194. Princessly meetings

Chen Ren hadn’t expected anyone outside the Divine Coin Sect to know what dao he followed. Yes, he was a businessman—one who had started far too many enterprises for his own good—but anyone who looked into his history would just assume it was desperation that drove him. His ventures could be seen as nothing more than a man clawing his way out of debt. Even the sect’s economic growth could easily be mistaken for ambition, not following a dao.

He had never once come across someone who recognized the Dao of Money before. So when Princess Yanyue mentioned it, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t shocked. Her words had landed like a stone in still water, rippling through his thoughts. Yet she said nothing more on the subject as though the remark had been nothing but idle talk.

When he led her and City Lord Li Baolong to the best room in the sect, she hadn’t so much as glanced his way again about it. It was as if she had said it only to see his reaction, and when he caught that faint smirk on her lips, his suspicions hardened into certainty.

By the time they reached the room, Xiulan had already bolted to fetch tea, while Chief Muyang—having realized this was far above his paygrade—vanished faster than a startled rabbit. No one seemed to mind his absence.

Only Chen Ren, Qing He, Zi Wen, and Yalan remained. The princess and City Lord Li Baolong took their seats with practiced grace, a few guards and Haoran standing silently behind them. Zi Wen positioned himself at Chen Ren’s back, tense but alert, while Qing He sat beside him, her gaze fixed sharply on their guests. Yalan perched on a high shelf, tail flicking lazily as she looked down on everyone in the room.

With so many people squeezed into the small chamber, it felt cramped. The air was thick with a mixture of curiosity and unspoken tension, but no one dared mention it.

Once everyone settled, City Lord Li Baolong was the first to break the silence. “I must apologize for coming here unannounced with the Princess,” he said in a polite way. “You must have been busy.”

Chen Ren shook his head lightly. “No, it’s nothing like that. I was just surprised to see you visiting my sect, especially with Princess Yanyue.”

Yanyue smiled faintly, only the corner of her lip curling upwards. “I wanted to come here, but since Cloud Mist City was close by, I paid City Lord Li Baolong a visit first. He insisted on accompanying me. Otherwise, I would have come alone.”

Chen Ren almost asked why she would even want to come here in the first place but managed to school his expression. Somehow, that restraint only made her smile deepen.

“You’re wondering why I wanted to be here,” she said, amused.

Before he could respond, Qing He spoke up from the side. “We’re wondering more than just that, Yanyue. You even sent a spy to the village to gather information about Chen Ren and this sect. There were times I was tempted to interrogate him myself, and you know that wouldn’t have gone well for him.”

Chen Ren braced himself for the atmosphere to shift, expecting guards to move not only because of Qing He's words, but how she had addressed the Princess. But the room stayed calm. Only Haoran, pressed against the wall, flinched slightly at Qing He’s words. Princess Yanyue merely smiled, unbothered. Even City Lord Li Baolong looked as if the comment was nothing unusual.

Watching them, Chen Ren quietly reassessed Qing He’s relationship with the royal family. The casual way she spoke, the lack of reaction—it told him far more than any words could have.

“I didn’t know you’d be here, Master Qing He,” Yanyue said smoothly. “If I had, I would’ve contacted you directly.”

City Lord Li Baolong nodded in agreement. “Yes, I was surprised as well when I heard you had closed your tea shop and moved here.”

Qing He leaned back in her seat, arms folded. “I opened that tea shop for peace,” she said evenly. “And I’ve had a lot of peace here. I hope you’re not here to disrupt that.”

Princess Yanyue’s lips quirked in amusement. “We’re here to do nothing of the sort. You know I hold you in high regard, Master Qing He.”

“But you need something from Chen Ren,” Qing He countered without missing a beat. “Will he be another one of your toys?”

The air shifted slightly, a few of the guards glancing at one another, but Yanyue didn’t so much as blink. Her voice was steady when she replied. “I’m well past playing with my toys. I don’t see my subordinates that way despite what the rumors say about me.”

Then her gaze turned to Chen Ren, sharp and curious. “But yes, I’ve been interested in him since I heard about the golden dragon appearing during the Cloud Mist City tournament. Spirit manifestations are already rare enough, but to see one of the heavenly beasts?” She smiled faintly. “It would make anyone curious. I’m honestly surprised the Soaring Sword Sect didn’t try to keep you on their mountain.”

Chen Ren returned her smile, though a hint of tension remained in his eyes. “They offered me a place as a disciple,” he said, “but I already had plans to start my own sect. I didn’t think I’d fit in with a traditional one.”

