A light knock sounded at the door before it slid open.
A middle-aged man in simple gray robes entered, carrying a wooden case filled with appraisal tools. His movements were steady and practiced—clearly a veteran appraiser from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. He greeted politely, "Manager Wen, Owner Han,"
Wen Yuelan nodded, "Appraiser Liu, please evaluate these three spiritual wines."
"Yes."
Appraiser Liu opened the first jade vial. A faint, mist-like fragrance drifted out. He examined the clarity, measured the density of spiritual particles using a small crystal plate, and even took the tiniest sip.
After a moment, he nodded.
A few moments later, he checked all of the vials.
Appraiser Liu finished recording his notes on a thin jade slip before clearing his throat.
"Manager Wen, Owner Han, based on the updated market valuation and current jug prices, the estimated values are as follows."
He raised the first vial.
"For Hollow Mist Brew, the pavilion purchases it at five spirit coins per jug. Since a jar contains three jugs, that becomes fifteen spirit coins per jar."
Wen Yuelan nodded calmly.
Appraiser Liu continued, opening the second vial.
"For Ironleaf Spirit Ale, nine spirit coins per jug. Thus, twenty-seven spirit coins per jar."
Then the third vial.
"For Crescent Dew Nectar, fifteen spirit coins per jug. Therefore, forty-five spirit coins per jar."
He closed the jade slip.
"These numbers reflect the standard wholesale rates."
Wen Yuelan turned to Han Xuan, her expression professional but with a faint softness hidden in her eyes, "Brother Han, how many jars will you be selling to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion?"
Han Xuan leaned back slightly, his voice steady, "One hundred jars of each."
The room fell quiet for a heartbeat.
Even Appraiser Liu couldn't stop his eyes from widening—three hundred jars of Rank 1 spiritual wine were something only a mid-grade sect brewery could produce.
Wen Yuelan recovered first, inhaling softly, "…Three hundred jars."
Han Xuan nodded, "Yes."
Appraiser Liu quickly tallied the total and reported, "For Hollow Mist Brew: 100 jars × 15… 1,500 spirit coins. For Ironleaf Spirit Ale: 100 jars × 27… 2,700 spirit coins. For Crescent Dew Nectar: 100 jars × 45… 4,500 spirit coins. In total… 8,700 spirit coins."
Wen Yuelan closed her eyes briefly, steadying herself, then offered a composed smile.
"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion will purchase all three hundred jars at full price. We will prepare 8,700 spirit coins today. Once the goods are delivered, the transaction will be completed."
Han Xuan bowed slightly, "Thank you, Manager Wen."
Wen Yuelan gestured gracefully, "This pavilion has always valued quality goods. Your wines are worth the price."
Han Xuan nodded slightly before he cleared his throat softly, "Manager Wen, there is… another reason I came today."
Wen Yuelan looked up from the jade slip she was organizing, "Please speak."
"I wish to purchase a spiritual object," Han Xuan said, "If possible, a fire-attribute treasure."
Wen Yuelan gently nodded, then reached under the counter and retrieved a thin jade booklet, "This is the latest catalog for Rank 1 and Rank 2 treasures. Please take your time."
Han Xuan sat and flipped through the pages. Most were common treasures—spiritual herbs, ores, talismans, spiritual weapons, even a few low-grade spirit beast eggs. Nothing caught his attention.
Until one page made him pause.
Scarlet Flame Lotus Seed.
His brows moved slightly.
Wen Yuelan noticed his gaze, "That is a fire-attribute spiritual object derived from the Scarlet Flame Lotus. The lotus itself has no special effect, but its seed carries a trace of primordial fire essence."
She pointed to the image on the page, a small, crimson-gold seed surrounded by a faint heat ripple. He continued, "If consumed, it may allow the user to generate a spiritual flame known as Scarlet Meridian Flame."
Han Xuan's eyes brightened, "I want it."
Wen Yuelan, however, raised a soft reminder, "You must understand, Scarlet Flame Lotus Seed does not guarantee awakening a spiritual flame. The success rate is extremely low. That is the only reason the Hundred Treasures Pavilion allows it to enter open catalogues."
She smiled faintly, though a hint of seriousness lingered beneath, "Otherwise, any spiritual object that can grant a spiritual flame… would spark competition even among our pavilion members."
She wasn't exaggerating.
Spiritual flames were rare, coveted by alchemists, refiners, and combat cultivators alike.With a spiritual flame, a cultivator could refine better pills, forge stronger spiritual weapons, and unleash devastating fire techniques.
"But," Wen Yuelan added, "The drawback is that a Scarlet Flame Lotus only produces five seeds per maturation cycle. And the fewer seeds consumed, the lower the chance of obtaining the flame. That's the reason our pavilion decided to sell it instead of using it for our members."
Han Xuan simply shook his head, "It doesn't matter."
After all, he wasn't buying it for himself.
He planned to use it for his unborn child.
And with the system backing his family's fate… even a slim chance might become certainty.
