Chapter 94: Wealth Hard to Part With
Gu Qing Yi was slaughtering a chicken.
As Chen Yan stepped through the gate of his courtyard, he was greeted by an unusual sight—Gu Qing Yi stood in the middle of the yard, her left hand gripping a speckled farm chicken, while her right held a gleaming kitchen blade.
The chicken flailed wildly in her grasp, wings beating with desperate energy, but how could it ever hope to escape the iron will of a Celestial Realm expert?
Chen Yan watched as Gu Qing Yi meticulously gauged the position of the bird’s neck, the blade in her hand making subtle, calculated movements, as if contemplating the most efficient angle for the kill.
“Wait!” Chen Yan’s voice rang out.
Gu Qing Yi arched a brow and glanced at him, her expression calm. The knife in her grip lowered ever so slightly. “You’ve returned.”
Chen Yan strode over and eyed the struggling fowl. “Where did this come from? We don’t raise chickens.”
Before Gu Qing Yi could answer, Lu Si Si, who had been crouching under the eaves, piped up, “Just now, an uncle came looking for you. He brought four chickens and some village goods—said they were from the Old Village Chief’s family. His surname was Zhao.”
Chen Yan immediately understood.
This must be a gift in return. After the old man accepted his offering, he had his son bring something back in kind.
Lu Si Si had been covering her eyes ever since Gu Qing Yi prepared to strike—not out of pretentious delicacy, but simple aversion to bloodshed. She was not one to make a fuss about morality, nor did she object to eating the meat later; she just preferred not to witness the butchering firsthand.
Chen Yan sighed as he looked at the two women in his household.
Neither of them knew how to handle chores.
“If I hadn’t spoken just now, were you about to sever its head in one swift stroke?” he asked Gu Qing Yi, reaching out to gently take the blade from her grip. Only then did he exhale in relief.
For some reason, even knowing she would never harm him, the sight of his twenty-one-year-old Little Stepmother holding a blade always sent a chill down his spine.
Gu Qing Yi pressed her lips together. “If not by beheading, then how else should I kill it?”
Chen Yan sighed. “Go fetch the vegetable-washing basin, a kettle of hot water, and an empty bowl,” he instructed. “You too, Si Si.”
Moments later, the items were assembled. Gu Qing Yi stood with her arms crossed, observing. Lu Si Si remained under the eaves, peeking timidly through the gaps in her fingers.
Chen Yan demonstrated, narrating his actions as he went. “Hold the chicken like this. Keep a firm grip on its head and wings, otherwise, it’ll thrash too much. The key is restraining the head to expose the neck…”
As he spoke, his hands moved deftly. “Find a spot, pluck a few feathers to expose the skin, and then… strike!”
With a precise motion, his blade swiftly sliced through the flesh. The chicken jerked violently before Chen Yan pressed its bleeding neck over the bowl, collecting the rich red liquid.
Before long, the chicken was motionless.
Gu Qing Yi narrowed her eyes and nodded slightly.
“Chicken blood can be used in cooking. In the countryside, no one wastes it. Beheading it right away would spill all the blood—such extravagance…”
Chen Yan trailed off as he noticed the icy gaze directed at him. He looked up at Gu Qing Yi, gave an awkward chuckle, and swiftly changed the subject. “Next, we pluck the feathers.”
He dipped the bird into the hot water. “A quick scald makes plucking much easier.”
Then, stepping aside, he gestured toward her. “Would you like to try?”
Gu Qing Yi replied coolly, “I only wanted to kill, not to clean up afterward.”
With that, she turned and entered the hall, returning moments later with three more bound chickens.
Four in total—the full gift from the Old Village Chief’s household.
Taking the knife and bowl from Chen Yan, she swiftly replicated his earlier actions. She grasped a chicken, plucked a few feathers, and—
Blade flashed. Blood flowed.
One down.
“Wait—” Chen Yan began.
Blade flashed again.
Two down.
“Hold on, we can’t possibly eat—”
Another strike.
Three!
Before Chen Yan could finish his protest, the fourth chicken had already met its fate before noon.
Gu Qing Yi exhaled lightly, then glanced at him. After a brief pause, she tossed the lifeless birds into the iron basin, where they piled together. Dusting off her hands, she turned and strode back into the hall, her expression unperturbed.
Chen Yan was left standing there, eyes wide, nearly rolling back in exasperation. “What the hell?! You killed all four! There’s no way we can eat this much! Couldn’t we have kept a couple alive for a few more days?!”
That night, he suffered the consequences of her actions.
The chickens, handpicked by the Old Village Chief’s family, were all plump, well-fed country fowl. Their fate had already been sealed.
One pot of chicken soup, one dish of braised chicken, another of steamed chicken—by the time he reached the last one, Chen Yan ran out of ideas. He decided to set it aside for later, planning to turn it into smoked chicken in a couple of days.
Hopefully, his stomach would survive the ordeal…
Gu Qing Yi, for all her enthusiasm in execution, ate sparingly—one drumstick and a single bowl of soup. The rich fragrance of country chicken broth, enhanced by a layer of golden fat, was incomparable to the bland, frozen supermarket poultry of the city. To further enrich the dish, Chen Yan had added slices of mountain yam. Gu Qing Yi, skipping rice entirely, filled herself on the soup and yam alone.
