Retirement begins with summoning Yuan Tiangang

In autumn, the morning mist in Hexi Town always carries a refreshing sweetness.

In the back garden of the Zhao family mansion, several late-blooming chrysanthemums unfurled their golden petals in the thin mist. The moss on the artificial hill was damp, and water droplets dripped down the cracks in the rocks, splashing into the small pond below, making a "drip, drip" sound, unhurried, as if someone were using the most precise abacus to count the days.

Zhao Mingxuan, wearing a silk-lined robe loosely draped over his shoulders with a silver-fur trim, walked barefoot down the Persian-carpeted corridor toward the dining room.

He walked very lightly, something he had been taught since childhood—the young master of the Zhao family couldn't even make a fuss when he walked.

The dining room was large, with a round rosewood table that could seat twenty people, but usually only four sets of bowls and chopsticks were set out—for his father, mother, himself, and his second uncle who occasionally came home.

My father isn't here today. Apparently, he went out all night and didn't return until almost dawn. He's still in his study right now.

The maids quietly set out breakfast: crystal shrimp dumplings, crab roe soup dumplings, bird's nest porridge, several delicate side dishes, and a plate of freshly fried dough sticks, golden and crispy.

Zhao Mingxuan sat down, picked up his chopsticks, took a soup dumpling, gently bit open a small hole, and sucked out the soup, his movements as elegant as if he were performing some kind of ritual.

His mother, Wang, sat opposite him, wearing a crimson-purple jacket embroidered with gold thread, and a jade hairpin in her hair, sipping her porridge.

She glanced at her son, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly: "I heard you got into another argument with those wild kids yesterday?"

Zhao Mingxuan paused, put down his chopsticks, and wiped his mouth with a snow-white silk handkerchief: "I wasn't angry, I just said a few words. They don't know the rules, so I'll teach them."

"teach?"

Wang's voice was not loud, but it carried her usual coldness.

"Who are you, and who are they? Do you need to personally teach them? It's beneath your dignity."

"Son understands."

Zhao Mingxuan lowered his head and continued eating the steamed bun, but the umami flavor in his mouth seemed to have faded considerably.

He understood what his mother meant.

The Zhao family is the richest family in Hexi Town and ranks among the top in the entire Qingyang County. It is said that they have businesses in the prefecture and even the central government.

He is the only son of the Zhao family, the one who will inherit the family business in the future. It would be improper for him to argue with Lin Feng and his group of peasant kids.

But he was not willing to give up.

He had seen the letters that came and went in his father's study. The envelopes were stamped with seals he had never seen before. The messengers were all deep and imposing, with sharp eyes. Even Zhao Gang, the most domineering head of the family's guards, didn't dare to breathe loudly in front of them.

He had overheard his father and second uncle's conversation, and those fragmented phrases—"the fifth level of Grandmaster offerings," "the Northern Profound Line," "the Qingyun Temple needs to be greased off"...

Although his father never said it outright, he vaguely knew that the Zhao family was not just a simple merchant family.

The outside world is vast, with cultivators who can fly and escape into the earth, powerful beings who can move mountains and fill seas, cities thousands of times larger than Hexi Town, and sects and dynasties that can decide the life and death of countless people.

As for Zhao Mingxuan, he was born to belong to that world.

Therefore, he looks down on Raymond Lam, Zhang Kai, and Liu Xiaohu.

What do they know? All they see are the fish in the river, the bird eggs in the trees, and the crops in the soil.

They will never know what the world is really like.

"After you finish eating, go to the study to pay your respects to your father."

Wang's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"He was busy all night last night, you should be more understanding."

"Yes," Zhao Mingxuan replied.

After the meal, Zhao Mingxuan changed into a moon-white brocade robe, tied with a jade belt, and his hair was tied up neatly with a jade crown before heading towards his father's study.

The study was located at the deepest part of the backyard, in a separate small courtyard. The gate was always closed, with only two taciturn old servants guarding the entrance.

Upon seeing Zhao Mingxuan, the two bowed slightly and made way for him.

Zhao Mingxuan pushed open the door and went in. The courtyard was quiet, with only a few slender bamboos swaying gently in the morning breeze.

