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

On April 7th, three days before the auction, the weather in Hong Kong suddenly cleared up, sweeping away the days of rain. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Peninsula Hotel suite, casting bright dappled patterns on the carpet. Chen Yu stood by the window, toying with a newly completed antique replica in his hands—the so-called "Tang Dynasty Seven Star Compass."

The plate, about a foot in diameter, is made of bronze with an aged finish, covered in verdigris and scratches left by the passage of time. The center of the plate features a relief of the Big Dipper, with each of the seven stars inlaid with cheap synthetic jade that gleams dullly in the sunlight. The rim is engraved with a ring of antique Sanskrit, containing a trivial prayer text that Chen Yu copied from the *Xuanzhen Daozang* (a Daoist canon).

The real Seven Star Keys had already been scattered and hidden by him—three at the bottom of the spiritual spring in the small world, two carried close to his body, one entrusted to Jingxu for safekeeping, and one given to Suman to be stored in a bank safe deposit box. Even if Zhao Wuji and the others really managed to steal this fake, they would only get a reasonably well-made counterfeit.

"System, check-in for today." Chen Yu placed the Seven Star Plate on the coffee table and silently recited in his mind.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: HKD 250, Basic Antique Reproduction and Authentication Techniques (Small), Detailed Explanation of Hong Kong Auction House Operations in 1964, Simulation Talisman (Low-Level) x3, Spiritual Dust 100g]

The antique forgery and authentication techniques arrived just in time, and Chen Yu immediately put them to use, his mind now filled with knowledge of aging techniques, material analysis, and dating. The auction house's procedural documents detailed every step from consignment to the hammer's fall, including how to arrange consignors and how to create a bidding atmosphere—these were the gray areas of the business. The simulation talisman, once used, would cause the item to emit a faint spiritual aura for a short time, perfect for use on the fake Seven Star Plate. The spiritual dust was an auxiliary ingredient for refining special elixirs.

Chen Yu took out a lifelike talisman and carefully affixed it to the back of the Seven Star Plate. The talisman burned, transforming into invisible spiritual energy that seeped into the plate. After a moment, a faint spiritual light indeed appeared on the surface of the plate, giving it a more "ancient artifact charm".

"Fake Man Number Seven," he communicated via telepathy, "what's going on with Zhao Wuji?"

"Master, Zhao Wuji went to the 'Dragon Gate Teahouse' three times last night, staying until the early hours of the morning each time. Our men managed to sneak in once and overheard them asking about an antique craftsman named 'Ghost Hand Zhang'."

"Ghost Hand Zhang?" Chen Yu frowned. This man was a renowned antique forger in Hong Kong, specializing in high-quality replicas; many of his fakes could even fool experts. Zhao Wuji's seeking him out clearly indicated his suspicion about the auction items.

Where is Ghost Hand Zhang now?

"A clandestine workshop in Sai Wan, they rarely show their faces. Should we make contact with them?"

"No need." Chen Yu thought for a moment, "Help me send a letter to Ghost Hand Zhang, asking him to meet me at Lianxiang Restaurant at eight o'clock tonight. Use anonymity and say there's a big business deal coming up."

"Yes."

At 10 a.m., Chen Yu arrived at the company. Lin Wanru was already waiting in the office, with the consignment contract from Yong'an Auction House spread out on the table.

"Mr. Chen, the auction house has made all the arrangements." Lin Wanru handed over the contract. "It's a special auction on Saturday afternoon at 2 PM, featuring only this one piece, the 'Tang Dynasty Seven Star Plate.' The starting price is HK$500,000, with a 10% commission. Also, as you requested, they will start building momentum tomorrow by releasing information through the Sing Tao Daily and the Overseas Chinese Daily."

Chen Yu quickly glanced at the contract, signed it, and asked, "Have you taken care of things with the media?"

"Everything has been taken care of. Several major newspapers will publish feature articles praising this 'national treasure' from multiple perspectives, including its historical, artistic, and religious value. Two 'well-known' collectors will also express great interest in the articles, hinting that they might offer a high price."

"Very good." Chen Yu put away the contract. "On the day of the auction, neither you nor Zhang Min need to go. I will bring Miss Su and Master Jingxu. The company will operate normally here; don't let anyone notice anything amiss."

Lin Wanru nodded, then hesitated for a moment: "Mr. Chen, are you really sure about this? I heard that those people from Taiwan are not simple."

"It's precisely because they're not simple that we have to use this method," Chen Yu smiled. "At the auction, under the watchful eyes of everyone, no matter how capable they are, they still have to follow the rules. Outside the auction house... that's a different story."

After leaving the company, Chen Yu went to a Chinese medicine shop in Causeway Bay. He was going to buy a batch of medicinal herbs in preparation for a possible conflict.

According to the "Mysterious Elixir Classic," there is a one-time-use elixir called "Exploding Qi Powder." After taking it, one can increase their spiritual power by 50% within half an incense stick's time, at the cost of being weak for three days afterward. Although the side effects are severe, it can be a lifesaver in critical moments.

