Courtyard Check-in: Starting with a Small World of Cultivation

At 5:30 a.m. on July 7th, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Chen Yu left He's Restaurant silently, disappearing into the Guangzhou morning mist. He didn't disturb He Yuzhu, who was still fast asleep, leaving only a note saying he was going out for a morning exercise. In reality, he was going to investigate the area where the scarred man had been found the previous night.

The old streets and alleys have a unique charm in the early morning. The stone slabs are damp, a testament to last night's dew. The breakfast stalls are already open, steam rising from the steamers, and fried dough sticks tumbling in the pans. Vegetable farmers carrying loads hurry by, their produce still carrying the fresh scent of the earth. Several elderly people walk their birds along the riverbank, cages in hand, while the strains of Cantonese opera drift from a distant radio.

As Chen Yu jogged, his spiritual sense spread out like mercury across the ground. His intermediate-level concealment technique made him appear as an ordinary morning exerciser, but his spiritual sense keenly detected everything around him.

The alley where Scarface made his deal last night is on the west side of Wende Road, about two hundred meters from He's Restaurant. Chen Yu ran to the alley entrance and slowed down. The alley was narrow, with mottled brick walls on both sides, and some debris on the ground—broken bamboo baskets, broken tiles, and a few cigarette butts.

Activating his spiritual eye technique, Chen Yu carefully examined the area. There were several dark red marks in the corner, resembling dried blood, but they were quite old. On the ground were several clear footprints—left last night by two people, one more heavily etched (the scarred man), and the other lighter (the man in overalls).

He crouched down, picked up a bit of soil with his fingers, and smelled it. The soil had a faint sulfurous smell, and a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy—the lingering scent of those black stones!

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. This stone was indeed extraordinary; the fact that it could leave traces of spiritual energy meant it was no ordinary object. He took out a small paper packet and carefully collected some soil samples, intending to take them back to his small world for research.

Following the direction of the footprints, Chen Yu continued his investigation. The scarred man had headed south when he left, and the footprints disappeared at the corner at the end of the alley—where the stone path left no trace.

Just as Chen Yu was about to leave, his spiritual sense suddenly detected an extremely faint fluctuation of spiritual energy coming from a crack in the wall deep in the alley. He walked over and found a small crumpled piece of paper stuffed in the crack.

The crumpled paper unfolded, revealing a few words written in pencil: "Goods inspected, ten yuan required, before the end of the month, same place." There was no signature, and the handwriting was messy.

"An order?" Chen Yu frowned. It seemed the scarred man and the work-clothes man hadn't done business together before, and were even placing an order for the next batch. Ten of those black stones, due by the end of the month… time was tight.

He stuffed the crumpled paper back into the crack in the wall as it was, and left the alley. He couldn't alert the enemy.

Back on the street, Chen Yu continued his morning run, but his spiritual sense remained locked on that area. Between six and seven in the morning, people passed by the alley: workers going to work, housewives buying groceries, children going to school... but there were no cultivators or suspicious individuals.

At 7:30, Chen Yu returned to He Ji Restaurant. He Yuzhu was already up and helping to unload the goods—He Jianjun had just brought back a cartload of ingredients from the market.

"Chen Yu, went for your morning exercise?" He Yuzhu was covered in sweat. "The weather in Guangzhou is so hot in the morning."

"You'll get used to it." Chen Yu helped him carry the groceries. "Brother Zhu, have you thought it through? Stay or go back?"

He Yuzhu wiped his sweat and lowered his voice: "To be honest, I want to stay. I tried it out all day yesterday, and I can do this job at the restaurant, and I enjoy it. Working at the steel mill is a secure job, but you can see the end of the road ahead. Here... there's hope for the future."

"Where are my cousin-in-law and her child?"

"Let's work for six months first, and once we've established ourselves, we'll bring them over." He Yuzhu's eyes lit up. "Jianjun said that if business is good, we can rent a shop next door and open a branch next year. I'll be the head chef, and he'll manage the accounts. The two of us brothers will work together."

Chen Yu patted him on the shoulder: "Since you've made up your mind, do a good job."

Aren't you going to try to persuade me to go back to Beijing?

"You chose this path yourself, and no amount of advice from others will change that," Chen Yu said. "As long as you've thought it through, I support you."

