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

On the morning of the seventh day of the second lunar month, Chen Yu woke up in his room at the Overseas Chinese Hotel. A light spring rain was falling outside the window. The raindrops tapped against the glass, leaving winding streaks on the surface and blurring the outline of Guangzhou into a scene resembling an ink painting.

He didn't get up immediately, but instead sat cross-legged on the bed, introspecting. After undergoing the three trials last night, the spiritual energy within his body had undergone subtle changes—becoming more condensed and pure, flowing smoothly and naturally like a stream. The bottleneck of the third level of the Qi Refining stage had loosened, and a breakthrough was imminent.

"System, check-in for today." The sound of rain became the best background noise.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: 1 jin of Guangdong sugar coupons, basic astrology knowledge (small), 1 brass sextant (nautical type), 15 yuan in cash]

Astrological knowledge! Chen Yu immediately put it to use, his mind flooded with knowledge of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the Twelve Zodiac Signs, and the laws governing planetary motion. The sextant was a sophisticated instrument made in England, used to measure the altitude angle of celestial bodies, which would be of great help in calculating the exact location of the Xuanzhen Cave.

He took out seven tokens from his bosom and laid them out in a row on the bed: Xuan character token (Tian Shu), bamboo slip (Tian Xuan), Tian Quan key (Tian Quan), animal skin map (Tian Ji), Yu Heng key (Yu Heng), Kai Yang key (Kai Yang), and Yao Guang pearl (Yao Guang).

The seven items, made of different materials and with different shapes, seemed to resonate faintly in the morning light. Chen Yu infused one of them with his spiritual energy, and the other six immediately responded with a soft glow. The Yao Guang Pearl, in particular, saw its internal nebula swirl faster, and a three-dimensional projection of the Big Dipper appeared on its surface.

"Pseudo-human No. 7, how's the investigation going?" Chen Yu asked through his consciousness while studying the Seven Star Resonance phenomenon.

"Master, we've found out." The voice of Pseudo-Man No. 7 was grave. "Those three people on Baiyun Mountain yesterday were definitely not from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Their real identities are investigators from Hong Kong's 'Hesheng Trading Company.' The woman with glasses is named Su Man, and she's the chairman's personal assistant. The two men are named A-Qiang and A-Hu, and they're from the company's security department."

"A Hong Kong company?" Chen Yu frowned. "How did they know about the Xuanzhen Treasure?"

"According to the conversations we overheard, they got the information from an antique dealer named 'Jin Yabing.' Jin Yabing collected a batch of old objects in Guangxi, including a tattered notebook that mentioned 'Lingnan Seven Stars, Xuanzhen's Relics.'"

Where is the notebook now?

"Su Man took him back to Hong Kong. We traced it back and found that the chairman of Hesheng Trading Company was Zheng Yurong. On the surface, he was engaged in import and export trade, but in reality, he was involved in antique smuggling and underground banks. He had some connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world in Hong Kong."

Chen Yu pondered. The early intervention of Hong Kong forces was not good news. But looking at it from another angle, perhaps they could use this connection once they arrived in Hong Kong.

"Continue to monitor, but don't alert him. Also, investigate Zheng Yurong's background in detail, especially whether he has any connections with the Taoist and Feng Shui circles in Hong Kong."

"clear."

After hanging up the communication, Chen Yu began to use his newly acquired knowledge of astrology to calculate the location of Xuanzhen Cave. Following the "Seven Stars Pointing North" prompting Xuanzhen Zhenren's divine sense, and the star map projected by the Yaoguang Pearl, he needed to determine a precise geographical coordinate.

Unfolding a map of Hong Kong, and taking out a sextant and compass, Chen Yu began complex calculations on the room's floor. The Big Dipper's extended line, five times the distance from Polaris, points to the North Star, but this is only in an astronomical sense. To convert it to geographical coordinates, specific time, location, altitude, etc., must be considered...

He spent the entire morning doing calculations, using more than a dozen sheets of draft paper. When the rain stopped at noon, he finally came up with a rough range: between 23.5 and 24 degrees north latitude and 113 and 114 degrees east longitude—covering a large area of ​​the mountainous region of northern Guangdong.

"It's still not precise enough." Chen Yu shook his head. But it's already quite good that it has this range; the rest will require sensing it on-site with the Seven Star Key.

He stored the seven tokens in his small world and placed them beside the spiritual spring to nurture them. The spiritual energy of the spring nourished these items and strengthened the connection between them. Sure enough, as soon as the seven tokens approached the spring, they automatically arranged themselves into the shape of the Big Dipper, and the complete star map was reflected in the spring water.