Chen Yan, however, bore the brunt of the feast. He devoured an entire bowl of braised chicken, tore apart half of the steamed one, and, gritting his teeth, downed two more bowls of soup along with several pieces of breast meat and a wing.
By the end, he was dangerously close to bursting.
Even Lu Si Si had tried her best to help, but how much could an eighteen-year-old girl possibly eat? By the time she finished nibbling on a single drumstick, she was already full.
Chen Yan leaned back, sighing deeply.
He had not won this battle.
Chen Yan felt as if his stomach was about to burst, the fullness pressing against his throat. Unable to sit still any longer, he braced his waist and rose, stepping outside to ease his discomfort. Grabbing Lu Si Si’s hand, he led her beyond the courtyard, intending to take a stroll through the village and shake off the heaviness.
As they reached the road’s entrance, a middle-aged man in his forties approached from the side of the path. Chen Yan instantly recognized him—he was the eldest son of Grandpa Niu, the old woman’s longtime mahjong companion. He halted, pulling Lu Si Si to a stop beside him, and called out respectfully, “Uncle Niu.”
The man’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he looked at the two youngsters holding hands. He nodded with a grin and said, “Little Yan, you came by my house earlier with gifts, but I wasn’t home. Now that I’ve returned, my father asked me to bring you something in return.”
With that, he extended his hand—and Chen Yan froze.
A carton of milk and… a struggling village chicken, its legs twitching, its body writhing in protest.
This New Year, Chen Yan had delivered over a hundred gifts throughout the village. On the first day of the year, he received his first round of reciprocation—five chickens (four from the Old Village Chief’s household, one from Grandpa Niu).
By the second day…
That afternoon, Chen Yan sat on a small stool beneath the eaves, watching Little Madam Gu in the center of the courtyard. A large iron basin lay before her, along with a small ceramic bowl. Her grip on the cleaver was firm, and her strikes precise—she was utterly absorbed in the task of slaughtering chickens.
In the corner of the yard, chickens—five, eight, ten—lay waiting their turn.
And it wasn’t just chickens. There were also countless eggs.
By the time the sun had set on that day, the tally had reached an astonishing count—no fewer than fifty chickens and at least six hundred eggs.
In the countryside, nearly every household raised chickens. Offering one as a return gift, along with a few dozen eggs, was a simple and practical gesture.
After two full days of butchering, Gu Qing Yi finally seemed satisfied. The pent-up ferocity that had simmered in her heart had been expended, leaving her gaze noticeably calmer, her expression softer.
Meanwhile, Chen Yan had spent the entire day plucking feathers, gutting fowl, and washing entrails. Now, staring at the veritable mountain of poultry in his home, he sighed helplessly.
There was no way they could finish eating them all. After all, there were only three of them—just how long would it take to consume over fifty chickens?
Fortunately, storage was no issue. The snow from the recent storm had left temperatures hovering at a steady ten degrees below freezing, making preservation effortless.
On the fifth day of the new year, at the stroke of midnight, Chen Yan and the two girls lit a string of firecrackers in the courtyard, sending sharp bursts of sound into the night to welcome the God of Wealth. Only around one in the morning did the village finally fall silent, the echoes of distant firecrackers fading into the darkness.
By dawn, Chen Yan was already leading Lu Si Si up the mountain toward the temple. The fifth day was an auspicious time for welcoming fortune, and villagers from all around the region would come to burn incense and pray.
The mountain shrine had no true statue of the God of Wealth, but the Old Monk, ever adaptable, would clear a space in the main hall each year, hanging an image of the deity and preparing incense and candles for offerings.
The villagers were devout in their customs, and for the temple, this annual event had become a major source of donations.
Chen Yan, however, found the whole affair rather absurd.
“Praying for wealth… in a monk’s temple? If that’s not a uniquely Dragon Nation brand of superstition, I don’t know what is.”
Gu Qing Yi had little interest in matters of wealth. She had originally considered accompanying them up the mountain—mainly out of curiosity about the two demon spirits rumored to linger there. But when she learned from Chen Yan that, due to the crowd, the two spirits would be retreating to the back mountain for the day, her enthusiasm waned. In the end, she simply sprawled out in the courtyard, basking in the winter sun.
Hand in hand, Chen Yan and Lu Si Si left the village, making their way toward the temple. Along the way, they encountered many familiar faces, exchanging casual greetings as they passed. Each time a villager’s eyes fell upon Lu Si Si, a round of praises followed.
By Chen Yan’s estimation, by nightfall, the village’s hottest gossip would be set in stone—
“Old Madam Huang’s grandson has brought home a young and beautiful city girl!”
Lu Si Si, naturally shy, turned red under the teasing remarks, responding with timid politeness while gripping Chen Yan’s hand ever tighter.
During such festive times, village folk were especially curious, and the conversation inevitably turned toward marriage.
Flustered, Lu Si Si quickly explained that she was only eighteen, still in school, far too young to be thinking about such things. But the village women merely chuckled and waved off her protests, saying, “Eighteen? So what? Girls here have been mothers by that age.”
Hearing this, Lu Si Si wished she could vanish into the ground. Her grip on Chen Yan’s hand became vice-like, her face burning as she refused to say another word.
To the villagers, she was every bit the image of a city-bred young lady—delicate, fair-skinned, reserved, and raised in comfort.
