Household Transfer Order

Under the cold moonlight and the lights of the main hall,

Two figures in the rear courtyard of Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion happened to enter Chen Heng's sight.

The newcomer had gloomy eyes, a thin frame, and wore black robes. His features were unremarkable.

He was Chen Xinshen, the Fourth Elder of the Chen Household, whom Chen Heng knew fairly well. He was responsible for gathering external intelligence and relaying important information within the Household.

The other man stood with his back to him. He was Chen Xing Shan, the manager of Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion.

"Xing Shan, why isn't Ming Heng at Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion? At this late hour, instead of cultivating properly in the pavilion, where has he run off to?"

"Don't tell me he's picked up the bad habit of listening to music in pleasure houses and discussing the Dao behind curtained doors."

Fourth Elder Chen Xinshen stood with one hand behind his back, his expression frosty as he looked at Chen Xing Shan, who was staring at his nose, his nose at his heart.

Seeing this, Chen Xing Shan secretly thought, This is bad. Nephew Ming Heng happened to take leave these past few days. Since he had always acted steadily, I never asked clearly why he took leave or where he was going.

Could he really have been lured away by those fox spirits behind curtained doors?

The Fourth Elder handles intelligence gathering, so he must have a target in mind. The Household values Nephew Ming Heng greatly. Surely I didn't truly overlook something for a moment...

Just as he was considering how to speak up for Chen Heng, a soft cough suddenly sounded by his ear.

The two men looked toward the sound and saw Chen Heng emerge from the shadows by the back door.

He shrank his neck and said quietly, "Fourth Elder, were you looking for me?"

Chen Heng's tone was exceedingly subdued, carrying the air of a thief with a guilty conscience. Though he had not picked up the habits of listening to music in pleasure houses or discussing the Dao behind curtained doors,

He truly had just emerged from a land of tenderness.

The Fourth Elder glanced at Chen Heng's attire, a black robe, then silently sniffed the air.

There was a distinct scent of powder and perfume that did not belong to anyone from Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion. Though faint, Chen Xinshen was responsible for gathering external intelligence and was exceptionally sensitive to such unusual information.

He gave Chen Heng a long, deep look, then said, "Cousin Xing Shan, return to your room first. I have matters to discuss with Ming Heng."

Hearing this, Chen Xing Shan could only hurry back to his room, not daring to delay.

Although he too was a direct-line cultivator of the Chen Household's Xing generation and was even several years older than Chen Xinshen, his cultivation talent was mediocre. Otherwise, how could he have been confined to the merchant's path?

When it came to status within the Household, how could he compare with a Household elder?

To put it bluntly, if he had not possessed a little talent in artifact refining, Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion would never have fallen under his management.

This was the reality for most cultivation households. Every benefit was determined by one's cultivation realm.

Moreover, the other man had addressed him as cousin before a junior, giving him both face and substance. If he still remained, he would truly be unable to count his blessings.

After Chen Xing Shan departed, the Fourth Elder, whose gaze had always been gloomy, gave a cold snort.

"Ming Heng, what were you doing out so late?"

As he spoke, his eyes bored straight into Chen Heng, the pressure immense.

Chen Xinshen was responsible for external intelligence gathering and naturally excelled at interrogation. If Chen Heng lied before him, he would be able to tell.

Seeing this, Chen Heng let out a long breath and answered without changing expression, "Reporting to Fourth Elder, I went to Ghost Alley Entrance."

Chen Xinshen frowned and asked, "Why go to the black market for no reason? Has the Household ever been stingy with your cultivation resources?"

"I would not dare conceal this from Elder. I went looking for the later portions of Water Fire Defense Scripture and Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation. These two cultivation arts suit me exceptionally well."

"I also happened to have some spare Spirit Stones, so I wanted to try my luck at the black market."

Every word Chen Heng spoke was true. His conscience was clear.

Of course, he had not revealed the whole truth.

Even Ancestor Chen Tianrui only knew that Chen Heng had plotted against Luo Yu Lei at Bamboo Branch Mountain. He did not know the full course of events.

Wen Ning's existence was naturally also kept secret.

Having her apply to become an Attendant talisman master at Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion was merely to make things more convenient in the future.

Seeing Chen Heng's sincere expression, Chen Xinshen's face eased somewhat. Unhurriedly, he said, "Stop entertaining hopes of obtaining the later portions of those two cultivation arts elsewhere. They are all in the Luo Family's hands."

"Back then, in Water Fire Superior's secondary residence, the Chen Household obtained the upper portions of the cultivation arts, while the Luo Family obtained the lower portions. The Household elders even killed one of their Foundation Establishment Ancestors."

"A considerable grudge was formed. Even if the Luo Family let them gather dust in their Scripture Pavilion, they would never allow them to circulate."