The study door was ajar, and low voices could be heard coming from inside.

It was the father and the housekeeper, Zhao Fu.

He subconsciously slowed his steps and walked to the window.

The window paper was pasted very thickly, so you couldn't see inside, but you could still faintly hear sounds.

"...Qingyun Temple has loosened its stance, but the price has increased by 30%." It was Zhao Fu's voice, tinged with helplessness.

"Give them to them."

Father Zhao Dechang's voice was calm and steady, revealing no emotion.

"As long as I can get the formula for the Marrow Cleansing Pill, it's worth any amount of money."

Marrow Cleansing Pill? Zhao Mingxuan's heart skipped a beat.

He seemed to have seen this name in some miscellaneous book, which described it as a miraculous elixir that could cleanse the marrow and improve one's aptitude, greatly benefiting those who were just beginning their cultivation journey.

"But sir, the family's cash reserves are already..." Zhao Fu hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

"Sell those three shops on South Street."

Zhao Dechang did not hesitate.

"If that's not enough, have the central courtyard send some. Besides, Mingxuan will be fourteen soon, we can't delay any longer."

Zhao Mingxuan felt his heart beat faster.

Is Father... plotting something for him?

"besides,"

Zhao Dechang paused, then lowered his voice even further, "How's the investigation going on that matter?"

Zhao Fu was silent for a moment: "The trail has gone cold. All we know is that ten years ago, the Mysterious Cave in the Southern Desert appeared, causing quite a stir. In the end, it was a terrestrial immortal from the Bad Guys who suppressed it. After that, it is said that a mysterious force became active, seemingly looking for something... or rather, looking for someone."

"The Bad Guys... a mysterious force..." Zhao Dechang murmured these two words, his tone filled with deep apprehension.

"These are behemoths we can't afford to mess with. Tell the people below to be more careful and avoid getting involved."

"Yes."

"Oh, right," Zhao Dechang seemed to remember something.

Has anything unusual happened in town lately?

"abnormal?"

Zhao Fu thought for a moment,

"It's nothing much. It's just that the Lin family kid is always running around with a bunch of kids, and his cousin seems a bit suspicious..."

"The Lin family?"

Zhao Dechang seemed to ponder for a moment, "Lin Tian, ​​the one raising the child alone?"

"Yes. He looks ordinary, but something feels... off. His cousin, Ao Xiaohei, is incredibly strong..."

Zhao Dechang was silent for a moment: "Leave them alone for now. As long as they don't get in the way, don't provoke them. Our goal is to get Mingxuan onto the path of cultivation; it's best to stay out of other things."

"Understood."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mingxuan felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

His father was indeed paving the way for him!

Marrow Cleansing Pill, the path of cultivation... this is the path he should take!

As for the Lin family, Lin Feng… a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Strong? So what? It's just the bravery of a brute.

Once I embark on the path of cultivation, I can crush them with a single finger.

As he was thinking, the study door suddenly opened.

Zhao Fu came out, saw Zhao Mingxuan standing by the window, paused for a moment, and then bowed: "Young Master."

Zhao Mingxuan straightened his back, nodded, and stepped into the study.

The study was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and ink.

Zhao Dechang sat behind a large rosewood desk, reading a letter.

He looked to be in his forties, with a refined and scholarly face, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He wore an ordinary dark blue robe, but sitting there, he exuded an aura of authority without being angry.

"Father," Zhao Mingxuan said respectfully.

Zhao Dechang put down the letter, looked up at him, his gaze sweeping over him, his expression softening slightly: "You've arrived. Sit down."

Zhao Mingxuan sat down on the chair next to him, his back straight.

"I heard you had another argument with those kids yesterday?" Zhao Dechang asked bluntly.

Zhao Mingxuan's heart tightened, but he still said frankly, "My son just thought they were rude and didn't know the rules, so he said a few words."

Zhao Dechang looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly said, "Do you know why our Zhao family was able to establish itself in Hexi Town and expand our business beyond that?"

Zhao Mingxuan thought for a moment: "Because of my father's wisdom and skillful management?"

"That's one aspect."