When they finally reached the mountaintop, the temple was bustling with activity. Normally a place of solitude, the main hall now overflowed with devotees. There wasn’t even enough space before the God of Wealth’s image for everyone to kneel.
Many had resorted to setting up offerings in the courtyard, kneeling amidst the swirling incense smoke.
The Old Monk was absent, leaving only a single young acolyte scrambling to manage the chaos, sweat glistening on his brow. He barely had time to acknowledge Chen Yan before disappearing into the crowd.
With a smile, Chen Yan led Lu Si Si to queue for their turn. They knelt before the God of Wealth’s image, performed their bows, and offered incense before stepping back out into the courtyard.
Lu Si Si had initially found the mountain temple intriguing. But after a full tour, the novelty wore off. The place was small, its structures weathered and aged. She soon lost interest.
Sensing this, Chen Yan led her beyond the temple grounds, wandering into the vegetable patches and nearby woods.
Returning to the courtyard, he pointed at a tangerine tree standing proudly in the yard and, with a mischievous grin, began recounting a childhood tale—of sneaking into the temple with the village boys to steal its fruit.
Lu Si Si listened intently, her lips curved into a quiet smile. She gazed at him with warm, gentle eyes.
“So… were the tangerines sweet?”
Chen Yan let out a sigh, his gaze distant. “The wild tangerine trees on the mountain—never grafted, never carefully nurtured—how could their fruits be sweet? And yet, strangely enough, though I’ve had many fine tangerines in the city, when I truly think back, the wild ones I stole as a child… those were the sweetest I’ve ever tasted.”
Lu Si Si felt the weight of his emotions. She didn’t speak. She simply reached out, grasping his hand softly, resting her head lightly upon his shoulder.
The two lingered in the courtyard, exchanging words for a long while. At last, when Chu Yi had a free moment, Chen Yan turned to him and gave a quiet instruction.
“Tomorrow at noon, we depart. Pack your things. Meet us at the village entrance by one.”
Chu Yi’s face shifted slightly. He studied Chen Yan, then nodded firmly.
Seeing the boy’s honest expression, Chen Yan sighed inwardly.
(This fool… he won’t sleep tonight, will he?)
It is said that a brief separation strengthens love.
For someone like Chu Yi, at his age, wouldn’t parting tonight feel stronger than ten honeymoons combined?
No—this time, it was surely tenfold that!
By the sixth day of the new year, all preparations were complete. The three of them had packed their belongings, bundled up their goods—including fifty frozen chickens—and were ready to leave.
At noon, the hired car pulled up to the house. It was the same driver who had brought them here before the new year. He helped move their luggage and festive gifts into the vehicle.
Chen Yan locked up the house and courtyard gate. Just as he turned, he saw Lu Si Si standing beside the car, her gaze fixed on the small courtyard of the village.
He stepped forward with a smile. “What is it?”
Lu Si Si shook her head. “I just… don’t want to leave.”
She hesitated, then spoke with quiet earnestness. “This was the liveliest, happiest New Year I can remember.”
Chen Yan looked at her delicate face, a quiet sigh slipping from his lips.
(This girl… before she turned eighteen, life had truly been cruel to her.)
Lu Si Si’s eyes settled on the three snowmen in the courtyard. Though it hadn’t snowed in days, the cold kept them from melting entirely, their outlines still standing against the wind.
Her eyes turned red.
Chen Yan took her hand and spoke gently. “The snow will fall again. And there will always be another New Year. You won’t be alone anymore.”
Lu Si Si inhaled deeply, forcing a smile. “Then… will we come back next year?”
Chen Yan took a slow breath before exhaling, his voice steady. “We will. I promised the Old Village Chief I’d bring you to meet him properly next year. Maybe then, we can ask for double the New Year’s money from him.”
After this trip, it was clear to both of them—without grand declarations, without elaborate gestures or flowery confessions—their relationship had changed. They were now, undeniably, together.
No ceremony.
No expensive gifts.
No rehearsed words copied from the internet.
Just a natural, inevitable step forward.
Even in the village, Chen Yan had introduced her as his partner. Lu Si Si had accepted it without hesitation.
Truthfully, he never understood the modern city’s obsession with ritualistic romance.
Why did love require a staged confession? Flowers, gifts, and a speech meticulously prepared like an actor reading lines?
Wasn’t it all the same formula—imitated from the internet, mass-produced and emotionless?
Even the words of confession were copy-pasted from templates used by who knows how many people.
To Chen Yan, a confession should be heartfelt. If one must say something, it should be born of genuine feeling, not a script.
Reciting a speech written by some marketing company’s strategist…
That was far less sincere than simply saying, “I want to be with you.”
At least the latter came from the heart.
The car rolled forward, stopping at the village entrance. There, Chu Yi was already waiting, a single-shoulder travel bag resting beside him.
The foolish youth had abandoned his monk’s robes, now clad in simple, everyday clothes—a padded jacket and jeans, both old but washed clean.
The two demonesses had not come to see him off. They had likely said their farewells on the mountain earlier.
Before boarding, Chu Yi gave Lu Si Si a respectful greeting. “Sister.”
He did not call her “Sister-in-law.”
During their trip up the mountain to pray for fortune, he had made that mistake once, causing Lu Si Si’s face to burn bright red. After that, Chen Yan had told him to simply call her “Sister.”
