The tavern glowed with lantern light, its air heavy with the scent of cheap wine.
"This... Um, senior..." Jiang Chen slurred.
"My name is Shen Yu," the cultivator before him said calmly.
"This one is called Jiang Chen. So senior brother Shen... Tell me, this mission… truly… do you know who has taken it?" Jiang Chen stammered with glimmering eyes.
Shen Yu's lips curved faintly. 'Just as Wen Shan said. This fellow, Jiang Chen is but a reed tossed in the storm, grasping for any branch. Soon he will have no choice but to seek our banner.'
"Yes," Shen Yu's replied, raising his cup and draining it in one gulp. "The one who took your mission is named Zhou Liang. You may or may not have heard of him, but in the outer sect he is known for doing as he pleases. He has strength and no fear of offending others."
Jiang Chen's eyes darted. His lips moved as though repeating the name again and again, as if forcing it into memory. "Zhou Liang… Zhou Liang…"
Shen Yu lowered his voice. "But the true reason people don't dare to touch him is because he is under the protection of an inner sect disciple. Without that shadow above him, Zhou Liang would have been beaten to death long ago."
Jiang Chen's hands curled into fists, his face a picture of despair and frustration. "Which inner disciple?"
Shen Yu set down his empty cup with a soft clink. "Behind him stands Senior Brother He Wei, a man of great reputation. To move against Zhou Liang is to slap He Wei's face. Tell me junior brother, do you think you can endure the wrath of an inner sect disciple?"
Jiang Chen lowered his head, lifting the jar to his lips with shaking hands. Wine spilled down his chin, the very picture of a desperate ruined man. Yet within, he was so calm. 'So, you move the pieces just as I hoped. Good. Lay out your net, and let me play the fish caught in it.'
Shen Yu poured himself another cup, shaking his head with mock sympathy. "Junior brother Jiang, you must understand. Against someone like Zhou Liang, with Senior Brother He Wei behind him, you cannot hope to do anything. If you fight him, you will only ruin yourself. Unless…"
Jiang Chen's head snapped up. "Unless what?"
Shen Yu sighed slowly. "Unless you align yourself with an inner disciple as well. Only then will you have protection. But tell me, Brother Jiang… what inner disciple would waste his time on you? I fear you are destined to suffer."
Jiang Chen's face twisted with humiliation. His voice cracked as he shouted, "Why not? Why would no inner disciple value me? Why should I not be worthy?"
Shen Yu smirked inwardly but feigned surprise. "Oh? Then tell me, do you truly have such a backer?"
Jiang Chen slammed his palm on the table, wine splattering onto the floor. He barked out, "Hmph! I have already been invited to join Senior Brother Sun Jian's faction!"
The words rang out loud and reckless, carrying across the tavern. Conversations faltered, then a ripple of murmurs spread.
"Did he say… Sun Jian?"
"Impossible. That drunk fool, chosen by Senior Brother Sun?"
"Hard to believe… but if true…"
Shen Yu's eyes lit up. He spoke louder, his smile bright. "Oh, you are already under Senior Brother Sun's guidance? Then there is nothing to fear."
'Heh, he is twisting my words.' Jiang Chen laughed coldly in his heart.
On the surface, Jiang Chen's lips moved as if to say that he had refused the offer. But before he could utter a word, disciples from nearby tables rose and crowded closer.
One clapped his shoulder. "Brother Jiang, impressive. Even Senior Brother Sun saw worth in you."
Another nodded with a faint smile. "It seems we underestimated your ability, Brother Jiang. In the future, please take care of us."
Shen Yu's heart surged with triumph. 'Perfect. As long as the crowd accepts this, Jiang Chen cannot turn back. In this sect, names are not toys. To claim the banner of an inner disciple is to wear their robe, share their enemies, and bow to their rules. Once others believe it, he is tied to Sun Jian whether he wills it or not. To deny it now would be to insult Senior Brother Sun's name outright. And which outer disciple would dare such a thing?'
Just then, across the tavern, two men exchanged a glance and sneered loudly.
"Hah! So this is Senior Sun Jian's dog?"
The other laughed coldly. "No wonder he loses to our Senior Brother Bai. With trash like this, how could he compare?"
Jiang Chen's face burned red. He staggered to his feet, pointing at them with drunken rage. "You bastards! Are you calling me trash?!"
Every gaze in the tavern was drawn toward them.
Shen Yu blinked in surprise, then inwardly smiled. 'Heaven truly aids us. I had not expected Bai Yuan's faction members to be present, but their insults only drive Jiang Chen deeper into our faction. Hehe, he cannot escape now.'
One of the men raised his cup lazily. "Bark again, mutt. Let us hear Sun Jian's proud dog howl."
Laughter rolled through the tavern. Jiang Chen shouted back, cursing, his words slurred and furious. While the Shen Yu leaned back, heart swelling with satisfaction.
'Excellent. Wen Shan will be most pleased. This fool digs his own grave with every word.'
