Guard Sang took the small vial and turned to leave.
At this moment, Fang Wan called him back again, and gave him another vial of pill, saying, “By the way, also take thirty-eight high-grade Yangji Dan and give them to my sister for handling. When I settle the accounts later, I’ll just say I purchased five hundred high-grade pills.”
Guard Sang carefully accepted it, sighed and said, “Madam Xiuyi has always had a deep sisterly relationship with Madam. Now with these pills, she has even more reason to lean on Madam for resources. Madam also has a great opportunity to advance further.”
Fang Wan smiled and said, “Exactly. If Sister is well, then I will be well.”
Guard Sang quickly returned to the Huo family and paid his respects to the Main Wife of the Third Branch, Madam Lu Xiuyi. He respectfully presented Madam Fang Wan’s message and the pills.
Lu Xiuyi took the pills with a graceful demeanor, a smile in her eyes. “My sister is still the one who thinks of me.”
Currently, she was at the peak of the Palace Aperture Realm and could advance to the Enlightenment Realm at any time. The more she accumulated during this phase, the stronger her foundation would be, so she didn’t want to break through easily. However, if she stayed in this stage too long, her looks might inevitably suffer, which would be embarrassing and make her unhappy. But with Ding Yan Dan, she could maintain her youthful appearance for two hundred years without any worries.
Without any suspicion, Lu Xiuyi immediately took the Ding Yan Dan and indeed, her face glowed with radiance, and she felt much lighter.
Guard Sang hurriedly congratulated her, “Congratulations, Madam.”
Lu Xiuyi smiled, playing with another pill bottle, contemplating the effects of the Yangji Dan that Guard Sang had just described. She was thoughtful.
Transitioning from the fourth to the fifth level of Heavenly Induction Realm was a very difficult barrier. Though her subordinates had long surpassed this stage, everyone had a few promising younger generations to care for. Those with better aptitudes were worth spending money on, for fear that a single misstep would ruin their advancement.
Her sister had indeed done her a great favor. With these Yangji Dan, she could bestow many favors on her subordinates.
And it would also silence those chattering concubines in the rear courtyard.
Lu Xiuyi had a low-grade Di-rank aptitude but was outstanding in other aspects. As a result, she married into the Huo family at the age of 16, becoming the main wife of Huo Ruiji, who had a mid-grade Di-rank aptitude. She was only two years older than Lu Fang Wan, and the sisters’ aptitudes were vastly different. However, Lu Xiuyi always looked after her biological sister. Knowing that her sister’s future marriage prospects would be less than ideal, she brought her into the Huo family as well.
Many years passed, and Lu Fang Wan remained Lu Xiuyi’s reliable assistant. Though Lu Fang Wan’s children only had Huang-rank aptitude, they were capable and often accompanied Lu Xiuyi’s children.
Lu Xiuyi had excellent skills and established connections with two alchemy forces through years of effort. With her husband Huo Ruiji’s support, she opened the Xiufang Pill Shop, carefully managing and expanding it, earning considerable wealth for the Huo family.
However, a cultivator cannot neglect their own cultivation, so Lu Xiuyi entrusted the shop to her most trusted sister.
Lu Fang Wan was also competent and, with her sister’s resources, maintained the business’s prosperity.
Even though Lu Fang Wan had not yet reached the Palace Aperture Realm, she was respectfully called Madam Fang Wan due to her management of the shop’s business.
Despite her impressive performance, many Huo family members still tried to undermine Lu Fang Wan’s achievements and reduce her rewards.
Fortunately, the family rules were clear, and the Huo family head was fair, ensuring that everything was done according to regulations.
With Lu Xiuyi overseeing things, there were never any mistakes when it came to distributing rewards.
Additionally, because Lu Xiuyi never hesitated to share resources with her sister, Huo Ruiji’s concubines often made sarcastic remarks. Although not harmful, these remarks were quite unpleasant.
Lu Xiuyi didn’t care much about the gossip, finding it annoying after hearing it so often. When she was particularly fed up, she would take action to silence them all.
The Lu sisters’ interests were closely tied, and despite many years of outsiders’ attempts to sow discord, they had never succeeded.
Lu Xiuyi put away the Yangji Dan, already thinking of various ways to use them.
Suddenly, she remembered her youngest son and asked, “I haven’t seen Wen’er these past few days. Do you know where he is?”
Guard Sang knew a bit about this and replied, “Young Master Wen and Miss Tian went hunting and sightseeing nearby.”
Lu Xiuyi understood and nodded. “Since they are engaged, it’s normal for them to go out together. Did they take any guards with them?”
Guard Sang replied, “Young Master Wen’s personal guards are always secretly following him, and they have some means of self-defense.”
