Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion-Chapter 81: Operation Manager

Before the Shandu Array, Fang Qingyuan gazed at the distant Mountain Protection Array, filled with emotion. Only three years had passed since he first came here, but he was no longer the humble Camel Driver he once was.

"Steward Fang, the ten Cultivators from Team B have arrived with the Earth Spirit Square Stones. Would you like to go and inspect them?"

The speaker was a Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator named Qu Daoguang. Although his cultivation was three minor realms higher than Fang Qingyuan’s, he was now utterly respectful toward him.

This was because Fang Qingyuan had been personally appointed as an Operation Manager by Zhao Liangde, and this man was his assigned deputy.

For this campaign, Zhao Liangde had appointed three Inner Sect Disciples from the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect as Operation Managers, and Fang Qingyuan was one of them. He now had ten people under his command and was primarily responsible for the logistics of the forces assembled by the Beast Taming Sect.

The number of people the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect had summoned to aid the Wei Family had now swelled to nearly two thousand. Eight hundred of them had been sent to the front lines at Celestial Attraction Mountain, while the remaining thousand-plus were stationed before Shandu Mountain, locked in a standoff with the allied forces of the Luo Family and the Artifact Talisman Alliance.

This was considered a secondary front, and the fighting wasn’t intense. Occasionally, Cultivators would challenge each other to a duel. After a few bouts, the day’s business was considered done.

As for Fang Qingyuan’s post, it couldn’t even be considered a secondary front. He was currently stationed in the far rear of the army and hadn’t seen an enemy Cultivator in days.

"The Earth Spirit Square Stones have arrived? Good. Let’s go take inventory. It’s getting late, so gather the team members afterward. We’ll go to the tavern on the back mountain. It’s my treat."

After Fang Qingyuan finished speaking, Qu Daoguang’s face lit up with delight. He said:

"Steward Fang, you’re far too generous! You’ve been spending so much on us this past month. The brothers feel a bit guilty about it."

Fang Qingyuan laughed and waved his hand dismissively.

"It’s just a bit of money. The brothers are all working hard, so how could I mistreat you? Listen to me—later at the tavern on the back mountain, everyone has to be there. No exceptions."

After Qu Daoguang left to gather the men, the smile vanished from Fang Qingyuan’s face. He felt the storage pouch in his robes and sighed to himself.

To secure this Steward position, Fang Qingyuan had given Zhao Liangde no less than five thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones. Over the past month, he had continued to spend lavishly to win people over. With Spirit Stones only flowing out and none coming in, his heart ached at the expense.

But some expenses were unavoidable. The position of Operation Manager was only temporary and would be eliminated after the war, so it didn’t command much authority over the ten Cultivators under him.

If they acknowledged him, he was an Operation Manager. If they didn’t, he was just a minor Fifth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator.

Fang Qingyuan didn’t want to find himself in a situation where he encountered an enemy Cultivator and none of his subordinates were willing to save him. For now, it was just wining and dining, but some Cultivators responded well to this approach.

Some Loose Cultivators from humble backgrounds, feeling valued by a Beast Taming Sect disciple like Fang Qingyuan, were inspired to a loyalty that made them willing to die for one who appreciated them. There weren’t many, but two or three of them felt this way.

’It’s not that I expect them to be incredibly capable, but at a critical moment, it would be nice if they could just buy me some time.’

’That’s about all the loyalty you can buy with small favors.’

....

After taking inventory of the delivered Earth Spirit Square Stones, Fang Qingyuan had the supplies sealed in the warehouse. Then, he led his group in a grand procession toward the tavern on the back mountain.

The area where the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect was garrisoned had already evolved into a massive settlement. Not only were there over a thousand Cultivators gathered, but there were also several times that number in mortal Servants and merchants.

Everything was chaotic and noisy, not at all like a strictly disciplined Military Array Great Stronghold where orders were followed without question.

Lechuan paid this situation no mind, and the few Foundation Establishment Uncles from the sect also pretended not to see it, allowing the area to remain chaotic.

As soon as Fang Qingyuan’s group entered the tavern, they called over the owner and told him to bring his specialty dishes.

