Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Chen Yuan and Zhang San didn't have to wait long before Steward Chai returned and handed Zhang San a silver note: "This is a Xiang Sheng Tong note, valid for travel in the Southern Frontier. Brother Zhang, please verify it!"

Zhang San's eyes lit up, and he said with a fawning smile, "Brother, you're joking. Everyone knows the Liu family is the wealthiest family in Qingyang City. How could their banknotes be fake..."

He spoke politely, but his hands moved swiftly, taking the silver note and examining it closely.

He walked to the door, held it above his head, facing the sunlight, and swung it from side to side to check the watermark.

While Zhang San was checking the silver notes, he still grabbed Chen Yuan with his other hand and dragged him to the door.

Manager Chai didn't urge him. He sat at the table, leaned back in his chair, picked up a palm-leaf fan and gently fanned himself, glancing sideways at Zhang San with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

After a long while, Zhang San finally put his hand down, pulled Chen Yuan to Steward Chai's side, and gently pushed him forward.

He clutched the silver notes tightly in both hands and bowed deeply to Steward Chai, saying, "These notes are genuine. You're a truly generous man, brother. I'll entrust this child to you!"

Steward Chai snorted and pointed to the door with his palm-leaf fan: "I'm a little tired, brother, please go back."

Zhang San had made a fortune by completing the deal and was overjoyed; he wouldn't care about such a small matter.

He said a few more auspicious words, bowed repeatedly, and then withdrew.

After Zhang San left, Steward Chai got up, closed the courtyard gate, went back into the house, and sat down again.

He looked Chen Yuan up and down and asked, "Li Xuan, is what Zhang San said true? Are you a beggar from Weishui Street?"

Chen Yuan stepped forward and bowed, saying timidly, "Third Master is right. I live with my grandfather on Weishui Street, begging for a living. I am dirty and dare not defile Young Master Liu's noble body. Please, sir, spare me..."

Manager Chai laughed heartily: "You're quite clever. No wonder you grew up on the streets. Although you're young, you know a thing or two about the ways of the world. That's why you used to hide your face, right?"

"Don't worry, the young master is very kind to his pageboys, especially someone as handsome as you. He dotes on you so much, how could he bear to let you suffer?"

"As long as you serve the young master diligently, you will enjoy a life of luxury and never have to suffer from wind and rain again. This will be a good thing for you."

Chen Yuan remained terrified, speechless, seemingly at a loss: "But I know nothing..."

Steward Chai grinned: "It's alright, the young master likes you the most. You don't have to learn anything or change anything."

"Just follow the young master's orders, do as he says, do you understand?"

Chen Yuan nodded obsequiously, "I understand."

Steward Chai's voice suddenly turned stern: "Although the young master is kind, there is one rule that cannot be violated."

"Otherwise, I'll kill you right now and throw you into a mass grave so wild dogs can eat you!"

"No matter what the young master asks you to do, you must not tell anyone. If anyone asks, just say that you are serving the young master while he studies. Do you understand?"

Chen Yuan agreed, and only then did Steward Chai nod in satisfaction.

While having a preference for men is not a crime, it will still damage one's reputation if spoken of.

The young master will have to take the imperial examinations in the future. If he passes the examinations and becomes a Jinshi, he will go to the capital to become an official and marry a daughter of an official family.

We can't let this shameful affair get out and affect our marriage prospects.

Manager Chai became amiable again and asked, "Did you eat before you came?"

Chen Yuan said, "Third Master has already taken me to eat."

Steward Chai sneered: "What Third Master? He's just a skinny idler. As long as you can win the young master's favor, you can crush him with a flick of your wrist!"

"Go and stay in the inner room, and don't wander around."

"When the young master returns to the manor tonight, I will take you to pay your respects."

Chen Yuan agreed, lifted the curtain, and walked into the inner room.

There was a low couch here, surrounded by some miscellaneous items; this was not Steward Chai's bedroom.

Chen Yuan took off his shoes and lay down on the couch, closed his eyes, and soon began to snore softly, pretending to fall asleep.

He heard Steward Chai quietly come in to check on him twice, but he didn't wake up either time.

After an unknown amount of time, a servant called for Steward Chai outside the courtyard gate.

Chen Yuan faintly heard Steward Chai walk out of the courtyard, opened his eyes, and sat up from the low couch.

He put on his shoes and went outside, peering through the crack in the gate, but it was locked with an iron lock and he couldn't open it from the inside.

Chen Yuan turned around and looked around. The walls on all four sides were about ten feet high, and there was nothing to lean on, making it difficult to climb over.

Left with no other choice, he returned to the house and lay down on the couch.

It seems I must meet this young master Liu. He has homosexual tendencies and is so handsome; he's bound to do something improper tonight.

Chen Yuan frowned deeply. Could it be that the purpose of this illusion was to force him to endure such humiliation and destroy his Dao heart?

If he cannot bear this humiliation and rebels in anger, how could a beggar be a match for the Liu family?