"Perhaps... we could try to sense the cave dwelling beforehand?" Chen Yu suddenly had a whimsical idea.

He infused the seven tokens with spiritual energy simultaneously. Seven beams of light of different colors rose up, intertwining in the air to form a three-dimensional landscape painting of Lingnan. The seven points of light in the painting were the locations where the Seven Star Keys were found: Seven Star Crags, Yunmen Temple, Shuiyue Cave, Danxia Mountain, Zhuming Cave, Xiqiao Mountain, and Baiyun Mountain.

In the center of these seven points, there is an even brighter spot of light, located in the vast mountains of northern Guangdong!

"Found it!" Chen Yu was overjoyed. That should be the location of Xuanzhen Cave! Although the map was blurry, this guide would make the actual search much easier.

In the afternoon, he left the hotel and went to the Guangzhou Shipyard for the final handover. The streets of Guangzhou were wet after the rain, and water was still dripping from the eaves of the arcade buildings. Several children were playing with paper boats by the puddles.

In the shipyard laboratory, Engineer Li was leading several workers in packing the final batch of coating samples. Upon seeing Chen Yu, he excitedly waved, "Engineer Chen! You've come at the perfect time! The acceptance report just arrived from Hong Kong; the first batch is completely合格 (qualified/up to standard)! Ms. Lin is very satisfied!"

"That's good." Chen Yu took the report and flipped through it. The data was indeed impressive, with all indicators meeting or exceeding the requirements.

"Furthermore," Li lowered his voice, "Ms. Lin has privately ordered another batch of 'special color' goods, saying it's for her personal client. The price is 30% higher than the regular goods!"

"Is there a problem with production?"

"No problem! It's just the confidentiality of the formula..." Engineer Li said with some concern, "There are so many people watching in the factory, I'm worried..."

"You will personally handle the key processes, and the raw materials will be received in batches," Chen Yu instructed. "After I arrive in Hong Kong, I will discuss the establishment of a dedicated production line with Ms. Lin."

"That would be great!"

Chief Engineer Zhang also came over from his office, carrying a file folder: "Xiao Chen, this is the letter of introduction and supporting documents the factory gave you. You can show these to China Resources Company if they need them when you get to Hong Kong."

"Thank you, Chief Engineer Zhang."

"Don't mention it!" Chief Engineer Zhang patted him on the shoulder. "But Xiao Chen, Hong Kong is a complicated place. Be careful when you go there. I've heard there are many gangs and foreigners there, and the rules are different from those on the mainland."

"I understand, I'll be careful."

Before leaving the shipyard, Chen Yu went to the finance department to collect his salary and bonus for the month—a total of 87.5 yuan. Adding his previous savings and the commission paid by Lin Wanru, he had more than 3,000 yuan in cash on hand, as well as Hong Kong dollar drafts worth nearly 5,000 yuan.

This sum of money was a huge amount in 1964, enough to establish a foothold in Hong Kong.

In the evening, Chen Yu went to Guangxiao Temple. The monk Huijue was meditating by the ancient well; the spirit-gathering array was functioning well, and the well's mouth was filled with spiritual energy. Upon seeing Chen Yu, Huijue opened his eyes and smiled:

"The air of clarity between your brows appears even more refined, Mr. Chen. Has your spirit improved once more?"

"A little progress." Chen Yu bowed. "Master, I'm going to Hong Kong in a few days, so I've come to say goodbye."

"Hong Kong..." Huijue pondered, "There, Buddhism and Taoism are mixed, and the world is full of temptations. When you go there, you must guard your true heart."

"I will keep Master's teachings in mind." Chen Yu took out a small porcelain bottle. "This is a Qi-Nourishing Pill I prepared. There are twelve pills in total. Take one pill each month to strengthen your body."

Huijue accepted it without hesitation: "You are too kind, benefactor. Before I depart, I have something to give you."

He took out a string of ebony prayer beads from his sleeve, eighteen in total, each engraved with tiny Sanskrit characters. "These prayer beads were blessed by the high monks of the temple in previous generations. They have the effect of calming the mind and soothing the spirit. If you encounter any 'obstacles' in Hong Kong, you can recite these sutras."

Chen Yu solemnly accepted the prayer beads. They felt warm and smooth to the touch, with a faint scent of sandalwood; they were indeed no ordinary object.

