Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion-Chapter 88: Cleaning Up the House

Passing through the bustling streets, Fang Qingyuan and Zhang Yuan arrived, one after the other, before Zhao Liangde’s temporary residence.

What stood before them were no longer simple tents, but elegant buildings meticulously crafted by Yellow Turban Warriors. Rockeries with flowing water, Beast Cages, and fine living quarters—it lacked nothing and was beautiful in every aspect.

Although it was a temporary residence, likely to be torn down in a year or so, it couldn’t be handled carelessly. Otherwise, outsiders might think the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect was shabby and destitute.

Day had just broken, and morning dew still clung to the tips of the grass. When Fang Qingyuan arrived, he realized he wasn’t the first one there. Two other people were already waiting respectfully ahead of him.

They were all fellow disciples, and Fang Qingyuan knew them, so he walked up with a smile to greet them.

Zhang Yuan, however, was not used to such situations and felt quite awkward. Seeing the other disciples, he instinctively tried to hide behind Fang Qingyuan.

Even when asking for a favor, one had to respect the order of arrival. Since Fang Qingyuan was late, he had no choice but to wait at the back of the line.

It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that Fang Qingyuan was finally summoned by Zhao Liangde. By then, several more people had arrived and were waiting in line behind him.

"Disciple Fang Qingyuan greets Uncle Zhao."

"Disciple Zhang Yuan greets Uncle Zhao."

Inside the reception hall, Zhao Liangde was seated in the place of honor. Fang Qingyuan and Zhang Yuan faced him and performed a disciple’s salutation. Behind Zhao Liangde stood two stunningly beautiful maids, each holding a palace fan as they stood in a staggered formation.

"There’s no need for such formality. We are all disciples of the same sect. In the days to come, the sect will be counting on your generation to shoulder the great responsibility."

Zhao Liangde clapped his palms together and smiled, his attitude toward the two of them now much warmer.

Fang Qingyuan sensed the shift in Zhao Liangde’s attitude and was rather surprised. ’Why is this Uncle Zhao, a man who won’t lift a finger without a profit, treating us so generously?’

’In the past, if we didn’t pave the way with Spirit Stones, we wouldn’t have even entered his Dharma Eye.’

Zhao Liangde noticed their confusion but simply gave a faint smile without offering an explanation. Then, he continued.

"Over four hundred people have been withdrawn from the front lines and incorporated into this Military Array Great Stronghold. Things are chaotic right now with a thousand things to sort out, so as the Operation Manager, you must step up and take responsibility."

Fang Qingyuan could only nod in agreement. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, hoping to secure a good position for Zhang Yuan, Zhao Liangde waved his hand.

"I already know why you’ve come. Based on the merits he accumulated on the front lines, Zhang Yuan has proven himself exceptionally valiant. Let’s do this: we’ll have him serve as a Patrol and Supervision Officer for now. He’ll be in charge of supervising the numerous Cultivators in the Military Array Great Stronghold and suppressing any unlawful activity. If he encounters anyone who resists discipline, he has my permission to apprehend them on the spot and report back to me afterward."

The Patrol and Supervision Officer was one of the most prestigious positions in the great stronghold, even more prominent than Fang Qingyuan’s role as Operation Manager.

’My position, which I bought with money, is just about managing the transport and replenishment of supplies. The Patrol and Supervision Officer, on the other hand, is in charge of people.’

’The post of Patrol and Supervision Officer usually requires a high cultivation base; a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is the standard. Zhang Yuan has only just reached late-stage Qi Cultivation. Is it too much of a stretch for him to take on this role?’

’After all, the Vassal Cultivators gathered in the Military Array Great Stronghold aren’t limited to the Qi Refining realm; there are Foundation Establishment Cultivators among them as well.’

But Fang Qingyuan didn’t voice this concern. Since Zhao Liangde had given the order and deemed Zhang Yuan suitable, they couldn’t immediately declare him incapable. No matter what, he should try the job for a while. If he truly proved unequal to the task, it wouldn’t be too late to address it then.

