Disaster is Brewing, The Youth Who Got Rich Overnight

The figure sitting across from the man was none other than Liu Qingyan, the painter who had not been selected and had left Lin Manor.

At this moment, Liu Qingyan hung his head, utterly ill at ease.

Hearing the man's words, he hesitated for a moment, then reached out and tremblingly grasped the teacup. The tea inside nearly sloshed out. Just as it touched his lips, the man spoke again.

"You took five Primordial Spirit Treasures from me, saying you'd definitely be chosen by Lin Manor to paint for the young masters. But now... that young painter got picked, and you still have the nerve to sit here drinking tea in front of me?"

The man drank his tea, his tone both mocking and cold.

Liu Qingyan pursed his lips, his movements frozen. He couldn't drink, but he couldn't set it down either.

Putting down the cup, Liu Qingyan said helplessly, "This old man had no choice..."

"If it were normal painting, with decades of skill under my belt, I'd have taken it easily. But that young man used some unorthodox technique that happened to hit Madam Hua's soft spot. He got chosen, and this old man... is frustrated too."

"I don't want to hear that. I only care about results." The man said. "Now, I'll give you two choices. One: you took five Primordial Spirit Treasures from me and failed. Now pay back five hundred."

Liu Qingyan shuddered at the words. "Five hundred Primordial Spirit Treasures? How could I possibly come up with that?!"

The man finished his tea, set the cup on the table, and shook his head. "Whether you can or not is none of my concern. We agreed: you take the money and do the job. Succeed, and everyone's happy. Fail, and you pay back double."

"This isn't double—it's a hundred times!" Liu Qingyan's face twisted as if he'd eaten something foul.

"I'm just acting on someone else's behalf. These Primordial Spirit Treasures came from Young Master Qin of Qin Manor... You dare to renege? Go ahead, try it."

The man said flatly.

At these words, fear spread through Liu Qingyan's entire body. For some reason, cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Qin Manor was the residence of the Great Zhao Chancellor, known to everyone within Lin'an without exception.

And the name of Young Master Qin of Qin Manor—Liu Qingyan had heard of it long ago. He was someone far beyond Liu Qingyan's reach!

Since he was beyond reach, he was naturally someone Liu Qingyan Could Not Afford to Offend.

"Young... Young Master Qin... why..." Liu Qingyan stammered, his words unclear.

He might dare to put on airs at Lin Manor, because the Lin family was known for generations of loyalty and easygoingness. But before Qin Manor, he wouldn't dare act rashly—especially with Young Master Qin, whom everyone in Lin'an Prefecture knew to be unpredictable.

"There are many matters of great importance. You don't need to know."

"Second choice: you don't have to repay the money, but you do have to put in the effort."

The man tapped his fingers lightly on the table. The crisp sound echoed through the carriage, making Liu Qingyan even more nervous.

"Please speak. If this old man can do it, I'll give it my all!" Liu Qingyan hurriedly said.

"You've monopolized the painting business for the girls on the Flower Boats, raking in a tidy profit. I also know you've hired quite a few thugs to deal with painters who threaten your business."

"So..."

"Out of jealousy and resentment for not being chosen by Lin Manor, you had your thugs break that young painter's hands, rendering him unable to paint."

The tapping stopped abruptly.

The man looked at Liu Qingyan and spoke calmly, his voice carrying not the Slightest ripple.

As if having someone break a young man's hands was as ordinary as snapping two dry twigs.

Hearing this, Liu Qingyan seemed to deflate like a punctured balloon, Exhaling a Breath long and slow.

An Le walked along the bustling street, feeling quite pleased, as this trip had been very fruitful.

Back at the inn, the Shop Assistant saw An Le and looked somewhat surprised, since few people taken away by the Black Office's Captain ever returned unscathed.

"Young Master An, you're alright?"

The Shop Assistant came over and asked.

An Le Smiled. "I walk the straight and narrow—why wouldn't I be? Prepare some fine wine and dishes and send them to my room."

"Right away!" The Shop Assistant's face lit up with enthusiasm.

Back in his room, the inn room was not large, even a bit cramped. After all, the money he earned from selling paintings wasn't enough to rent a spacious, comfortable room.

