Chapter 4

A group of five people gathered in a pavilion in front of the Thousand-Foot Rock, with Bian Qiao sitting alone on the central stone bench.

He was in his early forties, dressed in luxurious clothing, wearing a Nine-Sun Cap, and wearing thick-soled high shoes. His face was white and plump, and he held a purple clay teapot, sipping it slowly. He looked like a wealthy gentleman rather than a steward.

In front of the Thousand-Foot Rock, there were many people, and some were pointing and whispering from a distance, but he paid no attention. The few servants around him were dressed in short jackets, their chests and abdomens exposed, and their faces were full of arrogance.

Zhao Ying stood at a distance, secretly cursing Zhang Yan for not knowing his place, and feeling a bit regretful. Bian Qiao was known for his ruthless methods, and dealing with a mere registered disciple would be easy. If this little thief were to be beaten to death here, it would be one thing, but her elder brother would surely scold her, and if he got angry and fell ill again, what would she do?

She had been raised by Zhao Yuan since childhood. If it weren't for her, Zhao Yuan would have already gone up the mountain to seek the Dao, and wouldn't have been delayed for ten years. Therefore, she never dared to disobey Zhao Yuan's words. This time, she acted on a whim out of urgency and anger after seeing Zhao Yuan spit blood.

What Zhao Ying didn't know was that although Bian Qiao seemed tyrannical, he also knew when to back off.

On one hand, he tried not to offend those he shouldn't, and even if there were minor conflicts, others wouldn't hold it against him because of Hu Shengyu. On the other hand, he bullied and oppressed disciples without any background without restraint. This was why he was the most notorious among the stewards.

"Bian Steward, Zhang Yan has arrived."

A young Taoist boy from Shan Yuan Temple, who had been brought to listen, peeked around and pointed to a tall figure walking from a distance, speaking in a low voice.

Bian Qiao had already been waiting impatiently, but upon hearing this, he perked up a bit. He raised his head and glanced casually, but as he looked, he froze, the teapot at his lips trembling. He was surprised and asked, "Is that Zhang Yan?"

He had thought Zhang Yan was just a poor, rule-ignorant scholar, but the other's appearance was far beyond his expectations.

Zhang Yan had changed into a wide-sleeved Taoist robe given to him by Min Lou. Not only was he handsome, but his figure was also well-proportioned and tall, standing a head above others. His eyes exuded a stern aura, and as he strode over, he looked heroic and imposing.

What surprised Bian Qiao even more was the subtle luster on Zhang Yan's face. Having handled various affairs for Hu Shengyu for years, he was knowledgeable. He could tell that Zhang Yan had already reached the "Condensing Essence and Manifesting Intent" stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, and there were even signs of entering the "Essence Completion and True Entry" stage.

Bian Qiao bared his teeth, feeling secretly angry. He wondered what the informants were doing, as someone with such cultivation would not be an ordinary registered disciple.

In fact, Zhang Yan's former self was introverted. In the three years he had been on the mountain, he only focused on hard practice and studying the Erosion Texts, never socializing with anyone. He was so unremarkable that there was no time to investigate him thoroughly.

According to Bian Qiao's original plan, if Zhang Yan had no background, he would be beaten and crippled and thrown down the mountain.

In his eyes, a registered disciple was nothing. If it weren't for the fact that this was Shan Yuan Temple, he could have just given an order, and someone would have done it without him having to show up personally. However, upon seeing Zhang Yan, he felt that Zhang Yan was not simple at all.

Moreover, Zhang Yan was proficient in Erosion Texts...

People like him were either backed by entry disciples or came from prominent families.

Thinking this, Zhang Yan's figure seemed more profound to him, and he dared not act rashly.

However, he had always relied on Hu Shengyu's name and considered himself a significant figure. Since the scene was already set, he couldn't back down in front of so many disciples and lose face.

He forced a smile and sat there, bowing to Zhang Yan as he approached, saying, "I am Bian Qiao, who usually handles mundane affairs for Master Hu Shengyu of De Xiu Temple. Are you Brother Zhang Yan?"

Zhang Yan stopped, looking at Bian Qiao with a calm gaze, and replied, "Yes."

Bian Qiao had been carefully observing Zhang Yan's expression. Seeing that he showed no reaction to the mention of Hu Shengyu, he became even more convinced of his earlier judgment. He tried to sound friendly and asked, "I wonder how Brother Zhang is acquainted with the senior disciples of Shan Yuan Temple?"

The "senior disciples" Bian Qiao mentioned were, of course, the entry disciples of Shan Yuan Temple.

Zhang Yan, of course, knew his intentions, and with a faint smile, replied, "I am not as close to Brother Hu as you are."

Bian Qiao's face changed. This statement subtly mocked his servitude. He hated it when people mentioned his background and felt angry. The smile on his face became stiff.

He seemed refined, but he was used to being arrogant. His tone became unfriendly, and he coldly glanced at Zhang Yan, saying, "I have a question for you. I heard you interpreted Erosion Texts for the disciples of De Xiu Temple. Is that true?"

Zhang Yan was very calm and replied, "Yes."

