Chapter 57: Future

Chen Ren was able to get back to Cloud Mist City surprisingly fast. A part of him had wondered if the old elder might attempt to keep him as a disciple by any means necessary, but the man had been honourable.

Despite returning with a trove of rewards, Chen Ren couldn’t seem to sit in peace. News of his recovery spread quickly, and within days, dozens of invitations from both merchant and cultivation clans flooded in, each seeking his presence as a guest.

He rejected them all.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to build connections—he did. But his mind was preoccupied with questions about his future and the reality of his recent battle with Gu Tian. On the other hand, his businesses were flourishing, especially after the tournament, yet it didn’t feel like enough.

The memory of that fight lingered, a constant reminder that his strength had been insufficient. He had survived, yes, but only because of the dragon that was within him. And even that power came with uncertainty. He had no means of calling on it at will, no assurance it would come to his aid again. Worse, he couldn’t guarantee his body would survive the strain if it did. The thought left him restless.

There was only one path forward—he had to get stronger.

His cultivation was intertwined with his businesses, so the decision was clear. It was time to look beyond Cloud Mist City. His heart raced at the prospect. Expanding both his sect and his business wasn’t just a goal—it was a necessity. And it was exactly what he had to do next.

“You’re leaving?” Tang Jihao’s voice rang with disbelief, his eyes widening.

Chen Ren nodded. “I’ve decided not to trouble the Tang Clan anymore.”

At his words, Tang Yuqiu, who had been sitting nearby, interjected, “You know it’s no trouble. A few months ago? Maybe. But now, a lot has changed. You staying here isn’t just fine—it’s a boon.”

Chen Ren offered her a small smile. “I understand, but I stayed here because I had nowhere else to go. That’s not the case anymore. I have responsibilities—both to my sect and my businesses—and Cloud Mist City is starting to feel too small for me.”

Tang Jihao crossed his arms, studying him carefully. “Too small? How so?”

Chen Ren leaned back and sighed. “I’ve done well with my stalls and perfumes, and I could keep creating similar products, but the growth would be slow. Until now, I’ve focused on the mortal market here, and it’s been successful. But I don’t want to be confined to one city. I want to expand across the empire and for that…”

“And for that?” Jihao asked, though his expression suggested he already knew the answer.

“For that, I need to build a factory, diversify my products, and, most importantly, establish my sect. Cloud Mist City isn’t the place for that. There's already Soaring Sword Sect here and there's no way I can take on it right now,” he said, having already thought about it in the last few days. “If I try to make pills or talismans here to sell, I’d be directly competing with them and as you know, I can’t take them on. I’d be crushed quickly. So, I need to look elsewhere in the empire—a place from which I can expand everywhere.”

Yuqiu opened her mouth to argue, but her father spoke first. “Are you going to the land you got?”

Chen Ren nodded. “That doesn’t mean I’m abandoning Cloud Mist City. I still have Heavenly Fragrances here, along with my stall. I’ll have people to manage them, and I’ll keep visiting to check on their progress. As you know, it’s not that far from the city, so I’ll be able to come and go easily. Especially with my cultivation, I’m far faster than any cart. But before I leave, I wanted to ask for something and talk more about the expansion plan.”

Tang Jihao tilted his head. “What do you want to ask?”

Chen Ren smiled sheepishly. “Tang Xiulan and Lihua. Mostly Xiulan since I want to take her with me as the manager of the sect. And in her absence, Lihua has agreed to stay behind and take care of the stall.”

The old, sickly man raised an eyebrow. “A manager, huh? That kid sure is talented, has a good head on her shoulders. When I first brought her to you, I didn’t expect things to take such a turn. But I believe it’s for the best.” He paused, then nodded. “Sure, I’ll let her go and give Lihua the freedom to manage your stall. You’ve helped Yuqiu a lot and killed that demonic cultivator. It’s the least I can do. But this sect of yours? When you first told me about it, I was apprehensive. Honestly, I still am. I don’t know how you’re going to make it work.”

Chen Ren smiled confidently, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. “You’ll know soon enough,” he said, leaving Tang Jihao to shake his head in bemusement. Then, he chuckled, turning his attention to Tang Yuqiu, who wore a faint frown. “I thought you disliked me, but now you look sad about me leaving.”

