Dao of Money

The tension in the tea shop was thick, like a brewing storm. Every customer had turned their heads toward the corner where two young women stood, faces flushed and voices raised. Even the server paused mid-pour, eyes darting between the arguing girls, afraid that one wrong move might escalate things further. Chen Ren felt the movement— the shift of all those eyes as he wove through the maze of chairs and tables, making his way toward the commotion.

Now, their eyes were on him. They were watching as if he was crazy to run into the middle of that fight— he swiped his eyes all over just once and focused on where he was headed.

Why were they even fighting?

As he got closer, the nature of their argument became clearer, though their words were tangled in shouts and indignation. But the sudden realisation struck him, stopping him in his tracks. The source of their fury? It was a romance book— his romance book.

One of the girls, her face scrunched up in a righteous scowl, jabbed a finger toward the other. She was tall–tall enough to intimidate the shorter girl with purple hair. But it wasn’t her height that gave her the upper hand, it was her eyes, they were sharp as a knife as they bore onto the shorter woman.

The shorter woman flinched at her words when she spoke.

“The main protagonist deserved to die! He turned his back on his sect— his sect! And don’t forget, he had a childhood fiancée! Think of how she would have felt, abandoned just because he got some foolish ideas in his head about love. It was betrayal, plain and simple.”

Her opponent, eyes wide with passion, crossed her arms and shook her head vigorously. “You just don’t get it, Yun Qiao! You are not even trying to understand— that’s what real love is about! He went against everything, even the rules of his own world, for her! That’s why the book is beautiful! That’s why it’s right! You can’t say it’s wrong just because it’s unconventional!”

Yun Qiao scoffed, hands on her hips, chin raised. “If it was truly the right path, Mei Lian, then the heavens wouldn’t have punished them. You think his suffering was a coincidence? That’s fate correcting a mistake!”

Chen Ren paused a few paces away, his lips twitching into a wry smile.He had written that book mostly as a way to gain access to the herbal books and bestiary, never imagining it would spark this kind of fervour. Sure, he had heard about the book catching some steam lately, and Qing He had also reluctantly let him borrow a second book from her collection due to his rising popularity. But he certainly hadn’t expected it to be the cause of a full-blown argument between two budding cultivators.

Not just any argument, one that looked like it could turn into a duel anytime sooner.

Clearing his throat, he let out a small, deliberate cough to catch their attention. When their heated debate halted for a moment, he stepped in with a polite smile. “Ah, excuse me, but perhaps I could offer my perspective on this matter?”

Both girls whipped their heads toward him, looking him up and down with disdain. “And just who do you think you are?” Yun Qiao girl snapped, crossing her arms tighter. “We’re having a serious discussion here, so scram!”

The other girl nodded, frowning at him as if he’d just suggested something utterly ridiculous. “Yeah, get lost! This is between us!”

Chen Ren’s smile faltered for a moment, and he scratched the back of his head, unsure f he should laugh or be exasperated. He had dealt with many things since starting his little noodle stall, but being dismissed from a debate about his own work was a new one.

Soon, they went back to their back and forth argument, almost as if he was invisible.

Chen Ren’s smile tightened as he noticed the two girls’ irritation rising again, their voices straining with each heated word.

With another glance around the tea shop, he saw how uncomfortable most people seemed, watching the argument unfold like a slow-motion disaster.

Some people even attempted to close their ears so they could focus on the book splayed open in front of them. Only a few watched with curiosity and excitement while sipping their tea as if using their argument as entertainment.

A sigh threatened to escape Chen Ren’s lips but instead, he raised his hand slightly, trying to keep his tone calm but firm. “Your serious discussion is making the other customers uncomfortable, and you’re one misstep away fro breaking something in the shop.”

“And who are you to represent everyone here?” Yin Qiao asked loudly.

A small silence followed her question.

“No one to everyone here, but my name is Chen Ren.”

