Chapter 301: Petty Mindedness

But Li Yunxin fell silent for a while, deep in thought, and then smiled: "There will be more opportunities in the future."

"If what you say is true—that those four hundred and fourteen elders, for some reason, find it hard to emerge despite their extremely high cultivation... then there will be many opportunities in the future. There's no need to be impatient."

Manager Wang sighed again: "Sigh, let's hope so."

Li Yunxin stared at him for a while: "How should I address you?"

Only then did Manager Wang slightly restrain the regret on his face and bowed to Li Yunxin: "Sigh, I have been impolite. This humble one's surname is Wang, and my name is Bojian. I am a person of the secular world and have never cultivated."

"But looking at this house of yours, it is no ordinary thing."

Manager Wang laughed: "Since we have never cultivated, we naturally must find ways to make our place of shelter more secure. This is true for every location."

"Oh." Li Yunxin sighed lightly. "It seems that despite calling yourselves remnants, your foundation is still as great as the Daye Dynasty."

After he said those words, both of them fell silent.

Outside the window, the wind and rain did not stop, and the lamp on the table was as small as a bean. The shadows of the two men were reflected on the wall, appearing very large and swaying uncertainly.

After a long time, Wang Bojian finally spoke: "The Dragon King also cultivates the Dao of Painting."

"Yes."

"The Lucid Jade Slip... is also in the Dragon King's hands, right?"

"Yes."

Thus, there was silence for another while. Seeing that Li Yunxin still didn't speak, Wang Bojian continued: "I know the Daoist Orthodoxy and Sword Sect also maintain Painting Daoists. But their methods are no longer presentable. Today, the only remaining lineage of the Painting Saint in the world... resides with the Dragon King."

Li Yunxin leaned back slightly: "Unfortunately, my level in the Dao of Painting is not very high either."

Manager Wang looked at Li Yunxin: "The Mutual Aid Society also wants the Lucid Jade Slip. It is said to contain a massive secret regarding the method of Transcending Tribulation and ascension. It is also rumored that the Two Saints of the world today have not ascended for a long time because they are waiting for this secret. With the Dragon King carrying such a treasure and being coveted by both parties... although you are temporarily staying with the demons, it may not be a safe path."

Li Yunxin looked up at him: "What are you trying to say?"

Wang Bojian leaned forward slightly, staring seriously at Li Yunxin: "We, these old people left behind by the Painting Saint, although we are scraping by, we are leaderless. Since the Dragon King is the Dragon King, have you ever thought—"

Li Yunxin smiled: "Yes."

Wang Bojian held his breath: "Then Dragon King—"

Li Yunxin smiled again: "No."

Wang Bojian was slightly stunned: "Why is that? Although the Dragon King currently has a demon's body, after all, we share the same origin—"

Li Yunxin sat up straight. He thought for a moment and said softly: "It has only been three hours. It has only been three hours since I discovered the affairs of your Wood South Residence. At such a time, you ask me to join you; how can I believe you?"

"You also say we share the same origin. That's not false—if you had found me when I first entered Weicheng and said such words, I would likely have agreed without hesitation. But the problem is... you waited until now to say this to me."

"At that time, I was alone and weak, with my life in danger at any moment, and you just watched. Now that I have fought my way out and joined the demons, becoming the Dragon King you speak of, only now do you ask if I want to do this or that. Your sincerity is truly insufficient. And after a thousand years... how much sentiment from shared origins remains? Boss Wang, I am not a child."

Wang Bojian frowned: "Precisely because we are not children, the Dragon King should understand our approach. Before the Dragon King became the Dragon King, we did not dare to gamble on you."

Li Yunxin suddenly laughed loudly, while pointing out the door: "That Wolf Daoist out there—his ability is mediocre, his ambition is mediocre, and his cultivation is mediocre. I have only known him for a day. But I have him by my side now, and I don't ask what his origin is or whether he will be loyal, and in the future, I might even give him more important things to do. Boss Wang, do you know why?"

Wang Bojian thought for a moment: "...This humble one cannot guess the Dragon King's intent."

"Because he dared to gamble." Li Yunxin withdrew his hand. "The people around me, Liu Gongzan, and those few minor demons, all dared to gamble—all dared to stay by my side when I was at my weakest. And I myself am a gambler. Gamblers do not like conservative and boring people. You, at least as I see you now, are too conservative and boring."

Wang Bojian was silent for a while, letting out a light breath. But he looked up at Li Yunxin again: "The Dragon King wouldn't have only this one reason, right?"

"Of course not." Li Yunxin smiled. "It is also because I am a petty person and hold grudges. So I remember that when I was fighting for my life in Weicheng, you were sitting in your shop drinking wine and eating snacks, watching slowly. I am no Saint—the anger in me has not yet dissipated."

Wang Bojian was speechless. He could only sigh: "The Dragon King is truly... a person of true temperament. But at least, we can take things slowly. For example, what is the Dragon King's current trouble?"

"Boss Wang has become a clever person this time." Li Yunxin smiled as he looked at him. "So you want to show me some goodwill."

