Unexpected Delight

Zhou Huaiyi had no idea what Yang Chen was thinking. Having consciously abandoned darkness for light and pledged himself to Yang Heng, he naturally had to curry favor with his new master.

At once, he bared his sharp tongue. "Gu Mingyue, it's not that old Zhou wants to criticize you, but Young Master Yang Heng is a handsome and talented man, standing tall as a jade tree in the wind. He is destined to shine brilliantly at this year's Yang Lineage Coming-of-Age Ceremony. By then, Young Master Yang Heng will surely become the object of desire for the Proud Daughters of Heaven from the other lineages."

"For Young Master Heng to fancy you is your good fortune. If you submit to Young Master Heng now, there is still time. Otherwise, when the Coming-of-Age Ceremony arrives, even if you regret it and come lick Young Master Heng's toes, he may not even spare you a glance. Understand?"

Yang Heng was greatly pleased by Zhou Huaiyi's words. It had to be said that Zhou Huaiyi truly had a knack for flattering others.

He stroked his chin and spoke as if he were genuinely concerned for Gu Mingyue. "Mingyue, even if you have no intention of relying on me, what future does Yang Chen have? He is already thirteen and has not even reached the Body Refining Realm First Level. According to the new rules issued by the Yang Family Patriarch, if he fails the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he will surely be struck from the family register. When that happens, won't you, a mere maidservant, be exiled alongside him?"

Hearing the two of them disparage Yang Chen back and forth, Gu Mingyue's pretty face flushed crimson with anger. She stamped her foot. "Yang Heng, I will not allow you to insult my young master. My family of three was saved by Sister Yang Caidie. In life, I, Gu Mingyue, belong to Young Master Yang Chen and Sister Yang Caidie; in death, I will be their ghost. Give up on this idea completely."

Seeing Gu Mingyue like this, Zhou Huaiyi spared no effort in mocking her. "Gu Mingyue, look at you, just look at you. What a stubborn blockhead."

"Have you said enough?" Yang Chen finally drawled lazily. "Zhou Huaiyi, if you want to betray me and follow Yang Heng, it is no loss to me. One servant less makes no difference; one more makes no difference either."

"Haha, Yang Chen, and you are still talking tough at a time like this?" Yang Heng sneered.

Seeing that Yang Heng refused to let the matter rest, Yang Chen's anger had long since flared. He had already given Yang Heng enough face, yet Yang Heng not only failed to understand his goodwill, but targeted him again and again. It was one thing in Second Master Yang's lecture hall, but even now, he still would not stop?

A cold smile appeared on Yang Chen's face as he said stiffly, "Yang Heng, are you in such a hurry to tear all pretenses apart with me? Are you not afraid I will expose the matter of you losing three hundred spirit stones?"

"Young Master, he only dared come into our courtyard because Sister Yang Caidie went out. Otherwise, how would he dare?" Gu Mingyue said indignantly.

The moment Yang Heng heard Yang Chen mention exposing his loss of three hundred spirit stones, he flew into a rage from shame. That truly was the matter he feared most. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Yang Chen, fine, fine, fine. At the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, I will definitely make you reveal your true form. When you are struck from the family register, I only hope you will not cry too miserably."

"Is that so? I am quite curious how you intend to make me cry miserably." Yang Chen smiled faintly.

"Hmph. Zhou Huaiyi, from now on, you will follow me. Serve me well, and I will not treat you poorly." Yang Heng curled his lips, his manner faintly smug and triumphant.

Zhou Huaiyi hurriedly said, "Rest assured, Young Master. Though my name is Zhou Huaiyi, toward my master I will be utterly loyal and single-hearted."

"Haha, having you lie low in this good-for-nothing's home all this time has truly wronged you!" Yang Heng said.

"Exactly. Following Yang Chen, I, Zhou Huaiyi, cannot even hold my head up when I go out. I do not even dare tell people that I am Yang Chen's servant." Zhou Huaiyi wore a sorrowful expression.

Yang Heng shot Yang Chen a cold glance. "Do not worry. Once you follow me, just tell everyone you are my servant when you go out. No one will dare mock you. Enough, let us go. I have no wish to remain any longer in such an unlucky place."

Though Yang Heng was angry, he only dared throw out a few barbs. He was also afraid that Yang Chen would expose his loss of spirit stones.

Thus, he did not dare say more. He turned and left.

Gu Mingyue feared that Yang Chen would be too heartbroken over this matter. After fidgeting for quite some time, she finally spoke with glistening eyes. "Young Master, if Zhou Huaiyi betrayed you, then let him betray you. From now on, Mingyue can handle the chores around the house. You absolutely must not take this matter too much to heart!"

She had only just seen Yang Chen show some signs of improvement. She had thought her day-and-night prayers to the gods had worked, making Yang Chen repent and change his ways. She had never expected her young master to suffer the blow of betrayal again.

Hearing Gu Mingyue's sincere words, warmth filled Yang Chen's heart.

Though the Yang Lineage was small, he had two family members who still refused to abandon him in his hour of peril. Back then, he had shone with ten thousand rays of glory, but how many people had he truly been able to trust?

Thinking of this, Yang Chen sighed softly. As the saying went, true feelings were revealed in adversity. He saw Gu Mingyue's devotion clearly. This little girl truly did care for him.