If he dies at the hands of Young Master Liu, the seven-colored mist will rise even higher, eroding his soul and stripping him of his memories...

Chen Yuan thought it over and over, and it seemed that no matter what he did, it was a bad idea.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of the courtyard gate being opened came from outside, along with the heavy footsteps of Steward Chai.

Chen Yuan closed his eyes and calmed down again.

Since no matter which choice is made, it's all wrong, might as well just keep going step by step and see how the illusion unfolds.

If the illusion only wanted to force him to suffer humiliation, thinking that this would destroy his Dao heart, then he was mistaken.

Everything before his eyes was just an illusion. He had killed his beloved little sister with his own hands when he was overcoming his inner demons. Even if that young master Liu had really committed a beastly act against him, so what?

The path of cultivation is fraught with peril, and he has faced life-or-death crises more than once.

The humiliation in the illusion is nothing more than a little hardship.

Chen Yuan calmed down and actually fell asleep. He was not awakened by Steward Chai until he realized that it was already late and night had fallen outside.

Seeing that Chen Yuan was sleeping soundly and without any fear, Steward Chai was very satisfied.

He ordered a servant to bring him a lunchbox containing four side dishes: two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, as well as two large bowls of white rice, which smelled delicious.

During their meal, Steward Chai reminded Chen Yuan, "When you see the young master later, you are not allowed to say a single careless word..."

He led Chen Yuan out of the small courtyard, through several gates, and across two corridors, until they arrived at a quiet courtyard filled with flowers and trees, where he gently knocked on the door of the main house.

"Young Master, I've brought Li Xuan here," Steward Chai said in a low voice.

"Come in."

A clear voice rang out, and Steward Chai gently pushed open the door, bowed slightly, and pulled Chen Yuan inside.

The room was brightly lit and elegantly furnished. A young man sat in the center, dressed in light clothing. He was handsome and had a dashing demeanor.

A beautiful maid stood beside him, peeling a lychee and feeding it to him. Upon seeing Chen Yuan, Young Master Liu's eyes lit up, and he swept the maid aside, leaping to his feet.

The maid was startled, dropping the lychee from her hand. Her pretty face turned pale, and she quickly bent down to pick it up, repeatedly apologizing, "This servant deserves to die, this servant deserves to die..."

Young Master Liu waved his hand impatiently: "Go away!"

The maidservant hurriedly bowed, stepped aside, and lowered her head, but couldn't help but secretly peek at Chen Yuan, her eyes full of surprise.

Chen Yuan's appearance was so handsome that even after begging for a long time, his skin was still as white as jade.

Because they are still young and their gender is difficult to discern, anyone who sees them will feel affection for them.

Young Master Liu strode up to Chen Yuan, pinched Chen Yuan's chin, and examined him closely, his eyes filled with eagerness.

"He truly is a celestial being descended to earth; such a handsome young man only cost a thousand taels of silver..."

Young Master Liu muttered to himself, his eyes burning with a intensity that seemed capable of melting anyone.

Chen Yuan looked away, seemingly unable to meet his gaze, his expression filled with fear.

He sneered inwardly. This steward had overstated the amount by five hundred taels of silver; no wonder he was told not to "talk nonsense."

Young Master Liu stared intently for a long time, his eyes gleaming with desire, and his lower body reacted, yet he made no further move, instead hesitating.

He stared at Chen Yuan's face, his eyes constantly shifting. After struggling for a long time, he suddenly gritted his teeth, straightened up, and instructed the maid beside him: "Take him to the left wing, bathe and change his clothes, and serve him well. Do not neglect him."

The maid was taken aback, thinking to herself that the young master usually couldn't wait to see a page who was much more mediocre than this. Could it be that he has changed his mind today?

But she showed no dissatisfaction, gave a graceful bow, and carefully replied, "This servant understands."

Young Master Liu looked at Chen Yuan again and forced a smile: "Your name is Li Xuan, right? Go and rest with this lady. Make yourself at home and don't feel awkward."

Chen Yuan bowed and said, "Thank you, Young Master Liu."

Young Master Liu laughed heartily: "At least you know your manners, good, good, good!"

He waved his hand, and a maid came forward, took Chen Yuan's hand, and said softly with a hint of pity in her eyes, "Come with your sister."

She was happy to see that the handsome young man had escaped unscathed.

The maid led Chen Yuan out of the house, while Young Master Liu craned his neck behind them, watching with reluctance until their figures were obscured by flowers and trees, at which point he waved goodbye.

Steward Chai was Liu Gongzi's confidant. Having served him for many years, he was adept at reading people's expressions and immediately understood Liu's meaning. He quickly stepped forward and closed the door.

Young Master Liu sat down again, ripped open his shirt, picked up the teacup on the table, and put it down again.

He grabbed the teapot and poured most of the cold tea into it in one gulp, letting out a long breath before the heat in his eyes subsided somewhat.

"What a pity to have such a wonderful person..."

