Chu Yanran

The sun was high in the sky, and it was past lunchtime.

Qi Duoluo emerged from the Mandarin Duck Hall, still half-asleep, and boarded a luxurious carriage. He was still savoring the absurdity of the previous night.

Master Qi abandoned his business this time and went to the Mandarin Duck Hall to spend the night, not just for the sake of indulging in that unique pleasure.

Because Qi Duoluo used her stepmother's name to invest in the Wondrous Cloud Pavilion, although it was a well-known establishment in Xuanwei City, it was still inferior to top-tier establishments like Mandarin Duck Hall.

If a businessman doesn't strive for progress and doesn't know how to leverage his strengths and compensate for his weaknesses, his business will be difficult to sustain. That's why Master Qi worked tirelessly all night before finally heading home, still smelling of perfume and half-asleep.

Although Xuanwei City had long since changed hands, the Qi Household's mansion in Xuanwei City remained very stable. Even the business of the weapon-refining shop that Master Qi had run for half his life was not affected in the slightest and continued to thrive.

All of this could not have been accomplished by Master Qi, who was only eighty years old and had not yet Foundation Establishment Qi Refinement. The credit should go to Qi Duoluo's stepmother, who was known as the number one female cultivator in Cloud Horn Prefecture.

The Qi Duoluo saw these things, the more afraid he became.

His father couldn't be simply described as old and faded. If he lost this favor, how could he, an orphan and widower, still enjoy such a carefree life?

A new generation replaces the old. Even if the stepmother still has some lingering affection for her father and leaves him a way out, what good can come of her stepson, who has never been favored by her?!

Qi Duoluo thought of these troubling matters, and although he was already feeling somewhat exhausted, he had something on his mind, so he could only half-asleep and be led off the beast-drawn carriage by his servants.

The old servant of the Qi Household standing at the door was a considerate man. His chapped lips revealed several missing teeth, and he spoke with a slight lisp, "Second Master, you must be careful. Madam has emerged from seclusion and is currently receiving guests with Master."

Upon hearing this, Qi Duoluo's drowsiness vanished instantly, his spirits lifted, and his face flushed. In just a few breaths, beads of cold sweat had already seeped through his silk robe.

"Qi Gui, who is this guest? Isn't my mother working on the Jianxu Core Thesis? What kind of distinguished guest could have disturbed her and made her leave seclusion?" Second Master Qi asked anxiously.

Seeing Qi Duoluo's nervousness, Qi Gui couldn't help but look embarrassed. "Second Master, you flatter me. As for Core Thesis this Core Thesis, I'm afraid even the maids and mistresses who serve the lady in the inner courtyard year-round would have a hard time saying it clearly."

"All I know is that the one who has come is the head of Double Brightness, and the esteemed Kang Dabao of Pingrong County. I had the honor of seeing him a few times when Master Yuan was studying under the master."

"Kang Dabao?!" Qi Duoluo murmured, his tone quite complicated.

Seeing that Qi Duoluo had calmed down, Qi Gui said, "By the way, the master left a letter saying that if the second master returns early, he can also come to the hall to catch up with the distinguished guests."

"What old friendship do I have with that scoundrel?!" Qi Duoluo said with dissatisfaction, though he didn't know who he was dissatisfied with.

He left his old servant behind and entered the courtyard. Just as he reached his room, a group of his concubines pounced on him. For some reason, the scene of pleasure he used to experience there now irritated him, and a sudden surge of anger appeared on his face.

"Damn it!" Qi Duoluo cursed, flung his concubines aside, and turned back towards the inner courtyard.

This huge house is divided into two parts. The front yard is used by the Qi Household. When Kang Dabao and Yuan Jin and others come to deliver gifts, they can only visit Master Qi in the front yard.

The inner courtyard was different; it was where Madam Qi practiced her quiet contemplation. Not only were the servants and attendants of the front courtyard unable to enter, but even Qi Duoluo had only been there a few times with his father over the years and didn't even remember the layout clearly.

After the old female servant guarding the inner courtyard announced the arrival and received a written reply, she led Qi Duoluo into a quiet and secluded courtyard within the inner courtyard.

There was a stone table in the courtyard, around which three cultivators—two men and one woman—sat, enjoying tea and admiring the scenery in perfect harmony.

The woman was dressed in palace attire, simple in style yet possessing an ethereal elegance. Her hair was styled in a traditional Chinese updo, her skin was as white as snow, and she had a slender waist and delicate eyebrows. Her eyes were bright and expressive, and every smile and gesture was captivating.

This stunningly beautiful woman in palace attire was none other than Master Qi's second wife, Chu Yanran, one of the few Foundation Establishment Late Stage female cultivators in Cloud Horn Prefecture.