This was Lin'an, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

Sitting on a chair, he poured himself a cup of cold water and downed it in one gulp. Then An Le took out the money pouch Madam Hua had given him. Inside was a deposit of ten Primordial Spirit Treasures.

He took one out and let it fall into his palm. The Primordial Spirit Treasure was small, resembling a copper coin, but with a glassy luster. After Entering Stillness, An Le could even sense a trace of spiritual energy within it.

Holding the treasure, An Le examined it closely. It was said that Primordial Spirit Treasures contained special formations, each marked with a serial number and origin, making them nearly impossible to counterfeit.

Ten Primordial Spirit Treasures were worth three thousand taels. Getting rich overnight—that described An Le perfectly.

Lin Manor truly lived up to its reputation as a martial noble family, incredibly wealthy.

Still, the higher the price, the more Madam Hua valued this painting commission. An Le dared not slack off in his work afterward.

Putting away the money pouch, An Le took out two cultivation manuals.

His gaze fell upon the "Five Beasts Body Tempering Technique." This body-tempering method was inferior in grade to the "Sword Waterfall Diagram," but still quite advanced.

An Le had obtained this technique solely through Madam Hua's favor—one painting had won her heart, worth a thousand gold in exchange.

An Le did not immediately flip through the Five Beasts Body Tempering Technique. Instead, he closed his eyes and entered a state of stillness, steadying his mind.

In the Spirit Refining Realm, stepping into stillness made An Le's very soul feel strengthened. His thoughts settled, as if he possessed inexhaustible energy, and his mind became much clearer.

No wonder non-cultivators struggled to rank among the Jia Bang Jinshi. Compared to them, cultivators who refined their spirit had excellent mental faculties, faster brain function, and an easier time studying—making them far more competitive.

After entering stillness, he visualized the Sword Waterfall Diagram. The first page held only a single sword, yet it seemed to hang horizontally across the sea of his mind.

He visualized that sword spanning his mental sea to strengthen his spirit, striving to step into the Second Spirit Refining Realm.

Before long, a knock came at the door.

An Le slowly opened his eyes, a faint glint of sword-sharpness flashing in their depths—the lingering effect of his visualization.

He opened the door to find the Shop Assistant delivering food.

Four fine dishes, with both wine and meat.

The Shop Assistant held a tray, his face full of smiles. "Young Master An, about the meal cost..."

An Le took out a Primordial Spirit Treasure and handed it over. "Exchange this Primordial Spirit Treasure for silver, and deduct the meal cost from it."

A Primordial Spirit Treasure?!

The Shop Assistant stared wide-eyed at the glass-like treasure, drawing in a sharp breath.

One treasure could be exchanged for three hundred taels of silver!

What had this guest before him done?

Just yesterday, he could barely afford the room fee, and now today he pulled out a Primordial Spirit Treasure—what had he sold?

Was it related to that Black Office Captain?

The Shop Assistant's heart stirred, and he immediately grew reverent. He accepted the Primordial Spirit Treasure with respect, quickly left, and hurried off to find the Innkeeper to exchange it for silver.

An Le closed the door and began to eat and drink. Body-tempering martial arts cultivated the physique, so one naturally needed to eat and drink their fill to have strength.

Just as he finished his meal, the door was knocked on again. An Le opened it to find the Innkeeper, accompanied by the Shop Assistant.

"Young Master An, this is the silver exchanged from your Primordial Spirit Treasure." The Innkeeper, broad and cheerful, smiled warmly yet respectfully as he handed the silver to An Le.

An Le accepted it with a smile. "Sorry for the trouble, Innkeeper."

"If you have any further needs, Young Master An, just say the word." The Innkeeper was very polite. In these times, anyone who could produce a Primordial Spirit Treasure was a noble or official.

An Le nodded with a smile. The Innkeeper then had the Shop Assistant clear the dishes, closed the door, and left respectfully.

Back in his room, An Le's heart remained calm and untroubled. Money could bolster one's courage and confidence—that was true no matter which world one was in.

After confirming no one would disturb him, he took out the Five Beasts Body Tempering Technique.

An Le Exhaled a Breath, his eyes gleaming with anticipation for the martial path, and slowly opened the book.