Satisfied, Lu Xiuyi said no more and dismissed Guard Sang.
Guard Sang quickly left.
He was actually Huo Ruiji’s trusted confidant, currently handling matters at the pill shop and responsible for some miscellaneous tasks.
Indeed, he couldn’t be away for too long.
—-
As evening approached, the carriage arrived at the outskirts of a town.
This was a small town, covering only a little over a thousand acres, with a population of just over a hundred thousand. The scenery was not particularly beautiful.
However, being close to the mountains, many cultivators who went hunting or searching for opportunities in the mountains would stop here for a rest.
In the town, there were many places to stay without much searching.
The carriage, driven by Xiang Lin, moved into the town.
After traveling a short distance, Zhong Cai heard the noise outside and couldn’t help but look out the window.
He saw that the streets were wide but somewhat old. There were various shops on both sides, mostly small ones that looked narrow from the outside, but there were quite a few people going in and out, many with a scent of blood about them.
The street stalls were even more varied, with vendors everywhere calling out to sell their goods. Many stalls consisted of just a small piece of cloth with three to five types of herbs or minerals displayed on it, often of low quality.
Even so, there were still many cultivators bustling between these stalls, quickly haggling over prices. Some would take out several herbs from their storage bags and sell them to the stalls, while others, lacking storage bags, would simply take down a basket or bundle from their backs.
Zhong Cai’s gaze fell on an open space to the right, between two shops.
There, twenty to thirty sturdy and spacious meat racks were neatly arranged, each holding a whole skinned and processed first-grade beast. Upon closer inspection, there were several large barrels beneath the racks, some containing beast skins, others holding tendons, blood, and innards. Next to these stood cultivators wielding sharp blades, waiting for customers.
Many men and women carrying large baskets were selecting meat at different racks. Each time they decided on a piece, after a round of haggling, the cultivator would swiftly cut off the chosen part with precise strokes, and the transaction would be completed.
For those wanting bones, they could be removed directly.
If a customer needed beast skin, they would indicate the desired size, and the cultivator would quickly cut and roll it up to hand over.
As for tendons and innards, there was no need for a large scale. With a cultivator’s control over their strength, they could determine the weight with a simple heft, ensuring no disputes.
Zhong Cai couldn’t help but sigh.
The smaller the town, the more it seemed to have a vibrant, lively atmosphere.
The itinerant cultivators living in the mountains had a different attitude towards life, completely unlike the family cultivators.
Kunyun City was large and sparsely populated despite its many residents. When Zhong Cai went out to shop, he chose stores and the transactions went smoothly. In both his past and present lives, he had never experienced such a crowded, noisy, yet interesting scene.
Thinking about this, Zhong Cai couldn’t help but feel a bit sentimental and amused.
Wu Shaoqian scratched the back of his head and curiously asked, “What are you looking at, smiling like that?”
Zhong Cai didn’t mind and pointed enthusiastically at the dense stalls, “Never experienced this before, right? Isn’t it interesting?”
Wu Shaoqian looked over and said nothing.
He didn’t find it interesting.
But he didn’t dampen Zhong Cai’s spirits and instead smiled and asked, “Want to join in the fun?”
Zhong Cai thought for a moment, “A bit.”
Wu Shaoqian then asked, “Want to set up a stall or just buy randomly?”
Zhong Cai pinched his mouth, what do you mean ‘buy randomly’!
Wu Shaoqian leaned back, laughing, and broke free, pleading for mercy. “I guess you’d prefer setting up a stall. After the auction, how about we go to the mountains one day, catch whatever we find, and sell it? How does that sound?”
Zhong Cai nodded in satisfaction. “You know me well.”
While the two chatted casually, the carriage gradually moved farther away.
Passing through an intersection, they saw numerous inns lining both sides of the long street, large and small, each with its own style. Just from the outside, one could see the differences in their environments.
Bi Cen, who had been quiet all this time, approached the carriage window and asked the two young masters about their plans for temporary lodging.
Zhong Cai casually replied, “Pick the most comfortable place, as long as it’s big enough for us.”
Bi Cen had long since reverted to male attire. From a charming “young lady,” he had transformed into a charming young man, with a sharp and elegant demeanor. Now, he swiftly went to find an inn.
Before long, Zhong Cai and Wu Shaoqian successfully checked into the best inn in the area.
Zhong Cai was generous and booked rooms for everyone.
However, it was still early evening. Zhong Cai said to Wu Shaoqian, “Let’s go out for a stroll?”
Wu Shaoqian raised an eyebrow. “To those stalls?”
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Zhong Cai shook his head. “We’ll save that experience for later, as you said. Let’s just walk around the main street for now.”
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The town only had three streets. The street they entered on their carriage faced the town gate and was the busiest.
