A Small New Year's Eve Gathering

After arriving at Heart of the Lake Island, he first headed to Clock Tower Market and sold the seven Water Arrow Talismans he had on hand, replenishing his supply of spirit stones.

What Chen Jianghe had not expected was that the Yun Household on Heart of the Lake Island paid five percentage points more for spirit talismans than the harbor Cultivator Market did.

At eighty-five percent of market price, Chen Jianghe received five spirit stones and ninety-five grains of spirit sand, an extra thirty-five grains of spirit sand.

He had to admit that a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan like the Yun Household had a conscience. No wonder so many skilled retainers had settled there when the situation was stable.

If he had not been worried about his secret being discovered, Chen Jianghe would have been quite happy to stay with the Yun Household for another few decades.

Including the spirit sand he had left over, Chen Jianghe entered the pill shop carrying five spirit stones and one hundred and sixty grains of spirit sand.

He first glanced over the crystal counter, but saw no superior-grade spiritual pills called Calamity-Breaking Pills.

Zhou Miaoyun had previously said that Calamity-Breaking Pills could be purchased on Heart of the Lake Island, yet this pill shop had none. This left Chen Jianghe somewhat puzzled.

Could Calamity-Breaking Pills be sold privately?

"Hello, why don't I see any Calamity-Breaking Pills for sale?" Chen Jianghe asked gently, looking at the young married shopkeeper with her graceful figure.

"Are you looking to purchase a Calamity-Breaking Pill, fellow Daoist?"

A ripple passed through the young shopkeeper's phoenix eyes as she glanced at Chen Jianghe. Seeing him remain silent with an embarrassed expression, she knew he was another customer merely asking about the price.

She was not annoyed. A faint smile appeared on her clear, pretty face. "Calamity-Breaking Pills are superior-grade spiritual pills, and wondrous pills for breaking through from the mid Qi Refining stage to the late Qi Refining stage at that. They're expensive, so we don't sell them over the counter or keep them in stock. We only accept advance orders."

"Oh, I see. Thank you, fairy." Chen Jianghe cupped his hands.

"Heehee!"

The young shopkeeper covered her mouth with a soft laugh. "Fairy? I'm no fairy. I'm merely an ordinary person without a spiritual root."

There was not the slightest sense of disappointment or inferiority in her tone. She seemed unconcerned about having no spiritual root.

Chen Jianghe could not help giving her another look.

She might truly have no spiritual root, but she was certainly no ordinary person. She might be a member of the Yun Household's direct line who lacked a spiritual root.

Otherwise, she could not possibly be in charge of such an important spiritual pill shop.

"Please get me one Qi-Nourishing Pill."

Chen Jianghe paid two spirit stones and left with a sandalwood box containing the Qi-Nourishing Pill.

He then entered a materials shop and bought a box of spirit ink before heading to the general store to buy small gifts for the children.

Of course, there was no need to buy anything too expensive. In exchanging gifts, the gift might be light, but the affection behind it weighed heavily.

Otherwise, who had so many spirit stones to spend on social courtesies?

At the general store, Chen Jianghe picked out five puppet toys suitable for different ages. Although Yu Daniu's fifth son had only recently been born, he could not be left out.

The five puppet toys cost eighty-five grains of spirit sand altogether, which was still within Chen Jianghe's means.

Carrying the puppet toys, Chen Jianghe left Clock Tower Market and made his way along the familiar route to No. 32 Fumen Residence.

He knocked on the courtyard gate.

"That must be Brother Jianghe."

Before long, Yu Daniu's voice came from inside.

The courtyard gate opened, and Yu Daniu and Yun Xiaoniu came out to welcome him.

"You already have five children, yet you're still so impetuous." Chen Jianghe walked inside with a hearty laugh.

"Xiaoniu, go share the toys with your little brothers."

"Thank you, Uncle."

Yun Xiaoniu thanked him politely, then took his younger brothers to find the fifth child so they could play with the toys together.

"Huizhen is cooking. It'll be ready soon, and we definitely won't keep you from leaving the island on time." Yu Daniu led Chen Jianghe into the sitting room in the side wing.

