Back to the Human World

The camel team was led away by the caravan manager to unload goods and rest.

Li Ming’en took Su Qing halfway to Tianque City’s Sixteenth Ward. This ward, being located in the city center, had very high land prices.

Zhu Xing’er had rented a three-story wooden building here, with most of it serving as the headquarters for Spring Breeze Herb Chain, and a smaller portion leased at a low price to Jiang Shuang.

Usually, any administrative work for Honey Spirit Tea was handled and processed here.

Li Ming’en led Su Qing through the wooden building.

Upstairs, there was the sound of fluttering wings. Looking up, she saw dozens of snow-white carrier pigeons vigorously flapping their wings, soaring into the clear blue sky.

Li Ming’en introduced, “These are carrier pigeons. Currently, it’s not possible to contact every shop using communication talismans. The cost of setting up the arrays alone is frighteningly expensive, not to mention the daily consumption.”

She continued leading Su Qing upstairs.

From time to time, people in green clothes passed by, holding paper and pens or abacuses. They would give Li Ming’en a slight nod, a simple greeting.

Su Qing asked, “Are these women all accountants?”

“Yes, it’s the beginning of the month, so all the female accountants from Tianque City’s various wards come here to consolidate accounts,” Li Ming’en said. “Most of these people are hired from the Tianque Elementary Academy, and many of them were my classmates.”

Because Xing’er was a woman, and Jiang Shuang was also a woman, when they hired people, they especially favored women.

It was always harder for women to find work than for men, so they particularly cherished opportunities and worked meticulously and conscientiously.

Although Tianque City explicitly stipulated equal pay for equal work for women and men, and because the world’s number one immortal was female, the status of women here was considerably higher than elsewhere.

Unfortunately, Carefree Immortal had fallen long ago, and Tianque City had attracted many foreign factions over the years, inevitably bringing various customs with them, making the situation even more mixed and complex.

Of the Sword Sect’s thirty-six cities, Su Qing had only visited Yinlan City, governed by the Yan family, besides Tianque City.

There, because the ruling Yan family passed down leadership through its female line and beast tides occurred frequently, military armor was not judged by gender or origin.

Therefore, Yinlan City actually possessed many characteristics of Tianque City’s former self.

Perhaps, it was precisely because it was located in a remote, extreme northern region, unaffected by outside influences, that it remained so.

Xing’er’s office was at the very back.

As they were walking, cultivators’ five senses were keen. Su Qing heard sounds from the ground afar, somewhat heavy and bouncing, very lively, like a pony, not an adult’s footsteps.

Soon, Li Ming’en also noticed.

She didn’t hide it, revealing a smile.

The front door was pushed open, and a chubby head popped out. Su Qing watched as a plump child, like a small cannonball, rushed out and burrowed into Li Ming’en’s arms.

“Auntie, Fu’er misses you.”

This child was about a year and a half old, in the stage where she had just learned to walk but her two feet went in different directions.

She was probably born in the shop and grew up in the shop.

Every customer who saw her would want to hold her and tease her with a few words.

Thus, she developed a personality of smiling at everyone and not being shy at all; she would let anyone hold her.

A child who didn’t cry or fuss was always endearing. Su Qing thought, ‘She’s probably the child of one of the employees here.’

But then she heard Li Ming’en pick up the baby, gently rub her plump cheek, and point at Su Qing, saying, “Fu’er, this is also Auntie. Say

‘Auntie’.”

The child wasn’t scared at all. She was very accommodating. Seeing Su Qing, this stranger, she also haphazardly called out, “Auntie.”

This was quite startling. Su Qing couldn’t maintain her composure and asked with a trembling voice, “Whose child is this?”

Then a bright female voice rang out. Zhu Xing’er pushed open the door. “Does that even need asking? Look at her eyebrows and eyes. She’s so beautiful, who else could she take after?”

Su Qing looked over. Five years later, she was a bit plumper, but her brisk and vain demeanor hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Her forehead, adorned with gold-embroidered silver, bore glistening jade beads, and the two pearls by her ears were of exceptionally fine quality.

Of course, even more striking than the jewelry was her radiant face, indicating that life had been very good these past years.

But what Su Qing paid closest attention to was that Zhu Xing’er had already entered the first layer of Qi Refining.

Although it was the lowest cultivation level, it could still be considered a departure from the mortal world.