Zhao Dechang said slowly,

"More importantly, it's because we know when to show ourselves and when to hide. We know who we can mess with and who we can't."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the swaying bamboo in the courtyard: "The Lin family father and son seem ordinary, but they've managed to live so peacefully in Hexi Town for so many years; they're definitely not simple. Especially that Lin Tian... I had people investigate him, but they couldn't find anything about him. It's like he appeared out of thin air."

Zhao Mingxuan was skeptical, but he still listened obediently.

"Mingxuan, remember this."

Zhao Dechang turned around, his eyes piercing.

"In this world, some people may seem insignificant, but they might be people you can't afford to offend. Before you have enough power, learning to bow your head and be patient is not cowardice, but wisdom."

"Son, I've got it."

Zhao Mingxuan lowered his head, but the fire in his heart burned even brighter.

Power... He needs power! Once he embarks on the path of cultivation, becomes a cultivator, or even a "Grandmaster" as his father said, then who will be someone he can't afford to offend?

"Alright, you can go now."

Zhao Dechang waved his hand.

"Study hard and stop thinking about nonsense all day. Your father will pave the way for you."

"Yes." Zhao Mingxuan stood up and respectfully withdrew.

Stepping out of the study into the courtyard, the morning mist had mostly dissipated, and the sunlight was shining down, warm and pleasant.

Zhao Mingxuan took a deep breath, feeling a surge of heroic spirit within him.

He walked through the corridor, preparing to return to his own courtyard, when he caught a glimpse of several servants huddled together by the side gate, whispering and laughing.

He frowned and walked over: "What are you all doing gathered here?"

The servants were startled and quickly scattered to bow, saying, "Young Master."

"What are you saying that makes you so happy?" Zhao Mingxuan asked.

A servant boy said with a fawning smile, "Young master, I just heard from Old Wang, who delivers vegetables, that Lin Feng, that kid from the Lin family, took his bunch of peasant friends to the back mountain again today. They said they were going to pick some wild persimmons. It's hilarious. Those wild persimmons are sour and astringent. Only they would treat them like treasures."

Another servant chimed in, "That's right. I heard they even argued about who should climb the tree to pick the fruit and who should catch it from below. That little brat from the Liu family almost fell off the tree and was quite a mess."

Several people laughed, their contempt undisguised.

As Zhao Mingxuan listened, a smile crept onto his lips.

Yes, wild persimmons... This is their world, as insignificant as dust.

But for some reason, he suddenly remembered what he had overheard outside the study earlier—"The Lin family father and son look ordinary, but they are by no means simple."

His sense of superiority was suddenly overshadowed by an inexplicable shadow.

But he quickly dispelled the shadow.

He straightened his back and said calmly to the servants, "Alright, get to work. Stop staring at others all day and just do your own job."

"Yes, young master." The servants quickly dispersed.

Zhao Mingxuan stood there, looking at the path leading to the town outside the side gate.

In the distance, one could faintly hear the laughter and chatter of boys, carried on the wind, intermittently.

He suddenly felt an impulse.

Go check it out.

Go and see what makes those people living in the dust so happy.

Let's also go and see what secrets the Lin family, whom the father said was "definitely not simple," is hiding.

Once the thought arose, it grew wildly in his heart like weeds.

He went back to his room and changed into an inconspicuous blue cloth robe—which he had specially commissioned a tailor to make last year to experience the "hardships of ordinary people," and had only worn once—before avoiding the servants, he quietly slipped out through the side door.

The autumn sun was shining brightly, warming him comfortably. Zhao Mingxuan walked on the bluestone path, his steps involuntarily becoming lighter.

Although the clothes he was wearing were made of high-quality cotton, the style was ordinary. As he walked down the street, not many people paid attention to him. After all, although many people in Hexi Town knew the young master of the Zhao family, who would have thought that he would go out dressed like this?

He followed the sound and walked towards the back of the mountain.

The closer you get to the edge of town, the sparser the houses become, and the roads turn into dirt roads. On both sides are harvested rice fields with neat stubble, and the air is filled with the smell of dry straw.

The sounds of laughter and commotion grew clearer.