Dao of Money

After Tang Yuqiu ordered her maid to get lodging for his disciples, Chen Ren moved with her through the hallway alone. He could see that her steps were hurried and she kept looking back at him to ensure that he was following her.

”What’s wrong?” Chen Ren asked, but Yuqiu only shook her head.

”I’ll explain once we’re inside the room,” she replied tensely. He nodded, silently following her.

Once they entered her room and the door closed behind them, Chen Ren took a seat across from her, his eyes scanning the room, then moved back to her. It hadn’t been long since they’d parted ways, but the change in Yuqiu was palpable.

The familiar, soft elegance was still there, but the atmosphere around her had shifted. She wasn’t the same person he had left behind. The once carefree yet determined woman had clearly grown into someone who carried more responsibilities on her shoulders.

She had been running the perfume business alone, managing the details Chen Ren had left her. It was clear it had taken a toll, both physically and mentally.

Tang Yuqiu spoke first, breaking the silence that hung between them. “It seems like things are going well for you,” she said, her eyes shining. “There are quite a few new faces. Cultivators?”

Chen Ren gave a small smile. “Two among them, and more back in the sect. I got lucky with them.” He paused for a moment. “Though, there are far more mortals. I’m hoping they’re setting up the alcohol production right now.”

“Alcohol?” Yuqiu raised an eyebrow. “You got into that now?”

“Yes,” he answered with a half-smile. ”It’s a different type than the ones out in the market. Stronger. I sold everything I had or I would have brought some for you.”Yuqiu waved her hand dismissively. “It’s okay. I don’t drink much, and you know my father—it’s better if he doesn’t drink.”

After that, a brief silence fell over them. Chen Ren could feel that small talk was over and the topic she wanted to talk about was going to come now. He waited patiently, eyes steady on her face.

She sighed, noticing the urge in his eyes and leaned back in her seat. “Anyway, the problem I talked about… It started once I looked into your expansion plan and tried to build up this mall you mentioned.”

Chen Ren’s brow furrowed slightly as he leaned forward, sensing the concern in her voice. “I didn’t think you would find problems in Cloud Mist City,” he said, his tone betraying his confusion.

Before leaving Cloud Mist City, Chen Ren had given Yuqiu the expansion plan for Heavenly Fragrances since he knew he was going to be busy with his sect. It was to ensure his income would keep increasing while also boosting his cultivation at the same time.

Building the sect had always been a priority for Chen Ren, but this didn’t mean he was going to leave his current businesses behind. So, he had given her the idea of a mall to house multiple shops in one location, although it wasn’t as grand as the ones back on Earth. They had planned to start small, with only three to four businesses in the mall, a manageable beginning before they expanded further.

“Actually, the problem didn’t come from Cloud Mist City,” Tang Yuqiu said, shaking her head slightly and bringing him back from his thoughts. “It went smoothly here. I was able to increase the floors in Heavenly Fragrances and created a structure like you told me. It’s small right now, and we aren’t renting out the space to other businesses yet. I want to see how it works before increasing its size. Thankfully, there’s enough space around it.”

She paused, gathering her thoughts. “But the problem came when I inquired about expanding to other cities, and let me tell you—it isn’t going to be easy. We’ve already received threats.”

Chen Ren’s eyes widened, his surprise visible. “What kind of threats?” He leaned forward, a the protective instinct rising within him. “I’m surprised anyone would dare give threats to the Tang Clan.”

Yuqiu looked at him as if he was not understanding the situation. “They can’t do that in Cloud Mist City, but the world is wide, and there are places even my father wasn’t able to expand into. One of those places is Jingxi, and I’ve chosen it as the main place where we could set up our next mall.”

“As you know, our products are mainly catered to women right now, and that city is perfect for it. It’s a major trade route for merchants, with a solid middle class population that can afford our products without hesitation. There are sects nearby, but nothing major enough to worry about. It seemed like the perfect place.”

Chen Ren was about to speak when she raised her hand, indicating that there was more to the story.

“But the major problem in the city isn’t the sects—it’s the clans and trade associations,” she continued. “They are powerful enough to be a real problem. And they’ve already gotten wind of our intentions. And they love to show off their power.” she rolled her eyes as she spoke. “They’re already trying to prevent us from acquiring property there. They seem to have figured out just how big our products have gotten in Cloud Mist City. I was even offered a supply contract, but the terms were so bad, I couldn’t even consider it.”

Chen Ren slowly absorbed the weight of Yuqiu’s words, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of inevitability. He had expected something like this—established clans rarely took kindly to upstarts trying to break into their markets, and the perfume business was no exception. Anyone would act accordingly if they felt threatened, at least in this world.

He nodded, letting the silence linger for a moment as he processed the situation. His thoughts spilled to different possibilities. But none would be set in stone until he knew the exact depth of the situation. “So, are we unable to acquire property there?” he asked.

