Chapter 576: Connections

Chapter 576: Chapter 576: Connections

Turns out it really is an old friend in a foreign land, and at the complicated Southern Front no less—rare and delightful, because for me, this kind of "old friend" is far more dependable than other people here.

Besides, Zhang Qian and Gan Lin aren’t just old acquaintances to Shen Hao; they’re also companions on Jiang Cheng’s boat. They’ve helped each other countless times before.

"Come on, bottoms up!"

The three tea cups aren’t filled with tea, but Wuliangye; the scent of liquor fills the Public Office, and with the hot and humid weather, even with the help of Cultivation, all three are sweating buckets.

Drinking booze with tea cups in the study—few people could pull this off.

Shen Hao downed his cup in one gulp, fanned himself a few times, and laughed, "How come you two big brothers had time to drop by little brother’s place?"

"You never come to find us and catch up, so of course we had to come to you. What, you’re not welcoming us?" Zhang Qian teased with a hearty laugh. Others might be wary of Shen Shaxing, but not him; the three always joke this way, never any offense taken.

"Too busy, and I’ve barely been here long, really can’t get away. Plus, my status is a bit sensitive now, so before I figured out the situation here, I didn’t dare visit you two, in case I caused you trouble." Shen Hao spoke honestly—he really had concerns, and truly had no time.

"Hell with that! The army here’s rotten to the core, except Zhuo Huo Pass which is still normal. Hai Xia and Beach Stone’s atmosphere is worse than any other garrison. The Four Major Armies use Zhuo Huo Pass for real training, while Beach Stone and Hai Xia are just spots to skim profits. Now the fire’s about to break out, they’re panicking and tightening up. Hmph, Old Zhang and I can’t be bothered to stand with those assholes."

Gan Lin didn’t hide his disdain for the Border Army’s style. The two came to train soldiers by order, thinking it’d be easy. After all, the Border Army is close to the war, so training shouldn’t be lacking, right? But after arriving, they realized it was nothing like that—rotten beyond belief, just a place to grab money and skim wages, and the soldiers’ training is completely backward.

"If you handled things here with Xuanqing Guard’s usual methods, at least half the middle-level officers in Hai Xia and Beach Stone would lose their heads." Zhang Qian similarly scoffed at the atmosphere here. Like Gan Lin, he had no intention of associating with the corrupt bunch in the Border Army.

"But you, kid, are shining bright now! Heard you cracked major cases—first Xu Hong, then Qin Wenhe. Now you’re already deputy Thousand Households, holding Junior Fifth Grade rank, tsk tsk, won’t be long before we have to call you ’official’ when we see you, eh?"

"Brother Gan, saying that is no fun. We’re brothers, so where’s this hierarchy? Shen Hao only got here thanks to you two helping and supporting me along the way. Come on, another round!" Shen Hao raised his cup and drank with Zhang and Gan again.

Three people, drinking and bantering just like back in Fengri City—no sense of awkwardness after all this time.

Shen Hao sincerely respected Zhang Qian and Gan Lin. First, they were older than him by quite a bit. Second, he only managed to apprentice under Jiang Cheng thanks to their recommendation, and after getting to know them better, their temperaments meshed well with his—easy to connect, easy to become close friends. They’re two of the few friends he has now.

After half a jar of liquor, Zhang Qian laughed and said, "This is the best way to drink—just a pity we don’t have any ladies around. If there were, it’d be even more fun."

Gan Lin: "Old Zhang misses women so much he’s gone mad. I bet even a sow could catch your fancy, hahahaha..."

"You two big brothers’ll just have to hold it in—there aren’t any women in the army. After we get back to Fengri City, I’ll take you two out to have fun for a whole month." Shen Hao was used to their dirty jokes and didn’t care.

But Zhang Qian abruptly changed the subject and said, "Go back? Now that war’s broken out, who knows when we’ll get back. Not even sure if we’ll make it out alive."

"Yeah, sword and saber don’t care who you are. Our bit of Cultivation isn’t worth a damn in battle arrays, let alone all those High-Tier Cultivators duking it out. One wave of magic raining down and you’re dead, just like that. Whether we survive after the war depends on how tough our luck is."

These two aren’t types who wear their worries on their sleeve, and they’re always bragging about charging into battle. Now, facing the real thing, are they getting cold feet? Come on, at least pretend a little better!

Shen Hao chuckled, knowing they were setting up the topic, so he didn’t think much, and laughed, "Just say it straight, big brothers—we’re family, why beat around the bush?"

"Hard to bring it up." Zhang Qian put down his cup, smacked his lips with a sly smile, pretending to be thick-skinned but acting all shy—it was pretty funny.

Shen Hao didn’t push, seeing Zhang and Gan like that, he guessed it wasn’t anything simple, so he sipped on his liquor and waited for them to speak.

Gan Lin laughed loudly and said, "Old Zhang’s got thin skin; I, Old Gan, don’t care. Shen, as you said, brothers talk face to face, nothing’s hard to bring up. Just wanted to ask, brother, do you still have connections with Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute?"

Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute?

Shen Hao hadn’t expected Zhang Qian and Gan Lin to steer the topic straight to Sects—these two, could they actually have dealings with a Sect?

But then he remembered he’d just talked with Zhang Ye about "Jingying Prefecture"—maybe Zhang Qian and Gan Lin came to him because of that? Otherwise, he really couldn’t imagine how these two could link up with Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, a First-Class Sect. ℯ

"Not to hide it from you two brothers. I’ve got a close personal relationship with one Steward Disciple of Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, but it’s only personal—there’s no connection with the rest of Gui Mountain."

As soon as Shen Hao finished speaking, Zhang Qian grinned and jumped in, "Your friend is Nie Yun, one of the Jingxi Double Eagles, Deacon Nie, right? By the way, lately I heard there’s only one of the Double Eagles left. He’s basically a rising star in Jingxi Territory now, right?"

Shen Hao nodded, staying silent—so he acquiesced. It wasn’t a secret; Nie Yun had stayed at his house for a while before, even waited for him outside the Thousand Households Station. It wasn’t surprising Zhang and Gan knew about it.

"Brother, you’re close with Deacon Nie, and I heard you’ve met his master, Master Pingyang?"

Shen Hao put down his cup and wondered aloud, "Yes, Master Pingyang gave me guidance once, before I even met Nie Yun. Big brothers, what is it? You didn’t provoke anyone from Gui Mountain, did you?"

"No way! Who do you think we are, to provoke folks from Gui Mountain? We need a favor. If you could say a word for us over there, it would absolutely be a huge boost for me and Old Zhang in this war!"