Feng Shui Chapter 103: Preparing to Enter the Mountains

Chen Xiao still vividly remembered the clause in the contract they signed back then, if Du Rong were to make a breakthrough mid-mission, he was to go into seclusion immediately, and as the employer, Chen Xiao had no right to stop him for any reason. At the time, neither of them had expected such a scenario would actually occur. Chen Xiao hadn’t considered it, and Du Rong hadn’t dared to hope for it.

Now that it had really happened, Chen Xiao was just as helpless as Du Rong. He smiled and said, “Congratulations, Uncle Rong.”

Du Rong gave a small smile, then quickly turned serious and said, “Master, though I can’t accompany you on this trip, I have a request, would you accept me as your retainer? My talent is mediocre and my cultivation weak, but I can still be of some use to you and serve as an aid.”

He had thought long and hard about this.

For a high-level cultivator without exceptional talent, pledging allegiance to a promising or outstanding cultivator was often the best path forward. These cultivators, after leaving the academy, fought their way alone, slowly accumulating experience and resources. Eventually, many would choose to serve under a master to secure their future cultivation.

This was completely different from becoming a guard for an established household right after graduating from the academy. Becoming a retainer carried more prestige and autonomy, and offered greater access to resources and support.

Du Rong had witnessed Chen Xiao’s entire journey. He had crossed the sea with him to reach Hanshan City and watched as he rose from obscurity to minor fame. He had long sensed that Chen Xiao was destined for a great future, but even he hadn’t expected Chen Xiao’s rise to be this rapid, so fast that it was becoming hard to keep up.

That growing sense of urgency had driven Du Rong to push himself relentlessly, and at last, he stood on the cusp of Foundation Establishment. He was deeply grateful, without this breakthrough as a reason, he would never have found the opportunity to speak up. He feared that if he waited any longer, Chen Xiao’s progress would leave him behind completely, making the idea of following him an unreachable dream.

Chen Xiao was stunned, pleasantly surprised. After a moment of thought, he realized that this vow of loyalty held even more weight than their original contract. He nodded solemnly. “If you’re willing to entrust your future to me, Uncle Rong, I won’t let you down!”

Du Rong smiled with satisfaction, then bowed formally in a subordinate’s salute. “This subordinate believes the Master is destined for great fortune and glory. I will remain here in Hanshan City and await your triumphant return.”

And just like that, Chen Xiao had taken in his first true follower since arriving in this world. The whole thing still felt a little surreal. Du Rong had always been the no-nonsense type, and Chen Xiao had never imagined the man would one day swear allegiance to him.

Still lost in thought, Chen Xiao somehow found himself standing in front of Xi Yunqing’s room. It wasn’t until he reached the door that he snapped out of it, gave himself a light slap on the cheek, and went in to explain the situation: Tong Nuonuo would be joining them on the upcoming journey, while Du Rong would remain behind to enter seclusion and wouldn’t be traveling with them.

When Xi Yunqing had first invited Chen Xiao, he had expected it to be a two-person expedition. Only now, hearing Chen Xiao’s update, did he realize it might’ve been too soon. While Chen Xiao’s cultivation and agility already matched that of high-level cultivators, and he had even mastered long-range attacks earlier than most of his peers, he was still lacking in the practical experience needed to travel effectively in pairs.

What Chen Xiao himself hadn’t realized was that when he’d asked whether Tong Nuonuo and Du Rong would be coming along, part of him had assumed they would. It was an unconscious attempt to increase the group’s size, to seek a greater sense of safety. Though he seemed eager for this training expedition, deep down, he still feared the unknown and the danger that came with it.

Xi Yunqing sighed inwardly, blaming himself for being too hasty. Most cultivators with modest cultivation traveled in groups, usually three to five people. Solo travelers from the Qi Refining stage onward, like himself, were rare.

Yet none of this showed on Xi Yunqing’s face. He nodded calmly and said, “Since Cultivator Du is about to break through, why not let him stay at Zhushan Residence for the time being? It’s secluded, quiet, safe, and undisturbed, perfect for closed-door cultivation.”

Chen Xiao looked at him in surprise and delight. “Really?” He had been fretting about where Du Rong could stay for his seclusion. With only one person remaining, he obviously couldn’t continue staying at the City Lord’s mansion. Chen Xiao had been thinking of renting a nearby courtyard, perhaps even the one damaged during the last attack, for Du Rong to live in until he returned.

Seeing the joy on Chen Xiao’s face, Xi Yunqing’s gaze softened. He nodded. “Of course. And with Du Rong there, he can help maintain the property as well.”

Back when Xi Yunqing stayed at Zhushan Residence, he had relied on magic tools to keep it protected. Now that he’d left, without anyone tending to the place, it was likely to fall into disrepair.

With the arrangements made, the four of them began preparing for the journey. They headed to the commercial district of Hanshan City, Chen Xiao and Xi Yunqing as one pair, and the other two as another, splitting up to gather their respective supplies.

Chen Xiao first went to retrieve the custom-made conductive coating from Li and Zhou. They tested it on the spot, and it exceeded his expectations. No wonder Li and Zhou had a reputation as eccentric geniuses. With this special coating, he could now rapidly activate his Lightning Summoning Talismans, greatly enhancing his combat capabilities.

