It’s just that Zhang the Third’s nephew, after finishing his work every day, would stand outside the cave dwelling, staring blankly for a while.
Zhang the Third watched, knowing the thoughts in the heart of this nephew of his. After scolding him twice, seeing that he didn’t cause any trouble, he just let him be.
After all, everyone has their obsessions. Whose dream isn’t to walk the great path of cultivation and beco a cultivator above common people?
Even Zhang the Third himself, when he was young, harbored such thoughts, but his talents weren’t enough to break through.
And this nephew is only seventeen, just past the age set by the West Platform City authority for free public education at sixteen. His aspirations hadn’t yet been worn away.
Perhaps in a few more years, he won’t think of these things anymore.
A few days later in the morning, Chen Yan opened the cave dwelling and ca out.
He had been cultivating for a few days, not wasting a minute of the daily free Primordial Qi Array. After a few days of cultivation, Primordial Qi filled his entire body, giving him a radiant and energetic appearance, with his eyes shining brightly—evidence of the pervasive Primordial Qi.
He instructed Zhang the Third to prepare a good al in the kitchen and told the maid to boil water to serve him as he bathed and changed clothes.
Although there are cleansing spells, there’s nothing like the pleasure of a bath, is there?
Soaking in hot water, with all the pores of the body relaxed, that’s real enjoynt. Bathing isn’t just about cleanliness.
After a few days of arduous cultivation, Chen Yan indulged himself a bit.
He felt revitalized after eating and drinking to his fill and bathing and changing clothes.
Looking around this courtyard and cave dwelling, he thought West Platform City was truly a fine place, with great benefits for cultivators.
If it weren’t for the major task he had in mind, he would want to stay here long-term, living as a wealthy landowner with servants at his beck and call.
He called Zhang the Third and gave him instructions that he was going on a long trip.
The remaining supplies in the house for his consumption, after his departure, should not be wasted and could be given as rewards for the servants to enjoy.
Zhang the Third thanked him profusely, and with the servants escorted this master to the door, sighing as he returned.
Such a good master, who knows if we will ever et soone like him again...
Chen Yan left the district, went down the mountain, and first glanced at the duty room. Today, inside was not Steward Zhao You but an unfamiliar face, so Chen Yan didn’t greet him and walked away casually.
·
He first went to the tavern by the dock to find that waiter from the other day.
Upon seeing Chen Yan arrive, the waiter’s face imdiately lit up with joy. He turned and requested leave from the counter, then ran out of the tavern, respectfully leading the way to take Chen Yan to the storage market of West Platform City.
·
The storage market was located in the south of the city, with an array isolating this area, barring mortals.
However, this waiter evidently had connections, leading Chen Yan to the front of the array, where he lightly crushed a jade bead, and soon a cultivator in blue robes erged from the array.
Chen Yan glanced at him, noting the shrewdness in his features. Although his cultivation was only at the Entry Realm, there was a hint of arrogance in his eyes.
The waiter approached, nodding and smiling, having a few words, then pointed back at Chen Yan, explaining a few things.
The blue-robed cultivator barely managed a smile and nodded.
He looked at Chen Yan, casually cupped his fists, and gave a half-hearted salute: "Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
This person’s cultivation was a major realm lower than Chen Yan’s, yet his attitude was laid-back and arrogant. Chen Yan thought for a mont and understood that it was because of his status—what they call a seventh-rank official at the pri minister’s gate.
Even if soone has low cultivation, serving the powerful families, wrapped in their protection like a tiger skin, they tend not to look up to a loose cultivator like Chen Yan.
The blue-robed cultivator coughed: "You’re in luck. This afternoon there’s a cargo boat heading to Southern Border City of No Return.
It’s a fast ship, carrying our sect’s pass. Along the way, the forbidden grounds of various sects will yield and give passage, so there’s no need to detour, shortening the journey considerably. It should arrive in about thirty days."
Chen Yan understood his aning from his words and imdiately retrieved the promised jade coins from his Storage Jade Pendant and handed them over.
The blue-robed cultivator weighed the money, his expression softening slightly, and he casually stowed the money away, presumably into his own Storage Magical Artifact.
After receiving the money, his deanor beca a bit more cordial: "I haven’t introduced myself yet. My surna is Niu. Fellow Daoist, you can just call Manager Niu."
"I am Zhao Shanhe," Chen Yan said indifferently.
"Oh, so it’s Fellow Daoist Zhao." Manager Niu coughed: "Follow inside, then. Once inside, don’t wander around or look aimlessly. If anyone asks, say you’re a relative of mine here to help with work. Don’t speak unnecessarily about anything else."
Chen Yan nodded.
Manager Niu smiled, as if suddenly rembering, and said nonchalantly: "Oh, I forgot to tell you, my master family is the Gu Family, one of the eight great families of the Domain Realm—I’m telling you this in case soone asks inside, so your answers will match."
Chen Yan raised an eyebrow at the ntion of the "Gu Family," but showed no signs of realization or any imdiate change to a respectful deanor.
Seeing that Chen Yan remained unfazed upon hearing "Gu Family," devoid of the typical awe that lowers the common loose cultivator to respectful attention at the ntion of this na, Manager Niu coldly sneered inwardly: Unsophisticated bumpkin.
With his low cultivation and poor aptitude, if left outside, he’d probably fare the worst even among the lowest of the loose cultivators.
But being born in the Gu Family lineage—serving generations as the Gu Family’s serfs—
Even with a thin guise as a lowest-level steward stationed outside, life was far more comfortable than those loose cultivators, and his status wasn’t bad.
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