Chapter Twenty-Three: A Remarkable Gift

Just a few days ago, Su Yunxue had been worrying about the family she served, as she was in charge of the accounts and knew best the young master’s circumstances. The recent purchase of the new residence, along with various supplies, materials, and gratuities, had cost a fortune—over ten thousand spirit coins were spent on Mei Yuchen and Hua Mingzhu alone. Adding up all the odds and ends, the treasury was reduced to just over thirty-eight thousand coins. At the rate the young master spent, it seemed the Yang family wouldn’t last long.

If it had been another household, Su Yunxue might not have cared. But Young Master Yang had done great kindness to her family and sworn brother, so out of duty, she did her utmost to help the Yangs. After these past few days together, she found the young master broad-hearted and easy to get along with; emotionally, she had come to regard him as a younger brother and naturally could not bear to see the family fall into decline.

However, her worries did not last long. On the very first evening after they began supplying goods, Steward Yang brought her two hundred spirit coins, the day’s share, to be tallied and stored, saying there would be more each day, never less. Then Old Yang had someone bring an even larger money pouch, delivering thirteen thousand six hundred spirit coins as a franchise fee, along with a stack of agreements for her safekeeping.

Before she could recover from the surprise, on the second and third days, more than five hundred and then over six hundred spirit coins were delivered as payment. In just three days, the new franchise fees alone totaled sixty-three thousand two hundred, and the treasury now held over one hundred thousand coins. With daily revenues assured, Su Yunxue was overjoyed and deeply admiring of the young master.

At last, her heart at ease, Su Yunxue began leading the staff to prepare the main hall for the upcoming event.

That evening, Lu Baichuan arrived at Yang Cheng’s room with a jug of yellow wine, laughing heartily. “Haha, Brother Yang, I had Old Yang send someone to the market for this fine wine. Care to join me for a drink?”

Yang Cheng, seeing Lu Baichuan in such high spirits, was a bit surprised. “Brother Lu, what’s got you so happy today? Certainly—Xiao Lan, fetch some dishes from the kitchen!”

Though scars crisscrossed his face, Lu Baichuan’s smile could not be hidden. “Haha, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt so delighted. Wonderful! Truly wonderful!” Without waiting for the dishes, he poured two cups and downed one himself.

“Aren’t you going to tell me what’s got you in such suspense, Brother Lu?”

“Chen’er has done splendidly these past few days. His burdens are gone, and his cultivation is advancing at a remarkable pace. He’s been at the Foundation Establishment stage for a long time; I expect he’ll soon reach the Integration stage. I’ve always said his future achievements will surpass mine—he’s a match even for Bai Muyun! Haha, come, let’s drink to that.”

Yang Cheng was not surprised; geniuses were always capable of miracles. “Agreed, cheers!”

“That’s not all. I always knew he was exceptionally talented and cultivated quickly. What delights me even more is my precious disciple—her abilities are simply astonishing. I gave her a basic cultivation technique suited to her current level, worried that her foundation was unstable, so I only taught her a portion and told her to ponder it for a day. Yet she managed to work out the entire technique on her own.”

Lu Baichuan paused to take another drink, then sighed, “I used to think her self-taught cultivation was just luck, but there’s no explaining this. It’s truly unheard of.”

Yang Cheng was astounded as well; this was clearly a golden finger, a miraculous gift.

Lu Baichuan continued, “On a whim, I tried her with my prized second technique, the Rainbow Sword Art, teaching her only half to see what she’d do. Once again, in just one night, she mastered the rest. Hahaha!” He clapped his hands and laughed uproariously.

Yang Cheng rubbed his hands together in excitement. “We’ve found a treasure, haha!”

At that moment, Xiao Lan brought in some appetizers, and the two men drank and conversed, their faces alight with excitement.

“What about the third technique?” Yang Cheng asked, picking up some food.

“Third technique... What third technique? I only have two.”

Yang Cheng’s chopsticks faltered, and he looked at Lu Baichuan, thinking, For a renowned hero, you’re rather impoverished to only have two techniques.

Lu Baichuan was momentarily embarrassed, his face reddening. “I’m just a rogue cultivator, not from a great sect or clan with generations of elders creating techniques to pass down. They have scripture halls for disciples to study. My introductory technique is a family inheritance, and my signature art was won at great peril in a secret realm—already a tremendous stroke of fortune.”

Yang Cheng nodded in understanding. “I see. So how do rogue cultivators acquire more techniques?”

Lu Baichuan replied, “That’s the hardship of being a rogue. Without family inheritance, it’s difficult to obtain advanced methods. The major powers guard their techniques jealously and never sell them. The few that are sold are usually low-grade ones exchanged by desperate rogues in need of resources. Everyone treasures their own, so little leaks out.

“Only by exploring secret realms or dangerous lands might one gain something. If you discover an ancient cultivation method, you could rise to the very top of the cultivation world—but it takes immense luck. The other way is to take by force, but not everyone carries their techniques when traveling.

“Besides, more techniques aren’t always better; they must suit you. Still, learning from many and refining the best to create your own supreme art is ideal. Even I need to validate more before I can create my own.

“Profound techniques are the foundation for the major sects and cultivators; they’re tightly held secrets. Even their outer disciples rarely glimpse them, and inner disciples must reach the core before they can begin training in them. Every sect requires an oath not to transmit techniques outside, and breaking that vow brings heavenly retribution. There’s no prying techniques from their mouths.”

“That’s not such a hard problem,” Yang Cheng said with a sly grin as something occurred to him.

Lu Baichuan was skeptical. “Brother Yang, do you have a way? Even I wouldn’t dare steal from a great sect.”

“The central district has the Martial Arena, doesn’t it? Disciples of the clans and sects aren’t allowed to duel in the city, so they settle grudges at the arena every few days. The city lord even holds gladiatorial matches for profit. As long as you pay for a ticket, you can watch.

“If Mingzhu goes to observe often enough, well...” Yang Cheng smiled.

“She could build a scripture hall of her own,” Lu Baichuan exclaimed, finally understanding.

Yang Cheng’s smile was sly. “As expected of Brother Lu, you catch on quickly.”

Lu Baichuan hesitated, “That’s taboo in the martial world.” But then he added, “Still, with such an unbelievable talent, no one would suspect a thing. Just the thought of those great clans suffering makes me happy, haha...”

Yang Cheng chuckled. “There’s a duel coming up between Bai Muyun and Liu Changqing in the central plaza soon. Imagine the techniques on display...”

“Brother Yang, your idea is a bit wicked, but truly ingenious. Compared to you, my forty years have been wasted, haha...” Emboldened by drink, Lu Baichuan joined in the sly laughter. He harbored no fondness for those exalted clans and was eager to glimpse their secret arts.

The more they thought about it, the more they relished the idea, and they couldn’t help but laugh in delight.

Standing nearby, Xiao Lan was so overcome with goosebumps it felt as if she’d fallen into a den of wolves.