This household belonged to a prominent textile merchant in Hanshan City, and the servant was just an ordinary person. Faced with an imposing cultivator clad in a chestplate that had clearly seen battle, his back instinctively bent in deference. Taking the envelope with both hands, the servant bowed deeply and said humbly to Du Rong, "Yes, yes, of course! I will immediately inform my master. Please, esteemed guests, wait here for a moment..."
As he spoke, he caught sight of the snow-covered street out of the corner of his eye and instinctively slapped himself lightly. Then, bowing even lower, he quickly corrected himself, "Please, esteemed guests, do come inside and wait. This way, please."
Without a word, Chen Xiao and Du Rong stepped through the main entrance.
The servant dared not delay and ran straight toward the main courtyard. His reckless sprint earned him an immediate scolding from the steward.
"Ridiculous! Running around like that, what kind of behavior is this?!"
On any other day, the servant would have stammered out apologies in fear, but now he ignored the reprimand and thrust the envelope forward. "Steward! Look quickly! A cultivator has arrived at the door with a noble young master, saying they've come to visit the master!"
The steward's expression tightened. He snatched the envelope without further reprimand, though he did not dare to open it. Just feeling the quality of the paper was enough to tell him it was the kind only the wealthy could afford.
Normally, he would have greeted guests on behalf of the master and escorted them to the main hall. But upon hearing that one of the visitors was a cultivator, he hesitated. If only the steward came out to welcome them, it might be seen as disrespectful.
Turning back to the servant, he ordered, "Go keep our guests entertained, and do not slight them in any way. I will first present this letter to the master and then personally go to receive them."
The servant nodded hastily. "Understood! Also, the snow is melting outside, and the ground is covered in slush. I dared not let the guests stand at the entrance, so I invited them into the corridor."
Instead of reprimanding him, the steward praised his quick thinking. "For once, you're using your head. Serve them well, and you'll be handsomely rewarded later!"
With that, the steward and the servant split up, each hurrying to their tasks.
At this time of morning, just after breakfast, Master Wang was enjoying a leisurely moment in the tea pavilion, brewing fragrant tea while admiring the snow.
The steward approached at a brisk pace, keeping his voice low but urgent. "Master, a cultivator has arrived at the door with a noble young master, saying they have come to visit."
Master Wang's brows lifted in surprise, and he turned sharply. "What? Do they have a calling card?"
His reaction was understandable. He was no stranger to cultivators, he had dealt with them before, but for one to visit his home in person? That had never happened before.
In Hanshan City, cultivators could often be seen walking through the streets, yet ordinary people rarely interacted with them. It was much like how, in ancient times, commoners in the capital might catch glimpses of nobles but would never dare to approach them. A natural divide existed between their worlds.
Though Master Wang was a prominent figure in the textile industry, in the grand scheme of Hanshan City, he was insignificant. With an entire mountain of power above him, businessmen like him could only keep their heads down and exist quietly. For someone from that lofty world to suddenly visit his home, how could he not be shocked?
The steward presented the envelope. "They did not bring a calling card, but they delivered this letter."
Master Wang's expression grew solemn as he accepted the envelope. As he opened it, a faint, cool fragrance wafted from the paper.
The letter began with a polite salutation: "Dear Brother," followed by: "It has been many years since our last meeting…"
At first glance, nothing seemed amiss. The words carried a tone of familiarity, as though written by an old acquaintance reminiscing about past times spent together.
But as Master Wang continued reading, he frowned. The experiences described did not match his own. Confused, he flipped the envelope over and realized, his name was not written on it at all.
A suspicion arose in his mind. This letter was likely not meant for him. Yet, since he had already opened it, he decided to finish reading.
The first half was filled with pleasantries, but the latter portion got straight to the point stunning him.
The letter described how the sender had met a remarkable individual skilled in geomantic techniques, who had blessed his property and turned his business into a thriving success. This cultivator had since provided Feng Shui consultations for many wealthy merchants, with astonishing results. After much effort, the sender had managed to befriend this extraordinary person. Now, the cultivator was traveling and had arrived at the recipient's location. The letter urged the recipient not to miss this rare opportunity, emphasizing that the sender was acting entirely in his best interest.
The underlying message was clear: Our friendship has brought you this fortune. Don't hesitate, seize the chance!
At the bottom of the letter was an official seal, one typically used by wealthy merchants for notarized documents. It was as credible as a personal signature, making forgery nearly impossible.
Master Wang stared at the seal for a long moment. Then, with newfound urgency, he rose to his feet and strode toward the main entrance, the steward following closely behind.
Right now, he had only one thought, he didn't care whether the visitor had come to the wrong house. With such an opportunity before him, he would be a fool to admit it!
This letter, in truth, had been written by Pang Hemu before Chen Xiao had even left.
