Unexpected Joy

Zhou Huaiyi had no idea what Yang Chen was thinking. He now felt he had abandoned darkness for light by following Yang Heng, and pleasing his master was naturally something he had to do.

He immediately began to speak with sharp, glib words: "Gu Mingyue, it's not that I, old Zhou, am saying this about you, but Young Master Yang Heng is a man of outstanding talent and handsome appearance. He is destined to shine brightly at the Yang Family's 'Coming-of-Age Ceremony' this year. By then, Young Master Yang Heng will surely be a target for the proud daughters of other families."

"It's your good fortune that Young Master Heng fancies you. It's not too late for you to pledge allegiance to Young Master Heng now. Otherwise, when the Coming-of-Age Ceremony arrives, if you regret it and try to lick Young Master Heng's toes, he might not even spare you a glance. Do you understand?"

Yang Heng was very pleased with Zhou Huaiyi's words. He had to admit that Zhou Huaiyi was quite skilled at flattery.

He stroked his chin and spoke as if he were genuinely looking out for Gu Mingyue: "Mingyue, even if you don't plan to join me, what future does Yang Chen have? He's thirteen years old and hasn't even reached the first level of the Body Refining Realm. According to the new regulations issued by our Yang Family Patriarch, if he fails at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he will be expelled from the household register. Then, as a mere maid, won't you be banished along with him?"

When Gu Mingyue heard the two of them slandering Yang Chen, her pretty face turned red with anger. She stomped her foot: "Yang Heng, I won't allow you to insult my young master. My entire family of three, including myself, was saved by Sister Caidie. I, Gu Mingyue, belong to Young Master Yang Chen and Sister Caidie in life and death. You should completely give up on this idea."

Seeing Gu Mingyue like this, Zhou Huaiyi was even more unsparing in his mockery: "Gu Mingyue, look at you, just look at you, you're truly thick-headed."

"Have you said enough?" Yang Chen finally said lazily, "Zhou Huaiyi, you want to betray me and follow Yang Heng. It's truly no loss to me. We're not lacking with you gone, and we won't be gaining anything with you here."

"Haha, Yang Chen, even at this point, you're still talking tough?" Yang Heng sneered.

Seeing Yang Heng's unwillingness to let things go, Yang Chen was already furious. He had given Yang Heng enough face, but unexpectedly, not only did Yang Heng not appreciate his good intentions, but he also targeted him repeatedly. Not only did he do it at Second Master Yang's lecture, but he still wouldn't let it go even now?

This made Yang Chen sneer, and he said with a stiff tone, "Yang Heng, are you in such a hurry to fall out with me? Aren't you afraid I'll reveal that you lost three hundred spiritual stones?"

"Young Master, he's just taking advantage of the fact that Sister Caidie is away. Otherwise, how would he dare to come into our family's courtyard?" Gu Mingyue said indignantly.

When Yang Heng heard Yang Chen threatening to reveal that he had lost three hundred spiritual stones, he became enraged and ashamed. He had to admit, this was what he feared most. He gritted his teeth and said, "Yang Chen, fine, fine, fine. When the Coming-of-Age Ceremony arrives, I will definitely expose your true colors. By then, you'll be stripped from the household register. I hope you won't cry too miserably."

"Oh really? I'm quite curious, how exactly will you make me cry miserably?" Yang Chen smiled faintly.

"Hmph, Zhou Huaiyi, from now on, you'll follow me. Assist me diligently, and this young master won't treat you unfairly." Yang Heng's lips curled up, a subtle hint of showing off in his eyes.

Zhou Huaiyi quickly said, "Young Master, rest assured. My name is 'Huaiyi' (cherishing righteousness), and I will only be loyal and devoted to my master, with unwavering loyalty."

"Haha, it must have been tough for you to be lurking in this useless fellow's home during this time!" Yang Heng said.

"Yes, following Yang Chen, I, Zhou Huaiyi, couldn't even hold my head up when I went out. I didn't even dare to say I was Yang Chen's servant when I went out," Zhou Huaiyi said with a look of sorrow.

Yang Heng gave Yang Chen a cold glance: "Don't worry, from now on, when you follow this young master, just say you're this young master's servant when you go out, and no one will dare to mock you. Alright, let's go. I don't want to stay in such an unlucky place any longer."

Although Yang Heng was angry, he only managed a few sarcastic remarks. He was also afraid that Yang Chen would expose the matter of him losing spiritual stones.

Therefore, he didn't dare to say much more and turned to leave.

Gu Mingyue, afraid that Yang Chen would be too heartbroken by this matter, fidgeted for a while before her eyes glistening, she said, "Young Master, let Zhou Huaiyi betray us. From now on, I, Mingyue, will handle the chores of cleaning the house. Please, you absolutely must not dwell on this matter too much!"

She had just seen Yang Chen showing some improvement and thought it was the effect of her praying to the gods day and night for Yang Chen to repent and change, but she didn't want her young master to suffer the blow of betrayal again.

Yang Chen felt a warmth in his heart listening to Gu Mingyue's sincere words.

Although this Yang Family was small, he had two family members who, in his time of crisis, still remained by his side without abandoning him. He had been brilliant in the past, but how many people had he truly trusted?

Thinking of this, Yang Chen sighed softly. As the saying goes, true feelings are revealed in times of hardship. He truly saw Gu Mingyue's intentions. This little girl was genuinely looking out for him.

"Don't worry, your young master isn't that fragile. If Zhou Huaiyi betrayed us, he betrayed us. What I said earlier still stands; I, Yang Chen, am not lacking without him as a servant, and there's nothing to be sad about," Yang Chen said gently.

