Gold and Jade

After listening, Chi Wangyue looked at Tong Jiusheng from a distance.

A thought suddenly popped into my mind: "You've had a tough journey... You must have suffered a lot along the way." But in the end, I didn't say it aloud.

Yan Tianhua remained silent for a few seconds. Bai Hanxin noticed the somewhat tense atmosphere and calmly said, "This time, Liaowu City may be even more chaotic."

"It's not what it used to be. A long, long time has passed, and many things have changed. But I seem to have forgotten how to deal with it... The current Liaowu City is not just Liaowu City anymore. There are humans, immortals, and demons here."

No one knew their intentions.

Tong Jiusheng was very handsome when he was young. Cultivators are known for their ageless beauty. At the age of twenty-three, he learned some unorthodox methods of attack. But even a small sparrow is still meat.

Tong Jiusheng's appearance wasn't very old, but the hardships of life had aged his heart, making him look particularly haggard.

“It’s not too late for us now.” Yan Tianhua suddenly broke the somber atmosphere. He was like a reassuring balm. Seeing the boy holding on, Tong Jiusheng mustered some strength and said, half in agreement and half in hope, “Let’s hope so.”

It's never too late for anyone to do anything, as long as they have a resolute heart and the courage to forge ahead.

In the eyes of a bewitching world, one will always be determined to move forward and abandon despondency, but those who have experienced more of reality are always more rational.

Tong Jiusheng was unwilling to perish in silence. He was like a young man who had not achieved his desires in life and was determined to go up the mountain. He used his last bit of strength to support himself and maintain his human skeleton.

The more Chi Wangyue understood this, the more he felt that life was unpredictable. Yan Tianhua was the same; he had a deeper understanding of it. After Elder Xingjuan left Wuqing Peak, everything happened one after another like falling dominoes.

He barely managed to hold on, struggling to stay afloat. Despite the immense sorrow deep within him, he had to swallow it all, the pain seeming almost nonexistent, except for Chi Wangyue.

Silently, images of him and Wangyue flashed through his mind. Yan Tianhua felt a warmth in his heart, as if there was someone who would always make him stand firm in the face of hardship, not running away, but standing in front of him.

[Congratulations, host! Yan Tianhua's favorability has increased by 15%.]

[The host's progress is increasing rapidly, and the title of "heart-stirring charm" has been achieved. Automatically added to your inventory; please check it yourself.]

[Currently, Yan Tianhua's favorability rating is 85%. Please keep up the good work, host, and victory is imminent.]

As the moon gazing silently over the pond, Yan Tianhua's silent love quietly grew stronger. Although it was a leap forward, it still made one sigh that love was worthwhile.

Tong Jiusheng snapped out of his daze and said, "You're great. I hope you can meet even better people in the future."

Yan Tianhua acquiesced, but for some reason, Chi Wangyue turned her face away.

The subtle atmosphere between the two occurred in an instant and vanished without a trace.

Tong Jiusheng didn't pay much attention to Yan Tianhua and Chi Wangyue's little actions, but Bai Hanxin noticed them accurately and secretly celebrated.

She spoke at just the right time, "Senior Brother Yan Tianhua has always been a good person, and he has someone who cares about him. Moreover, things will only get better for them in the future."

Chi Wangyue pondered the deeper meaning behind Bai Hanxin's words. He was somewhat surprised, "Someone has feelings for Senior Brother Yan, and she knows it too, and sincerely wishes him well."

He pondered for a moment, considering everything he had done with Yan Tianhua, but found nothing about this "sister who admires Senior Brother Yan" in the smallest details. His face immediately fell, and he became somewhat unhappy.

Yan Tianhua himself didn't react much to their jokes, but when he saw Chi Wangyue staring at him intently, a slight smile crept onto his lips. Others probably didn't know that the "girl" who admired him was himself.

Yan Tianhua also pondered the meaning of "Xinyi" carefully, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that he was going crazy.

He was thinking that his dear junior brother liked him.

Yan Tianhua remained expressionless, inwardly blaming herself, and subtly adjusted her heart rate to a normal level. But her heart continued to beat.

It took him a while to realize what they were talking about.

At the same time, Chi Wangyue's system panel automatically displayed: [Congratulations, host, Yan Tianhua's favorability +5%]

[Currently, Yan Tianhua's favorability has reached 90%. Congratulations, host, for swiftly completing 90% of the conquest mission at breakneck speed, achieving the title of "Strongest Conqueror." The system has automatically added this title to your account; please equip it as desired.]

