Courage and Strategy, Cooperation

Xu Wei had only taken a few steps when she sensed a menacing pressure on her back, like thorns, causing her to stop in surprise.

At that moment, Chen Dengming's undeniable voice reached her ears again.

"You go on ahead. I'll handle things here. Even if you don't have faith in me, don't you have faith in the Lüo Family? Who would dare stop you from delivering a message to them?"

Xu Wei's heart settled slightly, and she felt a surge of warmth. She immediately quickened her pace and departed.

From a distance, Chen Dengming's voice could already be heard.

"Of course, I know this is Golden Character Workshop territory. Do you think I'm not one of them? Am I causing a big fuss by sending a Mortal to deliver a message for me?"

"You're from Golden Character Workshop?"

The old man surnamed He on the upper floor was stunned. He couldn't bother with Xu Wei, who was already leaving, and carefully sized up Chen Dengming, his brow furrowing.

At this moment, a telepathic message reached the old man surnamed He's ears.

"I am Chen Dengming. I wonder if this Fellow Daoist has heard my name? I heard that Workshop Master Xu once said that if I returned, I would be greatly rewarded. Is that statement untrue?"

"Chen..."

The old man surnamed He's pupils contracted. He suddenly remembered the Mortal who had killed a cultivator on Hutong Street over three months ago. His mind went blank for a moment, and he stared dumbfoundedly at Chen Dengming, who was looking at him with a half-smile. He felt that the two strands of white hair at his temples seemed particularly sinister at this moment.

"Are you really Chen Dengming?"

"Does anyone dare to impersonate me under the wanted order on Hutong Street?"

The old man surnamed He exhaled deeply and then frowned, glancing at Xu Wei's retreating figure, which had already disappeared around the street corner. He said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Chen, please come in for a cup of fragrant tea. I will quickly send word to the Workshop Master that you have returned. However, if this Xu Wei is an old acquaintance of yours, I advise you not to meddle in other people's affairs."

"Oh?"

Chen Dengming's expression was surprised, then he nodded thoughtfully and stepped into the building.

What kind of trouble had Xu Wei gotten into? She hadn't told him earlier, as if she didn't want him to know.

He had initially thought that even if this woman, a Mortal, had gotten into some trouble, it wouldn't be major, and he might be able to resolve it.

After all, if it were truly a big deal, given a Mortal's status in the Gathering Place, she would have already died, or worse.

But judging by the current situation, Xu Wei wasn't dead and didn't seem to be suffering particularly. So what kind of trouble was it that even a cultivator warned him not to get involved in? It was quite strange, and Chen Dengming couldn't help but become vigilant and ponder.

However, he had made plans before daring to show himself this time.

Even if there was real danger, he could just leave the Gathering Place again. He always planned for retreat before advancing, and he had a way to escape unscathed.

Half an incense stick later.

On the top floor of Zanhua Tower.

Chen Dengming met with Xu Ning, the Workshop Master of Golden Character Workshop, as he had wished.

The Spiritual Might of this Qi Cultivation level six cultivator was quite astonishing even when restrained, giving off a palpable sense of pressure.

In fact, this feeling was due to high-level cultivators having greater control and range over the surrounding Spiritual Energy, suppressing the low-level cultivators' control over their own Spiritual Energy, naturally causing them to feel pressured.

However, Xu Ning was also a straightforward person. His face was square, and his nose was straight, giving a good impression. He was especially enthusiastic upon seeing Chen Dengming, laughing heartily as he pulled Chen Dengming to sit down, and immediately praised his past meritorious deeds.

"Little Brother Chen, I didn't expect you to return after more than three months and give your big brother such a great surprise! You said you could bravely kill a cultivator on Hutong Street when you were Innate. Now that you're a cultivator yourself, aren't you even more formidable? Hahaha!"

"Not at all, Workshop Master exaggerates my abilities."

Chen Dengming was also adept at social graces. He was skilled in mutual flattery. A true man could bend and stretch and get along anywhere. He cupped his hands and smiled, "My meager cultivation is not even a fraction of your finger, Workshop Master. I think it was your prestige that deterred those people on Hutong Street, allowing me to share in the glory."

"Hahaha! Little Brother Chen speaks well. Come, have some tea!"

Xu Ning laughed heartily, finding Chen Dengming much more agreeable. He immediately raised his teacup.

Although he wasn't someone who enjoyed flattery, as the saying goes, "everyone lifts the sedan chair for everyone else." Interacting with someone who speaks well could make one's mood pleasant.

The old man surnamed He, who had a stern expression, and two other cultivators beside him also relaxed their faces and even laughed along.

They were all part of the same family. If the Workshop Master was laughing, why should they keep their solemn faces? Who were they trying to impress, and who were they trying to offend?

They were all old hands who had navigated the world of Cultivation society; none of them were fools.

"I said, Little Brother Chen, if you return, I, Xu Ning, will surely reward you handsomely. That was no empty promise. What do you want, Little Brother Chen? Spirit Stones, Cultivation Methods, Magic Items, or something else? Just name it."

