Seeing Them Off!

The next morning, someone came knocking at his door. It was Yuan Xiaoyue. "Brother Luo, here is this month's revenue—a total of six hundred and twenty low-grade spirit stones." Luo Chen blinked as he watched the young girl retrieve the pile of spirit stones from a storage bag. "Your grandfather gave his storage bag to you?" Yuan Xiaoyue stroked the storage bag affectionately and gave a slight nod. It was more than just a storage bag. It was also her father's keepsake. Before Ravine-Leaping Tiger died, he had always used this storage bag. Before taking the Dao Discussion Platform for his death duel, Ravine-Leaping Tiger had left the storage bag with Old Man Yuan. Who could have known he would never return? Leaving behind only one old and one young—the elderly, the infirm, and the helpless. "Grandfather said that the business I'm running now has grown bigger, and that too many goods and spirit stones pass through my hands, so having a storage bag makes things easier." Still, daring to use a storage bag at merely the second layer of Qi Refining was something one could only do in the relatively safe inner city. Luo Chen felt a twinge of envy. When he transmigrated, why hadn't he received an inheritance like this? He counted the spirit stones and settled their accounts based on the set prices. Initially, he had invested two hundred spirit stones—half went into producing immortal beans, popcorn, and such snacks, while the other half was used to purchase yellow pear wine. Now that he had recovered over six hundred, the profit was quite respectable. The only pity was that Dahe Market had only one Dao Discussion Platform; otherwise, the business could have grown much larger and stronger. After calculating, everything basically matched up. Luo Chen was not worried about the Yuan family deceiving him. First, this small venture had been started on a whim. Second, the Yuan family's reputation spoke for itself. Back when he delivered an inexpensive wheelchair, Old Man Yuan had directly gifted him a century-old green gourd in return. And third! Looking at the young girl, Luo Chen could not help but smile. This could be considered buying goodwill. By taking care of a disabled elder and a young girl, he had accumulated quite a good reputation within the Mountain Breaker Gang. Back then, the willingness of Coiled-Dragon Tiger and the master of the Mining Hall to support him had been influenced more or less by these factors. After putting most of the spirit stones into his storage bag, Luo Chen separated out thirty low-grade spirit stones. "Here, take this. This is your wage for last month." Yuan Xiaoyue carefully stored the spirit stones into her bag, her delicate, tender face unable to hide her excitement. This was the first time she had earned spirit stones through her own hard work. She was finally no longer a child who could only rely on her father and grandfather! Looking at the excited girl, Luo Chen could not resist ruffling her soft, sleek hair. "Keep up the good work, and I'll raise your pay in the future! Your Brother Luo is no unscrupulous boss." "Mhm!" "Oh, there's another batch of snacks I roasted over the past few days in the room. Go pack them up—it should be enough for you to sell next month." "Okay, I'll go get them!" Watching the girl dash eagerly into the room, then pack the piles of immortal beans, dried beef, and popcorn in the living area into her storage bag one by one, Luo Chen chuckled. In truth, this little business was quite nice. The earnings were not enormous, given there was only one Dao Discussion Platform. Still, an extra few hundred spirit stones a month was something anyone would gladly take. "The only problem is that once I get busy, I might not have time to make these snacks." Luo Chen rubbed his chin, pondering how to arrange things. He could hardly let Yuan Xiaoyue lose her job right after she had tasted the sweetness of earning a living, could he? Lost in such thoughts, Luo Chen left the inner city. At the city gate, Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang were already waiting early. Seeing the two of them, the corners of Luo Chen's lips curled up. *I, Xiao Luo, am finally someone with bodyguards escorting me to and from work!* "Hall Master Luo, are we heading straight to Crescent Moon Valley?" "No, today we're going to Lancang Pier!" Zhou Yuanli said worriedly, "That's the Great River Gang's territory." "Isn't it our territory as well?" Luo Chen countered. With that, without waiting for the two of them, he activated his Cloud Treading Boots and flew unhurriedly toward Lancang Pier. Behind him, the two exchanged a glance and hurriedly followed. ... Lancang Pier was the largest external pier of Dahe Market. It bordered Dahe Market on the inside and connected to the Lancang River on the outside, serving as a crucial transit hub for traffic heading north and south. Large spiritual materials that were inconvenient to transport via storage bags were almost all carried by waterway. After all, one could hardly expect cultivators to shoulder a thousand-meter-long log or a block of raw iron ore dozens of meters thick and fly across thousands of miles! For precisely this reason, the economic interests involved in Lancang Pier were immense. A commercial district the size of a small town had even sprung up in the vicinity. And the overlord of this place was none other than the Great River Gang. Of course, the Mountain Breaker Gang now had a hall here as well. After the death duels on the Dao Discussion Platform, the Mountain Breaker Gang had forcibly wedged their way into this waterway transport business. After first greeting Wang Yuan, who was stationed here, Luo Chen took his two bodyguards and flew eagerly toward the pier. Over a dozen large ships were berthed throughout the dockyards like pieces on a chessboard. Along the way, many early- and mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators bustled in and out, either carrying cargo or receiving and sending off passengers. Others hawked loudly, peddling various cultivation resources to rogue cultivators who had just arrived at Dahe Market. Luo Chen watched with great interest before arriving at his destination: beside a large ship marked "Jia-Two." Dozens of cultivators were continuously loading cargo onto the ship. Up on deck, a Foundation Establishment cultivator was constantly