Chamber of Commerce

Tianxuan Pavilion was a tower established by the Seven Luminaries Chamber of Commerce, dedicated to the sale of medicinal pills, herbs, and medicinal materials. Yudao Yi flashed his family’s token at the guard at the entrance and swaggered in without a care.

Although the Yu family kept a low profile and had few members—just a couple of servants and the four of them—it was a stark contrast to the Wang, Lin, and Song families with their sprawling clans. But Yudao Yi’s parents were true cultivators. He never knew their exact level, only that the two of them alone had forced the Yu family into the ranks of Qingshan Town’s three great families, making them the fourth. One could easily imagine how formidable his parents truly were.

With this in mind, the guards wouldn’t dare impede him; they welcomed the two of them in with utmost courtesy.

Outside, the heat was stifling, but as soon as he stepped inside the pavilion, all trace of the summer swelter vanished, replaced by a coolness that seeped to the very bone. Tianxuan Pavilion was not large, but it exuded luxury from every corner. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, and the grand hall was quiet, with only a few people within.

In addition to selling their own herbs, the pavilion allowed itinerant cultivators to rent stalls and sell or acquire whatever herbs or goods they desired. The wares of these wanderers were a mixed bag, as were the sellers themselves, but the pavilion didn’t interfere. After all, business was business, and the Chamber’s lofty status could not be threatened by a few oddballs. In fact, these stalls brought in more foot traffic and a steady stream of rental income.

No one could vouch for the authenticity of the itinerants’ wares, but the Chamber’s own goods were fairly priced, their reputation impeccable throughout the mortal realm.

Xiao Cai wandered about, eyes darting from stall to stall, searching for any herbs she might need, and especially for the elusive Xuanling Branch. Her parents had never indulged her when it came to such things. Given their status, acquiring a handful of unremarkable herbs would have been a simple task, but as her father always said, “Parents may lead the way, but cultivation is up to the individual.”

Ha! If only he’d be so hands-off when it came time to discipline me.

After a while, one of the pavilion’s attendants approached the siblings—a young girl with a delicate oval face, dressed in a pale yellow gown, her hair loose and fluffy, giving her a rather adorable air.

“Is there something I can help you with?” she asked with a warm smile.

“I’d like you to do something for me,” Yudao Yi replied seriously, his gaze fixed earnestly on the charming attendant before him.

“What would that be?”

“The first four words of my last sentence,” Yudao Yi replied, deadpan. With his delicate features, he didn’t come off as annoying—at least, not to those who didn’t know him.

The young lady, whose name was Xia Rong, simply smiled, turned, and walked away without the slightest hesitation.

Cai immediately dashed after her and clung to her leg, refusing to let go no matter what.

“Sister Xia, I was only joking! Honestly, I have real business this time, don’t go!” Cai called out loudly.

Over years of alchemy practice, Yudao Yi had visited Tianxuan Pavilion countless times and was well acquainted with its staff.

Xia Rong looked down, exasperated, at the familiar “accessory” wrapped around her leg. She had known this boy, now eleven or twelve, for two years and was well aware of his nature—always quick with a slick comment, reckless with his words, often driving her to leave in a huff. Yet thanks to him, her sales had been quite good, and so she always faced him with a smile, listened to his nonsense, and then left laughing. After all, business demanded a pleasant face, and while his antics were trying, she couldn’t truly dislike him. Over time, they’d grown familiar.

“What do you want?” Xia Rong asked helplessly.

“What do I want? Nothing, thank you. I’m still just a child,” Cai replied, feigning innocence.

“…?”

“Haha, just kidding! My brother and I are here to find a particular herb,” Cai explained, seeing Xia Rong’s expression darken.

Xia Rong glanced at the boy in front of her, unsure what to say. She looked to the younger brother behind him—nearly as tall as Cai, but exuding an aura of cold indifference. He was handsome for one so young, but seemed even harder to approach.

Then she looked down at the “accessory” on her leg and suppressed a sigh.

There weren’t many people in the pavilion, and those who frequented the place were used to Yudao Yi’s antics. No one paid them any mind.

“Get up, get up—what do you want?” Xia Rong tried to shake Cai off her smooth, long leg.

Cai sprang up quickly—he hadn’t meant anything improper, just that after so many visits, teasing her had become habit. In short, he was a bit of a rascal.

Yunfan looked at his brother in embarrassment. It was one thing for him to act this way at home, but to act up in public too—speechless, he turned away to browse the goods in silence.

“Sister Xia, this time I’m looking for a few twenty-year-old Xuanling Branches for alchemy. Does the Chamber still have them in stock?” Yudao Yi asked with a grin.

“Xuanling Branches aren’t exactly rare, but not many people ask for them. There aren’t many in stock, and twenty-year-old ones are even harder to come by,” Xia Rong mused.

“Sister Xia, help your dear brother out—your kindness will not be forgotten!” Yudao Yi pleaded shamelessly.

“Let’s be clear: Xuanling Branches may not be rare, but twenty-year-old ones aren’t cheap. Are you sure you have the spirit stones to pay?” Xia Rong eyed him skeptically.

“No worries, I’ve got money!” Yudao Yi thumped his chest in assurance.

“Are you sure?” Xia Rong looked at the unusually excited boy, not quite convinced—she knew he was no simple customer.

“Absolutely,” Cai replied gravely.

I’m broke, but my brother’s got money, so I’ve got money! Perfect logic!

Passing the buck, live.

Xia Rong turned and headed for the storeroom. Some herbs preferred shade or were too valuable to display openly, so she needed to check the back.

Cai wandered about, spotting his brother at a rogue cultivator’s stall, and scampered over.

Looking for a friend, found a good friend—ah, isn’t that my dearest little brother?

He arrived at his brother’s side, watching as Yunfan fiddled with a black iron chip, half stone, half jade, lost in thought.

“Do you want it?” Cai asked.

“Mhm,” his brother answered absentmindedly, thinking it was the stall owner speaking. When he came to, he turned and, seeing who it was, sighed deeply.

“Suddenly, I don’t want it anymore,” he said with resignation.

Cai: “…?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

“If you want it, just say so! Am I the stingy type? Boss, how much? We’ll take it!” Cai declared, full of bravado.

How much could a scrap of iron possibly cost?

“Ten spirit stones, fixed price—no haggling,” replied the stall owner.

“…?!”

What are you selling—gold-plated iron chips? That’s extortionate!

“Sorry for bothering you—I was just asking. I’m just a dirt-poor soul,” Cai admitted, fully aware of his own financial limits.

“Dirt-poor?” The stall owner pointed to the shop next door.

A bold sign read: “Genuine Spirit Soil, the best choice for herb cultivation—twenty spirit stones per jin!”

“…?!”

Sorry, I’ve disgraced the dirt-eating clan. I can’t even afford dirt!

“My apologies, farewell!”

Alas, even his own father hoarded secret stashes; as for spirit stones, the staple currency among cultivators, he doubted his father had much saved up either. The real financial power always rested with his mother, no matter how much his father claimed to be the head of the household—what a shameless boast!

He himself only got a dozen or so spirit stones a month as pocket money from his mother. If his father were more generous, he would have long since been living the life of a lavish second-generation cultivator, instead of scraping by so miserably.

Ah, that dream of waving his hand and summoning a bevy of beautiful attendants—how distant and unattainable it seemed…