The girl in question opened her mouth, clearly ready to snap at him again, but then she froze, her eyes widening in sudden recognition. “Wait... did you just say Chen Ren? As in... Chen Ren, the one who wrote ‘Liang Shan and Hua Yun?’”

Chen Ren gave a small, humble nod. “Yes, that’s me. And I must admit, I couldn’t help myself from coming over when I realised you were discussing my book with such passion.”

Both girls stared at him, mouths slightly agape. The shorter one among the duo— Mei Lian, visibly fidgeting her fingers as she continued to stare at him. A few awkward seconds ticked by before she cleared her throat loudly. Her face flushed with excitement and she gestured to an empty chair at their table. “Would you like to join us? We, um, have a lot of questions.”

Chen Ren accepted the offer with a nod, pulling out the chair and settling into it. The tense atmosphere softened as he took his seat, and the other patrons in the shop resumed their conversations, though many kept a curious eye on the corner.

As soon as he sat down, the questions came tumbling out.

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Yun Qiao leaned forward eagerly, the earlier sharpness in her voice replaced by genuine curiosity. “I just have to know— when the protagonist left his sect for the girl, that wasn’t a heart demon forming in him, was it?”

Chen Ren shook his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “No, it wasn’t. It was love of the purest kind. Yes, he had conflicts about going against his sect, but he was following the core tenet of his clan— to always follow his heart as long as he believed he was in the right. And don’t forget, the female lead was going to be sacrificed by her own elders. For him, saving her was justified.”

Yun Qiao bit her lip, mulling over his words, while Mei Lian chimed in with a hopeful tone. “So, the true essence of the book is about true love, right?

Chen Ren smiled, but internally, he was frowning. If he was honest, he hadn’t thought a ton about the story and added whatever tropes he could fit into it while taking the core plot from Earth’s classic story. If he had actually thought about the essence or themes of the book, he wouldn’t be able to complete it in three days.

But now, as those two pairs of eyes waited for him carefully, he pulled himself out of the trance and decided to do one thing he was good at— Bullshitting!

“There are many themes in the story, and they intertwine, depending on which characters you focus on. But if I were to sum it up, it’s also about how ancient rivalries—those that have gone on for centuries, often without anyone remembering how they even began— can end up destroying the younger generation. The protagonist’s love story is just one way that theme plays out.”

As he spoke, he noticed more girls drawing closer, their faces glowing with curiosity. They pulled up chairs or simply sat on the edges of nearby tables, inching closer, eyes bright with enthusiasm. Before he knew it, several of them were leaning in, some even placing their hands on his arm as they bombarded him with questions about plot twists, character motivations, and hidden meanings in his story.

Chen Ren kept up with their excitement, answering each question with a smile, though he couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by the sudden attention. He had always imagined his writing might reach people, but he never thought it would turn a quiet afternoon into a bustling discussion circle in the middle of a tea shop.

As time drifted on, Chen Ren found himself in a situation he could only describe as… serendipitous.

The small gathering of curious readers had turned into a full-on fan club, with young, pretty girls hanging on his every word. They crowded around him, leaning in with eager faces, their questions coming faster than he could answer. Before long, more snacks appeared on the table— someone had even brought over a plate of freshly steamed dumplings, insisting he try them.

One particularly bold girl held a dumpling up to his lips with a shy smile, urging him to take a bite while she asked about a certain plot twist. “So, when the protagonist’s qi shattered after the betrayal, was that a symbol for—”

Chen Ren managed a muffled answer as he accepted the dumpling, unable to stop a bemused grin from spreading across his face.

He had expected a few interested readers, maybe some debates or even criticism, but this sudden celebrity treatment was a pleasant surprise. For a moment, he wondered if today the goddess of luck had decided to bless him, showering him with this unexpected charm. Not that he was about to complain— no, he was thoroughly enjoying every bit of attention, basking in the admiration.

He simply wanted to drink tea, answer questions and eat the girl’s dumplings.