Bian Qiao sneered, "I know you've been on the mountain for three years. How could you not know that the disciples of the three temples have rules, and interpreting Daoist texts is a specialized task? Fine, I won't make things difficult for you today. If you swear here that you will never interpret Daoist texts for the disciples of the three temples again, I will speak to the senior disciples and let you off. What do you think?"

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Since Steward Bian has spoken, from now on, I will not interpret Daoist texts for the disciples of De Xiu Temple."

Bian Qiao narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Brother, are you really clueless, or are you just teasing me? I said the disciples of the three temples. Did you understand that?"

Although the lower temple was divided into three temples, they often interacted. If someone obtained Daoist texts from De Xiu Temple and asked a disciple from another temple to interpret them for Zhang Yan, how could he stop it? It would be the same as not saying anything at all.

Zhang Yan bowed and said calmly, "In that case, I cannot comply."

How could he not know the crux of the matter? He deliberately said this to put himself in a better position. This way, it wouldn't seem like he was refusing, but rather that the other party was being too oppressive.

Bian Qiao had been wary of Zhang Yan's background and had hoped to reach a compromise. He hadn't expected Zhang Yan to be so disrespectful and not give him any face.

After a moment's thought, although Zhang Yan seemed to have some foundation, since he had broken the "rules" first, he would be in the right when speaking to the senior disciples. Why should he fear him?

Since you won't listen to my reasonable words, don't blame me for not showing mercy. Do you think I can't deal with you?

Before coming here, he had already prepared. Since reconciliation was impossible, he was ready to take action.

Bian Qiao suddenly laughed and said, "No problem, no problem. Since Brother has a deep understanding of Erosion Texts, why don't you show us your skills? I have three Daoist texts here. Please instruct us, Brother!"

He waved his hand, and a servant immediately placed a Daoist text on the table. Bian Qiao tapped the cover with his knuckles and said with a forced smile, "I know your rules, Brother Zhang. You won't lack for food and money. Please instruct us."

Since business was coming his way, Zhang Yan naturally wouldn't refuse. He took a few steps and reached out to take the Daoist text.

"Wait a moment."

Bian Qiao pressed his hand on the text, staring at Zhang Yan, and said, "I am sincere in seeking your guidance. If you interpret it incorrectly or can't interpret it, what will you do?"

Zhang Yan said calmly, "Brother can destroy my reputation, and I will never speak of Erosion Texts again."

Bian Qiao snorted and shook his head, "Not enough, not enough."

Zhang Yan also smiled, withdrew his hand, stood up straight, and asked, "Then what does Brother suggest?"

Bian Qiao narrowed his eyes and said, "You disperse your cultivation and leave the mountain. From now on, you must not step into the territory of the Ming Cang Sect."

Since many people had gathered, some disciples from the three lower temples also came over. Upon hearing this, they gasped in shock. This was a complete end to Zhang Yan's path of cultivation.

Zhang Yan was surprised. He hadn't expected Bian Qiao to become so aggressive.

He didn't know that this was Bian Qiao's nature as a tyrannical servant, seeking small gains and fearing powerful figures. He hadn't acted directly because he didn't understand Zhang Yan's background.

If Zhang Yan lost and no one stood up for him, he would be dealt with harshly. If someone with influence intervened, he could show some favor and gain a favor. In any case, if Zhang Yan made a mistake in interpreting the Daoist texts, he would be at his mercy.

"Brother's suggestion is acceptable, but..." Zhang Yan remained calm, "If it's to be like that, the price won't be just food and money."

Bian Qiao chuckled and fumbled in his sleeve, taking out a white jade bottle and placing it on the stone table. "Brother Zhang seems to have reached the Foundation Establishment stage. This is the Zhi He Pill. There are twenty-three pills in the bottle, each worth a thousand gold. What do you think?"

The disciples from the three lower temples immediately started discussing, their eyes burning with desire at the sight of the pills, but they knew they couldn't obtain them. They all cursed in their hearts, thinking that Bian Qiao, a mere steward with no cultivation, had such valuable pills, which was a waste.

Zhang Yan, well-versed in texts and records, knew the value of these pills. They could help with fasting and cleansing, solidify the foundation, and improve blood circulation, which was greatly beneficial for cultivators who often sat for days. Moreover, they were rare and only available to entry disciples.

Without further consideration, he replied, "Agreed."

Zhao Ying, in the crowd, saw Zhang Yan agree and sneered. This little thief was really risking his life. Didn't he see that Bian Qiao was setting a trap for him?

Bian Qiao bowed to the surrounding people and said, "Good. There are many senior brothers here today to witness this, so it won't be said that I, Bian Qiao, bullied someone." He was ruthless, using words to cut off Zhang Yan's retreat.

Zhang Yan coldly watched Bian Qiao's actions but was not concerned. He sat down on the stone bench, ignoring the others, and began to read the Daoist text.

The surrounding disciples, hearing Bian Qiao's words, gathered closer, curious to see what Zhang Yan could do. The disciples of Tai An Temple and Shan Yuan Temple were still calm, but the disciples of De Xiu Temple, who had seen Bian Qiao's tyranny for years, were excited. Some even ordered their Taoist boys to find their close friends, so they wouldn't miss this show.

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