The next street over was not as crowded. The shops on both sides were also more spacious. As they walked, the two saw a medicine shop, which was the largest on the street.
One corner of the medicine shop had a black flag slanting out, with several stars painted in the corner as its emblem, giving it a mysterious and splendid feeling.
Zhong Cai looked at the emblem, then looked up at the plaque above the shop’s entrance, which read “Tianxing Medicine Shop.”
“I think I just saw other shops with this kind of flag,” Zhong Cai said thoughtfully. “They should all belong to the same faction.”
Wu Shaoqian said, “I remember there’s a Tianxing Trading House in Fengyun City with a similar emblem. That trading house is said to be a branch, with its main branch located in a second-tier city, and it has hosted auctions many times in the past. The one we’re going to participate in this time is likely one of their events.”
Zhong Cai turned his head, listening with interest.
Wu Shaoqian smiled and continued, “Even though it’s a branch, in Fengyun City, it’s still a top-notch trading house. The goods on display there are relatively rare. They have several branches not only in the city but also in nearby towns and counties. These branches mostly sell similar goods, but their inventory is quite comprehensive.”
Zhong Cai affirmed, “The one we’re seeing here must be one of theirs.”
Wu Shaoqian nodded with a smile.
Since Zhong Cai was an alchemist, he naturally loved gathering medicinal herbs and couldn’t help but peek inside.
Seeing that Zhong Cai was a bit hesitant to move forward, Wu Shaoqian simply pulled him inside.
Upon entering, a strong medicinal fragrance greeted them.
Managing the medicine shop was an experienced old man who not only purchased various medicinal herbs but also accurately recommended them to customers.
Seeing someone enter, he didn’t rush to greet them but instead flipped through an old book, allowing the customers to explore freely.
Wu Shaoqian accompanied Zhong Cai, starting from the first medicine cabinet. After looking inside, he couldn’t help but feel a bit dizzy.
Although he knew he had learned a lot about medicinal herbs through Zhong Cai, now in this huge medicine cabinet, there were at least two to three hundred types of herbs, and he knew every single one of them.
Zhong Cai was obviously more familiar with the herbs and selected them in sequence.
If it was for something he wanted to refine as soon as possible, he would pick all the herbs required by the recipe, but if there was no hurry, he would often prepare about ten portions and stop.
After more than half an hour, Zhong Cai had selected most of the first-grade herbs, suddenly saw something, stopped, and stood in front of a sealed medicine cabinet in surprise.
Inside the cabinet was a large jade box containing a dozen or so dark medicinal herbs.
Each herb was roughly three inches long at its longest and just over an inch at its shortest. Its main stem was straight and covered in fine hairs, with three to five narrow, sharply pointed leaves growing from it.
Zhong Cai murmured, “Yang Hun Grass.”
Wu Shaoqian had never heard of this type of grass, and he tilted his head slightly, waiting for Zhong Cai to explain.
Zhong Cai looked solemn, his voice more serious than usual but tinged with obvious joy.
“It’s the main ingredient for the Yang Hun Dan”, he whispered, “I have the recipe. If I can refine it, it can nourish the soul.”
Wu Shaoqian’s pupils immediately contracted!
“… Is this also for me?”
Zhong Cai stared at the Yang Hun Grass and said matter-of-factly, “Isn’t it normal for me to do this for you? If I wasn’t afraid of not finding this grass and disappointing you, I would have told you long ago without you asking.”
The Yang Hun Dan is said to span from first-grade to ninth-grade, with first-grade pills used by Heavenly Induction Realm cultivators, second-grade pills used by Palace Aperture Realm cultivators, and so on.
Zhong Cai only possesses the recipe for first-grade to fifth-grade Yang Hun Dan.
Each grade of Yang Hun Dan has multiple recipes. First-grade Yang Hun Dan alone has three different recipes, each with different auxiliary herbs but the same main herb, which is the Yang Hun Grass.
Yang Hun Grass is a first-grade rare herb. When ingested, it can alleviate soul pain to a certain extent. In the pill recipe, what is truly used is the grass juice, and the amount required varies depending on the pill recipe.
Initially, Wu Shaoqian’s soul was on the brink of collapse, and simply ingesting Yang Hun Grass wouldn’t have saved him. Even if he took the Yang Hun Pill, the weak connection between his souls would cause the medicine’s power to dissipate, rendering it almost useless.
However, after he consumed the Guhun Fruit, his three souls and seven spirits were forcefully bound together. Despite the cracks between the souls and the holes in the life soul and celestial soul still existing, taking the Yang Hun Dan at this time could smoothly infuse the medicine’s power into his soul, slowly repairing the holes — and it could also strengthen his soul. The more nourished his soul was, the stronger the pulling force between his three souls and seven spirits would become, accelerating the self-healing of his souls and gradually shrinking the gaps.
