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

At six o'clock in the morning on February 16th, Chen Yu woke up in his suite at the Peninsula Hotel. Through the gap in the sheer curtains, the surface of Victoria Harbour was shimmering with the pale gold of the first rays of dawn, and several early morning ferries cut through the calm water, leaving long white trails in their wake.

He didn't get up immediately, but instead sat cross-legged and cultivated for a full cycle. Although the spiritual energy in Hong Kong was thin, the nourishment from the spiritual spring in his small world made up for this deficiency. His cultivation at the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage was already stable, and the spiritual energy flowed through his meridians like a babbling brook, much smoother than when he first entered the Qi Refining stage.

"System, check-in for today." Chen Yu silently recited in his mind, while feeling the morning atmosphere of this unfamiliar city—the sea breeze, car exhaust, and the aroma of food wafting from the tea restaurant mingled together, unlike Beijing and Guangzhou.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Includes: HK$100, Basic Business Negotiation Skills (small), 1964 Hong Kong Telephone Directory, Portable Recorder (mini) x1]

Business negotiation skills were immediately put to use, and the mind gained knowledge of bargaining strategies, methods of reading people's expressions, and how to identify traps in contract terms. The telephone directory was three hundred pages thick, containing contact information for Hong Kong government agencies, businesses, and social organizations. The tape recorder was only the size of a cigarette box, made in Japan, and used micro magnetic tape—essentially spy equipment for that era.

At 7:00 PM sharp, the room phone rang. It was the hotel front desk: "Mr. Chen, a Ms. Lin is waiting for you in the lobby. Would you like her to come up?"

"Please ask her to wait a moment, I'll be right down."

Chen Yu changed into another suit that Lin Wanru had prepared for him yesterday—a dark gray pinstripe suit, well-tailored, paired with a dark blue tie, making him look capable yet composed. He checked his appearance in the mirror, put the mini recorder and several newly drawn talismans into the inside pocket of his suit, and then went downstairs.

In the lobby café, Lin Wanru was sitting by the window reading a newspaper. Today she was wearing a light beige business suit, her hair was elegantly styled in a bun, and the coffee cup in front of her was still steaming.

"Good morning, Mr. Chen." She put down her newspaper, smiled, and greeted him. "Did you sleep well?"

"Very good, thank you for the arrangements, Mr. Lin." Chen Yu sat down opposite her, and a waiter immediately brought him a cup of coffee.

"The pace of life in Hong Kong is faster than on the mainland, so let's just have a simple breakfast at the hotel." Lin Wanru handed over the menu. "We're going to the factory in To Kwa Wan later, which may take an hour."

The two each ordered an English breakfast: fried eggs, bacon, sausage, roasted tomatoes, roasted mushrooms, with toast and coffee. Chen Yu noticed that Lin Wanru ate very politely, but at a fast pace, clearly accustomed to a tight schedule.

"Did Su Man make any moves last night?" Chen Yu asked casually.

Lin Wanru looked up at him and said, "Mr. Chen is very perceptive. Indeed, someone from Hesheng Company came to inquire about you last night. However, the Peninsula Hotel has excellent confidentiality; they only found out you were staying here, but they don't know your specific room number."

"Is Zheng Yurong in such a hurry?"

"He's always been like this." Lin Wanru said, slicing a fried egg. "The Zheng family started out in smuggling. Although they've now laundered their money and are doing trade, they're still using the same old methods at their core. Su Man is his most capable assistant. She's not only beautiful, but she's also fluent in three languages ​​and knows about law and finance. She's a tough woman to deal with."

Chen Yu recalled Su Man's sharp eyes on the ship: "She seemed interested in metaphysics or antiquities?"

"How did you know?" Lin Wanru asked, slightly surprised. "Indeed, Su Man secretly enjoys collecting antiques and even has a feng shui master as her godfather. Many of Zheng Yurong's businesses have benefited from the guidance of that feng shui master."

