"What business did Mr. Zhao use to make his name?" Chen Yi pressed on the chair but did not sit down: "A chef?"

"Why does the Sir think it's a chef?"

"If not a chef, then on the palm…" Chen Yi smiled faintly: "Why would there be calluses?"

Zhao Yan naturally loosened his grip on the chair, placed his hands behind him, and said, "Sit down, please sit."

Chen Yi gracefully took his seat.

Zhao Yan stepped back slightly and sat down as well, signaling something with his hand behind him.

In the dimly lit, spacious private room, under the long curtains, the assassins from Lifeng Pavilion crouched down and exited through the hidden door.

Jiang Shangli also sat down, laughing: "How is the conversation between you two? It seems you've left me, the County Magistrate, out."

"How dare we neglect the County Magistrate." Zhao Yan stood up to pour him wine and said, "But there is a matter I'd like to ask the County Magistrate—what did Young Master Long do before?"

Jiang Shangli replied, "That is something you'll have to ask Young Master Long directly. If I already knew, wouldn't that make me a fortune teller?"

Zhao Yan then said, "Forgive my inadequacies, I happen to possess some skill in fortune telling."

Chen Yi leaned slightly forward and said, "Oh? Please, tell my fortune then."

Zhao Yan placed one hand behind his back, stood up, and approached.

Chen Yi leaned back against the chair with a lazy posture, stretching one foot just beneath Zhao Yan's body.

From the side, Lu Ying suddenly realized something was amiss—this foot could kick up at any moment, shattering Zhao Yan's jaw.

Zhao Yan brought back the hand he had kept behind his back, placing it in front of his abdomen in a loose, grasping pose, just enough to block the potential kick route, then extended his neck to study Chen Yi slowly.

"An excellent face—broad forehead, radiant seal. Officer luck indeed."

"But I roam the Jianghu now."

"Yet, your officer luck is somewhat scattered. Young Master has a head full of thick hair that seems to have drawn away the officer luck from your forehead." Zhao Yan paused and continued, "Quite a bit of that luck has been dispersed."

"Dispersed to where?"

"The County Magistrate here may well have inherited Young Master's blessings." Zhao Yan said meaningfully.

Before Chen Yi could speak, Jiang Shangli burst into laughter: "Me as a mere County Magistrate—how could I steal Young Master Long's officer luck? If I did steal such luck, I wouldn't remain a County Magistrate."

As the words landed, Zhao Yan thought inwardly, It seems Jiang Shangli hasn't secretly colluded with the Thousand Households nor sold us out to Lifeng Pavilion?

Chen Yi said instead, "Shall we continue?"

Zhao Yan snapped out of his thoughts and smiled: "Young Master's officer luck may be scattered, but your fortune is intact. Where are you making your money?"

Chen Yi replied, "Escorting goods here and there. Bloodshed on the road, meeting people, encountering blood—it's all hard-earned money."

"Whose money isn't hard-earned?" Zhao Yan remarked.

The two exchanged glances and burst into laughter simultaneously.

Lu Ying looked at Chen Yi, then at Zhao Yan. The young girl couldn't grasp the subtleties of the conversation but feared appearing awkward and reluctantly joined in with a laugh, cradling her face.

During this, a maid brought in wine. Chen Yi raised his wine bowl and said, "Hard-earned money—truly difficult to make."

"What kind of money is easy to earn?"

"Money that doesn't require blood or sweat is the easiest to earn." Chen Yi turned to toast Jiang Shangli and said, "I think the County Magistrate's money must be easy to make—you're earning my money."

Jiang Shangli was both flattered and uneasy, lowering his wine bowl slightly and responding, "How dare I take the heroic and gallant Young Master Long's money."

Zhao Yan narrowed his eyes and said, "Then is the County Magistrate earning my money?"

"Justice money redistributing wealth—I also dare not touch."

"If no money is easy to earn, then you must be earning from both of us?"

Sweat beaded on Jiang Shangli's forehead.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

Footsteps echoed from outside the private room.

Chen Yi and Zhao Yan became alert, instinctively readying their weapons.

Jiang Shangli stood up and said, "A clerk from the government office is looking for me. Please wait here for a moment."

Zhao Yan said, "County Magistrate, don't go too far—you might make people worry."

"Of course."

With a promise, Jiang Shangli left the room, showing only half his figure at the door.

Qin Tu appeared before him. Following Jiang Shangli's signal, he bent over and lowered his voice to say:

"County Magistrate, weren't you supposed to sell Young Master Long to Lifeng Pavilion?"

"Look at the woman by his side, her robes…She's from Yin Sword Mountain!" Jiang Shangli spoke rapidly: "Sword Armor…Can we afford provoke it? Don't harm her accidentally—at least escort her away."

Qin Tu widened his eyes in alarm and said, "Then what do we do? If we don't sell Young Master Long, I fear we won't get out of this Clearwind Hall alive. Better to sell him."

Jiang Shangli glanced back quietly and said:

"The plan doesn't match up,

they're going to unite against me!"

.........…

Compared to the hidden currents on the third floor of Clearwind Hall, another place seemed far more harmonious—a gathering of Daoists, basking in joyous fellowship.

As it was a meeting of Daoists, with each following different dietary restrictions, tea naturally replaced wine, and the conversations that complemented the tea were often the discussions from the prior philosophical conference.

"What a brilliant 'The Great Fullness Is Like Emptiness.' Who would've thought these classic Daoist scriptures, turned over countless times by the ancients, could yield such an interpretation today."

"Friend Yin truly has extraordinary insight. The resolution of 'Emptiness Leads to Fullness,' when further perfected, will undoubtedly rival that of the ancients."

"All of you are being too modest."

Yin Weiyin gave a slight bow, his face calm and indifferent as if unmoved by the praise.

Earlier, at Taihua Mountain's philosophical discourse, the discussion had begun with the Daoist principle "Great Accomplishment Is Like Deficiency" as the core theme. Participants took turns presenting their interpretations, quoting scriptures to elaborate. However, in philosophy, there is always a hierarchy, and perspectives often differ, leading to contrasting opinions without resolution. Yet today's topic differed—the Taichua Goddess had chosen another Daoist phrase from this sixty-year cycle, "The Great Fullness Is Like Emptiness," subtly guiding the discussion before unveiling her unique interpretation of "Emptiness Leads to Fullness," ultimately silencing dissent.

None of the Daoists present at the discussion could help but admire her insight.

Thus, in the current Heart Nourishing Hall, praises were plenty. After the compliments, the topic naturally shifted to the Taichua Goddess's Dao companion.

In cultivation, the Four Great Treasures consist of wealth, the Dao, companions, and land.

As the daughter of King Jing, wealth was naturally beyond question. Being the Taichua Goddess this sixty-year cycle granted her unparalleled advantages in the Dao and land. The only shortcoming was a suitable companion. Yet, one year ago, the union of Yin Weiyin and Chen Yi had already been announced to the world through the Prince Mansion, spreading across the five lakes and four seas. With this, the final treasure—"companion"—was secured.

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