Zhong Cai had noticed the recipe long ago, but having lived in Kunyun City for so many years, he had never heard of Yang Hun Dan or Yang Hun Grass. He knew he was young and ignorant, but neither the Zhong family’s public treasury nor the first-grade medicinal herbs in the Wu family’s reserves contained them. Naturally, he would worry — was there no Yang Hun Grass nearby?
If not, he simply couldn’t refine the Yang Hun Dan at all, so why even bring it up?
But now that he has discovered the existence of Yang Hun Grass, he naturally has to boast to his buddy!
Zhong Cai quietly said to Wu Shaoqian, “My talent is still decent. When we have the chance, let’s go visit all the medicine shops under the Tianxing Trading House. We’ll buy all the Yang Hun Grass they have. Then, I’ll use Mu Huo techniques, put in extra effort, and refine the best ones for you.”
Wu Shaoqian’s eyes sparkled with a strange light, and he smiled happily, “Good.”
While they spoke, they didn’t stop walking.
Wu Shaoqian continued to follow Zhong Cai and look at each medicine cabinet, helping him remember the varieties he wanted to buy.
Finally, after choosing everything, Zhong Cai walked up to the old man and greeted him with a smile, “Shopkeeper, please fetch some herbs.”
Only then did the old man put down the book of herbs in his hand and said kindly, “Please, go ahead.”
Zhong Cai quickly began to list off, “200 plants of Jiang He Grass, 200 plants of Zhi Fang Grass, 100 plants of Qian Zhi He, 1000 seeds of Tong Hui Zi, 500 leaves of Qianghuang, 500 Guizhi fruits, 100 blossoms of Yang Xin Flower, 100 bundles of Guimian Ma, 10 stems of San Ye Ginseng… 30 pieces of Bai Tai Sui, 1000 plants of Yang Hun Grass, 1000 seeds of Chi Zhao Mai, 200 roots of Shouwu Teng.”
The old shopkeeper listened kindly and began to take out each herb as Zhong Cai listed them.
The quantity of herbs was indeed not small, but for an alchemist, purchasing several hundred herbs at once was quite normal. Some alchemy recipes required dozens of portions in a single batch, so not buying enough would be insufficient.
When Zhong Cai finished his last sentence, the old shopkeeper had also prepared the goods.
Zhong Cai’s eyes had been following the shopkeeper’s movements, so there was no need to check further. He said directly, “Shopkeeper, tally the bill.”
The shopkeeper remained very amiable: “Three hundred twenty-six gold and eighty-five silver, please.”
Zhong Cai paid the bill and collected all the herbs.
The shopkeeper didn’t say much more, only adding, “We look forward to your next visit.”
Zhong Cai smiled and nodded at him, then pulled Wu Shaoqian outside.
The shopkeeper watched them leave, musing to himself.
This young man carries the scent of herbs; he must be an alchemist. He bought so much Yang Hun Grass—could it be that he summons a pill furnace that includes the recipe for Yang Hun Dan?
If that’s the case, it would be wise to find out more about him to secure a supply of Yang Hun Dan.
Zhong Cai bought enough Yang Hun Grass and said cheerfully, “Tianxing Trading House really lives up to its reputation from the big city. They can supply so much Yang Hun Grass even in such a small place.”
Wu Shaoqian frowned slightly.
Zhong Cai nudged him, “Old Wu, what are you thinking about?”
Wu Shaoqian said, “I feel something is off.”
Zhong Cai thought for a moment and understood his concern.
“For those big cities, Yang Hun Grass isn’t a big deal, so they probably don’t mind. There shouldn’t be any problem. I didn’t sense any malice from the shopkeeper,” Zhong Cai said as he slung his arm around Wu Shaoqian’s shoulder and joked, “Hey, don’t worry. It’s just a first-grade Yang Hun Dan recipe. If it comes to it, we can just hand it over. If Tianxing Trading House really wants to make things difficult for us, it’s not like we or even the Wu family could stop them. As long as we stick together, we’ll be fine.”
Though Zhong Cai was joking, he was very clear-headed.
Wu Shaoqian was just feeling that if it weren’t for healing his injuries, they wouldn’t need to buy Yang Hun Grass. Without buying the Yang Hun Grass, they wouldn’t have met this shopkeeper who seemed to have some ulterior motives. That’s why he was so concerned.
But good friends look out for each other, and this small matter isn’t worth fretting over.
Wu Shaoqian smiled helplessly and didn’t say anything more.
Since this issue starts because of him, if trouble arises, he will certainly stand in front.
As they continued chatting and strolling, suddenly, a mocking male voice came from the side.
