Chapter 52: Companions

"This is a small, independent residence with two floors and a private courtyard," the innkeeper's assistant said enthusiastically. "The view is delightful, and the surroundings are tranquil. What do you think?"

Xiao Chen nodded approvingly. The secluded environment suited his needs perfectly. After dismissing the assistant, he entered the small building and closed the door behind him.

The decor inside was refined and elegant, with antique furniture and lush green potted plants. Though the plants were not rare or exotic, their presence was soothing. Xiao Chen's sharp senses detected no immediate danger, but as a precaution, he released his spiritual sense to thoroughly scan the premises. Satisfied there were no hidden threats, he activated a defensive talisman, which flashed briefly before becoming invisible.

Once everything was secured, Xiao Chen couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes. It was time to assess his spoils.

Emptying his storage bag, the room filled with a cascade of treasures—spiritual stones, magical artifacts, elixirs, and jade slips. The sight was dazzling. "Even among Foundation Establishment cultivators, few would have amassed such wealth!" he thought, pride swelling in his chest.

Among his haul, magical artifacts stood out as the most valuable. Even a low-grade artifact could fetch hundreds of spirit stones in the market, while mid-grade ones were worth thousands and often scarce. After tallying his spoils, he had dozens of artifacts, including three of the highest quality. Excited, Xiao Chen set aside the finest artifacts for closer inspection.

The first was a silken ribbon. It could expand and contract at will, effectively entangling an opponent's weapons. Despite its impressive utility, its feminine design made it unsuitable for Xiao Chen's use, so he set it aside.

The second was a blood-red saber that emanated a faint, sinister aura. Its blade seemed to cry with ghostly wails. Though powerful, it clearly belonged to the demonic path. As a righteous cultivator, Xiao Chen couldn't risk the trouble it might bring and decided against it.

The third artifact, however, caught his attention. It was a simple black ring that seemed unremarkable at first glance. But upon testing it, Xiao Chen discovered that it could unleash an incredibly sharp Xīngēng Sword Qi when infused with spiritual energy. The attack was not only deadly but also subtle, perfect for catching an opponent off guard. "A weapon for ambush and deception," Xiao Chen thought, slipping the ring onto his finger with a satisfied grin.

Satisfied with his artifact selection, Xiao Chen turned his attention to his other treasures. He sorted the spiritual stones into neat piles: 180,000 lower-grade stones, over a thousand mid-grade stones, and two precious high-grade stones he had recovered from a puppeteer. He stored the stones carefully in a separate storage bag.

As for talismans, Xiao Chen set aside several high-grade ones for emergencies, leaving the lower-grade talismans in a separate bag.

"Hmm? What's this?" Xiao Chen murmured, pulling out a seemingly unremarkable talisman. It was old and yellowed, with a simple drawing of a small sword on its surface.

He squinted at it, trying to recall where he had seen something similar. A sudden memory struck him, and he retrieved a jade box containing another talisman he had acquired from the black-robed man outside the market. The two talismans shared a peculiar simplicity and an aura of hidden depth. "These aren't ordinary," Xiao Chen concluded, carefully storing them together.

After categorizing his pills and jade slips, Xiao Chen began meditating to recover from the exertion. The spoils were thrilling, but the need for vigilance remained.

The next morning, Xiao Chen stepped out into the courtyard as the first light of dawn bathed the world in a gentle glow. Despite the thin spiritual energy in the mortal realm, the fresh air and serene environment brought him a rare sense of peace.

Standing amidst the rejuvenated greenery, he felt a pang of nostalgia. "It's been a year since I left my village. I'm no longer the carefree boy I once was but a cultivator on the treacherous path to immortality."

A quiet creak pulled him from his reverie. Turning, he saw a familiar figure emerging from another guesthouse: the young man from the inn, who now greeted him with a playful smile.

"Good morning, my scholarly friend!" the young man, Li Xiaoyi, called out cheerfully. "Up early to enjoy the morning dew? How refined!"

"Good morning," Xiao Chen replied with a slight nod, his tone calm but polite. His spiritual senses picked up a faint trace of spiritual energy from Li Xiaoyi, suggesting he was a fellow cultivator. Xiao Chen chose not to probe further, as Li Xiaoyi seemed uninterested in revealing his identity.

"I'm Li Xiaoyi, from Northern Huazhou," the young man introduced himself with a grin.

"Xiao Chen," he replied simply, offering his real name without hesitation.

Li Xiaoyi's eyes lit up. "Xiao Chen! A fine name! We seem to get along quite well, Brother Xiao. What say you to breakfast together?"

Xiao Chen hesitated briefly before agreeing with a faint smile. "Very well."

The two shared a pleasant meal, chatting amiably. Li Xiaoyi, seemingly charmed by Xiao Chen's reserved demeanor, began calling him "Big Brother Xiao" and eagerly offered to accompany him on his travels.

After some polite refusals, Xiao Chen finally relented. The two set off together, their camaraderie belying the fact that they had only met the day before.

Outside the city gates, a caravan of merchants and travelers gathered to form a convoy.

"Everyone, listen up!" an elderly man at the front addressed the crowd. "The roads ahead have been dangerous recently with bandits and thieves running rampant. Staying together improves our odds of safety. Watch out for one another, and don't act cowardly if trouble arises. Let's move out!"

The caravan, consisting of five merchant groups and over three hundred travelers, began its journey in a long, winding line.

"Brother Xiao, look over there." Li Xiaoyi gestured subtly.

Xiao Chen followed his gaze and spotted a familiar face among the caravan: Wang Ziyang, his expression dark with resentment.

Shaking his head, Xiao Chen sighed. "Let's not stir up trouble. Ignore him."

Li Xiaoyi chuckled and followed suit, falling in line with Xiao Chen.

By midday, Xiao Chen and Li Xiaoyi were seated on a merchant's cart, chatting idly as the caravan moved along. Opposite them sat a merchant assistant and another traveler, both quiet but observant. The journey, for now, was uneventful, but Xiao Chen's instincts told him that trouble wasn't far behind.