"You're going on a long trip? You just got back, why do you need to go out again?"
The next morning, while making breakfast, Chen Yun was very confused when Chen Yi told her he would be away for a few months.
Shen Qingshan was nearby, straightening his Small Banner Officer uniform from the Demon Slaying Division, preparing to go for the morning roll call.
"Fourth Brother is an adult now, he has his own affairs. You, as his sister, shouldn't try to control everything."
Chen Yun argued her point.
"Even if he ran around the county town naked, I wouldn't bother him. But going on a long trip, for months at that... the bandits and mountain thieves out there, are any of them easy to deal with? And those demons and monsters, they eat people!"
Chen Yi smiled without speaking.
Third Sister.
Bandits and mountain thieves who see me would have to give me money.
If demon tribes see me, they'd probably worry about not calling me 'Daddy' fast enough.
Chen Yi only thought these things in his heart.
If he said them out loud, Third Sister would probably think he'd gone mad.
In the end, it was Chen Yi and Shen Qingshan versus Chen Yun, two against one. Chen Yi won.
Shen Qingshan went into the room and rummaged around, bringing out two items.
"Fourth Brother, I have two Mid-Grade Spirit Artifacts here, both left behind by our Shen family ancestors.
Take this spear to use. It's safer to have a weapon with you.
Also wear this heart-protecting mirror; it might come in handy at a critical moment."
In Shen Qingshan's eyes, Chen Yi was still a young man. He didn't want to dampen the independent aspirations of someone that age.
But Shen Qingshan wouldn't support him blindly either. He took out the Spirit Artifacts he had inherited from the Shen family ancestors, his most treasured possessions.
Thinking that with these, Chen Yi would be safer on his journey.
Shen Qingshan thought Chen Yi was only at the Body Refining Realm, unaware that he had already reached the Golden Body Realm.
An existence that was utterly unattainable for the entire Baiyun County!
Chen Yi didn't want to reveal his cultivation level for now, so he thanked Shen Qingshan and accepted the two Spirit Artifacts.
"Un... uncle... where go?"
A childish, milky voice came from behind.
Chen Yi turned around and picked up his two-year-old niece.
"Uncle is going out to play for a while, he'll be back soon. Be good at home, Nannan, and wait for uncle to return."
"Want... sugar figurine."
"Alright! I'll buy you one."
Chen Yun said with exasperation.
"Just spoil her. If she gets spoiled, she won't be able to marry in the future."
Chen Yi thought of something and looked at his sister and brother-in-law.
"My niece still doesn't have a formal name yet, right?"
The family had been calling her "Nannan," "Nannan" all this time because Shen Jia still didn't have a proper given name.
Chen Yun shot a displeased look at Shen Qingshan.
"It's all because of your brother-in-law. He's been picking and choosing for two years now and still hasn't decided."
Shen Qingshan scratched his head sheepishly.
He seemed to have a case of decision paralysis.
Chen Yi thought back to the end of the third simulation, where it was Shen Jia who saw him off on his final journey, even using a precious pill to extend his life a little longer.
"How about calling her Shen Jia? The 'Jia' from 'commendation' or 'praise.' Third Sister, Brother-in-law, what do you think?"
Shen Qingshan pondered thoughtfully.
"'Jia' signifies praise, auspiciousness, and celebration. It's a good name."
Chen Yun took Shen Jia from Chen Yi's arms.
"See what you did? You've given your brother-in-law another choice to agonize over. He'll probably be agonizing over this for at least three months."
Let Shen Qingshan take his time to agonize. Chen Yi set off.
Before leaving, Chen Yi went to the Yuelai Inn.
When the Proprietress saw Chen Yi, she warmly came forward to greet him.
"Sir, are you here to pick up that big brother? About your brother..."
"Proprietress Mei, please speak frankly."
"He eats too much. The silver you gave yesterday... isn't quite enough..."
The Proprietress's tone wasn't very forceful.
Because she could tell Chen Yi was a martial artist.
