Misty Rain of the Old Times

"Everyone, it's getting late, you can all leave now. We'll be in the same spot tomorrow. If you need anything, you can bring some ice silkworm silk or white cloud wood to exchange for the Carefree Pill after dark. Even if you don't need it, please help spread the word. Thank you very much," Chen Xuan said, bowing to those around him before packing up and leaving.

Actually, there weren't many people around, and it wasn't something to be happy about. Many people would just glance at it and leave. There was nothing to exchange, so why would they stay here? Not everyone was free. Most of the rest had ulterior motives or ill intentions.

With a table, chairs, and signboard in one hand and a box containing Fire Copper Carefree Pills and Ice Silkworm Silk tucked under his arm in the other, Chen Xuan leisurely left. This time, he wasn't running away, so there was no need to rush off.

However, he had no interest in pretending to be weak to catch fish and have fun. He seemed to walk leisurely, but in fact he was fast. With each step, his figure appeared more than ten feet away, and with the next step, he was already far away. It seemed very natural and not abrupt.

Human nature is easily tempted and prone to greed. Such people simply lack self-control. They can't be called bad people before taking action, but hopefully some can restrain themselves and cherish their precious lives.

As Chen Xuan left, he thought to himself that slightly displaying his superior lightness skill was a way to intimidate others and give some ill-intentioned people a chance. If they didn't know what was good for them, then he couldn't blame him.

He genuinely dislikes using force unless absolutely necessary.

But he carried with him the Carefree Pill, Fire Copper, Ice Silkworm Silk, and the Cold Stone Box—each of these items could be considered a rare treasure. How could anyone not harbor malicious intentions? There are always those in the world who want something for nothing and take chances. In their minds, everything is risky, but the rewards are huge. How will they know they have no chance if they don't try? As the saying goes, "They won't turn back until they hit a brick wall." Driven by greed, they ignore whether there is a chance for regret.

Therefore, even though Chen Xuan displayed remarkable skills, some self-aware people immediately gave up, but there were always some people who thought they were quite capable who followed him openly and secretly.

Those following behind must all be at least at the Innate Realm, otherwise they wouldn't even be able to keep up with Chen Xuan's pace. If they didn't even have the Innate Realm, they wouldn't be qualified to covet the treasure in Chen Xuan's hands.

After all, this is the bustling capital, not a lawless place. The people following them have not yet made a move, otherwise it would be disrespectful to the imperial court, and the Imperial Guard is not to be trifled with.

'It's only the first day, and the news hasn't even spread completely yet, but there are already eight Xiantian experts following us. I wonder if any of them are from the Wu family. No wonder it's the capital city, and with the martial arts examination approaching, there are so many experts here,' Chen Xuan thought helplessly. He had really given them a chance.

With no Grandmasters around, the Innate Realm is the pinnacle of the world, enough to make one proud and arrogant even among kings and nobles. However, in Chen Xuan's eyes now, whether one has just stepped into the Innate Realm or has been in it for many years, there is no difference.

He was heading in a direction that would pass a brothel not far away. Even though he was quite fast, as he approached the brothel's entrance, a figure darted out and blocked his way, hurriedly saying, "Sir, please wait!"

Amused, Chen Xuan thought to himself, "It's you again, kid." He slowed his pace but didn't stop completely, continuing on his way as if to tease, "Oh, isn't this the great scholar Ning? Finished? Looks like you're in good shape. My 'Carefree Pill' didn't disappoint you, did it?"

More than an hour later, this guy looked radiant and refreshed. Despite being very weak, he was in exceptionally good condition after all that hard work. That's how magical the Xiaoyao Pill is; otherwise, it wouldn't be so sought after that even at ten thousand taels of silver.

Ning Guiliang wasn't embarrassed at all; he was practically ready to give up. He followed Chen Xuan's lead and said familiarly, "Sir's Xiaoyao Pill is truly amazing, it gives people a new lease on life. It's a pity I don't have what you need to exchange for more."

A smile crept into his heart. Chen Xuan pretended not to see his pitiful, hesitant expression and said to him, "The 'Carefree Pill' is good, but aren't you tired? Shouldn't you be lying on your wife's embroidered bed right now, savoring the pleasure?"

Ning Guiliang pleaded, "Sir, please stop teasing me. Do you not know my purpose? I've been waiting for you to have some free time. It seems you're thinking of our past relationship; otherwise, I wouldn't even have the right to block your way. There were too many people before, but now I'm begging you, please sell me some, just a hundred or two hundred will do. I really need a healthy body; otherwise, this wonderful world is like a long night, what's the point?"

"No, Ning, you're so learned, don't you have any higher aspirations?" Chen Xuan said, both amused and exasperated, truly impressed.

He frankly stated, "It's about putting oneself before others. I do have aspirations, but before benefiting others, one must first benefit oneself."

"That makes sense," Chen Xuan nodded in deep agreement. This guy was quite shrewd. But then he changed the subject, saying, "But I'm sorry, I said I only trade, not sell. Given the current market price, this thing can't be measured in monetary terms. If it's too cheap, I'll lose money; if it's too expensive, it's too extravagant and unrealistic. So it's better to exchange it for something I need."

With a pained expression, Ning Guiliang pleaded desperately, "Sir, please have pity on me. After all, we've known each other for many years, and I even offered to help you back then, though I wasn't able to. I can't produce such rare items as Fire Copper and Ice Silkworm Silk, and you don't want money, so could you perhaps change your terms? As long as I can do it..."

"You're putting me in a difficult position. Are you really willing to do something like embezzlement and breaking the law for such a small matter?" Chen Xuan asked, speechless.

