Infinite Save: I Cultivate Immortality Through Reincarnation

Chen Yan’s pupils suddenly contracted sharply.

Even if you talked until the heavens fell, this stationed manager was just an outer sect Qi Circulation Realm disciple who had toiled for many years in a mundane place like Taiyun City, merely older than most.

But secrets like Song Mingde’s list were certainly known by quite a few people within the sect.

Soon, a figure surfaced in Chen Yan’s mind.

The image of that man dressed in brownish coarse cloth once again overlapped in his thoughts with the image of the manager who had interacted with him many times within the inner area of the gambling den.

“Manager Ding?”

Chen Yan frowned slightly, the words slipping softly from his lips.

Hearing this, the stationed manager lifted his head. Oppressed by the pressure of true qi, his facial expression gradually contorting, he forced a strained smile in Chen Yan’s direction.

“Ding Qiu, Manager Ding, at the Kongshan Sect Stationed Envoy Residence in Taiyun City, requests an audience with Chief Chen.”

…

Taiyun City, Stationed Envoy Residence.

The young page standing at the entrance of the residence had grown slightly taller compared to when Chen Yan visited last year.

Seeing the stationed envoy and Chen Yan approaching the residence together, the page merely bowed with hands clasped, not uttering a single word.

Chen Yan followed behind the stationed envoy.

He now also knew the name of this Taiyun City stationed envoy: Nian Yun.

Sixty years ago, Nian Yun stepped into the Qi Circulation Realm. After another twenty-some years of arduous cultivation, he finally gained a clear understanding of himself: that he had absolutely no hope in this lifetime of breaking through to the Martial Spring Realm.

It could be said that Nian Yun was a replica of Chen Yan from his first life.

But back then, Nian Yun had a good relationship with an administrator in the outer sect’s External Affairs Hall. Coincidentally, the Taiyun City stationed envoy was also about to be transferred from his post due to some changes. Therefore, Nian Yun pulled strings and greased palms everywhere, finally securing a position as a stationed envoy disciple.

The position of Taiyun City stationed envoy disciple was absolutely a top-notch assignment for ordinary outer sect disciples with little room for advancement.

Nian Yun had held this position for forty years.

And now, he was actually colluding with Ding Qiu, a former gambling den manager?

Admittedly, Ding Qiu was a Qi Sea Realm cultivator. Nian Yun, with his Qi Circulation Realm cultivation, was like an ant before him, with no power to resist.

But after all, Nian Yun had the backing of the colossal entity that was the Kongshan Sect.

Therefore, it was impossible for Ding Qiu to threaten Nian Yun into working for him.

Unless Nian Yun was willing.

Which meant…

“You betrayed the sect?”

Following behind this aged stationed envoy, Chen Yan asked.

“Chief Chen.”

Nian Yun replied in a flat tone, as if discussing trivial household matters.

“This old one’s lifespan is not long.”

“Oh?”

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow.

“When a person knows they won’t live much longer, yet remains unwilling to accept it, it’s time to take a gamble.”

Nian Yun said.

“Aren’t you afraid of losing your entire stake?”

“There wasn’t much of a stake to begin with.”

This aged stationed manager sighed.

“A young prodigy like Chief Chen naturally wouldn’t understand what outer sect disciples like us, with our lifespans nearing their end, think about in our final moments.”

“No.”

Chen Yan shook his head.

“I understand.”

Hearing this, Nian Yun showed a trace of surprise.

“That’s for the best then.”

He said.

The conversation ended there. Nian Yun led Chen Yan to the rear courtyard of the envoy residence.

The figure Chen Yan would never forget was sitting in front of a tree in the rear courtyard.

And right beside him lay a massive greatsword.

“Long time no see, Fellow Daoist Sun.”

Upon seeing Chen Yan, the man dressed in coarse cloth, with a stubbled face and a grass stalk between his teeth, spoke with a frivolous smile.

“No… perhaps I should respectfully address you as Chief Chen now.”

Standing before the tree, Chen Yan slightly lifted his chin, his expression calm and unruffled.

“Long time no see, Manager Ding.”

The current Ding Qiu had completely transformed into the appearance he had when ambushing Chen Yan and Cheng Ziying a year and a half later.

“I merely asked Old Nian to do me a small favor, to try my luck, that’s all.”

Ding Qiu spoke as if amused.

“I never expected that you, Chief Chen, would actually come to see me.”

Chen Yan shook his head.

“Why wouldn’t I come?”

“Why did you come?”

Ding Qiu countered.

Chen Yan stared directly into Ding Qiu’s eyes, enunciating each word clearly.

“All based on a single word: ‘loyalty’.”

As these words fell, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in Ding Qiu’s eyes. He abruptly sprang up, a vortex of true qi swirling behind him, and snatched up the greatsword beside him.

A brief, sharp sound of metal slicing through the air flashed by, and the greatsword came to rest against Chen Yan’s neck.

Chen Yan remained motionless.

Ding Qiu and Chen Yan locked eyes. Ding Qiu’s gaze was filled with pain and worldly weariness. Then, in the next instant, he burst into loud laughter, the grass stalk in his mouth tilting.

“Good, what a fine ‘all based on loyalty’!”

He withdrew the greatsword from Chen Yan’s neck and casually tossed it onto the ground, then turned around.

“Chief Chen, for that one sentence just now, I respect you.”

Ding Qiu lifted his head, gazing up at the swaying tree shadows within the envoy residence, then slowly began to speak.

“This Chen also believes that just based on Manager Ding safeguarding Steward Song’s belongings, Manager Ding can be called a true hero.”

Chen Yan slowly raised his hand, brushed the collar near his neck, and then continued.

“Might I ask, Manager Ding, how did you come to know that the massacre at the Immortal Gambling Den was orchestrated by Elder Fu Qian?”

Ding Qiu didn’t speak, merely turned to look at Nian Yun beside him.

“Among the several Qi Sea Realm cultivators sent by Elder Fu, one was an old acquaintance of mine.”

Nian Yun said.

“That Qi Sea Realm cultivator, back when he was still a Qi Circulation Realm cultivator, once received a favor from me in Taiyun City. Therefore, my relationship with that Qi Sea Realm cultivator is quite close. From time to time, he would come to the envoy residence to visit me.”

“Not long ago, when he came to see me, he happened to mention the matter of the Immortal Gambling Den. He hinted to me that he was actually involved behind the scenes in this affair, so…”

From the stationed manager’s words, Chen Yan understood exactly what had happened behind it all.

“Do you understand now, Chief Chen?”

Ding Qiu asked.

“Yes, I know how Manager Ding found out.”

Chen Yan nodded.

“In short, it’s because Elder Fu Qian lacked discernment in choosing subordinates, picking one who couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”

Ding Qiu was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Chen Yan to say this at all.

“That is also a valid point.”

“And that Qi Sea Realm cultivator chose his friends poorly, leaking the information to Envoy Nian…”

Chen Yan paused slightly, then continued.

“As for Manager Ding, would you make the mistake of misjudging people?”

Hearing this, Ding Qiu’s eyes first showed a moment of dullness, then flashed with a ruthless glint. He raised his hand and swung it out.

Boom!

Nian Yun exploded into a mist of blood on the spot.

“Of course not.”

Ding Qiu said.

“After all, it’s all based on a single word: ‘loyalty’.”