Zhu Xing’er was also observing Su Qing, but Su Qing indeed offered little to see.

Her face was unchanged, her attire was, as usual, a simple Daoist robe, without makeup or ornaments.

Only a storage bracelet adorned her left wrist, and a seemingly inexpensive storage bag was tied to her waist.

She appeared very low-key and ordinary.

However, her aura was stable and rounded, indicating she had advanced in her realm.

Zhu Xing’er said, “I’ve met many Foundation Establishment cultivators during my travels, both north and south. Regardless of their cultivation, they were all very intimidatingly dressed. Some wore shimmering gauze shawls, some had cinnabar dots between their brows, some carried feather dusters—they were everywhere. As the saying goes, even the Buddha needs golden attire. Where do you get such plain clothes?”

Zhu Xing’er’s lips opened and closed. Su Qing vaguely felt a long string of words fly past her ear. She opened her mouth and instinctively said,

“I disagree.”

‘Disagree about what?’ Zhu Xing’er reacted and laughed, “Too late, the child has already been born.”

“I wasn’t talking about the child,” Su Qing said. “I said, what about the man?”

“You mean the child’s father?”

“That man.”

At this moment, Li Ming’en, with keen perception, was already entertaining Zhu Fu’er, leading her outside.

The door closed, providing an appropriate setting for the two women to talk. Zhu Xing’er gracefully sat down and said, “There is no man, and no father. I gave birth to her myself; she is my child.”

She said, “I’m not young anymore, Sister Su Qing. I have to think about the future. As the saying goes, seventy is rare in ancient times. Even cultivators understand that longevity is hard to come by. Tianque City is a place where immortals and mortals meet. Mortals here often consume pills and spiritual herbs, but as a herbal merchant, I know best that these spiritual items merely serve to nourish the body and maintain health; they have little to do with extending lifespan.”

“Even Xing’er, after this spring, will be thirty-one.”

When her business hadn’t taken off, she thought about finding a good husband.

With the wind at her back, she wouldn’t live the dull life she had before. Life was but a brief moment; what was the point if she didn’t leap over the dragon gate?

But as her business prospered, and she became a well-known figure in the city, she had to consider things carefully.

Many children of prominent merchants in the city were interested in her, and there were even many hints from minor cultivator families.

Zhu Xing’er didn’t need to ponder much.

With her merchant’s eye, she realized this would be a losing business for her.

If she married into a family of similar strength or lower, she would have to provide welfare.

If she married into a higher-ranking family, her businesses would, at best, become subordinate, and at worst, be completely devoured.

Since that was the case, marrying in a son-in-law, as her family requested, would surely be acceptable.

The ridiculous thing was, men under heaven, she didn’t know where they got their airs from, actually felt that marrying into a family was demeaning, something a man from a good family would never do.

Little did they know, for thousands of years, hadn’t women lived this kind of life?

Therefore, those who came to be chosen as husbands were all unreliable characters.

And who knew what lay beneath their human skin? What if he was planning to restore his own family through her descendants? Then she would become a big blood bank.

After much thought, Zhu Xing’er felt she would lose more and more.

She was not one to do losing business.

Since she was a woman, she could simply have a child herself, no need to steal someone else’s.

Having made up her mind, Zhu Fu’er thus came into being.

Su Qing felt the passage of time.

She thought of this child’s chubby face and bright eyes, her vibrant life, then pulled out a stack of land deeds from her storage bag and placed them on the table.

“Since I’m already an auntie, the child must have a meeting gift.”

Zhu Xing’er’s eyes swept over them, then suddenly lit up.

She immediately took them and flipped through them. “These land deeds, from Yinlan City?”

She had been to Yinlan City and was very familiar with its layout.

“This street’s location isn’t bad. It borders the City Lord’s Mansion to the east and the market to the north. How much did you spend? No, this isn’t something money can buy. Did you sell your life for someone?”

Su Qing said, “Something like that.”

“I thought so too, but such a good street, even selling your life wouldn’t easily acquire it. It seems you not only sold your life, but you sold it to some powerful figures.”

Fortunately, Su Qing before her was not missing an arm or a leg.

Zhu Xing’er frowned, then unknitted her brows.

“You can rest assured. Since it’s money earned by your life, I will manage it well. With this stronghold in Yinlan City, the northern trade route can finally be opened.”

Su Qing then asked, “Are there any troublesome individuals you need me to deal with?”

