Feng Shui Chapter 99: Accidentally Discovered

Chen Xiao quickly realized that Li Yuzhou truly lived up to his reputation as a strange genius, just as Xi Yunqing had said. The powders he had concocted weren’t just your typical training aids, they were downright terrifying.

There was a potent itch-inducing agent that caused unbearable agony, so intense that even vicious beasts would be driven mad. Another was a stench bomb so foul that anyone below the Golden Core stage would be knocked unconscious just from the smell. And then there was the hair-removal solution, just a drop of it would make fur fall off instantly and never grow back again. All of them were bizarre and powerful in ways that left one speechless.

To ensure his potions hit their mark, Li Yuzhou had even gone the extra step of mixing the powders into liquids, then sealing them in delicate little porcelain vials, so thin and brittle they shattered with the slightest bump, like eggshells.

Hearing this string of strange and overpowered concoctions, Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for Li Yuzhou. This man was essentially a cultivation-era version of a mad scientist!

Though he was impressed, Chen Xiao maintained a calm expression and swept up every last vial of these powerful mixtures without hesitation, leaving none behind. His keen eye and decisiveness instantly won Li Yuzhou’s admiration, he felt like he had finally found a kindred spirit. With that, the social barrier between them dissolved, and Li Yuzhou launched into an enthusiastic monologue, excitedly explaining the new formulas he was working on.

At first, Chen Xiao was genuinely curious. But Li Yuzhou soon delved deep into technical herbalism, using terms and theories that were way beyond Chen Xiao’s grasp. Since he wasn’t a fan of one-sided lectures, he seized the first pause, when Li Yuzhou stopped to breathe, and smoothly steered the conversation in a different direction.

Throughout the exchange, Xi Yunqing stood quietly with a blank expression. He wasn’t interested in Li Yuzhou’s eccentric creations, nor could he find an opening to join their conversation. Technically, he could’ve walked away and left them to it, but he stubbornly stayed put. He simply didn’t feel comfortable leaving Chen Xiao alone with someone as odd as Li Yuzhou. What if Chen Xiao started going down a similarly weird path? By then, it would be too late for regrets.

Once Chen Xiao realized that Li Yuzhou’s inventiveness wasn’t far behind Tong Nuonuo’s, he immediately put down a deposit and asked him to craft a special liquid, one that could ignite with just a light rub on paper. His plan was to coat all his talismans with this flammable liquid, so that in a critical moment, he could spark them instantly with a flick of his fingers. This way, talismans like the Lightning Summoning Talisman could be activated without relying on his own sluggish energy circulation, reducing any delays during combat.

After leaving the herbalist shop, Chen Xiao finally noticed how quiet Xi Yunqing had been. He thought Xi might be upset at him for using such a shortcut, so he took the initiative to say, “Don’t worry, big brother. I’ll still work hard on cultivating my energy control. This flammable liquid is just a temporary measure. Once I get faster and better with my energy, I won’t need it anymore.”

Only then did Xi Yunqing turn to him and say, “As long as you understand the difference between what’s temporary and what’s essential.” That had indeed been his concern, and hearing Chen Xiao bring it up on his own brought him some relief.

Cheerfully, Chen Xiao suggested, “Since we got something unexpected out of this visit, why don’t we check out a few more shops?”

He looked at Xi Yunqing with hopeful eyes, and of course, Xi Yunqing couldn’t bear to refuse. So with Chen Xiao leading the way and Xi Yunqing following behind, the two of them strolled down the bustling commercial street. Thankfully, Chen Xiao was considerate and didn’t dawdle, he only glanced into each store, stepping inside only when something caught his interest. That way, they moved along quickly. And since Chen Xiao never left a shop empty-handed, it gave Xi Yunqing the false impression that he was only stopping for necessary purchases.

Chen Xiao bought a few sets of light training gear suited for spring and summer, and even picked up some proper long robes fit for a cultivator. Xi Yunqing agreed that Chen Xiao should own more formal clothing and helped him pick out some high-quality, stylish outfits. Chen Xiao quickly noticed that while Xi Yunqing didn’t enjoy shopping, he had very specific standards for fabric and tailoring. He was surprisingly patient when it came to choosing clothes and had an excellent eye for style. Everything he selected suited Chen Xiao perfectly, both in color and cut.

