Yongzhou Pass comprised a total of one hundred and seven border cities.
Like a dense constellation of stars, they guarded this natural barrier, defending the Liang Kingdom from the Great Shun Dynasty.
The sixty-ninth city among them was called Shihu.
At this moment, under the leadership of several Immortal Descendants, a hundred or so disciples stepped into an inn in the city.
Yu Qiheng sat down at an empty table and took out a thin booklet.
He flipped to the last page and said slowly, "Yu Kui, you’re in charge of the White Teeth Mine. Yu Lin, I’m assigning you a section of the Shihu Medicine Field. Yu Qing, you’re responsible for the nine passes outside the city. Remember, don’t be careless. Work hard to earn plenty of merits."
It was just as Yan Jin had said.
The Yu Family’s power in Yongzhou was immense; they controlled nearly everything, from mines and river transport to the border passes.
Coincidentally, Yongzhou Pass had similar operations.
The young Immortal Descendants brought their disciples here for trials. If they performed well, they could smoothly take over similar official positions when they entered the Court.
By then, they would have their own territory and a stable source of resources to support them.
"Thank you, Uncle Qiheng."
The three young Immortal Descendants had clearly been informed of this arrangement beforehand, and they all cupped their fists in thanks.
"No need."
Yu Qiheng pondered for a moment, closed the booklet, and looked at Yu Sheng in the corner. He tapped the tabletop lightly with his knuckles. "This place is yours."
"Hm?"
At his words, it wasn’t just the Immortal Descendants; even the hundred-odd disciples showed odd looks on their faces.
This was the frontier. Back when conflict between the Liang Kingdom and the Shun Dynasty was intense, many powerful experts had met their end here.
Though things had quieted down since, it had become a trial ground for the disciples of the Immortal Descendants, and countless Cultivators had perished among its mountains and rivers.
Nourished by this blood, bone, and Spiritual Power, Yongzhou Pass was rich in Spiritual Objects like Blood Spirit Stones and Crimson Heart Flowers.
The Immortal Descendants brought their disciples to guard these places. Although most of the spoils had to be turned over to the clan, just having them pass through their hands was a considerable profit.
Even for someone like Yu Qing, who was responsible for the border defenses where Cultivators could die at any moment, there were still profits to be skimmed from the dead.
Now, Elder Qiheng had tapped the table and sealed Yu Sheng’s future in Yongzhou Pass.
’An inn?’
’That’s a promising future, indeed.’
"You two, go and report to the mine and medicine field first. Yu Qing, stay behind. A Steward will be here shortly to explain things to you."
Yu Qiheng rose leisurely and walked outside, with no intention of explaining further.
Although he truly looked down on Yu Sheng, he wasn’t intentionally targeting her.
One only needed to look at the number of people behind each of the juniors to understand.
The one with the fewest still brought thirty disciples, half of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
After enough tempering, as long as seven or eight elites remained, they would be qualified to control a territory.
In contrast, Yu Sheng had just one lone person behind her. Never mind that while the young man’s Cultivation seemed decent, her own starting position was just too weak.
Even if she were given someone with an Innate Sword Heart, what use was just one person?
Of course, perhaps he had simply forgotten.
Right up until he left the inn, Yu Qiheng never again brought up the promise he’d made—that after the madam took away the one with the Innate Sword Heart, he would prepare a new batch of promising candidates for the little one.
Soon, amidst quiet snickers, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Only Yu Qing remained, along with his dozens of disciples.
He sat at a table, surrounded by his congratulating disciples, and casually cast his gaze toward Lin Shu.
’I just arrived at Yongzhou Pass, and I’m in charge of garrison duties. I’m desperately short on manpower.’
Even though Aunt Xin had already warned him, Yu Qing still wasn’t willing to give up.
’I’m not afraid of how much trouble Lin Shu might be. It’s just recruiting some cannon fodder, anyway. As long as he can save the life of one of my own disciples, it’ll be a net gain.’
’The main thing is, there’s no cost.’
Indeed, in his eyes, taking Yu Sheng’s disciple was something that required no price whatsoever.
Yu Sheng stood there in a daze, not even noticing when the food box in her hand fell to the floor.
’She never imagined that the clan elders wouldn’t even bother to keep up appearances, leaving the two of them without a shred of hope.’
Just then, the little one felt Yu Qing’s gaze.
Yu Sheng instinctively shuffled her feet, wanting to get between the two of them to block that gaze.
’Lin Shu was the last person she could rely on, and now they wanted to steal even this one person away!’
But soon, the little thing’s steps faltered, and she buried her head, not daring to speak.
She knew about Lin Shu’s physical condition.
He was in desperate need of resources to raise his Cultivation and resolve the great affliction of his missing heart. He couldn’t possibly just sit in an inn with her, waiting for death.
Yu Sheng suddenly felt an urge to cry. Although she understood all this, she had already given up Miss Yun, and now she had to give up Lin Shu too.
"I... I..."
"We just got here. What’s the rush? Take it slow."
Lin Shu didn’t reach out to pat her head or lift her onto a stool.
’This is Yongzhou Pass. She has to have the self-awareness of a Master. Even if her strength is insufficient, she needs to project the right aura.’
Hearing his rare, gentle voice, Yu Sheng raised her head in a daze.
’So he wasn’t thinking of leaving.’
’But what are we supposed to do now?’
Just then, a hunchbacked old man in purple robes walked slowly into the inn. He cupped his hands and said, "This humble one’s surname is Luo. I am a Steward from Shihu. My respects to the two Mountain Gods."
Although he said "two," his eyes were fixed only on Yu Qing.
Clearly, the local people of this region had already gotten a clear grasp of the specific situation of this new batch of Yu Family Immortal Descendants.
"You’re too kind."
The corners of Yu Qing’s lips turned up. Clansmen like them, who came prepared, had a general understanding of the rules of Yongzhou Pass.
Therefore, he didn’t rush to recruit the young man, but instead watched the two of them with a faint, amused smile, enjoying the show.

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