"Sister Qin, could I borrow some talisman money for an emergency?"
The moment Jiang Yi left the Labor Institute, he headed straight for the Grinding and Carving Room.
Of the three workshops on Red Flame Peak, the work here was the most relaxed.
Grinding Bone Material and carving patterns only required a delicate touch and a steady hand, unlike the grueling labor in the Quenching Room, which involved enduring scorching heat, or the Forging Room, which required swinging heavy hammers.
"Brother Yi, are you in some kind of trouble?"
Widow Qin's face was etched with concern and worry as she spoke, stuffing the talisman money she had just received into Jiang Yi's hands.
"If this is about what happened to Old He, we should just swallow our anger for now!
Zhang San and Dong Si are both at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and they're ruthless. Don't confront them head-on... Is this enough? If not, I'll get you more after I finish work!"
Jiang Yi accepted the stack of talisman banknotes, worth about two thousand, and said softly,
"If you can spare it, Sister Qin, I'd like to borrow ten thousand more. I'll definitely pay you back within ten days!"
Widow Qin's heart tightened. Her calloused hand shot out and gripped Jiang Yi's arm.
"Brother Yi! I can lend you the ten thousand talisman money, but please don't do anything foolish! Why fight with those wolves? Zhang San and Dong Si are vicious thugs who have killed before!"
Jiang Yi grinned and said,
"Sister Qin, do I look like I'm about to go fight someone to the death? It really is just for an emergency."
Widow Qin's eyes were filled with suspicion. She stared at Jiang Yi and muttered under her breath,
"Brother Yi, don't you try to fool your big sister. If you're not going to challenge Zhang San and Dong Si, why do you suddenly need so much talisman money?"
Jiang Yi said with a serious expression,
"I've spent too much on Medicinal Materials these past few days and I'm completely broke.
I presented a Secret Technique to Marshal Yang before, and he said the Inner Peak would give me a reward, but it hasn't arrived yet.
I can only turn to you for help, Sister Qin. But please, rest assured. I'll pay you back the moment the talisman money arrives."
Only then did Widow Qin breathe a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid that Brother Yi, in a fit of youthful passion, would rashly charge off to fight Zhang Chao and Dong Ba to the death.
"I can lend you the ten thousand talisman money. I don't have many expenses, so I won't rush you to pay it back.
But about Old He's matter, Brother Yi, you have to listen to me. There's no rush to get revenge."
Jiang Yi nodded with great solemnity.
"I've always been a peaceable person, Sister Qin. You know that."
Looking at Jiang Yi's sincere face, Widow Qin's worries gradually faded.
In her eyes, Brother Yi was an honest, hardworking, and decent young man. He was handsome and kind-hearted; it was a real pity he had ended up in a Demon Dao Dharma Lineage.
"Alright! Then wait for me to get off work..."
Widow Qin released her grip, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of her eyes.
'The fact that Brother Yi felt he could ask me for money means we're not so distant anymore.'
'This is a good thing!'
"Okay, I won't disturb you at work, Sister Qin."
Jiang Yi took his leave, but instead of returning to the Big Mixed Courtyard, he hurried toward the Yang Residence.
The end of the month had passed, and all the workshops on Red Flame Peak had successfully met their quotas.
Without pressure from the Inner Peak to rush things, Yang Xun naturally didn't show up to supervise every day.
He was currently in his study in the back courtyard, circulating his Merit, refining Spiritual Energy, and enhancing his Fire Attribute.
He heard the Little Daoist Child report,
"Master, Marshal Jiang is at the gate, requesting an audience."
The searing flames surging from Yang Xun's mouth and nose gradually dissipated. He opened his eyes and said softly,
"Let him in."
The Servant of the Quenching Room seemed to have been waiting for Jiang Yi to come to him.
'Hmph, hmph. That *Little Refining Yuan Fire Control Technique* may only be Ninth Grade, but it's not something a Mortal Servant with no foundation can comprehend!'
Yang Xun had generously imparted the technique and allowed Jiang Yi to practice it precisely so that the young man would come to him for guidance.
'This kid has a silver tongue. I wonder what kind of sweet talk he's cooked up to coax me this time... Ah, whatever. I might as well hear him out.'
A short while later.
Jiang Yi stepped into the back courtyard and appeared outside the study, bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Marshal."
Yang Xun feigned composure.
"What brings you here?"
Jiang Yi cupped his hands and said,
"I have an unreasonable request and can only trouble the Marshal."
Yang Xun struggled to suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth, lest he lose his dignified air. He said slowly,
"Are you here to ask this old man about difficulties in your cultivation? No matter. You can lay them all out; this old man doesn't mind the trouble."
Jiang Yi didn't beat around the bush and said directly,
"I would like to borrow money from the Marshal."
"The most crucial part of the *Little Refining Yuan Fire Control Technique* is... what?"
Yang Xun froze, staring blankly at Jiang Yi. He asked again,
"What did you say?"
Jiang Yi wore a sincere and earnest expression as he said,
"The Marshal previously told me that for presenting the Secret Technique to be used in the workshops, I would receive a reward of talisman money from the Inner Peak.
I would like to request an advance from the Marshal, or borrow some talisman money, to solve an urgent problem. I will pay it back later."
Yang Xun fell silent in contemplation. His ferocious features shifted through several expressions, making him look like a grim, brooding vulture.
'What does he need money for?'
'Could he have picked up a bad habit?'
He studied Jiang Yi intently for a few moments, then suddenly asked,
"Have you reached the Qi Cultivation Third Layer?"
Jiang Yi nodded.
"I just broke through yesterday. I'm still stabilizing my cultivation."
Yang Xun asked again,
"Did you use medicine?"
He could smell a faint medicinal scent on Jiang Yi.
"Yes. I bought some body-strengthening medicines, boiled them down into a paste, and applied it externally a few times. The results were decent."
Jiang Yi had no intention of deliberately hiding it; besides, he couldn't have hidden it anyway.
Leaping from the Qi Cultivation First Layer to the Third Layer would definitely attract questions from others.
Yang Xun nodded and didn't press further, seemingly uninterested in delving into what medicine Jiang Yi used or what paste he applied.
Under the rule of the Demon Dao, for those within the Dharma Lineages—whether they were Mortal Servants, Servants, or even Inner Peak Disciples and True Inheritance Dao Materials—
unless they came from an extraordinary background, few would steadily build their foundation, polish their Merit, and strive for Perfection.
Such meticulousness was the way of the Immortal Dao!
People of the Demon Dao, especially those from humble and lowly origins,
had always used whatever methods they could, employing every trick in the book to climb higher first and ask questions later.
Yang Xun mused aloud,
"How much do you want to borrow?"
Jiang Yi seemed to calculate seriously for a moment before speaking,