"Just accompanying the Nalan family for a look, and you still want rewards?"
Yun Yun's uniquely charming eyes flickered slightly, feeling Gu Han seemed somewhat greedy.
"Sect Master misunderstands." Gu Han raised his head to meet Yun Yun's gaze, speaking solemnly: "I'm not asking for rewards, I just value my life."
"I'm merely a lowly Dou Fighter. Since ascending Cloud Mist Mountain at age six, I've never descended again, unaware of external circumstances."
"If I encounter villains who decide to kill me at a disagreement, my death would be regrettable, but worse would be failing the sect's years of cultivation."
Yun Yun: "..."
It sounded reasonable, but essentially he was afraid to die.
"In the Jia Ma Empire, no one dares openly kill disciples of our Cloud Mist Sect." Yun Yun declared with imposing authority.
Gu Han remained unmoved, earnestly countering: "They wouldn't do it openly, but what about covertly?"
Yun Yun: "..."
"The Cloud Mist Sect isn't without enemies. Within Jia Ma Empire, aren't there those who wish for the sect's decline?" Gu Han pressed again.
Convinced, Yun Yun shook her head with a smile.
"Fine. I'll arrange for an Outer Sect Steward to follow discreetly. Should you encounter danger, they'll intervene, but that's all."
Greenhouses nurture flowers, but not towering trees.
"Thank you, Sect Master." Gu Han expressed that having a bodyguard sufficed.
Outer Sect Stewards remaining in the sect were at minimum Four-Star Dou Grand Masters, with stronger ones half-step into Dou Spirit realm—powerful enough to lead major city clans across Jia Ma Empire.
As a mere Three-Star Dou Fighter, having the Sect Master assign a Dou Grand Master as covert protection was generous treatment.
"Could I choose this steward candidate?" Gu Han suddenly thought of Zhang Chuchen.
Yun Yun didn't find him overreaching, just surprised: "It seems you have someone in mind?"
From her understanding, aside from past friction with the Mo family's Mo Qing—now reconciled—Gu Han's connections were limited, without deeply acquainted individuals, let alone stewards.
"Steward Zhang from the Outer Sect Training Hall. We've met a few times; he seems decent." Gu Han stated truthfully.
In reality, he'd only met Zhang Chuchen once, but through Black Tortoise Shell's intelligence, knew him to be honorable.
Moreover, just one Grade Four Pill could restore his cultivation talent and breakthrough to Dou Spirit.
Then, he'd have a Dou Spirit escort.
If the Mo family targeted him, even Mo Cheng himself might fail to kill him.
Plus, Zhang Chuchen's integrity meant any incurred debt wouldn't end at mere guardianship.
If needed, he could request assistance, trusting him with exposed secrets.
"Zhang Chuchen?"
Naturally, Yun Yun knew of the Discipline Hall Elder's favored disciple, aligned with the Sect Master faction.
She had lamented his talent's ruin from poisoning.
Indeed, he was trustworthy.
Considering this, Yun Yun nodded assent: "This Sect Master has no objection, but you must persuade him yourself."
"Thank you, Sect Master." Gu Han clasped fists gratefully: "I take my leave then."
Amused by his eagerness, Yun Yun waved dismissively: "Return in seven days. I'll have Yanran escort you to the Nalan family."
"Acknowledged." Gu Han clasped fists, stepped back thrice, then turned and strode from the hall.
He promptly headed to the Outer Sect Training Hall, seeking an audience with Steward Zhang Chuchen.
"Gu Han?" Zhang Chuchen, who had been called out from the inner room by a disciple, yawned and smiled in surprise upon seeing it was Gu Han seeking him out. "What brings you to me, kid?"
"Steward Zhang, my residence is just nearby. May we speak in private?" Gu Han gestured with an invitation.
Seeing his seriousness and considering he had nothing pressing at the moment, Zhang Chuchen nodded slightly. "Alright, let's go."
The two walked together to Gu Han's small courtyard and entered the study.
"Please have a seat, Steward." Gu Han took a wine cup from his Storage Ring and placed it on the table, then produced a gourd and uncorked it.
"Hmm?" Zhang Chuchen's nose twitched, and his expression turned serious. "Monkey Wine?"
"Just the most ordinary Rank 1 Monkey Wine," Gu Han replied nonchalantly.
The Rank 1 Monkey Wine was something he had obtained through chance guidance while cultivating in the mountains behind Cloud Mist Mountain. It had some effect in restoring a cultivator's Dou Qi, though Rank 1 only slightly benefited low-level Dou Fighters—its efficacy was inferior to even first-grade pills.
Yet, if taken to an auction, it could easily fetch the value of a third-grade pill if it caught the eye of a wine-loving buyer.
"This isn't about its rank. This is fine wine, a gift from nature, the lifeblood of us sword cultivators." Zhang Chuchen accepted the cup Gu Han handed him with a reverent expression.
Gu Han: "..."
"One's tongue is loosened by another's wine." Zhang Chuchen's Adam's apple bobbed as he fought the urge to indulge. "Junior Brother Gu, first tell me what you need me to do. If it's beyond my means, I can't rightly drink this."
Addressing him as "Junior Brother Gu" showed just how potent the wine's allure was.
"This is merely a meeting gift for Steward Zhang." Gu Han shook the gourd lightly. "As for my request, you're free to decline. Only if you agree will this gourd of wine become your gift."
Give away the whole gourd?
Zhang Chuchen thought that as long as Gu Han wasn't asking him to betray the Cloud Mist Sect, he could agree to any request.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Zhang Chuchen threw back the wine in one gulp, his face lighting up with pleasure.
A few moments later, he straightened up, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Speak, Junior Brother."
"It's a serious matter." Gu Han placed the token given by Yun Yun on the table. "The Sect Leader has tasked me with something but fears for my safety, so she wants to assign a steward to protect me discreetly."
"Among the candidates she mentioned, you're the only one I know, Senior Brother Zhang. From our first meeting, I felt you were trustworthy, so I chose you."
"But then the Sect Leader said your status is somewhat special as a disciple of the Discipline Hall Elder, and this matter requires your personal consent."
"Hence, I invited you for a drink."
Gu Han's words were a mix of truth and fabrication, leveraging Yun Yun's name.
Yet he had no fear of exposure: Yun Yun had indeed approved the matter, the Sect Leader Token in his hand was genuine, and Zhang Chuchen wouldn't bother verifying such a minor issue with her.
"Discreet protection, acting as a guardian?" A flicker of sharpness passed through Zhang Chuchen's eyes. He suddenly noticed Gu Han's aura had grown significantly stronger compared to a month ago and couldn't help asking curiously, "Junior Brother, what's your current cultivation level?"
"Three-Star Dou Fighter." Gu Han poured himself a cup of wine.
"Three-Star Dou Fighter!?" Zhang Chuchen's eyes widened.
Advancing two stars in a month—what kind of monster was this!?
"A fortunate breakthrough." Gu Han pushed the wine gourd toward Zhang Chuchen. "Senior Brother, would you be willing to guard me for a while?"
"Senior Brother, it seems I have no reason to refuse?" Zhang Chuchen laughed heartily with unconstrained ease.
He picked up the gourd, poured himself a full cup of wine, and then stored it away in his Storage Ring.
Protecting a sect prodigy like Gu Han and serving the sect and its leader was a responsibility he could not shirk.
Moreover, Gu Han possessed the Sect Leader Token and knew well how to handle interpersonal relations.
"Anyone who wishes to harm you will have to answer to my sword first."