He immediately shook his head and said seriously, "That's impossible. This is a matter of principle. Although I may be a womanizer, I don't do anything illegal."

“Then there’s no room for discussion,” Chen Xuan shrugged.

Ning Guiliang immediately said with a look of utter despair, "Sir, please have mercy! You can mention anything except illegal things, as long as you can give me a hundred or two hundred 'Xiaoyao Pills' (a type of herbal medicine)."

Chen Xuan was not encouraging him to commit a crime; he was just joking. Chen Xuan remembered that when the Wolf Fang Society came to cause him trouble, he had offered to help. Based on that alone, the Free and Easy Pill would cost him almost nothing, so why not give him some? But he couldn't let the Free and Easy Pill be obtained easily.

With a playful urge, he looked Ning Guiliang up and down and said, "Anything but illegal things?"

"Of course... no, I won't do anything immoral either," he said righteously, but then he lost his confidence. If it really was a hundred or two hundred Xiaoyao pills, that would be too many, and he was really conflicted.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "You're quite a talent. How about this, since it's not in front of everyone, let's do it privately. I'm not afraid to change the terms. A hundred or two hundred Xiaoyao Pills are nothing to me. I won't ask you to do anything illegal or untrustworthy. Since you want Xiaoyao Pills so much, why don't you run naked in the street?" He was genuinely curious about what this guy would go to for an iron kidney. He had seen similar jokes online a lot in his past life, and now he wanted to try it out.

Upon hearing this, Ning Guiliang's chrysanthemum tightened, and she took two steps back to distance herself from Chen Xuan, saying warily, "Sir, you..."

"What kind of look is that? Take it away. I'm a man, and I like women. Stop with your filthy thoughts. That's right, I'm just messing with you. How about you take some Xiaoyao Pills? I'll give you a hundred if you run around naked. Are you in?" Chen Xuan glared at him.

Relieved, Ning Guiliang immediately laughed and said, "Sir, you should have said so earlier! You scared me half to death..."

As he spoke, he began to strip off his clothes, intending to walk his penis in the street.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan was shocked. "Are you serious? You're willing to throw away your reputation for the Xiaoyao Pill?"

This is amazing! I'm completely impressed.

Chen Xuan, who was extremely impressed, immediately stopped him, saying, "Stop, stop, stop! I was just joking. You may be shameless, but I still have my pride. If you really do that, tomorrow it will be said that I used the 'Carefree Pill' to force you to run naked. As a court official, you will not only lose face for yourself, but also for the court. You may not care about your future, but I am worried about being targeted by the court."

“I knew you wouldn’t really let me run around naked,” Ning Guiliang said with a smile, pulling up his collar as if to make a show of it.

Damn, I got tricked.

Speechless, Chen Xuan didn't bother arguing with him. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about this, forget about streaking. You're a great talent, skilled in both calligraphy and painting. Give me a hundred or two hundred of your painstaking works, not the kind that fool people, but your masterpieces. One piece for one Xiaoyao Pill. Fair enough, right?"

This idea wasn't something Chen Xuan came up with on a whim; he'd had it for a long time.

He wanted to collect not only Ning Guiliang's works, but also works by many other talented people, from China and other countries.

After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Chen Xuan is expected to live a very, very long time. These collected and preserved works are bound to appreciate in value in the future.

He doesn't really care about the money; what matters is that the works he collects are a testament to an era. This wonderful world is made more vibrant by talented people like them. In the future, when time has passed, they may be forgotten by the world, but the works they leave behind will be a mark of an era.

"You should have said so earlier, sir. It's easy. But I can't produce that many works in such a short time. After all, each piece requires a lot of effort," he said, first with delight, then with difficulty.

Chen Xuan smiled and said, "That's alright, just contact me whenever you're ready to exchange."

“It’s a deal, but where will I find a teacher then?” Ning Guiliang asked excitedly, his eyes burning. A hundred works were nothing; he had plenty of energy. The temptation of the Xiaoyao Pill gave him plenty of motivation.

Chen Xuan, who hadn't stopped walking, said happily, "Just send out the message when you're ready, and I'll come find you myself."

"Alright," he said, turning and running away.

Chen Xuan asked in bewilderment, "Where are you going?"

“Go prepare your work…” He stopped in his tracks, frowned, and said in a deep voice, “What do you all mean by this?”

As they spoke, they had reached a relatively secluded place. It was dark and there were no pedestrians around. They were surrounded by seven or eight men in black, and all directions were blocked.

Those innate masters who had been following them finally couldn't resist jumping out when they had the chance. Of course, they didn't dare to do it openly, so they not only changed their appearance but also wore masks.

To Chen Xuan, no matter how cautious they were, it was useless. The fluctuations in their true energy told him who they were from the previous crowd, but there was no need to care about their identities.

Ignoring Ning Guiliang, one of them turned to Chen Xuan, cupped his hands in a friendly manner, and said, "Sir, we have nothing to exchange for your Xiaoyao Pill, so we have no choice but to resort to this tactic. Please rest assured, we have no ill intentions. We simply wish to invite you to come with us. We will provide you with the best food and drink, and you will be indebted to us. We will also offer you beautiful women and fine wine, and whatever you require, we will make sure to satisfy you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan was secretly pleased. These guys had clearly joined forces. They knew the difference between a full meal and a regular meal, and they obviously wanted to take him away to make him their cash cow.

Before he could speak, Ning Guiliang immediately sneered, "Under the clear sky, you dare to attempt a kidnapping right in front of me? Do you have no respect for the law? Are you trying to rebel?!"

That's quite a label they're slapping on you; no wonder they're officials, they just spout off whatever comes to mind... (End of Chapter)