He Jianjun poked his head out of the kitchen: "Cousin, Brother Chen, breakfast is ready! Rice noodle rolls, freshly steamed!"

Guangzhou's rice noodle rolls are indeed delicious. Thin rice paper wraps around shrimp, minced meat, and vegetables, drizzled with a special soy sauce, making them smooth, tender, and flavorful. Chen Yu ate two plates and praised them highly.

"Brother Chen, what are the plans for today?" He Jianjun asked.

"I'll go to Xuanhutang in the morning, and maybe browse around in the afternoon," Chen Yu said. "By the way, Jianjun, do you know anyone in the ore business?"

"Ore?" He Jianjun was taken aback. "I don't know what it is. There are many building materials businesses in Guangzhou, but ore... you have to go to the mining areas, right? There are coal mines in Shaoguan and iron mines in northern Guangdong."

Chen Yu nodded. It seemed that the black stone was not an ordinary ore; it was likely a material used exclusively in the cultivation world.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Chen Yu arrived at Xuanhu Hall again. Huang Wenyuan was already waiting for him in the backyard, with several thread-bound books spread out on the stone table.

"Comrade Chen is here." Huang Wenyuan gestured for him to sit down. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"It's okay, just a bit hot."

"That's just how summers are in Guangzhou, you get used to it." Huang Wenyuan pointed to the books on the table. "These are some ancient books I've collected, some are medical books, some are miscellaneous notes. Take a look, see if there's anything that interests you."

Chen Yu picked up the top book. The book was old, the blue cover faded, and the title was "A Study of Lingnan Herbal Medicines," printed during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. Turning to the inner pages, the handwriting was neat, accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations, and it detailed various herbs from the Lingnan region.

"I've studied this book my whole life," Huang Wenyuan remarked. "Lingnan has a wide variety of medicinal herbs, many of which have special effects. For example, this 'Paris polyphylla' has heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, and it's remarkably effective against snake venom. And there's 'Lysimachia christinae,' which is diuretic and helps expel stones..."

Chen Yu turned the pages one by one. With his spiritual eye technique, he could see faint indications of flowing spiritual energy on the illustrations of certain herbs in the book—a sign that the herbs contained medicinal properties. Although the compiler did not understand cultivation, he had grasped some of the intricacies through long-term observation.

"Dr. Huang, do you think these herbs have any other uses besides treating illnesses?"

"You mean alchemy?" Huang Wenyuan laughed. "There are indeed records in ancient books that Taoist priests used herbs to refine elixirs in pursuit of immortality. But that's all feudal superstition; it's not popular anymore."

Chen Yu didn't refute, and continued flipping through the pages. The second book was "Records of Strange Things from the South China Sea," which recorded various strange objects along the coast of Guangdong: luminous seaweed, coral with healing properties, and the legendary "mermaid tears"...

When Chen Yu turned to a certain page, his hand stopped. This page described a mineral called "obsidian": "It is produced in the deep mountains of southern Yunnan. It is as black as ink, as hard as iron, and cannot be burned. The locals say that this stone has a spirit and can ward off evil. Some sorcerers buy it to set up formations."

The stone in the illustration looks very similar to the black stone he sensed last night!

"Dr. Huang, have you ever seen this obsidian before?"

"Obsidian?" Huang Wenyuan leaned closer for a look. "Oh, this? I saw it once when I was young. A herbal medicine merchant from Yunnan brought a few pieces, saying they could ward off evil spirits. I looked at it, and it's just an ordinary black stone, nothing special. What, you're interested in this?"

"Just asking." Chen Yu said calmly, "This book says that alchemists use it to set up formations, that's interesting."

"There's a lot of supernatural and bizarre stuff in ancient books," Huang Wenyuan said dismissively. "Comrade Chen, you're a scientist, don't believe in these things."

Chen Yu smiled but didn't reply. He continued flipping through the book and found several more interesting records: descriptions of "spirit stones," "spirit springs," and "earth veins." Although they were all in the form of obscure legends, when combined with cultivation knowledge, one could see the true nature of them.

It seems that ancient practitioners left many traces among the common people, but ordinary people regarded them as myths and legends.

"Dr. Huang, could I borrow these books to take a look?"

"Of course," Huang Wenyuan readily agreed, "but you have to take good care of them, they're all antiques."