"Do not worry. Your young master is not so fragile. Zhou Huaiyi betrayed me, so be it. What I said earlier still stands. Whether I lack one servant or have one more makes no difference to me. There is nothing worth grieving over," Yang Chen said gently.

Gu Mingyue finally let out a long breath of relief. "It could not be better if Young Master can see it that way."

"Zhou Huaiyi chose Yang Heng. One day, he will regret it. Enough of this. Come out with me," Yang Chen said.

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

With his hands behind his back and his body standing straight, Yang Chen said, "To the Li Family Commerce Association!"

The Great Wilderness was the most remote place on the continent; calling it a place where birds would not even shit was no exaggeration. But where there were people, there was business. The Great Wilderness Hundred Clans stood side by side here, so business was naturally plentiful. The Li Family Commerce Association was one of the clans that engaged in trade, doing business with many tribes.

After thinking it over, Yang Chen felt that if he wanted resources, it was better to rely on his own hands and be well-fed and well-clothed. Though Second Master Yang was wealthy, the variety of goods in his possession could not compare to a commerce association, falling short by tenfold or a hundredfold. Perhaps visiting the Li Family Commerce Association near the Yang Lineage would bring some unexpected delight.

"Please come in, honored guests!" The Li Family Commerce Association's attendant servants courteously received Yang Chen and Gu Mingyue.

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

It was clearly Gu Mingyue's first time in such a place, and she was somewhat timid. Following behind Yang Chen, she wondered when he had ever visited the Li Family Commerce Association before. How could he appear so calm and composed?

Her pretty face faintly reddened. She did not know whether it was an illusion or not, but she felt that Yang Chen possessed boundless charm compared to before.

Yang Chen had seen the grand world in his previous life. A mere small commerce association naturally could not move him. He said casually, "The things I seek are somewhat rare. I will take a look around and hope your Li Family Commerce Association can satisfy me."

"Haha, Young Master, you have come to the right place. Our Li Family Commerce Association guarantees your satisfaction," the commerce association servant boasted.

Yang Chen did not take his words seriously and began searching on his own.

After making a rough circuit, a trace of disappointment appeared on Yang Chen's face. Though the Li Family Commerce Association had a complete stock of goods, with all manner of items available, there was not a single thing that met his needs. Even while disappointed, he still refused to give up and continued wandering through the commerce association.

"Eh..."

Yang Chen soon fixed his gaze on a red fruit atop the counter that seemed to be blazing with fire. A faint light shone in his eyes.

"Fire Red Fruit?" Yang Chen raised his brows and broke into a grin.

The Fire Red Fruit was not particularly rare. In fact, he had already lowered his expectations. He had not expected to encounter anything scarce on this visit. Yet the Great Wilderness was simply too remote and poor. Even goods he considered neither rare nor valuable, goods so common they littered the streets, might be difficult to find in this land.

This Fire Red Fruit, moreover, had been something he could find everywhere in his previous life.

It was an essential ingredient for refining the first-grade medicinal pill, the Gravity Pill.

The Gravity Pill was a pill Yang Chen had invented in his previous life. It could unconditionally increase the strength of a Body Refining Realm martial artist by three hundred jin. The value of this pill exceeded even the Clear Fire Pill that Second Master Yang was so proud of, and it was even harder to refine. Anyone capable of refining a Gravity Pill could be called a First-grade Perfect Alchemist without exaggeration.

A Body Refining Realm martial artist at the first level possessed only one hundred jin of strength, while the Second Level possessed four hundred jin and the Third Level seven hundred jin. Every increase of three hundred jin in strength was equivalent to advancing one level in the Body Refining Realm. Put simply, the Gravity Pill could unconditionally raise a Body Refining Realm martial artist's strength by one level.

Though taking this pill a second time after the first would greatly diminish its effects, its results were immediate and striking. In Yang Chen's eyes during his previous life, it had not been a particularly valuable pill formula, but whenever he trained martial artists, he would give each of 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 supplementary materials, they were not difficult to gather. Yang Chen's stored supplies were absolutely sufficient.

"This Fire Red Fruit has come at exactly the right time." Yang Chen was overjoyed. With one Fire Red Fruit, his strength could immediately rise from the Body Refining Realm First Level to the Body Refining Realm Second Level, even nearing the Body Refining Realm Third Level.

"Shopkeeper, how many spirit—"

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

"Fire Red Fruit! It really is a Fire Red Fruit! The Li Family Commerce Association actually still has Fire Red Fruit in stock. Shopkeeper, I want this Fire Red Fruit!"

Hearing this, Yang Chen frowned tightly and looked toward the voice. At some unknown time, a large group had entered the Li Family Commerce Association. The speaker was a young girl at the head of the group, about the same age as his sister Yang Caidie—eighteen or nineteen.

Looking carefully, the girl was exquisitely beautiful, carrying an ethereal air as though she had stepped out of a painting. She possessed a distinctive temperament that seemed innate. Combined with her lovely features and unique eyes, she was even a little more beautiful than Gu Mingyue.

Beautiful or not, seeing her walk up and try to snatch away the Fire Dragon Fruit that he was determined to obtain, how could Yang Chen not be angry?

Did these people take him for air?

Yang Chen said expressionlessly, "Everyone, I have been standing before this Fire Dragon Fruit for some time. Do you not understand the rule of first come, first served? Must Yang Chen explain it to you?"

The new book has launched. Recommendation votes, rewards, and activity in the review section have all been very lively. Everyone, please lend a hand and give it a boost!