From the Qin Dynasty onwards, he eked out a living among the heavens.

Chapter Eight: Transactions

As the sun climbed high in the sky, the morning mist completely dissipated.

Warm light bathed the entire backyard of Zilan Pavilion, the bluestone bricks shimmering with warmth, and the orchids in the garden swayed gently in the breeze, their delicate fragrance washing away the lingering chill and hostility from the earlier martial arts confrontation.

Wei Zhuang, who was standing under the eaves, did not step forward again.

He stood silently for a long time, his five fingers gripping the hilt of the Shark Tooth Sword tightly, his fingertips turning white against the blade. His arrogant and cold aura was deeply ingrained in his bones and blood. In the end, he left only a cold and aloof figure before turning and disappearing into the depths of the corridor.

The outcome was still undecided, the obsession remained, yet there was no intention to make another move.

The courtyard fell completely silent.

Nongyu stood by her side with her hands hanging down, her posture gentle and quiet, not saying a word, just quietly enjoying the warm sunshine and the aroma of tea in the courtyard.

Before the stone table, Zi Nu glanced in the direction Wei Zhuang had left, then turned her gaze back to Xu Huang, her probing intent still lingering. This stranger before her was far too insightful, so insightful that he seemed detached from all the turmoil and intrigue in Xinzheng, neither competing, vying, climbing, nor attaching himself to anything, yet possessing unfathomable martial arts skills and a profound vision, making him all the more enigmatic.

Xu Huang picked up the slightly cool teacup, took a small sip, his expression calm and unwavering, showing no trace of the turmoil he had just experienced during the martial arts debate.

After a moment of silence, he spoke first, his tone calm and gentle, without a trace of utilitarianism or urgency:

"Miss Zi Nu, I have a deal I'd like to discuss with you."

Zi Nu raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised: "A trade? Young Master, you remain an outsider, seemingly without desire or ambition. I'm curious, what could you possibly possess that would be worth exchanging with Zi Lan Xuan?"

In her eyes, Xu Huang was indifferent, seemingly without needs or desires, and should be detached from worldly affairs, and would never easily make deals with others.

Xu Huang put down his teacup, his gaze calm and composed:

"I have several ancient prescriptions."

His voice was soft, yet every word was spoken with composure.

"This is the culmination of my life's wanderings, extensive reading of ancient texts, and years of arduous practice. It is specifically designed for martial artists to strengthen their bodies, solidify their foundations, cleanse their meridians, and nourish their health. It is divided into two categories: external training for body tempering and internal cultivation for vital energy. It is tailored to different cultivation paths, gently strengthening the foundation without the drawback of violent backlash."

The goddess Zi's expression straightened slightly, and she composed herself.

In chaotic times, martial arts are revered, but a secret formula that can truly nourish one's foundation and strengthen one's nature without causing harm is extremely rare and hard to find.

Martial artists of this era mostly emphasize killing techniques and brute force, neglecting the art of medicine and health preservation. Martial arts and medicine may seem similar, but they are actually distinct. Ordinary martial artists only know how to train hard and fight, but they don't know how to regulate their qi and blood or repair hidden injuries. As they get older, they become riddled with ailments and find it difficult to achieve great heights.

But Xu Huang was different.

He spent half his life traveling across mountains and rivers, practicing the profound ways of the physical body, and gaining a profound understanding of the human body's texture, the flow of qi and blood, and the balance of tendons and bones.

The essence of martial arts, when taken to its deepest level, is the ultimate control over one's own physical body.

Years of honing his skills, recuperating, strengthening his foundation, and healing his injuries have allowed him to naturally grasp the principles of medicine and the I Ching. In addition, his extensive study of lost ancient texts and his years of self-study of pharmacology have given him a far greater understanding of meridian-based medicinal diets and strengthening the body's foundation than that of ordinary doctors and martial artists of his time.

These prescriptions were all personally refined and repeatedly improved by him, eliminating their harshness and correcting their imbalances, making them the most suitable secret medicines for long-term use by martial artists in chaotic times.

Each one is a priceless treasure, enough to make even the most powerful figures in the martial arts world fight tooth and nail for it.

