The Youth, Meng Luosheng

Although Xiao Liu is young, he is surprisingly reliable.

He took Sang Ying directly to the third district of the West City, picked a courtyard house for one person, with few neighbors on either side, and the location was quite good.

Inside there is a main hall and a bedroom, and outside there is a small courtyard. It would be a bit small if you were practicing swordsmanship, but it would be just right for engraving seals and formations.

"Since you're all alone, you don't really need a big courtyard. This one is just right for you. It's also close to the ferry crossing in Haizhou City, and there's a market just across the street. You can go there and find some good things when you have time..." Seeing that Sang Ying didn't show any dissatisfaction, Xiao Liu gently explained the advantages of the place to her.

Sang Ying followed him around the entire house, then asked directly, "How many Spirit Stones would it cost to rent this courtyard for a month?"

Xiao Liu paused, turned around, and stared wide-eyed at Sang Ying: "You mean... you want to rent our courtyard?"

Sang Ying nodded. "Yes, is there a problem?"

"There's no Spirit Gathering Formation here!" Xiao Liu couldn't help but point out, "And this place isn't under the protection of any powerful being..."

As he finished speaking, Xiao Liu's voice grew softer and softer, and he seemed a little embarrassed.

Sang Ying smiled upon hearing this, "I don't care about these things, just tell me if you're willing to rent it to me or not."

Seeing this, Xiao Liu quickly nodded, as if afraid that Sang Ying would change her mind. "I... I'll accept two hundred low-grade Spirit Stone stones from you for a month, okay?"

Xiao Liu's face was full of trepidation when he asked the question.

Seeing his appearance, Sang Ying almost thought he had quoted an exorbitant price.

As if afraid Sang Ying might change her mind, he quickly added, "We'll also bring you food. My mother's fish porridge is the best! I'll bring you some every day!"

Sang Ying sighed and, under the other person's uneasy gaze, said, "Two hundred Spirit Stone won't do..."

Xiao Liu's eyes instantly dimmed.

"With the fish porridge added, it should be at least three hundred Spirit Stone," Sang Ying added. "I'll rent it for three months first!"

"Really?!" Xiao Liu asked hurriedly.

Sang Ying nodded affirmatively.

Sang Ying could guess why Xiao Liu's courtyard couldn't be rented out. Firstly, there were no protective or Spirit Gathering Formation there, so it wouldn't be beneficial for cultivators to stay there for a long time.

Secondly, Haizhou City is a mixed bag, and this courtyard is not within the sphere of influence of powerful figures, so it's inevitable that they'll encounter some trouble. In addition, Xiao Liu is young and not very good at speaking, so naturally he won't be able to attract customers.

But this just happened to be exactly what Sang Ying wanted.

She could set up those formations herself; she didn't need anyone else's clumsy skills. And with the name of Immortal Venerable Yanchen, no one would dare to provoke her.

Sang Ying could tell that although Xiao Liu was young, he had grown up in the city for many years and knew quite a lot, which made it easier for her to inquire about information from others.

By exchanging a sum of Spirit Stone for a source of information who was grateful to her, Sang Ying wasn't at a loss.

Anyway, after the two of them completed all the formalities for renting the house at the management office in Haizhou City, Xiao Liu was still in a daze and hadn't reacted yet.

Finally, after Sang Ying counted out nine hundred low-grade Spirit Stone and handed them to him, Xiao Liu suddenly came to his senses.

He held the container of Spirit Stone and quickly wrapped it inside his coarse cloth clothes, glancing inside every now and then, his face still showing some fear.

"Why don't I help you carry it?" Sang Ying suggested, seeing his trembling appearance.

Xiao Liu looked at Sang Ying, seemingly not understanding what she was saying.

Sang Ying said, "I'll help you carry the Spirit Stone and take you home. Seeing you like this, I'm worried you won't be able to get home safely."

