Chapter 47

Taeheojin seemed to have also noticed the fact, as he gave a small cough.

“Well, then… I’ll gratefully accept it.”

While Danmokryeon and Yeopyun were feeling regretful, Danmokcheongi, who had been staring at the jar, reluctantly turned his gaze away.

‘If I apply this and practice meditation, it will be helpful, right?’

Is it saying that my inner strength will increase?

Suddenly, the words Jianyanzao had said not long ago came to mind.

— If I say that I gained a decade of inner strength after drinking the Qinglian Water, wouldn’t all the martial artists in the world rush to get it?

He snapped back to reality. Danmokcheongi, who wanted to rush over and use the Qinglian Water for meditation, tried to maintain his composure and continued to bid farewell to Taeheojin.

“So, you’re going to Nanzhili? Are you planning to visit the Nangong family as well?”

“Yes. Since Yangzhou is right here, if I don’t visit when I come, Jinghai might send a flock of pigeons to Kunlun Mountain.”

Taeheojin said this and shuddered slightly. Nangong Jinghai, the young master of the Nangong family, was a man of composure and coldness, known as the Iron-Blooded Sword, but he often revealed his deeply hidden passion to his relatives.

For example, if he witnessed something he didn’t like, he might send dozens of messenger pigeons to Kunlun Mountain, even if it was thousands of miles away.

“Upon hearing that the Nangong family’s Lian beat the Jinjia kid, he might challenge Lian to a duel.”

Taeheojin trailed off. The young master Nangong Jinghai also had two sons.

They, too, had been showcasing their talents from a young age, inheriting outstanding abilities from their parents and the concentrated power of the family. Taeheojin was well aware of this.

A match between those boys and Lian. Judging by the apparent conditions, Lian’s defeat would be inevitable.

Taeheojin smiled as if gauging Lian’s reaction and patted his head.

“Lian, don’t go too far.”

“Huh?”

“Stop talking nonsense. If you’re going, leave before the sun is fully up. I’ve prepared a carriage for you, so you can take it.”

“No, why would a Taoist prepare a carriage for me?”

“Right. Are you a Taoist who rides the Clouds and Flies? Go by horse.”

“You’re belittling me because I can’t even walk on air.”

Taeheojin grumbled and reached into his sleeve, pulling out something. Lian’s eyes widened.

“What’s that jade? And it’s so big.”

Danmokcheongi was also surprised.

In Taeheojin’s hand was a piece of jade slightly larger than an adult’s fist. He said with a proud expression,

“I picked it up on my way out of Kunlun. It’s white with green spots, like moss peeking through the snow, giving it a fresh and elegant look. The Kunlun people are all rough and can’t polish it beautifully, so they just made it round.”

Taeheojin said this, smiled, and firmly placed the jade in Lian’s hand.

“There are many famous craftsmen in Hangzhou, so have them make it into a beautiful bracelet for you.”

However, Lian didn’t hear his words.

Jade imbued with Kunlun’s essence: Spirit Capacity 21

You can now store Spirit Qi.

Not 1, not 5, not 10, but a whopping 21!

“Don’t tell me you’re just giving this because you gave me the Qinglian Water? I don’t need that kind of thing.”

“I intended to give it to Lian from the beginning.”

“Even so, how can you give such a large item…”

“I’m the senior disciple of the sect leader; I can do what I want with a piece of jade.”

Taeheojin said this and patted Lian’s head again.

“Got it, Lian? Have it polished beautifully and wear it. When we meet next, I want to see you wearing the jade bracelet.”

“Can’t I just use it like this?”

Taeheojin was momentarily stunned by Lian’s words, then burst out laughing.

“Ha-ha! Of course not. Don’t be stingy; have it polished beautifully and use it.”

“No, really…”

Lian’s sincerity didn’t reach Taeheojin. Yeopyun, standing beside Taeheojin, approached Lian with a shy smile.

“I’ve learned a lot from you, Lian.”

Lian shook his head.

He had also learned a lot from Yeopyun, but how grateful he was that Yeopyun and Taeheojin had gained insights and increased their luck on their own.

Taeheojin burst out laughing and vigorously patted Yeopyun’s head.

“Let’s meet again if we have the chance.”