Yuqiu shook her head. “It’s not that. I did get one building, but... looking at the place, considering all the pressure, we won’t be able to set up a full perfume factory there. If we do, it would mean transporting raw materials from far away, and that’s not feasible since it’s harder to find the herbs we need in the city.”

“We can manage transportation, but not for everything.” He paused for a beat, then shifted the conversation, wanting to focus on the more positive developments. “And how’s the cloth project going?”

At the mention of it, Yuqiu’s face lit up, the worry temporarily vanishing from her eyes. A soft smile tugged at her lips as she rose to her feet. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that! The designs were tucked so far back in those parchments you gave me so I missed asking you about them when you were leaving, but... how did you even come up with something like that?”

Chen Ren watched as she moved toward a nearby chest, retrieving a box. She carefully pulled out a selection of women’s dresses. She handed them over to him, and he ran his fingers over the material, the texture telling him that Yuqiu hadn’t skimped on anything to get them made.

They were… exquisite. Chen Ren ran his fingers over the smooth fabric once again, appreciating the attention to detail. Was she making these to sell, or had she created them for herself?

The dresses were undeniably beautiful, but there was something subtly different about them. Unlike the tightly fitted garments that most women wore—those that clung to the body, leaving little room for comfort—the dresses Yuqiu had created were much more fluid and free. Where most dresses focused on accentuating curves and restricting movement, these seemed to offer a new sense of freedom, as though the wearer could move without feeling constricted. The cuts were soft, flowing, designed to drape elegantly around the body rather than cling tightly.

Yuqiu had taken care to ensure the design was modest without being plain. The folds gathered at strategic points—around the waist, over the hips—creating a sense of structure, but also allowing for comfort. The way the dresses were designed to hang just off the shoulders or around the neck made them feel more… comfortable. And the pattern of the dress? He picked a dress from the pile and looked over it, seeing the bold lines and flower designs that accentuated the beige colour.

Chen Ren could imagine how dresses like these would complement a woman’s body, not by drawing attention to a single feature but by making the whole form appear graceful and dignified. He could already picture a woman walking in one of these dresses, every movement highlighting the elegant folds of the fabric, making her feel as though she were wearing something truly unique, something that made a statement without saying a word.

He turned to her with a small smile, gently placing the dress back on the table and answering her earlier question. “I asked Xiulan and the others for input, and then I realized how restrictive and unthinking most women’s clothing is. I wanted to create something comfortable, something that would be both practical and fashionable.” He tilted his head slightly, eyeing her. “Did you like it?”

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Tang Yuqiu’s smile broadened. “I love them. I wore one of these to a gathering two weeks ago, and I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. I think they’ll be a huge hit. They might even be the next big thing.”

Chen Ren felt a spark of hope ignite within him. Let’s hope so, he thought.

He had created the designs thinking about how clothing has evolved over time, blending chinese fashion sense with modern-day designs, hoping to craft something that would appeal to the masses. He had spent time during the tournament, waiting for his turn in the fighting arena, brainstorming the designs. He’d never expected that something born from idle thoughts would end up becoming a potential game-changer. And he realized these designs would complement the perfume line perfectly.

Unlike perfume, which required a complex network of raw materials and precise measurements, clothing could be mass-produced by simply gathering women who were looking for work and teaching them how to weave. It was a simpler process once they got the supply for the material. Chen Ren thought about how easy it was to set up a small-scale factory for the clothes, and a small, almost absurd idea crossed his mind.

Should I start building a sewing machine? Because after all, this world didn’t have any automation. Which meant that everything was crafted.

The thought lingered for a moment, but before he could dive deeper into it, Yuqiu’s voice brought him back to the present. ”I’ve been working on getting a group of weavers together to start building more of these dresses,” she said. ”We should have a good amount ready soon.”

Chen Ren nodded, his mind already thinking ahead. ”That’s good. I might be able to get one more product for the mall opening in Jingxi. but I’m still trying to come up with it.” He paused, rubbing his chin. ”How long do you think it will take?”

Yuqiu smiled, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. ”We’re still constructing in Jingxi, so it’ll be about a month. But you can check out the progress at the Heavenly Fragrances shop right now. It’s coming together well.”

Chen Ren’s eyes brightened at that. ”I’ll take a look,” he said, his mind already working on the possibilities. Then, as if something else had occurred to her, Yuqiu hesitated for a moment before asking, ”How many days will you be in the city?”

”Two days,” he answered. ”I mostly came to see your progress and the accounts. And also to meet with Qing He. I had wanted to consult her on some things.”

Yuqiu nodded. ”That’s alright. I think I have the account books here. Let me bring them to you. But I have to say... our sales have been really good. I think you’re going to like what you see.”

Chen Ren smiled, feeling a surge of relief. ”I’m looking forward to it.”

