Chapter 121
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Chapter 121: Time for Harvest
After hearing Teacher Dongfang Ya’s suggestion, Mu Lin didn’t immediately agree. He looked at her earnestly and said, "There’s no need. I’ve made my decision."
His eyes swept across Anping Taoist Palace and the surrounding students as he added plainly, "Truthfully, I feel no attachment to most people here. But you’re different. As long as you remain here, Teacher, I won’t leave."
Though secretly touched by his blunt declaration, Dongfang Ya’s pride wouldn’t let her show it. She huffed, "Hmph! At least you know where your loyalty lies." Turning sharply to Qi Qiu, she lifted her chin. "You heard him. Mu Lin stays."
Qi Qiu showed no anger. Instead, he gave Mu Lin a sincere nod. "Our doors at Qianyang Taoist Palace will always remain open for you." With that final offer, he departed with Wan Yangyu and the others.
Dongfang Ya soon left too, heading straight to secure benefits for her student. Left alone, Mu Lin motioned to Yan Yunyu and Chu Lingluo. "Let’s resume training."
As they walked, Yan Yunyu broke the silence. "You chose wisely, Young Master Mu. Going with them might’ve brought temporary gains, but suspicion would always follow. Now you’ve shown loyalty – winning Teacher Dongfang’s favor and silencing critics."
Mu Lin chuckled. "I didn’t calculate that deeply. With Teacher Dongfang here, I knew she’d protect my interests anyway." He suddenly turned. "Does this mean our first pact’s complete?"
"More than complete!" Yan Yunyu’s eyes sparkled with suppressed excitement. The Yan family’s Heavenly Techniques thrived on three pillars: wealth shaping fortune, fortune directing power. Though possessing only Level 2 Spiritual Roots, her current position let her match Level 1 cultivators’ progress.
She could already feel the shift – stubborn cultivation bottlenecks crumbling like sand, spiritual energy clinging to her like eager fireflies.
Mu Lin’s eyebrow arched. He knew Heavenly Techniques’ might – his own Heart Lamp of Will granted absolute dominion, the Great Yin Living Scripture bridged living and dead, while Mind Image · Heavenly Burial · City God Realm elevated him to godhood.
But this puzzled him: "How does borrowed prestige from one Taoist Palace empower you so? Everyone knows I secured your rank."
Yan Yunyu’s laughter tinkled behind her sleeve.
“Young Master Mu, for others, it’s better to cultivate luck and momentum themselves. But our Yan family began as merchants – transactions run through our blood. That’s why we don’t obsess over gathering our own fortune. Our ancestor who became a Heavenly Master did so by riding another’s coattails to greatness.”
“So borrowing luck and momentum works for our family’s cultivation.”
“Of course, taking without returning makes enemies. Since major fortune-bearers rarely fall early, we scatter wealth when borrowing to avoid future troubles.”
Mu Lin suddenly remembered how Yan Yunyu had freely spent money since school started. He’d thought her a naive rich girl, but now realized he’d been the fool while she’d been scheming.
“Did you borrow from me too?”
Yan Yunyu’s heart jumped. ‘Here it comes.’
Instead of lying, she clung to Mu Lin’s arm pleadingly. “I’m sorry. When we weren’t close, I borrowed a tiny bit of your luck. It didn’t harm you at all.”
“But taking without asking was wrong. Punish me however you wish – I’ll accept anything.” Her cheeks flushed pink, suggesting she’d endure even indecent requests.
Mu Lin didn’t take the offer. Though embarrassed, he’d approached her first when poor. Blaming her entirely felt dishonorable. The incident taught him: ‘Never underestimate others. Free gifts might be poison in disguise.’
When Mu Lin dropped the matter, Yan Yunyu sighed in relief yet felt disappointed. She’d hoped to deepen their connection through punishment. Her determination stemmed from what came next.
“For merchant families like ours, borrowing fortune works. The reason I’m getting so much feedback? You’re mistaken about which luck I’m gathering.”
Mu Lin blinked. “The Hidden Dragon Rankings?”
“Exactly!” Yan Yunyu’s usual composure cracked with excitement. “Making the rankings means Taoist Palaces nationwide know me now. They think I earned 43rd place through skill since you made me Captain. Their misunderstanding causes massive luck and momentum to gather around me. With this boost, I’ll reach Spring Fountain within half a month!”
“Actually, maybe faster – city elites watch the rankings too, hunting for marriage prospects. Seven days! I’ll break through in seven days!”
Clutching her fan tightly, she even felt grateful to Chu Lingluo’s mother. ‘Auntie, without your interference making Mu Lin accept me, I’d never have caught this wave. This exceeds my wildest dreams tenfold!’
When first entering Anping Taoist Palace, her best hope was buying her way to local dominance. The national rankings seemed impossible – Spirit Pool Realm monsters were too strong for Spring Fountain cultivators.
That’s why she clung to Mu Lin. ‘With his help, maybe top fifty isn’t my limit. If he takes top three in the Southeast League Exam under public scrutiny, riding his coattails could skyrocket me.’
‘Maybe even the Yan family’s legitimate heir position…’ Her grip tightened on Mu Lin’s arm as her heart raced.
Yan Yunyu wasn’t the only one pleased. Mu Lin had yielded leadership to enable her fortune-gathering not for affection, but their deal: she’d get momentum, he’d receive half her family’s resources. Her initial funding had let him luxuriously use Sui Mu paper and Essence Stones. Now came his payoff.
“You passed the first assessment? When does your family send resources?”
“Five to seven days for elder approval. But I can advance funds now.” She added earnestly, “Your growth means better exam rankings. Ask freely – even beyond our agreement.”
“Half is enough. Six Thousand-Year Sui Mu Papers, the rest converted to Moonlight Dew and Essence Stones for storing Morning Purple Air.”
Using the precious papers as disposable items remained too costly, but creating six paper figure substitutes to boost cultivation efficiency became feasible with her support.
“Done. I’ll fetch everything now.”