Technically speaking, Chu Yi was a few months older than Lu Si Si, but the boy was stubborn, and his logic was simple.
“You are my brother’s partner. That makes you my sister.”
Gu Qing Yi sat in the backseat, her gaze briefly settling on this so-called “Heaven-Born Oxherd Saint Physique.” After only a couple of moments, she lost interest and shut her eyes, resuming her quiet meditation.
Chu Yi took the passenger seat, and with that, they departed for Jin Ling Prefecture.
By the time dusk fell, their car arrived at their destination.
First, they dropped Lu Si Si home. As she stood by the roadside, she couldn’t help but clutch Chen Yan’s hand, speaking to him softly before reluctantly walking away. Every few steps, she turned back to look, as if afraid he would disappear.
At last, she entered her community gates.
Back at the villa district, Chu Yi stepped out of the car, finally catching sight of Gu Qing Yi as she emerged from the backseat.
He froze.
The two had never met. Throughout the journey, Gu Qing Yi had remained silent in the farthest corner of the car. Only now did Chu Yi realize there had been another person with them all along.
Chen Yan considered for a moment before speaking slowly.
“…Call her Aunt Gu.”
Wang Chu Yi did not hesitate. He stepped forward, bowed deeply before Gu Qing Yi, and respectfully called out, “Aunt Gu.”
From the way he carried himself, it was clear—if Chen Yan had asked him to kowtow twice on the spot, he would have done so without a moment’s doubt. This foolish yet honest lad had his merits. Whatever he was told to do, he did, never prying into matters that were not his to know. If Chen Yan remained silent about something, Chu Yi would not ask.
He worked diligently, helping move everything into the house. Once that was done, he even picked up a broom, preparing to sweep the floors as though he were a household servant.
Chen Yan quickly stopped him, frowning. “Who taught you this? Entering someone’s home and immediately doing chores?”
Chu Yi’s face showed a hint of confusion. “Master told me… When I told him I would be coming to Jin Ling Prefecture with you after the new year, he instructed me to be diligent when I arrived at your home, to work hard and be useful…”
Chen Yan sighed. “You don’t need to do that here. Take tonight to rest. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to train.”
“Brother, am I not staying at your house?”
“No, you won’t be staying here. I’ve arranged for a teacher to guide you.”
Chen Yan had already decided on this arrangement long before Chu Yi arrived. The cultivation method of the Cloud Sect had a fundamental flaw. Though Chen Yan had made improvements, there were certain inherent limitations he could not completely erase.
For instance, the path of Cloud Sect’s Cultivation Method required a practitioner to first purify their body and mind, to detach themselves from worldly desires, to remain untainted by wealth and luxury—only by maintaining such clarity of heart could one truly comprehend the flow of the world’s vital energy.
If Chu Yi were to stay in his household…
He and Gu Qing Yi lived a life of indulgence, seeking only pleasure and comfort. They resided in a lavish villa, feasting on extravagant meals. They would even use M5-grade beef to make rustic potato stews, and high-quality green tea was turned into milk tea without a second thought.
How could Chu Yi cultivate under such conditions?
Moreover, since he would be learning Cloud Sect’s Cultivation Method, it was best for him to train under Chu Ke Qing. She had studied the sect’s techniques for twenty years—who could be more familiar with them than her?
Chu Yi, being the straightforward soul he was, followed orders without question. After a simple dinner, he retired early to the guest room Chen Yan had arranged for him, staying out of sight for the night.
Gu Qing Yi, lounging in the living room watching television, only withdrew her gaze when Chu Yi had closed his door. She let out a soft sigh.
“What a pity.”
Chen Yan, sitting beside her, cracked open a handful of sunflower seeds. “What’s a pity?”
Gu Qing Yi shook her head. “Your little brother… he is wasted on this.”
After a pause, she continued, “His physique is extraordinary—Innate Yang-Fire Body. Even if he never trained a single day in his life, his physical endurance would far surpass that of ordinary men. Because of the Yang-Fire in his fate, he is immune to all forms of evil energy, unlikely to fall ill, and his lifespan will be significantly longer than that of a normal person.
“With a physique like that, if he were to learn a Battle Method, he would be an exceptional candidate.
“In the Domain Realm, if I encountered someone like him, I would take him as a disciple, teach him the Gu Family’s Outer Sect War Method, and after a few years of training, bring him to the Hell-Suppressing Platform to temper himself through battle for a decade or so. If he managed to survive, he would reach the peak of Ascension Stage Realm, just one step away from the Heavenly Mortal Realm!
“And beyond that? If fate favored him, if destiny allowed, he could one day break through to the Heavenly Mortal Realm and make a name for himself in the Domain Realm as a true master!
“But… in this world of yours, that path is closed to him.”
Chen Yan asked, “Why?”
Gu Qing Yi gave him a knowing look. “The Gu Family’s Battle Method is a path of slaughter. Where in your world could he wield such a blade? Unless you plan to send him to a battlefield?”
“Uh…” Chen Yan’s eyes flickered with thought. “A battlefield’s unrealistic, but I could get him work at a slaughterhouse. That’s easy enough. I can pull some strings, slip some money here and there, and get him a job where he slaughters pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks—whatever needs to be killed.”