Although nine hundred low-grade Spirit Stone are nothing to Sang Ying, they are an extremely valuable Cultivation Resources for low-level cultivators in Haizhou City.

Although Haizhou City had strict rules, if someone committed a crime and fled the city, the city guards would naturally not chase after them to arrest them, and the matter would simply be dropped.

So, the way Xiao Liu walked out was clearly an invitation for someone to steal him.

Since Sang Ying had already rented his courtyard, she might as well go all the way and send him home directly, so that she, the tenant, wouldn't be dragged into any trouble that might happen.

Xiao Liu clearly understood Sang Ying's concerns, which were also his own. Sang Ying brought it up herself, and although he felt embarrassed, he eventually agreed.

He readily agreed, and Sang Ying breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Liu's home wasn't too far from this rented village; it took about fifteen minutes to walk there. Like the other ordinary families in the neighborhood, his house was a small, detached dwelling. Inside, there were barely two bedrooms and a main hall; that was all.

Sang Ying noticed a large reclining chair in one corner of the main hall, with neatly folded blankets piled on it. Someone probably slept there at night.

They clearly have a yard, so why don't they live there and insist on sleeping huddled on deck chairs?

Sang Ying was a little curious, but she didn't ask.

Xiao Liu noticed Sang Ying's confusion and took the initiative to explain, "That courtyard was given to my brother by the young master of the Hai Household when he worked for the master's family. My mother and I discussed it and felt that instead of living in it ourselves, it would be better to rent it out so we could at least earn some Spirit Stone to help my brother cultivate."

Sang Ying nodded and took out her Storage Bag: "Now that you're home, I'll give you the Spirit Stone."

"Wait," Xiao Liu refused her. "Fairy, please wait a moment. Let my mother meet you too, and ask about your taste so she can bring you some porridge tomorrow. My mother's porridge is the best in all of Haizhou City. You definitely won't regret trying it!"

Xiao Liu's face was full of sincerity, and Sang Ying couldn't refuse. Fortunately, Xiao Liu called out a few times into the house, and soon a woman dressed in gray linen clothes came out.

The woman looked quite young and had a rather pretty face; even in her drab gray clothes, her beautiful features were still evident.

She seemed a little timid; she was startled upon seeing Sang Ying and quickly retreated behind a pillar before daring to ask Xiao Liu, "Xiao Liu, what happened? Did you get into trouble outside?"

It was probably Sang Ying's expensive-looking robes that startled the other party.

However... Sang Ying blinked, wondering if she was being too sensitive, but she felt that this lady seemed a little too nervous.

Seeing the panic on his mother's face, Xiao Liu quickly reassured her, "Mother, you've misunderstood. This is a fairy who rented our courtyard. She knows your porridge is delicious, so she paid a hundred Spirit Stone to have you deliver it to her every day!"

Xiao Liu was startled and hurriedly said, "These are just some cheap snacks, why would they cost a hundred Spirit Stone? Fairy, please take them back, we really don't deserve them!"

Sang Ying ignored her. "Since I'm the one drinking it, I think it's worth it, so there's no need for you to persuade me any further, Madam. Let's stop here for today; I'll head back now."

The last sentence was spoken by Sang Ying to Xiao Liu.

This time, Xiao Liu didn't stop her. He even followed his mother's instructions and escorted Sang Ying to the door.

As soon as the two stepped out, they bumped into a young man dressed in black.

The boy looked a bit older than Sang Ying, and his gaze immediately sharpened when he saw the two of them. However, it softened instantly when he looked at Xiao Liu.

Soon, Xiao Liu called out, "Big Brother!"

This confirmed Sang Ying's guess: this person was Xiao Liu's older brother, the owner of that courtyard.

Not wanting to disturb the family's time together, Sang Ying quickly took her leave.

She didn't see that Xiao Liu's brother was watching her retreating figure intently, his gaze lingering on her for a long time, as if he were wary of something.