Qi Duoluo saw the Sect Leader Kang Da sitting opposite his stepmother, neither humble nor arrogant, and his heart was filled with indescribable feelings. He and Chu Yanran probably hadn't sat at the same table for a decade or two.

"In the end, he's not even as good as an outsider. Who is the old man's real son?!"

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he could not hide it from the eyes of the two Foundation Establishment.

Master Qi then turned his gaze to his second son, whom he valued most, and said softly, "Doro has arrived, why don't you quickly pay your respects?"

Qi Duoluo was very obedient at this moment, not daring to be the slightest bit unruly, and naturally he was not careless either, performing the bowing ceremony in a very formal manner. He said respectfully, "Greetings to Father and Mother, and greetings to Brother Kang."

"Looking at it this way, he does seem to be doing quite well," said Sect Leader Kang Da softly, maintaining proper etiquette as he returned the greeting, "Greetings, Brother Qi."

Chu Yanran merely gave a faint "hmm" without even nodding, showing no respect for her stepson, even in front of Kang Dabao, an outsider.

But when Kang Dabao saw that the Qi Household father and son were completely normal, he knew that this was already common knowledge, and that the father and son were in a pitiful situation.

Sect Leader Kang Da, not wanting to concern himself with other matters, put that thought aside. They'd already been chatting for a while; it was time to get to the point. He respectfully addressed Chu Yanran, saying, "Senior Chu, to be honest, I've come here because Buse Secretary Bu Se greatly admires your master's skills."

"Oh? Buse magistrate? He's a high-ranking official, and also a fellow townsman of the Earl. I don't really have any dealings with him, so it's quite surprising that he thinks so highly of me." After hearing Kang Dabao's words, Chu Yanran's stunningly beautiful face remained expressionless; only her beautiful eyes flickered as she softly asked:

"My dear nephew, you are now governing a region and are trusted by the Fei Household and favored by the Earl. If you have any troublesome Spirit Plant that you need to ask me, this Rogue Cultivator, for help..."

After briefly recounting his remarks, Kang Dabao then described Zhou Yixiu's thoughts and actions regarding the planting of the Glazed Treasure Tree:

"A few years ago, my family acquired a Buddhist Spirit Root called the 'Glazed Treasure Tree.' The Buse Bu Se said that our Buddhist community is not prosperous, and even the agricultural masters supported by the state court have difficulty obtaining a method to cultivate it. Therefore, I have dared to come and ask you for help, senior."

Chu Yanran initially showed some impatience, but as she listened further, her expression changed. She then opened her mouth slightly, her soft voice clear and melodious, like an icy spring. "My nephew's junior brother's method is quite ingenious; even I have been inspired by it. He is indeed a promising talent."

"You flatter me, senior. It's just a stroke of luck. Even a fool can have a stroke of genius," Sect Leader Kang Da said humbly, as was his habit.

Kang Dabao's polite words had no effect on Chu Yanran. She simply shook her head, parted her lips slightly to reveal her pearly teeth and fragrant tongue, and continued, "The Dao of Jia Shi is vast and profound. My virtuous nephew, you have painstakingly compiled this excellent method; it cannot be summarized by the word 'luck'."

"You're right, senior."

"Although the method described by my nephew is not the orthodox method for cultivating the Glazed Treasure Tree, it should yield some results in a few years. Moreover, the quality of the Glazed Sarira produced might even be slightly higher. In that case, why rush it?"

"This..." Sect Leader Kang Da was slightly surprised.

Chu Yanran took out a Jade Slip, pointed it with her slender finger, and placed it in Kang Dabao's hand. She said softly, "I didn't mean to advise you. It's a matter of gain and loss, and you have to think about it yourself."

This is a Buddhist note I received years ago when I was a guest at Bibo Temple in Haizhou, Yuwangdao, practicing Buddhism. It was written during a discussion with the monks at the temple. It may not be a profound or sophisticated teaching, but it does contain some insightful observations.

My dear nephew, you are so young yet you have found a new path and have such a high level of mastery of the art. Your future prospects in this field are much brighter than mine.

I imagine that after he carefully reads this notebook, he will gain a great deal. In a year or two, even without my intervention, he will surely be able to improve the planting methods."

"Hmm." This Jade Slip is indeed a good thing, and Chu Yanran is certainly generous, but this matter is far removed from the purpose of Sect Leader Kang Da in inviting her to come out of seclusion and personally plant the trees.

"Say something!" Kang Dabao secretly glared at Master Qi had accepted the Spirit Stone. The latter, knowing that he was paid to do something, hunched over and leaned closer to Chu Yanran, saying, "Yanran, now that you've finished your seclusion, why don't you go and take another look for your nephew?"