***

As Yuqiu had said, the money coming in from the perfumes and even the food stalls had increased significantly. For the perfumes, Yuqiu had been handling everything with her usual efficiency, and it was clear that her efforts had paid off. More and more women were returning to purchase more of the fragrances once their previous bottles ran out, a trend that only seemed to grow with time. But it wasn’t just about the steady sales; Yuqiu had also started researching ways to expand their perfume line, working tirelessly to develop new scents and recruit more people to help with production. Chen Ren couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Everything seemed to be progressing faster than he had even hoped.

He’d felt the surge of qi entering him over the last month, and he couldn’t help but think it was no coincidence. The success of the perfume line, combined with his growing cultivation, made him certain that the next time he broke through, he might just cross a few stars in his advancement.

As for the noodle stall, well, it had grown into something even more profitable. They had expanded the offerings to include crispy chips alongside the noodles, and even with some copycats emerging, their stall remained just as popular, generating steady profits. Unfortunately, summer had come to an end, which meant that sales of the ice cream had dropped off more than he would’ve liked. But Chen Ren wasn’t worried. He already had plans for the next summer, and he was confident that he could turn things around when the season came back.

After checking the accounts and taking a tour of his businesses, Chen Ren decided it was time to leave Yuqiu to handle the rest of her work. He made his way to the tea shop to meet Qing He—the old woman who had become, in many ways, his second master after Yalan.

He brought Feiyu along, knowing that the conversation would be important for him, and the two of them entered the tea house. The scent of tea leaves filled his nostrils and there, seated where she usually was Qing He, sipping tea. Her face was neutral, as she slowly placed the cup in front of her.

As soon as Chen Ren entered the tea house, Qing He’s eyes snapped up, locking onto him with an intensity that almost felt like a physical force. But there was no warm welcome in her gaze. Instead, a scowl quickly replaced the usual calmness that Chen Ren had grown used to.

”I was thinking the wind is a bit different now,” she said, her voice edged with sarcasm. ”But I can see that you’re back in the city after a failed attempt at starting the sect.”

Chen Ren walked towards her without responding immediately and pulled a stool out, sitting down casually. ”Failed?” he echoed with a raised eyebrow. ”I already have some new disciples, and things are going better than expected.”

He gestured toward Feiyu, who stood by his side, ready to back him up. Qing He’s gaze shifted to the young man standing there. She gave him a quick once-over, her sharp eyes evaluating him in a way that seemed to peel away layers, and then she spoke. ”You look like a good cultivator. Not that talented, but not bad. Why are you following this fool?” Her words were blunt, and she didn’t even attempt to mask the judgment.

Feiyu didn’t hesitate. Standing tall, he looked directly at Qing He. ”I will follow Sect Leader Chen all my life,” he said with sincerity. ”He has given me a new lease leash on life, and there’s nothing that would change my decision.”

Qing He raised an eyebrow at the conviction in Feiyu’s voice, her scowl fading into a hint of surprise. Her gaze flicked back to Chen Ren, who had a faint, amused smile on his face.

”You’ve learned some manipulation techniques, kid,” she remarked dryly.

Chen Ren chuckled, the sound light but with an edge of confidence. ”Why don’t you believe he’s being genuine?” he asked, leaning back slightly. ”I have a lot that could help him out.”

Qing He’s lips twisted into a brief, almost imperceptible smirk, but it was gone just as quickly. ”I hope so,” she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. ”Or I would feel bad seeing that man get the wrong end of the stick. So why are you here, really?” she asked, clearly knowing Chen Ren’s ways by now, then seemed to hesitate and stand up from her seat. ”Actually, I was hoping you would stop by. I have something to show you that might help you out,” she added.

Chen Ren’s interest was piqued. ”What is it?” he asked, already trying to read the situation.

Qing He glanced at the few customers still present in the tea house, then back at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes. ”You’re lucky. It’s not the peak hour,” she said. ”Walk with me.”

She stood and motioned for him and Feiyu to follow her. Chen Ren exchanged a quick glance with Feiyu before they both rose and trailed after her, heading towards the staircase.They walked up the stairs in silence. Chen Ren couldn’t help but wonder what kind of revelation she was about to reveal, but he knew better than to press her for answers too soon.

When they reached the room that Chen Ren had often frequented, the space that had once been filled with books and scrolls, he noticed something strange. The floor, usually organized, was now scattered with books. Some were open, others simply discarded, but in the center of the chaos, there was one book that immediately caught his attention.

It had a cover that depicted the Four Heavenly Beasts, with a golden dragon at its center. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of it. He had never seen this particular book before, and something about it made his heart skip a beat.

Qing He, noticing his reaction, gave him a small smile. ”After you left,” she began, ”I decided I needed to do some reading of my own. I wanted to find out more about that dragon inside of you.” She bent down, her eyes now focused on the book. ”What I found... I don’t know if you’re going to like it or not.”

***

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