Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 224 - 155: This Kid is a Connected Party!_2

Chapter 224: Chapter 155: This Kid is a Connected Party!_2

The two brothers’ expressions immediately softened, and they nodded in deep agreement.

It was clear that they agreed with Jiang Feng’s courteous words and even thought Jiang Feng was clever, knowing to bide his time and wait for a sensational debut in five years.

However, Qiao Yuan frowned at this moment, clearly not believing Jiang Feng’s words.

Because on the journey, the observant her had seen Jiang Feng leave alone with Yu Ying more than once, and each time he returned, his face was full of exhaustion.

Of course, she did not suspect that the private meetings between the two involved any romantic affairs, but rather, each time he returned, she could see obvious scars on Jiang Feng’s palms and arms, which were not from beatings, but from repeated practice or the execution of some powerful Daoist Skill.

Moreover, she had long seen an indifferent expression in Jiang Feng’s eyes, not from being sloppy or lazy, but from having absolute confidence in his strength.

"Young Master Jiang, look over there."

Qiao Yuan just looked out the window, their seats being right by the window, from where one could overlook the street, following her line of sight, he clearly spotted a little girl.

Yes, a little girl.

"That, this uncle..."

"Who are you calling uncle? I am still very young!"

With a fierce expression, he turned around, nearly making the girl, who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen, cry.

The girl was skinny, clearly malnourished, and it was obvious she had gone through great struggles just to arrive in town.

Her head wrapped in a rag, dressed in plain clothes, she didn’t look like she came from a wealthy family, her skinny and pale appearance gave her a fragile look.

"Then, gentlemen, I was wondering if you had, had anyone to join you on the mountain this time, is there still a spot in your group? I... I won’t hold you back."

"No."

He shook his head decisively, the answer without any hesitation.

"We’re not lacking anyone, little girl, you should ask someone else, our group is full."

Others around, who were discussing about the mountain entry exam, also shook their heads and then continued with their own conversations.

Entering the mountain was no child’s play; this little girl seemed to only be around the fourth level of the Qi Refinement Realm, what was she going to do following them?

Their group, on average, was around the peak of Qi Refinement, and they were already under great pressure entering the mountain; adding someone at the fourth level of Qi Refinement would be purely a burden.

The little girl did not continue to plead; she had already been rejected countless times over the past few days, her expression somewhat numb.

Just politely saying "Sorry for disturbing, everyone," then she chose to leave.

Looking around, the child quietly came to the tea house, circled around, and seemed stunned for a moment when she saw their table.

"Is she going to come over to us?"

This thought flashed through his mind, and before he had time to think how to respond, he saw the girl silently exit the tea house.

Clearly, she also understood that those in the Qi Refinement Realm were unwilling to take her into the mountain, not to mention these uncles who had already reached Foundation Establishment.

Considering her age, calling these men in their thirties ’uncle’ wasn’t really inappropriate.

"Young Master Jiang has seen it all."

"In this place, whether you want to actively join a group or recruit people into your group is not easy. Since we’ve entered the city, she has been active in town, seeking to find someone to take her along into the mountain."

"Our first day in the city, she approached us, but unfortunately her realm is far too low, and Qiao Yuan also had to refuse, as this concerns our future for hundreds of years."

"Faced with many masters, anyone would be hard-pressed, we’re not unsympathetic, but unable to ensure her safety, like such little girls in town are not uncommon."

"If she were to enter the mountain alone, she might not even have a good rest at night, on this journey lasting at least half a month or even several months, those who can successfully ascend the mountain by themselves are rare."

"Young Master Jiang, perhaps reconsider thoroughly?"

Once again she extended an olive branch with confidence in her judgment and sixth sense, but under the lady’s gaze, he still shook his head.

But while rejecting, Jiang Feng naturally added: "Simply walking to the entrance of Purple Cloud Palace is just the rigid entrance requirement, but there are flexible conditions as well."

"Oh? What do you mean by this?"

The three immediately had their attention piqued, and the two brothers beside them were the ones who asked this question as their eyes lit up—news of other possible methods was good news for them.

In their group, the only competitive one was Qiao Yuan, at the Mid Grade Foundation Establishment, with notable strength; although the two brothers had been in the Foundation Establishment for years, they had yet to find an opportunity to surpass the Mid Grade.

Even Qiao Yuan made a welcoming gesture; it was obvious Jiang Feng knew the insider details, and her earlier conjecture was indeed correct.

This boy is a connection!

"Purple Cloud Palace doesn’t just look at strength, but also at age and potential, something you all should know."

"If I remember correctly, when they recruit, it is said that reaching before the sect and performance excellence are factors, many overlook the former, but it is often the most important."

"After all, a thirty-some-year-old at Foundation Establishment, even if capable of pushing their way to the sect, has far less potential than teenagers who reached Foundation Establishment but got eliminated on the way, and the difference in treatment once inside is naturally significant."

"Some may have sufficient strength but bad luck, meeting a Foundation Establishment Peak or Core Formation Stage expert in the first battle, ending up in mutual defeat and forced to leave the mountain."

"And then there are those with lower realms, but who can unexpectedly hold their own against these experts; can such people not be considered talented? Impossible, as long as they receive the same cultivation resources, they can undoubtedly become stronger than others."

"Thus, discussing only rigid conditions would lead to losing a large batch of potential candidates, Purple Cloud Palace seeks to recruit talent, not destroy it."

"As long as one performs excellently in the assessments, whether by crossing realms or showing remarkable resilience, they should be noticed, and if noticed, in the end..."

A momentary unusual expression appeared.

But Jiang Feng still spoke the final sentence.

"There will be a high-ranking member within the sect coming personally to pick."

The three in front faced sank into contemplation, clearly pondering his intention.

"Excuse me, I need to make some preparations for entering the mountain tomorrow, and I wish you all smooth entry."

Up the shore?

Qiao Yuan’s attention was drawn by Jiang Feng’s peculiar phrasing, but thinking about it, the adjective was quite apt.

Watching Jiang Feng gradually moving away with a face full of regret, her guess had no issues; Jiang Feng was indeed a connection and also knew a lot of internals, even things she, who had been assessed once, did not know.

According to her guess, this young man had evidently been noticed by someone from Purple Cloud Palace intending to directly recruit him under their wing, but due to saving face or to stop others from talking, they let Jiang Feng intentionally go through the motions.

Snapping back to reality, Qiao Yuan immediately stood up trying to call out to Jiang Feng, but the youth had disappeared in just a few breaths, causing her great annoyance as she slapped her forehead.

"What a pity, what a pity! Even if it took clinging desperately, he should have been kept!"

"Sister Qiao, the young brother also said, he feared holding us back, and having just reached Foundation Establishment, waiting five years indeed seems better."

One of them was somewhat confused; he felt that Jiang Feng’s previous words were very sincere, but Qiao Yuan just pinched her brow and did not speak much.

She only hoped that on the day of entering the mountain, she could see Jiang Feng again; if they could follow this young man, their whole group might smoothly entry.

No, that’s called making it ashore.

In just a short while the youth had already walked far away, leaving the town boundaries with a leisurely expression.

Staring at the slender figure ahead, slowly following behind, she had previously asked her senior about many things concerning Purple Cloud Palace, for unlike a certain woman who was forever puzzling over something day in and day out.

Just now, it was exactly as her senior had directly said, that sect recruitment was never about rigid conditions, but about recruiting those who performed exceptionally.

Now thinking about it, he found this so-called "sect assessment" quite interesting.

Or rather, the answer had been given right from the start.