This display drew the attention of the Cultivators already there, but upon seeing Fang Qingyuan, they all stood up one after another to greet him.

Fang Qingyuan smiled and returned their greetings one by one. It wasn’t the first or second time he had been here, so he was already a familiar face.

As they were in the middle of their meal, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance. Fang Qingyuan took a closer look and realized he vaguely recognized a few of the people. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Fellow Daoists from the She Family, please, come sit over here."

Fang Qingyuan had Qu Daoguang go over and invite the group, while he himself remained seated comfortably in the host’s seat, not moving an inch.

The members of the She Family were confused. Even after seeing Fang Qingyuan, they still didn’t understand why this Beast Taming Sect disciple had summoned them.

Seeing the confusion on the She Family disciples’ faces, Fang Qingyuan laughed heartily and said to their leader:

"Three years ago in Shandu, we fought against Swentai together. Don’t you recognize me anymore?"

At Fang Qingyuan’s words, it finally dawned on the leader of the She Family disciples. Back then, Fang Qingyuan had been at the front, driving a camel ray. Even though he was a disciple of the Beast Taming Mountain, the She Family disciples hadn’t really paid him much attention.

This was because Fang Qingyuan had neither joined the fight nor helped with the aftermath. They had only been together for half a day; it would have been a miracle if they remembered him.

Fang Qingyuan, however, had a deep impression of the She Family. Looking back at the Wei Family’s many vassals at the time, not just anyone could have held their ground against Swentai, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Fang! It’s been three years, and you look as remarkable as ever."

Listening to the She Family disciple’s flattery, Fang Qingyuan had the owner add a few more seats and then introduced the two groups to each other, making sure to emphasize the tale of how he and the She Family had fought against Swentai together.

After he told the story, Fang Qingyuan could clearly feel a change in the way his subordinates looked at him.

The She Family disciples were tactful enough not to expose the fact that Fang Qingyuan had never made a move back then and had only wanted to run. Instead, they played along, chiming in to praise him and make him sound extraordinarily heroic.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew lively. Fang Qingyuan let his subordinates entertain themselves and moved closer to the leader of the She Family disciples, asking in a low voice:

"How has your Patriarch been lately?"

The leader of the She Family disciples was named She Xuanyan. He was over thirty, with a steady and principled demeanor and a cultivation at the Late-stage Qi Cultivation. Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s question, he blinked before replying:

"The Patriarch is well, but he is on the front lines at Celestial Attraction Mountain and cannot return. We’ve just come back to the rear to recuperate for a few days and will have to return to Celestial Attraction Mountain soon."

Hearing that this group of She Family disciples had come from the front lines, Fang Qingyuan’s interest was piqued. He asked curiously:

"What’s the situation at the front really like? I keep hearing all sorts of rumors, and I don’t know which to believe. As for the Wei Family’s official statements, I definitely don’t trust them."

She Xuanyan drained the last of the wine in his cup and then said in a somber tone:

"The situation on the front is grim. The allied forces, led by four Golden Core cultivators from the Artifact Talisman Alliance, launch a fierce assault on Celestial Attraction Mountain every few days. The Wei Family’s old ancestor is holed up with his Spiritual Flood Dragon and refuses to come out, so we’re in a very passive position. What’s more, I heard from our Patriarch that the Artifact Talisman Alliance has another three Golden Core cultivators in their rear who haven’t even arrived yet. If they join the fight, this war is undoubtedly lost."

Hearing this news, Fang Qingyuan felt a chill. ’Seven Golden Core cultivators from the Artifact Talisman Alliance alone... Two against seven. No matter how you look at it, this is a losing battle.’

’Unless Lechuan himself enters the fray with his Companion Beast, then we might have a fighting chance. But would Lechuan really do that?’

As Fang Qingyuan was lost in thought, She Xuanyan asked with a hopeful expression:

"Fellow Daoist Fang, I was wondering... what is your relationship with the Head of your Miscellaneous Affairs Peak, Zhao Liangde?"

The moment She Xuanyan finished speaking, Fang Qingyuan’s eyes lit up. He looked at She Xuanyan and let out a genuine, heartfelt laugh.

"Uncle Zhao? I know him very well. You could say he’s my greatest benefactor."