Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 24: Chapter 23: Yu Daniu’s Value

Three days ago, Yu Daniu received a reply from Chen Jianghe. The contents of the letter made him waver in his decision to voluntarily withdraw from the alliance.

The Yun Family’s situation was in turmoil. If he withdrew from the alliance, he would have no one to travel with should a crisis strike. With his Early-Stage Qi Refining cultivation, he would surely end up as a pile of bones at the bottom of the lake.

Just as Chen Jianghe had said in his letter, even if he were to withdraw from the alliance, he should wait until the Yun Family’s situation stabilized.

’Brother Jianghe is right. I don’t owe Zhou Miaoyun anything. Accepting her Talisman Dao inheritance came at a cost to my own interests. Now that my study of the Talisman Dao has come to nothing and the inheritance can’t be passed on, the future benefits from my agreement with Zhou Miaoyun are void.’

’Every act of mutual aid in the Mutual Aid Alliance is driven by self-interest.’

Yu Daniu felt sincerely grateful for Chen Jianghe’s heartfelt words. If not for this reply, he would have definitely withdrawn from the alliance at this year-end gathering.

Now, he didn’t have the slightest thought of withdrawing from the alliance.

Unless Chen Jianghe and Gao Peiyao both isolated him.

After figuring things out, he received a letter from Zhou Miaoyun telling him to go to Port No. 1 in three days, and that Chen Jianghe and Gao Peiyao would be going as well.

However, every word was cold and detached.

This made Yu Daniu worry that Zhou Miaoyun had already convinced Chen Jianghe and Gao Peiyao. If they all isolated him, he truly wouldn’t be able to stay in the alliance.

But then he thought of Chen Jianghe’s letter again.

Yu Daniu’s spirits lifted, and he traveled from the aquaculture waters to Port No. 1 that very day.

He understood that in this alliance, if he couldn’t demonstrate any value, he would be pushed out sooner or later.

Therefore, Yu Daniu thought about the value he could provide—risking danger to gather information.

In the private room, Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao were sitting close together. Hearing what Yu Daniu said, they exchanged a curious glance.

”What’s going on?” Chen Jianghe also looked puzzled.

”The Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the Bai Family from Qiyun Mountain has taken action. The Bai Family has seized the Linyun Mine. The Yun Family’s Third Elder was killed, while the Second and Fifth Elders were injured and fled back to Huxing Island. On top of that, many Direct Descendants at Mid-Stage Qi Refining perished at the mine.”

Seeing the shocked expressions on their faces, Yu Daniu knew that none of the three had heard this news yet.

”Not only that, but hundreds of Basic-Level Fishermen and Farmers have fled the Outer Waters, and even a dozen or so Senior Fishermen and Farmers have run away from the Inner Waters.”

”I couldn’t get in contact with any Honored Guest Elders at Port No. 1, so I didn’t find out if any of them have left.”

Yu Daniu’s words sent shockwaves through Chen Jianghe and the other two. They had only known that Port No. 2 was attacked.

How could they have known that the Linyun Mine had also been attacked, and that a Foundation Establishment Ancestor had even made an appearance?

An Elder at the Ninth-Layer of Qi Refining, along with many Mid-Stage Qi Refining Direct Descendants, had all died at the Linyun Mine.

In comparison, the losses at Port No. 2 seemed almost insignificant.

This was especially true of his last piece of news.

”Brother Daniu, you said that some Basic-Level and Senior Fishermen and Farmers have fled? Did they leave the Yun Family entirely?” Gao Peiyao’s face paled in shock, her voice trembling as she spoke.

”Mhm.”

Yu Daniu nodded.

An alarmed expression crossed Zhou Miaoyun’s face. With the Yun Family suffering such a catastrophe, the entire Jingyue Lake region would descend into chaos.

Her Zhou Family was just a small Qi Refining Family, and her father only possessed a Sixth-Layer Qi Refining cultivation. If they were targeted by Tribulation Cultivators, the Zhou Family would be doomed.

”Leaving the waters of Jingyue Lake is a death sentence. This is the Yun Family’s stronghold. As long as the Yun Family Ancestor is alive, this place won’t fall into complete chaos.