checking cargo counts with others, afraid of missing any items. "These are all spiritual materials to be taken back to the Divine Talisman Sect. They were collected by the Divine Talisman Pavilion over the past ten years. The quantity is so immense that it must be transported by water, and it will take years of travel to deliver it all back to the sect." At some point, Fu Xiuxiu had walked over to Luo Chen's side. Luo Chen was extremely curious. "Does the Great River Gang really possess the capability to cross the Jade Cauldron Domain and deliver them all the way to the Divine Talisman Domain?" "Of course not. They are only transporting them to the nearest market, Taishan Market. Once there, more powerful merchant caravans will assist us with the transit." Fu Xiuxiu smiled faintly. Realization dawned on Luo Chen. That made sense; the Great River Gang was merely a small faction with a single Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could they possibly handle logistics across multiple domains? "Sister Xiuxiu, wait a moment!" Luo Chen took out a voice transmission talisman and swiftly activated it. The talisman drifted up toward the large ship. The Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Divine Talisman Pavilion glanced at it, then paid it no further mind. Before long, two figures appeared on the deck. After looking around, they waved toward Luo Chen. "Come on down!" Luo Chen shouted. Hearing his call, Old Daoist Chen and his granddaughter, Little Shuyi, came running down shortly after. "Fellow Daoist Xiao Luo, you really came to see us off!" "Brother Luo, did you bring me any dried beef?" Luo Chen rubbed Little Shuyi's head and handed over a small parcel. Then he turned to Fu Xiuxiu and said, "Sister Xiuxiu, this Fellow Daoist Chen Xiuping is one of my few close friends. On this journey, he is also traveling to the Divine Talisman Domain to take his granddaughter, Chen Shuyi, to participate in next year's sect entrance trial. If possible, I hope you might look after them a bit. Of course, only within your ability—if it causes any inconvenience, please don't trouble yourself." He spoke with utmost earnestness and sincere feeling. Fu Xiuxiu glanced at the elderly man and young girl before her. After brief contemplation, she gave a gentle nod. "Once we reach the Divine Talisman Domain, we will be fellow townsfolk. Naturally, we should look after each other." Chen Xiuping was left utterly stunned. Little Shuyi, however, was already sweet-talkingly calling her "Sister Xiuxiu" under Luo Chen's prompting. With Luo Chen's introductions, both sides became acquainted. Upon learning that the two of them were scheduled to stay on the lowest deck of the flying boat, Fu Xiuxiu suggested that Little Shuyi come stay with her. Old Daoist Chen was more than willing and hurriedly had Little Shuyi go up to move her luggage. Watching the two head aboard, Luo Chen sighed. After parting today, he did not know whether they would ever see each other again in this lifetime. "Luo Chen, does that little girl really have a chance of becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Divine Talisman Sect?" "What little girl? Sister Xiuxiu only looks young—her actual age isn't far behind yours." Fu Xiuxiu's age was no secret. One could easily tell from the way she usually interacted with Qin Liangchen and his wife. She simply possessed excellent youth-preserving techniques; in reality, she was likely in her fifties. Chen Xiuping was only sixty-five, so it was hardly fitting for him to call her a little girl. Luo Chen thought for a moment and said earnestly, "Sister Xiuxiu previously attempted a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, but failed. Although the Divine Talisman Sect has given her another chance this time, success is far from guaranteed. If she fails then, she will be all alone over there, left in isolation. Although I haven't spent much time with Little Shuyi, I can tell she is a bright and perceptive child. Coupled with your years of guidance, she has a very strong chance of entering the Divine Talisman Sect. If Sister Xiuxiu really does fail while Little Shuyi successfully joins the sect, make sure Little Shuyi lends her a helping hand when the time comes." Old Daoist Chen listened intently, nodding from time to time. Finally, he said with conviction, "Since we all hail from Dahe Market, we ought to look after one another." Luo Chen smiled faintly. "I knew it—you old fellow have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. I won't waste words wishing you a smooth journey. Go on up!" On the large ship, the cargo tally had already concluded. The small flying boat resting upon the massive deck was also beginning to shimmer with spiritual light. The waterway only carried large spiritual materials that were inconvenient to transport, whereas passengers like them would take the flying boat to return swiftly to the Divine Talisman Domain. "I'm off, then!" Luo Chen waved his hand and prepared to turn and leave. Yet just as he was about to depart, Old Daoist Chen grabbed hold of him. "Take this!" A piece of gauze was thrust into Luo Chen's hand. Old Daoist Chen then bolted up toward the ship with teeth gritted, looking as though he had just made a disastrously losing bargain. Luo Chen looked at the gauze, feeling rather bewildered. "Brother Luo, come visit us in the Divine Talisman Domain in the future!" Aboard the flying boat, Little Shuyi, her long ponytail bouncing, waved continuously. Beside her stood Fu Xiuxiu, smiling gently, and Chen Xiuping, who was sighing ruefully. Luo Chen raised his right hand and waved back. "Have a safe journey!" *Buzz...* The spiritual light flared brilliantly, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the flying boat soared into the sky. With a single bank, it transformed into a streak of light and sped away. Within a few breaths, the flying boat was reduced to a tiny black speck in everyone's eyes. "Speed like this is beyond a spirit tool—it must be a magic treasure!" Filled with emotion, Luo Chen turned and walked away. From this day forward, they would be separated by vast horizons, and there was no telling when they might meet again. Still, he was now the master of the Mountain Breaker Gang's Pill Hall, while they were bound for a great sect. With bright futures ahead of them all, there was nothing to worry about.