The medicinal herbs were quickly prepared: three qian of dragon's blood, five fen of borneol, one fen of musk, five qian of red peony root... and one main ingredient, "Raging Grass," which was not available in Hong Kong, but was grown in Chen Yu's small world and was just ripe.

Back at the hotel, he entered his small world and began refining pills. Although the spiritual furnace was small, it was sufficient for refining such low-level pills. He lit the Earth Fire Talisman, added the medicinal herbs one by one, and Chen Yu focused intently on controlling the heat. Two hours later, six crimson pills condensed in the furnace, each only the size of a mung bean, emitting a pungent, spicy odor.

[Successfully crafted: Explosive Energy Powder (Common)]

[Effect: After taking it, one's spiritual energy will increase by 50% within half an incense stick's time.]

[Side effects: Weakness for three days after the effects wear off; maximum dose of one pill per day]

Chen Yu carefully put away the pills and drew several new talismans—this time mainly "Imprisonment Talismans" and "Tracking Talismans," used to trap enemies and escape.

At 7:30 p.m., Chen Yu changed into an inconspicuous gray Zhongshan suit, put on a baseball cap, and went alone to Lin Heung Tea House. This is a long-established tea house in Sheung Wan, and there are not many customers after 8 p.m., making it suitable for private conversations.

In a private room on the second floor, a gaunt, over sixty-year-old man had been waiting for some time. Wearing reading glasses and holding a magnifying glass, he was examining a replica of a Ming dynasty blue-and-white porcelain vase on the table. This was Zhang, the "Ghost Hand," a legendary figure in Hong Kong's antique reproduction industry.

"Master Zhang, it's an honor to meet you." Chen Yu sat down opposite him.

Ghost Hand Zhang looked up and sized him up through his reading glasses: "You're the one who wrote the letter? What kind of business do you want? Just say it."

"I'd like you to make a replica of something." Chen Yu took out a photo of the Seven Star Compass. "A Tang Dynasty Seven Star Compass, made of bronze, inlaid with jade, and engraved with Sanskrit."

Ghost Hand Zhang took the photo, glanced at it a few times, and scoffed, "Any apprentice could make a counterfeit of this quality. Why would you need me?"

"Because someone will hire experts to authenticate it," Chen Yu said calmly. "What I need is a counterfeit that can pass 'special' testing. Money is not an issue."

"Special methods?" Ghost Hand Zhang's eyes narrowed. "You mean...those people?"

Chen Yu did not answer, but took out five gold bars from his bag, each weighing one tael, and arranged them neatly on the table.

The gold gleamed alluringly under the light. Ghost Hand Zhang's Adam's apple bobbed, but he still shook his head: "Those people have real skills; they can see the 'qi' of things. Imitation is easy, imitation of qi is difficult; I can't do it."

"What if I had a way to add 'qi' to the counterfeit?" Chen Yu took out a simulation talisman.

Ghost Hand Zhang took the talisman, examined it carefully, and his expression changed: "This is... a Taoist technique. Just who are you?"

"A person who doesn't want to cause trouble, nor does he want to be the one causing trouble." Chen Yu added five more gold bars. "Master Zhang, you only need to perform the form; I'll handle the energy. After it's done, there will be five more gold bars."

Ten gold bars, worth nearly ten thousand Hong Kong dollars, were a huge sum in 1964. Ghost Hand Zhang remained silent for a long time before finally nodding: "When do you need the goods?"

"Before tomorrow night."

"That's too rushed. It will take at least three days."

"Add five gold bars, delivery at Sai Wan Pier tomorrow night at 10 pm."

Ghost Hand Zhang gritted his teeth: "Deal!"

After leaving Lianxianglou, Chen Yu didn't go straight back to the hotel, but instead went to the nearby "Longmen Teahouse." He wanted to know what Zhao Wuji and the others were doing there.

Longmen Teahouse appears to be an ordinary Cantonese teahouse, but the floors above the second floor are not open to the public. Chen Yu stopped at a phone booth on the opposite street corner, extended his spiritual sense, and probed the third floor of the teahouse.

There are three private rooms on the third floor. In one of them, Zhao Wuji, the aloof woman, and the young man are talking with a middle-aged man in a Tang suit. The middle-aged man is in his forties, with a fair complexion and a goatee. He is carrying two iron balls in his hand. He is the owner of the teahouse, "Master Long"—a middleman in Hong Kong's underground martial arts world.

"...Mr. Zhao, I've already spoken to Ghost Hand Zhang." Boss Long's voice came through the wall, "But he has a strange temper, he might not take your job."

"The price can be doubled," Zhao Wuji said calmly, "as long as he can make a convincing fake Seven Star Compass."

"Mr. Zhao, allow me to ask another question," Master Long said, lowering his iron will. "You've come all the way from Taiwan just for a Tang Dynasty plate? Even if it's a Buddhist treasure brought back by Xuanzang, does it warrant such a large commotion from your Heavenly Dao Alliance?"