"must."

Chen Yu carefully put away the key books. Huang Wenyuan then handed him an envelope: "These are letters I wrote to some friends in Hong Kong. Keep them safe. If you have the chance to go there, take these letters to them, and they will help you."

Thank you so much.

"Don't mention it." Huang Wenyuan paused, "Comrade Chen, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"Please speak."

"I see you have an extraordinary bearing; you're not someone to be underestimated," Huang Wenyuan said earnestly. "Guangzhou and Hong Kong offer a large stage and many opportunities, but they're also places where all sorts of people mingle. You're young and talented, but you must also know how to protect yourself. Think things through carefully, don't flaunt your wealth, and remember, you can't judge a book by its cover."

These words were spoken with great earnestness. Chen Yu thanked him sincerely, "Thank you for the reminder, Dr. Huang. I'll remember it."

It was noon when Chen Yu left Xuanhu Hall. Instead of going straight back to Heji Restaurant, he took a detour to the Pearl River.

In July, the Pearl River was murky, but the river breeze was cool. Fishermen were mending their nets on the banks, children were playing, and couples were strolling. Chen Yu found a shady spot to sit down, seemingly admiring the river view, but in reality, he was projecting his spiritual sense to continue searching for clues about Scarface.

But an afternoon passed without any results. Scarface seemed to have vanished and never reappeared.

When we returned to He's Restaurant in the evening, He Yuzhu was showing off his culinary skills in the kitchen. He made several northern dishes—braised pork, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, and Kung Pao chicken—saying that he wanted his cousin to taste authentic northern flavors.

"Chen Yu, come and try some!" He Yuzhu exclaimed excitedly. "Jianjun said that with my skills, I could easily open a restaurant in Guangzhou!"

Chen Yu took a bite of the braised pork; it was indeed well-made, fatty but not greasy, and melted in his mouth. "Brother Zhu, your cooking is pretty good."

"That's right. I've worked in the steel mill canteen for so many years, it wasn't for nothing," He Yuzhu said proudly. "I've discussed it with Jianjun, I'll try it for three months first. If it works out, I'll transfer my employment to Guangzhou."

"Will the steel rolling mill release people?"

"Let's figure something out," He Yuzhu said in a low voice. "Isn't 'leave without pay' popular these days? I'll do that for now, just to have a backup plan."

Chen Yu nodded. Although He Yuzhu was rough and straightforward, he was not confused when it came to important matters.

After dinner, Chen Yu returned to his room, closed the door, and entered the small world.

He first took out the soil sample he had collected that morning and placed it by the spiritual spring for careful observation. Under his spiritual eye technique, he could indeed see faint traces of spiritual energy remaining in the soil, appearing as dark red specks, like minerals that had been tempered by flames.

"A fire-attribute spirit stone?" Chen Yu guessed. If it was a fire-attribute spirit stone, what would Scarface be collecting it for? For setting up formations? For refining weapons? Or for cultivation?

He took out "Records of Strange Things from the South China Sea," turned to the page about obsidian, and began to study it. The description in the book was too brief, and he couldn't glean any further information.

Chen Yu thought for a moment, then took out a small piece of soil, about the size of a fingernail, and placed it in his palm. He slowly infused it with spiritual energy, which activated the spiritual energy within the soil, causing a wisp of extremely thin blue smoke to rise and emit a faint sulfurous smell.

"It is indeed of the fire attribute." Chen Yu confirmed. Although the fire elemental power contained in this stone is weak, its purity is very high, making it a good material for refining fire-attribute magic weapons or setting up fire-elemental formations.

Scarface wants ten dollars, by the end of the month... It seems he has a big plan and urgently needs these materials.

After exiting the small world, Chen Yu lay on the bed, sorting out his thoughts.

We need to continue tracking Scarface, but we must be careful. His strength and motives are unclear; rashly contacting him could backfire.

Huang Wenyuan provided valuable connections in Hong Kong and ancient books, which should be made good use of.

He Yuzhu's decision to stay is a good thing. He'll have a place to stay when he comes to Guangzhou in the future.

As for himself... his trip to Hong Kong is on the agenda. But not now; he needs to first solidify his foundation in Beijing and accumulate sufficient capital and connections.