“Am I seeing things? Our once elegant, domineering, and powerful… oh, I almost forgot, now a useless Shaoqian, dares to show up here?”
Zhong Cai immediately raised his eyebrows, Where did this bastard come from, being so disgusting!
Wu Shaoqian, however, wasn’t surprised.
Although he never cared about others’ opinions of him besides Zhong Cai’s, there were always a few who would jump in front of him, and he had beaten up more than just one or two.
The shouting voice sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t recall who it was.
Neither Zhong Cai nor Wu Shaoqian were ones to swallow their anger, so they both looked in that direction.
On the other side of the street, several young men and women were walking together, their clothes fluttering gracefully, each with their own demeanor.
The one who made the taunt was a young man in blue on the right. He had a decent appearance, but his sneering expression greatly diminished his attractiveness.
The other men and women looked at each other with strange expressions on their faces.
The blue-clad youth didn’t notice his companions’ expressions and, in the blink of an eye, was standing in front of Zhong Cai and Wu Shaoqian.
The few people behind him hesitated for a moment before slowly following.
Malice flickered in the blue-clad youth’s eyes.
Wu Shaoqian’s expression slowly changed.
Unlike the lively and animated demeanor he had with Zhong Cai, he now exuded a casual arrogance, as if he didn’t take anyone seriously. His extremely handsome face showed no emotion, only sharp features that gave off an unusual coldness.
Seeing this change, the anger in Zhong Cai’s heart diminished significantly.
Alright, his buddy can still put on such a show, which means he probably doesn’t need to step in.
However, the blue-clad youth felt quite uncomfortable.
The moment he saw Wu Shaoqian’s expression, it was as if he was suddenly pulled back to the old days, causing him to tremble slightly. But soon, he became furious out of shame—how dare Wu Shaoqian, now a useless cripple, still look at him with such disdain! How dare he still look down on him!
Wu Shaoqian paused for a moment and then nonchalantly asked, “And you are?”
Lu Dingxing’s face turned black with anger.
Among the group who had finally reached them, those who knew Wu Shaoqian also paused.
They had long known about Wu Shaoqian’s arrogance, but they hadn’t expected Lu Dingxing’s attempt at ridicule to be met with a response of “I don’t even remember you.” This is truly…
Wu Shaoqian casually added, “Since there’s nothing, I’ll be on my way. Goodbye.”
Lu Dingxing was utterly enraged and immediately started speaking without thinking.
“I heard you need to marry the top-ranked lady of the Zhong family to save your life, but they didn’t think much of you and gave you this worthless waste instead. It’s the one next to you, isn’t it? Even though he’s just a lowly male concubine, he is your savior, so you should treat him better. When you meet old acquaintances, shouldn’t you at least introduce him?” As he said this, he deliberately called out to Zhong Cai, “Hey, you lowly waste, don’t you agree?”
Zhong Cai rolled his eyes, thinking this person was really full of nonsense.
A flash of fierce anger appeared in Wu Shaoqian’s eyes.
In the next instant, a fierce gust of wind shot through the air, directly aiming at Lu Dingxing’s face!
Lu Dingxing instinctively dodged, quickly turning his head!
Narrowly escaping danger, Lu Dingxing managed to dodge just in time.
Although the fierce wind only grazed the side of Lu Dingxing’s face, where it touched, there was a sharp pain.
A streak of crimson blood appeared, not too shallow, faintly revealing some skin and flesh.
The momentum of the wind ceased abruptly, just in time to be caught by another young man — Huo Wen.
Huo Wen looked at the long arrow in his hand, his eyes gleaming.
Behind him stood a tall and handsome young man. His appearance was not outstanding, but his demeanor was exceptional. Though he was not very active or ostentatious, anyone paying attention to him would find him quite remarkable.
There was a hint of surprise in the young man’s eyes.
Beside Huo Wen stood two extraordinarily beautiful women. At this moment, their eyebrows were slightly furrowed, clearly not in a good mood.
Huo Wen and the others clearly saw that the arrow was shot by Wu Shaoqian.
At that moment, the hard bow was held on Wu Shaoqian’s arm, his face filled with strong killing intent, the bowstring tightened, and the arrowhead shimmered with a cold light, aimed directly at Lu Dingxing’s heart.
What’s unbelievable is that the arrow shot by Wu Shaoqian actually managed to wound Lu Dingxing.
Even more terrifyingly, Lu Dingxing and the others were completely unaware when the arrow was shot.
Lu Dingxing touched the side of his face and his hand came away bloody, making him both ashamed and angry.
Huo Wen and the others had complicated emotions.
