Due to Xu Guang's former ties with the Zhu Family, although he had openly fallen out with Zhu Cheng, he nevertheless stayed to help manage Zhu Fu's funeral affairs.
Tie Kuang specially came to have a few words with Xu Guang.
"Master Zhu was like a mountain of kindness to me, I have to see him off on his final journey."
Zhu Cheng, on the side, merely snorted coldly, "Hypocritical."
Tie Kuang observed this scene with a smile on his face, but he raised his hand to quell the situation, "Zhu Cheng! Dharma Protector Xu is also here for Master Zhu, all for your Zhu Family."
He had inquired and confirmed that Zhu Fu indeed had taken good care of Xu Guang, but Zhu Cheng was different.
He had previously seemed to have intentions of learning Xu Guang's methods for taming Great Beasts, but somehow had not succeeded, and that must have been when their conflict started.
Now, with Zhu Fu's death, considering Zhu Cheng's repeated requests in the sect to attack the Wei Family for revenge for his father, Xu Guang must have faced pressure from Zhu Cheng's side too. It's not surprising they are now like water and fire.
Tie Kuang had investigated Xu Guang and didn't ponder much on it. What truly caught his attention was General Wei, with Xu Guang merely being an add-on.
He hadn't thought deeply about it, because he didn't expect Xu Guang and Zhu Cheng to dare act in front of him.
Tie Kuang was a clever man, with the smarter Yu Shaohua aiding him.
And smart people are often very confident, this kind of confidence is sometimes good, and sometimes seems blind.
He glanced at Xu Guang, finally patting his shoulder, "I'll leave General Wei to your care. The burden on Dharma Protector Xu's shoulders is not light. In the future, I will fully support you."
Rather than guessing Xu Guang's intentions, he was more wary of Liu Ning's conversation with Xu Guang today.
What is that old man planning to do? Trying to win over the person he has his eye on?
...
In the dead of night.
Zhu Zhenzhen came to visit.
Xu Guang finally understood why Liu Ning was getting close to him.
"My father and the Grand Elder are old friends, only my second brother knows this."
As Zhu Zhenzhen spoke to this point, her expression became a bit peculiar, and a touch of blush appeared unintentionally on her cheeks.
"Second brother secretly met with the Grand Elder, saying he wanted you to become the manager of the East City Pharmacy so that General Wei's growth would also be faster in the future."
Xu Guang felt a bit puzzled, not knowing why Zhu Zhenzhen was blushing, but the matter had been explained clearly, so he had a certain understanding of Liu Ning's attitude towards him.
He didn't say much more, simply expressed his thanks to Zhu Zhenzhen.
Zhu Zhenzhen's face turned increasingly red, she glanced at Xu Guang again, hesitated to speak.
Liu Ning's attitude towards Xu Guang would not change just because of Zhu Cheng's word, Zhu Cheng naturally added some identity to Xu Guang, such as Zhu Zhenzhen's fiancé.
Of course, more importantly, the Great Beast controlled by Xu Guang was indeed capable of shaking some internal balances of the sect.
Therefore, Liu Ning naturally values Xu Guang.
Hence today's attitude.
Xu Guang didn't think too much, only assuming Zhu Fu had such great influence with Liu Ning.
However, Zhu Zhenzhen thought for a moment and still shared Zhu Cheng's thoughts with Xu Guang.
"The Grand Elder can't be fully trusted. Second brother just doesn't want the Sect Leader and others to focus on us."
In politics, hearts are impure, and matters are made this complicated.
She sighed deeply shortly after.
It's a pity that he doesn't have absolute martial strength, otherwise, he would simply sweep through, no need to calculate so much.
Ultimately, in this world, it's martial strength that speaks.
Before leaving, Zhu Zhenzhen turned back hesitantly and said.
"There are many rumors within the sect about you and second brother, especially you. They say you lack Blood Qi and are unwilling to help second brother fight the Wei Family. Second brother asked me to apologize to you for the injustice you've suffered."
Xu Guang remained silent.
This isn't exactly a rumor; he had heard about Zhu Cheng's current situation. He had been staunchly advocating for the Iron Armor Sect to act against the Wei Family, which has already provoked a lot of discontent.
Compared to the injustice he suffered, Zhu Cheng bears much more pressure, both from within the sect and from the Wei Family.
After all, the Wei Family wouldn't want someone endlessly inciting the Iron Armor Sect against them.
Zhu Cheng has endured a lot for the Zhu Family.
Xu Guang suddenly thought of the young man behind Liu Ning who harbored killing intent towards him, and hurriedly asked Zhu Zhenzhen before she left.
"Did you offend him? That person is not easy to provoke, he's Liu Ning's personal disciple and the most valued one, named Wang Ran. He's been following Liu Ning since he was seven, now he's nineteen, but already possesses the strength of Eighth Grade Great Cultivation. I heard that a while ago the Gao Family from Songjiang Prefecture took interest in him, intending to recruit him as a son-in-law."