Feng shui master… Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. In Hong Kong, a place where East meets West, feng shui is indeed prevalent, and many wealthy businessmen and political figures are devout believers. If that feng shui master also possessed some knowledge of spiritual cultivation…

"Mr. Chen," Lin Wanru's voice interrupted his thoughts, "Today we'll visit the factory first, have lunch with some friends, and then go to my lab in the afternoon. Tonight... an important person wants to see you."

"Who is it?"

"Sir Zhou, Zhou Yongnian," Lin Wanru lowered her voice, "He is the vice chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a Justice of the Peace, and has influence in both the political and business circles of Hong Kong. Most importantly... he has special needs for special materials."

Chen Yu noted down the name. Zhou Yongnian, he had seen it in a business guide; he was a representative of a long-established Chinese-owned family business in Hong Kong, with businesses spanning real estate, shipping, retail, and other sectors.

After breakfast, the two got into the Mercedes. The driver was a taciturn middle-aged man named Ah Chung, whom Lin Wanru introduced as her old subordinate of ten years. The car drove out of Tsim Sha Tsui and through the Cross-Harbour Tunnel—a new project that opened in 1963, connecting Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

The tunnel was dimly lit, and traffic moved slowly. Lin Wanru took this opportunity to explain the day's itinerary in detail:

"The factory is in To Kwa Wan, mainly producing marine coatings and industrial adhesives. The laboratory is in Causeway Bay, which is my private R&D center, with several chemical engineers who have returned from studying in the United States. Sir Zhou's appointment is at his villa in Deep Water Bay, at seven o'clock in the evening."

"Sir Zhou, what specific materials do you require?"

"Explosion-proof materials." Lin Wanru's voice was even lower. "He recently invested in several mines in Southeast Asia. The local security is poor, and transport convoys are frequently attacked. Ordinary bulletproof steel plates are too heavy, affecting transport capacity. He wants a lightweight, high-strength coating to be applied to the truck beds, capable of withstanding rifle bullets and grenade fragments."

Chen Yu thought quickly. This requirement was technically feasible, but it required adjusting the formula, adding fiber reinforcement materials and an energy-absorbing layer. More importantly... this was military or quasi-military material, making the transaction very risky.

"Mr. Lin, is this kind of business legal?"

"In Hong Kong, the law is one thing, but the actual operation is another," Lin Wanru said meaningfully. "Sir Chow had a franchise, and as long as it didn't involve the export of sensitive technology, the Hong Kong government usually turned a blind eye. Of course, the profits were also much higher than ordinary businesses."

As the car emerged from the tunnel, the scenery of Hong Kong Island came into view. Central had more skyscrapers than Kowloon, and the streets were steeper. Trams clanged past, and office workers in suits and ties hurried by, a stark contrast to the hawkers carrying their wares on shoulder poles.

To Kwa Wan, located in the eastern part of Kowloon City, is one of Hong Kong's industrial areas. The streets are lined with four- or five-story tenement buildings, with various small factories on the ground floor: plastic flowers, toys, textiles, hardware... The roar of machines rises and falls, and the air is filled with the smell of machine oil and chemicals.

Lin Wanru's factory is located on the third floor of a six-story industrial building. A sign reading "Victoria Chemical Products Company" hangs at the entrance, and the factory covers an area of ​​approximately 2,000 square feet (about 200 square meters). Inside the workshop, more than twenty workers are operating equipment such as mixers, grinders, and filling machines, while barrels of finished paint products flow along the production line.

"Mr. Lin!" A middle-aged man wearing glasses greeted him. "You've arrived. And this is...?"

"This is Mr. Chen Yu, our technical consultant," Lin Wanru introduced. "Mr. Chen, this is Huang Wenqiang, the factory manager. He graduated from the Chemistry Department of Hong Kong Polytechnic University and has been with me for five years."

"Hello, Mr. Chen." Huang Wenqiang shook hands warmly. "President Lin often mentions you, saying that your formulas in mainland China are very effective."