But amid the laughter and chatter, his gaze strayed over to the tea shop counter, where Qing He stood watching. Her expression was... complicated— a blend of exasperation, disbelief, and something he could only describe as begrudging amusement. It was as if she couldn’t decide whether to scold him or be proud that her tea shop was now buzzing with so much energy.

Perched beside her on the counter, the amber-eyed cat lounged, her tail flicking lazily. But as soon as their eyes met, her whiskers twitched, and he heard a familiar, dry voice slip directly into his thoughts. “It seems like there’s a reason why you took over Chen Ren’s body. Both of you are more than capable of handling a few girls at a time.”

Chen Ren barely stopped himself from choking on the dumpling, managing to maintain his outward composure even as he grimaced internally. He shot Yalan a look of annoyance, but deep down, he couldn’t deny that a part of him was revelling in the unexpected turn of events.

Focus, he told himself, even as he felt a little rush of pride. He returned his attention to the girls, offering a polished response to yet another question about his protagonist’s moral dilemmas. Yet, in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, there were some perks to his new life after all.

***

Days flew by as Tang Yuqiu established a small production workshop for their perfume venture, working closely with Chen Ren to get everything just right. She carefully selected a few of her most trusted aides, and together, they set up the process to craft their scents.

They spent long evenings deciding on the different kinds of perfumes they would sell, pricing strategies, and the best way to package the final product. Given the high cost of glass, they chose to go with elegant wooden bottles adorned with intricate engravings. Each bottle bore both the Tang Clan name and Chen Ren’s sect mark— a golden coin with the face of a dragon, the same beast Chen Ren had seen during his deep connection with his dao. Even though he hadn’t officially registered his sect or chosen a name, the symbol felt like a natural choice.

After several days of tiring, but systematic process, Chen Ren and Tang Yuqiu met in the workshop to inspect the first batch of perfumes ready for the market.

As he picked up a bottle, he admired the craftsmanship. The wooden casing was smooth to the touch, engraved with detailed patterns of flowing clouds and waves, with the dragon coin symbol subtly etched on one side and the Tang Clan emblem on the other. The scent he opened was named Feng Hua— Opulent Breeze, a fresh blend of herbs and light floral notes, capturing the essence of a crisp morning in the mountains, but also a hint of luxurious mysteriousness from the fragrance of the Martha Wood he used.

He took a deep breath, savouring the fragrance, and then glanced at Yuqiu with a satisfied nod. “It looks good. I believe it’ll be a big hit.”

Yuqiu crossed her arms, a small smile playing on her lips. “I believe so too. We’ve already gotten the permit, but I don’t think it will be as easy as you’re imagining, even with us selling it at such low prices.”

Chen Ren raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

She sighed, leaning against the workbench. “The winds in the business world are shifting, and the existing players have already caught a whiff of our plans. Since I’m part of the Tang Clan, they’re keeping a close eye on us. And if we start taking a big chunk out of the market with such affordable prices, they’re not going to take it lightly.”

Chen Ren considered her words for a moment before replying, “But there won’t be any trouble from the sects. They don’t have partnerships in the perfume trade. They simply provide the resources.”

Yuqiu nodded in agreement. “Yes, but the businesses themselves— families like the Cang Clan and the Bai Hu Trade Association— are not easy to go against. They’ve dominated the market for years.”

He offered a reassuring smile. “We’re already doing everything we can to protect ourselves. Are you sticking to the precautions I suggested?”

She met his gaze firmly. “I am.”

“Then we’ll be fine,” he said, confidence in his tone. “For now, our focus should be on marketing. That’s what will make the difference.”

Yuqiu tilted her head, curious. “Do you have any ideas for that?”

Chen Ren’s eyes gleamed with excitement as a plan took shape in his mind. “Yeah, a few things. The more I thought it through, the clearer the marketing strategy became. I believe you’ll like it. Let me tell you about it…”

Chen Ren took a step forward while Yuqiu drew a smile on her face that showed how she already trusted him, before he could complete the plan in his mind.

***

A/N - Sorry for the delay, been busy with my brother’s wedding.