That was the story that ignited Cheng Yuan and Peng Zhen’s thirst for cultivation, to one day wield that level of power. If they really did have that kind of ability they could be overlords of the eight zone of the green fog region and the most important part for Cheng Yuan was he could finally avenge Zou Wen and his master against the black cosmos caiman. Zou Wen was killed and later consumed by it as for his master he got heavy injuries fighting against it whilst trying to protect Peng Zhen and Cheng Yuan from it. Those injuries later hindered his cultivation and also led to his eventual early death. This has always been a huge knot in both his and Peng Zhen’s heart. Their master had the talent to reach the palace stage especially with him having a blue core. But in a single day, they lost their fellow disciple and their master got fatally wounded though the black cosmos caiman didn't leave unscathed from that fight. It was that injury that led to its disappearance for almost a decade before rumors of its sightings started floating around.
Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but clench his fists in frustration. Yang Qing shortly glanced at him when he noticed his change before he continued laughing and chatting with Jiang Fu.
“Oh, Jiang Fu this is the sect master of a rank 4 sect Cheng Yuan. Cheng Yuan this is Jiang Fu the chef who made that delicious oolong tea we just had.” Yang Qing said once he noticed Cheng Yuan had gotten his emotions in check.
“Cheng Yuan humbly greets Master Jiang Fu. I deeply thank you for the insights your oolong tea has given me.’ Cheng Yuan said as he offered a solemn bow.
“No need for formalities. What you gain at the end of the day is because of your capabilities. The tea is just a key. Besides I’m not the one you should be thanking, it should be my young friend Yang Qing over here. Without him offering it would be impossible for you to drink it. All the best in your trails ahead Sect master Cheng Yuan,” Jiang Fu said in a plain tone. Cheng Yuan nodded in understanding as he cupped his fist in thanks to both him and Yang Qing.
Yang Qing could only smile as he shook his head. Jiang Fu has always been too curt and straightforward.
“Well, Jiang Fu let me offer my congratulations in advance to you breaking through to the palace stage. When will you enter closed-door cultivation?” Yang Qing asked as he prepared to leave as his one-hour break was almost up and he had to hurry back before the old monster Lei Weiyuan came sniffing around his court.
“I’ll be closing tonight. I’m already in my peak optimum state after today’s brew and I want to take advantage of that momentum. Thank you once again Yang Qing for your guidance in helping improve my dao. Once I breakthrough I’ll make sure to set aside my very first pot for you.” Jiang Fu said as he cupped his fist with deep gratitude showing in his eyes.
“It’s all due to your constant efforts master Jiang Fu plus I wasn’t alone in giving my insights you have Dai Chen and the rest there who offered just as much if not more especially Zhang Qingge,” Yang Qing said as he gently smiled and placed his hands over Jiang Fu’s back.
“Mmmh I’m about to head over too to give them my thanks.” Jiang Fu said as he nodded in agreement.
“I need to head out too, I’m still in session. I await your good news Jiang Fu,” Yang Qing said as he made his way out. Mao Yunru and Yi Jie were already at the entrance waiting for him with Yi Jie frowning with eyes that were telling him to hurry.
Jiang Fu waved goodbye as he went over to Kang Huilang’s table. Cheng Yuan was surprised to see he was just as free with them as he was with Yang Qing. Even the shy Zhang Qingge was laughing and chatting along with him freely. He couldn’t help but wonder if this guy was that free and friendly with everyone.
“He is not that way everyone. It’s just that we have known him since we were young. Despite how he seems, he is a friendly person once you get to know him. He used to make us sweet blackberry tea and some persimmon cake when we were little. It is still Zhang Qingge’s favorite to this day. Of us all, actually those two are the closest to each other like a father and his little daughter. He is one of the few people outside of us that Qingge can hold a conversation with without shying up.” Yang Qing said as if reading Cheng Yuan’s thoughts.
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As they were walking away Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but look back when he noticed Zhang Qingge blissfully laughing. That laughter raised her already exaggerated beauty a couple of notches making it hard for Cheng Yuan to look away. It was refreshing like the morning sun after a cold winter night.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Yi Jie said once Yang Qing and Cheng Yuan had arrived at the door.
