Chapter 39: The Deal

When the woman in white saw Chen Yuyi, she rose gracefully, her movements ethereal as an immortal, her eyes limpid as autumn waters. “Sir, did you know that lingzhi was already devoid of all value?” she asked.

Chen Yuyi smiled faintly, responding with a question instead of an answer. “Aren’t you afraid that someone might come seeking trouble after realizing you’re peddling a lingzhi completely devoid of spiritual energy?”

In truth, that so-called millennium-old lingzhi had long since been drained of its essence. Though its outward appearance remained impressive, within a single day it would crumble into dust. Such a thing could never escape Chen Yuyi’s discerning gaze, which was why he had written those dismissive words.

He touched his nose lightly. “Fortunately, you had no intention of truly selling it. Was your goal in displaying it simply to draw me here?”

The woman in white smiled sweetly. “Why would you say so, sir?”

“It’s a feeling.”

“Your intuition is quite sharp, sir. Indeed, I, Susu, have come to ask a favor of you, Master Chen.” Her expression grew solemn.

“Oh? It seems you know me well, if you’re aware of that title,” Chen Yuyi said, smiling again. There was an otherworldly air about this woman, making her seem less like a mortal and more like a vision.

“Master Chen?” The woman in the cheongsam beside them furrowed her brow, clear skepticism in her eyes upon hearing the title.

“Ye Mei, you should know that every wealthy figure in Jiangzhong is spending a fortune just for a glimpse of Master Chen, and yet fail to see him. Now, he stands before you; ought you not feel honored?” The woman in white spoke gently to Ye Mei.

Ye Mei cast another doubtful glance at Chen Yuyi, as if struggling to believe that this young man could possibly be the revered figure of legend.

Chen Yuyi smiled modestly. “A title not worth a dog’s fart.”

The woman in white covered her mouth with a laugh. “If such a title is worthless, then what will the grandmasters of the world think?”

She then composed herself. “My name is An Susu. It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Chen.”

With that, she extended a slender, porcelain hand toward him.

Chen Yuyi hesitated, but ultimately reached out to take her hand. Instantly, he felt a softness as if boneless, and a strange sensation—his entire body and mind felt as though bathed in a spring breeze.

Ye Mei, noticing that Chen Yuyi did not immediately let go, coughed pointedly, her gaze sharpening.

He withdrew his hand awkwardly, his curiosity about An Susu growing. Just who was this woman who could evoke such a feeling?

“Mr. Chen, aren’t you searching everywhere for spirit herbs? If I can provide them, would you help me in return?” An Susu asked, her tone formal.

“That depends on what you can offer,” Chen Yuyi replied, intrigued.

“Please, follow me.” An Susu turned, heading toward a nearby door.

As soon as Chen Yuyi approached, a rich medicinal fragrance greeted him—he could tell at once these were aged, precious herbs.

Upon entering, even his steady nature could not suppress a look of astonishment.

In one corner of the room, over twenty kinds of rare, ancient herbs were piled—ginseng, lingzhi, fo-ti—each at least a millennium old.

Seeing this, Chen Yuyi felt as if he’d been bitten by a dog. He’d always believed that herbs of such age were impossibly hard to find—hence their astronomical prices on the black market. Yet here, they were heaped like turnips at a vegetable stall.

“Chen Yuyi, you’ve struck gold!” The Flood Dragon King’s voice rang out joyfully within him. “So many rare treasures—this woman is no ordinary person!”

“I agree,” Chen replied in silence. “This goes far beyond what money can buy. I can’t even imagine how she acquired all these.”

“With such ingredients, you could refine White Sun Pills!” The Flood Dragon King sounded thrilled.

“White Sun Pills? The ones you gave me before?”

“You took a Verdant Sky Pill before—a low-grade elixir. White Sun Pills are different. They’re spirit-grade, essential for cultivators like us. They nourish the foundation, restore cultivation, and can even accelerate… Well, it’s complicated, but for now you need to know that these pills are as indispensable to us as money is in the mundane world!” the Dragon King explained.

“So that’s how it is. We should take these and start refining at once.” Eagerness surged in Chen Yuyi—perhaps, with these herbs, he could break through to the next realm.

The Flood Dragon King snorted. “With such temptation before you, aren’t you afraid it’s a trap?”

“Perhaps. But what’s there to fear? Still, An Susu does give me an odd feeling. I sense no energy fluctuations from her, yet she doesn’t seem ordinary at all.”