Gu Qing Yi scoffed, her laughter carrying a cold edge. “You think Attaining Dao Through Slaughter works on just anything?”
She slowly shook her head. “All the chickens I killed at your old home the other day? They were nothing more than an outlet for my accumulated bloodlust. It had no bearing on my cultivation.
“Yes, the Gu Family’s Battle Method is built upon Attaining Dao Through Slaughter, but not just any slaughter. One must kill creatures with awakened intelligence—humans, spirits, beings from the myriad realms. Only those who have gained awareness can be slain to absorb their lingering spiritual essence, refining it into one’s own path.
“The creatures you mentioned—livestock, mere beasts—they lack the necessary essence. Slaughtering them is meaningless for cultivation.”
Chen Yan frowned. “But I’ve heard it said—all things have a spirit.”
“Nonsense. A lie to comfort the weak.”
Gu Qing Yi’s voice was firm. “Where did you hear such foolishness? If all things had spirits… then why were you sitting at the dining table while those chickens were lying roasted on a plate before you?”
She fixed Chen Yan with an intense gaze, her tone solemn. “Remember this, Chen Yan.
“Among living beings, there is a rigid hierarchy.
“The Way of Heaven is without mercy. It has never been fair.”
Chen Yan fell silent.
—
The next morning, Chen Yan woke early, taking Chu Yi with him to the meeting place arranged with Chu Ke Qing.
Outside, the same business van from yesterday was already waiting. Chen Yan had spoken to the driver beforehand, hiring him for the day.
Following the address Chu Ke Qing had provided, Chen Yan took Chu Yi into the southern district of Jin Ling Prefecture City, an area filled with ancient-style buildings. The new year celebrations had just ended, and the streets remained lively with lingering festivities.
Standing at the entrance of Cloud Lodge, dressed immaculately, Chu Ke Qing awaited them.
As Chen Yan’s car came to a stop, she stepped back respectfully. Only when he disembarked did she incline her head slightly in greeting.
“Greetings, Senior.”
Chen Yan, maintaining his carefully crafted persona, waved dismissively. “No need for such formality, Little Chu… Mm, Ke Qing. No need for such courtesies.”
Chu Ke Qing simply smiled, then stepped forward, extending both hands toward him.
Chen Yan froze.
What… did she mean by this?
Chu Ke Qing chuckled, her laughter crisp like the chime of jade pendants in the wind. Though she bore the grace of a woman in her thirties, at this moment, her expression carried the mischievous delight of a young maiden. Smiling, she said, “Since you are my elder, and I have shown the proper respect as a junior… Well, Senior, it’s the New Year. Surely you wouldn’t let me leave without a small token of good fortune?”
Chen Yan immediately understood—ah, she was asking for a red envelope.
[Hmm… Sister, the truth is, I’m only twenty-two, but if I told you that, you might turn hostile on the spot.]
Unfortunately, he hadn’t brought any money, nor did he have a red envelope prepared. Instead, he simply smiled and said, “Red envelopes are too mundane. But since I’ve come to visit, I naturally wouldn’t arrive empty-handed.”
With that, he strode over to his car, opened the trunk, and pulled out four frozen free-range chickens.
“A gift from the countryside. These are all naturally raised fowl. Take them and make a nourishing broth for yourself.”
Chu Ke Qing’s smile brightened. The request for a red envelope had merely been a playful gesture to bridge the distance between them. As a woman of keen intellect and social grace, she knew how to warm a conversation with such small pleasantries.
Truthfully, it didn’t matter what Chen Yan gifted her. Even if it had been nothing more than a bundle of chicken bones, she would have accepted it with the same joy.
With a beaming expression, she took the chickens with both hands and passed them to her assistant, Little Cai.
Her gaze then shifted to the young man standing silently by Chen Yan’s side. She examined him from head to toe before nodding slightly. “So this is the one you’ve recommended to join Cloud Sect? He looks like a promising young talent.”
As she spoke, she extended a hand. Her assistant swiftly placed a small redwood box in her palm. Opening it, she revealed an ancient copper coin—round on the outside, square in the center. The coin’s craftsmanship was pristine, and a crimson silk thread had been woven through its center to form a pendant.
Chu Ke Qing lifted the coin and said, “This is the token carried by all disciples of Cloud Sect. It serves as both an emblem and a reminder of our sect’s guiding principle. The coin’s round exterior symbolizes the boundless distractions of the mundane world, while its square core represents the disciple’s unwavering heart.”
Her eyes met those of the young man, Chu Yi. Chen Yan gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, signaling him to step forward. Understanding the cue, Chu Yi immediately bowed his head in deference.
Chu Ke Qing slipped the pendant over his head, adjusting it until it rested neatly against his chest. She then took a step back to assess him before nodding with satisfaction.
“Since you come under Senior’s recommendation, it would not be appropriate for you to formally take me as your master. However, I will grant you this copper coin and accept you as a registered disciple of Cloud Sect. As for seniority… consider yourself of the same generation as me. Last night, I burned incense and made a supplication to our forebears. On behalf of my late master, I take you in. Henceforth, within Cloud Sect, you are my junior disciple.”
Chen Yan nudged Chu Yi with his foot, prompting him to hurriedly bow and greet her, “Senior Sister!”
Chu Ke Qing nodded. “Mm. Junior Brother, welcome.”