Lost in thought, Chen Yu fell asleep.

In the dead of night, he was awakened by a slight fluctuation of spiritual energy.

His spiritual sense instantly expanded outwards. The fluctuations came from afar, heading towards... the west of the city! And it wasn't just one force; it was two colliding spiritual energies!

Cultivators are fighting!

Chen Yu sat up abruptly, dressed silently, and opened the window. He activated his Wind Control Technique, and like a falling leaf, he floated out of the window and landed on the roof.

In the darkness of Guangzhou, most areas were asleep, with only a few scattered lights. To the west of the city, a faint red light flickered, but it was difficult for the average person to detect with the naked eye.

Chen Yu leaped between rooftops, his speed as fast as a ghost thanks to his Wind Control Technique. His Intermediate Concealment Technique allowed him to completely blend into the night.

Ten minutes later, he approached the source of the spiritual energy fluctuations—an abandoned factory area overgrown with weeds and with dilapidated factory buildings.

Two people are facing off in an open space.

One was a scarred man! The other was an old man in a Taoist robe, with white hair and beard, holding a peach wood sword.

Around the two, several small flags were stuck in the ground, forming a simple array. At the center of the array was the black stone, which was now emitting a dark red light.

"Fellow Daoist, I discovered this 'Fire Obsidian' first. It's against the rules for you to snatch it halfway through," the old man in the Daoist robe said in a deep voice.

"Rules?" Scarface sneered. "When did it become your Qingcheng Sect's place to talk about rules in Guangzhou? I'm taking this stone. If you know what's good for you, get lost!"

"Arrogant!" The old man pointed his peach wood sword, and the fire obsidian in the formation shone brightly, turning into several lines of fire that shot towards the scarred man.

Scarface remained calm and pulled out a small black banner from his pocket. With a flick of his wrist, black mist billowed out, engulfing the entire line of fire.

"The Netherworld Banner? You're from the Yinshan Sect!" The old man's expression changed.

"Now you know? Too late!" Scarface grinned maliciously. The black banner waved again, and more black energy surged out, transforming into a hideous ghost head that lunged at the old man.

Chen Yu hid behind a broken wall a hundred meters away, fully activating his spiritual sense to observe the fight.

Judging from their conversation and methods, the scarred man is from the Yinshan Sect, while the old man is from the Qingcheng Sect. Both are after that black stone—it turns out it's called "Fire Obsidian." This stone seems to be very sought after, with even cultivation sects vying for it.

The old man's formation was exquisite, but the scarred man's magical artifact was even more sinister. After several rounds, the old man gradually weakened, and the spiritual light on his peach wood sword dimmed considerably.

"Fellow Daoist, how about we each take half?" the old man began to soften his stance.

"Want to break up now? Too late!" Scarface's offensive intensified.

Seeing the old man on the verge of defeat, Chen Yu hesitated. Should he intervene? Intervening in a fight between two cultivators could easily bring trouble upon himself. But judging from the scarred man's posture, he was determined to kill...

Just as I was hesitating, a police siren suddenly sounded in the distance! It was a police patrol car!

Their expressions changed simultaneously. There are rules in the cultivation world: one cannot expose oneself to ordinary people, much less alert the authorities.

"Consider yourself lucky!" Scarface put away the black banner, grabbed the obsidian from the ground, and disappeared into the night in a few leaps.

The old man, disregarding the pursuit, withdrew the formation and fled in the opposite direction.

Chen Yu waited until they all left before quietly approaching. In the open space, the traces of the array remained, along with several broken fragments of obsidian. He picked one up; it was warm to the touch, and the fire elemental energy within was slowly dissipating.

"Is this the struggle within the cultivation world...?" Chen Yu murmured.

He gathered the shards and quickly left the scene. The sound of police cars was getting closer; he couldn't linger.

When Chen Yu returned to He Ji Restaurant, it was almost dawn. He lay in bed, wide awake.

Tonight's experiences gave him a more direct understanding of the cultivation world: sects, conflicts, rules, and the struggle for resources. This world is far more complex than he had imagined.

How can he, a transmigrator and a rogue cultivator, establish himself in such a world?

Outside the window, the sky was gradually turning white.

A new day is about to begin.

Chen Yu knew that from this day forward, his perspective on the world would no longer be the same.