Dao of Money

Chen Ren’s eyes drifted over the vast farmlands that were stretched out before him. He had guessed the situation was bad, but he hadn’t expected to see a sea of buzzing locusts.

Or, perhaps, he couldn’t quite call them that. Though they resembled the crop-eating grasshoppers that plagued farmlands everywhere. They were easily twice—some even thrice—the size of their smaller cousins, their bodies thick with muscle, their wings flicking in erratic movements. Their legs were tipped with sharp claws, and their mandibles gleamed wickedly as they chomped at the crops.

Chen Ren squinted, trying to make sense of the scene. These weren’t just any locusts. These were beasts. What grade, he couldn’t say. But his senses tingled with the unmistakable pressure of power, and he could tell—at the very least, they were solidly in the middle of the body forging realm. He had no doubt they were far more troublesome than the bandit-turned-guard had described.

He narrowed his eyes on the locusts for a while, taking in the massive swarms that covered the crops, flitting about in a chaotic dance of hunger and aggression. One thing that unsettled him was the sheer size of the creatures, and another thing was the way they moved—like soldiers, perfectly coordinated and terrifyingly efficient.

Turning away, he caught sight of the guard bandit again, who was now whispering to an older, burly man. The man stood nearly half a foot taller than the guard, his thick arms bulging under his clothing. As soon as they saw Chen Ren’s eyes on them, both men straightened. The older man moved to bow deeply in respect, but Chen Ren waved his hand to stop him.

”There’s no need for that,” he said. ”I have some questions.”

The old man straightened again, his eyes meeting his. ”Of course, my lord,” he replied. ”I’m the village chief here, Muyang. What is it you wish to know?”

Chen Ren’s gaze flicked back to the locusts, narrowing his eyes. ”When did those locusts first appear?”

The old man paused, clearly troubled by the memory. He raked his hand through his greyed hair, frustration clearly evident in his eyes. He hesitated before answering, as though it still haunted him. ”They came out of nowhere, my lord. About a year ago. At first, we thought it was just a strange season, a few stragglers—nothing to worry about. But then, one day just before the harvest... they came in a swarm. A swarm like no other. They covered the entire farm, like a black tide that swallowed everything. We couldn’t fight them off, no matter what we did. We couldn’t even drive them away.”

Chen Ren’s eyes narrowed further as he studied the man, who then lifted his hand, showing a deep scar along his palm. The scar was spiky, the skin still raw. ”I got this from them. They don’t attack us here, but if we get too close to the crops... they turn on us. All at once.”Chen Ren’s eyebrows raised at that.

“They seem more like beasts than ordinary locusts,” he said. ”I doubt any of you would be able to do anything about them.”

Chief Muyang sighed deeply, a weary, regretful look crossing his face. ”That’s why we sent for a cultivator from the sects,” he explained. His eyes flickered to the guard bandit, then back to Chen Ren, before a pause hung between them. ”I heard from Zi Han that you are a cultivator. Are you the one sent by the sect?”

Chen Ren shook his head. ”No, I wasn’t sent by a sect. I won a plot of land here in a tournament held in Cloud Mist City, and the deed to a good area was awarded to me.” He glanced at Tang Xiulan, who rummaged through her bag before she passed the deed over to him. He took it and handed it to the old man.

He read through it carefully, his eyes scanning each line. As he reached the end, a spark of recognition lit up in his face. ”Yes, this is right. You are indeed the landholder here,” he said, looking back up at Chen Ren. ”Are you going to live here from now on, my lord?”

”I might not be here all the time,” Chen Ren replied, ”but I do plan to set up a place for myself and my people here. It will be more than just a few buildings for various purposes.”

Chief Muyang nodded thoughtfully. ”I understand. Then as the chief of this village, I welcome you to Meadow. If you need anything, my lord, you may come to me. It would be an honor to serve a cultivator such as yourself.”

Chen Ren inclined his head in acknowledgment. ”Thank you, Chief Muyang. I would like you to show me my place first, but on the way, I’d like to discuss something with you.”

The village chief looked at him in surprise. ”What is it, my lord?”

