38 Teahouse

After Chen Cheng returned to his Linjiang Courtyard, he casually informed Yan Lingji and Red Serpent before entering his room.

"Summoning System, use that summoning opportunity." Chen Cheng contacted the Summoning System.

He had received this opportunity when his cultivation reached the Dou Zhe realm. It had been inconvenient to use it earlier in Chen Ye's courtyard, so he had left it unused until now.

"Summoning in progress."

"Summoned character: Jiang Yu Yan."

"Jiang Yu Yan will appear before the host within half an hour."

Name: Jiang Yu Yan

Cultivation: Two-Star Dou Ling

Origin: Xiao Yu'er and Hua Wuque

Looking at the noblewoman displayed on the Summoning System, dressed in a bright yellow Imperial Concubine gown and with airy bangs, Chen Cheng was quite satisfied.

Chen Cheng still remembered Jiang Yu Yan. Not only was she extraordinarily intelligent, with schemes capable of playing all living beings in the palm of her hand, but she also possessed peerless martial arts. She was a ruthless woman who slaughtered everyone in the entire show until only its title remained.

"A Dou Ling cultivation level really isn't bad." Chen Cheng said with satisfaction as he looked at the cultivation displayed by the system.

Among the Chen Family's direct lineage, only twenty had reached the Dou Ling realm. Nearly all of them held important positions within the clan and could not be reassigned lightly.

Jiang Yu Yan, however, could guard Chen Cheng's side at any time. With a Dou Ling beside him, he basically had nothing to worry about in the Izumo Gama region, so long as he did not encounter a force on the level of the Chen Family or the Misty Cloud Sect.

Chen Cheng casually read a few books as he waited for Jiang Yu Yan to arrive.

Less than half an hour later, Jiang Yu Yan appeared before Chen Cheng.

She looked exactly like the image displayed on the system panel.

Though she had the body of a delicate, frail woman, the imperious aura that inadvertently shone from her eyes was unmatched by anyone.

"Jiang Yu Yan," Chen Cheng called, looking at her.

"What are your orders, Young Master?"

Jiang Yu Yan stood before Chen Cheng, her expression utterly calm. Chen Cheng could not see even a trace of ambition in her, yet he knew she was a person of immense ambition.

With the system's absolute loyalty, Chen Cheng was not worried that she would turn against him. Otherwise, a person like her would not be easy to control.

"How effective is your Flower Shifting Grafting Art against dou qi?" Chen Cheng asked.

"Reporting to Young Master, so long as the other party's cultivation is not a major realm higher than mine, I can absorb their dou qi," Jiang Yu Yan answered.

Chen Cheng was extremely satisfied when he heard her answer.

Not a major realm higher than her meant she could absorb the dou qi of anyone below the Dou Wang realm. She could barely be considered invincible beneath the Dou Wang realm.

With such a great helper as Jiang Yu Yan, Chen Cheng had even greater confidence in his future plans.

"Mm, I understand. You may leave now. Have the servants prepare a room for you," Chen Cheng said after a moment, nodding.

After Jiang Yu Yan left, Chen Cheng did not do anything else. He clasped his hands together against his forehead and closed his eyes in thought, considering his next steps.

Chen Cheng's cultivation had already reached the Dou Zhe realm, and he could now cultivate a cultivation method.

After three days, once Chen Ye had prepared everything, he could begin cultivating the Source of Deadly Poison. Once Chen Cheng mastered the Source of Deadly Poison, he planned to leave the Chen Family and head to the Izumo Empire.

After all, the Source of Deadly Poison was merely an Earth Middle-Rank cultivation method. Although it already surpassed the cultivation methods of ninety-nine percent of the people in the empire, since it had the potential to advance to an even higher rank, Chen Cheng naturally would not be content with merely Earth Middle-Rank.

Xiao Yi Xian of Green Mountain Town possessed a true Calamity Poison Body. So long as Chen Cheng found a way to obtain her Calamity Poison Body, the Source of Deadly Poison would advance into a genuine Heaven Rank Cultivation Method.

After the Source of Deadly Poison advanced, Chen Cheng intended to consider obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame of the Tagor Desert.

After all, the Emperor Flame Sacred Art was very likely a cultivation method passed down by Xiao Xuan. It was a genuine high-rank Heaven Rank Cultivation Method—how could Chen Cheng not be tempted?

The condition for cultivating the Emperor Flame Sacred Art and other high-level Dou Techniques was that one had to obtain a Heavenly Flame.

Chen Cheng did not know whether the Green Lotus Core Flame had already been taken by Medusa Queen. It would be easy enough if she had not taken it, but if Medusa Queen had, things would become difficult.

In the original story, Xiao Yan's experience in obtaining Heavenly Flames had truly been fraught with danger. One wrong step, and he would not have obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame. Chen Cheng did not think he would have that kind of luck.

Of course, even if Medusa Queen had taken it, that did not mean there was no solution.

