80: Blessing future generations

Hearing the Clan Chief's words, the expressions of the two Clan Chiefs from the Shi and Zhang Families instantly turned very ugly.

The Zhang Family's Clan Chief, Zhang Yuhe, could not help but say, "This hunt happens once every three years. Didn't we just have one last year? Why is there another one this year?"

Facing his complaints, Tang Cheng had long anticipated them. "This time, the mobilization order was issued by the Huo Family themselves. Complaining here is useless. If any Family refuses to go, their envoys will not be as easy to talk to as I am."

"Instead of wasting energy on that, you would be better off preparing well so that fewer Contract Masters from your Families die."

His tone was cold; the noble Contract Masters, who were esteemed in the eyes of ordinary people, held little value in his words.

Shi Jinghong asked in a muffled voice, "How many people must each Family send this time?"

"Each Family must send half of their number of Contract Masters. The Shi Family will send three Uncommon Rank and twelve Mortal Rank, the Zhang Family will send four Uncommon Rank and eleven Mortal Rank, and the Chu Family will send one Uncommon Rank and two Mortal Rank."

"The order states that regardless of the Family's strength, the Clan Chief must participate."

Watching the increasingly ugly expressions of the Shi and Zhang Families' Clan Chiefs, Tang Cheng added, "The scale this time is unprecedented. Even the Town Chiefs Mansion has to send half of its Guard Soldiers to participate, so do not feel unbalanced."

Zhang Yuhe's fingers trembled slightly, and his tone was full of shock. "With such a large scale, what is the Huo Family trying to do? Are they not willing to stop until they have plowed through everything around Zhiyao County?"

"Hmph, an old man's thinking is just limited. What if they are trying to open a path to the hinterlands where the Source Beasts live?"

Tang Cheng did not want to hear them arguing there. "Whatever the case, it has nothing to do with you. Just follow orders when the time comes. Go back and submit the list of those departing before tomorrow."

The Clan Chiefs of the Shi and Zhang Families had no leisure to discuss it further and left in a hurry with grave expressions.

Tang Cheng's gaze fell upon Chu Jingyu, who had remained behind. "If you have anything you want to ask, ask now."

Chu Jingyu apologized, "This is the Chu Family's first time participating in the hunt. We really do not know what the rules for the Beyond the Border hunt are like. Could you please enlighten me?"

"Rules?" Tang Cheng smiled meaningfully. "What rules could there be for this hunt? It is nothing more than people from low-ranking Noble Families being driven by those from high-ranking Noble Families to scout the path."

"The lucky ones survive with all their Source Beasts; the average ones lose one or two of their contracted Source Beasts; and those with bad luck, both they and their Source Beasts are buried Beyond the Border."

"It is a pity that your Chu Family just established itself and immediately encountered a hunt. The Huo Family's mobilization order does not recognize any protection period for new Families."

Chu Jingyu asked with a glimmer of hope, "Can we pay with Origin Rune Stones to purchase a quota?"

Tang Cheng slowly shook his head. "No, but you can pay to hire some loose rogue cultivators to fill those two Mortal Rank quotas."

Chu Jingyu slowly let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Town Chief."

"It is nothing." Tang Cheng waved his hand gently, letting Chu Jingyu leave the Town Chiefs Mansion.

As the end of the year approached, the weather grew colder.

Upon returning home, Chu Qinhui gathered the four Guards and quickly wrote out a notice.

"Go and make a few copies of this notice and post them at the various main roads in town. If you have any friends you know, you can also inform them of the news."

The Chu Family's four Guards picked up the notice and glanced at it, discovering it was a recruitment notice.

It stated that they were recruiting two Mortal Rank Contract Masters to go Beyond the Border and participate in the hunt on behalf of the Chu Family disciples, with a one-time payment of three thousand Origin Rune Stones as compensation. If they died in battle Beyond the Border, their direct Bloodline descendants would be additionally compensated with a spirit opening quota.

Seeing such news, an old man bowed tremblingly towards Chu Jingyu.

"If the Clan Chief does not mind, this old man is willing to apply."

Chu Jingyu raised his eyes to look at the old man who had spoken. Xu Yinghui was quite an elderly man. Originally, the main purpose of the Chu Family hiring him was to have him raise Source Beasts.

He usually looked quite easygoing; he hadn't expected him to apply for this job of going Beyond the Border.

Moreover, the salary of three thousand Origin Rune Stones was not really that high. As long as Xu Yinghui worked diligently at the Chu Family for five years, he could also receive that amount of Origin Rune Stones as compensation.

Was it for the spirit opening quota? This old man wanted to go to his death to leave a blessing for his Family descendants.

In a flash of insight, Chu Jingyu seemed to understand his heart.

"Are you wanting the spirit opening quota?"

Facing Chu Jingyu's inquiry, Xu Yinghui responded generously.

"Yes. My father was once a Guard Soldier in Heyu Town and spent a great price to help me become a Contract Master, but I have lived my whole life in a muddled state and failed to leave any assets for my descendants."

"If I die in battle Beyond the Border, I implore the Clan Chief to be able to perform a Spirit Opening for my Granddaughter."

At this moment, Xu Yinghui appeared especially open-minded.

Looking at his resolute demeanor, Chu Jingyu seemed to be touched by something. "Very well. Since that is the case, one quota is yours. Whether you can return from Beyond the Border or not, I will perform the Spirit Opening for your Granddaughter."

Xu Yinghui raised his head excitedly, the corners of his mouth trembling slightly. "Thank you, Clan Chief. Thank you, Clan Chief."

Then he spoke again, "Clan Chief, there is no need to go out and post the notice. I still know a few old friends; faced with your conditions, some of them will surely agree."

Upon hearing this, Chu Jingyu revealed a look of surprise. "Really?"

Xu Yinghui nodded affirmatively. "Old men like us, with no hope of a Breakthrough, are just worrying about not having any legacy to leave for our descendants. With the Clan Chief offering such superior conditions, there is no reason not to agree."

"Very well, then we will not post the notice. Old Xu, I leave it to you to find people."

"Very well, Clan Chief. I will set off now." After speaking, Xu Yinghui left the place in a hurry.

The other three Guards looked at each other, not knowing what to do for a moment.

"Lin Yue, you and Fang Tong, you two go to the Medicine Beast Shop in town. You two keep watch there and have Xiao Hui return."

Lin Yue, with his cold and hard expression, and Fang Tong, with his ordinary face, looked at each other, then nodded, acknowledged the order, and left simultaneously.

The last remaining sturdy young Guard, Chu Jingyu also instructed him, "Lin Dong, you go and keep watch at the door."

"Yes."

Sitting in the Central Hall, Chu Jingyu stared at the dark clouds in the sky with a complex expression, feeling a little fortunate, but also worried.

He was fortunate that the rest of the Family could be replaced by loose rogue cultivators.

He was worried that if he did not return from this trip, Qin Hui and Xiao Fan would not be able to hold up this Family.

About an hour later, Chu Qinhui, who had rushed back from town, asked urgently after seeing Chu Jingyu, "Father, is there some urgent matter that you called me back so hastily?"

Chu Jingyu signaled for Chu Qinhui to sit down, and after his emotions returned to calm, he slowly said:

"From tomorrow on, you are to Guard the ancestral hall and are not allowed to go anywhere. Leave the shop to be guarded by the steward and the Guards."

Hearing his father's sudden arrangement, Chu Qinhui was full of confusion. He urgently wanted to know the reason, so he asked again:

"Father, what exactly happened?"