”Just about the bandit activities some members of your village are involved in, and how much you know about it. Based on how you interact with Zi Han, it seems you know more than you let on. I don’t know if they told you, but I met them when they attacked my carriage, with little Yuze, the wolf.”

At the mention of the wolf, the village chief’s face fell, his expression darkening. He glared at the bandit guard standing beside him, fury and guilt flashing in his eyes.

Without warning, the village chief dropped to his knees, his forehead touching the ground in a deep bow.

”Please forgive us, my lord,” he said.

***

Chief Muyang remained on the ground for a long while, his forehead pressed firmly to the earth. It was only after Chen Ren promised that he wasn’t going to kill or cripple anyone that the man relaxed slightly and the weight seemed to be lifted from his shoulders.

The apologies didn’t stop, however. As they moved through the village on their way to Chen Ren’s plot of land, Chief Muyang continued to mutter his regrets.

Chen Ren listened, but his mind was elsewhere. Truthfully, he had thought of punishing the bandits, villagers or not, because what they were doing was wrong. But as he walked through the village and saw the malnourished faces around him—people whose eyes lacked the spark of vitality, children who looked more like shadows than young ones—he reconsidered. His heart softened, if only a little.

A part of him knew what desperation could drive people to do, especially when their lives were so harsh. And while what they were doing was a crime, they hadn’t taken any lives. A punishment, especially for the villagers, would only sour his relationship with them, and that would undermine—ruin the larger plans he had—plans that required the cooperation of many in this village.

Chief Muyang’s continuous words of apology faded into the background as Chen Ren’s mind focused on his own thoughts. He needed this place to work, to run smoothly, and antagonizing them now would set things back.

When they reached the plot of land, the village chief all but rushed to leave, eager to put distance between himself and the tension of the situation. ”If you need anything, my lord, please don’t hesitate to come to me,” he said, before practically running off, as though fleeing from some unseen danger.

The people around them seemed to scatter as well, either out of fear or simply because Chen Ren was there.

He noticed the wary glances thrown his way when they were walking away—eyes that lingered just a little too long, then quickly looked away. The village hadn’t seen many cultivators, and to them, he must have seemed like a rare, dangerous creature—a panda in a sea of mundane life.

But, he didn’t care. He had a task to focus on. The reason he had come here was to inspect his property, and that was exactly what he would do.

He walked toward the plot, the old homes slowly coming into view. It was a far cry from the wide courtyards and rooms of Tang Manor, that much was certain. But it wasn’t bad.

There were three houses in total, all two stories tall, their backsides open for whatever they wanted to do with them.

Chen Ren could see the potential immediately. The land didn’t end there, either. It stretched far beyond, towards the mountains and fields in the distance. If he wanted to, he could build further, creating something that might even resemble a sect’s compound, with towering buildings and expansive courtyards.

But for now, he had to deal with an enemy he never liked—dust. It was everywhere on the houses, thick and persistent.

He looked at the nearest houses and decided to step inside. And just as he did, Yalan entered with the children, her little nose scrunching as she coughed from the dust. She shot him a look, her eyes wide with distaste.

”I can’t live like this,” she declared dramatically. ”I don’t like stuff in my paws.”

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Chen Ren raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling to her, before offering a small smile. ”It’s temporary. We’ll get it all cleaned up.”

Yalan immediately shot a glare at him. ”You’ll get it all cleaned up,” she corrected him firmly, her voice dripping with mock dignity. ”Don’t put me and you together. You can barely clean up your own mess. Imagine cleaning all this.”

Chen Ren chuckled at Yalan’s antics, enjoying the banter, but his thoughts were quickly interrupted as Xiulan entered, looking determined. ”Young master, I can clean it up with the kids and Anji,” she offered, looking at the place with a neutral gaze. If she was repulsed, she didn’t show.

The kids, however, didn’t seem thrilled by the idea. All of their faces soured as they looked around the house. It was clear they weren’t eager to do any labor, and Chen Ren caught their eye.

”One house is okay,” he said. ”But there are three houses here, and you’ll need to set up a production place for our next products. It’ll be too much work for you all.”

Tang Xiulan cleared her throat. ”Then what are we going to do?”