[The system has detected that the host is currently activating a side quest, and that the side quest is directly proportional to Yan Tianhua's personal growth. In order to encourage the host to actively participate in the quest, the main system will grant the host certain key points that will influence the plot.]

P.S. This crucial point can only be accessed once, so please cherish it. The system has automatically saved it; please open it manually.

"Congratulations, host. The main system deeply admires your contributions and is willing to award you an prize—the 'Rapid Progress Award.' We hope that you will cherish the fruits of your labor, uphold your original aspirations, build on past achievements, and forge ahead."

Chi Wangyue asked, "Then let's set off. May I ask where you are referring to?" He then feigned a puzzled expression, offering a way out.

Tong Jiusheng continued, "Come with me, and you'll find out."

"Then thank you very much," Bai Hanxin said cheerfully.

The atmosphere among the group livened up again, and Tong Jiusheng was passively infected by the long-lost vitality, appearing younger. He wasn't ugly, just like a young man in his prime, but compared to Yan Tianhua and the others around him, he had a more mature and realistic air.

They first went to a fabric store with decent finished products. The store had many trendy styles. Yan Tianhua and the others looked at Tong Jiusheng, who remained expressionless. He smiled for the first time in a long time and said, "We need to change our outfits. As for the cost, I'll cover it."

Seeing that their leaders were setting such an example, Yan Tianhua naturally followed suit. The marketing staff's eyes lit up when they saw them.

Promote the store's best fabrics and finished products to them, praising them as unparalleled in heaven and earth, using flowery language.

But Tong Jiusheng was not interested in what he had gained. Having seen more of the world and become accustomed to poverty, he almost forgot that he had once been the master of a young lady. Since his salary was commensurate with his labor, he naturally had his own little treasury.

Tong Jiusheng's first time hosting a dinner party involved a huge sum of money.

First, he chose a rather fashionable black and red fitted shirt, and tied it on his head with the gifted headband, making him look more youthful. The mud on his face had long been forgotten, and he was naturally much more handsome and radiant than when Bai Hanxin first saw him.

Yan Tianhua, on the other hand, chose a loose-fitting ink-wash robe. The main color was white, but it was surrounded by an ink-wash painting, which looked quite pleasing to the eye.

Chi Wangyue chose a simple light blue robe over a moon-white shirt, which made her look more dignified.

Finally, Bai Hanxin chose a pale yellow belted dress, decorated with many ornaments around it, which made it stand out and gave her a playful, girlish look.

Tong Jiusheng changed his clothes and transformed from a lowly person into a high-class young master. He also acted prudently, spending money wisely and efficiently.

Afterwards, Tong Jiusheng led them to the largest building in the area, Jinyulou.

"This is the largest exchange in Liaowu City, and also a famous gold mine." Tong Jiusheng knew Jin Yulou very well because he had been here so many times that even in his decline, he did not forget his past memories.

"We're here to find someone. We had arranged to meet here. You two actually know each other—Xing Juan, the current peak master of the Ruthless Peak of the Luo Shu Sect."

"…………"

"???"

“.

He hadn't expected such a strong reaction from the three of them when he spoke. He blinked. "Are you familiar with him? I've heard that the disciples of Luoshu have always avoided this Peak Master of Ruthless Peak."

“Yes, it’s a rumor,” Yan Tianhua affirmed.

"Mr. Tong, do we have some information gaps?" Bai Hanxin asked seriously.

“Actually, we’re quite familiar with each other, perhaps even more so than you are,” Chi Wangyue said with a smile.

This time, it was Tong Jiusheng's turn to be "???"

He was trying to understand, as his brain was loading.

Chi Wangyue gently and considerately added the information that had not been explained before: "We are disciples of Wuqing Peak of Luoshu Sect, Chi Wangyue and Yan Tianhua. The young lady next to you is from Danxin Peak next door, and is a disciple of Danxin Peak Master Liu Wushuang."

Tong Jiusheng: "...Oh, so we're on the same side."

He cleared his throat. "Oh, I see."

Then, he straightened up and walked forward, with Yan Tianhua and her group following behind.

Once inside, you'll truly understand the feeling that "there are always people better than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding."

Before them lay a dazzling array of magical treasures and martial arts manuals, as well as a complete selection of rare and common elixirs. The medicines were generally sold at market prices, with discounts available for bulk purchases.

Of course, you can also sell valuable items or anything here. As long as someone wants to buy, any transaction will be completed.