Wu Shaoqian said coldly, “Although I’m disabled, I still retain the strength of the peak of the Heavenly Induction Realm. You’ve only just reached the twelfth layer of the Heavenly Induction Realm. Who gave you the courage to insult my companion?”
Lu Dingxing blushed and stammered, “You—”
Wu Shaoqian interrupted him, “It’s inconvenient to fight in the narrow streets of the town. Since you’re not satisfied, how about we have a chat outside the city?”
Lu Dingxing was about to agree when a girl in a green dress gently pulled him back.
In an instant, Lu Dingxing regained his senses, the words stuck in his throat.
Wu Shaoqian’s momentum just now was too terrifying, completely suppressing him.
If they really fought outside, he would not be a match for Wu Shaoqian.
Losing to such a waste would make him a huge joke, and everyone could trample on him.
Wu Shaoqian saw Lu Dingxing’s timidity, gave him a contemptuous look, and then pulled Zhong Cai away.
Zhong Cai tightened his grip on Wu Shaoqian’s hand, feeling that his body was still tense.
Of course, his buddy looks cool, but he is always on guard. If the people behind them make any unusual moves, he can strike back immediately!
Lu Dingxing stared at the two figures, wanting to attack but not daring to, feeling humiliated and frustrated.
Huo Wen paused, intending to break the awkward silence, but didn’t know how to start…
The atmosphere was getting more and more awkward.
Lu Dingxing’s embarrassing retreat just now was too humiliating. He didn’t have the face to stay with them any longer. With a curt “I have other matters to attend to, I’ll take my leave,” he turned and left in a huff.
Everyone was left behind by him, but no one chased after him.
Liao Yunfei, the girl in the green dress, and her friend Tian Xuezhen exchanged a glance, already making up their minds.
Huo Wen turned around and bowed apologetically to the remaining young man. “Brother Wan, I’m sorry to have disappointed you.”
Wan Qingqu smiled gently. “It’s just an accident, Brother Huo, no need to apologize.”
While they were speaking, they already regarded Lu Dingxing as a joke.
After that, Huo Wen politely invited everyone to have a meal at the town’s restaurant.
…
Behind the screen, Huo Wen poured a cup of wine for Wan Qingqu.
Wan Qingqu tentatively asked, “I’m new here, I don’t know who that person just now was—”
Huo Wen sighed and said, “That man named Wu Shaoqian was once the top prodigy among the dozens of surrounding cities. His aptitude reached the pinnacle of the Tian Rank, and he had reached the Enlightenment Realm at the age of eighteen. He was incredibly powerful. Unfortunately, no one knows who harmed him, leaving him in this state.”
Wan Qingqu gently stroked his wine cup, not pressing for further questions.
On the other side, the two girls leaned against each other, their expressions showing pity as well.
Honestly, for someone like Wu Shaoqian, how many young women of marriageable age wouldn’t want to marry him? But since there’s no hope, they should seek their own destiny.
This time, Huo Wen brought his fiancée Tian Xuezheng on a trip, but the main purpose was actually to let her meet Liao Yunfei.
Liao Yunfei and Tian Xuezhen were both from small families and were good friends with each other.
Tian Xuezhen, due to her excellent Xuan-rank qualification, was chosen by Huo Wen to be his main wife. Liao Yunfei, however, had even higher qualifications, reaching mid-tier Di-rank. Her family couldn’t afford to support her cultivation, so she had to choose to marry up.
Liao Yunfei had known her fate since she was young and had a clear goal to marry a man who was outstanding in all aspects.
This way, her early cultivation could be supported by her husband’s family, and later, she could rely on her husband himself. If she was lucky and developed feelings for her husband, they could even trust each other and face challenges together.
Naturally, Liao Yunfei had high hopes for Wu Shaoqian.
However, Wu Shaoqian was cold and proud, never interested in women, and her qualifications were actually not sufficient to match him. She knew her chances were slim.
Still, she couldn’t help but hold onto a glimmer of hope.
Later, when Wu Shaoqian was abruptly crippled, her hopes were dashed, and she began to consider other men.
Lu Dingxing also had mid-tier Di-rank qualifications and was very interested in Liao Yunfei’s beauty and talents. However, Liao Yunfei wanted to get to know him better before making a decision, so nothing had been confirmed yet.
This time, Lu Dingxing had arranged to meet Liao Yunfei through the engaged couple Huo Wen and Tian Xuezhen. Liao Yunfei agreed, and Tian Xuezhen brought her fiancé along to accompany them.
While exploring the mountains, Lu Dingxing was very attentive to Liao Yunfei, and she formed a good impression of him. Both sides began to consider marriage. Later, they encountered Wan Qingqu and exchanged names. Due to Wan Qingqu’s extraordinary demeanor, they were eager to befriend him, and decided to continue their journey together.