With the formalities concluded, she led the two inside Cloud Lodge, guiding them to the inner hall where Chu Yi performed the ceremonial rites before the memorial tablet of Chu Ke Qing’s master—offering incense, bowing three times, and presenting a cup of tea in reverence.
Accepting the tea, Chu Ke Qing took a small sip, completing the ritual. Since he was only a registered disciple, not an inner sect disciple, there was no need to inscribe his name into the sect’s main records, making the process swift.
Afterward, she led them through the ancient-style streets, walking south for a few hundred meters until they arrived at a grand courtyard with double doors. Above the entrance hung a sign: Falling Cloud Academy.
“This establishment is also part of Cloud Sect. It serves as a place of meditation and study. We hold regular retreats here, welcoming lay disciples and outer sect members to cultivate. During their stay, they reside here, dedicating themselves to study and practice.”
Smiling, she ushered them inside.
The first courtyard spanned roughly an acre, its architecture reminiscent of classical styles—long eaves, wooden corridors, and flanking guest quarters. The stone-paved ground was immaculate, and the surrounding buildings were used as meditation halls and classrooms.
Passing through a moon gate on the left, they stepped into the rear courtyard, where three or four individuals could be seen walking about. The youngest among them was already middle-aged, while the eldest was a venerable old man with a crown of silver hair.
Each bore an air of refinement, and upon seeing Chu Ke Qing, they all greeted her with respectful bows and clasped hands. Their expressions were solemn yet warm. Chu Ke Qing returned each greeting before they quietly dispersed.
“These are students of our meditation courses,” she explained with a gentle smile.
Chen Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. “Their backgrounds must be quite extraordinary. This academy of yours—it doesn’t seem to have a low entry threshold.”
Chu Ke Qing merely smiled, offering no further explanation as she led them deeper into the courtyard.
“The surrounding rooms serve as dormitories for the meditation courses. Since it’s just after the New Year, many have yet to return.”
Retrieving a brass key, she handed it to Chu Yi. “Your quarters are in Room A-Four—a private room for you. Every morning, there will be a morning lesson, and every evening, a night meditation session. Instructors from our sect will teach basic breathing techniques, meditation, and other introductory methods. You will train here for a month. Once you have mastered these fundamentals, I will personally assess you. If you pass, I will impart to you the true techniques of Cloud Sect.”
“From now on, this will be your home. Every ten days, I will hold a lecture. If you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation, you may bring your questions to me. Since you are under Senior Chen’s guidance, rest assured—I will teach you well.”
Chu Yi listened attentively, nodding solemnly after each sentence. His posture was upright, his attitude sincere and respectful.
Seeing this, Chu Ke Qing felt an unspoken satisfaction.
She had initially been wary. After all, for someone to be acquainted with an Eminent Master like Chen Yan, they might have harbored arrogance or been difficult to discipline. But now, looking at Chu Yi’s simple and earnest demeanor, she found herself relieved.
A youth of such temperament was well-suited for the cultivation methods of Cloud Sect.
Chen Yan stepped into the lodging assigned to Wang Chu Yi—a simple, single-room dwelling, no more than twenty square meters in size. It bore no trace of luxury, yet it was clean and well-ordered. Within the room, only the essentials were present: a bed, a writing desk, a chair, and a wardrobe.
Upon the desk lay an inkstone, brushes, fine paper, and a few volumes of Zen cultivation texts, all bound in the old thread-stitched style of classical literature.
“These books won’t be of much use to you,” Chu Ke Qing remarked with a knowing smile. “Still, if you ever find yourself idle, you may read them as pastime.”
Then, turning to Chen Yan, her expression grew solemn. “There is something I must clarify in advance. Our sect’s cultivation method follows a strict tradition. Here, the students in the Zen training class must cultivate both mind and body.
“Thus, no one will serve them in their daily lives. They must tend to their own affairs—clean their own quarters, launder their own robes, and even prepare their own meals. I tell you this now, Senior, so you do not think me harsh on my new junior disciple.”
Chen Yan, already aware of the inherent limitations of the Cloud Sect’s cultivation technique, found nothing surprising in these requirements. He merely nodded in understanding.
Chu Ke Qing had described the conditions as modest, but in his eyes, this arrangement was already quite generous. Compared to the hardships Wang Chu Yi had endured in the past, it was a life of comfort. A private room equipped with air conditioning, a tidy and well-maintained space, with fresh bedding and furnishings—far superior to the cold, drafty shack in the ruined temple where he had once lived.
As for self-sufficiency? Had Chu Yi not spent his days in the mountains doing precisely that? Cooking his own meals, washing his own robes—such things were hardly foreign to him.
“The ingredients for daily meals are delivered to the rear courtyard kitchen,” Chu Ke Qing continued. “Each student must retrieve their portion with their dormitory key and cook for themselves. Worry not—we do not live as ascetics. Our meals contain both meat and vegetables.
“The kitchen has electric stoves available for use, but they must be rented with study credits, which are earned by attending morning and evening lessons. If one lacks credits, they must subsist on communal meals instead, which also cost credits—though significantly fewer.
“If you seek finer fare, you will not find it here, nor would I recommend it. Our Zen cultivation rejects external indulgences, focusing instead on cleansing the heart.
