Hidden Moth

"The public announcement from the Ancestral Hall has been out for half a month now, has no one come to request elixirs from you?" He Kao pondered as he looked at the three bottles of elixir on the coffee table.

Qian Guran smiled bitterly, "How could they not! It's almost unbearable! Whether they know me or not, people have found various ways to reach me, some promising great profits, and some even trying to use seductive schemes..."

He Kao interrupted, "About the seductive schemes, tell me more about that."

Qian Guran replied irritably, "What is there to say! This isn't even my stuff, where would I dare handle it on my own."

Actually, something like the Spring Rain Pill, if you want to award it to someone, it's better to do it privately, instead of making it so widely known. But the Ancestral Hall made it a public reward precisely to let all sorcerers see it, that's how you achieve publicity.

To Qian Guran, the item is actually quite hot, because everyone knows he got three bottles at once.

Qian Guran himself doesn't need the Spring Rain Pill, which gives others an excuse to ask for it—since it's something you don't need, why not just sell it to me!

He Kao: "This is your item, the whole world knows, of course, how to deal with it is for you to decide."

Qian Guran got a bit anxious, "I was just the one to present for the merit, Steward Wei was also present at the time, surely the Ancestral Hall has elder witnesses. Ren Zhongqing was captured by you, I was just helping out, how can I swallow the reward?"

If I had to decide, I'd decide to give them all to you!"

He Kao said slowly, "Old Qian, I've asked you for quite a few favors, I should at least give some compensation and hush money for taking the blame, right?"

Qian Guran shook his head repeatedly, "Too much, it's too much!"

He Kao put away two bottles, leaving one, "Ren Zhongqing was not caught by me alone, we took him down together, let's split the reward, I'll take advantage of you a bit, and take one more bottle."

Qian Guran thought about it, and finally nodded, "Let's do it this way, if you want to sell it, you can ask me for help, there are many channels available here."

He Kao squinted and asked, "Having cultivated to entry level, there's no need to consume this, who would use heavy gold to seek this item?"

Qian Guran: "Let me give you an example, do you know Ye Hui?"

He Kao: "Of course I know him, we just drank together."

They not only drank together at Qihuang Spirit Garden, but Ye Hui also gave a pair of incense burners as a congratulatory gift. Xiaopang later borrowed one incense burner from He Kao, intending to place it in the Gu Mountain Secret Mansion to honor the painting of Tan Xian's Walking Stick.

He Kao happened to need a high-quality incense burner, which was hard to find on the market.

Qian Guran: "His daughter Ye Yuxuan was also present that day, her cultivation is already at Tier Two Scholar level.

If, I say if, if Ye Yuxuan hasn't cultivated to entry level, feeling like her root is just a little weak, would Ye Hui use heavy gold to buy the Spring Rain Pill and try it?

The Magic Sect is so big, similar demands are not small."

He Kao: "These two bottles have their uses, how do you plan to deal with this one?"

Qian Guran: "Do you have any suggestions?"

He Kao: "If you don't plan to use it yourself, then find a big mouth bidder, tell them it's your last bottle, and as for the other two, they've already been sold privately."

Qian Guran chuckled, "I was thinking the same thing, now I can repay the debt I owe you."

He Kao: "No need to repay, you've helped me so much..."

Qian Guran: "I'll repay, I'll repay, these are two different things!"

The reason He Kao hasn't found Old Qian to discuss this matter for such a long time is that he wanted to wait for the hype to pass, as this matter is a recent hot topic in the Magic Sect, and quite a few people must be paying attention.

Recently, there's news that the Ancestral Hall is to hold a meeting. Because of Mei Guyu's unexpected return from seclusion, seven elders rarely gathered, and many high-levels are also attending, the date is in the next couple of days.

There shouldn't be any high figures secretly watching over Qi Yuan, which made He Kao feel less pressured.

As a Hidden Moth, if someone secretly observes, he can detect it, but he can't be probing all the time. Since the encounter with Ren Zhongqing, He Kao has been very cautious, almost never using Invisibility Ability thereafter.

That subtle feeling of being watched finally disappeared lately.

But He Kao remained steady, still refraining from using Invisibility Ability in any occasion, yet he continued daily cultivation.

Aside from daily sitting meditation and internal cultivation, He Kao would also take time to practice Earth Formation Skill, walking through the city or the wilderness, merging divine qi with the environment, hiding quite well, running pretty fast.

This was a rare period of tranquility since He Kao became a Hidden Moth, cultivation needs such an environment, constantly facing changes wasn't conducive, his divine sense was honed to be increasingly refined and resilient.

In this calm, many "big things" happened as well.

As He Kao expected, the engagement between Xiaopang and He Shan was called off.

Mrs. Chen used an excuse that was almost like cheating, claiming she went to an ancient temple in the city to burn incense and pray for blessings. As a result, that night, Xiaopang's father appeared to her in a dream, firmly opposing the engagement...

The most important thing is that Xiaopang himself also agreed with his father's opinion.

Recently, Xiaopang has been very diligent in his cultivation. It seems like he doesn't need He Kao to supervise him; he seems to have found endless joy and motivation by himself. Whenever he finds time, he runs off to Hengzhou to consult his master and at the same time visit his junior sister.

From Qi Yuan to Hengzhou, it takes less than two hours by car on the highway. It's not just on holidays; as long as he finishes work early, he can head over there for dinner even on weekdays... Anyway, besides working hours, He Kao has recently seen Xiaopang very rarely.

The car Mrs. Chen bought for Xiaopang, which he hardly drove before, is now frequently on the road.