A hint of doubt flashed in Steward Chai's eyes. He stepped forward, gently picked up a folding fan from a nearby shelf, and fanned Young Master Liu: "Since Young Master has taken a liking to this Li Xuan, why not get him tonight..."

Young Master Liu sighed heavily: "Do you think I don't want to?"

Steward Chai paused, his eyes filled with even more doubt: "Li Xuan is already practically in the young master's mouth, does the young master have some other concerns?"

Young Master Liu slammed the teapot on the table: "If it were just a piece of fatty meat, it would be fine, but this piece of meat is top-quality demon beast meat, so I can't bear to eat it."

"You said Li Xuan is a greenhorn who hasn't experienced the hardships of life, is that really true?"

Manager Chai dared not speak his mind completely: "Zhang San should not dare to lie to me; it's almost certainly true."

"Judging from Li Xuan's demeanor, he doesn't seem like someone who has been through a lot in the world."

Young Master Liu nodded slowly: "What you say makes sense. Since he's a young and inexperienced talent, what do you think of me giving him to Yin Ziming?"

Steward Chai asked in surprise, "Young Master is willing to part with it?"

Young Master Liu sighed, "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. Although Li Xuan is beautiful, he is ultimately just a pretty face."

"But if we can win over Yin Ziming and have him whisper in General Yin's ear that the trade route to Shawu Man should be managed by my Liu family, we can make tens of thousands of taels of silver in net profit every year. This is a good deal."

Manager Chai frowned and said, "If this matter can be accomplished, that would be the best outcome."

"But the Qi family and Julongfeng are also vying for this trade route. I wonder if Li Xuan alone can sway General Yin?"

Young Master Liu laughed and said, "You don't know, Yin Ziming is the most lustful. Li Xuan is so beautiful, he is rare in the world and even rare in the heavens. He will definitely be attracted to her."

Steward Chai pondered to himself that the young master had frequent interactions with several other young nobles in Qingyang City who shared the same hobbies, and Yin Ziming was one of them.

This man is the eldest son of Yin Baiying, the general guarding the city. If this deal can be successfully completed, it will greatly benefit the Liu family's business.

Moreover, once Li Xuan is sent away, there will be no need to worry about his embezzlement of five hundred taels of silver being exposed.

Thinking of this, Steward Chai praised, "Young Master has a long-term vision and is self-disciplined, quite like the old master in his prime."

Young Master Liu smiled smugly and said, "However, we cannot rush this matter. Yin Ziming has been practicing martial arts for many years and has been eating the flesh of demon beasts for nourishment. He is incredibly strong. If he had spiritual roots, he would have already gone to cultivate immortality."

“He doesn’t know how to be gentle with women and he doesn’t know how to be gentle. Li Xuan is too thin and weak because he begs for a living. He can’t withstand his abuse. If he dies in a few days, it will only make things worse.”

"Right now, the Tai Su Palace and the Southern Wilderness Demon Clan are locked in a fierce battle, and the demon beasts are frequently harassing the border. This trade route won't be settled for two or three months, so there's no need to rush."

“Starting tomorrow, you will take one or two ounces of demon beast meat from the storeroom every day, mix it with beef and mutton, cook it, and give it to Li Xuan to replenish his qi and blood.”

"One month from now, he should look no different from a martial artist in the Bone Forging Realm."

Manager Chai was taken aback: "This Li Xuan is just a beggar, and he's so young. How could he possibly withstand the immense blood energy of a demon beast's flesh?"

"If we let him eat demon beast meat for a month, it will damage his health. At most, he will only live for another two or three years. What should we do if we anger Yin Ziming?"

Young Master Liu shook his head: "No one under Yin Ziming's command has ever lived more than a year. Li Xuan won't die in a few days, but he won't live for too long either. Two or three years is enough."

"It's such a pity that such a delicate beauty was ruined by that brute Yin Ziming..."

He sighed, his eyes filled with regret.

Manager Chai sighed inwardly. The thought of that handsome young man being violated made him feel a pang of pity.

But he quickly suppressed this reluctance; a beggar was nothing compared to piles of silver.

The Shawu Barbarians are located in the mountains of the Southern Wilderness. They are half dependent on the imperial court and half worship the demon race. Their territory has many precious local products.

If this trade route were to fall into the hands of the Liu family, he, as Liu Gongzi's confidant, would also be able to share a considerable amount of money.

Young Master Liu clearly valued money more. He simply sighed, then took out paper and pen, wrote a letter, stamped it with his seal, and handed it to Steward Chai.

The Liu family is large and powerful, with many rules. Monster meat is not an ordinary thing. Without the voucher issued by Young Master Liu, Steward Chai cannot even get an ounce of monster meat.

After Steward Chai left, Young Master Liu got up and paced back and forth in the room a few times, finally unable to suppress the anger in his heart.

He sent a maid to summon a handsome pageboy, and after venting his frustrations on him, he finally went to sleep satisfied. (End of Chapter)