Settling It

The five-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye. Early that morning, Luo Yu Lei came to the entrance of Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion.

Besides the pack of lackeys following him, a large crowd of onlookers eager to watch the show had also gathered.

The doors of Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion stood wide open. Chen Xing Shan was unmoved by the dark mass of people outside, his usual genial smile still on his face, though a barely perceptible gravity lay hidden deep in his eyes.

Chen Ming Hui and Li Tong appeared somewhat nervous, while Chen Shi Shi's little face was taut, his palms faintly sweaty.

Luo Yu Lei stood at the very front of the crowd, flushed with triumph. Behind him, Luo Family disciples and a group of cultivators watching the excitement had packed the entrance to the pavilion so tightly that not even water could pass through.

The crowd buzzed with discussion, curiosity, doubt, and gloating looks intertwining.

"Shopkeeper Chen, congratulations on opening!"

Luo Yu Lei spoke first, his voice deliberately loud and mocking. "The five-day deadline has arrived. I have come to collect my goods."

"Where is that Master Chen who claimed he would complete a magic artifact within five days? Don't tell me he's still scratching his head beside the artifact cauldron?"

"Ha ha!"

The Luo Family disciples behind him burst into laughter as well, stirring the crowd into a commotion.

Chen Xing Shan's gaze turned faintly cold, but his tone remained mild. "Young Friend Luo, you jest. Our Chen Household has always kept its word in business. Ming Hui, invite Ming Heng out."

Chen Heng emerged from the back hall at just the right moment.

His steps were steady, and there was not the slightest trace of haste or panic on his face. He was no different from when he had shut the refining room door several days ago, save for a faint weariness in his eyes that was immediately covered by calm.

He held a folding fan in his hand. A warm gleam faintly flowed across the fan ribs, most of it wrapped in a plain white silk cloth, drawing every eye.

"Young Master Luo, your magic artifact is here."

Chen Heng's voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly through the clamor.

Ignoring the probing gazes around him, he walked straight to Chen Xing Shan's side and extended the silk-wrapped folding fan toward Luo Yu Lei.

The arrogant smile on Luo Yu Lei's face stiffened slightly. He had not expected Chen Heng to actually produce it.

He stepped forward and took the folding fan with a snort. "Hmph, it's good that you brought it out. But let me make this clear first: if it doesn't meet my requirements, or if it is shoddy work, don't blame me for refusing to give the Chen Household any face!"

His words carried a threat as his eyes remained fixed on Chen Heng.

"Of course. Whether it is satisfactory or not, Young Master Luo will know after inspecting it." Chen Heng's tone was indifferent.

Luo Yu Lei took a deep breath and abruptly tore away the plain white silk cloth.

A folding fan came into view. Its ribs were made from the first-tier mid-grade treasured material, Green Jade Bamboo, which he had supplied—hard and rich with wood-attributed spiritual energy.

The fan leaf was woven from some unknown white spiritual thread containing inner spiritual power, soft yet resilient to the touch. Most crucially, three intricate and profound artifact patterns were clearly visible upon the fan ribs!

Three artifact patterns of entirely different properties!

One took the form of blazing flames soaring into the sky, radiating scorching heat;

One resembled ripples on flowing water, with a faint glow circulating within it;

The final pattern looked like clouds and mist curling around one another, carrying a faint sense of sluggishness.

Three artifact patterns with utterly different properties were independent of one another, yet seemed linked by some subtle connection. They had truly been perfectly inscribed upon this first-tier mid-grade magic artifact, no larger than the palm of one's hand!

Most people present were cultivators. They might not all know how to refine artifacts, but they still possessed the basic ability to judge a magic artifact's properties.

Luo Yu Lei was naturally no exception. His expression changed in an instant, shifting from smugness and doubt to shock and disbelief.

Instinctively, he poured in magic power to activate it.

Clang!

A crimson wind blade about a foot long condensed from the tip of the fan and howled toward a testing stone pedestal specially prepared outside the pavilion. With a sharp screech, it left a deep scorched mark.