The two of them bowed to the family members in turn, then glanced at Huayun, who was standing quietly behind Lian, frowned slightly, and nodded to Danmokcheongi before leaving the family compound.

* * *

“Let’s start by giving out the additional salary.”

“Really… are you sure?”

Xue Guanxi, the head of the Finance Hall, asked again with a somewhat disbelieving expression, even though the matter had been confirmed twice.

“Yes. You saw the settlement from Mansong Trading today, right? I’ve become rich. Really, really rich.”

The way he spoke made him seem like a child, but his decisions didn’t feel childish.

“That’s right. But… that’s all the young master’s money.”

“It’s the family’s money.”

“No, the Qinglian Water was all made by the young master.”

Xue Guanxi had never imagined he would say such things.

However, the little girl dangled her feet, which didn’t touch the ground, and continued writing without stopping.

They were reviewing the expenditure plan they had already laid out.

Xue Guanxi’s expression showed deep respect as he looked at Lian.

If someone managed the family’s finances and brought in money, even a dog would bow to them, let alone the family’s eldest grandson.

“I became connected with the leader of Mansong Trading because I’m the eldest grandson of the Danmok family. With the help of Uncle Wei, who passed the imperial examination this time, we managed to sell this much. If I weren’t from the Danmok family, I wouldn’t have made this much.”

“That’s just a matter of time.”

“Exactly. I’ll take care of the money I make later. No complaints then.”

“No…”

“After going through tough times, we finally saw the sun. If I say I want to fix our house first because I made the money, I’d feel really disappointed.”

“Th-that…”

His tongue felt heavy, and he couldn’t speak easily.

While his words weren’t wrong, he had never seen a superior care about a subordinate’s disappointment, which made him even more flustered.

“You should be rewarded for your hard work. If the gods don’t reward you, I will.”

Lian said this and opened the lid of a chest behind him.

At that moment, the clouds parted, and sunlight reflected off the silver ingots inside.

Xue Guanxi held his breath. Lian, bathed in the light, looked like a divine being manifesting in the form of a child.

Xue Guanxi quickly muttered to himself.

“Primordial Celestial, Jade Emperor, Queen Mother of the West…”

“This one chest is enough, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, yes, yes! I will follow your instructions.”

“Next, we should repair the dormitories and training grounds for the disciples. The expansion of the medicine hall should be done quickly.”

“Actually, I wanted to do that first.”

The medicine hall was the biggest money-maker for the family, and Xue Guanxi wanted to gild it if possible.

“I also want to increase the number of people in the medicine hall.”

“Yes, it would be difficult for you to do everything alone.”

“Next, we should repair the servants’ quarters… If there are any specific directions for the construction, we can gather opinions and reflect them. Got it?”

“Do we have to go that far?”

‘Supreme Elder, Dongfang Shuo, Queen Mother of the West…’

“All these people have lived here for four or five times as long as I have. Some have lived here for ten times as long… It’s almost like their home.”

From this, Xue Guanxi realized Lian’s age again. She was a child, not even ten years old.

“Some people stay because they don’t have the courage to leave.”

Lian smiled slightly.

“So, it’s fortunate.”

* * *

When Lian finished talking with Xue Guanxi and left the Finance Hall, Wei Zhiqing came running from a distance.

“Lian, Lian! Did you hear? Your aunt is coming back to Hangzhou!”

Lian was momentarily stunned, trying to recall who her aunt was. For a moment, she couldn’t think of it.

‘Danmok Xian!’

She was the younger sister of Danmok Xian and the older sister of Danmok Xianwu. While she didn’t have the same overwhelming martial talent as her brother, she was full of enthusiasm.

When Danmok Xian died and the Jinjia family attacked, she immediately took the acting head of the family and rushed to Henan Province, where the Martial Arts Alliance was located, to try to revive the family.

‘I thought it would have been better if she had stayed in the family…’

In her previous life, Danmok Xian had stayed in Henan Province and tried to leave most of the family’s affairs to Danmok Xianwu. But nothing went well.

Danmok Xianwu was consumed by depression and inner demons, and all of Danmok Xian’s efforts to connect with the influential figures in the martial world in Henan Province came to nothing.