Although Xu Yuan appeared to get along quite well with Zhou Chen on the surface over these past days, and the man answered virtually any question regarding cultivation, Xu Yuan knew that deep down, Zhou Chen still looked down on him.
It was evident from numerous small details.
He addressed him as "Third Young Master" with every breath, yet as a bodyguard, he never once knocked before entering his private chamber.
When the two spoke, the stench of liquor on his breath was never concealed in the slightest.
On one occasion, driven by curiosity regarding the structure of a top-tier treasure like a Sumeru ring, Zhou Chen had even shamelessly asked to borrow it from Xu Yuan to examine.
When Zhou Chen said examine, it truly would have been just to examine; he wouldn't dare keep it for himself.
After all, Xu Changge knew that Xu Yuan possessed this Sumeru ring.
If Zhou Chen dared to pocket it, he would be a dead man.
The issue, however, was that this was a Sumeru ring, containing all manner of private belongings and treasures.
Asking to borrow it was roughly equivalent to knowing someone's wife was bathing alone at home, yet asking him for his house keys.
Xu Yuan had naturally refused and administered a fitting warning, yet afterward, Zhou Chen had audaciously brought it up once more in a half-joking manner.
Such instances were too numerous to count.
When Zhou Chen suddenly stepped in today to resolve the matter with Xue Yong, Xu Yuan had originally thought the man had changed.
He thought that the expenses of treating him over the past half-month and his month of diligent cultivation had altered his opinion of him.
Yet in the end, once the matter was settled, Zhou Chen was the exact same as before.
Grinning with a mouthful of foul liquor breath, he leaned in to chat about women, asking Xu Yuan to summon a few courtesans upstairs for him.
Xu Yuan's patience finally wore thin.
Once again, he gained a profound understanding of the original host's plight, and why he had become so overly sensitive and quick to anger.
Xu Yuan had originally planned to endure it, just as in his past life: produce results first, gradually establish his authority, and then discipline these subordinates in due course.
Yet upon closer thought, he suddenly realized that given his identity and cultivation constitution, there was no need whatsoever to be excessively polite to this Grandmaster.
And so, Xu Yuan used the topic of diligent cultivation to make his move.
The contempt in Zhou Chen's earlier words had practically said: *You, a wastrel, certainly won't stick with it, so stop putting on a show.*
Xu Yuan had thus mocked Zhou Chen for the pot calling the kettle black.
The original host had given up on cultivation because blocked meridians and a practically crippled soul had brought his progress to a crawl.
You, Zhou Chen, hit a bottleneck where you couldn't advance an inch, and began indulging yourself in dissipation.
What difference was there between the two?
What right did he have to mouth off and sneer here?
With my current constitution, if I am willing to resume cultivation from scratch, is there any problem with that?
Xu Yuan's purpose was clear.
First, to give Zhou Chen a thorough reality check.
Second, to establish an excuse for focusing wholly on cultivation.
Third, to overturn people's ingrained impressions of him, gradually establishing his own authority in the eyes of these retainers and guest elders.
Subordinates who paid lip service while secretly defying orders were completely different from subordinates who served with all their might.
In his past life, employees giving lip service on a project might at worst lead to delays or a botched project, but now, if these guest elders and retainers played double games with him, it could easily cost him his life.
That being said,
Zhou Chen's reaction had indeed surprised Xu Yuan a little.
He had thought this Grandmaster would flick his sleeves and storm off over losing face, but unexpectedly, the man had directly bowed his head and admitted his fault.
Yet on second thought, it made sense.
Zhou Chen was bowing his head now partly because of Xu Yuan's verbal dressing-down, but also because of Xu Yuan's status, and even more so because of the infinite possibilities of an Innate Dao Body.
Xu Yuan cast a deep glance at the bowing Zhou Chen.
When the situation turned against him, he immediately yielded and lowered his stance—that at least was a merit.
However... heh.
Xu Yuan did not speak, silently staring at this Grandmaster.
"..."
Zhou Chen remained bowed with clasped hands, his lowered face tight with an expression of sheer chagrin.
The young man's words had suddenly made him realize something.
In the past, the Third Young Master had no future.
As a useless constitution with no future, the Third Young Master could simply be humored and brushed off casually.
Yet through a miraculous encounter, the current Third Young Master had become an Innate Dao Body.
And he had continuously treated the present Third Young Master with his past attitude.
If the Third Young Master truly turned over a new leaf, with the aptitude of an Innate Dao Body supported by the resources of the Chancellor's Manor, the young master before him could very well become a second Eldest Young Master.
And his growth rate might be even faster.
In a mere half-month, he had already broken through to the Ninth Rank...
In a few years, once his cultivation rose, given this Third Young Master's vengeful temper...
"..." Zhou Chen.
Zhou Chen truly wanted to give himself a resounding slap across the face.
