! We will not disappoint you!"
"With this, we part, until we meet again," Jiang Wang smiled, turned around, and flew off.
There’s no need to say everything. A hint is enough.
Fan Qingqing inviting him back to the Five Immortal Sect premises was not out of good intentions. But that didn’t prevent him from indeed benefiting from the Zheng Sheng Hall, nor from finding new clues from Granny Bizhu.
He was willing to help the Five Immortal Sect rid themselves of Granny Bizhu, solely because of a shared hatred. However, the Five Immortal Sect still needed to offer something of significant value in exchange.
The bait had been scattered; what remained was to see what the Five Immortal Sect was willing to offer in return.
...
...
Life isn’t always eventful; most of the time, it lacks good stories to tell.
Jiang Wang’s ultimate destination was, of course, Huai Island. However, on the way there, he took every opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the Near Sea Archipelago.
Maybe because he had revealed his identity on Youxia Island, he encountered far fewer troubles in his subsequent journey. Correspondingly, this also meant fewer opportunities to learn more about the Near Sea Archipelago.
But Jiang Wang didn’t mind.
His days consisted of cultivation, traveling, and doing things that were ostensibly for case handling but in reality, for collecting information.
Passing through islands one by one like this, he finally arrived at Little Crescent Island on the eleventh of March.