After some time of traveling together, although they still didn’t know Wan Qingqu’s exact background, they could tell from his conversation that he was likely from a higher-tier city, making them even more inclined to establish a good relationship with him.
After spending most of the day together, the group decided to descend the mountain and stay in a nearby town for the night.
None of them expected to run into Wu Shaoqian on the way.
They were even more surprised to see that Wu Shaoqian showed no signs of despair or dejection. Instead, he was calm and composed, his demeanor as exceptional as ever, as if he was still the same prodigious Shaoqian who once towered above all other geniuses, leaving them in despair as they tried to catch up.
Liao Yunfei felt relieved that she hadn’t yet finalized an engagement with Lu Dingxing.
After letting out a light sigh, she whispered to Tian Xuezhen, “If Young Master Dingxing invites you to arrange another meeting with me in the future, please decline on my behalf.”
Tian Xuezhen nodded slightly and agreed, “Don’t worry, I understand.”
She didn’t need any further explanation; she understood her friend’s decision very well.
Lu Dingxing had shown himself to be narrow-minded. Despite not having any previous grievances with Wu Shaoqian, he came to kick him when he was down, likely due to longstanding jealousy. Moreover, he insulted Wu Shaoqian’s male partner, which was despicable and lacked any sense of dignity.
Even if Lu Dingxing had good potential, his future prospects would be limited with such a personality. If Liao Yunfei had a lower potential, it might be acceptable, as Lu Dingxing’s talent could compensate for his lack of character. However, since Liao Yunfei’s potential was on par with his, he was undoubtedly not a suitable match.
Liao Yunfei’s intervention to stop Lu Dingxing from accepting the challenge was because she realized Wu Shaoqian’s killing intent was real; he wasn’t just looking to teach Lu Dingxing a lesson, but intended to kill him! Once outside the town, Lu Dingxing might truly end up dead at Wu Shaoqian’s hands. The Lu family was less powerful than the Huo family, which in turn wasn’t as powerful as the Wu family. Therefore, the Lu family couldn’t afford to provoke the Wu family. Wu Shaoqian had the Wu family’s support, he wouldn’t face any significant repercussions. However, the Lu family would undoubtedly blame Liao Yunfei as a “femme fatale”—even though it was Lu Dingxing who provoked Wu Shaoqian, they would still hold her responsible.
On the other side, Huo Wen and Wan Qingqu were chatting, and Huo Wen was formally inviting him.
“Brother Wan, in six months, it will be the time of my wedding with Xuezhen. I wonder how long you plan to stay here and if you could make time to attend?”
Wan Qingqu, with an apologetic expression, replied, “There are many matters to attend to at home. I can only stay here for a few days at most. I fear I won’t be able to attend your joyous occasion. I’ll take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to both of you now.”
Huo Wen smiled and said, “Thank you for your congratulations, Brother Wan.”
Tian Xuezhen, hearing their conversation, also thanked Wan Qingqu, looking at Huo Wen with eyes full of affection.
Huo Wen’s expression was equally gentle.
This engaged couple already had a strong relationship, and Liao Yunfei was genuinely happy for her friend.
—-
Having their leisure time disrupted, Zhong Cai and Wu Shaoqian returned to the inn.
The two of them leaned against the headboard, shoulder to shoulder.
Zhong Cai nudged Wu Shaoqian and asked in a low voice, “Do you really not know those people?”
Wu Shaoqian also replied in a low voice, “I really don’t.”
At that moment, Wu Shaoqian’s anger still hadn’t dissipated—It is a given that he is crippled, but no one can mock Zhong Cai.
Zhong Cai, who hadn’t been bothered by what happened earlier, playfully bumped Wu Shaoqian with his head and said with a grin, “That guy was almost pissed off by you. Did you see his face? If we were at a dinner table now, I could eat an extra bowl of rice just because of his expression!”
Seeing Zhong Cai’s carefree smile, Wu Shaoqian’s mood improved slightly, but he still felt a bit regretful.
Regretful that the fellow hadn’t followed him out of town—if he had, Wu Shaoqian would have surely killed him.
That night, Wu Shaoqian didn’t sleep very soundly.
Zhong Cai, hearing the person beside him tossing and turning, thought it might be the pain from Wu Shaoqian’s soul injury acting up. So he decisively pulled him close and gently patted his back. In a half-asleep state, Zhong Cai vaguely thought that he really needed to refine the Yang Hun Dan as soon as possible.
In the darkness, Wu Shaoqian was startled for a moment. Then, he slowly curved his lips into a smile and finally managed to fall asleep.
The next morning, Xiang Lin went to check out, and the group prepared to leave the small town.
Unexpectedly, as they stepped out of their room, they saw the young man who had been with Lu Dingxing coming out of the room opposite them.
