Apricot Flower House

Of course.

Some of the descriptions within were wildly exaggerated, such as: "A thousand years ago, demons and fiends once plunged the world into chaos, feeding on the blood of all living beings. One day, an immortal descended, moved a mountain to suppress them, and thus Demon Suppression Mountain came to be."

Even among sorcerers, a Second Grade Sorcerer capable of locating a Spirit Vein and borrowing the power of heaven and earth for their own use could not possibly achieve a feat like moving mountains and filling seas, something straight out of myth. It was most likely fabricated.

As his mind gradually sank into the book—

Suddenly.

Chen Mu seemed to sense something. He raised his head and looked ahead, only to see a woman in a light fur-lined jacket walking in from outside. A trace of worry lingered between her delicate, lovely brows, like Xizi clutching her heart.

"Why did Sister-in-law come through the rain and snow?"

Chen Mu set down the book.

Seeing that Chen Mu's complexion had improved considerably again today, Ning Shi's worries eased somewhat, though concern still covered her face. "Just now, Uncle had someone send over forty gold. I simply do not know where it came from, or whether it will bring trouble."

She knew Chen Mu's circumstances. Aside from his monthly allowance, he had no additional source of income. After deducting everyday expenses, it would have been nearly impossible for him to save over a hundred taels of silver. Yet he had suddenly given her a full forty gold, so naturally she was deeply worried, afraid that Chen Mu had done something dangerous.

"There is no need to worry."

Chen Mu smiled and walked over, casually handing the hand warmer he had been holding against his chest to Ning Shi. "I merely verified some little things from books and exchanged them for some money at Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Sister-in-law, feel free to use it."

Though Ning Shi had her dowry and what his elder brother had left behind, she had spent the past year or so looking after him in every way. Coupled with the fact that her usual circumstances were far from comfortable, she could not have been especially well-off.

"How could there be so much?"

Only then did Ning Shi notice the bundle on Chen Mu's table, as well as the eight Gold Ingots remaining inside. She could not help but stare in astonishment.

Altogether, this amounted to a full two hundred gold!

Even she had rarely seen so much wealth at once!

"They are merely things outside the body, nothing worth mentioning. If Sister-in-law needs anything in the future, just tell me."

Chen Mu spoke gently.

Ning Shi still wanted to say something, but Chen Mu's appearance made her freeze again. The light in his eyes, the confidence and bearing revealed in his words—it was all so familiar.

When she came back to herself, an inexplicable fear arose within her. She feared that the only person she had left before her would also suddenly vanish from this world.

"Uncle, you must not do anything dangerous. It is best if you can live safely and steadily..."

Chen Mu knew what she had thought of.

Looking at the woman before him, no more than eighteen or nineteen, yet so gentle and well-mannered, beautiful enough to be called a peerless flower and a face like the moon, he could not help lamenting that his elder brother had possessed the good fortune to meet her but lacked the fortune to keep her.

Not to mention the modern world of his previous life—even in ancient dynasties, women like her had been rare. He said no more, merely stepping forward to comfort Ning Shi for a while.

In the end,

he escorted her back.

When Chen Mu returned to the study once more, Ren Yan had already come back.

"Delivered it?"

"Yes."

Chen Mu nodded and pointed at the table. "Put away all these Gold Ingots, then come with me."

The finest wine at Apricot Flower House should cost around twenty gold. There were still one hundred and sixty gold here, certainly more than enough, but to guard against any unforeseen circumstances, he would bring it all.

"Yes."

Ren Yan carefully put away the Gold Ingots, then followed Chen Mu. Seeing that the rain and snow had stopped, he still brought an umbrella with him.

Apricot Flower House stood on the eastern side of the Capital, across from the flower district. It rose more than ten zhang from the ground, seven stories tall, towering head and shoulders above every other building on the street.

From within Apricot Flower House, one could nearly take in the entire flower district across the way at a glance.

At this moment.

The sky had not yet darkened, and the flower district across the street was still somewhat quiet. Yet the area around Apricot Flower House was already bustling, with laughter drifting down from above now and then.

Beneath Apricot Flower House.

Someone tried to enter, only to be stopped.

The person blocking the entrance was Apricot Flower House's steward. He politely cupped his hands toward a young master before him and said, "Young Master, my deepest apologies. All the wine for today has been sold out. Please come again tomorrow."

The young man dressed like a young master immediately flushed with anger and embarrassment. Just as he was about to say something, the companion beside him grabbed him and pulled him away, smiling as he smoothed things over. "Since it is sold out, we shall return tomorrow."

The steward smiled and nodded.

The claim that the wine was sold out was merely a polite excuse.

Ordinarily, Apricot Flower House would not bar guests. Anyone with money could go upstairs. The youth who had been stopped was the son of an Assistant Minister of Revenue and could normally enter at will, but today alone was different.

Nearly everyone upstairs today was a young master from one ducal or marquisial estate or another, along with some renowned talented courtesans of the Capital whom they had summoned to keep them company. Apricot Flower House would therefore bar ordinary people from entering.

Seeing that even the Assistant Minister of Revenue's son had been turned away, the others nearby roughly guessed that the guests Apricot Flower House was hosting today were at least sons of princes and nobles.

After exchanging glances, they all shook their heads and turned toward other taverns nearby.

At this moment.

Not far away, Chen Mu stepped down from a carriage. He looked up at the towering Apricot Flower House, then walked straight ahead.

"This young master, please wait."

Seeing Chen Mu approach, the steward came forward to stop him politely.

Chen Mu understood the situation at a glance and said casually, "Xuanguo Estate. Chen Mu."

The steward paused slightly. After carefully looking Chen Mu over, he smiled and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Young Master Mu. Please go upstairs and take a seat."

Naturally, in this day and age, no one would dare impersonate Xuanguo Estate. A young master of Xuanguo Estate was certainly qualified to go upstairs, even if he was not one of the legitimate sons.

However, Ren Yan, who followed behind, was not qualified to go up.

"Second Master, this servant will wait below."

Ren Yan spoke quietly.

There were also many attendants waiting nearby.

Chen Mu nodded slightly, then stepped forward and climbed the tall wooden stairs one step at a time.

He could sense many presences whose blood and vitality were as whole as the sun, their breathing steady and long, stationed throughout Apricot Flower House. They were clearly its guards, and every one of them was at least a Seventh Rank martial artist.

A Seventh Rank martial artist already held no low status. If they entered government service, they could become military officers. The fact that Apricot Flower House could employ so many showed just how formidable its strength was.

When he reached the top of Apricot Flower House,

the view before him suddenly opened wide.

The entire world was a vast expanse of white. Every building seemed buried beneath accumulated snow; only the tallest Apricot Flower House stood here, as though it were the center of all things.

With a quick glance, he saw roughly a dozen young men seated here. Most of them were familiar from Chen Mu's memories, all from various ducal and marquisial estates.

There were also some celebrated talents of the Capital, accompanied by several women of breathtaking beauty.

Chen Mu had no interest in composing poetry and making merry.

He had only come to Apricot Flower House to buy wine.

Thus, Chen Mu walked to an open seat and sat down. To the tavern servant following nearby, he said, "The finest wine is still 'Centennial Apricot Blossom,' I presume?"

"Yes, it has never changed."

"Bring me a jug."

"Right away."

The servant immediately answered and hurried downstairs.