Chen Heng raised his brow after hearing this. This was the first time he had heard of these subtle old affairs.

"So that was how it was. Thank you, Elder, for clearing up my confusion."

Chen Xinshen waved a hand and continued, "I came here to transfer you back to Jade Spring Mountain."

At those words, Chen Heng looked stunned. "Why? I haven't caused any trouble for the Artifact Pavilion."

"That is not the reason. Since you came to the Artifact Pavilion, its sales have soared. The whole Household knows of it. Once you return to the mountain, there will be additional rewards."

"The main reason is that there are less than half a year left before Azure Profound Sect's once-in-ten-years opening of the mountain to accept disciples. The Council of Elders has decided to have you return to the mountain early for quiet cultivation."

"If you have nothing else to handle here, return to Jade Spring Mountain with me tomorrow."

Chen Heng naturally had nothing to do, so he immediately agreed.

Seeing this, Chen Xinshen patted his shoulder, then melted into the shadows and vanished from Chen Heng's sight.

Chen Heng's mouth twitched. This seemed to be a quirk of this elder responsible for external intelligence gathering—he liked walking beneath shadows.

Not long after,

A brief message reached Flower Language Pavilion.

Inside the talisman-making room, Wen Ning sat upright at the desk, a Talisman Brush in hand as she traced talismans across Talisman Paper, her expression focused.

After all, three days later, she planned to head to Jade Spring Talisman Pavilion and apply to become an Attendant talisman master for the Chen Household.

It had not been long since her talisman-making skill broke through to first-grade upper rank. Had she not encountered a series of incidents, she might have found a suitable position long ago.

That was the confidence that came with mastering a cultivation skill.

Now that Chen Heng had made arrangements, she naturally would not shop around.

Still, she had heard that the Chen Household treated its Attendants rather well. It was indeed a good destination.

At that moment, Wen Ning sensed the secondary communication talisman Chen Heng had left behind growing faintly warm. She did not even bother with the unfinished talisman.

She hurriedly set down her Talisman Brush, took out the secondary communication talisman, and read the contents Chen Heng had sent.

"The plan has changed. The Household has ordered me to return early to Jade Spring Mountain for quiet cultivation. You may head first to Azure Profound Market, established under Azure Profound Sect. Half a year from now, I will use the Azure Profound Golden Token to directly enter Azure Profound Sect."

"If I remain in Southern Foothills Market, it will already be a futile endeavor for me."

"If you lack Spirit Stones, artifacts, or other cultivation resources, tell me now."

Unlike a small or medium market such as Southern Foothills Market, where even Foundation Establishment true cultivators rarely appeared, Azure Profound Market under Azure Profound Sect was the largest market in the Moon Gazing Mountain Range.

Not only did a Violet Palace Venerable reside there long-term,

Foundation Establishment true cultivators were fairly common in Azure Profound Market, and even Violet Palace Venerables occasionally appeared.

Likewise, the pressure of survival there was far greater than in Southern Foothills Market.

As a first-grade upper-rank talisman master, Wen Ning could easily find work in Southern Foothills Market, but it would not be so easy once she went to Azure Profound Market.

Moreover, she would need to rent a cultivation cave dwelling.

In the short term, she would certainly need a considerable sum of Spirit Stones to survive.

Chen Heng had considered this, which was why he had specifically sent the message.

After pondering for a moment, Wen Ning finally replied, "I do not need Spirit Stones for the moment, but I urgently need a flying artifact for travel and a defensive artifact for protection."

She still had five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, enough to survive in Azure Profound Market.

But traveling from Southern Foothills Market to Azure Profound Market required artifacts for both travel and self-defense.

Chen Heng did not reply to her message. Wen Ning, however, began to reflect on whether she had opened her mouth like a lion and displeased him.

After all, among all artifacts, defensive artifacts that preserved one's life and flying artifacts used for escape were the most precious.

The next day.

Before dawn, Wen Ning, who had not slept all night, sensed someone enter Flower Language Pavilion directly.

She was startled at first, then realized that Chen Heng had actually come to find her himself.

After all, only he possessed a token that allowed direct entry into Flower Language Pavilion.

Without even tidying herself up, the somewhat haggard Wen Ning immediately went out to greet him, only to see Chen Heng arrive in the courtyard with sweat beading on his forehead.

"Wen Ning, here. I specially refined this first-grade upper-rank artifact for you overnight—the Water Cloud Hood. It can both fly and defend. There are also one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones."

At this, Wen Ning solemnly accepted the artifact and Spirit Stones Chen Heng handed her. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she gave him a graceful bow. "Wen Ning thanks you, Young Master!"

Chen Heng said nothing more. He merely patted her perky backside, then turned and departed with easy grace.