When making requests in front of a martial artist, showing weakness was better.
Actually, Chen Yi had wondered about this before too.
How did Da Chun, a person with impaired intelligence who occasionally got bullied by mischievous children in the village, who had almost no ability to take care of himself and relied on villagers' charity for meals...
How did he grow so fair and plump?
After the third simulation, where Da Chun was suspected to be the Artifact Spirit of the Nine Provinces Cauldron.
This question seemed to have an answer.
He was extraordinary to begin with, so naturally he was different.
Having a big appetite wasn't that strange either.
"Take this."
Chen Yi gave the Proprietress a large silver ingot.
Thanks to the friendly sponsorship of the Black Stone Gang.
Seeing the silver ingot half the size of her palm, the Proprietress was overjoyed.
She had never encountered such an easygoing martial artist before.
Chen Yi went to the guest room and woke up the soundly sleeping Da Chun. He told him to continue staying at the inn, not to run around, that someone would provide him with three meals a day, someone would help him wash up, and he should just relax and enjoy a life of leisure.
For Da Chun, having enough to eat and drink was satisfying. He had no other desires and wouldn't feel bored or anything like that.
As for who would take care of him, naturally it would be the inn staff.
Chen Yi had given more than enough money, and the Proprietress was kind-hearted by nature. Da Chun staying at the Yuelai Inn wouldn't be a problem.
Then, Chen Yi left the Yuelai Inn and went to the market.
For this trip to find the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, he couldn't just run there himself. He needed to buy a horse.
"Monster Aura?"
In the horse market, Chen Yi spotted an almost imperceptible demonic aura.
He followed the aura to a stable.
Seeing Chen Yi approach, the horse dealer came forward to promote his wares.
"Young hero looking to buy a horse? Come take a look! These are all top-grade horses, carefully selected high-quality red-maned fiery steeds from the pastures of the Northern Frontier grasslands. Don't worry, they're all tamed, very easy to ride!"
Chen Yi didn't pay much attention to the horse dealer's boasting.
How far was the Northern Frontier from Baiyun County?
With mortal travel speeds, even if they could transport horses that far, the horses would be nearly dead of old age by the time they arrived. Who would do business like that?
Chen Yi's gaze locked onto a black-haired horse emitting a faint demonic aura.
At first glance, this black horse looked like a horse. Upon closer inspection, it still looked like a horse.
It wasn't like a demon tribesman; demon tribesmen were humanoid creatures with beast-like features.
The black horse's demonic aura was also intermittent and extremely faint.
And the way it emitted the aura was different from other demons.
It was tied up in the stable for sale, lowering its head to eat fodder, seemingly possessing only the intelligence of a horse.
"Could it be that some demon tribesman had a... twisted romance with a horse?"
For this journey, he would be traveling day and night. Chen Yi thought buying a horse with some demon tribe bloodline might be more durable.
"Boss, how much for this horse?"
"Young hero wants this horse? I can give you a discount!"
"Why?"
"This horse eats a lot and poops even more! If I don't sell it soon, I'll go bankrupt feeding it!"
Not strange. Similar to Da Chun, it appeared to be a horse but actually held hidden mysteries.
Chen Yi went to the east market to buy a fine horse, the west market to buy saddle and tack, the south market to buy provisions, and the north market to buy a long whip.
After making all preparations, he mounted the horse, flicked the reins, and rode out of the city.
Chen Yi's destination was Wuan County in Qian Province, located in the eastern part of Qingzhou. Qian Province was precisely the place where he had fought his final battle in the third simulation.
The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was there right now.
At this moment, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner was busy deceiving his, who knows which number owner it was, into willingly offering his Origin Soul to nourish its frail Artifact Spirit.
The Ten Thousand Souls Banner relied on this method, bewitching one weak-willed martial artist after another, turning them into its own nourishment, thereby repairing itself.
So you see, this thing is truly an evil object!
Can't let it continue to bring calamity to the world. Must hand it over to this old man for proper safekeeping!
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