"Furthermore," Huijue paused, "if you need help in Hong Kong, you can go to Po Lin Monastery and find a nun named 'Miaoyin.' She stayed at Guangxiao Temple for three years when she was young, and we have a history."

"Thank you, Master."

As Chen Yu left Guangxiao Temple, the setting sun bathed the ancient temple's eaves in gold. He glanced back; the thousand-year-old temple stood serene and solemn in the twilight, seemingly untouched by worldly strife.

But he knew that he was about to step into a completely different world.

Back at the hotel that evening, Chen Yu began packing. Aside from his personal belongings, most of his items would be stored in his small world. He carefully planned his space: the eastern area would hold pills, talisman materials, and refining tools; the western area would store books, blueprints, and documents; and the central spiritual spring would be used to nurture the Seven Star Key and important magical artifacts.

While I was organizing, Pseudo-Man No. 7 sent another message: "Master, there's new information about Hesheng Trading Company. Su Man went to the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office this afternoon and applied for an expedited pass for a 'business visit.' It seems they'll be returning to Hong Kong soon."

"Specific time?"

"The travel permit was approved for February 12th, which is five days from now. They've booked two second-class suites on the 'Red Star'—on the same ship as you!"

Fellow travelers! Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. Was this a coincidence, or...?

"Continue to monitor them and find out if they know my itinerary."

"The investigation is underway. In addition, Zheng Yurong sent a coded telegram from Hong Kong to Su Man today, which stated that 'you must bring back key figures or information.' This 'key figure' is very likely referring to you."

Chen Yu pondered for a moment: "Prepare a response plan. If they take action on their ship, we need to have countermeasures."

"Master, have you considered rescheduling or changing ships?"

"No," Chen Yu shook his head, "You can't hide forever. Since they've got their eyes on me, I might as well meet them on the ship. I'll have to go to Hong Kong sooner or later, so it's good to figure out my opponents' strength as soon as possible."

"Understood. We will prepare contingency plans."

After the call ended, Chen Yu stood by the window, gazing at the Guangzhou night view. There weren't many neon lights, but the myriad lights of homes still shone warmly. He had spent two months in this city, gradually becoming familiar with it from the initial unfamiliarity, and now it was time to leave.

Next destination: Hong Kong. The Pearl of the Orient, a paradise for adventurers, but also a den of wolves and tigers.

But he had to go. For the sake of Xuanzhen Cave, for the path of cultivation, and for a better future for Qin Huairu and their child.

From February 8th to February 14th, Chen Yu hardly went out. He secluded himself in his hotel room to cultivate and refine his skills, while also finalizing preparations for his trip to Hong Kong.

In terms of cultivation, he successfully broke through to the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage! The breakthrough was triggered by the Yao Guang Pearl—this water spirit essence emitted pure water spirit energy during cultivation, perfectly matching his physique. After the breakthrough, his total spiritual energy increased by 50%, and his control precision also greatly improved.

Regarding talismans, he is already proficient in drawing three basic talismans: fireball talisman, water shield talisman, and lightness talisman. His success rate is about 70%, and he has drawn twenty of each type as spares. Although they are all low-level talismans, they are sufficient for use in the ordinary world.

Regarding elixirs, there are thirty Qi-Nourishing Pills, twenty Hemostatic and Muscle-Regenerating Powders, fifteen Heart-Clearing Powders, and three Water-Repelling Pills. They also attempted to refine a "Diamond Talisman"—a talisman that temporarily enhances defense and can be attached to the body to withstand ordinary sword and blade attacks.

In terms of weapon crafting, he reforged the broken sword he obtained from Xiqiao Mountain. After tempering it with spiritual spring water and the essence of earth fire, the broken sword became a short blade a foot long, exceptionally sharp, capable of easily cutting through iron nails. Chen Yu named it "Crimson Flame" and usually kept it in a hidden pouch in his sleeve.

On the evening of February 14th, all preparations were complete. Chen Yu sent a final telegram to Beijing: "Tomorrow I will go to Hong Kong and return within three months. All is well, do not worry. Yu."

Then he went to the post office and sent a letter and one hundred yuan to Qin Huairu. The letter didn't mention anything about cultivating immortality; it only said that he had performed well at work in Guangzhou and had been sent to Hong Kong for study and exchange, and that he would be back soon.

Late at night, Pseudo-Man No. 7 reported the final reconnaissance results: "Master, Su Man and her two companions will board the ship at 10:00 AM tomorrow. They are carrying two large suitcases, which contain not only clothing but also detection equipment and weapons—Ah Hu's suitcase contains a revolver."

