Chapter 929: Gan Family

A Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Volume 6: Heavenly Spiritual Treasures, Chapter 1: The Seven Mysteries Sect's Troubles

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Though ranked among the bottom few major prefectures, in terms of prosperity, it could easily rank among the top five. The lands under this prefecture's jurisdiction are predominantly plains and water towns, brimming with natural resources. It also boasts numerous spiritual mountains and mighty rivers. Mortals living in these spiritual mountains frequently witness immortals, adorned in monastic or Daoist robes, soaring through the heavens.

Consequently, the prefecture saw a widespread devotion to both Buddhism and Daoism. Buddhist temples and Daoist monasteries dotted the landscape, and everyone, from powerful dignitaries and wealthy magnates to humble farmers and laborers, accorded immense respect to both faiths.

Beyond Buddhism and Daoism, this prefecture was also notable for its exceptionally numerous academies. Academies and private schools could be found everywhere, from the prefectural capital and major cities to small towns and villages.

These academies were distinctly categorized into various tiers. First-tier academies featured esteemed scholars personally lecturing on the Four Books and Five Classics, typically instructing children from influential official families. At the lowest tier, small private schools were taught by ordinary Confucian scholars, who imparted fundamental Confucian ideas and explained basic scriptures. However, if exceptional talents were discovered among their students, they would be recommended to higher-tier academies, offering a superb opportunity for children from impoverished families to rise in status.

After all, Confucian scholars who graduated from high-tier academies were highly welcomed by the upper echelons of the Great Jin Dynasty. Those from the very top academies were even eagerly recruited by provincial governors and ducal families.

Taichang City, the prefectural capital of Taichang Prefecture, was one such large city teeming with academies.

While this city wasn't as renowned as Wuguang City, which held the top rank, it was, within Nan Prefecture, the prefectural capital favored by the highest number of high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants. There were at least three or four ducal or marquis families alone, and the countless commoners engaged in various trades and professions were innumerable.

The Gan family, situated west of Taichang City, was among the city's established wealthy merchants. A merchant of their caliber, with nearly twenty restaurants across various cities in Taichang Prefecture, would be considered extraordinarily rich in smaller towns, virtually monopolizing the local wealth. Yet, in Taichang City itself, they were merely regarded as a mid-to-upper-tier wealthy household.

Nevertheless, the Gan family owned a sizable mansion in an affluent district of Taichang City. With thirty to forty servants and maids within its gates, it was indeed a considerable estate.

One day, at the height of noon, a young man in his early twenties, dressed in Confucian scholar robes, slowly emerged from a street corner. He appeared travel-worn, with a bulky, long bundle wrapped in gray cloth strapped to his back.

As soon as he entered the street, the young man's gaze constantly swept left and right, searching for something.

A short while later, he finally spotted the large "Gan Residence" plaque hanging above the Gan family's gleaming black gate. A smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

He took a few steps forward to the main gate. After another glance at the Gan family's entrance, he unhesitatingly stepped forward and lightly knocked twice on the iron door knocker.

After two soft 'thump-thump' sounds, hurried footsteps could immediately be heard from inside the gate.

The young man paused, seemingly surprised by the sound. But a moment later, the gate was quickly opened halfway, revealing the face of a middle-aged man, dressed in servant's attire, whose expression was full of deference.

The moment the man saw the young man before him, the deferential look on his face froze for an instant, then quickly vanished.

"Whom are you looking for?" the man asked with a hint of suspicion, straightening up from his previous posture. His gaze continuously swept over the young man, as if trying to discern something.

"Is this the residence of Uncle Gan Chi?" the young man asked with a smile, cupping one hand in the other.

"Uncle Gan Chi? Gan Chi is indeed my master's name. And you are, young master...?" Initially, the man inside the gate had shown a hint of disdain after observing the young man's attire, but now, hearing his words, he was greatly surprised. His tone immediately became noticeably more polite.

"I am Han Li, a distant relative of Uncle Gan Chi," the young man, Han Li, said with a smile. "I have specifically come to pay my uncle a visit."

It had now been a year since his closed-door cultivation. After a period of dedicated practice, aided by the Celestial Corpse Bead and the Vajra Relic, he had finally mastered the first layer of the Bright King Art. The previously restless evil aura within him had become significantly more stable. This filled Han Li with joy, and without daring to delay, he immediately set out for the Gan family, as he had long planned.

"Oh, so it's Young Master Han," the middle-aged man said after a moment of hesitation. "It's quite unfortunate; the master left early this morning to meet with friends. The eldest young master is in charge of the residence now. Would you like me to inform him?"

"Then I'll trouble you, sir," Han Li said calmly, a slight curve appearing on his lips.

"Please wait a moment, young master. I'll be right back," the middle-aged man said, bowing and nodding. The gate then closed again, and he hurried off to deliver the message.