After Qi Buxiu finished speaking, he nervously observed his wife's expression.

His role in bringing this together wasn't solely due to the substantial amount of Spirit Stone promised by Sect Leader Kang Da beforehand. The latter was no longer the poor disciple's family he once was; he had amassed a considerable fortune, and it was only right that he cultivate a good relationship with him.

Although Chu Yanran is one of the most outstanding cultivators in Cloud Horn Prefecture, she has sold off all her properties in recent years to raise funds for her cultivation and has not made much money.

Otherwise, why would Master Qi have lived such a frugal life all these years? Instead of keeping his weapon-refining skills to himself, he has started to teach them to everyone.

In Master Qi's view, as long as Chu Yanran agreed to this matter, she could earn a sum of Spirit Stone and also gain a favor from Kang Dabao, so why not do it?

Unexpectedly, after hearing Qi Buxiu's words, Chu Yanran glanced at him with her beautiful eyes, causing the latter to tremble almost imperceptibly, and his back to hunch even more.

"It seems Master Qi can't really speak up at home either; he's a weak husband!" Sect Leader Kang Da muttered to himself, his chest puffing out slightly before he realized something was amiss. "Wait, why did I use 'also'?"

Although Master Qi was even more useless than he had imagined, Kang Dabao still hadn't given up. Just as he was about to speak up to persuade him again, Chu Yanran gently waved her hand, stopping him. "My mind is made up, my dear nephew, there's no need to persuade me any further."

Having said all that, Sect Leader Kang Da was effectively silenced and could no longer offer any further advice. He could only carefully put the Jade Slip, still carrying the fragrance of the beautiful woman, close to his body, and bow, saying, "Then this junior thanks you for your guidance, senior. If you ever need my help in the future, I will certainly not refuse."

After exchanging pleasantries, Kang Dabao had managed to get a copy of the Buddhist herbal notes, so at least he hadn't left empty-handed. He then took his leave.

Chu Yanran then stopped him, asking softly, "Nephew, please wait. I heard that your Uncle Black Shoes obtained a Bright Moon Token from the Acting Sima Gun of the State Court earlier, is that right?"

Since they already knew the origin of the token in the Daoist Black Shoes's hand, Sect Leader Kang Da could no longer pretend not to know, and could only reply in a low voice, "Just as you said, senior, that is indeed the case."

Chu Yanran pondered for a long while after hearing this, and for the first time, a hint of annoyance appeared on her face. When she spoke again, her tone had become much lower. "Please ask my nephew to pass on a message to your master, saying that if he has time in the near future, he would like to come to the Qi Household for a chat."

"Yes, I will definitely not miss a single word." Although Kang Dabao was slightly surprised, he agreed without hesitation.

Originally, he, the Sect Leader Kang Da, was a trusted messenger for various prominent figures in Cloud Horn Prefecture. This matter was both convenient and cost-effective, and he was very familiar with carrying it out.

After Kang Dabao, he bowed and stepped out of the inner courtyard of the Qi family mansion, leaving the family of three awkwardly standing there.

"Father, Mother, your son will now go down to cultivate." After the outsiders left, Qi Duoluo felt quite uncomfortable in the inner courtyard. He couldn't explain why he had come here, only that he shouldn't have stayed.

"Yes, yes, you need to be more diligent. Look at Kang Dabao, his talent is even worse than yours, which shows that diligence can make up for lack of talent, it's not an empty saying." Although the father didn't believe it, Master Qi still gave him another piece of advice.

"Yes, behave yourself and don't worry your father." Chu Yanran didn't even glance at him, simply echoing Master Qi's words.

Qi Duoluo walked towards the front yard, his back still clearly visible, when the conversation between his stepmother and father reached his ears without any attempt to conceal it.

"Your son, tsk. How come you couldn't have given birth to someone like Kang Dabao? Even Yuan Jin is far superior to him. If he continues like this, he'll die out there sooner or later. It's probably something wrong with you, no wonder I'm upset."

"Oh dear, little miss! Keep your voice down, wait a minute."

One after another, the harsh words struck Qi Duoluo's back like bricks. He shut his mouth and swallowed back his muffled groans, feeling as if his chest had been hit hard by a giant hammer, and his mouth was filled with a ball of hot blood that was about to burst out.

Thin lines of blood trickled from his palm along his fingers, appearing as specks of red plum blossoms on the blue bricks. He didn't stop walking, but closed his eyes, recalling the conversation he had with the mastermind behind the Mandarin Duck Hall.

"Don't blame me! You Chu Yanran, forced me to this!!"

---- Jade Toad cave abode

After hearing Kang Dabao's words, the Daoist Black Shoes gave the latter an annoyed look. "You're already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, why are you still so happy doing that messenger job?"