Xu Huang looked at Zi Nu and slowly continued:

"Martial artists in chaotic times often suffer from hidden injuries, weakness, and unstable foundations. My formulas can help those who practice external martial arts to nourish their bones and strengthen their skin without harming their vital essence, and can also help those who cultivate internal martial arts to nourish their blood and qi and stabilize their foundation. Ordinary people can also improve their health, prolong their life, and reduce the incidence of diseases by taking them for a long time."

Having said this, he slightly raised the corners of his lips and added a meaningful, understated remark, his voice so soft that only the two of them could hear it:

"The prescription and pharmacology are all in my mind. Adjusting or subtracting them is just a matter of a thought. If I slightly modify the properties of the medicine or change an auxiliary ingredient, I can remove the effects of martial arts and health cultivation and turn it into a secret private recipe to enhance pleasure and warm the body. A place like Zilan Pavilion is most suitable for this. It is quiet and unnoticed, and the profits are enormous. Outsiders will not notice it at all."

Zi Nu's eyes suddenly flickered.

She was so perceptive that she instantly understood the deeper meaning behind Xu Huang's words.

Ordinary tonics are ultimately just proper supplements.

But what brothels and pleasure houses lack most is this kind of gentle, secret, harmless, and only pleasurable concoction.

This item cannot be openly circulated in the martial arts world, but Zilan Pavilion is uniquely privileged. By leveraging its own customer base and connections with powerful figures, it can be transformed into a secret tool for accumulating wealth.

Silent, secretive, sure to make money, no harm done.

This is no longer the value of an ordinary ancient prescription; it is a continuous, hidden foundation.

Xu Huang remained calm and continued:

"Zilanxuan is located in the bustling city of Xinzheng, and its guests come from all walks of life, including the powerful, the wandering knights, and the martial artists."

"This formula is now in your hands. You can legally sell martial arts tonic soups, and privately prepare exclusive warming concoctions. You don't need to bother with publicity; people will be scrambling to get it. Sales channels and connections are never a problem for Zilan Pavilion."

Zi Nu's gaze hardened; she had fully grasped the weight of this bargaining chip in her heart. She raised her eyes and asked earnestly:

"What does the young master desire?"

There is no such thing as a free gift in the world. Since it is a transaction, there must be give and take.

Xu Huang's gaze was calm as he slowly stated his conditions. His requests were simple, yet all were necessary for his long-term cultivation:

"I ask for little, only three things."

"Firstly, I collect all kinds of rare herb seeds and seedlings, the more obscure and ancient the better. I have been practicing martial arts and cultivating myself for many years, and I am used to cultivating herbs and regulating my qi and blood. It has long been a habit."

He has spent half his life cultivating, focusing solely on accumulating martial arts skills and refining his resources, concentrating on body training and qi cultivation, and never deliberately pursuing worldly wealth and power. Along the way, he has quietly accumulated cultivation resources and honed his foundation. Now, he has simply seized the opportunity to make up for what he needs.

"Secondly, a moderate amount of gold and silver. I have never been good at accumulating wealth, which makes it inconvenient to travel around. I only need enough for my daily lodging and to purchase materials. I do not seek to be rich and powerful."

"Thirdly, I need a secluded, quiet place with pure natural energy, where few people go. It should be free from visitors and noise, a place where I can retreat into seclusion to cultivate myself and forge weapons."

Upon hearing this, Nongyu, who had been standing quietly to the side, gently raised her eyes, a hint of surprise flashing across them. In the past, she had only noticed that this person's martial arts were unfathomable and his vision far surpassed that of ordinary people; she had never imagined that he was also knowledgeable in sword forging.

Zi Nu was also slightly surprised and asked softly, "Young Master, you actually know the art of weapon forging and sword making?"

"On the path of arduous cultivation, weapons are your constant companions; over time, you will naturally grasp the intricacies of it," Xu Huang replied casually, offering no further explanation.

Zi Nu lightly tapped the stone table with her fingertips, pondered for a moment, and slowly answered:

"The first two things are not difficult to handle. I have people I've placed in charge of all the pharmacies, large and small, inside and outside Xinzheng City, as well as the herbalists who go into the mountains to collect herbs. All kinds of rare herbs and sufficient gold and silver can be prepared and delivered within three days. However, the third thing is a bit more difficult. Zilanxuan is located in the most prosperous market area of ​​the city, surrounded by continuous houses and a constant flow of people. There are also maids and guests coming and going in various places in the courtyard on weekdays. It is impossible to find a completely quiet place where one can retreat to forge and meditate."