With a flick of his wrist, he opened the fan. A water-blue light screen, thin as a cicada's wing yet exceptionally tough, instantly spread open, blocking several stones thrown by a nearby clerk at the shopkeeper's signal.

Several dull puffs rang out, yet the light screen did not so much as tremble.

Immediately afterward, he waved the fan toward another stone pedestal in the distance. A whirlwind carrying a sticky, sluggish force formed out of thin air, temporarily binding the pedestal in place. It did not completely immobilize it, but its movements became visibly much slower.

The watching crowd instantly erupted into a tremendous uproar!

"Three artifact patterns! He really did it!"

"Look at that power! It has absolutely reached the first-tier mid-grade standard!"

"That technique... three different artifact patterns existing in one artifact. Was this really refined in five days?"

"This young man from the Chen Household is incredible!"

"The Luo Family this time... tsk tsk, did they kick an iron plate?"

Luo Yu Lei's face turned green, then white.

The artifact's quality, power, and patterns all matched the deliberately difficult requirements he had set down with flawless precision.

The shouting from the Luo Family disciples behind him also came to an abrupt halt, replaced by awkward silence.

He had intended to stir up trouble, yet he had become a stepping stone for the other side to display its skill and make a name for itself!

The frustration choked him so badly that he nearly spat blood.

A sharp glint flashed through Chen Xing Shan's eyes. He immediately stepped forward and smoothed things over with a beaming smile. "Ha ha, so long as Young Friend Luo is satisfied! Ming Heng has fulfilled his mission without disgrace and lived up to our Chen Household's name in artifacts and talismans. Three hundred spirit stones—thank you for your patronage!"

With this, he deftly shifted everyone's attention from the Luo Family's embarrassment to the completed transaction, while emphasizing the Chen Household's outstanding craftsmanship.

Luo Yu Lei gripped the fan, which was worth a fortune and far exceeded his expectations. It felt heavier than a thousand catties and burning hot in his hand.

Reneging in public?

The only ones who would lose face would be him and the Luo Family. The rules of the marketplace and the Luo Family's reputation would never allow him to do such a thing.

Luo Yu Lei held it in for a long while before finally forcing down the surging fury and humiliation. Through clenched teeth, he squeezed out, "Hmph! Count... count yourselves somewhat capable! Let's go!"

He practically snatched the bag of two hundred spirit stones offered by a companion, flung it onto the counter without even looking, and led the Luo Family members out of the crowd in a sorry state. Before long, they vanished into the bustling main street of the marketplace.

The crowd's gazes focused on Chen Heng, filled with curiosity and amazement.

Yet after Luo Yu Lei left, Chen Heng merely nodded slightly at the curious crowd and Chen Xing Shan, whose expression held a question. He said no more, only calmly remarked, "Shopkeeper, if there is nothing else, I will go back and tidy up the refining room."

With that, he turned around, picked up Luo Yu Lei's gift, and walked calmly through the crowd's curious stares, heading straight back into the rear hall.

Low-key and unruffled, he brushed off his sleeves once the matter was done and left.

Chen Xing Shan watched his retreating figure, stroking his short beard. The smile on his face became incomparably pleased, even carrying a touch of admiration.

Not only had he perfectly resolved the Luo Family's provocation and restored the artifact pavilion's dignity, he had also proven his own strength before everyone's eyes.

Yet he claimed no credit, nor did he take advantage of the moment to boast. Such steady maturity and skill in handling affairs far surpassed his age!

Good lad... Chen Xing Shan thought.

Then, with a face glowing like a spring breeze, he turned toward the other customers drawn in by the spectacle.

"Come, come, fellow Daoists! My apologies for making you witness that just now! The little interlude has passed. Our shop has every kind of magic artifact and material, all guaranteed in quality. There are plenty of discounts during today's gathering. Please come inside and take a careful look!"

Within Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion, the flow of customers drawn in by this splendid "performance" instantly surged.

A disturbance meant to embarrass the Chen Household was thus silently resolved by Chen Heng with indisputable skill and an exceedingly low-key manner, transformed instead into Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion's reputation.