Being acknowledged and included by his companion put Chen Xiao in an even better mood. He walked around with a constant smile, and that infectious joy even made Xi Yunqing start to enjoy the outing, a rare moment where he didn’t find shopping tedious or dull.

They bought a mountain of goods, all neatly packed into Chen Xiao’s storage box. He was especially thankful for having such a handy item, it was essential for someone like him who tended to go overboard with shopping without realizing it.

By the time they finally reached their main destination, the Five Elements Materials Shop, the sun was already tilting westward. The commercial street had a unified lighting system, with thick wooden poles set at intervals, each bearing a string of lanterns. These weren’t fire-lit but were semi-refined tools powered by spirit orbs, similar to the stove and bath barrel Chen Xiao had used before.

Inside, the materials shop was packed with towering shelves, but the bright lighting kept everything clearly visible. A clerk promptly came to greet them. Having worked as a shop assistant before, Chen Xiao knew their challenges well and politely explained what he needed, allowing the clerk to lead them to the guest area.

Here, a different attendant served customers in a more personal manner. As the first clerk went to retrieve their requested items, this one brought over hot tea and fresh fruit. Since it was nearing dinnertime, he even brought some pastries to tide them over.

Chen Xiao took a bite and immediately perked up. To a foodie, satisfying the taste buds made everything better. He smiled and praised, “The service here is really thoughtful.”

“This shop is run by a noble clan affiliated with the City Lord’s residence. Naturally, the standards are high,” Xi Yunqing replied with perfect posture, elegantly sipping his tea. They’d left Changjia Village early this morning without much rest, and now he was even feeling a bit thirsty. Still, he didn’t touch the pastries, he’d been raised to never snack before dinner.

Noticing this, Chen Xiao stopped eating too and brushed the crumbs from his lips. He quietly resolved to finish their errands quickly so they could grab a proper meal.

Before long, the clerk returned with a pile of materials. Wearing gloves, he carefully laid them out for Chen Xiao and Xi Yunqing to examine. The wooden pieces had been smoothed into sleek rods or square blocks, while the beast teeth and horns had been trimmed and polished to a shine.

Chen Xiao picked them up one by one to feel them. Xi Yunqing suggested, “Try channeling some of your energy, you’ll be able to sense which material resonates with you best.”

The clerk nodded in agreement. “The Immortal Master is right. Suitability depends on how well the material reacts to your innate true energy. Even if two items are made from the same substance, their attributes can differ, these wooden pieces, for example, include wood, earth, water, and lightning variants.”

Hearing that, Chen Xiao didn’t want to risk picking the wrong one, so he put aside the idea of conserving his energy and tested each material one by one. After going through the whole selection, he finally chose a single horn.

It was completely black, with flecks of gold and silver scattered across the surface. Under the lantern light, it shimmered faintly with a mystical glow, beautiful and full of mystery.

The shop assistant set aside the rest of the materials and introduced, “This is a fine choice, sir. This piece is the horn of a black-gold horned beast, a ferocious species native to the Luochen Grand Heaven Realm. It’s top-tier material, whether for crafting weapons or creating mechanisms.”

Chen Xiao was surprised to hear that it had actually been imported from the Luochen Grand Heaven Realm.

Xi Yunqing picked up the horn and examined it. “This black-gold horned beast tends to dwell in areas rich in wood-element spiritual energy, though it itself is of the earth element. If used to make a pen shaft, it’ll help conserve both your energy and spiritual focus. It's excellent material.”

With Xi Yunqing’s confirmation, Chen Xiao didn’t hesitate. He turned to the assistant. “I’ll take this one. How much is it?”

The assistant beamed. “This piece is worth one hundred and twenty spirit pearls. But since it’s your first time here and your first purchase exceeds one hundred spirit pearls, we’ll give you a ten percent discount. That brings it to one hundred and eight.”

Even though Chen Xiao had mentally prepared himself, he still sucked in a sharp breath. A full set of new equipment wouldn’t even cost this much, and this wasn’t even a finished tool, just the raw material. Cultivating in this world clearly wasn’t something a poor man could afford.