Wang Bojian seemed not quite used to Li Yunxin's direct and blunt way of talking. Therefore, he paused and gave a slight bitter smile before saying: "...I suppose so. What does the Dragon King want now?"

Li Yunxin thought for a while, resting his hand on the tabletop, his five fingers tapping gently like rolling waves. After ten or so breaths, he finally spoke: "Half a month ago, the True Dragon said to me, 'I give you one month.' One month to take control of the Wei River. Although failing might not have serious consequences, I don't much like the feeling of failure."

"After I came to this Rong City in the Yu Kingdom, I suddenly found it's an interesting place with some interesting people, and I want to stay for a while longer. In that case... there isn't enough time. So, do you have the ability and energy—" Li Yunxin looked at Wang Bojian, "within fifteen days, to make the demons occupying my Wei River submit to me?"

Hearing this, Wang Bojian rubbed his hands: "Oh dear. That matter... is indeed very difficult."

But after thinking for a while, he laughed: "But it's not impossible."

Then he stood up and looked at Li Yunxin: "Since we've already made the Dragon King hold a grudge once, then this time... we'll bring out our best skills to help the Dragon King traverse the world!"

Li Yunxin gave two loud laughs: "Good. Then I will sit and wait for your great gift. That's all for tonight. Right now, I have to go out and do some other pleasant business—we shall meet again."

After speaking, he turned and went out the door, disappearing with the Wolf Daoist into the dark curtain of rain in no time.

Wang Bojian watched Li Yunxin leave. He waited for another fifteen minutes after his disappearance before moving the long stool behind him and slowly walking toward the back of the hall.

The Wood South Residence in Rong City was also a three-courtyard complex. Wang Bojian pushed the back door of the front hall, and the wind and rain of the night blew on him. He braved the rain across the small central path paved with Bluestone slabs, walking with uneven steps to the door of the main house.

He raised his hand to knock, but a woman's voice already came from inside. The voice was gentle and soft, making one unable to help but imagine how beautiful its owner must be. But within this gentleness, there was a sense of uprightness and peace, making it hard for anyone to feel disrespectful.

Hearing the voice, Wang Bojian quickly withdrew his hand. He first adjusted his clothes and hat, which had been drenched by the heavy rain, and then pushed the door to enter—but only crossed the threshold, keeping his head low—respectfully saying: "Clear Water Daoist." (Note 1)

Then he heard a light rustling sound. Then the sound of bare feet stepping on the wooden floor. After a while, a pair of lustrous and snow-white bare feet appeared in Wang Bojian's lowered field of vision. The feet were soon covered by a water-blue sheer skirt, but Wang Bojian still lowered his head a bit more to keep his gaze further away.

"No need for that. Stand properly." Clear Water Daoist walked a few steps in front of Wang Bojian, appearing to be busy with something. "You saw that Li Yunxin?"

Wang Bojian hesitated for a while before slowly raising his head. He saw Clear Water Daoist... combing her hair.

As if having just woken from a short nap, she held an ivory-colored wooden comb. Standing with her body and face slightly turned, her long black hair hung down, draping over her snow-white, slender neck. She gently combed her hair while looking out the window, as if her thoughts were not in this room but in some far-off place.

The candlelight in the room gilded her black hair, making every strand shine with a dim yellow light... she looked like a fairy who did not belong to this world.

—At least Wang Bojian thought so. This scene and thought caused him a brief lapse in focus until the Clear Water Daoist "found a spare moment" to turn her head and glance at him with a pair of eyes as bright as stars. Only then did he take a sharp breath and lower his head again: "...I have seen him. He left just fifteen minutes ago."

Clear Water Daoist did not speak. Instead, she concentrated on combing her hair, and only after tying it loosely behind her did she say: "What was said?"

Having tidied herself up, she stood there on the ground, her slender body enveloped in the water-blue sheer skirt—looking as if she might fly away with a light breeze at any moment.

Wang Bojian took another deep breath and recounted his conversation with Li Yunxin word for word. But it was not limited to the dialogue. He also described Li Yunxin's expressions and movements when he spoke every sentence in great detail, even to the precise point of "he was silent for two breaths."

After listening, Clear Water Daoist asked him: "What do you think of him?"

Wang Bojian thought seriously for a while and spoke: "This person acts in an absurd and unrestrained manner. But in reality, he is far-sighted and understands the big picture very well."

"And his temperament?"

Wang Bojian thought for another while and said honestly: "This subordinate cannot see it."

Clear Water Daoist then moved toward a large bed in the room. She stood by the bed and said softly: "A good thing delivered to his door, yet he actually rejected it."

After another silence amidst the sound of rain and wind, she suddenly turned her head to look at him, a fleeting, clever smile appearing on her face: "But that's exactly why it's interesting. Don't you think?"

This smile of hers... almost made Wang Bojian's heart skip a beat. The manager of Wood South Residence took a long while before suddenly lowering his head: "Yes... yes..."

"Help him achieve what he wants." Clear Water Daoist waved her hand. A gentle force pushed Wang Bojian out the door and closed it at the same time. "I think very highly of him."