“Should you need to leave the premises, permission must first be granted by the instructors. Each cultivation cycle lasts half a month. Leaving mid-session may disrupt the clarity of mind you have painstakingly cultivated.”
Though Wang Chu Yi was not particularly quick-witted, he understood the gist.
He had no objections.
Tending to his own affairs, attending daily lessons—was that not still better than the life in the temple?
And food with both meat and vegetables? Compared to the meager meals at his former monastery, this was practically a feast.
As for restrictions on leaving—his master had rarely allowed him to wander beyond the mountain anyway.
Thus, he listened intently, nodding when Chu Ke Qing finished. “Senior Sister, I understand.”
Chu Ke Qing then arranged for some reading materials to be delivered, along with a card. “You will need to scan this each morning and evening when attending lessons. I have already registered him for the first cultivation cycle beginning after the New Year.
“Tomorrow at dawn, he will attend his first morning lesson, where our disciples will instruct him in the fundamentals—breathing techniques, meditation, and the foundation of inner stillness.
“In a month’s time, I will personally impart the Cloud Sect’s cultivation method to him—the art of Qi Circulation. However, Senior…”
She hesitated, choosing her words carefully before addressing Chen Yan once more. “You, as a master of great attainment, surely understand that cultivation bears no guarantees. Though I will instruct him with all diligence, if—”
“There is no need to say more. I understand.” Chen Yan nodded. “If he possesses the talent, he will attain enlightenment. If he does not, I shall not place blame upon you. Regardless of the outcome, I owe you a great debt for this kindness.”
Observing Wang Chu Yi, Chen Yan felt that the boy was well-suited to the Cloud Sect’s path.
A life of discipline and self-denial—he had already been tempered in such ways since childhood.
At its core, Cloud Sect’s teachings revolved around restraining worldly desires. And Wang Chu Yi…
Well, aside from those two enchanting demonesses at home, he had little interest in material pleasures.
With that, Chen Yan left Wang Chu Yi in the Zen training academy and followed Chu Ke Qing to her residence—Cloud Lodge.
“I did not house Chu Yi in Cloud Lodge because I am accustomed to solitude. The only ones who dwell in my courtyard are my assistant, Little Cai, and myself. Having a young man suddenly live among us would be… inconvenient.”
Seated in her parlor, she poured a cup of tea for Chen Yan, offering it with a smile. “Senior, do these arrangements meet your satisfaction?”
Chen Yan sighed, accepting the tea. “They are excellent. Thank you.”
Then, with a smirk, he asked, “That Zen academy of yours… quite the grand estate. Acquiring such a large parcel of land must have been expensive, no?”
Chu Ke Qing took a delicate sip of tea, her voice calm as she replied, “Senior, you may as well know—
“It is not only the academy. This entire street belongs to Cloud Sect.”
Chen Yan nearly spat out his tea.
A wealthy benefactress indeed!
“I first joined the sect at thirteen,” she continued, her tone wistful. “Back then, this place was nothing but a row of dilapidated houses. My master, our few senior brothers, and I all squeezed into these small, crumbling courtyards.
“Cloud Sect was not always as grand as it is now.
“But then, my master fell ill, and before passing, left the sect in my hands…”
These past years, wealth had come to me, yet I found myself at a loss on how to spend it. The Cloud Sect’s Cultivation Method forbade indulgence in worldly desires, rejected the ephemeral splendor of the mortal realm, and as for investments and financial management—I had no understanding of such things.
So, whenever silver entered my hands, I spent it on property. Two houses this year, two more the next. Year after year, I followed this practice. Eventually, the imperial court designated this district for redevelopment, tearing down all the old buildings and replacing them with an ancient-style marketplace. Seeing an opportunity, I simply acquired the entire street for myself.”
Good heavens…
Chen Yan’s fingers trembled as he held his teacup.
Now, this was the true mastery of hidden cultivation!
He had merely amassed a fortune in the tens of millions and was already feeling a touch of arrogance. But before him sat Chu Ke Qing, whose wealth encompassed an entire street—
Not just any street, but an entire avenue in the southern district of Jin Ling Prefecture’s capital city!
However… given the recent downturn in the real estate market, this wealthy woman’s assets must have shrunk considerably.
After finishing his tea at Chu Ke Qing’s residence, Chen Yan rose to take his leave. Chu Ke Qing personally escorted him to the entrance.
It was only after his car disappeared into the distance that she turned back into the courtyard, a contemplative expression crossing her face. She addressed her assistant, Little Cai, in a low voice. “Keep an eye on the newcomer Senior Chen sent my way—my registered junior disciple. See that he is well looked after. If any issue arises, report to me at once.”
Chen Yan departed from Chu Ke Qing’s estate and made his way to Boss Fang’s company, where he paid his respects for the new year. He presented Boss Fang with eight frozen chickens—
Even Assistant Yan, the ever-serious aide to Boss Fang, received two of them.
Overjoyed, Boss Fang personally selected a fine tea to serve his guest. Before Chen Yan could leave, he insisted on hosting a meal, but Chen Yan politely declined.
Before returning home, he made one last stop at the Extreme Net Café, slipping Boss Lady ten frozen chickens before she could bombard him with questions. Without giving her a chance to protest, he swiftly excused himself and left.
On his way home, Chen Yan sighed deeply.
Fifty chickens—half of them finally distributed, but half still remained.
