Chapter 289: Place to Settle

"Sir, would you like to use our storage service?"

The six-digit-lifespan cultivator smiled warmly, guiding Feng Xue into the brokerage like any ordinary merchant; Feng Xue obediently placed the bundle he carried onto the cart pushed forward by the clerk and said politely:

"I've just arrived in your area and am looking for a place to stay—preferably with fewer complications. Price is no issue; I'd even consider buying outright."

Hearing this, the broker-cultivator paused to think before asking: "Sir, have you come to Port Capital for cultivation, for opportunity, or for inheritance?"

"I have no particular goal—just a temporary stop on my journey of learning," Feng Xue replied ambiguously, leaving the broker-cultivator exasperated; judging by the aura of vow-energy on the man's person, he must be from the Wuji lineage, with at least three phantom gods accompanying him—such a person traveling for learning could only be for soul-nourishment or spreading doctrine, yet here he was in Port Capital, a den of chaos, claiming he wanted fewer complications...

"You're the biggest complication here, sir," the broker-cultivator thought inwardly, but maintained his professional demeanor:

"Most houses in Port Capital are already owned; the better neighborhoods are the most mixed. If you're only staying temporarily, that's fine—but if you intend to cultivate, you'll invite plenty of trouble."

Feng Xue sensed the broker's hidden meaning, pulled out his wallet, withdrew a stack of banknotes, and placed them on the table before asking: "What do you mean?"

The broker counted the bills in his hand, then replied:

"If you truly seek convenience for cultivation, I'd recommend you settle in Chicken Cage Village. The surroundings are poor, but places with no profit attract fewer troubles—and as for thugs and hoodlums, you probably wouldn't care."

Feng Xue was slightly surprised to be directed to a slum, but the broker's logic seemed sound; seeing the man's winking, knowing expression, it was clear this place had other unspoken advantages.

Yet Feng Xue truly didn't care about such matters, so he said bluntly:

"Forget the rest—what's the living environment like?"

"Rest assured, such places can be renovated quickly; if you need it, we can have water and electricity running tonight, and it'll be spotless—no worries about sewage or drainage, we'll equip it to Western mansion standards. It's just that, with the New Year approaching, construction is a bit..."

Seeing the broker rub his hands eagerly, Feng Xue reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of sheep-fat white jade; the broker, having cultivated for decades, had seen many things—but such flawless white jade, he had never encountered before.

Yet sometimes, too much perfection seemed suspicious; the broker frowned, studying it for a long while, but ultimately confirmed: aside from the absence of vow-energy, as if freshly mined, there was not a single flaw.

"I heard there's a master in Lu City who excels at nurturing jade—could this man have some connection to him?" The broker's mind stirred, yet he made no attempt to haggle; cultivators were pragmatic people—if an item had the appearance and function of a genuine article, it deserved a genuine price; as long as it bore no blood-evil or karmic taint, its origin didn't matter!

Having estimated its value internally, the broker now had his footing and replied:

"Sir, you're generous. Let me first take you to see the site—if you find it suitable, we can discuss the next steps, how about that?"

"You're sure this place is habitable?" Within half a minute, Feng Xue and the broker-cultivator arrived at Chicken Cage Village; Feng Xue narrowed his eyes. It was New Year's Eve—the streets showed signs of cleaning, but that was the limit; far from clean or tidy, the air carried an unpleasant odor, prompting Feng Xue to cast a Purifying Dust spell upon himself.

The broker-cultivator sensed the shift in the surrounding aura and glanced at Feng Xue anew; casting a Purifying Dust spell to affect the ambient air, precisely distinguishing between "nourishing qi" and "faint qi"—this required more than mere control, it demanded considerable scholarly knowledge.

Though he'd suspected this man wasn't some cultivator who'd spent decades secluded in a mountain ravine, seeing this technique now confirmed he was likely a scion of a major sect.

"Liangshan or Meishan? No, his accent sounds more northern—could he be from some imperial service lineage...? But isn't the imperial court most wary of witchcraft and curses?"

The broker muttered inwardly, yet spoke with professional decorum:

"The environment is rough, but it's quiet. Chicken Cage Village has no profit to offer—neither local gangs nor foreigners care about it; even ordinary temples can't draw much incense. Beyond the village gate to the east lies the City God Temple, and the street before it sells everything—you'll find it convenient. If you have cultivation needs, you can also ask at the Merit Pool. As for the house..."

Here, the broker led Feng Xue deeper into the compound, winding through alleys until they reached a narrow lane—its end held a large house covering roughly a hundred square meters—

At least, compared to the surrounding dwellings, each barely ten or so square meters and crammed together, it was indeed a large house.

"The land around here belongs to our brokerage—we've had the feng shui checked thoroughly. I can't claim any great layout, but there's absolutely no risk. If you're satisfied, we can tear down the few houses at the lane's end to create a courtyard for you. I have several blueprints—Chinese and Western styles—each designed by specialists. Pick any one; I'll handle the work myself, and you'll be settled by the hour of You at the latest!"

"Holy hell—can a project this size really be finished in eight hours? Are you the legendary Earth-and-Wood Celestial Master?"

Feng Xue stared at the blueprints the broker produced, unable to help but marvel at how every trade produces its masters—he'd assumed they'd just repaint or refurbish, but these plans showed they intended to demolish and rebuild entirely.

Yet after examining the terrain, it did suit his needs; after some thought, Feng Xue chose a Western-style design. Though several Chinese layouts were attractive, his household—counting Liu Yunxi—had only two living beings; living in a three-courtyard mansion would be self-inflicted torment.

After settling on the renovation, the broker asked detailed questions about furniture and decor—but just as the price was agreed upon, Feng Xue suddenly had a flash of insight and asked casually:

"By the way, are there any other cultivators in Chicken Cage Village?"

"Well..." The broker offered a polite but awkward smile:

"Those who live here are all seeking seclusion. So you don't ask, I don't tell—and if others ask me, I give the same reply."

"Fair enough." Feng Xue nodded, not pressing further; he left behind a spirit-ghost beacon for transport, then turned and walked toward the lane's exit. Just before leaving, he remembered something and added:

"Leave me another house in this lane—turn it into a clinic. I'll go scout the route, and return tonight to inspect."

(End of Chapter)