Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion-Chapter 78: Let’s Get Drunk Today

After a long moment, Fang Qingyuan finally spoke:

"Why are we going to White Mountain again? Wasn’t helping the Wei Family last time enough?"

Fang Qingyuan recalled the scene from his trip to White Mountain three years ago. The sky filled with beast-ships, the military formations, and the terrifying sword light of Swentai appeared before his eyes once more.

’War is a deadly affair. Why give up this peaceful life to go help the Wei Family at White Mountain? What is Lechuan thinking?’

Zhang Yuan’s expression wasn’t much better. Although he hadn’t gone to White Mountain back then, a good friend of his had, and never returned. The memory still caused him great pain.

Jiang Kui, while stroking her little bear’s furry head, began to share the news she had gathered:

"Last time, the Wei Family was framed by several sects from White Mountain for stealing infants. Wei Tong seized an opportunity when several Golden Core Cultivators from the Artifact Talisman Alliance were away. They had been driven into the Wilderness Forest to hunt Blood Shadow Evil Cultivators by Gao Guangsheng, a late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Vast Collection Pavilion. Wei Tong used this opening to lead his men and attack the Celestial Attraction Sect, a vassal sect of the Artifact Talisman Alliance.

However, just before the new year, those Golden Core Cultivators from the Artifact Talisman Alliance, who had been stuck in the forest for nearly two years, somehow managed to pull some strings with Gao Guangsheng. He actually let them return to the Artifact Talisman Alliance.

As soon as they returned, they naturally sought to settle the score with the Shandu Wei Family for the battle at the Celestial Attraction Sect. A second great war immediately erupted at Celestial Attraction Mountain.

Of course, Wei Tong wasn’t one to just sit and wait for death. With his late-stage Golden Core Spiritual Flood Dragon, he single-handedly fought four Golden Core Cultivators from the Artifact Talisman Alliance and surprisingly didn’t fall behind. He barely managed to stabilize the situation, and now both sides are locked in a stalemate across Celestial Attraction Mountain.

But in a four-against-two fight, Wei Tong is at a disadvantage. On top of that, the Artifact Talisman Alliance plans to join forces with the Luo Family from near Shandu Mountain. For a time, the once-ascendant Wei Family has found itself in a precarious situation.

So, Wei Tong sent people to ask Dean Le for help. For some unknown reason, the Dean actually agreed. After the new year, he’s going to issue a mandatory sect order, select a group of Inner and Outer Disciples, and send them to lend a hand."

After hearing all this, Fang Qingyuan’s expression became grim. A mandatory sect order could not be defied. Unless you were prepared to betray the sect, you had no choice but to obey once the order was given.

’The sect gives you a stipend and benefits on normal days, but at critical moments, they expect you to step up. All the happiness you felt collecting those Spirit Stones, now you have to pay it all back.’

Thinking of this, Fang Qingyuan asked another question:

"What’s the deal with the Luo Family near Shandu? Why are they attacking the Wei Family too?"

Jiang Kui gave Fang Qingyuan a strange look and said:

"You don’t know? The Luo Family Master’s wife is Swen Guang’s daughter. Wei Tong wiped out her entire family, so naturally, she’s been making a huge fuss. This time, she even threatened suicide to force the Luo Family Master to act. He’s coordinating with the Artifact Talisman Alliance, leading over a thousand Cultivators to surround Shandu."

Just then, Zhang Yuan put down his wine cup and asked with confusion:

"Isn’t the Wei Family under a three-generation enfeoffment? How do the people from White Mountain dare to ignore the Great Zhou Academy’s prohibition and attack the Wei Family directly?"

Fang Qingyuan was also confused about this, so both men looked toward Jiang Kui.

As expected, Jiang Kui did not disappoint them and explained the reason directly:

"It’s true that the Wei Family is under a three-generation enfeoffment. However, when Wei Tong attacked Shandu, he automatically gave up that layer of protection.

The Great Zhou Academy protects the Wei Family, but only on the condition that they remain on Celestial Gate Mountain, where other powers cannot attack them. It doesn’t mean the Wei Family can attack others, and others can’t retaliate."

The logic was simple, and Fang Qingyuan understood it immediately. If the Wei Family had behaved themselves, the Great Zhou Academy would have guaranteed that no other power would attack them for three generations. However, Wei Tong went to White Mountain and attacked the Swen Family, so the Great Zhou Academy washed its hands of the matter.

