Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 38: Yang Mansion Encounters a Setback
Song Xian's mind was racing. He didn't expect that the Qingyuan Sect would act so quickly. He and his companions had just arrived, and the Qingyuan Sect had already started its business. It not only established a relationship with the Beast Taming Sect, but also cooperated with the Luoyun Sect.

With these two points alone, it has been able to firmly sit on the position of the largest force in Bianxia Town. This is not good news for Hunyuan Sect. No matter what the relationship between the two sides is, the emergence of a powerful sect on the border is always a hidden threat. When it develops to a certain point, it will inevitably expand to the surrounding areas.

He still kept a smile on his face: "Congratulations to your Excellency. I just wonder when this market will open?"

"It's almost there. The market will be recruiting merchants in a month at most. If Sect Leader Song is interested, our sect can secure a good position for you."

"That's great, but I wonder how much it would cost to buy a shop in the market?"

"We can discuss this later. The specific price hasn't been decided yet, and it's not up to our sect to decide. If Sect Leader Song really wants to open a shop in this market, I'll send someone to notify your sect once the market is fully built. How about that?"

"That would be too much trouble for your Majesty."

"It's not a big deal. Originally, our sect was planning to gather all the forces in Bianxia Town together for negotiations after the market was built. I didn't expect Sect Leader Song to come to us first."

"Fellow Daoist Wu, your sect arrived earlier than us, so you must know more about the situation here than we do. Wasn't there already a market before we came to this town? Why do we need to rebuild it?"

"Fellow Daoist Song must be aware that Xiazhen was recently ceded to the Qin State from the Muhe Grassland. Previously, it belonged to the Far Eastern Region of the Muhe Grassland, encompassing an area of ​​four to five thousand miles. This market town in the eastern Tianshan Mountains was originally established by forces from the Muhe Grassland, but after it was ceded to us, they withdrew. Perhaps out of resentment, they destroyed the entire market town before leaving."

"I see." Song Xian nodded. "I still have a question. How did your sect get in touch with the Beast Taming Sect? Could you tell me?"

Wu Xuan smiled slightly and stroked his beard: "This is confidential, please forgive me for not telling you."

"I've heard that Senior Yang Jinzhang, the Beastmaster Sect's chief stationed in West City, is incredibly talented and powerful. Many forces in West City have relied on his connections. I wonder if this is also true of your sect?"

Wu Xuan smiled but did not answer.

At this time, footsteps were heard outside. Several people turned around and saw a middle-aged man of medium build and fair complexion walking in. He was over 40 years old and had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. It was Hu Yingquan, the head of Qingyuan Sect.

"Master, this is Master Song of the Hunyuan Sect, currently stationed at Guzi Mountain." Seeing him come in, Wu Xuan stood up to greet him and introduced him.

"My name is Song Xian, nice to meet Sect Leader Hu. Please forgive me for disturbing you."

Hu Yingquan looked him over and said, "I didn't expect Sect Leader Song to be so young. I'm sorry for not welcoming you, Sect Leader Song."

"Master Hu, you're welcome. My sect just settled in Lonely Child Mountain the other day. Since we're both exiles and neighbors, and we might need to face something together in the future, I've gathered up the courage to come and pay you a visit."

"Master Song is right. Now that we have settled here, we should help each other. Don't stand there, please sit down." Hu Yingquan said with a smile.

The two of them took their seats as host and guest.

"Guzi Mountain seems to be close to the Tianshan Mountains! How did your clan get there?"

"It's not up to our sect to decide where to go. They designated the location, so we have no choice but to go."

"I've never been to Lonely Mountain, so I don't know what it's like there. I imagine the spiritual energy there must be very rich! How does it compare to this mountain?"

"I'm ashamed to say that Guzi Mountain only has a first-grade, lower-grade spiritual vein, which is far inferior to your sect's. As we traveled along, we felt that this place was full of spiritual energy, so I think it must be at least a first-grade, upper-grade spiritual vein."

"I think your sect arrived late, and the other good places have already been taken by other sects, so you have no choice but to settle in Guzi Mountain. I wonder how many people you have brought with you?"

"I'm ashamed. My clan is small and weak, with only a dozen or so people."

"Oh!" Hu Yingquan nodded calmly. In his heart, he looked down on Song Xian and Hunyuan Sect, but he did not show any contempt on his face. He continued to chat with them as if they were family matters.

After chatting for a few more words, he stood up and said, "Master Song, I still have some things to attend to and really don't have time to entertain you all. Next time I have the chance, I will visit your sect in person. Elder Wu, please entertain these three fellow Taoists for me. I'll go first."

"Master Hu, please do as you please."

Hu Yingquan strode away, and Song Xian chatted with Wu Xuan for a while before also saying goodbye and leaving.

.........

"Humph! What a joke! Look at him, he's already succeeding before anything has happened."