After announcing Zhang Yuan’s appointment, Zhao Liangde dismissed the maids behind him. His tone then turned cold as he questioned Fang Qingyuan.

"Has the She Family been behaving recently?"

A chill ran down Fang Qingyuan’s spine. He answered cautiously,

"For the past two months, ever since the She Family withdrew from the front lines, they have been quietly holding their defensive post. I have been there several times to deliver supplies and haven’t noticed anything unusual."

Zhao Liangde nodded and commanded,

"Good. When you return, contact the She Family. Tell them the time has come for me, Zhao Liangde, to call on their services. In three days, have the She Family prepare fifteen of their best men to await my orders."

Hearing this, Fang Qingyuan’s mind raced with a thousand thoughts. He first nodded in acknowledgment, then tentatively asked,

"Uncle, are you planning to make a move against a certain sect?"

Zhao Liangde shot him a glance, considered for a moment, and finally said slowly,

"Some sects fail to grasp the situation. They think the Wei Family’s defeat is a foregone conclusion, so they’ve been making overtures to the opposing Luo Family and the Artifact Talisman Alliance. They’re plotting to secretly defect, planning to turn on us and strike at a critical moment."

"Little do they know, the Luo Family wouldn’t dare make a move against our Beast Taming Sect, much less accept such turncoats. Instead, they turned around and sold them out to us. Now, they’ve done us a favor that we’re obligated to acknowledge."

"And since that sect has bet on the wrong horse, they must be prepared for the utter annihilation of their entire clan. In three days, I will clean house—kill the chicken to scare the monkey. That will be the moment of their death and their clan’s extinction."

Zhao Liangde’s candid explanation resolved some of Fang Qingyuan’s questions, but it also raised even greater ones.

So, Fang Qingyuan brazenly pressed on,

"But aren’t we still enemies with the Luo Family and the Artifact Talisman Alliance? Why would the Luo Family turn around and betray someone who defected to their side? If word of this gets out, who would ever trust them again?"

This time, however, Zhao Liangde was unwilling to elaborate. He had already said quite a lot, which for him, meant he was in a good mood. As the third-ranking figure in the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, why would he spell everything out for a mere Inner Sect Disciple like Fang Qingyuan?

"You’ll understand in the future. That’s all. You two may leave. There are still other disciples waiting for an audience."

Zhao Liangde had dismissed them. Though reluctant, Fang Qingyuan had no choice but to take his leave with Zhang Yuan after another salute.

Once they were outside the residential complex, Fang Qingyuan asked Zhang Yuan,

"Why didn’t you ask a single question back there? Aren’t you curious about any of this?"

Zhang Yuan paused, then said hesitantly,

"Whether I know about these things or not doesn’t seem to change anything. Besides, the more you know, the more you worry, and worrying too much is bad for cultivation. Senior Brother, you think too much, and that’s why your own cultivation has been stuck."

Hearing this, Fang Qingyuan flushed with shame and anger. ’My cultivation is slow because I was delayed by the Immortal Mansion for ten years, not because of my aptitude! Besides, I’m about to reach the Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation!’

Fang Qingyuan wanted to retort and teach Zhang Yuan the consequences of bad-mouthing a Senior Brother, but in the blink of an eye, Zhang Yuan had already run a good distance away.

"That kid..."

Fang Qingyuan muttered with a laugh and hurried to catch up.

...

「Three days later.」

Fang Qingyuan and Zhang Yuan were meditating to regulate their breathing inside an Illusion Array. Seated in a circle around them were fifteen disciples from the She Family.

The She Family Patriarch, She Xi Yu, was also present. He sat right next to Fang Qingyuan, his face etched with worry.

Three days prior, Fang Qingyuan had found him and relayed Zhao Liangde’s command. Left with no other choice, She Xi Yu had gathered his men to be on standby.

Though he didn’t know the specifics of the mission, his experience and worldly wisdom told him all he needed to know. Looking at the current arrangement, he understood that if this went poorly, several of the She Family disciples on this mission would likely not be coming back.