Tumor Sword Immortal

Chapter 227 I Have Some Experience in Being an Elder
The "Qing" in Qingcheng refers to the green mountains and clear waters. This place is actually surrounded by mountains, and land transportation is not convenient. The reason why it was able to develop into a major city in the eastern border of Xiaochen Kingdom is entirely due to the water transport through Changjing Gate.

Pei Xia, carrying pears, and Han Youzhi went out by boat, which meandered for two miles along the city's river. After exiting the waterway, they reached the riverbank outside the city, where they could vaguely see the towering bamboo building plaque in the distance.

The mountain gate of Changjingmen is a water fortress.

"No wonder they say they're no respectable in the martial arts world; how come they're acting like pirates?"

Pei Xia, seeing that they were almost there, muttered something on the boat one last time. But once she stepped onto the dock of the water fortress, her face lit up with a smile: "Ah, so this is the water fortress gate of the Long Whale Sect. It's really magnificent!"

Two men wearing yellow turbans stood at the door, gripping long spears with hooks. They looked at him in surprise and shouted, "Who goes there?"

Pei Xia quickly took out his wooden plaque, indicating, "An old friend from the Changjing Sect has come to pay a visit with this token."

Ordinary disciples wearing yellow turbans naturally wouldn't recognize the wooden plaque. Just as they were about to announce it, a voice suddenly came from behind Pei Xia: "What token is this? Let me see."

Pei Xia turned around in surprise and saw that the boatman who had just rowed the boat for him had taken off his bamboo hat, revealing a shiny bald head.

This bald man not only looked fierce and menacing, but he also had a piercing in his ear, and instead of ordinary earrings, he wore a rather long piece of blue cloth.

The two disciples at the door quickly bowed and said, "Go ahead."

Is this someone from the Long Whale Sect? Only now, upon closer inspection, did Pei Xia vaguely realize that the blue cloth on his ear seemed to be a headband, just not tied to his head.

The bald man examined the wooden plaque from side to side, then clicked his tongue and said, "This thing is really rudimentary, but it suits the lowly, unsavory ways of us Long Whale Clan pirates, doesn't it?"

Han Youzhi covered her mouth with the hand holding the sword, trying very hard to suppress her laughter.

Pei Xia could only manage a forced, insincere smile.

See, it's true that you shouldn't say bad things behind someone's back if you can avoid it.

Fortunately, the bald boatman didn't take Pei Xia seriously. He did have some recollection of the wooden plaque; several marks on it indicated it was undoubtedly an item from the Changjing Sect, though it was quite old.

"Alright, then come in with me."

The bald man waved his hand, and the disciples at the door naturally did not stop him anymore.

After passing through the sect's water gate, the scene ahead was revealed to everyone.

The Long Whale Sect is not entirely located on the water fortress. The bamboo houses form a large fortress with a network of waterways, but it can only be considered the sect's "front courtyard".

Pei Xia glanced around and saw sentry posts, docks, warehouses, and a constant stream of boats of all sizes coming and going. It seemed that this place was also a distribution center for Qingcheng's water transport.

After walking for a while, the Ten-Mile Water Village came to an end and came ashore. The houses were densely packed together. Although they looked chaotic, there were many people moving about in the alleys. There were adults and children, as well as clothes and dried fish hanging out to dry. It seemed to be the residence of ordinary disciples of the sect.

It's truly rare that ordinary disciples can live with their families. This is probably a tradition left over from the Cao Gang. Although they have changed their flag and become Jianghu sects, the shadow of the folk guild still exists.

Pei Xia and the others followed behind the bald man, looking around and finding everything quite novel. Even for an experienced martial artist like Pei Xia, the environment of the Long Whale Sect was quite different from that of ordinary people.

“Speaking of which, this… Executive,” Pei Xia still remembered what the disciples at the door called the bald man, “his cultivation is quite high; I didn’t even notice it on the way here.”

The bald man tilted his head, a mocking smile appearing on his lips: "I have no cultivation, how could you have sensed that?"

Pei Xia was taken aback for a moment, then understood.

Indeed, it was his assumption. Because he held a high position within the Long Whale Sect, he subconsciously assumed that this person was also a cultivator.

However, upon closer examination, the Changjing Sect also has many canal transport affairs and businesses, and it needs to maintain good relations with various courts. Those who can maintain and connect these affairs all hold high positions within the sect, but they do not necessarily need to have high cultivation levels.