Chen Ren leaned against the dusty wall, eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. ”I’ll get men from the village chief. Those bandits… villagers,” he said, pausing for a beat as he corrected himself, ”They probably have some free time now that we intercepted their attack. I’ll put them to work here.”

Xiulan seemed a bit skeptical. ”Will they agree to it?”

Chen Ren smirked, confident. ”I’d be surprised if they don’t. They’ll see it as a way to earn my forgiveness. And while they’re working, I can inspect the locusts.”

The kids, meanwhile, had wandered off, inspecting the building curiously. Anji was leading the charge, poking her head around corners, while Yalan and the others explored further. Their energy seemed to pick up as they moved through the space, even if they weren’t thrilled about the idea of labor.

After a moment, Yalan seemed to walk back into the conversation, her tone suddenly loud and eager. ”Do you want to solve the problem?” she asked, looking up at Chen Ren with bright eyes.

”Yes, it’s an easy way,” he replied, not missing a beat.

Yalan tilted her head, still curious. ”To do what?”

”Earn their allegiance,” Chen Ren said simply.

Yalan snorted in disbelief. ”Ain’t you being a cultivator enough? These people treat you like a god. Isn’t that enough?”

Chen Ren’s smirk turned into a more thoughtful expression, his gaze flicking back to the village in the distance. ”A god they’re scared of,” he replied quietly.

He knew full well the villagers viewed him as something more than just a man—someone with immense power and potential—but fear was the last thing he wanted to cultivate. He would rather have their respect, their loyalty, not just a shaky reverence that could collapse at the first sign of trouble.

Chen Ren took a deep breath, eyes scanning the land before him. He had always prided himself on using his strength wisely, and he knew that fear would only take him so far.

He had bigger plans—plans that required trust and loyalty, not submission through intimidation. He turned to Yalan. ”Even if I wanted to take the easy route and just order them around, I can’t build something lasting on fear. It will break one day. I need them to see me as a force of good, not just a powerful cultivator who demands their service.”

Yalan’s ears twitched as she processed his words and her paws stretched. She wasn’t one to easily give up a chance for a good verbal fight, but she understood the larger picture.

After a beat, she spoke up. ”Then do you want me to burn the locusts down? I’m pretty sure I can do it.”

”No. That would burn away the ground too and they might run away before we can kill all of them. We’ll have to find another way. But for now,” he glanced around at the group, ”I need something to take my mind off things before we start making our next product and begin recruiting.”

”Recruitment for the sect?” Xiulan asked.

Chen Ren nodded. ”Yeah, we need more men before our next product is ready. I’d like you to stay here—this place needs organization and care, and the kids aren’t old enough to travel. As for Yalan...” He glanced at the feline, who was lounging nearby, seemingly indifferent, ”Well, she’s... a cat to others.” Yalan let out a huff at the comment, but didn’t argue.

Chen Ren turned back to Xiulan, his tone softening. ”That leaves me and Anji. I still need to learn more about her, and we need more people—people who can work for us and help spread our products across the empire.”

With the conversation winding down, Chen Ren shifted his gaze toward the mountains in the distance, stretching his arms to loosen up. His mind was already working ahead. The locusts were just one problem, and he would deal with them soon enough.

”Either way,” he muttered to himself, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. ”It’s time to get some exercise against these beastly locusts.”

***

As Chen Ren had anticipated, Chief Muyang quickly agreed to send men to help clean up the property, his eagerness revealing how desperate they were for any assistance they can give him.

After giving the orders, Chen Ren moved toward the farmlands, ready to confront the locusts. Yalan, however, didn’t come with him. ”You can handle the locusts on your own,” she had said nonchalantly, ”I need to look over the village and its territories.”

Chen Ren suspected it was just her way of marking her territory, but instead of her, he brought along Anji, someone he’d been meaning to spend more time with. The two of them stood at the edge of the farm, looking out at the vast stretch of crops, the buzzing swarm of locusts clinging to every stalk.

”So, what are you going to do, young master?” Anji asked, her eyes scanning the scene. ”They look scary.”

Chen Ren nodded. ”Yeah, they do. But before I make any real plans, I need to see if the straightforward approach works.”

Anji raised an eyebrow. ”And what is that?”

