The Programmer Cultivator

"It’s not like you’re going before Master Guk... that is... AHEM... It’s not like they’re masters with... special needs!"

Zhang Deming nodded and said, "I know all that, but some concepts are just so absurd, aren’t they? Maybe it’s because I come from the mortal world."

’After all, even though my previous life was only a little over twenty years, it was the world that shaped my worldview. It’s only normal that some of those views are hard to change.’

"Heh, in that case, Junior Brother Zhang, you need a few Children even more. After they’ve been around you for a while, you’ll get used to it. You’ll be able to get rid of those mortal views of yours," Song Huidong said with a laugh.

Hearing this, Zhang Deming looked at Song Huidong. The man offered a small smile in return, meeting Zhang Deming’s gaze.

"Alright, I’ll take a look when I get back. I just hope they won’t look down on me for my low Cultivation," Zhang Deming replied, also with a smile.

Song Huidong maintained his smile and looked at Zhang Deming. "You can rest assured. Any floor of the Seven Floors of Spirit Nurturing is home to a Tai Chi Disciple.

As a floor master, you’re more than qualified to take on Children. Plenty of people would be fighting tooth and nail to place someone with you. Junior Brother, if I were to put the word out... I reckon my doorstep would be worn down by tomorrow."

Behind them, Yang Guangfu’s face was full of resentment, and even Qin Shizhong shot an almost imperceptible glance at Song Huidong. Other disciples were one thing, but a Child could very well threaten the favor they currently enjoyed.

Zhang Deming just smiled and didn’t reply. Instead, he looked up with a hint of confusion, glancing at Guan Shouxin, who was still resting with his eyes closed in the main seat, and then at the many puzzled disciples around him.

They had been seated for quite some time now. After waiting for so long, even though he hadn’t felt the slightest tremor, Zhang Deming guessed the vessel had already set off.

He subtly changed the subject; otherwise, if they kept talking, he was afraid Song Huidong would start discussing which family’s Child he should take.

’If it got to that point, refusing might create some friction. But not refusing would feel like I was being railroaded. A Child Attendant is someone who serves you closely; I definitely don’t want someone chosen for me.’

’Although, Song Huidong probably wouldn’t be so tactless. Still, I’d rather not test his character on this. After all, we get along well now, and we’re bound to interact more in the future.’

’If I can avoid it, why risk creating bad blood?’

’This was all from his decades of life experience, lessons hard-won from navigating the world. By paying attention to these little things in daily interactions, the path ahead would gradually smooth out and grow wider.’

"We should have been on our way for a while now, right? Why hasn’t Master Guan started his lecture? According to custom, isn’t today supposed to be for a complimentary lecture?" Zhang Deming asked quizzically, looking around.

Because the Welcome Team’s journey was always a slow and ostentatious procession, a Master of Three Talents leading the way would give a lecture during the trip to pass the time. No one knew which year this tradition started.

It was unknown how long this custom had been maintained. It probably began around the same time the Traveler of the World forum was established. Even Guk Liancai, in the past, hadn’t broken this tradition.

Therefore, it wasn’t just Zhang Deming. Among the twenty or so Duality Disciples present—with at least one representative from each peak—many shared the same confusion.

Song Huidong, still smiling, seamlessly picked up Zhang Deming’s topic. He didn’t answer immediately but instead posed a question: "Junior Brother Zhang, how much do you know about Master Guan Shouxin, or the Guan Family of Wanghui Peak?"

Zhang Deming shook his head. "Not much. I’ve gone through a lot of records in the Spirit Nurturing Peak’s Information Room. It seems the Guan Family has many disciples and is counted among the Inner Sect’s Noble Families."

"But they don’t seem to be a top-tier Noble Family, and they keep an extremely low profile. Even though they control Wanghui Peak, they have almost no presence."

"In fact, among the more than thirty Three Talents Families in the Inner Sect, they seem to be the only one that controls one of the fifteen peaks yet hasn’t managed to become a top-tier Noble Family."

Song Huidong nodded. "Correct. Then, Junior Brother Zhang, do you know why that is?"

"Uh... The records seemed to mention that their family has few interests, and Wanghui Peak itself isn’t very profitable," Zhang Deming replied.

Song Huidong shook his head. "Yes and no. Whether a family can become a top-tier Inner Sect Noble Family is indeed closely related to its control over resources. But Wanghui Peak isn’t unprofitable; on the contrary, it’s extremely lucrative."

Zhang Deming frowned slightly. "Then why do the records say their family lives a life of ascetic practice?"

Song Huidong tilted his head, glanced at Guan Shouxin, and said, "That would be because of him. It seems the Patriarchs of the Guan Family, generation after generation, have all been of a similar nature, looking like they’re perfectly suited to serve in the Guardian Tower.

Not only do they not contend or compete, but their family’s disciples are also spread throughout the Sect, quietly going about their duties. Despite possessing a vast network of connections, the entire Guan Family, from top to bottom, almost never leverages it to make any moves.

It’s not that the Sect hasn’t noticed; it’s that they genuinely go decades without making small plays for profit or anything of the sort.

Whether it’s the Guan Family members acting privately or the family giving orders, they truly make very few moves within the Sect. It’s almost as if scheming for personal gain doesn’t exist among the Guan Family members.

Their family seems to have inherited the ways of some Ancient School, behaving like ascetic Cultivators who quietly pursue the Dao, untainted by the mortal Dust.

Because of this, the Guardian Tower has invited nearly every generation’s Guan Family Patriarch to take up a position in the Main Pavilion. However, they’ve all been refused in the end. After all, the Guardian Tower is practically half-allied with the Dharma Transmission Hall; going there would be akin to picking a side.

My master says this is the Guan Family’s method of survival in the Sect. While it prevents them from rising dramatically, it also ensures they won’t suffer a great fall, guaranteeing the Guan Family’s long-term prosperity. It’s a decent survival strategy within the Sect, and it suits the Guan Family members well."

...