This Place Ought to Be My Home

"Did you kill Gao Ting'e?" Inside Luo Chen's home, Wang Yuan took a sip of the glistening wine and asked abruptly. "Big Brother, you can eat whatever food you like and drink whatever wine you want, but you really can't throw words around recklessly." Luo Chen refilled Wang Yuan's cup, speaking in all seriousness. "Talk like that gets people killed." A corner of Wang Yuan's mouth twitched. He picked up a piece of the spiced meat Luo Chen had prepared and let his gaze drift lazily around the room. "No wonder you had the spirit stones to move into the inner city. Looks like you struck a massive fortune!" Luo Chen was left speechless. Certain things simply could not be hidden from someone who was paying attention. He had bought a set of spell manuals worth two hundred spirit stones from Wang Yuan and then run off to rent a place in the inner city. No matter how one looked at it, something was fishy. That was certainly not an estate a short-lived wretch like Chen Xiao could have left behind. Add to that the Great River Gang coming to his door earlier today, and the pieces fit together all too clearly. The answer spoke for itself. Luo Chen knew he couldn't fool Wang Yuan. That was why, after Wang Yuan had stepped in to fend off those two Great River Gang cultivators at noon, Luo Chen had specially invited him over and cooked a meal with fine wine for him. For one, it was to express his gratitude for Wang Yuan looking out for him all this time. For another, it was a way to lay his cards on the table. After all, he was considered a little brother under Wang Yuan's wing. Naturally, if Wang Yuan expected him to openly admit to killing Gao Ting'e, he would never utter a single word of confession. "Gao Tingyuan is petty and deeply suspicious," Wang Yuan said, setting down his chopsticks. "Since you're still alive and refuse to go see him, he'll suspect you sooner or later. If you still have spirit stones left, buy more pills, raise your cultivation, and get yourself some more ability to protect your own skin!" Pills? Luo Chen had bought them long ago. In fact, of the five bottles of Qi-Nourishing Pills he purchased last month, he had already consumed three. His cultivation progress had reached [37/100]. Thirty points came from the Qi-Nourishing Pills, and the extra seven were accumulated through his daily circulation of the Eternal Spring Art. Even so, in front of Wang Yuan, Luo Chen habitually played the pauper. "Brother Wang, you're practically my only kin in the cultivation world. If Gao Tingyuan tries to push me around, you have to stand up for me!" "Heh." Wang Yuan stood up and walked toward the door. "I know where you live now. I'm off." "By the way, keep your eyes open whenever you come and go. Don't let someone slip in under the cover of darkness and slice your head off." Luo Chen was startled, looking uncertain. "Surely not? This is the inner city." "You don't actually think the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect would raise a massive fuss over the death of a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, do you?" Wang Yuan let out a scoff. "As long as nobody makes too much noise, those big shots couldn't care less whether we live or die. And quietly snuffing you out wouldn't be hard at all for Gao Tingyuan of the Great River Gang." A cold sweat involuntarily broke out across Luo Chen's back. "I'm leaving. If you run into trouble down the road, come find me at the Mountain Breaker Gang's headquarters in the outer city." Wang Yuan waved a hand and strode out of the courtyard with broad, confident steps, his hands clasped behind his back. Sitting before the wooden table, Luo Chen chewed on the marinated dishes he had prepared, the food suddenly tasting bland. His thoughts were in a bit of a tangle. Before long, however, he regained his composure. *Tch, why am I letting myself get rattled?* *Haven't I already thought through all of this? Wang Yuan just said it out loud and confirmed what I already knew.* *The countermeasure is still the same: work hard to earn spirit stones, buy pills to raise my cultivation, practice a few more spells, master my magical artifacts, and boost my ability to protect myself.* That was the extent of Luo Chen's current capabilities. Expecting him to take preemptive action by sneaking into the Great River Gang's headquarters in the dead of night to assassinate Gao Tingyuan was completely beyond his reach. Rather than worrying about troubles that hadn't arrived, he was better off keeping his feet on the ground and taking care of the tasks right in front of him. Having sorted out his thoughts, Luo Chen tore into the remaining spiritual food on the table with fierce determination, wolfing down every scrap of spiced meat and polishing off the strong liquor. Once he was full and satisfied, he let out a hearty belch. He retrieved a black outfit and a veiled bamboo hat he had prepared long ago from his storage bag. After veiling his face completely, he stepped out the front door with an easy, unbothered air. An ensemble of black robes, black trousers, and a