At that, his lips curled into a confident grin, his body surging with renewed energy. “Taking these pests head-on.” Without waiting for a response, Chen Ren launched himself into the heart of the farmlands, his bold presence drawing the attention of the nearest locusts.

The way they turned to him almost scared him.

Several of the oversized insects swiveled toward him, their serrated mandibles clicking in irritation. They hesitated only for a moment before charging, their small and pathetic bodies rushing forward like a living tide.

With a sharp exhale, he unleashed a torrent of lightning, rippling from his hands and scorching the air around him. The closest locusts didn’t stand a chance, their bodies instantly seared to ash, falling lifeless to the ground.

But the swarm was undeterred. More locusts surged forward, their snapping jaws gleaming like jagged knives. Chen Ren dodged and moved away, trying to maintain distance, all the while his fists lashed out, sending strikes, shattering exoskeletons and leaving broken skeletons. Yet, for every insect he felled, two more seemed to take its place.

Anji stood at a safe distance, her breath caught in her throat as she watched Chen Ren fight. His attacks were relentless and his leg movements were exceptional. Yet the swarm showed no signs of thinning.

Chen Ren knew fire would likely be more effective, but his lightning was enough to keep the locusts at bay—for now. Still, he could feel the tide turning against him, the swarm’s endless advance threatening to overwhelm his defenses.

Suddenly, like he had expected, a particularly large cluster of locusts, at least two dozen strong, rushed toward him in unison. Their jaws snapped hungrily, their advance a single, coordinated wave of aggression.

What the—

Chen Ren’s eyes narrowed. It was time to retreat. He couldn’t possibly take it all at once.

With a powerful leap, he vaulted clear of the swarm, landing uphill in a blur of motion.

“Young master! What are you doing?!” Anji called out, her voice a mix of alarm and confusion as he bounded toward her.

The locusts halted at the base of the hill, their advance stopping abruptly as if an invisible boundary held them back. Chen Ren glanced over his shoulder, his grin returning despite the tension. “They can’t follow us here. Let’s use this to our advantage.”

Chen Ren remembered what the village chief had said: the locusts seemed to have claimed the farm as their nest and wouldn’t move out of it, even when provoked.

Reaching the top of the hill without a scratch, Chen Ren glanced back at Anji, who was still watching him with a look of disbelief. ”That was reckless,” she said. ”What if they were poisonous?”

Chen Ren shrugged. ”Doesn’t matter. I bought potions for just in case, and nothing we know about them indicates they’re poisonous.” He paused for a moment, his gaze drifting back toward the farmlands, where the locusts were still swarming, undisturbed by his retreat. ”Either way, I learned quite a bit from my fight with them.”

Anji watched as Chen Ren stood there, looking deep in thought. ”What did you learn?” she asked.

”Like I thought, they’re in the mid-body forging realm. They’re fast, but if you focus, you can dodge their attacks. I can also kill them with my lightning, but there’s just too many of them. I won’t be able to handle them on my own.”

Anji nodded, processing the information. ”So, what do we do about them?”

”Even if I come up with a way to kill them all, there might be more around the forest. They could just return, and then we’re back to square one. We need a permanent solution to drive them out.”

Anji’s eyes narrowed in thought. ”Like what?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Instead of answering immediately, Chen Ren turned to her with a raised eyebrow. ”You have no idea? Haven’t been raised on a farm, I guess?”

Anji hesitated, the question catching her off guard. She paused, as if reflecting on her past before answering. ”No, I didn’t grow up anywhere near a farm. I know the basics of farming, but nothing more than that.”

Chen Ren gave a small nod, acknowledging her response. ”Then I’ll need to think of something myself.” He turned his attention back to the locusts, his mind spinning as he tried to think of a solution.

The locusts continued to swarm the farmlands below, but their presence didn’t seem as daunting now. As Chen Ren’s mind worked through the options, something clicked in his thoughts. The world around him was full of resources, and although he didn’t have knowledge of modern solutions like DDT or pesticides, that didn’t mean he was entirely without options. He just needed to approach this from a different angle.

His eyes widened slightly as an idea hit him. He turned quickly to Anji. ”I might have a way. But to make it work, we’ll need to run some experiments.”

***

A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too.