"Manager Huang, you're too kind. We can learn from each other."

Chen Yu took a walk around the workshop. Although the equipment was old, it was well maintained, and the workers operated in a standardized manner. He randomly inspected a few barrels of finished products, using his spiritual eye to observe their microstructure—the uniformity was acceptable, but some batches contained tiny air bubbles.

"The stirring time can be extended by five minutes," he told Huang Wenqiang. "In addition, the settling time before filling was insufficient, which resulted in the air bubbles not escaping completely."

Huang Wenqiang exclaimed in surprise, "How did Mr. Chen figure that out? We do have a problem with air bubbles, but we haven't been able to find the cause!"

"Just experience," Chen Yu said vaguely, though it was actually thanks to his Spirit Eye Technique.

He then offered several suggestions for improvement: adjusting the feeding sequence, optimizing temperature control, adding a filtration process... These were all minor details, but they could significantly improve product quality. Huang Wenqiang quickly jotted them down in his notebook, his gaze towards Chen Yu filled with more admiration.

It was nearly noon when they finished touring the factory. Lin Wanru took Chen Yu to a nearby Chaozhou restaurant. Two people were already seated in the private room: an elderly man in his fifties with gray hair, wearing a Chinese silk shirt; and a man in his early forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a sharp suit.

"Uncle Huo, Attorney Li, thank you for waiting." Lin Wanru greeted them with a smile. "This is Mr. Chen Yu. Mr. Chen, this is Uncle Huo Jingliang, a veteran in the Hong Kong real estate industry; this is Attorney Li Wenjie, my legal advisor."

"Hello Mr. Huo, hello Attorney Li," Chen Yu greeted politely.

Huo Jingliang sized him up, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "You're quite the young man. Wanru told me that even British shipyards wanted the paints you produced on the mainland?"

"Just lucky."

"Luck is also a part of ability." Huo Jingliang smiled. "Sit down, let's eat and chat."

Chaozhou cuisine is exquisite and refined: braised platter, chilled crab, oyster omelet, "Protecting the Nation" vegetables, taro paste... one dish after another was served. The conversation during the meal was mainly between Huo Jingliang and lawyer Li, revolving around the Hong Kong property market, legal changes, and Sino-British relations.

Chen Yu listened quietly, extracting useful information: Hong Kong's real estate market began to heat up in 1964, but laws restricted non-British citizens from purchasing property; the Hong Kong government strictly scrutinized people from mainland China, but things were easier if a local businessman provided a guarantee; the Chinese business community was fighting for more rights...

"Mr. Chen," Attorney Li Wenjie suddenly turned to him, "I heard from General Manager Lin that you plan to develop your career in Hong Kong long-term. If you need legal assistance, such as registering a company, obtaining residency, or handling contract disputes, I can help."

"Thank you, Attorney Li. I'll definitely need your help if I need anything."

"No trouble at all, we're all on the same side." Li Wenjie handed over his business card. "Just a reminder, the business environment in Hong Kong is complex, and some people don't follow the rules. If you encounter any trouble, it's best not to resolve it privately, but to call the police or hire a lawyer immediately."

These words were loaded with meaning. Chen Yu thought of Zheng Yurong and Su Man, and nodded.

After the meal, Huo Jingliang took his leave first. Lawyer Li Wen stayed a little longer and privately told Chen Yu, "Mr. Chen, Uncle Huo asked me to pass on a message: he's impressed with your skills, and if you need funding for collaboration, you can contact him. But he also cautioned that Hong Kong is a murky place, and you should be careful of the undercurrents."

"Please thank Uncle Huo for me, I'll remember it."

At 2 PM, the car arrived in Causeway Bay. The laboratory is located on the top floor of a newly built commercial building on Enping Road. It is not large, but it is equipped with advanced equipment. Lin Wanru explained that it is mainly used for early-stage research and development and small-batch trial production.

