CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: YUNYUZE ALLIANCE

Du Wanyi pondered, "Initially, this organization rose within the Water Dragon Sect due to some predecessors from our Cloud Rain Marsh’s many markets not faring well inside the sect."

"Later, some well-connected seniors voluntarily banded together, helping each other, exchanging various resources and information, and eventually managed to establish a footing."

"Over time, this organization gradually spread to the markets within our Cloud Rain Marsh."

"Cultivators like us who have not yet joined the Water Dragon Sect often unite in advance as well."

Ji Yuan listened intently and asked,

"So, doesn’t this Mutual Aid Association have any covenants or rules?"

If the rules were too strict, he would have to consider it carefully.

Du Wanyi nodded lightly and said, "There are three covenants: First, if any member is in mortal danger, the others must try their best to help them through it.

Second, if a member suffers a tragic death, the others must try to avenge them.

Third, members must not kill each other, and conflicts should be resolved internally."

After listening, Ji Yuan frowned slightly, "These first two covenants about trying one’s best... what does ’trying one’s best’ mean? As for the third one, if there is a deadly conflict, would the association really intervene?"

"Trying one’s best means doing what one can."

Du Wanyi’s charming peach blossom eyes blinked at Ji Yuan a few times, "Like now, if someone from our association offended the Water Dragon Sect and was killed by them, we certainly wouldn’t help him take revenge, right? The first covenant works the same way."

"As for the third covenant, if there is indeed a deadly feud, the association can’t really intervene."

"That’s not too bad."

Ji Yuan was worried that the covenants had any mandatory requirements, but it seemed like they were mostly verbal agreements with little restriction.

"Yes, if there were too many constraints, we certainly wouldn’t join either."

Du Wanyi chuckled.

Those who could cultivate to the late Qi Cultivation stage in a place like Cloud Rain Marsh weren’t fools.

So based solely on Du Wanyi’s words, this so-called "Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association" seemed like a loose alliance of interests, one that could easily be broken.

"We hold gatherings every month on the 18th, where resources and information are exchanged.

You can come if you’re free, and if not, it’s up to you."

"Also, when there are new members joining, we hold a gathering to meet the new faces so everyone can get acquainted."

That was all she had to say.

At this point, Du Wanyi stopped, blinking and smiling at Ji Yuan, as if waiting for an answer.

Ji Yuan contemplated for a moment before asking, "Have all late Qi Cultivation stage cultivators in Cloud Rain Marsh joined the Mutual Aid Association?"

"That’s naturally impossible. Although most are part of our Mutual Aid Association, there are some who are reclusive and don’t like to interact with others, and some..."

Du Wanyi paused briefly before continuing, "There are also some who don’t want to join the Water Dragon Sect, or can’t join it, so they’ve formed a ’Cloud Rain Marsh Alliance’ like us. For instance, the Qin Family Patriarch you offended, the blind elder Qin at the tenth level of Qi Cultivation, is the leader of this Cloud Rain Marsh Alliance."

"Is there really such a thing?"

Ji Yuan asked, slightly surprised.

"Yes." Du Wanyi’s eyes flashed with a hint of disdain, "They’re merely following the trend and can’t compare to our Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association. Even Elder Qin’s sons are part of our Mutual Aid Association."

It was natural that the Cloud Rain Marsh Alliance, no matter what, was just mingling within Cloud Rain Marsh itself, but the Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association was different, especially with those who had already joined the Water Dragon Sect... Ji Yuan nodded slightly, "Did Daoist Du see it just now?"

"I saw it."

Du Wanyi smiled, "Brother Ji doesn’t need to worry. As long as you join our Mutual Aid Association, backed by those seniors in the Water Dragon Sect, even if the blind elder Qin comes, he wouldn’t dare to trouble you."

This seemed to be true.

The first covenant of the Mutual Aid Association was that when a member was in mortal danger, the others would assist.

If faced with a formidable enemy, the Mutual Aid Association might not have a way out.

But clearly, to the Mutual Aid Association, the Qin Family wasn’t a big enemy.

In that case, with the organization being loose and no strange elixirs or oaths involved... Ji Yuan stood up and smiled slightly, "Then in the future, Daoist Du might have to trouble you more."

"We’re all family; it’s no trouble at all."

Seeing that Ji Yuan agreed to join, Du Wanyi’s smile became even more sincere.

She stood up, took out a jade token from her storage bag, and handed it over, "This is the token of our Mutual Aid Association, also a little gift refined by sect seniors for us."

"There’s a protective restriction inside, once activated, it acts like a first-grade high-quality protective talisman but can only be used once."

"Oh?"

Ji Yuan didn’t expect such a benefit upon joining, receiving it with both hands, "The seniors were considerate."

Seeing that Du Wanyi was about to speak again, Ji Yuan quickly interjected, "I won’t take long to break through to late Qi stage, so could the meeting be postponed for a few days until I break through?"

"Of course, you can contact the Mutual Aid Association members at Zengtou City after you’re ready, or find me at Taian Square, House A-3."

"Alright."

After agreeing, Ji Yuan watched Du Wanyi take her leave.

Watching her control the flying boat and leave, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.

But it wouldn’t be long. With the gains from this trip, breaking through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation wouldn’t be a problem, nor would buying a flying boat.

Moreover, just this communication gave Ji Yuan a sense.

That reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation was akin to truly entering the cultivator circle of Cloud Rain Marsh, whereas before, he was merely a fisherman.

A fisherman seemingly born to fish.

With this thought, Ji Yuan took a long breath.

"Whoosh—"

No matter what, the current problems seemed mostly resolved; next was to organize the trip’s gains, divide the spoils with Qiu Qianhai, then head to Jingde Square to sell and buy what was needed.

He was preparing to break through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation.

Ji Yuan piloted his boat towards Jingde Square and met Qiu Qianhai in a reed bed before a cup of tea had passed.

"No one followed, right?"

"No."

"If that’s the case, let’s first divide the spoils from this trip."

Just the unidentified storage bags alone amounted to three on Ji Yuan, and all three were sixth-level Qi Cultivation storage bags.

Not to mention the over twenty pounds of Cold Iron Sand and the Stone Armor Crab’s corpse.

"Alright."

Talking about this matter, even the injured Qiu Qianhai’s spirits lifted, as he took out the opened storage bags.

"I have quite a few good things here too."

He added, "We just need to divide the Qin Family’s two storage bags, the two from the Liu Brothers, and the remaining Cold Iron Sand are yours."