"Workshop Master is too kind. It is my duty to contribute to our Golden Character Workshop. Although it involved some risk, the risk is now negligible."

All of them were shrewd individuals. Hearing Chen Dengming's words, the underlying meaning was that rewards could be set aside for now; the question was how to resolve the wanted order from Hutong Street.

"Little Brother Chen, rest assured, I, your big brother, will resolve your risks. Now that you are a cultivator, this matter is nothing!"

Xu Ning laughed heartily and beckoned everyone to sit down for tea and conversation. Amidst the clinking of cups, they exchanged pleasantries and probed each other.

During these probes, they naturally inquired about Chen Dengming's situation over the past few months and how he had broken through.

At the same time, they did not forget Chen Dengming's past connection with the Lüo Family's eldest daughter, which became a primary concern for them.

"Regarding Fairy Lüo."

Chen Dengming frowned slightly, put down his teacup, and hissed. He glanced at Xu Ning and then at the other three, smiling hesitantly.

"Workshop Master, Fairy Lüo's status is indeed noble."

Xu Ning let out a meaningful "Oh," glanced at the others, and waved his hand.

The others muttered to themselves, filled with suspicion, their gazes towards Chen Dengming filled with uncertainty as they pondered—could this kid really have such rotten luck, to somehow be connected to Miss Luo?

"They've all left, you can speak now."

After He Sun and the other cultivators departed, Xu Ning looked at Chen Dengming, a faint smile on his face.

Chen Dengming chuckled, "Esteemed Foreman, with your intelligence, you've likely already guessed some of the answers."

Xu Ning gave Chen Dengming a deep look, clasped his hands together, and said, "Is it related to Miss Luo's bounty?"

Chen Dengming shrugged his eyebrows and nodded with a smile, "Indeed! Actually, Fairy Lüo is looking for someone to help her refine the Golden Silkworm Gu, and that person doesn't necessarily have to be me, but I can definitely help her.

She was the one who brought me to this Gathering Place back then."

As he spoke, Chen Dengming placed his hand on the table, and a 'hissing' sound came from his sleeve. A Snake Gu with blue-green scales and a red mark on its head emerged, flicking its tongue, its cold vertical pupils fixed on Xu Ning.

"This is a Snake Gu that I've trained and refined with Gu medicine."

Xu Ning examined the Snake Gu. This Gu was merely a Mortal item, yet it didn't fear the Spiritual Might emanating from him. Was it a special characteristic like cold-blooded animals? It was rather ingenious.

He frowned and asked, "Since Miss Luo is looking for you, why didn't she just send someone to find you directly?"

Chen Dengming put away the Snake Gu. "Probably because I had already offended Hutong Street back then and fled the Gathering Place, and she was unaware of it.

Or perhaps, after knowing, she believed I would naturally seek her out at the Lüo Family upon seeing the bounty, as I was a wanted Mortal by Hutong Street and had nowhere else to turn."

Xu Ning nodded slightly, leaning back in his chair. "It seems you haven't gone to the Lüo Family yet. If you're not going to the Lüo Family at this time and instead come to the Gathering Place to find me, what is it for?"

Chen Dengming took out several packets of Gu poison and chuckled, "Don't worry, Esteemed Foreman. Little Chen will certainly go to the Lüo Family. In fact, I've already sent someone to deliver a message to the Lüo Family. However, before going to the Lüo Family, Little Chen wants to find a powerful and trustworthy partner to do business with."

"Oh?"

Xu Ning's eyebrows rose. He recalled what He Sun had said earlier about the Mortal Xu Wei, and his gaze towards Chen Dengming now held a hint of admiration.

This Chen Dengming truly possessed some courage and strategy.

To dare to sit down and discuss a partnership with him despite being only at the first level of Qi Cultivation, and to have prepared a fallback plan in advance—this was bravery coupled with wisdom, not recklessness.

Even if he were to turn hostile or become greedy, he would have to consider the presence of Miss Luo.

What if what the other party said was true, and the Lüo Family really sent someone to take him away? If he had already done something to Chen Dengming, how would he explain it to Miss Luo?

Thinking even deeper, Chen Dengming might also be wary of him selling him off to Qian Yuan, or Qian Yuan himself hearing about it and coming to kill him. With the Lüo Family's deterrence, neither he nor Qian Yuan would dare to rashly harm Chen Dengming.

He hadn't expected that while he was initially focused on the other party's connection with Miss Luo, the other party would instead use this very connection to negotiate terms with him. Crucially, he knew when to advance and retreat, calling himself "Little Chen" and giving him ample face.

"Good, good!"

Xu Ning suddenly burst into laughter, looking at Chen Dengming and saying, "Speak, how do you wish to cooperate? Considering you're someone Miss Luo has taken a liking to, I, Old Xu, am not entirely unwilling to make an exception and cooperate with you."

This statement was clearly also a warning to Chen Dengming, indicating that it was out of consideration for Miss Luo that he was willing to make an exception.

Otherwise, a mere Qi Cultivation first-level cultivator like him wouldn't be qualified to sit down and discuss cooperation.

(Second update, 6k words! Requesting monthly votes and update reminders!)