’No wonder Lechuan compensated Wei Tong with a late-stage Golden Core Spiritual Flood Dragon. He was basically paying off that debt.’

’And no wonder those sects from White Mountain dared to send a joint force to attack the mountain last year, forcing Wei Tong to bow his head.’

But knowing the whole story just made Fang Qingyuan feel powerless. He never would have imagined that events at White Mountain, thousands of miles away, could end up involving him.

However, since Lechuan had made up his mind, it meant that people would definitely be sent to White Mountain to help after the new year, and there was a high chance he would be chosen.

’Once I’m chosen, I won’t be able to refuse. When I get to the battlefield, my life or death will be out of my hands.’

’Therefore, I absolutely cannot go to this war!’

Fang Qingyuan made up his mind. After pondering for a moment, he looked toward Jiang Kui.

’This Jiang Kui was the Elder Dean’s confidante. Over the years, she’s proven capable, knows everyone, and is quick-witted. Asking her about this is much more reliable than guessing on my own.’

So, Fang Qingyuan picked up his wine cup, sidled up to Jiang Kui, and said with a cheerful smile:

"Senior Sister, you must have a way to save me. This Junior Brother just wants to live a quiet life earning a few Spirit Stones. Being sent to White Mountain to fight other sects for the Wei Family... what kind of mess is this?"

Jiang Kui shot Fang Qingyuan a look and said with a teasing smile:

"So, Junior Brother Fang does get scared sometimes. Weren’t you so brave back then, piloting that beast-ship to help the Wei Family attack Shandu? Why are you so unwilling now?"

Hearing Jiang Kui’s words, Fang Qingyuan’s face flushed red, and he pleaded:

"Senior Sister, please don’t tease me. Back then, this Junior Brother didn’t know the inside story. I was only focused on completing the sect’s mission and went along cluelessly. For the past two years, I’ve just been peacefully raising my tortoise and gathering spiritual materials. I don’t want to get involved anymore."

Seeing Fang Qingyuan like this, some of Jiang Kui’s anger dissipated. Wei Tong was a major reason for the Elder Dean’s death back then.

Although the hidden circumstances were complex, the fact remained that Wei Tong had killed the Elder Dean’s Golden Core Companion Beast and severely wounded the Elder Dean himself.

And after that, Fang Qingyuan had eagerly gone to help the Wei Family attack Shandu. Jiang Kui had not forgotten that.

Now that Fang Qingyuan was begging for forgiveness and admitting his mistake, even though Jiang Kui knew he was innocent and couldn’t be blamed, she still felt pleased.

Alas, such is the mind of a woman. Even as a late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator, Jiang Kui was not immune to such common sentiments.

After she had her laugh, Jiang Kui offered a hint:

"I heard that the one in charge of the selection is Zhao Liangde, a disciple of Lechuan. The man is corrupt to the bone, so greedy he’d pluck a feather from a passing goose. He’s only been here two years and has already angered everyone. However, while Zhao Liangde is greedy, he’s also known for keeping his word. As long as you stuff him full of Spirit Stones, I guarantee you’ll be fine."

Hearing this from Jiang Kui, Fang Qingyuan finally relaxed. All he needed was to know there was a way out. His biggest fear was that the steward in charge of selection would be incorruptible and unyielding. In that case, he would have to rely on sheer luck.

A moment later, however, Fang Qingyuan started to feel a pang of heartache. In the past six months, between his little shop in Black River Square and his diligent daily ferry work, he had managed to save up just over three thousand Spirit Stones. He had no idea how many he would have to fork over to get through this crisis.

His lament finished, Fang Qingyuan turned to look at Zhang Yuan. He saw his junior brother had picked up his wine cup again and was taking alternating bites of meat and sips of wine.

So, Fang Qingyuan asked:

"Junior Brother Zhang, would you like to come with me to see Uncle Zhao? We can try to pull some strings and clear the way."

Zhang Yuan swallowed the mutton in his mouth and said, his eyes hazy with drink:

"I’ll pass. With that many Spirit Stones, I’d rather just buy some good wine. As they say, ’When there is wine in life, one must get drunk; not a single drop ever reaches the underworld.’ ’Have wine today, get drunk today; if sorrow comes tomorrow, worry about it tomorrow.’ Tomorrow’s sorrows..."

Fang Qingyuan watched the drunken Zhang Yuan in silence. Then, he tilted his head back and drained the remaining wine in his cup in one gulp.