These were gifts from his fellow villagers. Selling them was out of the question.
A gift, once received, could be re-gifted—but to sell it? That would be disgraceful.
Upon returning home, he paid the driver and stepped into the courtyard—
A sudden gust of cold wind swept through, sending a chill through his body. His shoulders shook involuntarily, and before he could react, his nose tingled—
“Achoo!”
He sneezed the moment he stepped inside.
The house was warm. He inhaled the comforting heat and shook his head. “I’m too lazy to cook today. Let’s just order food.”
“Whatever.” Gu Qing Yi waved her hand dismissively, eyes still locked onto the variety show playing on the television.
Yet, just as she spoke, she twitched her nose, and—
“Achoo!”
She sneezed as well.
She rubbed her nose absently and continued watching her show, paying it no mind.
—
The next morning, Chen Yan awoke from his slumber with a strange sensation. As soon as he sat up, he knew something was amiss.
His head felt heavy, his limbs light—his mind clouded, body weak.
Reaching up, he pressed his palm against his forehead. A bad premonition surged through him.
Fever?
Descending the stairs, he coincidentally ran into Gu Qing Yi emerging from her own room.
Her complexion was paler than usual, her gaze solemn. Yet, as she walked, her steps seemed strangely unsteady.
“I think I’m sick.”
Her voice, usually sharp with a youthful lilt, now carried a slight rasp.
“I think I caught a cold too.” Chen Yan waved a hand dismissively. “I’ll find some medicine. We should have some in the house.”
“No! You don’t understand!”
Gu Qing Yi grabbed his arm, her expression grave. “I shouldn’t be getting sick at all! I’ve already broken through the Heavenly Mortal Realm, stepping into the Transcendent Tier! My body was tempered by the tribulation of breaking through—this life, no ordinary illness should touch me!
Even though my cultivation is currently suppressed to the Platform Ascension Stage, my celestial physique remains unchanged! I should be immune to sickness!”
Hearing this, Chen Yan frowned.
He might not have reached the Heavenly Mortal Realm, nor undergone a tribulation to refine his body, but as a cultivator at the Origin Stage, his Qi nurtured his flesh, making him far more resilient than an ordinary person.
While he wasn’t completely immune to illness, a common cold should have been incapable of felling him so easily.
A moment later—
Chen Yan and Gu Qing Yi sat across from each other in the living room.
Both were wrapped in thick blankets, identical fever patches stuck to their foreheads.
Chen Yan took a deep breath and activated his Qi Observation Technique, first scanning Gu Qing Yi, then himself.
As expected—
Both of their Qi fates carried traces of a calamitous illness.
“This Qi reading… seems unusual,” Chen Yan murmured.
According to the teachings in The Cycles of Qi Fortune, most illnesses arose due to the natural flow of fate, and dissipated in the same manner—unless they were tied to a great life-and-death calamity.
Chen Yan understood this logic. After all, illnesses were typically caused by unseen forces—bacteria, viruses—floating in the air around them.
A common person encountered countless such entities every day, yet their immune system repelled most of them without issue.
Only in rare cases did an illness breach the body’s defenses, leading to sickness.
Yet, Gu Qing Yi’s Qi fate showed that her affliction was not a natural occurrence.
It was not an act of heavenly fate—but of human intervention!
And what was more—
That thread of Qi fate seemed to be tied to him!
“…Did I somehow cause this?”
Chen Yan froze.
He scrutinized his Fate Circulation once more, carefully tracing the ill omen of sickness entwined within. Yet the more he examined it, the more peculiar it became.
For no matter how he calculated, the result defied all reason.
Unwilling to accept such an absurd outcome, he retrieved his manual and meticulously combed through The Cycles of Qi Fortune twice over.
“A calamity of wealth?”
He shook his head violently, suspecting that the fever had muddled his thoughts. How could it be a fortune-related tribulation when it was clearly a sickness calamity?
With a solemn expression, he reworked his calculations once more, his brush moving decisively across the paper—
‘Generous wealth, yet hard to part with!’
The moment those four characters were inscribed, clarity struck his mind like a blade slicing through fog.
A memory surfaced—
The old madam had left him a letter before she departed, a warning hidden within her parting words:
“Our lineage holds to an iron rule: wealth earned through our arts cannot be squandered upon outsiders. Not even blood kin may spend it. Break this rule, and misfortune will befall you!”
Damn it!
Chen Yan slapped his forehead.
So this was the meaning of ‘Generous wealth, yet hard to part with’!
By the old madam’s decree, only those who practiced the same arts as her were considered ‘of the sect.’ Only fellow disciples could rightfully use the money earned through spiritual methods.
Otherwise, even if Chen Yan was her grandson, even if she had raised him for twenty years, he was forbidden from using the wealth she had acquired through her craft!
—A little should not have mattered. After all, she had spent money raising him as a child. But too much?
Too much, and the curse of retribution would awaken!
This explained his twenty years of destitution.
And now…
Ever since he had learned the old madam’s craft, he had been earning well.
But he had also been spending freely!
Among those around him, who had spent the most of his wealth?
Chen Yan’s gaze lifted, settling upon Gu Qing Yi, the woman sitting before him with a cooling patch stuck to her forehead—
Eating his food, drinking his wine, sleeping under his roof…
Who else could it be?
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation