“But… why me? Aren’t you overestimating me a little?”

  Ling Yun frowned, clearly puzzled by the weight of her request.

  He had only just stepped onto the path of cultivation. His strength was modest, his reputation nonexistent. Reviving a fallen sect was the sort of undertaking that required titanic power, vast resources, and influential allies.

  None of which he possessed.

  His greatest claim to fame was being the disciple of the genius alchemist Mu Feixue.

  Perhaps… she thinks I can persuade my master.

  But Ling Yun knew better.

  Mu Feixue had always treated him well, yet her temperament was notoriously indolent. She detested complicated affairs and avoided burdensome responsibilities whenever possible. Getting her involved in something as troublesome as rebuilding a sect?

  Impossible.

  Ling Yun shook his head apologetically.

  “Forgive me if I gave you that impression, but I don’t think I can ask my master for help.”

  Chen Yinying let out a soft chuckle, the sound light and musical.

  “Don’t look so worried. I’m not planning to throw the entire weight onto your shoulders.”

  She leaned back slightly, eyes gleaming with quiet confidence.

  “The sect will be revived by our own efforts. What I want from you… is something much simpler.”

  Then she began to reveal the real reason she had approached him.

  Rebuilding a sect required one thing above all else—

  Money.

  A staggering amount of it.

  Chen Yinying had spent years thinking of ways to earn it. Turning the old mansion into a pleasure house—the Thousand Fragrance Palace—had been her idea from the start.

  As a sect that once practiced dual cultivation arts, many of the women under her command were not particularly resistant to offering such services in exchange for coin. Even so, the income from the brothel alone was nowhere near enough to restore what had been lost.

  But one day, inspiration struck.

  When their clan had been destroyed, most of their treasures and resources vanished with it. Yet their knowledge—miraculously—had survived.

  Under the orders of a former sect master, a complete backup of the sect’s cultivation arts and research had been secretly hidden in their mansion in Blue Moon City.

  Among those records were several ancient scrolls.

  Scrolls containing formulas for beauty-enhancing pills.

  In a world where cultivators could reshape mountains and split seas, vanity still reigned supreme. Pills that improved appearance, skin, or charm were always in absurd demand.

  It was a gold mine waiting to be tapped.

  Unfortunately—

  None of them knew alchemy.

  So the scrolls had been left untouched, quietly gathering dust in a forgotten corner.

  “I had been searching for a trustworthy alchemist for a long time,” Chen Yinying said softly. “Then I met you that night.”

  Ling Yun rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

  “So you want me to refine the pills. But couldn’t you simply hire another alchemist?”

  “I would have done so already if it were that easy.”

  She sighed.

  “Any capable alchemist demands payment in advance. A hefty one. We simply can’t afford that.”

  Her gaze sharpened slightly.

  “What I’m proposing… is a partnership.”

  The arrangement was simple.

  Ling Yun would handle the alchemy—refining all the pills himself.

  Chen Yinying would manage everything else: sourcing ingredients, distribution, and selling the final products.

  Instead of paying an enormous refining fee, she would offer the alchemist a share of the profits from every pill sold.

  It was a risky proposal.

  Such a deal demanded mutual trust, and the name Thousand Fragrance Palace hardly inspired confidence among respectable alchemists.

  No wonder she had struggled to find anyone willing.

  “All ingredients will be provided by us,” she continued. “You won’t need to invest a single coin. All you need to do is refine the pills on schedule.

  “The profits will be split eighty-twenty.”

  She paused, watching him carefully.

  “So… what do you think?”

  “I agree.”

  Chen Yinying blinked.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Her eyes widened slightly.

  Most people would deliberate for a long while before committing to something like this.

  Yet Ling Yun had agreed instantly.

  “Um… I’m happy you accepted,” she said slowly, “but don’t you think you’re being a bit hasty?”

  “I’ve already considered everything.”

  Ling Yun spoke calmly.

  “You’re not asking me for money. I only need to set aside some time for pill refining. A twenty-percent share is enough for me.”

  He paused, then his gaze softened.

  Looking at her, he smiled faintly.

  “And most importantly…

  “I get the chance to repay you for everything you’ve done for me.”

  A faint flush crept across Chen Yinying’s cheeks.

  He isn’t treating this like a business deal.

  He just wants to help me…

  She lowered her head slightly, trying to hide the warmth rising to her face, and huffed.

  “You’re far too naive, Ling Yun.

  “If you don’t want people taking advantage of you in the future, listen carefully.”

  She raised a finger, adopting the tone of a teacher scolding an ignorant student.

  “During negotiations, never act humble and sell yourself short. You should exaggerate your abilities as much as possible to secure the best deal.”

  Ling Yun chuckled softly.

  “You don’t need to worry about that. I know.”

  The corner of his lips curled into a small smile.

  “I’m only making an exception because it’s you.”

  “…”

  Chen Yinying froze.

  Is he… doing this on purpose?

  His words sounded suspiciously like flirting.

  She studied his face closely, searching his eyes for mischief.

  But all she saw was pure sincerity.

  After a moment, she sighed inwardly.

  This man is hopeless.

  

  A cultivation fanatic like him had absolutely no sense of romance—no understanding of how such words might sound to a woman.

  She cleared her throat loudly, trying to regain composure.

  “Ahem. Since I feel a little bad taking advantage of such a foolish partner…”

  She crossed her arms.

  “I’ll sweeten the deal.”

  Ling Yun raised an eyebrow.

  “If you’re interested, I can give you the complete inheritance of my music arts.”

  Ling Yun’s eyes lit up.