Tang Yuqiu’s cheeks flushed faintly as she quickly looked away. “I’m not sad,” she retorted, her tone defensive. “I’m just... too used to seeing your face around.”

Chen Ren’s grin widened. “Don’t worry. You’ll still see it—just less often.”

He shifted topics seamlessly. “Either way, before I leave, I wanted to discuss the expansion plans for Heavenly Fragrances with you.”

At that, Tang Yuqiu’s expression shifted, her usual sharp focus returning. As Chen Ren laid out his plans—strategies to increase production, establish trade routes, and expand Heavenly Fragrances’ influence beyond Cloud Mist City—her frown deepened, though this time with thoughtful consideration.

She leaned forward, asking sharp questions and offering occasional suggestions. By the time the conversation wrapped up, her earlier embarrassment had vanished, replaced by a serious, professional demeanour.

“That’s ambitious,” she said finally. “But with the right resources and people, it could work.”

Chen Ren nodded, his confidence unwavering. “That’s the plan. I’ll leave the foundation in capable hands here and focus on building the next step.”

Tang Jihao, who had been watching quietly, folded his arms with a smirk. “Looks like you’ve thought this through. I’ll be keeping an eye on how far you can take it.” Ꞧ𝖆Ꞑօ𝔟Еṧ

Chen Ren met his gaze with a smile. “You won’t be disappointed.”

***

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Chen Ren moved through the quiet, somber halls, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished stone floor. The place where urns were kept—

lingtang

—was both imposing and serene, with corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly, lined with niches in the walls. Each compartment housed an urn, the final resting place for the ashes of someone who had once lived, laughed, and loved in the city.

A few others roamed the halls, their expressions a mix of grief and reverence. The muted murmurs of visitors filled the air, a backdrop to the faint scent of incense that lingered in every corner.

The priest walking beside him stopped abruptly, turning to him with a gentle smile. “It’s here,” he said, gesturing toward one of the walls.

Chen Ren nodded. “Thank you.”

The priest’s smile deepened, kind yet knowing. “I’ll give you time with it, Dragonheart,” he said softly before retreating down the corridor, leaving him alone.

Chen Ren let out a wry chuckle, unused to the title. His gaze swept across the compartments, each a reminder of lives lost and memories preserved. The lingtang was a public place, directly controlled by the city lord’s office, where the ashes of the departed were kept for families and visitors to honour them.

Today, Chen Ren was here to visit the urn of a man he hadn’t shared a good relationship with, Feng Ming.

Standing before the niche, he hesitated. A swirl of conflicting emotions churned within him.

Feng Ming had been no more than another arrogant young master, someone who had antagonized him in their every meeting. Yet, even as Chen Ren recalled their less-than-pleasant interactions, one thought remained firm in his mind—Feng Ming’s death had been unfair.

Did he deserve to die?

Chen Ren sighed. No, he didn’t. Feng Ming, like Cang Rui or Bai Shen, had been frustrating and pompous, someone Chen Ren had clashed with repeatedly. But for all his flaws, Feng Ming hadn’t deserved more than a lesson or a beating to humble him. Death was too cruel an end.

He stepped closer, his eyes lingering on the urn nestled within the wall, a silent testament to the fragility of life.

Chen Ren stood in front of the small, unassuming urn, his expression unreadable.

He believed that every person had the capacity to change if given the opportunity. Sadly, Feng Ming had never gotten that chance. Gu Tian had taken that away, cutting down a life before it could take a new direction. Chen Ren didn’t feel guilt—Feng Ming’s death wasn’t his fault—but he felt a weight nonetheless.

“I know we didn’t have great interactions,” Chen Ren began. “And you would never know it, but I’m not the Chen Ren you knew. Still, even if I didn’t think of you as a friend, I couldn’t let Gu Tian’s actions go unpunished. I killed him. If your soul is still out there somewhere, I hope you find peace knowing that.”

He lit the candle in front of the urn, the flickering flame casting fleeting shadows on his face. Giving the urn one last look, he added with a faint, almost wistful smile, “Maybe we’ll meet in the next life and have a better relationship. I can at least attest to the fact that there is a next life. Until then... goodbye.”

Turning around, Chen Ren slowly made his way out of the lingtang.

In his previous life, he hadn’t believed in souls or reincarnation. Such ideas had seemed fanciful and far-fetched. But here, in this world of cultivation, spirits and souls were some of the most normal things he would encounter.

