Chapter 13

"Master Zhong, I truly thank you for today."

Listening to Lin Zhiyun's pleasant voice, Zhong Wen couldn't help but feel a bit elated.

"It was just a small effort. It's a pity that I couldn't help much in the end; it was still up to the Palace Master to show her might," Zhong Wen said with a hint of regret.

"No, if the debt hadn't been repaid, I wouldn't have taken action. I would have had to hand over Qingfeng Mountain, which my master passed down, to others," Lin Zhiyun said seriously. "Otherwise, wouldn't I be no different from a bandit?"

Zhong Wen: "..."

Regarding Lin Zhiyun's principles, Zhong Wen wasn't sure whether to call her principled or stubborn.

A high-ranking Tian Wheel expert, reduced to the point where she couldn't repay a few hundred spirit crystals, was undoubtedly related to this kind of personality.

"Master Zhong, what are your plans next?"

"Palace Master Lin, since I woke up after being injured, I've lost part of my memory. I don't remember where I'm from or who my parents are. I can't even recognize words anymore," Zhong Wen began to mimic the sad storytelling from a past life's variety show to gain sympathy. "When I was most confused and the world had abandoned me, it was thanks to Little Die's daily care and teaching me to read and write, which helped me recover my memory. Liu Qiuyue and Yin Ning'er have also been very kind to me. It was Peihua Palace that made me feel warmth again. This kindness, I would be willing to die to repay."

This emotional monologue had a significant effect on the young, innocent girls. The three young women were all moved, and the little girl's eyes even turned a bit red.

"Now, this world is utterly unfamiliar to me, and I am like a wandering soul to this world. Although I've only spent a few days at Peihua Palace, these few days have made me feel the warmth of home. Grateful for the great kindness of the Palace Master and the sisters, I shouldn't ask for more, but I still hope to stay here for a while." Zhong Wen was getting more and more into character, almost about to cry himself. "First, to repay Peihua Palace's kindness to the best of my ability, and second, to learn more words and strive to recover my memory. I hope the Palace Master will grant me this favor."

"Master!" The little girl, moved to tears, shook Lin Zhiyun's sleeve and pleaded, "Can Zhong Wen stay?"

Lin Zhiyun, who was already soft-hearted, was already swayed by Zhong Wen's emotional speech. With the little girl's plea, her tone softened: "Master Zhong, today, we almost lost Qingfeng Mountain, but thanks to your spirit crystals, we managed to keep it. Sending you down the mountain now would make me, Lin Zhiyun, an ungrateful person. Moreover, you risked your life to protect Little Die, showing that you are a good and loyal person. However, the palace is inhabited by women, and your living here might cause inconvenience and ridicule."

"Miss and the sisters are pure and upright, and we have nothing to fear from others' words," Zhong Wen said firmly. "Let others talk; we'll walk our own path."

Zhong Wen's impromptu quote sounded profound to the people of Peihua Palace. Lin Zhiyun looked at him with more admiration: "Being upright, one has nothing to fear from shadows. Master Zhong, your words are wise. I was too focused on appearances. The mountain is simple, but if you are willing, you will always be a guest at Peihua Palace. Don't mention repayment again."

At this moment, in the eyes of Liu Qiuyue and Yin Ning'er, Zhong Wen had become a moral saint with a golden halo behind him, greatly increasing their affection. The little girl, seeing that Zhong Wen could stay, was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Palace Master! From now on, don't call me Master Zhong; just call me Zhong Wen." Zhong Wen bowed.

Being able to stay at Peihua Palace, he would have a better chance to pursue Lin Zhiyun.

Since he was moved, he decided to take action. Zhong Wen, from the internet era, didn't plan to hide his feelings.

"Palace Master has returned, the debt issue has been resolved smoothly, and Zhong Wen can stay. Truly, three joys in one day," Aunt Wang said with a smile. "I'll prepare some of my best dishes. Let's all gather in the hall for a meal."

Lin Zhiyun smiled and nodded: "Master Zhong... Zhong Wen, come with us."

"Of course." Zhong Wen readily agreed, eager to share a meal with his goddess.

"Palace Master." Looking at Aunt Wang's hurried figure, Zhong Wen suddenly spoke, "The people who came to collect the debt today, although they seemed to be led by Mr. Jin, the real decision-makers were those four Earth Wheel experts. They are not the same group."

Lin Zhiyun nodded: "Those cultivators likely belong to the 'big figure' Mr. Jin mentioned. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine that so many Earth Wheel-level cultivators would follow an ordinary person like Mr. Jin."

"Exactly." Zhong Wen continued his analysis. "Being able to command four Earth Wheel experts shows the strength of the person behind the scenes. Since they are after the deed to Qingfeng Mountain, they might have more plans."

"You mean..."

"Moreover, don't you think they retreated too decisively, as if their plan wasn't completely foiled?"