Although Foundation Establishment cultivators were everywhere in the Sword School, she wasn’t particularly outstanding. In Tianque City, however, her strength was quite good.

“There were some, but they’ve all been dealt with,” Zhu Xing’er shook her head. “Don’t forget, we pay three-tenths of our profits to your Sect Leader every year.”

Although Wang Quan was greedy for money, Su Qing believed that he wouldn’t just take money without doing any work.

The two chatted for a while longer. Xing’er had plans to expand northward with Fu’er when she was older.

She was somewhat unsatisfied with Tianque City and wanted to expand her territory further in her lifetime.

Su Qing asked her about her cultivation, and Zhu Xing’er was at a loss.

She said, “The cultivation methods outside are like heavenly scriptures; I fall asleep just looking at them. Fortunately, I didn’t go into cultivation back then. Only the summary you gave me is somewhat understandable. Even though I can understand it, the incantations just won’t stick in my head. Don’t look at me having drawn spiritual energy into my body; it’s all from eating pills and spiritual herbs. But eating too much also carries the risk of sudden death, so I think I’ll just let it be. I won’t make it hard on myself, just live happily day by day.”

Su Qing said faintly, “If you cultivate to late Qi Refining, your lifespan can reach one hundred and twenty years. If you’re lucky enough to cultivate to great perfection in Qi Refining, you can live to one hundred and fifty years.”

Zhu Xing’er said bitterly, “I’d like to, but a person’s energy is limited. I’ll stick to what I’m good at.”

Su Qing didn’t speak again. She didn’t force it, but sometimes she felt an emptiness in her heart.

Zhu Xing’er, however, was open-minded. “Besides, even if that day comes, Fu’er will still be here.”

The two spoke for a while, a long while, until Fu’er, unable to bear it any longer, came in to cling to them. Zhu Xing’er let Su Qing hold her.

This child wanted everyone to hold her; it was truly unbearable.

Fu’er wasn’t picky. When Su Qing held her, she allowed it, adjusting into a comfortable position in her arms. It was just that this auntie’s body was a bit harder than others’.

Never mind, since she learned to walk, few people had held her. Fu’er magnanimously declared she wouldn’t hold a grudge.

She listened to the adults talking, her eyes rolling, but her small hand grasped Su Qing’s storage bracelet, curiously touching it all over.

Zhu Xing’er carefully took out two certificates from a box. She said, “These are your portions for the past five years. I’ve deposited them in two parts at Yulong Bank, just as you instructed. Here are the certificates. Take them out when you have time and get yourself some better clothes.”

Su Qing took the certificates. “Thank you. In the future, please divide my portion into three parts, depositing a total of three shares.”

Zhu Xing’er naturally had no objections.

Su Qing looked at her own attire and thought it was quite good.

In the cultivation world, dressing too ostentatiously was actually bad.

Her plain, poor-ghost attire was suitable for quietly undertaking great deeds.

“In the Sword School, Foundation Establishment cultivators are everywhere. Most of them aren’t dressed very well. Compared to them, I’m actually quite decent, at least both sleeves are still intact, and there are no patches on my elbows.”

As for those beautiful disciple robes, they were only for wearing when going out to meet guests.

During daily cultivation, clothing suffered significant wear and tear, so everyone dressed haphazardly, and many wore truly disgusting outfits.

Compared to that, Su Qing felt she was still quite normal.

Zhu Xing’er understood her meaning and didn’t insist. “Only a large sect like the Sword School can have Foundation Establishment cultivators everywhere. Outside, if one can produce a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it’s the glory of the family, and they can even establish a sect, take disciples, and enjoy the offerings of small families. How could they not put on a show?”

Resources in the outside world were originally so scarce. Thinking this way, the Sword School graduates’ employment prospects were quite good.

The two spoke for several more hours, stopping only when their throats were dry.

Su Qing recounted meeting Xiu Fu in Yinlan City.

Knowing that she was now safe despite taking risks, Zhu Xing’er also breathed a sigh of relief.

It was rare for her to have so much free time to talk.

Soon after, matters from various places came to her, requiring her decision.

Su Qing told her to quickly attend to her business. She would hold the baby.

Fu’er felt as light as a feather to Su Qing. Moreover, she didn’t cry or fuss; she was like a little charm.

She thought, ‘When Fu’er grows up, she’ll probably still look pretty much the same. Then she must say that classic line: I even held you when you were little.’