As he left, he silently hoped Feng Ming would find his rest.

When he stepped outside, the sight waiting for him brought a flicker of surprise to his face. A large carriage was parked near the entrance, its interior already bustling with familiar faces.

Tang Xiulan stood by it, managing the group of children he’d taken under his wing, Mei Lin, Chun and Jian. But what caught his attention most was someone unexpected—Anji. She stood on the side against the carriage, her eyes following him with a blank emotion in them.

Chen Ren’s gaze shifted to the young woman, his eyebrows raising slightly. Before he could say anything, Tang Xiulan followed his line of sight and smirked. “She wanted to tag along,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Is that true?” Chen Ren asked, his tone tinged with curiosity as he looked at Anji.

Anji nodded confidently. “Yes. I have no reason to stay in the city anymore. Miss Xiulan told me about your plans to establish a sect and how you’ll need more hands. So I volunteered.”

Chen Ren stared at her for a few seconds before shaking his head. “Bringing you along means one more mouth to feed. I would need a good release to allow you to do so.”

Anji rubbed her arms, not knowing what to say for a while before she lowered her head in an awkward bow. “I know a bit of hunting, so food won't be a problem and I know numbers, how to read and write, so I will be able to help out with the accounts. I know you have no obligation to bring me along, but I promise I won't be a burden, so please can I join you?”

Chen Ren looked at Anji, feeling a strange, unplaceable sensation as her words hung in the air. He wasn't sure about letting her come with him. He had ignored the signs with Gu Tian, but he wouldn't this time. Whatever he had observed of Anji told him that the woman had a past and it wasn't ordinary. Just her knowing how to hunt and being literate meant that she was from a good family or even part of a sect. So why had she been living as a beggar? Her appearance also confirmed the fact since he could see that she looked far better than the average woman.

A lot of time cultivation had a way to improve your appearance as you remove impurities from your body, but despite that, Anji was a mortal. He couldn't deny the fact. But it simply made the mystery around her far harder to discern.

Should I let her in? Well, I doubt she can be a threat and before I do anything, I would need to know more about her.

As he thought more and more about his decision, Anji stood there with a mix of determination and vulnerability, waiting for his response. Finally, he nodded, his expression softening. “Okay. You can come along. Take a seat inside.”

Anji gave another small, awkward, but grateful bow before climbing into the carriage.

“She’s hardworking,” Xiulan remarked from beside him, her tone light yet approving. “I think she’ll fit in just fine.”

“Hopefully. We will need to learn more about her though,” Chen Ren replied, his gaze shifting to the three children gathered nearby. “What about the others?”

“Not everyone wanted to tag along,” Xiulan explained. “Most of them have spent their entire lives here, so I left them under Lihua’s care. She’ll need help with the stall anyway, and they’re already settled in the servants’ courtyard at the Tang Clan.”

Chen Ren’s brow furrowed slightly. “And Qing He? She didn’t agree to come either?”

Xiulan shook her head. “No. She said she likes her tea stall too much to leave, especially for a village that hasn’t even been properly set up yet. Something about her old bones not wanting to take the journey.” She paused, then added with a small smile, “But she sent you books on cultivation disciplines and told me to remind you to visit her if you need anything.”

Chen Ren chuckled. “I’ll definitely need to see her once we move into the next phase of our plans.” He glanced back at Xiulan. “Did you pack everything?”

“Of course,” Xiulan replied with a confident nod.

Chen Ren smiled. “Then, let’s go.”

He reached for the carriage door and opened it, only to find Yalan already lounging inside. She looked up at him with a mix of boredom and irritation.

“You took forever in there,”

Yalan said, yawning.

“I got tired waiting for you.”

Chen Ren arched a brow.

“Tired? You’re literally lying around doing nothing.”

Yalan scoffed and purred gracefully.

“I’m preserving my energy in case some idiotic beast decides to attack us on the road,” she said in her usual elegant tone. “Anyway, enough talk. Let’s get going. We have a sect to build!”

Chen Ren chuckled, shaking his head as he climbed into the carriage. Questions, mysteries and a lot of thoughts filled him as he took his seat, but right now, he knew one thing.

His path on the Dao of Money had just begun and there was a lot for him to explore. But before that, it was finally time to build his own company.

***

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