Sure enough, the bald man immediately followed up, saying, "I went to Dongzhou Sea a few days ago to check on the fishing conditions. I came to report today and happened to run into you on the way, as you were also heading to Changjing Gate, so I gave you a ride." The bald man with the blue turban looked fierce, but he was actually quite talkative. After a few words with him, Pei Xia learned that he was originally an old member of the Canal Gang and disliked the atmosphere of sects, so he usually made a living by rowing a boat in Qingcheng and only came when he needed something.

After passing the foot of the mountain, heading towards the mountains along the river, it gradually begins to resemble a typical sect. Layer upon layer of peaks and winding paths lead to secluded spots. Several small paths turn into the main mountain gate, and as you walk halfway up the mountain, the pavilions and terraces of Changjingmen, built against the mountain, gradually come into view.

The Changjing Sect has many disciples. Apart from working outside and staying at the mountain stronghold, they also have frequent interactions on the mountain. Pei Xia noticed that most of them wear headscarves, mostly yellow, followed by green, and occasionally a blue one like the bald guy.

Before long, Pei Xia and the others arrived at a large hall shaped like the prow of a ship. The bald man told them to wait outside while he took a wooden plaque and went inside.

Not long after, a disciple jogged out and called Pei Xia and the others inside.

Unlike other sects I've seen before, the main hall of the Long Whale Sect features a round table surrounded by twelve chairs, most of which are empty except for an elderly man with a short beard sitting at the very head of the table.

The old man held the wooden plaque in his hand, examined it for a long time, and sighed deeply.

"If only I had come a year earlier, I could have fulfilled one of my junior brother's long-cherished wishes," the old man sighed, put down the plaque, and looked at Pei Xia. "This token is indeed my junior brother Hu's. May I ask where you obtained it, young hero?"

Pei Xia greeted him politely and replied, "This junior, Pei Xia, learned it from a senior named Dugu."

The old man nodded. "Senior Dugu, then that's the right one."

"My junior brother Hu Ziyang passed away a year ago. It's a great pity that you can't meet him."

The old man placed the wooden plaque on the table and coughed, "But please rest assured, I, Huang Bing, have some reputation in Xiao Chen Kingdom. The promises made by Changjing Sect still stand. If you have any requests, young hero, please speak frankly."

coming.

Pei Xia had already rehearsed his words several times: "I have been wandering the martial world for many years and have always wanted to find a place to settle down. It was for this reason that Senior Dugu gave me this token and told me to come to Changjing Sect to stay."

This request surprised Huang Bing a bit.

After all, the old canal family is known for being responsive to every request. Most people think of money, or if they have some connections, they can ask for a shipping route, which is something they can live off for a lifetime.

But when it comes to martial arts practitioners joining sects... the Changjing Sect is hardly a respectable sect.

Huang Bing didn't mean to refuse. He stroked his beard, feeling somewhat troubled. He turned to look behind him and asked, "Do any of the sects or caves have any plans to take on disciples this year?"

The disciple behind him quickly shook his head: "No, we're all tightening our belts and living frugally. Who could squeeze out extra resources?"

Changjingmen is rich.

However, sect resources cannot all be bought with money. Not to mention spiritual plants, minerals, and demonic beasts, those skilled in alchemy and weapon crafting, as well as formation masters, are all rare resources.

This isn't just about whether you can afford it or not; you also have to see if other sects are willing to let you go. Even if they are, their cultivators might not be willing to come, considering what kind of foundation, cultivation methods, and blessed land Changjing Sect has.
The difference is huge. Take Yunhu Mountain for example. Their sect has the Three Heavens Knowledge, and the experience of breaking through realms that can guide the younger generation is something that can't be obtained no matter what.

"Which elder should squeeze in?"

"This... I'm afraid none of them would be willing."

Huang Bing didn't lower his voice intentionally, and Pei Xia heard him clearly.

He wasn't angry; on the contrary, this was exactly what he wanted. He quickly spoke up and said, "Sect Leader Huang, my cultivation has already reached the Refinement stage and I'm not far from the Profound stage. If the seniors in the sect are not interested in taking on disciples, do you think I could open a cave dwelling in the mountains of our Changjing Sect and become an outer sect elder or something? Is that feasible?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Bing's eyes immediately lit up.

Wow, this young man seems surprisingly sensible!
(End of this chapter)