Habit really was something that could get a man killed...
The silence on the top floor dragged on.
Xu Yuan quietly stared at Zhou Chen.
While Zhou Chen remained bowed with clasped fists.
Seeing how the man stubbornly refused to speak, a touch of impatience gradually crept into Xu Yuan's eyes.
A clever man, but not particularly clever.
Now that you realize the situation, after I've put up with you for over half a month, you think an apology for 'insolence' without offering anything concrete can just brush it all under the rug?
Given Zhou Chen's cultivation realm, he naturally perceived the shift in Xu Yuan's gaze. His expression shifted for a moment, and he gritted his teeth:
"Third Young Master, you have just entered the Ninth Rank, yet I have not offered any congratulations. This is a modest gift I specially prepared for you."
With that, he reached into his robes and fished out a small jade bottle.
"..."
Seeing this, Xu Yuan was a little disappointed.
He didn't want things.
What he wanted was Zhou Chen the person.
At the very least, he should have offered a few promises to lend a hand when called upon, shouldn't he?
The thought flitted past, and Xu Yuan knew he was being overly greedy.
Making a Grandmaster yield wholeheartedly while only at the Ninth Rank—even his eldest brother hadn't been that formidable.
Reining in his thoughts, Xu Yuan looked back at Zhou Chen.
With an expression of pure heartache, Zhou Chen squeezed his eyes shut and thrust his hand forward, offering the jade bottle before Xu Yuan:
"This item is called Xiaoyuan Powder."
*Xiaoyuan Powder?*
Xu Yuan glanced at the jade bottle.
A fine layer of bluish-gray crystalline powder lay across the bottom of the bottle.
In this world, not all medicines took the form of pills. Liquids, solids, powders, and even gaseous medicines were too numerous to list.
Rummaging through his memories, he recalled the effects of this medicine.
It was good stuff.
A top-tier body-tempering medicine that needed only to be poured into a bath barrel while bathing. Suitable for any rank—even he, newly stepped into the Ninth Rank, could use it to nourish the meridians and temper the body, laying an early foundation for entering the Sixth Rank Iron Body.
A medicine beneficial even to the cultivation of Grandmasters, if placed on the open market, this Xiaoyuan Powder would easily command well over ten thousand taels of silver.
For Zhou Chen, this was likely a massive hemorrhage of wealth.
The corners of Xu Yuan's lips curved slightly. Raising his hand, he took the bottle of spirit powder from the man's grasp and toyed with it in his palm.
Zhou Chen lifted his eyes at that moment, staring at the jade bottle in Xu Yuan's hand with a gaze brimming with reluctance and anguish.
Xu Yuan suddenly turned his gaze upon him.
Their eyes met.
"..." Zhou Chen.
Forcing an awkward smile, Zhou Chen said cheerfully:
"Third Young Master, with your Ninth Rank cultivation, you only need to pour a tiny pinch when bathing—ah?"
Before he could finish, Xu Yuan casually tossed the jade bottle right back to him.
Zhou Chen scrambled to catch the precious jade bottle, surprise flickering in his eyes.
He instinctively assumed the Third Young Master failed to recognize its worth.
Xu Yuan merely cast him a sideways glance, turning away to leave as he tossed out a single sentence:
"Breaking through the bottleneck of entering the Dao through martial arts is no easy task. Master Zhou had best keep this Xiaoyuan Powder for yourself."
"..." Zhou Chen.
Silence.
After a momentary flicker in his eyes, Zhou Chen suddenly grinned and cupped his hands in a bow:
"Zhou thanks the Third Young Master."
"..."
Xu Yuan gave no reply, descending the stairs with steady strides.
After a brief hesitation,
Zhou Chen hurriedly caught up. Sometimes, being thick-skinned did more good than harm.
Falling in beside Xu Yuan, Zhou Chen reverted to his former demeanor, though his speech was now free of drunken breath. Grinning, he asked:
"Third Young Master, are you going to cultivate? I have had little to do lately, so I could assist your cultivation by your side."
"Assist my cultivation?" Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow; this was the first time he had heard such a concept.
Zhou Chen explained with a smile, "It's a trait of my cultivation method. I can use my intent-soul to temper the surrounding Source Qi and gather it around you, so you only need to continuously refine it."
"Such a thing exists?" Xu Yuan glanced at Zhou Chen.
"Naturally."
Thickening his skin, Zhou Chen asked, "Does Third Young Master need it?"
"Mm... not for now."
"Ah? Then Third Young Master, where are you..."
"Coming downstairs, I'm naturally going to find the madam."
"..." Zhou Chen.
Xu Yuan halted his steps and glanced sideways at Zhou Chen with amused detachment, as if stating the obvious:
"Tomorrow, a top courtesan of Zuixian Tower is making her debut."
Chapter 37