Zhong Cai narrowed his eyes.
Could this be another person who will upset his friend?
Wu Shaoqian’s expression turned slightly cold as he sized up the man.
Wan Qingqu, noticing their reactions, approached, politely cupped his hands, and introduced himself with a friendly demeanor. He then said, “Yesterday, I heard about Brother Wu’s past and felt it was truly unfortunate, so I came here presumptuously.”
“I’ve heard that in the past, many forces in the great states tried to eliminate prodigies from rival factions, resulting in many Tian-grade and even Xian-rank talents being harmed and their companion artifacts destroyed. Later, a state lord from another state intervened to stop this, and they found a rare heavenly material that, when nurtured in the soul, could eventually allow the summoning of a new companion artifact… It’s been a long time, so the specifics are unclear, but this material indeed exists.”
Zhong Cai eagerly asked, “What is this heavenly material?”
Wan Qingqu smiled and replied, “Hunsui Lingxin.”
Zhong Cai had never heard of it, but it did not stop him from developing a strong goodwill towards Wan Qingqu. He immediately said, “Thank you very much.”
Wan Qingqu responded warmly, “I hope it can provide some help to you both.”
After that, Wan Qingqu didn’t say much more and returned to his room.
Zhong Cai waved at him, thanking him again from a distance.
Wu Shaoqian pulled him along and led him downstairs.
Zhong Cai turned back and whispered to Wu Shaoqian, “When you open the seals in the future, keep thinking about this thing constantly, don’t forget, okay?”
Wu Shaoqian chuckled and finally said, “Alright. But don’t tire yourself out too much.”
Zhong Cai agreed as well.
—-
Wan Qingqu was indeed momentarily inspired with a simple purpose: to form a good relationship.
Young men and women, when they reach the appropriate age, will not deliberately delay their marriage.
Wan Qingqu and his younger sister Wan Qingyao are no exception.
Wan Qingyao, with a superior Di-rank aptitude, was very interested in the family’s business. Therefore, she had no intention of getting married and chose to find a suitable man to marry into the family – especially one from a distant and weaker family, which would be more convenient.
But she didn’t have time to search herself, so it was up to Wan Qingqu to handle it.
Wan Qingqu was out gaining experience. When he received a letter from his sister, he decided that at every place he visited, he would inquire about the most talented individuals and observe them to make judgments.
The reason he joined forces with people like Huo Wen in the mountains was because Wan Qingqu had decided to assess Lu Dingxing. If he was suitable, he could bring him back to marry his sister.
Although Liao Yunfei and Lu Dingxing had shown some inclination towards each other, as long as nothing had been decided, there was still room for negotiation.
If things worked out, Wan Qingqu had also figured out a way to compensate Liao Yunfei.
However, the development of things was somewhat unexpected. Lu Dingxing was not at all suitable for his sister. Instead, he found that Wu Shaoqian and his male spouse were more interesting. It was quite a coincidence that they were staying in the same inn and they happened to meet…
Wan Qingqu provided this information, as it was just a matter of talking.
In fact, there are many different grades of Hunsui Lingxin, and the higher grades are harder to find. The lowest grade is only a third-grade or fourth-grade, which can help people recover to a Huang-rank aptitude.
As for more information, Wan Qingqu didn’t know. But in his opinion, being able to recover some aptitude would be better than being useless all the time.
—
In the following days, Zhong Cai and Wu Shaoqian traveled smoothly. Even when they were looking for a place to rest at night, they did not encounter anyone like Lu Dingxing again.
Gradually, the carriage arrived at the gates of Fengyun City.
Like Kunyun City, Fengyun City did not have an entry fee.
Their carriage smoothly entered the city gates, and they quickly rented a small, private courtyard that was fully equipped with all necessary facilities.
As usual, Qiao Hong and Bi Cen quickly set about tidying up, while Zhong Cai and Wu Shaoqian chose a bustling restaurant to fill their stomachs.
Zhong Cai called over a waiter, placed a gold coin on the table, and said with a smile, “I heard there’s an auction here in the next couple of days? We’re new in town and don’t know the specifics. Could you please tell us about it?”
The waiter had often done this kind of explaining in the past few days, usually receiving only a few silver coins as a tip. Naturally, he was very pleased to receive such a large amount this time and immediately began to speak warmly.
Thanks for the chapter!
is the lu of madam huo the same lu of lu dingxing? if they are, it will be kind of awkward to establish a relationship.
they have a goal now. hope for a hunsuilingxin in a lucky draw. obviously, they’re gonna get it but when??? also, how nice of wan qingqu. wonder when they’ll meet again. after 100 chapters? 300?
<3
Interesting
Thank you for your translation 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