There were three young people in the lab, two men and one woman, all with master's degrees in chemistry or materials science who had returned from studying in Europe and America. They were experimenting with a new type of epoxy resin, and they all greeted Lin Wanru respectfully.

"This is Mr. Chen Yu, who will be your technical director from now on," Lin Wanru announced. "You have all seen Mr. Chen's achievements in mainland China. If you have any technical questions, you can ask him directly."

The three men were somewhat skeptical—Chen Yu looked too young. But when Chen Yu walked to the experimental table, casually pointed out several problems with their formula, and proposed improvement plans, their skepticism turned into surprise and admiration.

"Mr. Chen, how did you know that this curing agent and filler are incompatible?" asked Zhang Min, the female researcher. "We discovered it after three months of testing!"

"It's determined by the molecular structure." Chen Yu drew a diagram on the whiteboard. "You see, this functional group and that group will create steric hindrance, leading to uneven dispersion. We can add a little silane coupling agent as an intermediary."

He spoke of materials science knowledge that is now common in modern times, but it was ahead of its time in 1964. The three researchers treasured it and took careful notes.

Lin Wanru watched from the side, a look of satisfaction in her eyes. Her initial investment in establishing this laboratory was to recruit talent and develop high-end products. Chen Yu's appearance brought that goal closer.

Chen Yu stayed in the lab until 5 PM, leaving behind several formula improvement plans and promising to begin formally guiding the research and development work next week. Lin Wanru glanced at her watch: "It's time to go to Deep Water Bay; Sir Zhou doesn't like people being late."

Deep Water Bay, located in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island, is a traditional luxury residential area. Driving along the winding mountain road, lush subtropical vegetation lines both sides, through which villas of varying styles can be seen. Zhou Yongnian's residence, situated halfway up the mountain, features white walls and a red tiled roof, exhibiting a distinct colonial architectural style.

The iron gate slowly opened, and the car drove into the courtyard. An Indian butler in a white uniform was already waiting in front of the main building: "Miss Lin, Mr. Chen, the Sir is waiting for you in the study."

The villa's interior decoration blends Chinese and Western styles: Chinese mahogany furniture is paired with an English fireplace, and Chinese landscape paintings and Western oil paintings hang on the walls. The butler led the two through the corridor to the door of the study.

After knocking, a deep, steady male voice came from inside: "Come in."

The study was large, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on two walls, filled with Chinese and English books. Behind the large desk by the window sat an elderly man in his sixties, with silver hair, a thin face, and reading glasses, looking at documents. This was Zhou Yongnian.

"Sir Zhou," Lin Wanru greeted respectfully.

"Wanru's here, please have a seat." Zhou Yongnian put down his documents, took off his glasses, and looked at Chen Yu. "This must be Mr. Chen Yu?"

"Junior Chen Yu greets Sir Zhou." Chen Yu bowed.

"No need to be so polite." Zhou Yongnian pointed to the sofa opposite him. "I heard about you from Wanru. Young man, you have skills and courage, very good."

After the servant served tea and refreshments, Zhou Yongnian got straight to the point: "Mr. Chen, Wanru should have mentioned my needs to you. An explosion-proof coating, lightweight and high-strength, capable of stopping rifle bullets and grenade fragments. Technically, is that possible?"

"It's possible," Chen Yu answered confidently, "but the formula needs to be adjusted, and the testing period will be at least one month."

"I can wait a month," Zhou Yongnian nodded. "And the price?"

"It depends on the specific requirements and production volume."

"Let's make a sample first. If it works well, the first order will be 500 gallons," Zhou Yongnian quoted a figure. "The price will be the highest market price plus 30%. But there's a condition—the formula must be exclusively supplied to me for five years."

Chen Yu did the math. Five hundred gallons was about 1900 liters. At the highest price plus 30%, this order was worth more than HK$50,000! In 1964, this was a huge sum of money.

