Buying a Courtyard

Chen Mo returned to his temporary quarters filled with questions, the door closing softly behind him to muffle the sound of the drizzling rain outside.

Standing before the window, watching the continuous curtain of rain beneath the gray sky, his expression shifted uncertainly in the dim light.

Chen Mo was all for leaving Linhe County, but Yue Shan had not specified exactly where they were to retreat.

For now, he could only take things one step at a time.

"Strength... my strength is still insufficient!" Chen Mo clenched his fists. If his cultivation could reach the level of Yue Changkong, perhaps the situation would be entirely different.

With this thought, he stopped dwelling on it, walked to the bed, sat down, and pulled the pigeon-egg-sized Red Sun Blood Crystal from his pack.

After opening his first Dantian Yin Aperture, the cultivation speed of the Yin Sha Bone-Tempering Method had doubled, but the consumption of Red Sun Blood Crystals had increased accordingly.

The second stage: Tempering Bone into Steel!

As the name implied, this stage required a deeper level of tempering for the bones that had already been introduced to the Yin Sha energy, making them as tough as steel.

"The risks are high, but the rewards are greater." Chen Mo took a deep breath, gripped the Red Sun Blood Crystal, and held it in his palm.

Following the techniques of the second stage, he began to slowly circulate his internal energy.

Yin and Yang complemented each other, generating the power of tempering.

This process was far more dangerous than the first stage, requiring precise control of balance; the slightest carelessness could result in scorched meridians or eroded bone marrow.

Chen Mo's mind was like an ancient well as he sensed the changes deep within his bones... soreness, itching, stinging, and the alternating sensations of cold and heat. The Red Sun Blood Crystal shrank rapidly, its surging energy supporting this rebirth-like refinement.

Jin City, on the edge of the old town, Renshou Lane.

This was a neighborhood blending the lingering charm of the late Qing Dynasty with the chaotic structures of the early Republic era.

The alleys were narrow and winding, the ground paved mostly with broken bluestone slabs. The courtyard walls on either side were of uneven heights, showing traces of weathering between the black tiles and gray bricks, alongside patches of newly repaired cement and red brick.

Chen Dachuan led Liu Qingru and Yuanyuan to stand before a courtyard gate.

The gate consisted of two black-lacquered wooden doors, the copper studs upon them covered in dark green rust, and a pair of lion-head door knockers that had lost their luster.

The courtyard wall was built of blue bricks topped with black tiles, with a few clusters of stonecrop appearing desolate in the autumn rain.

"This is the place," said a short, stout middle-aged man wearing a slightly worn silk jacket and a skullcap to the side of Chen Dachuan.

This man was Old Sun, the broker who specialized in property rentals and sales in this area.

Old Sun pulled out a key, struggled to open the rusted, heavy brass lock, and pushed open the creaking wooden door.

"Master Chen, take a look. It's a proper one-entry courtyard layout. While it doesn't compare to those grand mansions, it has the advantage of being a standalone property with good privacy."

The courtyard revealed itself before them.

The patio was not large, roughly two zhang square, with soft moss growing in the gaps of the bluestone slabs and an old well covered by a stone slab in the corner.

Facing them were three main rooms: the central hall in the middle, with bedrooms on the left and right.

On the east and west sides were two wing rooms each; the east wing was slightly larger, the west wing slightly smaller, both featuring front porches.

All the buildings had hard-mountain style gray-tiled roofs and wooden lattice windows, most of the paper on which was torn.

The house had clearly been unoccupied for a long time, appearing empty and dilapidated, but the beams, pillars, and walls seemed sturdy enough, with no major leaning or collapse.

Chen Dachuan touched the wood of the porch pillars, knocked on the walls, and looked up at the roof ridge and eaves.

"The tiles need patching, the doors and windows need replacing, the interior needs a thorough cleaning, and the walls need a fresh coat of paint," he calculated in his mind. "But the courtyard is square, the rooms are sufficient, and the east wing can be converted into my paper-effigy workshop. Is there a small alley and utility room in the back?"

"Master Chen has a sharp eye!" Old Sun laughed. "There is a narrow path in the back leading to a small rear yard. The original owners used it to stack firewood and sundries, and there's even a small outhouse."

"The original owner of this courtyard was a descendant of a minor official from the previous dynasty. Their family fortunes declined, and they are in a hurry for money to head south and join relatives, which is why they are willing to sell."

"The original market price was at least three thousand silver dollars; now it's only fifteen hundred... You've seen it yourself, the house is old, but the location is decent. It's not too far or too close to the old market, offering quiet amidst the noise."

The price was indeed nearly fifty percent cheaper than similar renovated courtyards in the area.

Fifteen hundred silver dollars?

This price was ridiculously low.

Although the Renshou Lane area in Jin City wasn't top-tier, a well-proportioned one-entry courtyard like this, even if dilapidated, should fetch at least twenty-five hundred to three thousand silver dollars by market standards.

Nearly half off? When things are abnormal, there must be a demon.

"Mr. Sun, this price... isn't it a bit too low?" Chen Dachuan turned around and looked at the broker, Old Sun, with a serious expression. "Could there be something wrong with this house? Is the title unclear, or... is there some other story?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the hidden meaning was already clear.

The smile on Old Sun's face stiffened for a moment, then he rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice. "Master Chen, you're a sensible man. I won't lie to you—this courtyard has been empty for a while, and the few tenants who lived here before didn't stay long."

"There are some idle rumors among the neighbors saying the courtyard feels a bit cold and that there are occasional noises at night, but those are just the ramblings of ignorant women and children. You can't take them seriously!"

Seeing Chen Dachuan's furrowed brows, he quickly added, "This house is absolutely clean! The land deed and house deed are complete and have been filed with the District Office. The original owner is truly in a rush for money, which is why they are willing to sell at this price."

"Master Chen, you're in the business of making paper effigies; you deal with funeral rites year-round. Your Yang energy is strong enough to suppress anything!"

"Many refugees from the south are flocking to Jin City to make a living, and rental prices have already risen by thirty percent recently. The price of this courtyard will go up soon, too. If you miss this chance, you won't find another!"

"If you're still worried, I, Old Sun, can guarantee it. If there's really a major problem, you can smash my brokerage sign!"

Chen Dachuan remained silent, once again surveying the empty courtyard.

The yard did indeed feel off; the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant and gloomy.

Yet, Old Sun's words held merit; for someone in his line of work, these things were not actually much of a taboo.

More importantly, the money in his hands amounted to, at most, around one thousand eight hundred silver dollars.

After buying this courtyard and performing simple repairs, he would still have a little left over for emergencies.

If he were to buy anything else, not only would he lack the funds, but it might also attract more attention.

After much hesitation, thinking of how Chen Mo had instructed him to buy a courtyard first upon arrival, Chen Dachuan finally gritted his teeth.

"Fine, this will be the place. However, Mr. Sun, the terms of the contract must be written clearly; if the house itself has major hidden defects that make it impossible to live in, you must be held responsible."

Old Sun patted his chest in assurance: "That goes without saying! We can add a clause to the contract! You are a straightforward man, Master Chen!"

The transaction proceeded smoothly.

The original owner made a hurried appearance, his face pale and haggard, and left quickly after signing the papers and taking the money, as if he did not wish to stay a moment longer.

Chen Dachuan signed the contract with his alias, Chen Chuan, and insisted that Old Sun also sign and press his thumbprint as the intermediary guarantor.

With the title deed transferred and the money exchanged, this small courtyard at 13 Renshou Lane officially changed hands.