"A handgun..." Chen Yu frowned, "What about the ship's security check?"

"The Red Star is an inland river passenger ship, and its security checks are not as strict as those for ocean-going vessels. Moreover, Su Man has a guarantee letter from a Hong Kong company, which allows him to bring 'business samples'."

"Can our dummy figures board the ship?"

"It's all arranged. Number Three will disguise himself as a handyman on the ship, and I will board as an ordinary passenger on Number Seven, both in third class. Number Two will stay in Guangzhou to continue monitoring other developments."

"Okay, proceed according to plan."

That night, Chen Yu did not sleep well. Many fragmented images appeared in his dream: the old jujube tree in the courtyard, Qin Huairu's smiling face, the karst cave of Seven Star Crags, the flames of Danxia Mountain, the spring water of Baiyun Mountain... Finally, all the images converged into Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, with giant ships sounding their horns and crowds surging.

He woke up early at five in the morning. Today was February 15th, the day he was to go to Hong Kong.

"System, today's check-in." This is the last time I've checked in from mainland China.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: Special bonus for trip to Hong Kong – Language pack (fluent in Cantonese), Hong Kong Business Guide (1964 edition), Disguise identity kit x1, HK$50 cash]

The language pack is immediately usable, filling your mind with Cantonese pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. The 200-page business guide details Hong Kong's business environment, laws and regulations, and chambers of commerce. The disguise kit includes props such as a fake beard, glasses, and skin-color-changing cream.

After washing up, Chen Yu changed into the dark gray suit Lin Wanru had given him—a popular style in Hong Kong. He put on his watch, stored his important items in his small world, leaving only a briefcase for everyday necessities.

At 7:00 AM sharp, he checked out of the Overseas Chinese Hotel. The waiter at the door hailed a rickshaw for him: "Sir, going to the pier?"

"Yes, Dashatou Wharf."

"The Red Star? That's a fine ship!"

The car drove through the streets of Guangzhou in the early morning. Breakfast stalls were already open, fried dough sticks sizzled in the pans, and steam rose from the steamer baskets of rice noodle rolls. People hurried to work, and bicycle bells rang incessantly.

This is the life of ordinary people in 1964—ordinary yet real.

Chen Yu suddenly felt a little dazed. If it weren't for the system and the time travel, he might have been just one of the masses, struggling to make a living and working hard for his family.

But now, he has embarked on a different path. A path of cultivation, full of unknowns and possibilities.

At eight o'clock, the tricycle arrived at Dashatou Wharf. Large and small boats were moored along the Pearl River, and the Red Star was the most eye-catching one among them—white hull, red funnel, three-story passenger cabins, and a displacement of about two thousand tons.

A number of passengers had already gathered at the pier, mostly those going to Hong Kong to visit relatives or do business. Chen Yu saw that Su Man and her group had also arrived; the two men were carrying suitcases, while Su Man was negotiating with the staff, holding a document bag.

He pulled his hat brim low and mingled with the crowd to complete the boarding procedures. Lin Wanru had booked a first-class single cabin at the stern, offering a good view and a quiet environment.

At 9:30, the ship's horn sounded a long blast. The crew began to retract the gangway, and people on the shore waved goodbye.

Chen Yu stood by the deck railing, watching the city of Guangzhou gradually disappear into the distance. His two-month trip to Lingnan had yielded far more than he had expected. He had collected all seven key tokens, his cultivation had improved, and he had made basic progress in alchemy, talisman making, and array formations...

And now, a new journey begins.

"Sir, do you need help with your luggage?" A young crew member approached; it was the fake man number three in disguise.

"No need, thank you." Chen Yu smiled. "After the ship sets sail, please send me a pot of tea to cabin number three in first class."

"Yes, sir."

He turned and walked into the cabin. The corridor was carpeted, and the room doors were made of solid wood. Opening the door to room number three, he found himself in a small suite with a bed, a desk, a sofa, and a separate bathroom.

Chen Yu put down his suitcase and stood by the window. The Pearl River flowed beneath his feet, and the scenery on both banks slowly receded.

Hong Kong, here I come.

Xuanzhen Cave awaits me.

Meanwhile, in a second-class compartment, Su Man was using a miniature camera to photograph the passenger list. When she saw "Chen Yu, First Class, Number Three," a cold smile crept across her lips.

"I've found you."

The game has begun.