Just after noon, the head of the Feng family brought Feng Ming to the inn.
When the three of them walked into the lobby, the shopkeeper was settling accounts. He looked up and then lowered his head. The head of the Feng family chose a seat by the window and asked the waiters to serve tea.
"Master Qin, Master Li," the head of the Feng family held up the tea bowl, "Thanks to you two for this trip."
He took out two cloth bags from his arms and placed them on the table. One was pushed to Qin Tiexin and the other was pushed to Li Yun.
"This is the final payment for the mission. According to the sect's agreement, each person is five yuan Spirit Stone." Family leader Feng said, "In addition, these two small red envelopes are a little bit of my heart. Each person has fifty spiritual crystals. The life-saving grace cannot be repaid with this little money."
Qin Tiexin opened the cloth bag. Five pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone were arranged neatly, with a small pile of spiritual crystals next to them. He put them away and tied the bag tightly.
"It should be." Li Yun also accepted it.
The head of the Feng family took a sip of tea and looked at Feng Ming. Feng Ming sat upright, with his hands on his knees and his eyes firm.
"Uncle," Feng Ming said, "I want to stay."
The head of the Feng family put down the tea bowl. "Have you thought about it?"
"I've thought about it." Feng Ming nodded, "In the Falling Star Pavilion, there are many opportunities. My cultivation level is not high, but I am diligent. I can go to the mercenary team to do chores and learn slowly."
"Which team?"
"'Ashes Team'." Feng Ming said, "I went to see them yesterday and they were short of an errand boy. The captain's surname is Zhou and he is at the seventh level of Qi Refining. He said that as long as he is willing to do it, he will take it."
The head of the Feng family was silent for a moment and sighed. He took out another small cloth bag from his arms and placed it on the table.
"There are three hundred spiritual crystals here, take them." He said, "Save them. The mercenary team licks the blood with their swords. Listen more, watch more, and talk less."
Feng Ming took the bag, his eyes a little red. "Thank you, uncle."
The head of the Feng family waved his hand and looked at Qin Tiexin and Li Yun: "If you two come to the Meteor Star Pavilion again in the future, if it is convenient... take care of this child."
"Yes." Li Yun said.
Qin Tiexin nodded.
The head of the Feng family stood up. "I still need to discuss the shipment. The fleet will be loaded in the afternoon. You two can do it yourself."
He walked out of the inn, his back a little stooped. Feng Ming sat there, looking at the bag in his hand, dazed for a while, and then got up and left.
The lobby fell silent.
Li Yun took the last sip of tea and put down the bowl. "Let's go sit in the backyard?"
The backyard of the inn is not big, with several clumps of bamboo planted and two stone tables. The afternoon sun shines through the bamboo leaves, casting tiny spots of light on the ground. There is the fragrance of bamboo and the moisture of the earth in the air.
The two sat down at the stone table. The waiter brought a new pot of tea and two porcelain cups.
Li Yun poured the tea. The water gurgled and the steam rose.
"What do you think of the iron hand gate?" she asked suddenly.
Qin Tiexin thought for a while, "It's very strong, very messy."
"Yeah." Li Yun nodded, "The Iron Shou Sect is essentially a loose alliance. The core is a few Jindan Rogue Cultivator, who provide shelter and a trading platform, and draw commissions. The people below each do their own thing, and there are countless factions. There are gentlemen, and there are villains who are only seeking profit."
She picked up the tea cup and blew in the hot air. "Here, Spirit Stone speaks."
"Liuyun Sect is not like this." Qin Tiexin said.
"The Liuyun Sect is a righteous sect and follows rules." Li Yun said, "But the world of cultivation is not limited to the Liuyun Sect. To the north of the Qingxuan Territory, there is the Fengxue Pass, and outside the pass is the territory of the Demon Dao. To the east, over the Qinglan Mountains is the Divine Sword Sect, the holy land of sword cultivation. To the south, Zhentian City is the front line against Demon Race. It is jointly managed by several forces and the rules are stricter."
Qin Tiexin Listen. Some of these names are familiar, but some are unfamiliar.
"You five Spirit Root," Li Yun looked at him, "Cultivation is much more difficult than others. Now you may rely on the advantage of physical training to leapfrog challenges, but after Foundation Establishment it will be one day at a time. If you want to Foundation Establishment, in addition to hard training, you have to find fortuitous opportunity."
"What fortuitous opportunity?"
"A place where the five elements are balanced, or a treasure that can harmonize the five elements." Li Yun said, "Or... specialize in one path. Refining the body, refining weapons, and using skills to enter the Tao."
Qin Tiexin said nothing. He thought of Old Wu and the sound of forging in the Waste Equipment Pavilion.
