The Other Side of A Cultivation Story

Qai was able to breathe easily after hearing the messenger's assurance.

Qai was indirectly recruited in the past by the Moon and Gale Villages and was once asked by the Purple Mist Sect headmaster to be his direct disciple—and all those times, he was able to turn things around and benefited well from their invitations.

This time he was uncertain what he would do should the unknown guest recruit tried to recruit him.

Qai sighed and looked intently to the eyes of the guest.

"Oh my bad..," the messenger said in jest, "..I forgot to introduce myself.."

"I am actually from the Han Valley..," he said, "..and I come here with an invitation from our town chief."

"An invitation!?" Qai asked.

"Yes," the messenger quickly answered. "Han Valley is actually also hosting an event, and we are actually in need of your family's help.."

"What's this event about? And how can we be of help?" Qai asked without pause.

Qai obviously didn't want to beat around the bush and quickly asked two questions at the same time.

"Han Valley is actually hosting a bandit extermination."

"Bandit extermination!?" Qai asked.

Qai actually questioned in himself why would Han Valley make such kind of thing an event when it is the natural duty of the town to do it.

"As you can see..," the messenger started to explain, "..our town, as its name suggests, is actually a valley surrounded by mountainous regions.. and our town is the perfect hunting prey of the bandits around the area.."

"In the recent years, we noticed how the bandits' strength grew beyond our imagination..," he described. "Before, we had only been dealing with occasional attacks by small groups with the expert level strength.. now, sage realm bandits have been ransacking many of the town's farms and nearby villages.."

"By ourselves alone, the Han Valley has not enough strength to match the continuous onslaught of the bandits..," he added.

"So you're thinking of making use of others' strength to help you and you can't think of any means how to ask for help.. that is why you came up with the idea of making it an event?" Qai interruptedly asked.

The messenger was surprised how Qai was able to quickly deduce things around.

"That's pretty smart," the messenger remarked.

"And your ploy was pretty clever," Qai responded.

The messenger simply smiled.

"Have you already sought the help of the great clans in Jiang City or the Purple Mist Sect," Qai asked.

"You have to understand that such thing is too trivial for the sect to get involved..," the messenger said. "And as regards the great clans, we tried to seek their aid but their demand were high.."

"As you can see..," he added, "..Han Valley has already suffered enough to even put up great rewards to compensate a great clan's appetite.."

"Then what can Shu family actually help?" Qai asked.

The messeger sighed deeply before he answered Qai's question.

"Young master..," he pleaded, "..we actually wanted to borrow your reputation.."

"Eh," Qai mumbled in confusion.

"Actually.., we wanted your family to participate so that many other families would join..," the messenger explained, "..and who knows, some of the clans or even the sect might participate as well.."

"How can you be so sure about that?" Qai asked.

"Our town chief and elders were of the opinion that the participation of 'The Hunters' Plateau' would make news and immediate impact of the event should your family truly join," the messenger answered.

"Hmmn," Qai sounded while in deep thought.

"Father, what is your decision?" Qai asked as he turned to his father.

"I don't know but here's what I actually first thought," Shu Wei said.

"You, Wu and Liang can join together with Jing and Xiao Ning.. the five of you shall form one team under our banner..," he said. "Your big brother shall be your leader as an elder."

"What how are we supposed to benefit from it?" Qai asked.

"I've asked our dear guest earlier how they thought about rewarding all those who would participate but Han Valley was yet to come up with the idea..," Shu Wei answered as he changed his look from Qai to the messenger.

"How about this," Qai suggestively called the attention of the messenger.

"Since your planing to make it an event, why not let us put up a shop in the town square like what we did here as payment for asking us to join," Qai said.

"Then for all those who would participate, they shall get seventy percent of whatever they would loot from all the bandits and their encampment," he added. "I'm pretty sure those bandits possess valuable treasures as well"

The messenger was already grinning in approval but Qai was not yet done with his ideas.

"That way, we can easily lure other cultivators to join.. I think seventy percent is amenable with Han Valley..," Qai said then paused for a moment.

"And as an additional help, we can try to ask the Mo Clan to form a team as well."