A few seconds of silence filled the room. Zhao Wuji then slowly said, "Master Long is well-informed in Hong Kong and should have heard of the legend of the 'Seven Star Key.' What we want is not the plate itself, but the seven-star diagram on it—that's related to a clue to an ancient cultivation cave."

As expected! Chen Yu sneered inwardly. These people knew quite a bit about the cave dwelling.

Master Long suddenly realized, "I see... I understand now. But Mr. Zhao, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"Please speak."

"Hong Kong is a very complex place. The 'Seven Star Key Holder' you're looking for is probably no ordinary person. You heard about what happened to Li Guohua a few days ago, right?"

Zhao Wuji nodded: "A nobody at the third level of Qi Refining, forced to leave Hong Kong. What, Master Long, do you think that person is related to the Seven Star Key?"

"I'm not sure. But the time that person appeared coincides with the time the Seven Star Key appeared in the world. And..." Master Long lowered his voice, "I've heard that Ho Hung-cheung from Macau is also helping him. Ho Hung-cheung has one of the Seven Star Keys; it's a semi-open secret in the industry."

Silence fell over the room again. Chen Yu knew it was time to leave; a spiritual sense at the eighth level of Qi Refining was very sharp, and prolonged probing might be discovered.

Just as he was about to withdraw his spiritual sense, Zhao Wuji suddenly asked, "Master Long, have you received an invitation to the Yong'an Auction House auction on Saturday?"

"Received. Why, Mr. Zhao, are you interested?"

"We will go. At that time, we will also need to ask Master Long to 'take a look' at it."

"Sure, sure..."

Chen Yu turned and left, already having made his decision. It seemed that not only the Heavenly Dao Alliance, but also local Hong Kong cultivators might be present at the auction. The situation was more complicated than he had anticipated.

It was already 10 p.m. when they returned to the hotel. Su Man and Taoist Jingxu were already waiting in the room, both of them looking rather unwell.

"Mr. Chen, something's happened." Su Man spoke first. "Someone tried to break into my bank safe last night. The security system was triggered, but they didn't catch the culprit."

"Me too," said the Taoist priest Jingxu in a deep voice. "Xuanmiao Temple was burgled last night, and my room was ransacked. Although nothing was stolen, it was clear they were after the Seven Star Key."

Chen Yu's eyes turned cold: "It seems Zhao Wuji is not only putting pressure on us directly, but also searching us secretly. Fortunately, we were prepared." He paused, "They should know about the auction. Now we'll see if they'll take the bait."

"What if they don't take the bait?" Suman asked.

"They will go," Chen Yu said confidently. "A man like Zhao Wuji would rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free. Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, he'll personally go to confirm."

Taoist Jingxu nodded: "Then what preparations should we make?"

"Three things," Chen Yu said, holding up a finger. "First, on the day of the auction, we'll enter separately, pretending we don't know each other. Second, I've already asked Ghost Hand Zhang to make a high-quality replica; with the enhancement of the simulation talisman, it will be indistinguishable from the real thing. Third..." He took out a bursting energy powder and a binding talisman from his bag, "You each take a copy of these pills and talismans, just in case."

After distributing the equipment, Su Man suddenly said, "There's one more thing. I found out through family connections that the Heavenly Alliance may have sent more than just Zhao Wuji's team to Hong Kong this time."

"What do you mean?"

"News from Taiwan indicates that three teams from the Heavenly Dao Alliance's Foreign Affairs Department recently left Taiwan, all heading to Hong Kong and Macau. Zhao Wuji is only the leader of one of the teams. The whereabouts of the other two... are unknown."

Chen Yu's heart sank. If there were two more groups lurking in the shadows, the situation would be even more dangerous.

"Can you find out the targets of the other two teams?"

Su Man shook her head: "The Heavenly Alliance has a strict hierarchy. Only the Hall Master and Elders know about the actions of the Foreign Affairs Hall. My family's connections can only get me this much information."

The Taoist priest Jingxu suddenly said, "I have a guess. There are seven Seven Star Keys in total, and Zhao Wuji is looking for the ones we have. Could the other two teams be looking for the other scattered keys?"

"Possibly," Chen Yu pondered, "but in any case, we must deal with the immediate trouble first. The auction will proceed as planned, and afterwards..." He looked out the window, "I need to go back to Beijing."

"Back to Beijing?" Su Man asked in surprise. "At this time?"

"I have personal matters to attend to and must return." Chen Yu didn't elaborate. "I'll leave things in Hong Kong to you two. I'll deal with the aftermath of the Heavenly Alliance when I get back."

After seeing the two off, Chen Yu stood by the window, gazing at the Hong Kong night view. Beneath the city's glitz and glamour lay too many secrets and dangers. But he had no way back; he could only move forward.

Qin Huairu and her child were waiting for him.

The threat posed by the Heavenly Alliance must be dealt with.

The path of spiritual practice must continue.

He took out his pocket watch and checked the time—there were still sixty-two hours until the auction.

There are still nine days until I return to Beijing.

Every minute is as precious as gold.

Even as night deepens, Hong Kong's lights remain dazzling.

A covert battle has quietly begun.