Chapter Twenty-Eight: Personally Inviting Luo Hanyi

After paying the bill and confirming the delivery address, the two continued to stroll leisurely. Along the roadside, there were many small stalls run by itinerant cultivators, selling various treasures and the occasional cultivation technique. These independent cultivators needed to exchange unwanted items for resources, but their quantity was too small to warrant renting a shop, so they usually set up temporary stalls where prices varied widely.

Some items were unfamiliar to most, and whether one profited or lost depended on luck. However, some manuals did attract the attention of other cultivators, since clans and sects absolutely forbade the sale of their own techniques. Cultivation methods were thus extremely scarce and naturally expensive. Typically, higher-level techniques were recorded by powerful individuals using spiritual sense into jade tokens, and even the tokens themselves were rare. Alternatively, beast hides, silk scrolls, or bamboo slips could be used for recording, but these were harder to preserve and became illegible with age.

Yang Cheng browsed a few manuals, all of which were basic entry-level techniques, not much different from what he already possessed. There were virtually no intermediate-level methods, nothing compared to Lu Baichuan’s, though those were not suitable for him anyway. Yang Cheng frowned; not only were they of little use, but the prices were exorbitant—each one costing several thousand spirit coins, a fortune for ordinary people.

After circling the market a few times without much interest, they turned to leave. On the way, Yang Cheng suddenly remembered that a servant at home had once recommended a certain Old Master Luo—a scholar from a family of gentle birth, well-regarded among the local people. Misfortune had brought his family to ruin; his wife and children had all passed away, leaving him to lead a solitary and difficult life.

Yang Cheng’s household happened to lack a scribe for recordkeeping, and it would be even better if this person could help draw product illustrations, saving him valuable time. He had wanted to send the servant to invite Old Master Luo, but perhaps out of scholarly pride, the old man had never accepted. Now that he was passing nearby, he thought he might as well visit in person.

Relying on his memory, Yang Cheng led Lu Baichuan through a maze of alleys until they reached a certain street. It was afternoon, the weather clear, and the street was bustling with pedestrians. There, he saw an elderly man with a calligraphy and painting stall, making a living by selling his works. The street matched the servant Ding Xi’s description, and with only one such stall, it had to be Old Master Luo.

Yang Cheng was in no rush; he approached the stall and studied the works. The calligraphy and paintings were not particularly sophisticated, but their craftsmanship was evident. It was clear the old man was rather rigid by nature—no wonder he had never achieved renown.

The old man was poorly dressed but exceedingly neat, absorbed in reading a bundle of bamboo slips, so focused he didn’t even glance at customers.

After some time examining the works, Yang Cheng asked, “Are you by any chance Old Master Luo?”

The old man, startled by the interruption and somewhat displeased, looked up to see a young man and a scar-faced, intimidating companion before him. He rose and replied, “My surname is Luo, given name Hanyi. Are you here to commission a letter or to purchase a painting?”

Yang Cheng clasped his hands in greeting, smiling. “Forgive the intrusion. I wonder if you remember Ding Xi, who once invited you on behalf of the Yang family of Nanqiu?”

Old Master Luo managed a bitter smile. “How could I forget? Every time Ding Xi has a day off, he comes here. He sings endless praises of the Yang family, just hoping to convince me to work there.”

Yang Cheng and Lu Baichuan exchanged a smile. Yang Cheng then said, “I am the head of the Yang family.”

“This…” Old Master Luo was taken aback, not expecting the family head to come in person to such a humble place. Seeing the young master’s courteous demeanor, he felt it would be rude to show further indifference, so he said, “It’s an honor for the family head to visit this old man. Please, come inside.” Without bothering to pack up his stall, he led Yang Cheng and Lu Baichuan into his home.

Inside, the place was simple, with no superfluous furnishings—mostly bamboo slips and silk records. Yet despite its plainness, everything was spotlessly clean and meticulously arranged, a testament to the old man’s rigorous and orderly life.

Once they were seated, Old Master Luo served tea with an apologetic air. “My home is humble, and I have little to offer. I hope you won’t take offense.”

Yang Cheng replied that it was no matter, and they chatted for a while.

Old Master Luo, moved by Yang Cheng’s visit, said, “Master Yang, I never doubted what Ding Xi said, and your monthly salary far exceeds what I earn selling my works. But I am just an old man, my abilities are limited, and I am not suited to strict management. I fear I cannot shoulder such responsibility.”

Seeing his reluctance, Yang Cheng responded, “Old Master Luo, though I am the family head, I have only recently established the household. Most of my people are illiterate servants—we sorely lack a learned scribe, which makes everything difficult. I see that you are not only skilled in calligraphy and painting, but also meticulous by nature. I would be truly delighted if you could assist me.”

Old Master Luo demurred again. “I have two major hobbies, which I fear might interfere with your affairs.”

Yang Cheng asked, “Oh? Might I hear them?”

Old Master Luo replied, “I have a fondness for reading all kinds of classics and treatises—I easily lose track of time. And I am partial to good wine and fine food. As you can see, I have no savings; all my money goes to these pleasures.”

Yang Cheng thought to himself that the old man’s love of classics was evident, and the second excuse was likely just a polite refusal. He said at once, “That is easily solved. I, too, wish to collect all manner of texts from the Cloudflow Kingdom and establish a family library. This fits perfectly with your interests, and you may be entrusted with the task—there will be no restriction on the funds, which you may use at your discretion. As for wine and food, you needn’t worry. My household kitchen has plenty of both.”

Old Master Luo had not intended to accept, so he tried to make things difficult, but Yang Cheng’s sincerity left him at a loss for words. Not being a worldly man, he was unsure what else to say.

Then Yang Cheng added, “You need not fear being constrained. If the Yang household prospers and the affairs become too many for you alone, you may recruit reliable acquaintances to assist you as you see fit. I trust that with your careful and thorough nature, you will always act in my best interest.”

He paused before continuing, “I see you have no family left. It is only natural to worry about your later years. Though our relationship would be that of employer and employee, I promise to treat you as I would my own kin. When your time comes, I will make sure your affairs are properly handled.”

These words touched Old Master Luo’s sorest spot. Though he was content with his scholarly solitude, he sometimes feared dying alone with no one to know. For a moment, he was left speechless.

Lu Baichuan, who rarely interacted with ordinary folk and was usually reticent, was moved by Yang Cheng’s sincerity and spoke up, “My friend Yang is a man of great kindness. Everyone around him is treated like family. You have nothing to worry about.”

After a long silence, Old Master Luo sighed, rose, and bowed. “Thank you for your high regard and generous offer. Though I am old and frail, I am willing to devote myself entirely to your service.”

Seeing Old Master Luo finally agree, Yang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. He knew the old man was not a man of extraordinary talent, but his integrity was beyond question—and that was exactly what Yang Cheng needed.

As the elderly man still had some attachment to his home, they agreed to prepare a room for him in the rear courtyard, so he could live where he wished—either with the Yang family or at his own residence. Old Master Luo would ready his belongings and settle his affairs that day, and head to Nanqiu the next morning.

With everything settled, Yang Cheng and Lu Baichuan took their leave.