black veiled hat was certainly conspicuous. Yet within the inner city of Dahe Market, it did not look out of place at all. Among the rogue cultivators, one could easily spot a dozen or so dressed in similar attire on any given day. Concealment spells that masked one's aura or altered one's appearance were not arts just anyone could master. For rogue cultivators saddled with trouble, throwing on a set of clothes was a simple solution they were more than willing to adopt. Luo Chen did not panic, but just as Wang Yuan had advised, he began to exercise caution whenever he came and went! *** *Today, the Myriad Wonders Pills brought in four hundred, the Fasting Pills earned twenty, and with my original savings of four hundred and twenty-five, my net worth is now a grand total of eight hundred and forty-five spirit stones.* Walking down the street, Luo Chen tallied his savings and began drafting a plan for his upcoming purchases. He needed to set aside at least three hundred spirit stones for that Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace. He also had to procure the raw ingredients for the Myriad Wonders Pills, so he tentatively budgeted four hundred spirit stones for that! That was double his previous investment. Yet as long as he successfully concocted them, the returns were equally predictable. That left one hundred and forty-five spirit stones. He would keep one hundred as working capital to guard against unforeseen emergencies. He was no longer the destitute cultivator whose entire net worth amounted to a mere fifty spirit stones. Although he possessed the courage to start over if he failed, there was no need to drive himself to such extremes. Keeping a cushion of operating funds was absolutely necessary. As for the remaining forty-five spirit stones, five would go toward groceries and daily meals. Luo Chen planned to pour all of the final forty into refining Fasting Pills. Indeed, Fasting Pills. Though the profit margin was slim and the competition fierce, he still intended to craft more of them. Whether to diversify his product line or to throw them in as a bonus gift when selling Myriad Wonders Pills, having a steady supply was very useful. With his plan settled, Luo Chen wasted no time. Channeling the Wind Riding Technique in tandem with Carefree Wandering, Luo Chen turned into a blur and sped off in one direction. A figure shot past the pedestrians like a gust of wind, drawing angry curses in his wake. The inner city strictly forbade fighting, but it had never banned the use of spells. Besides, Luo Chen was merely running a tiny bit faster than ordinary folk. After spending an entire afternoon running errands, Luo Chen finally wrapped up his shopping. He had even made arrangements with the staff at Spirit Source Studio to deliver the firewood straight to his courtyard. With all that completed, Luo Chen arrived before a cluster of buildings filled with an intoxicating, alluring fragrance. Lifting his head, Luo Chen looked through the black veil of his hat at the three large characters inscribed above the entrance. Tianxiang Pavilion. Entering an establishment like this for the first time, Luo Chen couldn't deny feeling a flicker of nervous excitement. It felt very much like an inexperienced young bachelor sneaking off to an improper venue behind his friends' backs. *Pah, pah, pah! It might be a disreputable venue, but what I'm here for is proper business!* Luo Chen sternly berated the unwholesome thoughts in his mind, then stepped boldly into Tianxiang Pavilion. The moment he crossed the threshold, a sensation washed over him like a fish returning to water. "This place truly ought to be my home!" *Ahem*, he was referring to the density of the spiritual energy. After standing there for just a brief moment, Luo Chen could already perceive the stark difference between the air inside the pavilion and that outside. Merely taking a few deep breaths left his entire body feeling invigorated, to the point where his Eternal Spring Art practically yearned to circulate on its own. It made him profoundly appreciate just how extraordinary the Spirit Gathering Formation Gu Caiyi had mentioned truly was. How wonderful it would be if he could live here every day! "Honored guest, we won't be receiving patrons for a little while yet." "I'm here to see Fellow Daoist Gu Caiyi. I'm her neighbor." "Oh, I see. In that case, please head inside. Follow the path straight along the lake, and you'll find Yuyi Tower. Master Gu is usually there." *Master Gu?* *I can barely look after my own modest household!* Luo Chen had not expected Gu Caiyi to command such status within Tianxiang Pavilion. The servant's tone had been brimming with clear respect. Then again, considering her cultivation was at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement, coupled with her bright, stunning features, long legs, slender waist, and ample bosom, she was a breathtaking sight. With an appearance like that paired with remarkable dancing skill, she would be hailed as a grand master in any era. Letting his thoughts wander, Luo Chen arrived outside Yuyi Tower.