Chapter 22

Seeing Yulou and Yuan enter from the back courtyard, the clerk loitering at the counter quickly stood up.

“Young Master Yulou? You’re going out this late?”

Yulou shook his head and said.

“Have the kitchen prepare some food—Yuan is hungry from cultivation.”

Yuan: Actually, you didn’t need to mention the second part, did you?

“Yes!”

After sitting down in the main hall, Yuan pulled a flask of liquor from his robes.

“Big brother, I was wrong today—this is eighth-grade Monkey Wine. I’m treating you!”

Yulou stared at the flask, stunned.

Under Yuan’s puzzled gaze, Yulou also reached into his own robes and felt for his own flask.

Hmm, still there.

Old Ghost (gnashing-teeth version): Thank you—it was all sponsored by me!

Then Yulou smiled lightly.

“No need for liquor—it’s too late, and I didn’t take it to heart anyway.”

He wouldn’t dare casually drink eighth-grade Monkey Wine; his daily cultivation limit had already been reached—drinking more would be wasteful.

Besides, this liquor was clearly given to Yuan by his father—what would it mean if he took it?

He wasn’t someone who hoarded advantages—he wouldn’t take every possible benefit for himself.

Yuan waved his hand, feigning generosity despite visible pain, and pushed the flask toward Yulou.

“Brother, if you won’t drink tonight, I’m giving you this liquor—you can drink it whenever you like from now on.”

At that moment, Bai Lu hurried in from the kitchen carrying the food.

The girl clearly had been woken abruptly—her eyes were half-closed, her hair tied in a hasty Flying Immortal bun, with a single stubborn strand hanging beside her ear.

She set down the wooden tray, arranging the dishes as she politely explained.

“Young Master Yulou, Young Master Yuan, these are all that’s left tonight—please bear with us.”

Yulou pushed the flask back toward Yuan and turned to Bai Lu.

“Still awake this late?”

It was nearly midnight—not everyone was like Yuan, reckless enough to drag his brother out at this hour demanding liquor.

After setting out the bowls and chopsticks, Bai Lu lowered her head, nervously replying.

“I told the clerks to notify me immediately if either of you needed anything—these mortals don’t understand cultivation matters; I feared they’d mishandle it.”

Yulou nodded, gesturing to the chair beside him.

“Sit and eat with us—you’re of the Wang clan too. No need to call us ‘Young Master’—just call me Yulou.”

“This...”

Bai Lu hesitated, instinctively wanting to refuse—but not wanting to refuse.

“Yuan, what do you think?”

Yulou knew he and Yuan would be studying long-term at Qingxi Market; he’d be dealing with Bai Lu often.

Over time, cultivating a closer relationship was necessary.

Cultivation isn’t just about refining your base—navigating human relations is part of cultivation too.

“Bai Lu sister, sit here with us and drink.”

Yuan assumed Yulou, like himself, had taken a liking to the female cultivator Bai Lu—he chose without hesitation to create an opening for Yulou.

Brother, having a brother like me is your fortune!

Before Yulou could stop him, Yuan poured half a cup of Monkey Wine for him and half for Bai Lu.

When it came to himself, he hesitated with the flask, then poured only a quarter cup—he too had reached his daily limit for absorbing spiritual energy.

“This is Yuan’s Monkey Wine—eighth-grade spiritual liquor. With your Qi Refining fifth-layer base, one sip equals at least two hours of cultivation.”

Bai Lu’s hand trembled as if shocked—Yulou’s description startled her.

“Too valuable—I...”

“Drink! We drink together!”

Yuan waved his hand grandly, as if he could easily afford this—putting on a show of false generosity.

Bai Lu lifted the cup cautiously, sipping just a tiny amount.

The Monkey Wine wasn’t harsh—it carried a faint fruity aroma.

As the spirit-rich eighth-grade liquor entered her throat, she instinctively began refining it.

“Lately, many free cultivators have come to Qingxi Market—has security changed?”

Yulou asked Bai Lu, interrupting her absorption of spiritual energy; she quickly replied.

“Senior Gao Jian patrols daily with Qingxi Market’s security team—no free cultivator dares provoke him now.”

Besides, all free cultivators are here for the Merit Hall branch of Red Lantern—naturally, they won’t cause trouble.”

“Our Wang clan can afford the Merit Hall’s exchange costs—but free cultivators have nothing. What can they exchange for?” Yuan asked.

He and Yulou had discussed this earlier that day, but neither had reached a conclusion.

Bai Lu’s expression turned peculiar as she answered.

“Red Lantern needs Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators to test their techniques and elixirs—these trial tasks reward merit points, and many free cultivators come for exactly that.”

Also, rumors say the Merit Hall branch will open rare Foundation Establishment techniques and scriptures for exchange.”

Unlike Red Lantern disciples, free cultivators who exchange for techniques or spells may teach them to others.”

Most free cultivators see this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance—they’ve saved spirit stones or are preparing to take tasks, hoping to exchange for their desired methods.”

Yulou nodded repeatedly—he finally understood.

Even without capital, one could serve as a test subject for merit points; once enough merit was earned, one could obtain full ownership of a technique.

If Red Lantern is viewed as a giant corporation—or a monopolistic enterprise—in the cultivation world, then this special Merit Hall rollout to satellite markets resembles a xianxia version of Double Eleven.

But...

In cultivation, power resides in the individual; every lowly free cultivator is, in a sense, a potential producer, and monopolized techniques are special means of production.

Whoever exchanges for the right technique and finds a way to monetize its value gains a foundation for survival.

Though it appears to strike at minor clans like the Wu clan of Qi Refining cultivators, this impact will ripple upward.

The Wang clan cannot remain untouched—nor can sects like Drips Cave or Miaofeng Mountain.

Free cultivators are going all-in—and so must they.

Even worse, this special xianxia-style release of monopolized technique lineages may eventually backfire on Red Lantern itself.

Logically, Red Lantern’s decision to distribute its secret techniques to the base of the production chain will, in the future, severely undermine the stability of its monopoly.

Combined with the fact that Red Lantern’s new Sect Master hails from the wealthy family of Wunan...

The waters run deep.

At Huafeng Residence, Zhong Ningyao’s eyes lit up as Yulou entered.

“You two finally arrived—why so late today?”

“Ah? Sister, I’m sorry.” Yuan immediately assumed he’d done something wrong.

Women, truly his karmic obstacle.

Zhong Ningyao offered no explanation, rushing to assign tasks.

“Yulou, you stay out front to watch the shop. Yuan, come with me to help in the back.”

The clever one stays out front as face; the fool is dragged to the back as labor—Zhong Ningyao calculated precisely.

“What’s going on?” Yulou asked.

Zhong Ningyao frowned, complaining.

“Jiang Bao the beast collected over ten thousand spirit stones as ‘unity fees,’ hired a Foundation Establishment cultivator to design a deceptive firework magic device.”

But Gao Jian’s alchemist was too slow—this morning he suddenly approached my father, asking if Huafeng Residence could help forge some quickly, to settle his accounts before True Person Dan Ri arrives with the Merit Hall.”

Yulou stared, speechless.

Good, good, Jiang Bao the beast truly is the kind of expert Yulou could never comprehend—he’s brilliant at settling accounts.

Hires a Foundation Establishment cultivator to design—splits the design cost.

The firework device breaks after use, looks dazzling, and leaves no evidence.

He’s too professional!

But this is just too fitting—Even in xianxia, Double Eleven must be settled!