"Your weapon refining skills are not bad." Li Yun added, "Yesterday at the Shenbing Building, I saw the way you looked at that sword."
She paused. "I would like to ask you to help me make a sword for the competition."
Qin Tiexin raised his head.
"Just the low-grade Law Artifact, Bing Lingjian." Li Yun said, "I will provide the materials and the labor costs will be paid according to the market price."
"Okay, let me see your sword-wielding habits?" Qin Tiexin asked.
"Having a habit of using a sword?" Li Yun smiled, "It's just the low-grade Law Artifact. I'm about to refine my Qi to the eighth level, and I'll change it soon. Just practice casually, don't worry too much."
Qin Tiexin was stunned for a moment.
Don't worry too much...
He thought of Edgeless. From the day he got it, he wiped it every day, maintained it every day, adjusted the heat again and again during smelting, and was meticulous when forging. Even if better materials became available later, he never thought about changing the tool - those materials were all used to repair and strengthen Edgeless.
"What's wrong?" Li Yun asked.
"Nothing." Qin Tiexin shook his head, "I'll practice."
Li Yun glanced at him and didn't ask any more questions. She took out a piece of Cold Iron ingot and a few taels of ice crystal sand from Storage Bag and put them on the table.
"Is this enough?"
"Enough." Qin Tiexin touched Cold Iron. The iron ingot was cold and the surface was smooth.
"How much does it cost?"
"Fifty spirit crystals." Qin Tiexin said.
Li Yun counted out the spirit crystals and placed them on the table. Qin Tiexin put them away.
The two sat for a while longer. Bamboo leaves rustled in the wind, and the hustle and bustle of the market could be heard in the distance.
"You said before that your family has business dealings with Tieshoumen." Qin Tiexin suddenly said.
"Yes." Li Yun nodded, "The Li family is in the medicinal business and has shops in several cities. My third uncle is in charge of the 'Ji Shi Tang' in Yue Xing Pavilion."
"That's why you are familiar with this place."
"I've been here a few times." Li Yun said, "The world of cultivation is not big or small. There is no harm in getting to know more people and knowing more things."
She paused. "What are your plans next?"
"Go back to the sect, practice, and save Spirit Stone." Qin Tiexin said.
"Then what?"
"Then..." Qin Tiexin looked at the tea in the cup, "Go where you need to go."
Li Yun didn't ask any more questions.
When the sun sets in the west, the light in the backyard dims. The bamboo shadows grow long and sway on the ground.
The two got up and went back to the house.
In the evening, the convoy was ready.
The head of the Feng family rented three large carts, which were much more spacious than when he arrived. The carts were pulled by better horses, which were tall and had strong endurance. They could travel three hundred miles a day on the official road.
Qin Tiexin checked his stuff.
In Storage Bag: six pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone (mission reward plus remainder), dozens of spiritual crystals, five taels of dragon tendon vine, three packs of chalcedony grass, three packs of iron bone flowers, several bottles of elixirs, dry food, and sundries.
There is also information in my mind: the route of Tiannan Territory, the clues of Lingxi Sect, and the records of Iron Ridge Sect.
He put everything away, tied the bag tightly, and hung it on his waist.
Edgeless leaned against the bed. He picked up the knife and wiped the blade with a cloth. The black iron was matte in the dusk, and the forging lines on the spine of the knife were clearly visible. He wiped it slowly and carefully, from the blade to the tip, wiping it inch by inch.
He thought of these three days: the crowded streets, the expensive elixirs, the bidding in the auction house, and the conversations in the Wind Pavilion.
And that bronze mirror--something Illustrated Catalog of Ten Thousand Artifacts longs for.
He closed the window and the room became dark. He sat cross-legged on the bed and began to practice.
"Hunyuan Jue" operates. Spiritual Qi seeps into the body from all sides, flows along the meridians, and merges into Dantian. The three cyclones rotate slowly, and the barrier on the fourth floor seems to be a little thinner.
At midnight the next day, the motorcade set off.
The head of the Feng family stood next to the car, talking to several people from the business. Feng Ming also came, carrying a small baggage and some dark circles under his eyes.
"Big Brother Qin, Sister Li." Feng Ming came over, "I reported to the Ashes Team yesterday. The captain said that I have a small task today, to collect herbs in the mountains to the west."
"Be careful." Li Yun said.
Feng Ming nodded and looked at Qin Tiexin: "Big Brother Qin, when I become famous, I'll treat you to a drink."
"Okay." Qin Tiexin said.
Feng Ming grinned, turned around and ran away, his back quickly disappearing around the corner of the street.
As the motorcade set off, the wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a rumble sound.
Qin Tiexin was still walking, and after walking a short distance, he looked back.
The city wall of Meteor Star Pavilion became farther and farther away, and finally turned into a gray line and disappeared into the morning mist.