“Because of your dao,” she said quietly.

He almost frowned but caught himself. “Partially. But more than that, I just don’t like the way most sects operate. Too many restrictions, too much hierarchy. It isn’t for me.”

Yanyue nodded as if she understood perfectly. “I actually agree with you on that. But my father hasn’t exactly had the time to discuss reforming the sect system with me. Maybe in a year, I’ll get that meeting.”

City Lord Li Baolong gave a small, uneasy laugh, glancing at her. “I don’t doubt your knowledge or ambition, Princess Yanyue, but I don’t think any sect, especially the Guardian ones, would welcome you involving yourself in their affairs.”

Princess Yanyue raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that, City Lord Li. But all of us here know the truth—sects listen to power, not politics. And I intend to accumulate a great deal of it in the coming years.” Her gaze shifted to Chen Ren. “Especially with the help of Sect Leader Chen.”

“I don’t think my sect could even stand against an Established sect right now, much less a Guardian one,” he said evenly. “You’re putting far too much importance on me, Princess Yanyue. And if I may be honest, I don’t think you even know me.”

“I don’t,” she admitted without hesitation. “But trust me, I’ve read plenty about your dao. And it’s the one thing I believe could truly help me.”

That made Chen Ren frown. His dao wasn’t something he liked others talking about. His eyes flicked toward her guards—stoic faces, unreadable expressions—but he could feel the qi rolling off some of them. None were weak. The last thing he wanted was anyone outside the sect learning about the Dao of Money. He knew how overpowered it was and she was blurting it out as if it was nothing, and he didn’t even know half of these people.

Princess Yanyue caught his look immediately. “You don’t have to worry,” she said smoothly. “All my men are loyal to me. Not a word of what we discuss here will leave this room.”

“I’m sure they’re loyal to you, Princess Yanyue,” he said. “But I don’t know them. And if I may speak my mind freely, I don’t even know you. I’ve spoken with City Lord Li Baolong, and I’m friends with his son Li Xuan, so he’s a familiar figure to me. But you…” He paused, holding her gaze. “I don’t understand what brings you here, or what kind of help you think you need from me.”

A faint smirk curved on Yanyue’s lips. “I thought merchants were always polite when speaking to nobles,” she said, her tone half-teasing, half-probing. “I honestly expected you to say you’d do anything just to form a connection with me.”

“They are,” Chen Ren replied. “But while a royal connection might do me good, I’m not the type to chew more than I can swallow. I know where I stand, and I don’t intend to jump higher than that until I can shoulder the fall.”

He leaned back slightly. This conversation had already taken a turn he couldn’t go back on, so he went along and spoke his mind.

“And as for politeness, I don’t think I’ve been rude to you, Princess. You’re royalty and a cultivator—I'm sure you’ve had countless people treating you with excessive respect. But when dealing with nobles and cultivators as a merchant, you don’t aim for politeness—you aim for clarity. Cultivators might live for centuries, but they don’t want to waste time on empty words, especially from those they deem beneath them.”

He said it plainly, not trying to sound clever or bold—just honest. But in truth, Chen Ren had already picked up on something from the moment he saw her. Yanyue’s eyes weren’t just looking at him, they were reading him. Every flicker of thought, every shift in his tone, she seemed to grasp it all with unsettling ease. And worse, something about her presence felt… invasive. Like an invisible pressure beneath her grace—subtle, refined, and quietly demanding. It wasn’t just charm; it was a pull, a commanding allure that made him want to listen, to agree, to follow. It took deliberate effort and focus to resist giving in.

“Very well then,” Princess Yanyue said after a long pause, her expression unreadable but her tone carrying amusement. Then she turned slightly toward her guards. “You all can wait outside. Just stand by the door, and don’t disturb anyone.”

The guards bowed in unison and began filing out. The timing was almost perfect as just then, the door opened and Xiulan stepped in, carefully balancing a tray with cups of steaming tea. She froze for a second, startled by the line of armored guards moving toward her, then quickly composed herself, slipping past them to place the tray on the table. The soft clink of porcelain was the only sound in the room as the last of the guards stepped outside and closed the door behind them, leaving only the core group behind.

For a second, Xiulan’s gaze met Chen Ren’s. Her expression was composed, but there was a flicker of curiosity there—an unspoken question about what was going on. She quietly placed the cups in front of everyone, bowing her head before turning and leaving without a word.