Mrs. Chen even called He Kao specifically, asking what Xiaopang has been busy with lately. He Kao told her that Xiaopang has been pursuing a girl who lives in Hengzhou City, so he keeps going there.

Mrs. Chen was delighted and further inquired about the girl. He Kao then gave a general introduction about Meng Ya, mainly according to the "dominant female CEO" persona. After hearing it, Mrs. Chen was both happy and worried.

In late June, President Fang Qizhi of the Qi Yuan Branch was transferred to the Group Headquarters. Although his rank didn't drop, it's heard that he has faded from the group's decision-making core, and soon he took leave for health reasons to recuperate.

For most employees of the Qi Yuan Branch, this came as a surprise. There was no forewarning, and the head of the division was suddenly replaced, with Qian Guran taking over Fang Qizhi's position.

The branch originally had one president and two vice presidents. After Qian Guran took office, he recommended a former department head to serve as the new vice president, and the headquarters also parachuted in another vice president, making it three vice presidents.

As the head, Old Qian actually found himself with more leisure time than when he was vice president. Basically, he went to work when he wanted and worked overtime when he wanted. Even if he didn't show up that day, the employees assumed the boss was out handling business.

Compared to former President Fang, Old Qian was better at delegating, letting the three vice presidents handle many of the specific duties. It's said President Qian even reported to the Group Headquarters, planning to apply for adding another vice president in the branch.

According to Tengxin Group's structure, as long as the business scale is reached, an independent division can appoint four vice presidents, so President Qian wants to fill up this quota... Of course, these are still just rumors for the time being.

As the saying goes, a change in personnel brings new energy, and some things President Fang pushed for came to an abrupt end. The Cloud Living Project Team still only had Gao Xue'e as the sole manager, with the plan to appoint a deputy manager canceled.

Huang Xiaopang was already very busy, so no need to add more work burden.

When President Fang resigned, the Group Headquarters sent people to conduct a small-scale internal audit, and the financial director was subsequently transferred. For ordinary employees, the impact of this internal audit was minimal, almost unfelt.

But the longest-standing employee in the Cloud Services Project Team, Zhang Junchen, was called in for a meeting, and a few days later he was hospitalized. Old Zhang was genuinely hospitalized this time, not just frightened, and voluntarily submitted his resignation while in the hospital.

From the dining hall gossip, it was said that Old Zhang was found out for something, almost handed over to judicial authorities. Afterwards, through his own efforts, the leadership finally gave him a chance to resign voluntarily.

Once all of this settled, He Kao told Xiaopang about how Old Zhang had once tried to set him up.

This was just a minor ripple in the higher-up struggles of the Qi Yuan Branch, triggered by President Fang wanting to take down President Qian, which indirectly led to Old Zhang targeting Xiaopang...

Fortunately, Master Fatty remained upright, maintained his integrity, and stayed pure, so the schemers had no opportunity to exploit. He Kao also reminded Xiaopang that he should thank Old Qian properly for this.

The remaining balance for the purchase of that pair of golden paperweights by Qian Guran was finally fully paid after he became the president. Combined with the payment for selling that old ginseng through Lin Qingshuang, He Kao found himself with much more financial freedom, and he didn't have to be so stingy using the Awakening Incense.

The Awakening Incense was not only used for paying homage to the ancestral masters but also could assist in cultivation during sitting meditation.

As for those two bottles of Spring Rain Pills, He Kao didn't sell them. He kept one bottle as a backup and gave the other bottle to Gao Xue'e. He didn't mention its value, just told Gao Xue'e that it could be taken alongside the Nourishing Essence Pill, as their spiritual effects didn't conflict.

Gao Xue'e recently kept poking He Kao's chest with her fingers, saying he looked paler, and seemed softer... It sounded like tofu.

Of course, He Kao wasn't tofu. Although he appeared with red lips, white teeth, and tender skin, his body contained astonishing explosive power and considerable stamina.

Ever since he sparred with Ren Zhongqing, he has never slackened in his practice of the Five Elements Staff and the Dragon Tendon Training Spear Technique. His level has significantly improved.

Practicing Dragon Tendon Training can cultivate the "Dragon Tendon Power," channeling strength throughout every part of the body... Tier Three Cultivation can only reach this level.

His change in appearance wasn't that obvious; it was just that Gao Xue'e was too sensitive and exaggerated. He Kao knew the reason; it was mainly because he always carried Xue Guanghan with him these days.

He Kao couldn't carry a four-foot-long spear everywhere, nor could he wield a machine gun or grenades. For self-defense, handling Xue Guanghan was the most fitting and convenient. He used it to knock down the escaping Ren Zhongqing.

He Kao considered giving Xue Guanghan to Gao Xue'e, but after thinking it over, he decided not to for now, because Gao Xue'e was already wearing that Beast Claw Pendant, and the effects might conflict.

Since He Kao carried Xue Guanghan with him every day, in his downtime, he would also cultivate it with his Divine Sense, at least to prevent it from being damaged the next time there was a fight... Even unintentionally, there were minor side effects of practicing Ice Skin Jade Bone.

Until early July, he once again activated the Invisibility Ability and arrived at the Gu Mountain Secret Mansion.

He placed a bottle of Spring Rain Pill and more than half a bottle of Essence Nourishing Pill on the shelf neatly, then swapped the incense burner borrowed from Xiaopang onto the incense table. He lit a pair of white jade candles, burned three sticks of Awakening Incense, and chanted a mantra, bowing in front of the Tan the Immortal painting.

On the table in front of the incense burner lay a sharp short blade with a matte finish.

**