Tong Jiusheng had previously sold a large number of talismans here, and they were of excellent quality, making him a major seller in the area. He possessed the priceless Golden Jade Token.

The Golden Jade Token is a special reward issued by Golden Jade Pavilion to its most important customers. Generally speaking, the number of such tokens is extremely limited, and those who obtain one are all extraordinary individuals.

In another sense, it is also a way for Jin Yu Lou to make connections with capable people all over the world.

It's willing to give a chance, just to make a connection, even if it's optional, but an extra layer of protection is far from being overly assertive.

As for the uses of the Golden Jade Token, they naturally come in various forms. It is also divided into three grades: upper, middle, and lower. Owners of the Golden Jade Token can enjoy a variety of premium services and various discount coupons.

The key to grading lies in its limitations; it's a system based on a certain quantity. These days, a Golden Jade Token is priceless.

Tong Jiusheng wore a low-grade gold and jade token, and within the Golden Jade Pavilion, possessing such a token was enough to earn their admiration and utmost respect. This was even more true for mid-grade and high-grade gold and jade tokens.

Therefore, when Yan Tianhua and his entourage entered, the staff warmly welcomed them. A very elegant young lady smiled at him and asked, "May I ask which purpose you are here?"

Tong Jiusheng said, "I've come to find a young master who has been waiting for a long time."

The shop assistant recalled that a well-dressed young man had indeed come to wait with a young assistant that day.

So she said, "The young master is waiting for you in the upper guest room. Please follow me—"

Yan Tianhua followed and turned around. He and Chi Wangyue looked at each other and he noticed a lively look in Chi Wangyue's eyes. In that instant, he realized that the other party was up to something.

Yan Tianhua did not stop him, but said, "Be mindful of your words." He thought of the right words to organize his thoughts, and finally simplified it into four words.

Chi Wangyue looked at Senior Brother Yan and silently mouthed, "I will, don't worry."

Bai Hanxin had been observing the surroundings for a long time, and she had memorized the scene layout, various arrangements, and even rare treasures.

Bai Hanxin was so engrossed in the details that she was caught off guard by their secret new way of communicating, which made her even happier.

She thought that if she could express her opinions in person, she would feel a great sense of support and protection.

However, that moment might be a little awkward. But she always manages to turn awkwardness into normalcy; she has some tricks she's developed that are incredibly useful, like finding a topic to talk about.

In reality, Bai Han, with her keen mind, pretended to know nothing and not see anything, simply and innocently following the path led by the elder Tong.

Yan Tianhua stared straight ahead at a spot not far away, her heart filled with a faint mix of other emotions.

From the moment Chi Wangyue arrived here, he had ulterior motives. Therefore, he remained quiet for the first half of the time, but in the second half, his true colors were revealed.

When he wasn't pretending, Yan Tianhua would always silently protect the flamboyant Chi Wangyue from behind, and sometimes she would personally step in to defend him.

"Tong Jiusheng, do you have any special feelings for my master?" This question suddenly popped into Chi Wangyue's mind, and she blurted it out without even having a draft.

Tong Jiusheng: "..." If the meaning flashing in his mind does not match the actual product, can he return it? It seems not.

If it were his own disciple, the other party probably wouldn't even glance at him... The two are equally bad.

Tong Jiusheng immediately replied, "It is forbidden to spread rumors. We are both innocent and have nothing to hide."

Chi Wangyue simply replied, "Oh."

Then he asked, "Jin Yu Lou, will you grant me a good match?"

Yan Tianhua felt a pang in her heart.

Tong Jiusheng responded to this question with a touch of humor: "Gold and jade are inherently symbols of wealth and nobility. A marriage that can be made with gold and jade is naturally extraordinary. However, the road beneath our feet is also a building paved with gold."

As the saying goes, "a towering building is a hundred feet high," they can "reach for the stars" and can also choose to do what they are better suited to do at any time.

When Chi Wangyue calmed down, he looked up and his thoughts lingered for a long time.

Elder Xingjuan was there, sitting in a chair, silently sorting through his thoughts. Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen each other for so long, but it felt like an eternity had passed since they last met.

What Xing Juan was about to do was only the beginning. Fate always led him in strange directions, penetrating through the shadow of the thread and showing him another possibility.

"He was very happy and honored to see his student again."

Above all, the hardships they endured dissipated like a gentle breeze. No one could know the weight of responsibility that filled their hearts with warmth and indignation when they saw someone capable of standing up to shoulder the burden.