The Courtyard

Huang Huai watched the youth stuff the pearl into his hand, then looked at the youth who was eagerly awaiting his reply. He subconsciously said, "My name is Huang Huai. Little brother, I can't accept this pearl..."

Unfortunately, before Huang Huai could step forward to return the pearl to the youth, the youth had already crossed several dozen feet in a single step. With a few flashes, he arrived in front of the carriage. Before entering the carriage, he didn't forget to wave at Huang Huai and shout, "If you hear news of the Ji family opening their estate in Great River City, remember to come find me!"

Inside the carriage, a faint, subtle fragrance permeated the air. A woman in a goose-yellow dress was looking at the youth with a hint of reproach.

"A single pearl isn't much, but it's still precious to ordinary people. You casually gave it to that person; aren't you afraid someone saw and it would bring him trouble?"

Ji Yang, however, leaned closer to the woman, looking mysterious. "Sister, you're mistaken this time. The big brother I just met is no ordinary person!"

The woman couldn't help but roll her eyes at her younger brother's mysterious demeanor. She extended her slender jade fingers and tapped Ji Yang's forehead. "You love excitement. You approach anyone you take a liking to and strike up a conversation. How many people have you met on this journey!"

Ji Yang immediately retorted, "But this time is different! This big brother is definitely not an ordinary person!"

The woman said nothing more, but the expression on her face clearly revealed her thoughts.

Seeing this, Ji Yang anxiously said, "Sister, really! You don't know, but I saw an Incense and Fire Treasure Artifact on that big brother just now!"

As expected, a hint of surprise appeared on the woman's face. The youth then said excitedly, "It really was an Incense and Fire Treasure Artifact..."

The carriage gradually moved further away. Watching it disappear, Huang Huai naturally couldn't catch up. He rubbed the pearl in his hand, thinking about his brief encounter with the youth named Ji Yang, and couldn't help but let out a light, carefree laugh.

"The Ji family of Great River City, Ji Yang!"

After putting the pearl away and tidying his slightly disheveled clothes, which had been disturbed by the crowd, Huang Huai looked at the somewhat empty street. He shook his head slightly, calmed his mind, and headed straight for a certain location.

Great River City belonged to Taian Prefecture. Although it was within the sphere of influence of the Great River Sect, the city also had administrative institutions of the Great Yan Dynasty.

The Great Yan Dynasty's imperial court was not weak. Faced with numerous cultivators, especially when it involved the struggle for Incense and Fire, which was fundamental to cultivation, how could the Great Yan Dynasty suppress so many forces solely with its royal power? Thus, an unwritten rule formed.

The dynasty established administrative agencies, and various regions paid a certain amount of tax to the court. Apart from that, the real authority in the localities completely fell into the hands of these major powers that possessed extraordinary might.

From the information Huang Huai had, if he wanted to find a place to settle in Great River City, the best option would be to purchase a residence.

Matters involving real estate transactions like these were not something the High Gods of Great River City had the inclination or energy to manage, so it was handed over to the administrative agencies established by the dynasty.

The Market Supervision Department Yamen. Huang Huai looked at the extremely enthusiastic junior official in front of him, who was tirelessly introducing him to various property information located throughout the city.

With each introduction, the junior official would look at him with an expectant gaze, as if wanting him to make a decision and buy immediately.

To be honest, that look made Huang Huai feel a bit embarrassed towards the diligently recommending junior official. He coughed lightly and pointed to a property for sale on the map of Great River City. "This courtyard is nice. If I were to buy it, how much would it cost, and how long would it take to move in?"

The junior official looked in the direction Huang Huai was pointing and his eyes lit up. "Young master truly has a good eye! Although this courtyard isn't large, it's just a single-entry courtyard. As long as you buy it, you can move in the same day. Most importantly, this courtyard is located in Anshun District!"

The junior official then looked at Huang Huai and said, "Young master should know about Anshun District, right?"

Huang Huai had only chosen this location because the courtyard was neither too close nor too far from the cluster of buildings where the Great River Sect was located.

Being too close to the Great River Sect might provide a certain level of security. After all, if any God, Demon, or Malevolent Spirit were to cause trouble, it was likely they would avoid the area where the Great River Sect was situated.

If Huang Huai had no secrets, he would definitely choose to be as close to the Great River Sect as possible.

Unfortunately, Huang Huai had a huge secret. Under the watchful eyes of the High Gods of the Great River Sect, who possessed extraordinary might, even with all his precautions, Huang Huai truly didn't dare to guarantee that he wouldn't be discovered by those High Gods during his next transmigration.

After all, he didn't really know what abilities these High Gods possessed!

Now, seeing the junior official's implication, it seemed there was something significant about Anshun District. This directly concerned his place of residence and safety in Great River City, so Huang Huai dared not casually choose a place to settle.

Looking at the junior official, Huang Huai casually handed him a silver melon seed. "Are there any taboos in Anshun District?"

Having received the money, the junior official's smile seemed to deepen, and he more enthusiastically explained to Huang Huai, "Young master might not know that the Peng family, whose High God Peng Yu just joined the Great River Sect, is located in Anshun District."

"With a High God like Peng Yu emerging from Anshun District, it will surely be blessed by the High God's grace in the future! Setting aside other things, if High God Peng Yu manifests to bestow blessings, the area around Anshun District will definitely be the priority. So, young master choosing this courtyard truly shows unique foresight!"

Huang Huai couldn't help but hesitate. He had already tried to avoid the area of the Great River Sect, only to find that a suitable area he chose had produced a disciple of the Great River Sect.

However, looking at the map again, there was nothing more suitable than this place in Anshun District. After a moment's hesitation, Huang Huai made up his mind and said to the junior official, "This one it is!"

Huang Huai had already figured it out. What if he was close to the Peng family? Even if Peng Yu had joined the Great River Sect, he had only just begun his cultivation. It would take an unknown amount of time for him to achieve success. Moreover, according to the news he had heard earlier, Peng Yu would stay at home for at most another half a month before moving into the Great River Sect. One was not allowed to leave the Great River Sect's base until they entered the First Realm of cultivation.

Therefore, Huang Huai didn't need to worry about any hidden dangers by choosing Anshun District as his base in this world.

A not-so-large courtyard cost Huang Huai tens of taels of silver. After paying the deposit, he arranged with the junior official to go for the handover that afternoon, where the transaction would be settled, and the property would be exchanged for money.

Leaving the Market Supervision Department, Huang Huai felt a sense of relief. With his place of residence settled, he could now calmly consider how to embark on the path of cultivation.

Ping'an Inn. The waiter, who had been severely reprimanded by his uncle, had been listless and worried for most of the day, his gaze frequently drifting towards the inn's entrance.

Suddenly, the waiter jolted and scurried over. The innkeeper, who was by the counter, quickly got up.

As Huang Huai walked into the inn's lobby, before he could figure out what was happening, he heard a thud. A figure directly knelt before him.

Upon seeing who it was, Huang Huai's heart tightened. He first dodged the person and looked at the waiter with a displeased expression, secretly wondering what the waiter's intention was. Could it be that he had trespassed into the small courtyard where he was staying while he was out?