Hearing Zhong Wen's words, Lin Zhiyun couldn't help but worry: "I'm not afraid of them using force, but such conspiracies are headache-inducing."

"Fear not thieves who steal, but those who remember. Palace Master should be prepared..." To gain favor with his crush, Zhong Wen switched to his strategist mode.

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At the foot of the mountain, two burly men threw Mr. Jin to the ground, making him see stars.

"Disgusting!" One of them spat and cursed.

"Qia Da, we've failed this time. Who would have thought that Lin Zhiyun, who was unknown, is already at the Tian Wheel level? She looks to be only twenty-six or twenty-seven. At this cultivation speed, if it were known, she could easily rank in the top ten of the Great Qian Heroes' Association," one of the four Earth Wheel cultivators said. Qia Da, the leader, was the one he referred to.

"What do we do now?" another Earth Wheel cultivator asked. "Should we report to Young Master and discuss further? And what about this fat pig, should we...?"

He made a throat-cutting gesture.

"Don't rush. Young Master is not someone who would leave no backup plan for such a situation," Qia Da said coldly, glancing at Mr. Jin on the ground with disdain. "This fat pig's life is still useful for now."

"What should we do next?"

"Wait."

*****************************************************************

"Palace Master, you're back?" Zheng Yueying saw Lin Zhiyun as soon as she entered and hurried to greet her.

"Miss Zheng, are you here to spar with Qiuyue again?" Lin Zhiyun smiled. "Have you eaten? The lunch is a bit late today, why don't you join us?"

Lin Zhiyun had a good impression of Liu Qiuyue's rival and friend.

Zheng Yueying had already eaten something before coming to listen to the story. She was about to decline but saw that Liu Qiuyue and Zhong Wen were already at the table, so she decided to join them.

"The dishes today are quite abundant." Seeing Aunt Wang bring out a large pot of old hen soup, Lin Zhiyun thought she had prepared it to celebrate, not knowing it was due to Zhong Wen's impulsive spending.

The little girl scooped a spoonful of soup, sipped it, and found it fragrant but tasteless. Her face fell, and she turned to Zhong Wen: "Zhong Wen, do you have any 'Shenxian'?"

"Of course." Zhong Wen smiled and took out a salt packet from his pocket, breaking off a piece and throwing it into the soup.

Liu Qiuyue, Zheng Yueying, and even Yin Ning'er's eyes lit up at the sight of the salt.

The little girl, who had been waiting, stirred the soup and served everyone a bowl.

Lin Zhiyun and Aunt Wang looked at each other, not understanding what the little girl and Zhong Wen were doing.

"A little homemade seasoning, please don't mind it, Palace Master," Zhong Wen explained.

"Master, this is Zhong Wen's homemade 'Shenxian.' It's delicious, try it quickly," the little girl eagerly offered.

Lin Zhiyun picked up her bowl, scooped a spoonful of chicken soup, and gently blew on it before sipping it. Her graceful movements made Zhong Wen's heart race.

The soup was incredibly delicious!

Lin Zhiyun's eyes lit up.

Born into a noble family, she had grown up in luxury and tasted various delicacies, but none compared to this bowl of chicken soup. Her opinion of Zhong Wen, who could make such seasoning, rose even higher.

"This is..." Aunt Wang, who had also tasted the soup, had a strange expression. "Zhong Wen, I thought my cooking was quite good, but now I realize I was just a frog in a well. If you were willing to be the chef, I might have been out of a job long ago."

"Aunt Wang, you're joking. It's just a seasoning. Your cooking is excellent."

The women were already immersed in the delicious soup, and for a moment, only the sound of spoons and bowls could be heard, with no one in the mood to chat.

After finishing the soup, they reluctantly moved on to other dishes, but the enthusiasm for the unsalted vegetables was much lower.

After the meal, they chatted for a while, and Zhong Wen got up to return to his room, with the little girl following closely behind.

Liu Qiuyue and Zheng Yueying also got up to leave, and Lin Zhiyun thought they were going to spar again. However, she was surprised to see them closely following Zhong Wen into his room and closing the door.

Seeing them not come out for a long time, Lin Zhiyun felt a bit displeased.

These two girls were not young, and spending so much time with a man in broad daylight could lead to gossip.

Although she trusted Liu Qiuyue and the others not to do anything improper, she couldn't help but worry and quietly approached Zhong Wen's door to listen.

At the Tian Wheel level, a cultivator's physical abilities and senses were far superior to those of ordinary people.

She heard Zhong Wen's voice from inside the room:

"Seeing him put on the hat, Sanzang didn't eat the dry rations but silently recited the Tightening Spell. Wukong said, 'My head hurts, my head hurts!'..."

It turned out he was telling a story.

After listening for a while, Lin Zhiyun relaxed and put her worries aside. She found Zhong Wen's storytelling vivid and interesting, so she stood at the door, unwilling to leave...

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The "Shengyu Trading Company" branch in Fufeng City was usually deserted.