Wen Yuelan studied his expression quietly, "…Very well. I will arrange it."
The decision was made swiftly. Han Xuan completed the purchase without hesitation.
He didn't buy anything else; the remaining spirit coins would be saved for the investments.
Wen Yuelan left to prepare the spiritual object and spirit coins, while Appraiser Liu excused himself to return to his duties.
Before long, Wen Yuelan returned, holding a sealed jade box containing the Scarlet Flame Lotus Seed.
Han Xuan accepted it with both hands, "Thank you."
He rose, ready to leave—but Wen Yuelan suddenly spoke.
"…Bother Xuan."
Han Xuan turned.
Wen Yuelan lowered her gaze for a moment before meeting his eyes, "I will be returning to my family soon to attempt my breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."
Han Xuan stiffened slightly.
"If I succeed," Wen Yuelan continued, "I will be reassigned to a larger branch of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in a bigger market. If I failed, I would remain with my family. I… will most likely never return to Blueleaf Market."
The room felt strangely quiet.
Han Xuan wanted to say many things, but in the end, he forced everything down and spoke only one sentence: "Yuelan… once I reach Foundation Establishment, I will go to your family. Until that moment. Please wait for me."
Wen Yuelan's eyes widened. Her lips trembled ever so slightly, "…I will wait."
✽ ✽ ✽
Han Xuan stepped out of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, tightening the sleeve of his robe as he prepared to head back to Five Paths Mountain.
But the moment he reached the street, a shadow detached itself from a nearby wall.
It was the same servant Chen Wuye had sent earlier that day—the one who had entered Hollow Tavern uninvited.
He bowed stiffly, "Owner Han, my young master requests your presence. Please follow me."
Han Xuan's brows lowered. He didn't miss the subtle insistence in the man's tone, "…Fine."
He didn't want trouble to spill into the streets. Better to face this directly.
The servant led him down a busy road toward a refined-looking tea house with carved wooden pillars and pale curtains.
Inside, a private room was already waiting.
Chen Wuye sat leisurely behind a low table, sipping tea with a smile that never reached his eyes, "Owner Han, I knew you would come."
Han Xuan entered calmly, "I only came to hear what you want. Speak."
Chen Wuye chuckled, folding his fan, "Straightforward as always. Good. Then I will not waste time."
He gestured toward the empty seat opposite him.
"Owner Han, my Chen Family sincerely invites you to become a Guest Elder. The conditions remain the same as last time, but I have added more benefits this time."
Chen Wuye's smile deepened as he slid a jade slip across the table, "Monthly stipends. Access to our cultivation library. Protection under the Chen Family name. Priority purchase rights for rare materials. A private residence. Even a Foundation Establishment Pill when you reach the ninth-stage Qi Refining."
Han Xuan did not touch the jade slip.
Chen Wuye's tone softened into persuasion, "With your talent in brewing spiritual wine, Owner Han, staying in that tiny tavern is a waste. Join my Chen Family, and your future will soar far beyond this small market."
Han Xuan gave a mild smile, "No."
Chen Wuye blinked, unable to hide his surprise, "…Owner Han, you must be joking."
"I'm not," Han Xuan replied calmly, "I refuse. I'm already satisfied with my current life. My tavern may be small, but it supports my family well. As for cultivation… With my mediocre spiritual root, reaching the peak of Qi Refining would already be fortunate. I have no extravagant ambitions like Foundation Establishment."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Chen Wuye slowly set his teacup down, the porcelain making a soft clink. His expression darkened, though his voice remained polite, "Owner Han, surely you would reconsider?"
Han Xuan exhaled quietly and closed his eyes for an instant, as though gathering patience, "I see no reason to."
For a moment, a familiar face rose unbidden in Han Xuan's memory— Ma Liang, a talented refiner with an easy laugh, a man who used to drink with him in the tavern late into the night.
Ma Liang had accepted the Chen Family's invitation a year ago.
And a year later… he vanished.
At first, Han Xuan thought Ma Liang had simply moved to a larger market to seek greater opportunities. It wasn't unusual for casual cultivators to travel.
But as time passed, he overheard many quiet conversations about Ma Liang from the regulars who frequented Hollow Tavern.
Many suspected that Ma Liang had died.
And apparently, the Chen Family had invited other skilled casual cultivators before—alchemists, refiners, talisman crafters.
Each one accepted, but they disappeared without a trace roughly a year later.
No letters, no sightings, and no sound.
No one knew what fate awaited them… and Han Xuan had no intention of finding out.
Because of that, he rejected Chen Wuye's invitation without hesitation, even at the risk of offending someone he really shouldn't offend.
Silence thickened in the room.
A moment later, Chen Wuye's expression relaxed, and a smile resurfaced, "…Very well. I hope you will not regret this decision, Owner Han."
Han Xuan didn't bother replying.
He turned and walked toward the door.
He could feel Chen Wuye's cold stare drilling into his back, icy and sharp, but he didn't look back.
Some dangers were avoided by stepping around them.
Others… by refusing to step into their trap at all.