She paused briefly, then offered a safe and feasible solution:

"However, I have another private residence outside the city, some distance from the main city's bustling area. It's located in a quiet river bend on the outskirts, surrounded by woods, and rarely visited. Inside, there's an old forging kiln, complete with a stone furnace and ventilation tunnels. The soil is thick and the energy is stable, perfect for forging weapons and meditating. That residence is usually looked after by an old servant, and no one visits it except for me and Wei Zhuang. If you're willing, young master, you can use that place entirely."

Xu Huang nodded slightly upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "This place is excellent. As long as no one disturbs us, it suits my taste perfectly."

A calm smile played on Zi Nu's lips as she readily agreed.

"Alright. Zilanxuan will accept this deal."

"Rare medicinal herbs and sufficient gold and silver, I will immediately instruct my men to prepare them. I will have the key to the house in the river bend on the outskirts of the city delivered to you later. All the materials needed for the kiln, such as charcoal and refractory stone, will be regularly delivered to the gate outside the courtyard by my old servant. I will never enter without permission to disturb your quiet cultivation and sword forging."

"From this day forward, whatever the young master needs, Zilan Pavilion will provide."

Once the deal was agreed upon, the transaction was completed.

Under the sunlight, Xu Huang nodded slightly, a faint glint of light flashing in his eyes that went unnoticed.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the source of his confidence in honing his skills and quietly accumulating martial arts resources was never limited to worldly herbs and weapon-forging grounds.

Deep within his soul, where no one could see, lay an extraordinary and unpredictable opportunity.

A wisp of innate, undying spiritual light, dormant for years and evolving day and night, quietly condensed into a unique primordial space treasure belonging to him.

The martial arts will of "Landscape as Beautiful as a Painting," which he gained from enlightenment in the past, is rooted in his soul and encompasses the mountains, rivers, and the trends of the wind and clouds.

The spatial treasure is the foundation, and the mountains and rivers are the form.

The two blend together day and night, subtly influencing each other, slowly deducing, outlining, and taking shape in the realm of the ethereal Dao, transforming into a unique, still-nascent, nascent landscape of mountains and rivers.

This is the true source of his confidence in navigating turbulent times, cultivating himself diligently, and remaining calm and composed despite not competing or vying for power.

The secular prescriptions were merely a small bargaining chip for him to exchange for resources for spiritual practice and to keep a low profile.

Looking at the composed and indifferent young man before her, Zi Nu was filled with mixed emotions.

The chess game in Xinzheng is rife with undercurrents. Ji Wuye wields immense power in the court, the Han court is riddled with deep-seated problems, and the various schools of thought are stirring up trouble.

People in the world pursue profit, power, fame, and hegemony.

Xu Huang alone, possessing unfathomable depth, remained focused on self-cultivation amidst the bustling marketplace, seeking only steady progress.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Zi Nu had other matters to attend to and took her leave.

Only Xu Huang and Nongyu remained in the courtyard. With everything settled, Xu Huang turned to the gentle and quiet woman standing beside him and softly asked, "Everything is settled. Miss Nongyu, would you please play a tune for me on your zither?"

Upon hearing this, Nongyu's eyes warmed slightly, and she gently curtsied, saying, "Since you wish to hear it, young master, I will play it for you."

The two walked together into the quiet Qin Pavilion at the back. Thin curtains hung down inside, blocking out the hustle and bustle of the street. An ancient zither lay horizontally on the table. Nongyu sat calmly in front of the zither, her fair hands gently touching the strings. The melodious and gentle music flowed out slowly, soothing the tension and hostility that had been hidden during their discussion of martial arts and business.

The fragrance of orchids drifted in through the cracks in the window, while the sound of the zither lingered. Xu Huang sat quietly to one side, listening with his eyes closed, leaving behind all the trivial matters of court intrigue, forging, and alchemy, savoring only this moment of peace and tranquility.