Upon hearing this, Xu Guang frowned and bowed his head.
This is indeed a prodigy.
He truly didn't know how he had offended this Wang Ran.
...
Zhu Zhenzhen brought the Zhu Family's last support for General Wei.
Xu Guang glanced at General Wei, feeling a bit embarrassed. Recently, he had gained a lot of experience and needed quite a few elixirs, consuming a lot of General Wei's resources.
It had delayed General Wei's advancement for a long time.
"When we go to work at the pharmacy, I'll find a way to spend the money I've saved lately, and then I'll definitely help you advance."
General Wei trusted Xu Guang's promise deeply, extending his long trunk on Xu Guang's shoulder as if affirming his approach.
Xu Guang chuckled, reaching out to rub the trunk.
General Wei promptly showed a comfortable expression.
Man and beast, in the small courtyard, felt extremely warm.
Soon, Xu Guang entered the room to start efforts for a breakthrough.
After entering the White Crane Longevity Technique, he felt his cultivation should be entering the fast track.
Level 2 of the White Crane Longevity Technique is at the Ninth Grade Great Cultivation level, and Level 3 should be the Eighth Grade.
As long as there's enough experience and elixirs...
A hint of anomaly flashed in Xu Guang's eyes, then he opened the panel, looked at the White Crane Longevity Technique without hesitation, and chose to add points.
The White Crane Longevity Technique flickered for an instant and then returned to normal.
Then came changes in his body, with muscles contracting instantly like a volcano about to erupt, followed by Xu Guang's regulated breathing of a four-segment inhale and a five-segment exhale, calming this restless change.
The White Crane Longevity Technique was originally a balanced and harmonious cultivation technique; its breakthrough was not intense but carried an unusual sense of nature.
Without waiting for feedback from his body, Xu Guang directly took out the elixir sent by Zhu Zhenzhen and started ingesting.
After practicing the Breathing Technique, Xu Guang obviously felt a significant improvement in his elixir refining speed, realizing why martial artists found advancement difficult without the Breathing Technique.
...
The duty of Xu Guang managing the East City Pharmacy was confirmed the next day.
However, the person delivering the waist tag wasn't from Liu Ning's group but Tie Kuang's disciple, Tie Xiong!
"Brother Xu, didn't expect you'd be doing big things so quietly! The East City Pharmacy is a lucrative post; we'll rely on you for medicine purchases in the future."
Xu Guang merely smiled, maintaining a courteous but distant demeanor with Tie Xiong.
He didn't wish to offend anyone, but in Jianghu, some things are unavoidable.
Tie Xiong was unusually enthusiastic today, "Heard Brother Xu was quite formidable yesterday; no wonder your Great Beast is named General Wei."
He referred to the incident where Xu Guang slapped a dozen gossiping disciples.
Xu Guang continued smiling, without any intention of inviting Tie Xiong inside.
"Brother, may I see the Great Beast? Riding it would be even better."
"The weather has warmed, and General Wei has been quite restless lately, making his calmness a bit tricky, so disturbing you wouldn't be good, Brother Tie."
Tie Xiong glanced deeply at Xu Guang and laughed, "Let's wait for another opportunity then."
Xu Guang nodded with a smile.
Watching Tie Xiong's back, Xu Guang slowly squeezed the waist tag in his hand, feeling surging emotions.
"Tomorrow... taking office!"
"East City Grand Pharmacy!"
...
The next day.
The children at the Martial Arts Academy were surprised to find that Xu Guang was much gentler with his moves today.
Even Zhao Fang felt Xu Guang was strangely gentle today.
Couldn't help but think, "Is he really training us for actual combat?"
Xu Guang didn't bother with their thoughts, and after harvesting experience, chatted with Du Shizhen to understand if there were any difficulties.
Then he left with General Wei for the East City Pharmacy.
"Dharma Protector Xu, our pharmacy is the largest in Qingshuo County City, containing six medicine libraries, with a total of thirteen types of over century-old medicines, twenty-three portions, and fifty-year-old medicinal materials totaling thirty-three types, over two hundred thirty portions, with a ledger holding seven thousand taels of silver."
The manager followed Xu Guang carefully, reporting the details as they walked.
"Where's the shopkeeper?"
The manager was silent for a moment and then said softly, "The shopkeeper is Elder Yun, the Sect's Sixth Elder, who serves concurrently. He comes once per ten days to take seventy percent of the profits for the Sect."
Xu Guang nodded, not surprised at all.
This pharmacy had too much wealth; Xu Guang felt, even at the Zhu Family's peak, they hadn't collected so much herbs.
So having an elder station here was expected; there were over a dozen disciples in the shop, all to prevent disturbances.
"Where are the medicinal materials sourced from?"
Xu Guang asked his curious question.
The manager paused, surprised that Xu Guang directly asked such a core question, then coughed twice, "That's handled by Elder Yun and the Sect; I'm not aware."