“Huh?” Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but ask in confusion as he knew the statement was directed at him as Yi Jie was looking at him dead eye when he said it.
“What my trying to look cool with few words friend is trying to say is don’t stare at Zhang Qingge too much or else you’ll invite disaster upon yourself,” Yang Qing chimed at the side as Yi Jie snorted to his remark.
Yang Qing’s remark left Cheng Yuan even more confused than Yi Jie’s earlier remark. Despite being warned he couldn’t help but instinctively look back at the table again and wonder where the danger came from.
“Is it one of the guys sharing the table with her? It must be. There’s no way they’d be this close to such a beauty and not try their chances. One of them might be seeing her. It might be that rough-looking guy, Dai Chen was it? or the noble like one Xia Boqin. But I have a feeling it’s more likely to be the latter. Dammit, how lucky are they? I’ve been single all my life and the elders of the sect none of them are lookers. Mmmh when I get back I should arrange some competition events with some of the sects around us to expand the horizons of the disciples, form some connections and maybe I might find someone to share my woes with. Do I have enough spirit stones for this?...” Cheng Yuan’s mind drifted off as he started absentmindedly muttering figures, interest payments, grace periods, deductions, bleeding dry, and dying alone. Yang Qing and the rest couldn’t help but wonder what was going around this guy’s head.
“Oi sect master, sect master you’ll slam your face into the door,” Yang Qing couldn’t help but warn him once he saw he was still engrossed in his thoughts that he wasn’t looking ahead.
Cheng Yuan managed to look up in time narrowly avoiding the door. He smiled sheepishly as the gang finally left the restaurant. Cheng Yuan sneaked one last glance at Zhang Qingge’s table as the door was closing.
“You really don’t value your life Sect master Cheng Yuan. You’re lucky senior sister Qingge’s attention is grabbed by Jiang Fu otherwise you’d be close to death right now,” Mao Yunru said with some worry in her voice as she looked at Cheng Yuan as if he were a reckless child playing with a sharp knife.
“Huh her attention?” Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but ask out loud. Things were not tracking to him as he wondered what Zhang Qingge’s distraction had with him escaping death. “Wasn’t the risk of death coming from the two guys sharing a table with her,” He couldn’t help but wonder as he threw Mao Yunru a puzzled look.
“You must be thinking the danger is the guys sharing the table with her but it isn’t, the real danger is Zhang Qingge herself. You must have noticed how shy she is. Those at the table with her, myself, and Jiang Fu are about the few people she can hold a normal conversation with, without her acting anxious or shy. If she was only shy like a normal person there’d be no problem however she reacts differently than most whenever she is made extremely shy or anxious. Being stared at continuously by strangers, especially one laced with lecherous desire is an extreme trigger for her. She gets anxious, shy, and flustered and her violent side gets triggered. A long while back a core disciple of a rank 4 sect tried to take liberties with her when she was doing her sect evaluations not thinking she was a judge because of how her small frame makes her seem young. The disciple was a bit too zealous in his pursuit, especially seeing how shy she reacted stoked it further but soon her violent side got triggered and crippled him on the spot. The sect master and other elders came in to try and protect the disciple but Qingge was already in her violent rampaging state. She crippled them too and destroyed half the sect buildings. So you see my good friend Cheng Yuan if you don’t want to get your cultivation destroyed in the most painful and violent way, you really shouldn’t stare at her so much.” Yang Qing innocently explained as he admired Cheng Yuan’s skills in getting his skin pale white. It was like the fifth time today.
Cheng Yuan’s back was soaked wet as he increased his pace so he could get to the safety of the courts. He had been dancing with a grim reaper without him noticing. This little interlude was what gave rise to the rumor about a ghost patrolling the Green fog swamp sect at night. Cheng Yuan was filled with nightmares for years of Zhang Qingge visiting his sect for retribution. He always woke up panic-stricken and pale as a ghost from those nightmares that he had to patrol the sect to confirm they had not been attacked. Some young disciples saw his pale and frenzied state during those patrols and the rumor about a ghost walking the sect grounds started from there.