Chapter 129: Elder Qian, Art of Giving "Gift" and The Crushing Weight of "Respect"

Leaving the spiritual herb farm, Yu Liang changed his way and headed toward the administrative courtyard at the center of the Handyman Disciple Area.

His destination was the office of Elder Qian, the head of all handyman disciples.

If it were a few months ago, Yu Liang wouldn’t have even dared to approach this place. But now, with the System fully upgraded and his newly established "background," his confidence was absolute. He was here to ensure that Xiao Fei and Old Wei would never have to experience the hardship ever again.

Elder Qian was originally an Inner Sect Disciple. However, due to his limited talent, his cultivation had been stuck at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm for over more than fifty years. Unable to break through to the Core Formation Realm, he was eventually stationed here to manage the Handyman Disciples Area.

While it might sound like a demotion, those in the power understood that this was actually an incredibly lucrative and comfortable fate. It was far better than being sent to oversee territories in the mortal regions, which came with heavy burdens and endless political headaches, or staying in the outer sect where they had to fight for resources and face constant danger.

Here, in the Handyman Disciple Area, Elder Qian was the absolute, unquestioned emperor. His word was law, and the "respect" he received from the handyman disciples and low level overseers kept his life incredibly comfortable.

Yu Liang arrived at the grand courtyard and was immediately announced by the guards.

"Outer sect disciple Yu Liang, requests an audience with Elder Qian!"

Inside the lavish hall, Elder Qian, a plump, middle aged man with a perpetually smiling face, looked up in surprise. He had heard the rumors about the monstrous new outer disciple, but he didn’t expect the person to visit him directly.

"Ah, Disciple Yu Liang! Please, come in, come in!" Elder Qian stood up, his smile reaching his eyes. "What wind blows you to my abode?"

"Disciple Yu Liang pays respects to Elder Qian," Yu Liang said, cupping his hands with perfect etiquette. "Disciple has been away on a long mission and has just returned. I brought some small, local specialties for the Elder to taste. I hope you don’t find them too crude."

With a wave of his hand, Yu Liang placed a beautifully crafted wooden box on the table. He opened it to reveal three boxes of Tier 3 ’Cloud Mist Spirit Tea’.

Elder Qian’s eyes lit up. Tier 3 tea was a rare treat for him. However, maintaining his dignified image, he waved his hand repeatedly. "Aiya! Disciple Yu Liang, you are too polite. But sect rules dictate that we cannot accept gifts from disciples. This is too valuable, I absolutely cannot accept it."

Refusal.

The standard opening.

Yu Liang nodded in deep understanding. "Elder is a man of strict principles. I, Yu Liang, am ashamed for my thoughtlessness. Indeed, tea is too light a gift for a senior of your stature."

He casually swept the tea into his storage ring. Elder Qian’s smile stiffened slightly, but he quickly recovered.

Then, Yu Liang brought out two jade bottles and a wooden box. "Since tea is inadequate, I have prepared some medicinal supplements. A bottle of Tier 4 Peak ’Meridian Nourishing Pills’ and a 500 year old ’Blood Ginseng’ to nourish the Elder’s blood vitality."

Elder Qian’s eyes instantly bulged. His Adam’s apple bobbed violently as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva. The plump man began to sweat. His hands hovered in the air, trembling slightly.

"This... this..." Elder Qian stammered, his dignified facade cracking. "This is too heavy a gift! I... I really cannot..."

Wavering.

The second stage of the dance.

Yu Liang sighed deeply, his expression filled with profound respect and disappointment in himself. "Elder Qian is truly a man of his word. To offer such ’crude’ items is an insult to your Dao heart. Please, forgive my ignorance."

He swept the Tier 4 pills and the ginseng back into his ring.

Elder Qian’s face turned pale. He looked like he was about to cry. ’Hey! Wait! I didn’t say I couldn’t accept it! I was just being polite!’

"Since the Elder finds these inadequate, I can only offer the only things I have that might match your status," Yu Liang said solemnly.

He took out a large, intricately carved box and placed it on the table. He opened the lid.

Inside lay a glowing, crimson pill radiating a suffocating medicinal aura. A Tier 5 Mid Grade ’Heaven Mending Pill’, specifically designed to heal damaged foundations and break through major bottlenecks. Beside it lay a stack of ten Tier 4 High Grade pills, and a beautifully crafted Tier 4 defensive jade pendant.

Crack!

If Elder Qian had a Dao heart, it would have shattered into a million pieces.

The plump elder’s mouth hung open, his eyes completely losing focus. His legs gave out, and he slumped back into his chair, looking like a living fool. The sheer, overwhelming aura of the Tier 5 pill was washing over his face, making him look as if he had just ascended to the heavens.

For him, this wasn’t just merely another valuable pill. A Tier 5 pill could completely change his current situation. Even after amassing an amount of wealth that would make most cultivators lose their minds, there were still treasures he still couldn’t casually obtain.

And this was exactly why Yu Liang had thrown this pill at last position.

It was final step, an offer they can’t refuse.

"Disciple Yu Liang... no, Young Master Yu!" Elder Qian suddenly shot up from his chair, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and extreme ecstasy. He practically threw himself around the table, his hands hovering over the box but not daring to touch it. "Your respect... your respect is too profound! I... I am unworthy! I am completely unworthy!"

If the inner sect disciple were here, they would have instantly coughed up blood and died on the spot. To put the sheer absurdity of this wealth into perspective, a single one of those Tier 5 pills could cause a bloody, decade long war between two Mid Tier Sects. And Yu Liang just casually dropped such thing on a tea table, all while maintaining the polite smile of a junior paying respects to his senior.

"I just hope that the Elder can ’guide’ two of my old friends, Xiao Fei and Wei Feng," Yu Liang said, his tone incredibly respectful, though the meaning was as clear as day. "One is weak while the other is old and weak. The field work is too hard on them. Perhaps you could assign them to guard the spiritual herb warehouse? It is ’important’ work, I heard it’s not very ’relaxing’ either."

"Understood! Completely understood!" Elder Qian was now nodding so hard his head was a blur. "They will be the vice managers of the warehouse. They will have their own spiritual stones allowance increased. They will never lift a finger or feel the sun on their backs agai— ohh my mistake, I’ll make sure they will ’work’ properly. If anyone dares to give them trouble, they will answer to me personally. I swear it on my Dao heart!"

"Thank you, Elder Qian. Your righteousness is truly an example for us all.Then I will leave these ’crude’ items for the Elder to pay my respect," Yu Liang smiled, pushing the box forward.

"I will accept them! I will remeber this respect of yours every day until I die!" Elder Qian hugged the box to his chest, his eyes completely devoid of his previous dignity, looking at Yu Liang as if he were his biggest benefactor.

Yu Liang chuckled, cupping his hands once more. "Then I shall take my leave, Elder Qian."

"Wait! Young Master Yu, please wait!" Elder Qian suddenly called out, his mind finally clearing just enough to remember a crucial piece of information. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his expression turning incredibly serious and conspiratorial.

"With your immense ’contributions’ to the sect, and your ’respect’... you don’t just belong in the outer sect anymore. In fact, with the resources you just casually showed, you are fully qualified to apply for an HonoraryPosition within the sect!"

Yu Liang, who was already walking toward the door, stopped in his tracks. He turned around, his eyes narrowing slightly with genuine interest.

"An Honorary Position?" Yu Liang asked. "What exactly is that?"