"My sister-in-law happens to be here too. I'll introduce you in a moment."

"Huh? All right."

Chen Jianghe paused in surprise, but said nothing more.

Since he was visiting Yu Daniu's home, he would follow his host's arrangements. Yun Huizhen's younger sister was no outsider, either.

Then Chen Jianghe returned the pouch containing the jade slip to Yu Daniu, only to see him casually toss it onto the table. The jade slip did not seem particularly precious.

Chen Jianghe was inwardly speechless. He understood now that delivering the jade slip was secondary; getting him to come over for a meal had been the real point.

"Brother Jianghe, has Little Sister Peiyao written to you?"

There was a trace of worry in Yu Daniu's eyes. The journey from Mirror Moon Lake to the Tian Nan Sect was long, and any danger might arise.

Gao Peiyao had never treated Yu Daniu differently, either, and had even given him two spirit stones in support back then.

Even when Yu Daniu had failed in the Talisman Dao, Gao Peiyao had shown no disdain.

"No."

Chen Jianghe shook his head. "It's only been a year. Even if Peiyao has written, the letter probably won't reach Mirror Moon Lake until next year."

"I wonder whether Little Sister Peiyao passed the assessment and entered the immortal sect. I really hope she gets her wish."

Yu Daniu brought over a pot of middle-grade Immortal Spirit Wine, filled Chen Jianghe's cup, then poured himself one.

"I can sense that Little Sister Peiyao has lofty ambitions, and her spiritual root aptitude is good. If she enters the immortal sect, her path to immortality will open up like the boundless sea and sky."

"She should be able to pass the assessment. Peiyao meets both the aptitude and age requirements, and she's meticulous in her thinking. She'll certainly get her wish."

"We need only wait quietly for good news."

Chen Jianghe clinked cups with Yu Daniu and drained his wine in one gulp.

"What about Zhou Miaoyun? Has she written?" Yu Daniu asked as he poured more wine.

"Zhou Miaoyun may be somewhat snobbish, but what cultivator isn't? I still hope she can gain a firm foothold in Qinghe Market."

Chen Jianghe glanced at Yu Daniu. He noticed that Yu Daniu had grown somewhat sentimental and seemed a little anxious.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yun Xiaoniu playing with his younger brothers in the courtyard, and understood the source of Yu Daniu's pressure.

After the New Year, Yun Xiaoniu could have his spiritual root tested.

There were also Yun Youniu, Yun San Niu, and Yun Siniu. Over the next three years, roughly one each year would reach the age for spiritual root testing.

Yu Daniu was thriving in the Yun Household now, mainly because he had fathered so many children, but he was still an outsider to the Yun Household.

Whether he could advance any further depended on whether these children had spiritual roots.

"No. Fairy Miaoyun probably hasn't gained a firm foothold in Qinghe Market yet."

Chen Jianghe did not want to say much about Zhou Miaoyun in front of Yu Daniu, so he brought up the fifth child and asked whether he had been given a name.

Just then, Yun Huizhen entered carrying the dishes, followed by a woman with delicate, pretty features.

"Sorry for the wait, Brother Jianghe."

"Sorry for putting you to so much trouble, Sister-in-law," Chen Jianghe said repeatedly.

At that moment, Yun Huizhen gave Yu Daniu a meaningful look, and he hurriedly stood. "Brother Jianghe, let me introduce you."

"This is Huizhen's younger sister. Haha! My sister-in-law, Huixiang."

"Huixiang, this is Chen Jianghe, the elder brother who shared a boat with me through thick and thin in the Outer Waters."

"Greetings, Brother Chen."

"Fairy Huixiang."

As Yun Huixiang studied Chen Jianghe, he was also studying her. This woman was also a cultivator with a spiritual root.

She was at the Qi Refining Third Layer, with delicate, pretty features and a tall figure.

"Don't just stand there. Sit down, let's eat!" Yu Daniu said with a hearty laugh.

"Sister-in-law, call all the children over." As the guest, Chen Jianghe naturally had to be the first to suggest letting the children join the table.

Otherwise, while hosting him, Yu Daniu and his family would feel awkward about letting a group of children make a racket at the dining table.