A Storm Was Brewing

Si Chen stepped out of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower and stood at the bustling street corner, warm sunlight spilling over him.

He rubbed his stomach, and a serious question surfaced in his mind.

Where should I eat lunch today?

Over the past few days, he had all but eaten his way through Ancient Gaze City's famous restaurants.

The spirit fish at the Drunken Immortal Abode on East Street is superb, but I only had it yesterday...

The roast suckling pig at the Hundred Flavors Tower in the west of the city packs a mighty punch, but the portion is too big. It'd be a waste if I couldn't finish it.

When I passed through the north of the city yesterday, I think I saw a newly opened Pure Heart Studio. It smelled pretty good...

Having too many choices was its own kind of happy trouble.

Like a prime minister fretting over affairs of state and war, he carefully weighed each restaurant's merits and shortcomings in his mind.

While he stood lost in contemplation over "today's menu," the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disciples watching him from a distance saw an entirely different picture.

"Senior Brother, that brat's been standing outside the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower for ages without moving. Has he spotted us?"

One disciple hid at a street corner and spoke in a hushed voice.

The square-faced disciple he called Senior Brother was one of those Si Chen had frightened pale that day.

He forced himself to remain calm. "Don't panic! Elder Lü said he's just a lucky rogue cultivator. He's probably figuring out how to spend his ill-gotten gains. Stay sharp and keep your distance!"

They thought themselves well concealed, unaware that Si Chen had noticed these little "tails" several days ago.

Si Chen remembered their auras. They were the two who had swung their swords at him alongside Zhao Qinghe that day.

But neither of them came up to speak to him or charged over screaming for his blood. They simply trailed him from afar.

His mother had said not to pick quarrels lightly.

Third Uncle had said to beat anyone who wanted to kill him to death.

Since they don't want to kill me right now, this isn't Third Uncle's business. It's Mother's.

Si Chen thought it over. That seemed sound enough.

The road is this wide, and their feet belong to them. If I ran over and slaughtered everyone just because they were walking in the same direction as me... that would be sticking my nose in far too much.

Forget it. As long as they don't get in the way of my meals.

He soon tossed this little interlude to the back of his mind and finally decided to try the Charcoal-Grilled Spirit Lamb in South Alley. It smelled delicious; surely it would taste just as good.

With his menu decided, he set off.

The disciples tailing him immediately breathed sighs of relief and hurried to follow discreetly, utterly unaware that their lives had just walked a tightrope through Si Chen's mind.

The Charcoal-Grilled Spirit Lamb in South Alley truly lived up to its reputation.

Its skin was roasted golden and crisp, sprinkled with unfamiliar spices, while the meat beneath remained tender and juicy. There was not a trace of gaminess when it entered his mouth, only rich, meaty fragrance and spiritual energy melting over his tongue.

Si Chen ate to his heart's content, convinced he had made the right choice in coming to Ancient Gaze City.

While he enjoyed his food, Elder Lü Yan of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect listened to the disciple reporting below him, his fingertips tapping lightly against a pearwood armrest.

"He went to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower to ask about Yang Thunder?" Surprise flickered in Lü Yan's eyes, then gave way to even deeper greed.

"It seems this brat has more secrets than I imagined."

A mere Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator is actually searching for such a wonder of heaven and earth? Either he's arrogant and ignorant, or the inheritance he obtained contains an art that requires Yang Thunder to cultivate!

An art that requires a wonder of heaven and earth? No wonder his body is so powerful. If I could obtain it...

"Yes, Master. Steward Qian of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower received him, and he left afterward."

Zhao Qinghe reported respectfully, "Our men are still following him."

"The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower..." Lü Yan pondered. He did not wish to offend that sprawling behemoth lightly either.

"What else did Steward Qian say to him?"

"Our men couldn't get close, so we don't know the details of their conversation. However, when Si Chen left, he had a jade token from the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower."

Zhao Qinghe added, "And in three days, the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower happens to be holding its monthly auction..."

"An auction?" Lü Yan's fingers stopped tapping the armrest, and a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.

Someone had truly brought him a pillow just as he was nodding off!

It was inconvenient to act within the city. Outside it, for a Golden Core elder like him to attack a junior directly would still look rather ugly and give people ammunition against him.

An auction, however, was different.

Dragons and snakes mingled there, and hearts brimmed with greed...

What would happen if a young man carrying a vast fortune, with no backing whatsoever, flaunted his wealth at an auction?

A cold smile appeared on Lü Yan's face.

He would not even need to enter the fray himself. All he had to do was give the waves a little push...

"Very good." Lü Yan smiled as though everything lay within his grasp.

"Qinghe, go make preparations. In three days, we'll attend this auction too and join in the fun."

"Yes."

Zhao Qinghe acknowledged the order and withdrew. Though he did not understand his master's precise intentions, he could sense a storm aimed at Si Chen quietly brewing.

Over the next three days, Si Chen's life was simple and fulfilling.

He remained immersed in exploring Ancient Gaze City's food. Breakfast might be a bowl of thick, fragrant spirit rice porridge made from spirit grain, accompanied by a few plates of refreshing side dishes.

For lunch, he varied his choices. Yesterday it had been charcoal-grilled lamb chops; today it might be a lovingly braised pork hock.

In the evening, sometimes he had nothing more than a generously filled bowl of beef noodles. Once the hot broth reached his stomach, warmth spread through his whole body.

After eating and drinking his fill, he returned to the Quiet Courtyard where he was staying and continued cultivating the Yi Wood Eternal Spring Art.

Progress in this art was slow and could not be rushed. He had long since grown accustomed to that. Five years of steady cultivation had taught him the importance of a solid foundation, so he was in no hurry to raise his cultivation. He simply allowed that vast vitality to flow slowly through him, nourishing his lightning-tempered body.

Occasionally, he also went out and casually asked knowledgeable stallholders or elderly cultivators for news of Yang Thunder.

Unfortunately, the results were the same as before. Most people had never even heard of it.

He was not disappointed. He would simply keep searching at his own pace.

Three days passed in a flash.

On the day of the auction, the area around the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower was noticeably livelier than usual. Cultivators of every description converged from all directions, their auras varying in strength and their clothing wildly diverse.

Holding his jade token, Si Chen followed the crowd toward the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower's entrance. Just as he reached the doorway, his steps involuntarily faltered.

Enemies were bound to cross paths.

A party from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect happened to be approaching from another direction.

Elder Lü Yan led the way in a dark blue Daoist robe, his bearing composed and weighty. Zhao Qinghe and the others followed close behind, all looking away somewhat awkwardly when their eyes met Si Chen's.

Si Chen frowned, a rare occurrence.

Once, twice... how many times has it been now?

Outside the city, they had attacked him with swords.

At the restaurant, they had surrounded him and questioned him.

Afterward, they had sent people to follow him.

Now he had come to attend an auction, and here they were again.

He might not like dwelling on grievances, but that did not mean he could not recognize a nuisance. For the first time, a feeling rose within him like the irritation of a fly forever buzzing beside his ear.

Why do these people keep appearing in front of me?

A thought that had never emerged so clearly before quietly rose from the depths of his heart.

If I'd killed them all back in the wooded mountains outside the city,

would... all this trouble be gone now?