  The Seven Harmonics she had previously taught him was merely a beginner technique. Possessing the full inheritance would allow him to continue cultivating the Dao of Music Mastery without wasting years searching for compatible methods.

  But such inheritances were rarely shared.

  Core techniques were guarded more fiercely than life itself. Throughout history, countless sects had waged bloody wars over stolen arts.

  “Are you sure?” he asked cautiously. “I don’t want you to regret it later.”

  Chen Yinying waved a hand dismissively.

  “It’s not a core sect technique. My grandmother and mother developed it themselves out of their love for music.”

  She shrugged.

  “Think of it as their hobby.”

  Then she tilted her head.

  “So? Do you want it?”

  “I’ll take it.”

  Ling Yun reheated the teapot resting over the small flame. Steam curled into the air as he poured fresh tea into both cups.

  He lifted his cup.

  A smile spread across his face.

  “To our new partnership…”

  “And to the revival of your sect.”

  Chen Yinying lifted her cup as well, mirroring him.

  And for the first time in a long while, as warm tea touched her lips—

  The future no longer seemed so bleak.

  ***

  Time had slipped by, and soon their journey would reach its end. Under the pale gold of the morning sun, Ling Yun glimpsed the towering walls of Blue Moon City on the horizon. With their current speed, he hoped to reach its gates before nightfall.

  “Feeling excited about returning?”

  Chen Yinying nudged his shoulder from behind. “It’s been four months since we left. You must be itching to get back to your master.”

  The image of Mu Feixue flashed through his mind, and his smile faltered. Four months of freedom, of living without a mask, of following his own heart—it was all about to vanish. Tomorrow, he would return to being her obedient baby.

  A twinge of reluctance stirred in him, but he knew his path lay there. He had to go back.

  “Are you… missing your master that much?” she asked, noticing his sudden silence.

  “On the contrary,” he said, voice soft. “I’ll miss traveling with you. These past four months… it’s been fun.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “Depressed already? It’s not like we’ll never see each other again.” Her grin widened. “We’re partners now. We’ll be together for a long time.”

  His lips curved into a smile to match hers. She was right. This was no ending—it was the beginning of something new.

  They pressed on toward the city. As the sun reached its zenith, they paused for a short rest. After a cup of tea, Ling Yun drew his flute, letting the music flow under her watchful gaze.

  When the final note faded, he was met with a loud applause. Chen Yinying, who had always been stingy in her praise, was clapping.

  “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself. In just over four months, you’ve mastered the Seven Harmonics technique.”

  Her words affirmed his own self-evaluation. He remembered his struggles in the beginning, wrestling with Qi and melody. Now, the notes blended seamlessly with his true Qi, his music deep and resonant.

  He had finally taken his first step on the Dao of Music Mastery.

  Ling Yun replied in a teasing voice. “All thanks to your teaching.”

  “Oh, hush! Spare me your flatteries. I’m not shameless enough to take credit for your growth.”

  She had guided him to the best of her abilities, but even she knew it wasn’t the full story. His ridiculous progress came from within.

  “I know your heart is in alchemy, but you should definitely pursue this further. The Heavens have blessed you with such a rare gift—it would be a crime to waste it. The world would be poorer for it.”

  She showered him with praises, trying to convince him any way she could. Ling Yun smiled wryly, recalling a similar scene when Mu Feixue gushed about him as the reincarnation of the Pill God.

  None of this talent was natural—all of it stemmed from his variant soul, absorbing and comprehending knowledge in a single night that would take ordinary people months. He wasn't much surprised this time, Brahma had explained it all before.

  Remembering her words, he thought the same-The Heavenly Dao is really not fair.

  What Yinying was asking was not a commitment. The Seven Harmonics was simply a foundational technique, further progress demanded much time and effort. He was already busy studying alchemy and also cultivated spiritual culinary arts in the side as a hobby.

  Chasing two rabbits will leave one empty handed but-

  "Stop!"

  He raised a hand, ending her tirade.

  "I know this began as a mild curiosity but I've come to appreciate it. More importantly, the time spent together with you learning is too precious to end."

  He paused as their gazes met.

  "So, as long you keep coming to teach me, I'm willing to learn."

  Even though learning music could be a waste of time, even though he should be prioritising alchemy and his cultivation, illogical as it was, deep inside hs heart, he wanted to be with her more than anything else.

  "Ling Yun.."

  His name came out as a soft whisper brushing her lips as she looked in his blue eyes-

  Thump

  She felt her heart skip a beat.

  Wha... What is happening?

  Before either could breathe, a loud scream shattered the moment.

  "Help! Someone help me!"

  A carriage tore across the distance pursued by a dozen riders. To their misfortune, the carriage of coming in their direction.

  "It must be bandits! Let's run!"

  With panic in her eyes, Chen Yinying tried to pull him along but Ling Yun remained firm.

  "There is no use in trying to escape. It's too late now."

  His words came true as the carriage skidded to a halt near them with the bandits surrounding it from every direction.

  "Come out now! Don't make us break the carriage."

  The door opened and a trembling middle aged stumbmed out, joining them. The four of them- Ling Yun, Chen Yinying, the owner and his servant who drove the carriage, huddled together with the bandits encircling them.

  A tall man leapt from his horse and landed in front of them. His gaze swept across all four as if assessing them. Then, a gentle smile formed that felt out of place- as if he wasn't about to rob them.

  "You people must be cursing your back luck but believe me, you are fortunate that we are the ones you encountered."

  He raised a hand with solemn authority.

  "As the leader of the Chivalrous Bandits, I give you my word- leave all your belongings and not a single hair on your head will be harmed."