The Storm Subsided, Returning to the Courtyard

A few days later.

In a room inside the Mittel Auction House.

Zhou Changqing sat cross-legged on the bed, his palms, soles, and crown facing heaven. The ambient energy in the room gathered constantly, pouring through his acupoints into his meridians. As he circulated his cultivation method, that energy was steadily converted into Dou Qi and channeled into the vortex in his dantian.

"Exhale... inhale... exhale... inhale..."

Soft breathing with a distinctive rhythm sounded from Zhou Changqing's nose.

With each breath, the faint golden glow on his skin flowed and shifted.

An unknown amount of time passed.

The ambient energy settled, and the glow around Zhou Changqing gradually faded.

He opened his eyes, a sharp glint seeming to flash within them, and felt utterly refreshed from head to toe.

As a beast of burden in his previous life, he had never experienced anything like this. Perhaps this was the allure of cultivation?

He stretched his body after remaining still all night, then raised his left hand and rolled up his sleeve to inspect his elbow.

The purplish-red bruising on his elbow had now faded to red. In less than another day, it should recover completely.

He moved his arm. The injury barely hindered him anymore.

A cultivator's constitution really was different. An ordinary person would probably need at least half a month to recover from an injury like that.

Putting his injury out of mind, Zhou Changqing got out of bed, walked to the door, and stepped outside.

"Little brother Changqing, you're up? My timing was just right. Come have something to eat."

Ya Fei approached from the distance and entered the sitting room. Catching sight of Zhou Changqing emerging from his bedroom, she smiled and lifted the food box in her hand.

Zhou Changqing smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Sister Ya Fei. Having someone as busy as you bring me food personally makes me feel rather embarrassed."

"Oh, spare me. I don't see the slightest sign of embarrassment. Having a beauty like me wait on you must have you grinning inside, doesn't it?"

Ya Fei rolled her lovely eyes and teased him.

"Ahem, ahem..."

Zhou Changqing was indeed enjoying the attention. With his thoughts exposed, he felt a little awkward and could only cough twice to cover it up.

"You haven't eaten either, have you, Sister Ya Fei? Why not join me?"

"At least you have a little conscience and remembered to think of me."

The two then sat down at the table in the sitting room and enjoyed breakfast.

He had to admit that Mittel's food was excellent, at least far better than his own cooking. The ingredients even included rather valuable magical beast meat, allowing him to indulge over the past few days.

After eating, Zhou Changqing took the initiative to pack the bowls and chopsticks into the box. He set it aside and began chatting with Ya Fei.

"How's your injury?"

"It'll be healed in another day."

"Looks like you're recovering well. By the way, I'm planning to auction the treasure weapons you brought in a few days. Want to come watch the excitement?"

"I think I'll pass. With that time, I'd rather forge another couple."

"All right, suit yourself."

"Sister Ya Fei, thank you."

"Hmm? Why say that all of a sudden?"

"I know what happened. If not for you, Sister Ya Fei, I probably wouldn't have a place to stand in Wutan City anymore."

Zhou Changqing looked at Ya Fei with eyes full of sincerity.

Of course Ya Fei knew what he was referring to. She simply had not expected him to find out so quickly.

Accustomed to Zhou Changqing's easygoing manner and occasional irreverence, Ya Fei found this sincere side of him rather unfamiliar.

Arching a slender brow, Ya Fei leaned a little closer and smiled playfully. "Just saying thank you hardly shows sincerity. Why not give me something tangible instead, little brother Changqing?"

The corner of Zhou Changqing's mouth twitched, and his sincere expression instantly crumbled.

This woman really knew how to ruin the mood...

Breathing in the delicate feminine fragrance drifting toward him, Zhou Changqing said helplessly, "Fine, something tangible it is. I'll give you a weapon a whole grade above a treasure weapon as thanks. Would that satisfy you, Sister Ya Fei?"

"A weapon better than a treasure weapon?"

Ya Fei's beautiful eyes lit up, her interest immediately piqued.

She had never expected a casual tease to shake loose such a delightful piece of news.

Zhou Changqing nodded firmly. "I've been researching it for a long time. It should be nearly ready. Once I succeed, I'll forge one for you right away, Sister Ya Fei."

Zhou Changqing did not conceal his entirely new Magic Core Weapons.

By now, almost every faction of any strength in Wutan City knew that he was the one who forged the Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapons.

Mittel was naturally no exception.

Once he could forge Magic Core Weapons, he would certainly auction off any he had no use for.

When that happened, Ya Fei would only need to think for a moment to realize that those had come from his hands as well.

There was therefore no reason to hide it.

Ya Fei did not think Zhou Changqing was deceiving her. After all, this young fellow had developed the techniques for crafting treasure weapons and possessed exceptional cultivation talent. Developing an even better weapon was hardly inconceivable.

She simply wondered how much better it would be.

"Then I'll be waiting for your gift."

Ya Fei smiled with anticipation.

"By the way, Sister Ya Fei, it's about time I headed back."

"So soon? Why not wait a little longer? Quite a few people have their eyes on you, after all."

"Heh, anyone who's reached their current position isn't that stupid. They wouldn't dare lay a hand on me after your warning, Sister Ya Fei."

"Besides, the Xiao Clan has intervened too and announced that they'll protect me."

"And even if someone really wanted to make a move against me, they wouldn't do it now. At the very least, they'd wait until the storm blows over and the Mittel Auction House and Xiao Clan lower their guard."

"Besides, staying at the auction house forever isn't a solution. I still need to develop new weapons, and it's inconvenient here."

"All right, you've convinced me."

After leaving Mittel.

Zhou Changqing returned to his little courtyard.

The journey passed without incident, but Zhou Changqing could clearly sense that the surveillance around his courtyard was gone.

Not entirely gone, perhaps. A few faint gazes still swept over the courtyard, seemingly casually, keeping track of what happened inside.

Unlike the gazes from before, however, these carried traces of goodwill.

Rather than surveillance, it felt more like protection.

He did not even need to think to know that Ya Fei must have sent these people to protect him from the shadows.

That left Zhou Changqing rather touched.

Though the woman was a temptress and a merchant who put profit first, and the treasure weapons undoubtedly played a part, he had to admit that she treated him very well.

Of course, Zhou Changqing was also quite grateful to the Xiao Clan.

Not only had old Xiao given him a cultivation method for free, but now the Xiao Clan had publicly declared that they would protect him.

Although Zhou Changqing knew Xiao Yan's standing in the Xiao Clan was low at present, he would never believe this had nothing to do with him, even if someone beat him to death.

And Zhou Changqing had guessed correctly.

The Xiao Clan's intervention was indeed connected to Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan had not been the one behind it. That had been the clan head, Xiao Zhan.

His son's friend, blessed with top-tier talent, and capable of crafting treasure weapons—powerful tools that could bring enormous profits.

Xiao Zhan was no fool. Why would he offend Zhou Changqing?

As long as someone like him did not perish before his time, his future achievements would surely be limitless.

Thus, not only must he avoid offending him, he had to build a good relationship with him. Even if it was merely adding flowers to brocade, he still had to show his goodwill.

And so, through Xiao Zhan's arrangements, the Xiao Clan had publicly announced a few days earlier that they would protect him.

(End of chapter)