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Chapter 32: The Value of the Spirit Pearl
🕑 Added 2025-02-24 10:19:23 +0000 UTCChen Xiao had never cried like this in either of his two lifetimes.
He could imagine how much effort his master had put into devising such a perilous, near-death opportunity for him after his death. It must have been incredibly difficult. Even as a feng shui master himself, having experienced a temporal shift and possessing the body of a young man, he still couldn't fully grasp the intricacies of this mystery.
Thinking back to how he had thought he had everything planned, only to end up dying and causing his master such worry and exertion, Chen Xiao felt a mix of shame and overwhelming gratitude. Despite the eternal separation between them, just knowing that someone had cared for him so deeply gave him a profound sense of security. It was the kind of unwavering devotion from a loved one that filled his heart with warmth and gave him the strength to keep going in this unfamiliar world.
He couldn’t let his master's efforts go to waste, he had to make something of himself!
Lifting his head, Chen Xiao wiped his face with his hands. His cheeks were burning, and he was sure his eyes were swollen beyond recognition. But after such an intense cry, the release of emotions left him feeling lighter, his chest unburdened. He exhaled a long breath, feeling strangely at ease.
After his emotional breakdown, he slumped into his chair. Just as he braced himself against the armrest to stand up and wash his face, someone walked through the door. Seeing his state, they called out in surprise, "Xiao Han, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
The visitor quickly stepped forward, grasping his arm with warm, slightly rough hands, and helped him up.
Chen Xiao looked up in surprise, it was Aunt Huang. He blinked at her, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Aunt Huang, why are you here? Is something the matter?"
Aunt Huang frowned at him. "Your Uncle Huang said you returned from the Security Patrol, so I came to check on you. But what happened?" The Chen Xiao she knew was a strong and independent person; she had never seen him so vulnerable before. She was deeply concerned.
Realizing his disheveled appearance, Chen Xiao knew she wouldn’t believe him if he simply said it was nothing. His reddened eyes blinked as he murmured, "I'm fine. I was just thinking about my family."
Aunt Huang immediately recalled what he had once told her about his past and sighed. She didn’t press the issue, assuming that the recent events had left him feeling lonely and homesick.
She and her family had always been kind to him, treating him as one of their own. As the saying goes, "Distant relatives are not as helpful as close neighbors." In return, Chen Xiao often sent small gifts and pastries their way.
When the incident occurred last night, the Huang family was the first to respond, nearly the entire household mobilizing. Chen Xiao had already expressed his gratitude, but he had also taken note of their kindness.
Without hesitation, Aunt Huang fetched a cloth, dipped it in water, wrung it out, and handed it to him. Chen Xiao thanked her, took it, wiped his face, and then folded it over his eyes to soothe the swelling.
As she sat nearby, Aunt Huang asked about his experience with the Security Patrol. Since the incident had involved the neighborhood, Chen Xiao didn’t hide anything from her and recounted what he knew.
Gritting her teeth in anger, Aunt Huang fumed, "Those scoundrels deserve to be skinned alive! They’re nothing but shameless thugs who should be punished severely!" She was so enraged that her breaths came quick and heavy. "What did the Security Patrol say?"
Chen Xiao's gaze turned cold. "It’s been a long time since such a heinous crime occurred in the county. The Security Chief said that after reporting to the City Lord’s estate, they will likely be sentenced to death."
Aunt Huang inhaled sharply. While she believed they deserved the punishment, hearing that they would actually be executed still sent a shiver down her spine.
Seeing her unease, Chen Xiao set aside the now-warm cloth and reassured her, "This whole incident disturbed the neighborhood. I feel guilty about it and would like to prepare some thank-you gifts."
Aunt Huang waved her hand dismissively. "That’s unnecessary. We’re neighbors, helping each other is only natural."
Chen Xiao shook his head. "It’s the right thing to do. When someone lends a helping hand, it’s kindness. Not showing gratitude would make me ungrateful."
She didn’t argue further. After discussing it, they decided on a gift box containing four types of pastries for each household. Aunt Huang felt it was an appropriate and thoughtful token of appreciation. Since Chen Xiao, despite living here for over a year, was still unfamiliar with certain customs, he followed her advice and went to the pastry shop to prepare the gift boxes before personally delivering them door-to-door.
While his neighbors weren’t as close to him as Aunt Huang’s family, they still warmly accepted his gratitude, offering words of comfort in return.
Once everything with the neighbors was settled, Pang Hemu informed him that he had found a martial arts instructor for him. When the appointed time arrived, Chen Xiao made his way to the Pang residence.
Instead of taking him straight to meet the instructor, Pang Hemu first invited Chen Xiao into his study and handed him a document detailing the candidates.