Gu Mingyue then let out a long sigh of relief: "It's best that Young Master can see it that way."

"Zhou Huaiyi chose Yang Heng, and sooner or later, he will regret it. Alright, let's not talk about these things. You and I are going out." Yang Chen said.

"Young Master, where are we going?" Gu Mingyue followed closely behind Yang Chen, her embroidered shoes tapping lightly.

Yang Chen carried his hands behind his back, his body standing tall: "To the Li Family Commerce Association!"

The Great Wilderness was the most remote place on the continent, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was a desolate wasteland. However, where there were people, there was business. This Great Wilderness was filled with myriad tribes, so business was certainly not lacking. The Li Family Commerce Association was a business family among these myriad tribes, with its business catering to numerous tribes.

After much thought, Yang Chen felt that it would be better to rely on himself for resources. Although Second Master Yang was wealthy, his possessions, in terms of comprehensiveness, were naturally ten to a hundred times inferior to a commerce association. Perhaps a visit to the Li Family Commerce Association near the Yang Family might yield some pleasant surprises.

"Two, please!" The reception servant of the Li Family Commerce Association politely welcomed Yang Chen and Gu Mingyue.

At this moment, the two had already arrived at the commerce association.

Gu Mingyue had clearly never been to a commerce association before and seemed a little timid. She followed behind Yang Chen, wondering when Yang Chen had been to the Li Family Commerce Association and how he appeared so calm and composed.

Her pretty face was now faintly flushed, and whether it was an illusion or not, she felt that Yang Chen was infinitely more charming compared to before.

Yang Chen, in his previous life, had also seen great spectacles. A mere small commerce association naturally couldn't move him. He said casually, "The items I need are somewhat rare. I'll take a look around. I hope your Li Family Commerce Association can satisfy me."

"Haha, Young Master, you've come to the right place at our Li Family Commerce Association. We guarantee you'll be satisfied," the commerce association servant boasted.

Yang Chen didn't take his words to heart and began to search on his own.

After a general look around, Yang Chen's face showed a slight disappointment. Although the Li Family Commerce Association was well-stocked with a wide variety of goods, there wasn't a single item that met his satisfaction. This made him feel disappointed, but he remained unwilling to give up and continued to wander around the commerce association.

"Huh..."

Yang Chen soon spotted a fruit on the counter that was red as if it were on fire, his eyes faintly glowing.

"Fire Red Fruit?" Yang Chen's eyebrows shot up, and he grinned.

The Fire Red Fruit was not a particularly rare item. In fact, he had lowered his expectations and didn't expect to encounter anything rare today. However, the Great Wilderness was too remote and poor. Even items he considered common, even ubiquitous, might be hard to find in this Great Wilderness.

And this Fire Red Fruit was something he could find everywhere in his previous life.

This item was essential for refining a first-grade pill, the Gravity Pill.

The Gravity Pill was a pill he had invented in his previous life, which could unconditionally increase the strength of a Body Refining Realm martial artist by three hundred jin. The value of this pill was even harder to refine than the Clear Fire Pill that Second Master Yang was so proud of. Being able to refine the Gravity Pill could be considered the mark of a perfect first-grade Alchemist.

A Body Refining Realm martial artist at the first level only had a hundred jin of strength, the second level had four hundred jin, and the third level had seven hundred jin. Each increase of three hundred jin in their own strength was equivalent to advancing one level in the Body Refining Realm. Simply put, the Gravity Pill could unconditionally increase a Body Refining Realm martial artist's strength by one level.

Although the effect of this pill would be greatly reduced if taken a second time, its effects were immediate. In Yang Chen's eyes in his past life, it wasn't a particularly valuable pill recipe, but when cultivating martial artists, he would always give them a Gravity Pill when they were in the Body Refining Realm.

The Fire Red Fruit was the main ingredient for refining the Gravity Pill. As for the auxiliary materials, they weren't difficult to gather, and Yang Chen's current stock was definitely enough.

"This Fire Red Fruit has come at the perfect time." Yang Chen was overjoyed. With one Fire Red Fruit, his strength could immediately advance from the first level of the Body Refining Realm to the second level, and even approach the third level.

"Shopkeeper, how many spiritual stones for this Fire Red Fruit..."

Before Yang Chen could finish speaking, suddenly, a woman's surprised voice reached his ears.

"Fire Red Fruit, it really is a Fire Red Fruit! The Li Family Commerce Association really still has Fire Red Fruits. Shopkeeper, I want this Fire Red Fruit!"

Hearing this, Yang Chen's brow furrowed tightly. He looked towards the source of the voice and saw that a large group of people had appeared in the Li Family Commerce Association at some point. The person who had just spoken was the leading young maiden among them. This maiden was the same age as his sister, Yang Caidie, both appearing to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.

Upon closer inspection, the maiden's appearance was indescribably beautiful, exuding an ethereal aura, as if she had stepped out of a painting, possessing a unique innate temperament. Combined with her pretty features and distinctive eyes, this woman's appearance was even more beautiful than Gu Mingyue's.

But as beautiful as she was, Yang Chen couldn't help but feel angry when he saw her immediately try to snatch the Fire Red Fruit that he was determined to get.

Did these people take him for air?

Yang Chen said expressionlessly, "Excuse me, I've been standing in front of this Fire Red Fruit for some time now. Don't you understand the rule of 'first come, first served'? Do I need to explain it to you, Yang Chen?"

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