But on this day, a long line of unicorn carriages was parked in front of the company. Each carriage was ornate, with gold trim and a large sunshade on top, looking luxurious and grand. The unicorns pulling the carriages were all well-fed and spirited.

On the second floor of the company, in the VIP room, a large couch was placed in the center, covered with cotton and colorful silk. In front of the couch was a delicate heart-shaped wooden table with an emerald tea set, elegant and luxurious. The plump manager, Mr. Wang, stood respectfully by the couch.

On the couch sat a charming and beautiful young woman, about twenty years old, wearing a red short top embroidered with golden clovers and a red skirt with a slit, revealing her white, slender legs and a pair of exquisite black boots.

"Miss, what brings you to the branch this time?"

Fufeng City was remote and small, with limited transactions, and the branch here was largely ignored by the headquarters. Mr. Wang, who had taken over the business here, had a semi-retired lifestyle.

However, the young lady in front of him was the only beloved daughter of Shengyu Trading Company's leader, Shangguan Tong, who had been in charge of a significant part of the company's operations since the age of ten.

Shengyu Trading Company was one of the top three companies in the entire Great Qian Empire, and Shangguan Tong's wealth could be described as rivaling the nation. His only daughter, Shangguan Mingyue, was a renowned beauty. Since her coming-of-age ceremony, the number of people seeking her hand in marriage was endless, reportedly stretching from the southern gate to the northern gate of the capital.

It was rumored that even the imperial family's sons were among her suitors.

However, no young man had yet caught the eye of this proud daughter of heaven.

"I was annoyed by a group of flies in Cangyun City, so I came to Uncle Wang's place to avoid the fuss," Shangguan Mingyue said lazily, sipping from an emerald teacup. "If it weren't for the pressure from 'Yin Huan,' I wouldn't have stayed in the Southern Border for a moment longer."

"It's because of Miss's charm that those young men can't resist," Mr. Wang said with a smile.

"I'm so annoyed." Shangguan Mingyue rolled her eyes, her beautiful face and lazy expression exuding a captivating charm.

"From the looks of it, Miss is about to return to the capital, right?"

"Uncle Wang, I won't hide it from you. In this competition, the other side has the upper hand. There's nothing I can do here," Shangguan Mingyue said, her lazy demeanor slightly more serious. "I'm afraid that in the future, 'Yin Huan' will dominate the spirit medicine market."

"Has the situation deteriorated to this extent?" Mr. Wang, though semi-retired, was still aware of the company's situation. "Last year, we were on par with 'Yin Huan' in the spirit medicine market."

"The Xiao family has made a move," Shangguan Mingyue said, her face slightly serious. "In the past year, the Xiao family has secretly bought or seized a large amount of land that produces spirit medicines, catching us off guard."

"'Yin Huan' has the Xiao family's backing, but don't we have the support of the imperial family?" Mr. Wang asked, puzzled.

"The imperial family supports more than just us. They can't afford to help us in internal conflicts," Shangguan Mingyue pouted, looking cute. "The so-called support is just using the imperial name to give us a fair chance."

"The Xiao family has big plans," Mr. Wang sighed. "But Miss, don't worry too much. Our advantage is in the spirit ore business. A temporary setback in the spirit medicine market won't hurt us deeply."

"But..." Shangguan Mingyue resumed her lazy posture, her eyes slightly unfocused. "The spirit medicine business is my responsibility."

"It's almost time for lunch. Why don't you stay and have a meal here?" Mr. Wang, unsure how to respond, changed the subject.

"Sure." Shangguan Mingyue nodded slightly.

Mr. Wang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "You came at the right time. The branch recently acquired a unique seasoning, and I've been hesitant to use it. Miss might be in for a treat."

"Oh? That sounds good." Shangguan Mingyue's eyes lit up, and she smoothed her hair. "I'm tired of the specialties from Cangyun City. It's time for a change."

Mr. Wang clapped his hands, and beautiful waitresses entered one by one, each carrying a golden tray.

"Fufeng City is a small place, not as rich in cuisine as the capital," Mr. Wang said with a smile. "But we have a dish called 'Emerald Jade Meat Bone Soup' that is quite unique."

"I've already tried the 'Emerald Jade Meat Bone Soup' in Cangyun City," Shangguan Mingyue said, her eyes showing disappointment. "It's just average."

"The 'Emerald Jade Meat Bone Soup' is just a combination of fragrant herbs, tofu, and high-quality pork with a fancy name. It's not impressive enough for Miss," Mr. Wang said with a smile. "But with a touch of 'Shenxian,' it's a different story."

"Shenxian?" Shangguan Mingyue thought for a moment, unsure if she had heard of it.

"It's the seasoning I mentioned. Try it and see," Mr. Wang gestured, and a waitress quickly served a bowl of 'Emerald Jade Meat Bone Soup' to Shangguan Mingyue.

"Since Uncle Wang speaks so highly of it, I'll give it a try." Shangguan Ming