“I’ll tell you why. It’s a type of spiritual aura, but unlike the kind that clings to herbs. Human spiritual energy is never emitted outward, only contained within. The commonality is both are cultivated over long periods.”

“Are you suggesting An Susu was nurtured by rare herbs since childhood? That would explain why the lingzhi’s aura seemed absorbed by her. Does she feast on these thousand-year-old herbs as if they were everyday food?”

“That’s the only explanation I see—though there may be others I can’t fathom. But one thing is certain: these are not the only rare herbs in her possession!” the Flood Dragon King declared.

“My goodness! If you’re right, and all the best ingredients are in her hands, I could reach the Divine Power realm in no time if I could obtain them all!” Chen Yuyi exclaimed.

“Exactly. You wouldn’t be able to avoid a breakthrough then! And if you could win her herself, dual cultivation would bring even greater results,” the Flood Dragon King said, a sly note in his voice.

Chen Yuyi was taken aback. “Flood Dragon King, you’re being mischievous again!”

“Haha! Her body contains the essence of myriad herbs, the vitality of all living wood! Wood is the element of life—endlessly generative and nourishing! Don’t say I didn’t warn you: she’s a great tonic for you!”

Chen Yuyi was speechless. The Flood Dragon King was forever urging him toward dual cultivation with others—he worried that one day he might actually be persuaded.

Still, recalling the sense of comfort when he shook An Susu’s hand, he wondered: if their contact grew more intimate, could his cultivation really advance faster? Was she really, as the dragon claimed, a great supplement for him?

No. He mustn’t let such thoughts take hold, not when he had a cold-hearted wife at home. If he did anything to betray her, he’d have much to answer for.

“Well, the choice is yours,” the Flood Dragon King said, then fell silent within him.

Chen Yuyi considered a moment. Dual cultivation wasn’t an option for now, but those rare herbs—he must obtain them.

“Miss An, are you sure these aren’t just roots and wild fruits you dug up from some mountain?” he teased.

Ye Mei, having grown impatient during Chen Yuyi’s moment of daze, scoffed, “Roots and wild fruits? Try bringing me some like these, if you can!”

An Susu smiled gently. “Mr. Chen is joking with us,” she said to Ye Mei.

Then she looked to Chen Yuyi. “Are these herbs to your satisfaction?”

“Tell me, what do you want from me?” Chen Yuyi asked, his gaze steady upon her, genuinely curious about her intentions.

“Have you truly decided?” An Susu smiled sweetly. “Very well, I’ll be frank with you.”

She paused, a faint melancholy in her eyes. “I’ve some unfinished business with a member of a certain sect. I’d like your help in settling it.”

“A sect? Do you think I alone can destroy such a powerful group?” Chen Yuyi replied with faint amusement.

He now understood something of the martial world: besides the great clans, there were also powerful sects, most of them hidden from ordinary society, though some, like Bu Jingshan whom he’d met today, did walk the mortal world. Among ordinary people, grandmasters were rare, but in these sects, they were merely commonplace.

Of course, it wouldn’t be impossible for Chen Yuyi to wipe out a sect at his current strength.

“I don’t ask you to destroy the sect,” An Susu replied, “only to cripple their young master—make it so he can never be a man again. Besides, I know that even destroying the sect would be no great trouble for you.” Her eyes shone as she looked at him.

Chen Yuyi said nothing, but pointed at the pile of herbs. “I’ll be taking these with me.”

An Susu smiled radiantly. “If you succeed, I’ll reward you handsomely.”

“What is the name of this sect?”

“The Sect of the Medicine King.”

Chen Yuyi’s thoughts stirred. “The Sect of the Medicine King? Do they possess many rare herbs?”

An Susu nodded, her eyes brightening. “All these herbs come from their stores. They have a secret treasury filled with countless miraculous medicines—what you see here is but a fraction, scarcely a drop in the ocean.”

“Very well. I’ll make time for this errand.” Chen Yuyi nodded. For the sake of that secret vault, he would go—whatever it took, even if he had to destroy the sect.

“In one month, the young master is to be wed. You can use this invitation to enter their ranks. I’ll have Ye Mei arrange everything for you.” An Susu produced a gilded invitation and handed it to Chen Yuyi.

He opened it and glanced over its contents. Under the section for the bride, it read: An Susu...