"Exclusive supply is possible, but only for explosion-proof applications," Chen Yu stated. "I have the right to sell formulas for other applications separately."

"That makes sense." Zhou Yongnian looked at him appreciatively. "It's good that the young man knows how to negotiate. Wanru, you prepare the contract and send it to my office tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir Zhou."

With the business concluded, Zhou Yongnian relaxed somewhat. He talked about his experiences in Southeast Asia, the hardships faced by Chinese businessmen overseas, and also inquired about the situation on the mainland from Chen Yu. Chen Yu's answers were tactful, demonstrating both knowledge and humility, which further pleased Zhou Yongnian.

"Mr. Chen," Zhou Yongnian concluded, "Hong Kong is a place where circles matter. As you're new here, you should make many friends, but also choose your friends carefully. Some people may appear respectable on the surface, but are despicable inside; it's best to stay away from them."

"Thank you for your guidance, Sir Zhou."

"Wanru," Zhou Yongnian turned to Lin Wanru, "Mr. Chen was introduced by you, so please take good care of him. If you need any help, feel free to contact me."

"I will, Sir Zhou."

It was already dark when we left the Zhou family villa. The lights of the villa were reflected on the surface of Deep Water Bay, and the neon lights of Hong Kong Island in the distance twinkled like stars.

In the car, Lin Wanru rarely showed signs of fatigue: "You've had a tough day. Now that you've gotten past Sir Zhou, you've taken the first step to establish yourself in Hong Kong."

"Thanks to Mr. Lin's introduction."

"It's just a mutually beneficial arrangement." Lin Wanru looked at him. "Mr. Chen, Sir Zhou's last words were meant for Zheng Yurong. Hesheng Company has been competing with the Zhou family for business recently, and things haven't been going well. If I introduce you to Sir Zhou, Zheng Yurong will probably keep a closer eye on you."

"I see."

"But don't worry too much," Lin Wanru smiled. "In Hong Kong, Zheng Yurong still has to give Sir Zhou face. As long as you don't go to dangerous places alone, your safety should be fine."

It was already 9 p.m. when Chen Yu returned to the Peninsula Hotel. Standing on the balcony of his room, gazing at the night view of Victoria Harbour, he reflected on the day's events.

Factories, laboratories, Chaozhou restaurants, luxury homes in Deep Water Bay... Hong Kong's diverse facets were on full display in a single day. Here you could see the hustle and bustle of industrial areas, the shrewdness of commercial districts, the luxury of upscale residential areas, and the undercurrents of life lurking in the shadows.

He took out the Seven Star Key and examined it under the moonlight. The seven tokens shone even brighter under the nurturing of the spiritual energy, and the nebula within the Yao Guang Pearl seemed to swirl faster.

"Fake Man Seven," he communicated via telepathy, "any new developments today?"

"Master, Su Man went to a feng shui shop in Central this afternoon and stayed for two hours. Our people couldn't get in, but we saw her talking to an elderly man in a Tang suit through the window. The old man was about seventy years old, with a goatee, and was leaning on a dragon-head cane."

"Feng shui master... continue monitoring, but be extra careful."

"Yes. Also, Cheng Yu-wing was at the Lisboa Hotel in Macau tonight, it seems he went to discuss business, and he won't return to Hong Kong until tomorrow."

"understood."

After hanging up the call, Chen Yu fell into deep thought. Feng shui masters, antiques, metaphysics... Su Man and Zheng Yurong's interest in the Xuanzhen relics was probably not just about money. Could that feng shui master also know about cultivation?

Hong Kong's waters are indeed very deep.

But he would wade through even the deepest waters.

Because the Xuanzhen Cave awaits him, the path to immortality awaits him, and the future of Qin Huairu and their child awaits him.

Chen Yu put away the Seven Star Key, swallowed a Qi-Nourishing Pill, and began his cultivation for the night.

Outside the window, Hong Kong is ablaze with lights, a city that never sleeps.

And his path to immortality has only just begun.