Han Li stood casually at the gate, observing the other large mansions nearby and the passing carriages and pedestrians.

Although he hadn't scanned the city with his spiritual sense, it was clear there was a considerable number of cultivators here. They were regularly distributed in several parts of the city, and among them were not a few high-ranking ones. This made him quite curious; he was genuinely interested in how these cultivators integrated into the mundane world.

After a short while, the gate creaked open once more.

This time, a very young man emerged from within.

This youth had delicate features and was clad in a brocade robe, with the man in servant's attire standing behind him.

"You must be Young Master Han," said Gan Yu, after scrutinizing Han Li from head to toe, speaking with surprising politeness. "I am Gan Yu. I've heard Brother Han is a distant relative of the Gan family; though I haven't heard of this before, it would be impolite not to welcome you. If you don't mind, Young Master Han, please follow me to the main hall for a chat."

"So, you are Uncle Gan's eldest son," Han Li replied. "Since Brother Gan has put it this way, I won't decline." Han Li didn't stand on ceremony; after a brief thought, he readily agreed.

Gan Yu smiled faintly and stepped aside slightly, inviting Han Li into the Gan Residence. The gleaming black gate then silently closed behind them.

An hour later, the head of the Gan family, a prosperous-looking old man in his fifties who had left early that morning, returned in a carriage to the front of the Gan Residence, dressed in a blue official's robe.

"Has something happened at the residence?" Old Gan Chi asked the moment he alighted from the carriage, having noticed the doorman's flickering eyes, as if he had something to say.

"Reporting to master," the doorman replied immediately and truthfully, "a young man named Han, who claims to be your relative, has been invited into the main hall by the eldest young master. They seem to be having a very pleasant conversation."

"A relative? Named Han?" The old man, who had been about to step into the mansion, paused and asked, his tone slightly altered, with a hint of surprise and doubt.

"Is he a swindler? It's hard to say," Gan Chi mused. "I do seem to have such a distant relative; it's just been too long, and I don't remember clearly. Just mind your gate; you don't need to meddle!" His face hardened, and after a casual reprimand to the servant, he hurried into the mansion, heading straight for the main hall without even changing his clothes.

Before he even entered the main hall, just as he reached the entrance, the old man heard an unusually familiar sound of light laughter coming from within:

"Brother Han, your profound understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics truly astounds me," came the voice. "However, regarding that passage about the sage in the book, I believe it should be interpreted this way..." This was clearly his eldest son's cheerful voice, seemingly engrossed in conversation with the guest.

Hearing this, the old man's expression subtly darkened, and his eyes flickered with a hint of unease. But a moment later, he gritted his teeth and, no longer hesitating, entered the main hall.

"Father," Gan Yu began, rising immediately and respectfully greeting his father, "this Young Master Han is..."

"Yes! I've already heard from the servants," Gan Chi said, his full attention on Han Li. He waved a dismissive hand at his son, then, after a quick glance at Han Li, slowly asked, "You are Young Master Han, who claims to be my distant relative. May I ask if you have any letters or tokens of proof with you?"

Han Li also rose from his seat at this moment and, hearing such a question, couldn't help but smile.

Immediately, without a word, he reached into his sleeve with one hand and pulled out a half-piece of white, shimmering jade pendant, which he then handed over.

The moment Gan Chi saw the jade pendant, his expression finally changed dramatically.

He solemnly took the jade pendant and examined it carefully. Only then did a look of sudden realization appear on his face as he spoke:

"So you truly are Brother Han's descendant!" the old man exclaimed. "Come with me to my study; I need to ask you about some things regarding my late aunt!" Gan Chi, surprisingly agitated, grabbed Han Li's wrist and immediately led him out of the main hall and directly to his study.

"Aunt? Does the Gan family have such a distant relative?" Gan Yu murmured, standing bewildered in the hall, a sense of confusion settling in his mind.

"Greetings, Young Master Han!" the moment he entered the study and carefully closed the door. Gan Chi's expression immediately changed, and he bowed deeply to Han Li with extreme reverence.

"Rise! You don't need to ask about my origins in detail," Han Li said indifferently. "Just know that from today onwards, I am the one solely responsible for contacting you." With a flick of his sleeve, a surge of green light emerged, automatically lifting the old man.

"Yes, sir!" Gan Chi replied, seeing Han Li display his magical abilities and his last shred of doubt vanishing. He spoke with even greater deference: "The previous Mister Er, who was responsible for contacting the Gan family, disappeared ten years ago, and I had been worried something might have happened. Your appearance now is truly excellent."

"My visit to your Gan family this time is merely a convenience," Han Li explained, nodding with satisfaction. "I actually have other important matters to attend to, and for this, I will require your assistance in your mundane identity." He instructed him in an unquestionable tone.