Sect Leader Kang Da chuckled awkwardly, "Speaking of which, Madam Qi is a close elder. Since she asked me to pass on a message to my martial uncle, how could I possibly refuse?"

"Ha, is that so?" It was rare for the Daoist Black Shoes to be in such a leisurely mood today, so he said jokingly, "You're probably so infatuated with her looks that you've lost your senses."

Hearing this, Kang Dabao jokingly added, "Although Madam Qi is beautiful, she's probably a notch below my wife. But I noticed a strange expression on her face when she spoke of my uncle; there must be a story behind it!"

With a "smack," the Black Shoes of the Daoist Black Shoes Sect Leader Kang Da came crashing down. No one dared to dodge. After taking the hit with his sleeve, he grinned and held up the shoes, intending to put them on the former.

"You lazy good-for-nothing, always talking nonsense!" The Daoist Black Shoes snatched the shoe, patted Kang Dabao's head lightly, and whispered, "These jokes can't be told outside. Everyone in Cloud Horn Prefecture Foundation Establishment about Qi Buxiu's good fortune; not only is his wife as beautiful as a fairy, but she is also the most loyal and devoted."

Because of their slanderous remarks about their relationship, Chu Yanran killed one or two Foundation Establishment True Cultivator. From now on, you need to be more careful with your words and not imitate those gossipy people.

"Hehe, I certainly wouldn't tell outsiders about these things." Kang Dabao pretended to cover his head, and after hearing what the Daoist Black Shoes said, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "What kind of incredible luck did Master Qi have this time?! How did he manage to win the heart of the number one female cultivator in Cloud Horn Prefecture?"

"Then I wouldn't know. I'm not like you; why would I care about such things? Besides, is it strange? Didn't a certain young sect leader, nearing forty and with no hope for his future Dao Path, also marry the eldest daughter of the Fei Household?"

The Daoist Black Shoes wore a mocking expression, but Sect Leader Kang Da no longer cooperated, thinking sullenly, "Well, I'm still a bit better than Master Qi, Shuhe won't be at such a disadvantage."

"Ahem," the Daoist Black Shoes coughed, his smile fading, and got down to business. "Back then, Chu Yanran relied on a Bright Moon Token to invite me to Mountain-Viewing cave abode. At that time, Gun Shilu hadn't yet given it to me, so I agreed."

"So, Uncle-Master broke his promise?" Kang Dabao remembered that Chu Yanran had asked Qi Duoluo to pass on a message to the Daoist Black Shoes back then. It must have been after that conversation that the two of them decided to travel together.

"Tsk," the Daoist Black Shoes thought Kang Dabao's words were unpleasant, so he glared at the latter and said in a deep voice, "The conditions she proposed back then were quite harsh. Now that I have earned a Bright Moon Token myself, why bother cooperating with her again?"

Kang Dabao nodded in agreement, his playful expression fading, and said:

"Uncle-Master is right. In my humble opinion, Uncle-Master should reply to Madam Qi and say that he will not see her again, to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble. Who knows, Madam Qi might still want to use the matter of helping to plant the Glazed Treasure Tree to manipulate Uncle-Master!"

The Daoist Black Shoes shook his head again and said, "It's not that simple. Remember this: the prettier a girl is, the more stingy she is. Chu Yanran is quite capable. Whether or not we can reach an agreement, we still have to go, lest we incur her resentment for no reason."

After all, when the Mountain-Viewing cave abode opens in a few years, Chu Yanran will almost certainly be there. As for the Glazed Treasure Tree, it's of little concern.

Even if I don't agree to form an alliance with her at Mountain-Viewing Cave, she'll still come to help. You're too insensitive; she's just waiting to profit from me."

"Actually, if it's difficult for you, Uncle-Master, you can just wait. The relic will form eventually, there's no need to rush," Sect Leader Kang Da advised.

"Heh, you rascal, you're not being honest," the Daoist Black Shoes shook his head and glanced at Kang Dabao again. "In your eyes, even women and children are less important than the sect. Don't worry, it's just a matter of a word. Chu Yanran will come."

"Hehe, Uncle-Master, you truly have discerning eyes." Sect Leader Kang Da chuckled.

"Hmm, go down and True Cultivator. After Mountain-Viewing Cave," the Daoist Black Shoes hesitated, but Kang Dabao wisely refrained from asking further questions. He left the Jade Toad cave abode and headed towards Little Ring Mountain.

Regardless of whether Chu Yanran comes or not, the Buddhist plant notes she gave to Sect Leader Kang Da are a valuable item and should be delivered to Zhou Yixiu as soon as possible so that he and Kang Rongquan can study them carefully.

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