As the door clicked shut, the room felt noticeably larger. The air wasn’t as heavy, and Chen Ren found himself finally able to take a proper breath. He lifted the cup and took a sip, letting the warmth of the tea cut through the lingering discomfort. City Lord Li Baolong and Qing He did the same, though Chen Ren noticed the princess didn’t touch hers. Her gaze stayed locked on him.

Soon enough, the same strange feeling began creeping up on him again—a tightening in his chest, a pull at his thoughts, subtle but constant. His instincts screamed at him that it wasn’t natural. The more he tried to focus, the harder it became to think straight, until finally, Chen Ren put the cup down and spoke.

“May I ask something of you, Princess Yanyue?”

She tilted her head slightly. “What is it?”

He exhaled. “Could you please turn off whatever artifact you’re using to influence me? I don’t think I’ll be able to talk rationally while constantly fighting whatever this is in my mind.”

For the first time since she arrived, Princess Yanyue looked genuinely surprised. It was only a flicker, but Chen Ren caught it before her calm mask returned. “You noticed it?” she asked, almost intrigued.

“I did,” he replied. “And if I’m honest, it’s… a very strange feeling. It keeps making me feel like I’m falling in love with you, and I’d rather avoid aiming that far above my stature.”

City Lord Li Baolong chuckled quietly. “You’ve got a far stronger mind than I expected, Chen Ren.”

“He does all right. But your tricks haven’t changed much, Yanyue,” Qing He said. Chen Ren turned to look at her and she had a smirk plastered on her face.

His eyes immediately went back to Princess Yanyue.

Princess Yanyue didn’t respond immediately. She simply slipped one hand to her wrist, unclasped a delicate ring inlaid with pale red gemstone, and placed it gently on the table.

The effect was immediate. The invisible pressure that had been lingering in the room evaporated like mist in sunlight. Chen Ren drew a deep breath, feeling as though a weight had been lifted off his chest. Even Zi Wen, standing behind him, exhaled softly—his shoulders easing for the first time since she had arrived.

“I’m sorry about that,” Princess Yanyue said, her tone softening slightly as she glanced at the ring. “I honestly didn’t expect you to notice it. It’s become a habit to just wear it.” Her gaze shifted toward Zi Wen. “Your beast tamer certainly didn’t notice.”

Chen Ren held her look for a second, biting back the question that came to mind—

If I hadn’t noticed, would you have kept using it on me?

—but decided not to voice it. Instead, he took a slow breath and said, “Now that we can finally talk without distractions, I’d like to know why you’re here, Princess Yanyue. And what exactly do you want with me?”

Before she could answer, Qing He spoke from the side, her voice carrying a quiet edge. “If you plan to have him as a subordinate, I won’t let you force him.”

Yanyue’s lips curved faintly. “What if he agrees on his own?”

“He won’t,” Qing He said without hesitation. Then she turned to Chen Ren. “Will you?”

Chen Ren shook his head. “I don’t have any intention of being under anyone,” he said simply. His tone wasn’t defiant, it was just firm, matter-of-fact. Then he turned his gaze back to the princess. “But I don’t think you’re here just for that, are you?”

Her smile deepened slightly. “You’re intuitive.”

He didn’t reply, but his mind was already turning. She must have gotten more information about him through City Lord Li Baolong enough to understand that he wasn’t someone who’d throw away everything he’d built, even for royal favor. Which meant she wanted something else—something that couldn’t be bought or ordered. But what could that possibly be?

Yanyue didn’t keep him waiting long. “I actually came here because I needed something,” she said. “Something that can only be retrieved from a certain place, and I believe your dao can help me get it.”

Chen Ren frowned, one eyebrow raising slightly. “What sort of place is it?”

“Let me show you.”

Suddenly, one of her rings shone and a scroll fell onto the table with a dull thud. Everyone moved their cups aside as she slowly unfurled it, revealing a detailed illustration inked in fine strokes. She straightened the parchment as the image took shape—A vast structure that stretched skyward like a temple carved by gods.

“What you’re looking at,” she said, her finger tracing one of the outer rings, “is the sect building of the Azure Immortal Sect, an ancient behemoth over a thousand years old. Recently, both the pagoda and the rest of the sect’s ruins rose up from the depths of the Corpse Lands. I need your help to retrieve something from inside.”

Chen Ren leaned in instinctively, not because of her words, but because he recognized the place. The architecture, the formation lines, even the towering pagoda drawn in the center—it was the exact same sect that had been projected by the medallion.

***

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