So long as Chen Cheng gave the word, Chen Ye, Chen Yuan, and Nie Shan He would naturally help him seize it.

However, unless absolutely necessary, Chen Cheng did not wish to offend the Snake-People Tribe either.

To this day, the Snake-People Tribe held some grudges against the Jia Ma Empire, but they bore no hatred toward the Izumo Empire or the Chen Family.

As for what would come after obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame, Chen Cheng had no plans yet. He would first accomplish these two goals, then take things one step at a time.

After some time, Chen Cheng emerged from his thoughts.

There was little point in Chen Cheng cultivating over the next three days.

At this point, relying solely on tempering his body could no longer bring further improvement. If he wanted to continue cultivating, he had to rely on a cultivation method.

"Better go out for a walk."

Chen Cheng rose to his feet and headed outside.

Qinglan Teahouse, Anyang City.

A teahouse was a place of great leisure. Sitting by the window, watching boats pass along the riverway, and sipping a cup of fragrant tea was both relaxing and satisfying.

In the teahouse, groups of three or five talented scholars and beautiful ladies gathered together, chatting about everything under the sun. Whenever inspiration struck, they would ask the proprietor for a sheet of rice paper and leave behind a masterpiece for the ages.

Feng Ruoxue chose an elegant seat by the window and ordered a pot of fine tea.

She looked relaxed as she sipped her tea. A melodious, pleasing tune from within the teahouse stirred her slightly.

She liked the sound of the qin.

After a while, the music came to an end.

Although Feng Ruoxue had heard a few flaws in the performance, she was no pedantic old scholar who demanded perfection in everything. After all, no one in this world could be flawless.

"Miss Han's qin skills have truly grown ever more exquisite. This piece, City-Toppling Rhapsody, has utterly captivated me. As I listened, it felt as though the maiden in the melody were dancing gracefully right before my eyes. Wonderful, truly wonderful."

As the piece ended, an elegant young man in blue clapped his hands and praised her. The others echoed his sentiments.

"Exactly! Miss Han is so beautiful, and her qin playing is so excellent. Whoever marries you will be blessed beyond measure." A young man holding a folding fan joked.

Most of those in the teahouse were people who affected refinement. Rough men would not come to a place like this to drink tea without the slightest bite to it. Only strong liquor suited their tastes.

"Hehe, Jingya cannot accept such praise from everyone. These are only meager skills, unworthy of refined appreciation. I merely play for amusement in my spare time."

A young woman in a blue dress spoke from one of the tables.

A thin veil covered her face. Beneath it, her hazy features vaguely revealed that she was a beauty. Her voice was soft and gentle, and though her words were modest, there was a trace of self-satisfaction in her eyes.

After finishing her piece and receiving everyone's praise, she relished the floating sensation of being celebrated by the crowd.

"Miss Han is far too modest. Your qin skills are probably no worse than Liu Tong's from Jade Boat House. If you had been willing to compete, how could the title of Anyang's foremost qin player have gone to her?" A richly dressed young man adorned with bright pearls praised her fervently.

He was merely the descendant of a merchant. His family's yearly income was only enough to count as modestly wealthy. With his lowly status, how could he enter Jade Boat House, a place reserved for nobles and officials? How could he possibly afford to invite Liu Tong, Jade Boat House's chief qin player?

One was Jade Boat House's chief qin player, whom he had no chance of ever meeting, while the other was Miss Han, who stood right before him. This method of belittling one while praising another was an old trick.

Hearing the praise, Miss Han felt secretly delighted.

Her qin skills were indeed impressive, but she knew that there was still quite a gap between herself and Liu Tong. She did not dare challenge Liu Tong with her qin playing, as she would only suffer a crushing defeat.

Miss Han could only satisfy a little of her vanity before ordinary people like these.

Miss Han did possess genuine skill, or she would not have received praise from so many people. Among these talented young men and women were quite a few who had put effort into musical arts.

Just as Miss Han was feeling pleased with herself, a thoroughly ill-timed voice rang out.

"What does your qin skill amount to? I've heard Liu Tong play as well. Though she cannot compare to my Young Master, she is still a hundred times better than you."

The voice was filled with arrogant disdain. Everyone was enraged and turned toward its source.

Hong Luan was standing in front of the table, loudly challenging everyone present.

It was not that she looked down on anyone. She simply felt that showing off one's meager skills before a true master of the qin like Feng Ruoxue was unbearable, and she could not keep her thoughts to herself.

"Hong Luan, don't speak nonsense." Hearing Hong Luan's words, Feng Ruoxue felt a headache coming on.

She had no intention of showing off. Learning the guqin had merely been a personal hobby, a sound that could offer her some comfort in solitude.

Feng Ruoxue liked qin music because it represented elegance. But once it became a means of showing off, she could no longer accept it.

"Young Master, I'm only telling the truth. Give them a demonstration and let these frogs at the bottom of a well learn what true qin skill is." Hong Luan still had no idea how many people she had offended with a single sentence and continued urging Feng Ruoxue on.