After leaving Qingyuan Sect, Zhang Ningyuan snorted in dissatisfaction. Being a quick-witted and adept at reading people's expressions, he naturally noticed the change in Qingyuan Sect's headmaster, Hu Yingquan,'s attitude after learning of Hunyuan Sect's situation. Song Xian, the headmaster of a neighboring sect, had personally visited, and even without a grand welcome ceremony, he'd certainly have been treated with courtesy and tried to retain him. Yet, after a few words, he hurried away, his coldness and contempt evident.

Zhong Wenyuan's expression wasn't very good either, but he just didn't say anything.

Song Xian's expression was calm and he said leisurely, "It's human nature to bully the good and fear the evil, to put down the weak and praise the strong."

The three of them rode on a flying magic weapon and headed east.

After arriving at Bianxi City, Song Xian ordered Zhang Ningyuan to go to the market to buy formation flags, while he and Zhong Wenyuan went to visit Yang Jinzhang, the head of the Beast Taming Sect stationed in Bianxi City.

The headquarters of the Beast Taming Sect is located in the southeast of Bianxi City, and Yang Jinzhang's private residence is not far away. He is a powerful figure in Bianxi City, and it is not difficult to find out about him by asking anyone in the market.

It was dusk when the two arrived at Yang's Mansion. The huge mansion was as magnificent as a palace, and the blue brick walls on all four sides were as tall as city walls.

The two men came to the west gate of the mansion, and saw the words "Yang Mansion" above the tall lintel shining with golden light under the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Stop, who are you?" The big man standing outside the mansion gate stretched out his hand to stop the two men.

"I am Song Xian, the headmaster of the Hunyuan Sect. I have come to pay you a visit. Please inform Senior Yang."

The man who blocked the road was an ordinary mortal, but he had an aura of superiority. After hearing what Song Xian said, he knew that he was a cultivator, but he did not show the fear and servility of ordinary mortals. He still said coldly: "What Hunyuan Sect? I have never heard of it. Where are you from?"

Zhong Wenyuan was so angry when he heard his contemptuous tone that his face changed instantly.

Although the Qingyun Sect has declined, it is still one of the best sects in Changping City. As the inner sect deacon of the sect, not to mention being extremely powerful, he is also a well-known figure. Who dares to speak to him like this? Now a mortal treats him as nothing, does not take him seriously at all, and even uses a questioning tone.

Song Xian was also feeling uncomfortable, but since he needed help, and since he really couldn't afford to offend anyone from the Yang residence, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and say, "We migrated from Pingyuan County a few days ago and are currently settled in Bianxia Town. We've come to visit Senior Yang, so please let us know."

After hearing this, the big man seemed to become even more arrogant and held his head high. "From Bianxia Town, I understand. Did you inform the people in the mansion beforehand about your visit to the master?"

"No. We just arrived in Bianxi City."

"Since you don't have it, please go back! The master doesn't want to see outsiders at this time." The big man said this, but he stretched out his right hand and rubbed his fingers. His meaning was obvious.

Song Xian and Zhong Wenyuan couldn't help but look at each other, and saw shock in each other's eyes. They didn't expect that a small guard in front of Yang Mansion would dare to ask for benefits from them so blatantly.

A glimpse of the leopard in the cage can reveal a lot. If the top beam is crooked, the bottom beam will be crooked too. A gatekeeper was not afraid of the immortal sect leader who came to visit him, and he even dared to ask for money. He did so by relying on Yang Jinzhang's power, which shows how powerful he is in Bianxi City.

Song Xian nodded slightly. Zhong Wenyuan took out a silver ingot from his sleeve and handed it to him, saying, "Please inform us."

Unexpectedly, the man sneered and said with disdain, "In my opinion, you should go back!"

Seeing his expression, Song Xian knew that he was dissatisfied with the small amount of silver, so he said, "I wonder what conditions you would require in order for him to inform Senior Yang on our behalf? Please let me know."

The big man glanced at him and said, "It seems you really don't understand! Can you see this master whenever you want? In Bianxi City, there are at least eighty people who want to see the master every day. If everyone wants to see him, even if the master has three heads and six arms, he won't be able to handle it. Since it's not easy for you to come all this way, let me tell you! Bring a spirit stone and I will inform the manager on your behalf. Whether the manager is willing to inform you or not is none of my business."

Hearing that he asked for a spirit stone right away, and he only informed the manager inside, Song Xian felt deeply moved. Even a gatekeeper in Yang Mansion was so greedy. It really proved the saying that a seventh-rank official is just a doorman to the prime minister.

In order to see Yang Jinzhang, he had no choice but to take out a spirit stone and handed it to the big man: "Please inform us."

The big man took the spirit stone, smiled, and turned to go into the mansion.

After a while, an older man with a mustache walked out. He was also a mortal. The big man followed him and introduced him, "This is our housekeeper Yang, a member of the master's clan."

Butler Yang glanced at the two of them and said calmly, "You can go back! The master is not seeing guests today, and I can't inform you. Since you've come so far, and to save you the trouble of running back and forth, I'll tell you that the master only handles official business and receives guests on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. If you have anything to do, please come back on those two days."

He said without paying any attention to Song Xian and turned back to the inner room.

Only two people were left standing outside, staring at each other.

(End of this chapter)