Seeing his reaction, Xi Yunqing thought for a moment, then lowered his voice. “Xiao, a pen shaft made from quality material will outperform a lesser one a hundredfold. If you’re short on spirit pearls, I can cover it for you.” He didn’t make it explicit, but his meaning was clear, whether it was a loan or a gift, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Chen Xiao gently pressed down on his wrist and smiled. “Don’t worry, big brother, I’ve got enough spirit pearls.”

Xi Yunqing frowned slightly, but Chen Xiao’s smile turned more sincere. “If I really didn’t, I’d definitely come to you for help. You wouldn’t turn me away then, would you?”

Xi Yunqing relaxed his expression, lips curving slightly. “Never.”

The assistant, who had been nervously watching from the side, finally relaxed as well. Seeing how close the two were, he even felt a bit moved.

Chen Xiao retrieved a pouch from his storage box and counted out one hundred and eight spirit pearls. This was a big sale, one the assistant might not see again in a whole month. With the transaction complete, the assistant added, “I overheard that sir intends to use this horn to make a pen shaft? If you don’t already have a craftsman in mind, our shop can shape it for you, free of charge.”

Chen Xiao declined outright. “Thank you, but I already have someone in mind.”

With an ingenious mechanist like Tong Nuonuo around, why look elsewhere? Besides, there would be leftover material from the horn. Rather than let the shop keep the scraps, it was better to let Nuonuo make good use of them.

Having secured the ideal material, Chen Xiao and Xi Yunqing went to the most renowned restaurant in Hanshan City for dinner. Only after that did they return, satisfied. Chen Xiao called the ever-busy Tong Nuonuo out of his workshop, handed over the black-gold horn, and instructed him to shape it into a pen shaft. Then, feeling at ease, he went to bed.

The next morning, after breakfast, he followed Xi Yunqing to the training grounds to begin yet another round of grueling practice. As usual, he started the day with determination and returned in the afternoon dragging his feet. Chen Xiao flopped onto the bed like a pancake, counting the minutes and glancing repeatedly toward the door.

He didn’t know if Xi Yunqing would come to massage him again like before. Xi hadn’t said anything, but Chen Xiao had a hunch that he would.

Sure enough, just after night fell, there was a knock at the door. Chen Xiao’s grin nearly split his face. He grimaced as he dragged himself up and opened the door for Xi Yunqing. Without another word, he stripped off his outer robe and lay down, letting Xi do as he pleased.

Meanwhile, Tong Nuonuo, a skilled mechanist, was hard at work. Following Chen Xiao’s specifications, he shaped the black-gold horn into a pen shaft. The only issue he encountered was getting the precise measurements, so he sent a servant from the City Lord’s residence to visit the pen shop Chen Xiao had mentioned. Once he had the details, Nuonuo completed the shaft in under an hour.

However, since Chen Xiao spent his days at the training grounds, even as a friend, Tong Nuonuo felt it inappropriate to interrupt. He decided to wait until Chen Xiao returned from practice to deliver it. But as usual, he got so caught up in his work that he lost track of time. By the time he looked up, the sky had already darkened.

He grabbed a quick dinner from the kitchen, then made his way to Chen Xiao’s residence with the pen shaft in hand.

Just as he approached, his senses, heightened from reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, picked up faint sounds from within the room. He could hear Chen Xiao’s voice, low and breathy, hovering between pain and pleasure. Occasionally, there was even a stifled gasp.

Tong Nuonuo might look like a round-faced teenager, but that was just because he had reached Foundation Establishment early and his appearance had frozen at that age. In truth, he was older than Chen Xiao, and his travels had taught him a thing or two about adult matters.

So the moment he heard those sounds, his mind jumped to certain conclusions. Instantly, he turned beet red, from his ears down to his toes, like a crab just out of the pot. Eyes wide with shock, he stared at the door. Never in a million years did he expect to stumble upon such a private moment!

Flustered, he glanced at the pen shaft in his hands and decided to come back tomorrow. But just as he turned to leave, a voice from inside the room drifted out:

“Nuonuo’s outside. He wouldn’t come by this late unless it was important.”

Chen Xiao’s voice followed, slightly hoarse. “It’s probably about the pen shaft. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be willing to leave his room to come here.”

Outside, Tong Nuonuo’s jaw nearly hit the floor. His mind reeled like a thunderstorm. That voice, he would never mistake it. It was Xi Yunqing!

When did the two of them get that close?

He felt like his internal organs had all just exploded from the shock.