Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chen Anran listened attentively and kept these valuable tips in mind.

After sitting for a while and finishing a pot of tea, Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi got up to take their leave. Master Shi Haisheng did not linger and asked Huiming to see them off on his behalf.

Huiming escorted the two to the mountain gate, then bowed again with his palms together, saying, "Please take care, esteemed benefactors. You are welcome to visit the temple often in the future."

"Of course, thank you very much, Brother Huiming. Please also convey our gratitude to Master Shi Haisheng." Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi returned the greeting and said goodbye.

Leaving Jingang Temple, I slowly walked down the stone steps. The mountain breeze caressed my face, bringing the fragrance of grass and trees, and dispelling the strong sandalwood scent that I had picked up in the temple.

Chen Anran was still savoring his conversation with Master Shi Haisheng. The master's words were full of wisdom, and his insights into spiritual practice and worldly affairs had greatly benefited him, making him feel more open-minded.

However, Wei Qingyi, who was walking beside him, frowned slightly, and her expression showed no signs of relaxation.

When they reached a relatively open platform overlooking part of the mountain scenery, Wei Qingyi suddenly stopped and turned to look at Chen Anran.

"Anran, what do you think of that Master Shi Haisheng?"

Chen Anran was taken aback by these words and looked at her second senior sister with some confusion: "Master, your Buddhist teachings are profound, your cultivation is superb, and you are kind and compassionate in your dealings with others. You have also helped us. I think you are a senior monk worthy of respect. Why do you ask this, senior sister?"

Wei Qingyi's gaze fell upon the faint outline of the temple on the mountain.

"I don't know why, but I always feel that Master Shi Haisheng... looks at me strangely."

Chen Anran stopped in her tracks upon hearing this: "Your gaze is strange? Senior Sister, what exactly are you referring to?"

Wei Qingyi hesitated for a moment, seemingly organizing her thoughts: "I can't quite put my finger on it... it's just a feeling. Especially when he mentioned that I was 'mentally and physically exhausted and needed to rest and recuperate,' the look in his eyes... made me feel a little uncomfortable."

She shook her head, seemingly realizing she was being overly suspicious: "Perhaps I'm just too tired lately and too sensitive. Master Shi Haisheng is renowned throughout the world and highly respected; I shouldn't be making such assumptions."

Although Chen Anran had a good impression of Master Shi Haisheng, he did not deny Wei Qingyi's intuition.

"In short, one should not have the intention to harm others, but one should not be without the intention to guard against others. Master Shi Haisheng may not have any malicious intent, but the current situation is delicate, so it is always better for us to be cautious."

Wei Qingyi nodded.

In the afternoon, Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi arrived at Zhao Qiming's private club on time.

This time, Chen Anran brought the three "magic weapons" that had already completed their evolution.

When the "Small Wealth-Gathering Coin" with its warm luster and subtle, restrained brilliance, the "Tranquilizing Wood Talisman" with its warm touch and naturally formed tranquil runes, and the "Glowing Night Pearl" that naturally emitted a soft, moonlit glow in the room were presented to Zhao Qiming, even this well-traveled business tycoon couldn't help but gasp.

Without much demonstration, the unique aura and exceptional appearance of these three items alone were enough to convince Zhao Qiming. He carefully picked them up one by one and examined them closely, feeling the subtle attraction emanating from the coins, the tranquility brought by the wooden talisman, and the calming and vision-enhancing effects of the luminous pearl. A smile of extreme satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Zhao Qiming exclaimed three times, carefully placing the three treasures into the brocade box he had prepared beforehand. "Master Chen, your sect leader's weapon-refining skills are truly miraculous! I am utterly amazed! This 15 million was well spent!"

The transaction was completed smoothly, and both parties were happy. Zhao Qiming warmly invited the two to dinner, but Chen Anran declined, citing the need to prepare for her senior's studies.

Even after leaving the club, Wei Qingyi still felt a sense of unreality.

The enormous debt that had troubled her for so long and almost crushed her was resolved so easily by her junior brother.

"Next, we'll focus all our efforts on preparing for the exam." Chen Anran looked at Wei Qingyi and smiled. "Senior sister, you have to work hard and not let down the 'tuition fees' I've earned."

Wei Qingyi rolled her eyes at him, but her eyes were warm. "Don't worry, I, your senior sister, will definitely not bring shame to you or the sect."

The days that followed were uneventful.

Wei Qingyi devoted herself wholeheartedly to preparing for the exam. With the nourishment of spiritual rice and medicinal herbs, and the support of Chen Anran, she was able to focus without distraction and made rapid progress.

Chen Anran successfully completed the handover procedures for the stone shop, officially taking over the shop under his own name and renaming it "Yunyin Stone Art".

He didn't make a big fuss for the time being, but instead asked Fatty Li to help him gradually take stock of the inventory, familiarize himself with the existing supply channels, and secretly begin to select suitable marble floor tiles.

If Chen Anran had any other worries, it was about finding a manager for the stone shop he couldn't decide on.

In the future, besides using this shop as a cover for his "spirit-gathering stones" and "spirit-gathering floor tiles," Chen Anran also plans to occasionally bring in some "treasures" to sell to people in the cultivation world when his spiritual power is fully restored, or even hold an auction.

Therefore, when choosing a shop owner, an ordinary person is definitely not an option; it must be someone from the cultivation world, and someone reliable.

Where could Chen Anran find someone like that?

Chen Anran was troubled by this. For now, he could only find an honest-looking ordinary person to manage it for the time being, and then start the business of selling "spiritual treasures" when a suitable candidate was found later.

During Wei Qingyi's exam preparation, Abbot Huiming called twice. Once to inquire about Wei Qingyi's progress, and the other to convey Master Shi Haisheng's greetings, reiterating that if Wei Qingyi encountered any trouble in Guangzhou, she could seek help from Jingang Temple at any time. Chen Anran politely responded to both calls, neither being impolite nor developing a deeper relationship with him.

A week before Wei Qingyi took the adult college entrance examination, one evening, Wei Qingyi suddenly told Chen Anran that her roommate wanted to treat them to dinner.

Chen Anran was somewhat surprised to hear Wei Qingyi's words.

"Is your roommate treating us to dinner?"

"Hmm." Wei Qingyi nodded, hesitated for a moment, but finally smiled and said, "She's a very nice young lady. I was in a very bad state recently, and she helped me a lot."

Chen Anran suddenly became somewhat curious about Wei Qingyi's roommate.

In his memory, his second senior sister was aloof and disliked socializing. It was rare to find someone who would take the initiative to mention her and praise her as "very good" and be willing to have a meal with her.

"Okay," Chen Anran readily agreed, "I should thank them. Have the time and place been decided?"

"She cooked for herself in the apartment we used to share," Wei Qingyi said. "She said eating out was too expensive, and cooking at home was cleaner and more economical."

Upon hearing this, Chen Anran felt even more favorably disposed towards her roommate, whom she had never met before, thinking that she was a down-to-earth girl who knew how to manage a household.

"Okay, shall we go now? Do you need me to buy some fruit or drinks to take with us?"

"I've already bought them." Wei Qingyi pointed to a bag of oranges and a bottle of juice on the table. "Let's go."

So the two of them went to that familiar old building again.