Xi Yunqing, a seasoned traveler, always carried supplies for such expeditions. He was used to restocking in every city he visited. This time, he was merely acting as a companion. Watching Chen Xiao prepare for his first solo journey, he offered guidance on which items needed to be brought in bulk, and which could be sourced in the wild.

Chen Xiao listened attentively. Without Du Rong at his side, he knew he had to learn how to take care of himself out there. Xi Yunqing, someone who had never worried about money, recommended only the best, with no concern for budget. Fortunately, Chen Xiao had never skimped on essentials either, he had always been willing to spend on what he needed.

After picking up all the necessities, Xi Yunqing brought him to a store that specializes in travel provisions. Normally, he didn’t need to eat, subsisting on fasting pills during expeditions, but this time he wouldn’t be alone. He couldn’t expect Chen Xiao and Tong Nuonuo to rely solely on fasting pills, nor could he watch them eat while abstaining himself. So food became a key part of their preparations.

Previously, when Du Rong accompanied him, he would prepare sturdy dry cakes, simple but filling. The only downside was that they were hard and had to be eaten with cold water. Even so, Chen Xiao had never felt it was too difficult.

But once he stepped into this shop, his eyes were opened.

In the cultivation world, nearly every cultivator had to travel, explore, or undergo training. Those without high enough cultivation to survive on fasting pills, or who couldn’t afford them, made up a vast demographic. Naturally, there were people ready to serve that market and make a tidy profit.

The shop sold a wide variety of trail rations, from grains to meats. All had been processed into compact, easy-to-carry food bars. These could be eaten directly or soaked in water to make a broth. Their function and form reminded Chen Xiao of compressed rations from his previous life, only tastier and more nutritious. Of course, these were infused with spiritual energy, deadly for ordinary people. That explained why Du Rong hadn’t used these before.

The rations came in three grades; low, medium, and high priced according to the amount of energy they contained. Even the cheapest cost 10–20 spirit coins apiece, while the most expensive reached up to 20 coins each. Chen Xiao was a little taken aback. No wonder low-income cultivators and stingy Foundation Establishment cultivators like Tong Nuonuo preferred dry cakes or self-cooked meals.

Chen Xiao picked a few of each type from the low-grade section, based on his current cultivation level. Xi Yunqing had said their trip would last four to five months, ending before the mountain pass was sealed off by winter snow. So Chen Xiao calculated three pieces a day and bought enough to last five months.

Xi Yunqing also bought a small supply of his preferred flavors, just one-third the amount of Chen Xiao’s. He typically relied on fasting pills or fresh-cooked meals while adventuring and wasn’t fond of pre-made rations. This time of year, the mountains were full of fresh ingredients, so he figured they could cook as they went.

What he didn’t know, however, was that not one of the three people in their little group had any cooking skills worth mentioning. Before, Du Rong always handled the meals. When they left Chang family village, the women cooked. Once they split up mid-journey… well, let’s just say Xi Yunqing would soon realize that cooking fresh meals in the wild might not be so simple after all.

After they wrapped up their shopping, Chen Xiao suggested going to a restaurant in Hanshan City. Xi Yunqing thought he just wanted a break, but once they sat down, Chen Xiao called for the menu and ordered a huge spread, to go.

Seeing Xi Yunqing’s puzzled expression, Chen Xiao grinned sheepishly. “Good thing Big Brother gave me that storage box, it keeps food fresh. I figured I’d bring some ready-made dishes along. It'll be nice to enjoy a good meal now and then. Don’t worry, I’ve already sorted out the compartments in the box, none of the food will be near the other stuff.”

Xi Yunqing didn’t speak. He had never heard of bringing ready-made dishes in a storage box to eat during a training expedition. But he quickly changed his thinking, this was Chen Xiao’s first time going on a real expedition, so they had to be thoroughly prepared. Moreover, Chen Xiao hadn’t gone through a gradual, step-by-step process. He was diving straight into four or five months of trekking through areas infested with ferocious beasts. In the end, Xi Yunqing successfully convinced himself.

After staying in Hanshan City for a day to finish their preparations, they left the City Lord’s manor. Before departing, they needed to say goodbye to City Lord Han and his party, who were currently at the Han family residence in Changjia Village.

For Chi Yilan’s pregnancy, the entire Han family treated it with the utmost care and attention. City Lord Han had temporarily moved into the Han family residence, planning to wait until the child was born and everything had settled down before letting his younger brother and sister-in-law return.

In the cultivation world, meetings and partings were commonplace. Upon learning that the three of them were heading off to train, Han Yuanchun spoke to them with a calm demeanor: “When you return to Hanshan City in the future, you’re welcome to visit the City Lord’s mansion again.”

Only Han Yuanzhi seemed slightly grave. He warned them, “Since Immortal Master Tong will be accompanying you, there’s something you need to be mindful of.”

Tong Nuonuo, who was standing in the back, froze when he heard this. In situations like these, he was always a peripheral figure. He never expected Chief Steward Han to mention him. He took a moment to react, then hurriedly said, “Please go ahead, Chief Steward Han.”

Han Yuanzhi said, “Although the internal chaos caused by the Zhong family has been successfully quelled and all those involved have been punished, one person slipped through the net. That was the Immortal Master Li, who led the training team and concealed the mission’s danger level, resulting in heavy casualties.”

That sentence hit them like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, leaving all three of them stunned.