That’s right, Pang Hemu hadn’t found just one instructor but an entire group. He passed the registry to Chen Xiao and said, "Pick a few from this list."
Chen Xiao stared at the booklet, a vein twitching in his forehead. He couldn’t help but say, "Boss, isn’t this a bit excessive?"
Pang Hemu gave him a look of disapproval. "It’s absolutely necessary. This time, we’re not taking any chances."
"They were just three common thieves, completely untrained in martial arts. To put it bluntly, if they were academy-trained cultivators, even an ordinary martial artist might not be able to handle them alone. It would be best to take them down together."
Those who attended the academy were individuals with innate spiritual roots. Here, when children reached the age of five or six, they would be sent to the nearest academy for testing. If they were found to have talent, they would begin their basic education. As they grew older, they would be taught foundational cultivation techniques.
Local academies, of course, could not compare to the immortal sects or aristocratic families, which had specialized instruments to directly measure the strength of one's spiritual roots. Instead, students would practice basic techniques for a couple of years, and their progress would be used to determine their potential. Those who advanced quickly would catch the attention of influential families or even immortal cultivation clans. Those who performed poorly would be allowed to study for a few more years, but by the time they reached adulthood, they would have to leave the academy.
Such individuals were referred to as cultivators. If they had no fortuitous encounters in the future, they would spend their lives hovering on the outskirts of true cultivation.
Like any group, these cultivators varied in quality. Once they left the academy, they sought different paths—some strayed from the righteous path, committing crimes and causing trouble. This was precisely the kind of people Pang Hemu was referring to—more dangerous than common folk due to their training.
Chen Xiao closed the booklet and said, "If that’s the case, then there’s no need to hire an ordinary martial artist. Please, find me a cultivator instead."
Pang Hemu looked at him in surprise. "A cultivator?"
Chen Xiao nodded firmly. "A high-level cultivator will suffice."
Pang Hemu had intended to dissuade him, after all, hiring a high-level cultivator was no small expense. But then he reconsidered. As long as Chen Xiao continued practicing feng shui techniques for residential properties, he could certainly afford to hire one. With a solemn nod, Pang Hemu said, "Understood. I’ll find a suitable candidate for you."
After taking his leave, Chen Xiao returned home, seated himself at the round table in his bedroom, and sipped tea while contemplating.
He had previously researched academy-trained cultivators. Some went on to become officials in government, others joined law enforcement, and many were employed by noble families as guards. Still, there were those who pursued different trades, taking over family businesses or venturing into various professions.
These cultivators weren’t without potential, they simply lacked the necessary resources. Without the right conditions or financial backing, they could only struggle forward, unwilling to give up but unable to progress. The ambitious ones sought opportunities, gathering resources however they could in hopes of one day breaking through and truly stepping onto the path of immortality.
But how did cultivators without powerful connections acquire resources?
Chen Xiao reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch, opening a hidden compartment inside. Nestled within the soft fabric were five spirit pearls, emitting a gentle glow.
He thought to himself, these spirit pearls, which could be used directly in transactions with cultivators, would surely be a tempting offer.
Spirit pearls weren’t just a currency; they could also provide direct energy. The kitchen master he had encountered before had used them in exactly that way. In the world of cultivators, spirit pearls were undoubtedly a valuable resource that could be exchanged for whatever a cultivator needed.
Moreover, the payment he could offer wasn’t limited to just these pearls.
Over the past six months, Chen Xiao had earned quite a bit from his feng shui consultations. Though the fees varied from client to client, he had accumulated a total of three thousand gold coins. To ordinary folk, this was an astronomical sum. Even to the wealthy, it was significant enough to warrant careful consideration. But to Chen Xiao, it didn’t seem like much, hiring a high-level cultivator would cost at least this much.
Because the sum was too large, storing piles of gold coins at home was impractical. So, he had visited a local money house and converted them into deposit slips. The money house only operated within the region, meaning its deposit slips were valid for large transactions within the county but not for nationwide use. If he needed to use them elsewhere, he would have to exchange them for gold coins or convert them into deposit slips from a money house in that specific region.
At the time, he had lamented how inconvenient it was to carry so much gold. If only there were a more efficient currency for large transactions. The money house manager, overhearing his comment, informed him that such a currency did exist, but the fees for conversion were usually too high, making it impractical for most people. Thus, most still preferred deposit slips.
Intrigued, Chen Xiao had asked for more details. The manager explained that the only higher-denomination currency was spirit currency, used exclusively by cultivators. The exchange rate was staggering, ten thousand gold coins equaled one hundred spirit coins, which in turn equaled a single spirit pearl.
At that moment, Chen Xiao had been utterly stunned, instinctively reaching into his pocket to touch the pouch where he stored his spirit pearls.