His intention was simple, to bring business to Chen Xiao. If everything went well, this would be Chen Xiao's first major deal in the capital, helping him establish his reputation.
And Chen Xiao, upon learning that Pang Hemu wanted to send him off with such a letter, had deliberately instructed him not to include certain details...
The name on the letter was deliberately vague. If he ultimately couldn't make it to Hanshan City and had to continue developing his business in the capital instead, then this letter would be delivered by Chen Xiao to its intended recipient.
He instructed Pang Hemu not to specify the recipient's name clearly, just in case it might serve another purpose. The lack of a detailed recipient wasn't a big issue, the most crucial part was Pang Hemu's seal at the end. That seal was equivalent to a business card among wealthy merchants, a powerful credential. Seeing such a seal, the recipient would have no further doubts.
That was exactly the case now. Although Boss Wang didn't know Pang Hemu personally, the sight of the seal was enough to convince him halfway. Then, seeing Du Rong standing to the side, exuding a sharp and imposing aura as a bodyguard, and Chen Xiao dressed in Zhiyun brocade, which only the wealthy and influential could afford, Boss Wang was completely convinced. A merchant's seal could be faked, but an Immortal Master and a scion of an aristocratic family wouldn't go to such lengths just to deceive him, they had better things to do.
In this world, people had never considered the possibility that someone might masquerade as a cultivator for personal gain. That was precisely why Chen Xiao could so easily gain entry to Boss Wang's home.
Chen Xiao had anticipated two possible reactions from Boss Wang. One was exactly this, Boss Wang would avoid mentioning that he was approached in error. The other was that he would outright state that Chen Xiao had come to the wrong person. If it had been the latter, it would have taken a bit more effort to explain, but Chen Xiao would still have achieved his goal. This way, however, was far more convenient.
Chen Xiao was invited into the main hall, where Boss Wang courteously offered Du Rong a seat. Du Rong sternly refused, standing behind Chen Xiao with his hands clasped behind his back, maintaining the demeanor of a dutiful and disciplined bodyguard. Seeing Du Rong's reserved stance, Boss Wang grew even more cautious. He carefully served hot tea, offering it to Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao accepted it with one hand, lifted the lid, and took a whiff of the aroma before taking a measured sip. Only after a slow, deliberate nod did he comment, "Good tea."
Boss Wang smiled. "As long as Young Master Chen likes it."
The moment Chen Xiao heard the address, he set the teacup down on the table. The cup made a crisp sound as it touched the surface, not loud, but to Boss Wang, it felt like a boulder dropping to the ground. He tensed up, unsure of how he had offended this noble scion. Bracing himself for an outburst, he was surprised when Chen Xiao simply said in a calm, indifferent tone, "Do not address me as 'Young Master.' Call me Master Chen."
Master? A strange look flashed across Boss Wang's face, but he quickly understood.
The title "Master" was typically used for skilled professionals in a specific trade. For Chen Xiao to insist on this title, it immediately led Boss Wang to speculate.
He was well aware that individuals with spiritual roots but lacking talent would never break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, no matter how hard they cultivated. Such people could only remain as low-level cultivators throughout their lives. They weren't just found in commoner families, many existed in aristocratic households as well. While these families wouldn't completely abandon them, they didn't hold them in high regard either. Once they came of age, their presence in the family was often negligible. Some noble clans were benevolent enough to provide lifelong support, ensuring they never lacked food or shelter. Others, more ruthless, would force them to be independent, leaving them to forge their own paths.
Boss Wang now saw Chen Xiao as one of those overlooked scions, one who, unwilling to rely on his family's wealth, had chosen to strike out on his own.
So he smoothly changed his address. "Master Chen, thank you for delivering my old friend's letter to me. If you don't mind, please stay at my residence for a few days and allow me to host you properly."
Chen Xiao frowned slightly and responded coolly, "No need. Since you already understand my purpose here, let's begin at once. I have other matters to attend to and no time to waste."
Though bluntly refused, Boss Wang took no offense. He knew that aristocratic cultivators often carried this kind of aloofness, straightforward, disinclined to pleasantries, and unwilling to delay matters that could be handled immediately.
What pleased Boss Wang even more was that Chen Xiao, out of respect for the letter's sender, didn't even ask for further confirmation before proceeding with the feng shui assessment of his residence. That felt like a great bargain to Boss Wang, and he wasted no time in inviting Chen Xiao to inspect his home.
Boss Wang's residence was situated at the base of the mountains surrounding Hanshan City and occupied a vast expanse of land. Since he didn't have to share space with neighbors, his estate was built with careful symmetry, a perfectly square compound. Typically, such properties required minimal adjustments, meaning Chen Xiao wouldn't have to do much work.
That was the assumption, until they reached the backyard.
The moment Chen Xiao saw the ground covered in scattered gravel, his expression immediately darkened.