In fact, the world outside is probably already overrun by Tribulation Cultivators.”

Seeing the fear in Gao Peiyao’s eyes, Zhou Miaoyun quickly offered her analysis.

She also wanted to return to the Zhou Family to check on them, but leaving the waters of Jingyue Lake was too dangerous right now. She might meet with disaster before she even made it home.

’Besides, what could I even do if I returned to the Zhou Family? A Lower-Grade Talisman Master with only Fourth-Layer Qi Refining cultivation wouldn’t be of much use at all.’

’By staying here, I might be able to preserve a trace of the Zhou Family’s bloodline.’

”Daniu, did you arrive at Port No. 1 three days ago?” Chen Jianghe asked, looking at Yu Daniu with a serious expression.

”Gathering information like that is very dangerous.”

”It wasn’t that dangerous. I only asked the Basic-Level Fishermen and Farmers at Early-Stage Qi Refining.” Yu Daniu met Chen Jianghe’s gaze and scratched his head sheepishly.

Only then did Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao understand.

Chen Jianghe was making a point to them.

Yu Daniu had braved the risks posed by the fleeing Fishermen and Farmers to gather this information. These fleeing individuals were lawless; if any of them had a vicious idea, they might rob someone before making their escape, since the Yun Family was too busy to bother with them anyway.

This act provided value to the alliance—informational value that couldn’t be measured in Spirit Stones.

”Brother Daniu, what you did was truly too dangerous.”

”Thank you for the news, Fellow Daoist Yu.”

Yu Daniu’s face flushed red. Flustered, he laughed awkwardly and said, ”It’s nothing, really.”

”Daniu, you can’t be so reckless in the future,” Chen Jianghe said sternly.

”I understand, Brother Jianghe.”

Yu Daniu finally understood what was happening.

Chen Jianghe had deliberately mentioned that he’d arrived at the port three days early to help him demonstrate his value to the alliance, making Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao recognize his worth.

”Fairy Miaoyun is right. The Jingyue Lake region is eight hundred li across. Even if chaos breaks out, it will start from the periphery and move inward. It’s relatively safer for us to stay within the waters.”

Chen Jianghe looked at the other three and made a suggestion. ”On this trip to Port No. 1, we should buy eight months’ worth of daily supplies.

As for chamber pots...”

He trailed off, pausing for a moment.

After all, they were only at Early-Stage Qi Refining, and Zhou Miaoyun herself had just entered the Middle Stage. They simply couldn’t afford a Spirit Medicine for seclusion like the Fasting Pill.

A single flask of Fasting Pills cost eight Spirit Stones. Even a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator with no special trade would choose to buy Spirit Marrow Rice instead, unless it was absolutely necessary.

Therefore, as long as one ate food, producing night soil was unavoidable.

Fairies were no exception.

”We can buy some oilcloth to wrap the night soil and bury it deep at the bottom of the lake. We can retrieve it at the end of the year to deliver to the port, or just let it become fertilizer for the plants on the lakebed.”

”Okay, I’ll do as Brother Jianghe says.”

Yu Daniu nodded seriously without a moment’s hesitation.

Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun exchanged a brief glance before they both nodded as well.

This period was simply too dangerous. Even with the Steward of the Outer Waters overseeing Port No. 1, it was best to avoid visiting the port if at all possible.

Coming to the port at the end of the year, however, should be fine.

Unless the Fisherman and Farmer Assembly was canceled. If it was held, a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator from the Yun Family would surely come to preside over it, ensuring the assembly could proceed normally and without any danger.

Perhaps it was the recent talk of night soil, which caused the two Fairies to lose their appetites. As soon as the meeting was over, they left.

When Chen Jianghe saw that Zhou Miaoyun had no intention of taking out the Spirit Stones and Water Escape Talismans, he said nothing about it.

Clearly, Zhou Miaoyun still didn’t think much of Yu Daniu.

Gao Peiyao didn’t bring it up either, clearly choosing to side with Zhou Miaoyun.

After Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao had left, Chen Jianghe called out to stop Yu Daniu.

”Daniu, how much Spiritual Sand do you have on you?”