At noon, Su Qing stayed to eat. Li Ming’en sat beside her, and the two discussed knife techniques.

Due to her travels as a merchant, Li Ming’en had also begun to train her body, learning some skills from the accompanying escorts.

She didn’t seek anything else, only the ability to protect herself first.

Su Qing actually had a low-tier knife technique manual.

Although this manual was uncommon, it wasn’t a precious item worth coveting.

So, she confidently gave it to Li Ming’en, urging her to cultivate diligently and ideally also draw spiritual energy into her body to gain a few more years of life.

Fu’er, at her young age, couldn’t quite eat by herself yet.

Fortunately, her wet nurse helped her with meals. She sat in a small cart, being playfully teased by the various female accountants dining with them.

The child had a very good disposition; she would smile obligingly at anyone who teased her, laughing so much that grains of rice kept falling onto her bib.

The wet nurse would wait until she finished laughing, then pour the rice from her bib back into her bowl for her to continue eating.
In the afternoon, Su Qing met Jiang Shuang again.

Jia Song had left Tianque City four years ago to develop his business in the eighteen southern cities, rolling up his sleeves, attempting to make a big splash.

According to Jiang Shuang, he had already married and had children, bringing his family to live with him. He had now developed the beginnings of a small family.

Jiang Shuang was originally six years older than Su Qing.

With spiritual tea and pills to nourish her, although her appearance didn’t show it, her real age had passed forty.

In an ordinary household, she would already be a grandmother.

But she had always worried about Honey Spirit Tea and hadn’t met a suitable person, so she lived alone, bringing her mother to live with her and Aunt Li, along with Li Ming’en.

“People always say it’s pitiful, to toil a lifetime, with no children, no descendants to inherit the family business, even if you save one.”

No matter how Jiang Shuang changed, she still regarded Su Qing as the young girl she once was. She smiled and said, “Actually, I live in a large house in a good district of Tianque City. When I’m free, I cook for myself. When I’m busy, I hire someone to cook. I don’t care about the price of ingredients; whatever is fresh, whatever I like to eat, I have it made. From time to time, I also go to Tianxiang Tower for a meal.”

“When inspiration strikes, I invite storytellers and opera troupes to my home to perform, and we all have a lively time. Master Shuyu’s storybooks are worth a fortune, but I have a complete set at home. If I get bored in Tianque City, I visit various cities nearby to inspect shops and relax. If such a divine life is considered pitiful, then I am truly pitiful to death.”

Jiang Shuang honestly told Su Qing, “I know they say I’m pitiful to scare me, to make me lose my head so they can strip things from me. But what kind of world haven’t I seen? I wasn’t raised to be scared.”

From a country farm girl to seeking work in Tianque City, lucky enough to be chosen by a young and kind patron, brought to the Sword School to conduct business, and later developing in Tianque City, fully managing the shops, and overseeing the Honey Spirit Tea business in nearly eight cities.

Jiang Shuang felt her journey hadn’t been easy, yet she marveled at her good fortune in meeting Su Qing.

Su Qing sat up straighter, quietly listening to Jiang Shuang speak with vibrant enthusiasm.

She increasingly felt that even if Jiang Shuang wasn’t a cultivator, was such a life truly dull?

Not at all.

She admired and loved such a life, and Jiang Shuang living it.

Su Qing said sincerely, “No matter what others say, your well-being is what matters most to me.”

Jiang Shuang looked at her, her gaze warm.

“To say something presumptuous, I feel the same way about my patron.”

However, immortals and mortals did not walk the same path.

She deeply knew this and promptly cut off her words, saving them from unnecessary sadness.

Jiang Shuang found two prepared bank certificates and handed them to Su Qing.

“One is from my side, and one is from Jia Song’s side. He hears things from afar; as soon as he received news of the Sword School’s cloud boat returning, he sent this back.”

Su Qing’s journey this time not only allowed her to catch up with old friends, but also filled her storage bag.

Before leaving, she asked Xing’er to keep an eye out for clues about spiritual items for core formation.

This was partly for Tian Ning, and partly for herself, as she was also in the late Foundation Establishment stage and needed to start preparing some things.

It wasn’t until she withdrew the money from the bank that she realized how wealthy she now was.

Although for cultivators, wealth was always temporary.

With money acquired, the next step, of course, was to consider how to spend it.