Yet before fists could fly, the bartender stormed forward, yelling warnings, scattering the heat of the conflict. Still muttering and shouting vulgarities, Jiang Chen staggered out into the night, his robes drenched in wine.
The cold air bit at him as he stumbled down the path, muttering and swaying. Lanterns swayed above, shadows stretched long and crooked, and at the gates of the mission hall, a figure stood beneath the dim light. Wen Shan, with a jade slip in hand, looked up as if startled.
"Brother Jiang," Wen Shan exclaimed with feigned surprise, though his heart leapt with anticipation. "You're here so late? I was just about to leave."
Jiang Chen staggered closer, nearly tripping on the steps. "Wen Shan… that offer you made before… is it still open? To… join Senior Brother Sun's faction?"
Wen Shan's lips curled inward, hiding his triumph. 'Yes! Just as Uncle predicted. Once I present this recruit, my standing beneath Senior Brother Sun will surely rise.'
Outwardly, he stepped forward to support him. "Of course, Brother Jiang. I spoke sincerely before. But such matters must be proper. To enter a faction, one must declare allegiance formally. First, write a letter of alliance, then stamp it with your spiritual mark, which I will present personally to Senior Brother Sun. With this, you will stand beneath his protection, your reputation and benefits safeguarded."
Jiang Chen lowered his head, muttering something indistinct. Finally, he nodded heavily. "Very well, I will write."
Wen Shan's eyes gleamed, though he quickly lowered his head to draw out paper and brush.
Still, Wen Shan simply could not resist asking, "But Brother Jiang, I am a bit baffled. Weren't you against joining a faction? You spoke so much of... freedom before, did you not?"
His tone was mild, but his face betrayed a nasty look of contempt and smugness.
Jiang Chen ignored his expression, answering in a dejected manner. "I cannot endure this alone anymore. I need allies to rely on… freedom for us small figures is a lie."
Wen Shan's smile deepened. "Haha, worry not, Brother. From now on, your enemies are our enemies, your troubles our troubles. As for your mission, I'll speak directly to Senior Brother Sun."
The dark night passed.
Morning light spilled over the sect. Birds sang in the distance, but at Jiang Chen's courtyard the sound was lost beneath the creak of heavy wood.
Five mortal servants struggled, bearing a massive wooden chest bound with iron locks.
The servants knelt, placing the offerings before Jiang Chen's door. On the wooden chest, a name was carved: Sun Jian.
Jiang Chen stood in the doorway, arms folded and lips curving into a cold smile.
Inside the box lay the corpse of the Myriad Strength Tiger!
Everything was unfolding exactly as he had foreseen.
To take a step back, previously when Wen Shan first offered him a place in Sun Jian's faction, Jiang Chen had actually come close to accepting the offer.
There was a layer of protection he could gain immediately, which was undoubtedly a good thing, but nothing of true value. To see any real tangible benefit, Jiang Chen would first have to run errands, complete missions, and prove his worth before Sun Jian.
That thought lingered in his mind and left him irritated.
Was Jiang Chen the kind of man who believed in honest work like his fellow righteous path disciples? No. He was a calculated risk taker, far more in line with the ways of demonic cultivators.
The instant he caught sight of Wen Shan's desperation to recruit him, a weakness revealed itself, one he could exploit for the greatest advantage.
This egoistic nephew longed for merit in the eyes of his uncle Wen Liang and Senior Brother Sun Jian, willing to move heaven and earth to shine before them. That eagerness was the lever Jiang Chen needed.
A plan formed immediately in his mind.
Jiang Chen altered the mission he had been about to post, designing one far too difficult for ordinary outer sect disciples to complete. It was a task only someone with influence or backing could complete, and if successful, it would bring great benefit to him.
Additionaly, the reward he offered for it was intentionally paltry compared to the effort required. But most importantly, this mission was a 'weakness' that he could later hand over to those eager to rope him in.
As expected, Wen Shan and his uncle acted exactly as he had foreseen. Jiang Chen set his scheme into motion. He feigned growing frustration, stormed into the mission hall, asked sharp questions, and even invited Wen Shan to dinner. He wove the wonderful illusion of desperation, stirring up the outer sect by cornering disciples for information, and staged the tavern encounter with careful calculation. Later, when Wen Shan's man thought he had trapped Jiang Chen and forced him into submission, of which every step had already been permitted, if not guided by Jiang Chen himself.
Outwardly, Jiang Chen seemed to suffer. Inwardly, he was nothing but relaxed. He allowed Wen Shan and his uncle to believe they had forced him into a corner, left with no choice but to join Sun Jian's faction.
Now the results lay before him.
The Myriad Strength Tiger corpse, which alone would have taken him half a year to obtain, had fallen into his hands in just two weeks for a mere cost of forty spirit stones.
This was proof of Jiang Chen's patience and foresight. Through this, he had secured both Sun Jian's protection and Wen Shan's offerings.