Eternal Life Begins with Learning

Chu Mu glanced at Chen Hanyun, who was toying with a Storage Talisman. A sudden thought seemed to strike him, and his previously casual expression abruptly stiffened.

'Mutual use, each taking what they need, is fine. But if the trouble is too great, then I'll be the one losing out big time!'

"What is your relationship with this man?"

He turned his head to look at the young woman beside him and asked directly.

The young woman was taken aback, looking a little confused. "What relationship?"

As soon as she spoke, seeing Chu Mu's solemn expression, the young woman instinctively explained, "We're not related. My aunt is merely an acquaintance of his father."

"Really?"

Chu Mu asked again.

"I guarantee it."

The young woman blurted out.

Seeing her so earnest, Chu Mu finally relaxed a bit.

'Letting her borrow my influence is fine, as long as we're both getting what we want. It's just a normal exchange of benefits.'

'But if it involves this kind of messy bullshit, then that's going way too far.'

"Brother Chu, what are you going to do next…?"

The young woman was silent for a moment, asking tentatively, but before she could finish, Chu Mu interrupted her.

"This Hundred Treasures Pavilion… can you call the shots here, Miss Hongyi?"

The young woman paused. She instinctively nodded, but then quickly shook her head.

Chu Mu frowned. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I plan to open a shop in Chixia soon. When the time comes, perhaps we could cooperate, Miss Hongyi."

"Brother Chu, you don't have to go through all that trouble. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion…"

The young woman started to say instinctively, but then she remembered Chu Mu's question. Her voice trailed off, losing all its confidence…

Chu Mu paid her no mind. In his mind, using this opportunity was one thing, but opening his own shop was another matter entirely.

'Of course, if this woman was the one calling all the shots at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, I wouldn't mind working with her. It would be mutually beneficial, and I could avoid a lot of hassle.'

'After all, opening a shop would mean I'd have to handle everything myself, from the trivial details to the major aspects. It would be an incredible amount of trouble.'

'But clearly, that wasn't how things were.'

'The Hundred Treasures Pavilion wasn't *her* Hundred Treasures Pavilion.'

As he was thinking, something else seemed to occur to Chu Mu. He spoke again, "I have one more thing I need to trouble you with, Miss Hongyi."

"Go ahead, Brother Chu."

Chu Mu asked, "The Hundred Treasures Pavilion's caravans… they return to the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World periodically, don't they?"

"That's right."

The young woman nodded.

Chu Mu looked thoughtful as he slowly said, "You know of Xu Yuan, right? He retreated to the Northwest with the Xie Family. He should have settled in one of their Marketplaces…"

"Brother Chu, you mean you want me to send someone with a message for Fellow Daoist Xu, asking him and his family to come to Chixia?"

"Yes."

Chu Mu nodded.

'I've been in the Vast Sea for over a decade, and so far, I still haven't found a bloodline and corresponding Cultivation Technique that truly satisfies me.'

'But before, I was just searching aimlessly on my own. After this trade meet, everything will be different.'

'By the time he makes his way here from the Northwest, everything should be settled.'

"The remnants of the Xie Family are located tens of millions of miles from Chixia. Over such a distance, if their Cultivation is only at the Qi Cultivation Realm…"

The young woman hesitated.

"It's fine."

Chu Mu wasn't concerned. Back when they were both in Jingmen, he had left Xu Yuan with plenty of resources. He'd even left him several Tier Two Puppets.

'With those resources, as long as they don't go looking for trouble and stick to the normal routes—using the Flying Boat network to travel between Marketplaces—the chances of something going wrong are minuscule.'

"Alright, then."

The young woman nodded. She shot Chu Mu a slightly reproachful glance, but ultimately said no more.

"Consider this a transaction between us, Miss Hongyi."

"If there's anything you need my help with, Miss Hongyi, feel free to ask. I'll do it if it's within my power."

Chu Mu said slowly, his tone even.

The young woman didn't speak, and for a moment, the atmosphere seemed a bit heavy.

The trade meet didn't last long. Once the exchanges concluded, it naturally broke down into small groups of conversation.

Some discussed their Cultivation experiences, while others gathered in small groups to chat. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion was clearly prepared for this; Maids emerged one after another, carrying trays of Spirit Wine and Spiritual Food for the Cultivators to enjoy.

The Maids were all bewitching, their gauzy veils doing little to conceal their bodies. The aura of Charm Skills was palpable.

Chu Mu had just finished a cup of Spirit Wine. As the young woman silently refilled it, he caught sight of two figures approaching out of the corner of his eye.

"What a lucky man you are, Fellow Daoist! To have the Hongyi Fairy herself pouring your wine. A blessing like that is the envy of us all."

The teasing words came as Chen Hanyun and the middle-aged man took seats nearby.

Chu Mu chuckled. "Miss Hongyi and I are old friends. We've known each other for many years, so I'm entitled to a little special treatment."

"Hahaha, I suspect you're more than just 'old friends'."

Chen Hanyun laughed, casting a meaningful glance at the seemingly intimate pair of Chu Mu and the young woman.

Chu Mu smiled and didn't explain.

'It was the kind of thing that only got murkier with explanation.'

"The Cultivation Technique you practice… it's of the Supreme Yang and Firmness, isn't it?"

Then, Chen Hanyun's tone suddenly shifted. He looked at Chu Mu and asked abruptly.

Chu Mu was taken aback for a moment. Though he didn't know the man's intentions, he didn't try to hide it, admitting it freely.

'After all, whether for Alchemy or Artifact Refining, it was impossible to hide the nature of Supreme Yang and Firmness, let alone his Great Sun True Flame.'

"Hahaha, see? I told you I was right, cousin."

Chen Hanyun had an I-told-you-so expression as he grinned at the middle-aged man beside him.

"'Cousin?'"

Chu Mu was surprised.

"This is my cousin, Chen Hanwen. He's the Outer Hall Master of the city's Law Enforcement Hall. Fellow Daoist, if you run into any trouble in the city, just say the word. I guarantee we'll take care of it for you, no fuss…"

Chen Hanyun made the introduction, then immediately began making guarantees on the other man's behalf.

Chu Mu glanced at the middle-aged man, who immediately chimed in with agreement. It was instantly clear to him who held the real power between the two: Chen Hanyun, the Golden Core Heir.

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony. When the time comes, I hope you two Fellow Daoists don't find me to be a bother."

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. As long as you ask, we will not refuse."

After a round of pleasantries, Chen Hanwen couldn't wait to get to the main topic:

"Oh, right. Those Flawless Pills from the trade earlier… Fellow Daoist, do you happen to have any more?"

"Since you've asked, Fellow Daoist, even if I didn't have any, I would have to refine some immediately to meet your needs."

Chu Mu raised his cup of Spirit Wine in a small toast.

Chen Hanwen paused for a second, then broke into a hearty laugh. He raised his own cup of Spirit Wine and drained it in one gulp.

Just then, Chen Hanyun suddenly asked, "You're still a Loose Cultivator, aren't you, Fellow Daoist?"

Chu Mu set down his cup and shook his head with a smile. "I'm used to my freedom. I can't stand being tied down."

"Ah, to be a Loose Cultivator… carefree and unfettered…"

Chen Hanyun seemed to be sighing with emotion, a wistful note entering his voice.

Chu Mu rubbed his chin, at a bit of a loss for words.

'Someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth is romanticizing the life of a bitter struggle at the bottom?'

…

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