Chapter 23: Emotional Investment Is Also an Investment

Chapter 23: Emotional Investment is Also an Investment

Upon hearing that the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had been raided, Yu Xian immediately recalled his premonition from the day before. He had not expected it to manifest so quickly.

Under his persistent questioning, Yulan recounted everything she knew.

It turned out that a gang of master thieves had ambushed the Hundred Treasures Pavilion that day, looting all the silver and a vast collection of precious gems and jade. Many had lost their lives resisting. Even a martial arts grandmaster secretly guarding the pavilion had been killed on the spot, not to mention the guards of the jade merchants, who were merely common martial artists with no power to resist.

It was said that among the thieves was a "Golden-Armored General" who, after chanting a mantra, was enveloped in golden light, as if wearing impenetrable armor, rendering him immune to blades and arrows. The projectiles fired by the responding garrison were as useless as pebbles hitting an iron plate. Then there was a "God of Strength," who, with his own hands, forced open the closed city gates like a titan, bellowing to drive back hundreds of pursuers and cover his accomplices' retreat. There was also a "Lord of Divine Fire," capable of manipulating mystical flames; when the fire descended, it struck like a falling meteor, incinerating everything in its path. The martial arts grandmaster at the pavilion had been refined to death by this very fire.

Preliminary estimates put the losses from the raid at over a million taels of silver, to say nothing of the countless precious jades. The entire city was now under martial law, and the citizens were gripped by a panic even more intense than when the Prince’s residence had been infiltrated by assassins.

"Master, we are so lucky." Yulan nuzzled into Yu Xian’s arms, still trembling, like a kitten seeking comfort from its owner.

Yu Xian, however, stood frozen, unable to speak for a long time. Upon hearing Yulan’s description, his mind had automatically filled in the blanks with various spiritual arts and talismans: Golden Light Incantation, Divine Strength Talisman, Fireball Technique...

Is this still a mundane world? This is too absurd. A group of cultivators using the power of spiritual arts and talismans to rob a bunch of mortals? That’s even more excessive than his own use of spiritual sense to cheat at gambling on stones! At least he had the decency to wear a mask. It was barbaric—truly barbaric!

But the question remained: why would a group of cultivators rob silver? Did they intend to use it as material for refining artifacts? Projecting his own mindset, Yu Xian couldn't fathom their purpose for a moment. He wracked his brain but couldn't understand why a group of cultivators would act with such fanfare. Did they truly think themselves invincible?

Don't let Yulan’s descriptions fool you into thinking they were unstoppable gods; if they were truly invincible, they wouldn't have fled. Given the thin spiritual energy in this mundane realm, they had likely exhausted their internal mana and were forced to retreat. Otherwise, once others reacted, they might be even weaker than nascent-stage martial artists.

Risking their lives just to rob silver that had little use to them?

However, he possessed one virtue: if he couldn't figure out a problem, he simply stopped thinking about it. In this life, why seek out unnecessary trouble?

"With me here, those Golden-Armored Generals and Lords of Divine Fire wouldn't stand a chance against one of my hands." Yu Xian patted Yulan’s head, though he was thinking that he needed to refine his own artifact as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he encountered his peers, it was unclear who would come out on top in a clash between two half-baked cultivators.

"Mm-hmm, Master is the best." Hearing Yu Xian’s boast, Yulan giggled foolishly.

"I’ve slept all day and I’m a bit hungry. Yulan, go check the kitchen and see if there’s anything to eat, and bring some over for me."

"Alright."

Once Yulan was gone, Yu Xian turned to Chen Yi.

"Have you successfully entered the Qi Refining stage?" Though phrased as a question, his tone was certain. In his eyes, Chen Yi stood out like a firefly in the dark; the sparse spiritual energy in the surroundings was continuously flowing into her body, as if she were a human vortex. Clearly, she had a high affinity for spiritual energy. Even in this mundane environment, she would likely have no trouble breaking through another layer or two. Recalling how spiritual energy had treated him with indifference during his own training, Yu Xian cursed silently at its snobbery.

Chen Yi nodded silently, looking as if she had more to say. Yu Xian found it amusing and said with a helpless shrug, "I thought that given our relationship, we should have been completely honest with each other by now. I told you I wouldn't interfere with your freedom. Or are you worried about the Prince?"

Chen Yi’s voice dropped. "I have a sister. She is in the Prince's custody, and I haven't seen her for a long time."

Yu Xian nodded. "So, I have a sister-in-law. You want me to help you save her?"

Chen Yi said earnestly, "If you help me save her, I will owe you my life!"

Yu Xian rolled his eyes. "Even if I don't save her, your life is already mine. Don't go around offering your life as debt; give me something more practical."

Chen Yi looked troubled. "I have no silver."

"Can't you say you'll offer yourself? Isn't that how it’s written in the plays?" Yu Xian’s gaze swept over her from bottom to top, his expression playful. Only he knew that beneath her slender frame lay such bountiful fruit, usually kept tightly under wraps and hidden from the world.

Chen Yi blushed, feeling as if she had been stripped bare, but she murmured, "I have been yours for a long time."

Yu Xian chuckled. "Exactly. Since you’re mine, why be so distant?"

He stepped forward and pressed his hands to the corners of Chen Yi’s mouth, pulling them upward into a smile that was perhaps more awkward than a cry. "Your sister is my sister-in-law; if I don't save her, who will? Leave her to me; I'll handle the Prince. But you must wait a little while. I need some time."

He at least needed to refine his artifact embryo. When that was done, even if the Prince didn't want to act with dignity, he could help him find it. Once his strength was sufficient, problems would no longer be problems. If he were to rush in now, especially with the major incident at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, who knew what the Prince might demand of him? That would be inviting trouble.

Chen Yi nodded silently. "I can wait."

"Don't worry, three months at most." Yu Xian gave a deadline, then sighed suddenly. "You are a pearl buried in the sand. I was lucky to pick you up by chance, but I know you won't belong to me forever. Let's make it these three months, shall we? For these three months, you are just you, without any other identity. Let's try being friends or lovers. If we are destined to part, why not be happy while we are together? Consider it a beautiful memory for us both."

He couldn't offer material investment, so he could only invest emotionally. Yu Xian didn't know if Chen Yi would survive in the cultivation world, but playing a "raising" game was hardly a loss. As the saying went, the union of spirit and flesh was true happiness. Of course, such behavior—deceiving a young woman’s heart—was undeniably scummy.

Chen Yi stared at the man who had just confessed so passionately. She suddenly let go of all her burdens, flashed him a gentle smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons, and nodded slightly.

"Okay."

The coldness that usually defined her vanished in an instant, just like when they first met. Back then, she was merely Chen Xiao’s nominal younger sister—a fragile, helpless girl as gentle as water. That had been her disguise, but it was also a part of her reality.

"You look beautiful when you smile." Yu Xian did not stint on his praise.

He took the girl’s cold hand, pulled her into his embrace, and accompanied her to watch the evening glow on the horizon, unashamedly keeping his feet in two boats.

He was grateful to this era for giving men the greatest tolerance.