A Day Off and Unforeseen Visitors

Bai Yuan lay sprawled on the rattan chair, lost in a daze.

Last night, she had promised her husband she would start working. Yet, upon waking, a sudden realization struck her. Yesterday, because Hu Hai and his men had successfully mastered the formation practice, she had granted them a day off.

Naturally, this meant she didn’t need to go to Tianhe Gate today. She could simply continue lounging and basking in the sun.

Consequently, Bai Yuan felt a pang of guilt. Simultaneously, a sense of unfamiliarity settled over her.

Having been idle for so long, the prospect of having something to do now felt strangely bittersweet.

‘Am I truly born with the constitution of a workhorse?’

Bai Yuan squinted at the sky, a canvas of washed-out blue, and chuckled at her own expense.

“Madam Yuan, a woman named Cheng Rui from Tieyang Gate is requesting an audience outside the manor.”

Biyan stepped in to report.

Cheng Rui? The steward for that minor blacksmithing sect in Wuzhou City. Was there something else afoot?

Bai Yuan pondered, deciding that since she had nothing pressing at the moment, she nodded. “Let her in.”

“…Fifth Madam, regarding the matter of purchasing blades, I implore you to assist in smoothing things over.”

As soon as Cheng Rui entered, she completed her bow and, without bothering with pleasantries, immediately cut to the chase.

“Purchasing blades?”

Bai Yuan found this rather perplexing. After discussing the matter with Yang Xuan, she had completely forgotten about it. Could it be that it still hadn’t been resolved?

“Indeed, ever since Fifth Madam gave her assent that day…”

Cheng Rui patiently recounted the entire sequence of events. While she spoke somewhat quickly, Bai Yuan still grasped the situation clearly.

“It couldn’t pass Steward Zhao’s scrutiny?”

“Precisely. Steward Zhao stated that the price of our blades was too high, and he could not accept them without first seeking further instructions from the Gate Master.”

Cheng Rui’s heart was aflutter with anxiety, yet she forced herself to explain to the Fifth Madam with utmost patience.

“Oh, that’s fine then,”

Bai Yuan, however, had already lost most of her concern. “I’ve already spoken to my husband about this. Since Steward Zhao said he needs to ask for instructions, then we shall simply wait for him to do so. It will be resolved in due course, so rest assured.”

“But—”

Cheng Rui did not share her sentiment. She had already boasted about this matter to her sect and had expended considerable effort and funds. The blades were forged, yet this Fifth Madam, who had initially been so confident, was now being obstructed at the last moment.

To her dismay, the reason for the obstruction still lay with the Fifth Madam herself.

Furthermore, they were still being stalled now. Any discerning eye could see that Steward Zhao, notorious for his avarice, was clearly trying to exploit the situation, otherwise he wouldn’t have even thrown out the gifts they offered.

Who knew when Steward Zhao planned to bring it up to Grandmaster Yang? And when would Grandmaster Yang decide to resolve it?

If it remained unresolved, and this Fifth Madam simply retreated into the manor, to whom would Cheng Rui turn for a solution?

“If you’re not satisfied, then just add another hundred blades. It makes no difference.”

Bai Yuan remained unperturbed. She did not believe Yang Xuan would genuinely neglect a deal so profitable for Tianhe Gate. A little patience would surely yield results.

Her thoughts, however, had already drifted elsewhere. Yang Xuan had mentioned last night that he wanted her to take on tasks, but… what kind of tasks? Should she continue drilling military formations?

Yet, the requirements for the Heavenly Stellar and Earthly Fiend Array were stringent, barely met even by the elites of the Sharp Gold Guard. To select more within the sect, they might at best assemble one or two more such formations.

As for the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Star Formation, if it were to be further broken down, it indeed offered some advantages compared to other prevalent formations, but these were not significant. Even if they were to switch to cultivating it, it wouldn’t be immediately useful.

So, what was Yang Xuan planning?

As she lost herself in thought, Cheng Rui across from her was on the verge of laughing in exasperation. ‘So, you haven’t even resolved the issue of a hundred blades, and now you’re drawing up another empty promise?’

Simultaneously, a touch of sorrow crept into her heart.

This woman had once been a formidable and influential figure in Longyou, yet who would have thought her true nature was so insufferable?

As a surge of anger rose within her, she was about to speak her mind without reservation. Just then, Biyan, who had been guarding outside, entered. She didn’t even spare Cheng Rui a glance, reporting directly to Bai Yuan.

“Madam Yuan, Madam has sent someone with medicinal herbs. They are waiting outside the gate.”

“Medicinal herbs?”

Bai Yuan felt a sudden bewilderment. “What kind of medicinal herbs?”

Biyan shook her head. “This servant is not privy to the details. Sister Zique personally led them here and only said to ask Madam to accept them.”

“Very well, invite them in.”

Bai Yuan considered this, deciding it was best to assess the situation first. Zique was now Qin Wanzhao’s most trusted confidante, so her personal visit should not be treated lightly.

The two of them left Cheng Rui ignored. A moment later, Zique entered, leading two of Qin Wanzhao’s maids who carried a chest.

“Madam Yuan, Madam has instructed us to deliver these medicinal herbs to you.”

Zique smiled as she bowed to Bai Yuan. “There are nine bottles of Nineflower Jade Dew Pills, and an additional bottle of Profound Sun Pills specially added by the Gate Master. He said you have been working hard these days, and these herbs are to nourish your body.”

Nineflower Jade Dew Pills? Profound Sun Pills?

Bai Yuan struggled to control her expression. Were these medicinal herbs truly just for nourishing the body?

One had to understand that Nineflower Jade Dew Pills, especially those personally crafted by Yin Shuang, were top-grade cultivation elixirs. A single bottle would be no less potent than the wine she had consumed that day.

As for the Profound Sun Pills… those were precious medicines used only by Xiantian Grandmasters for their cultivation.

For someone still in the Houtian realm like her to consume them, while it might be an exaggeration to call it a waste of heavenly treasures, they were genuinely beyond her current needs.

Hard work? Could it be… the formation drills these past days?

She could only think of this possibility. Surely, they didn’t think she was working too hard in bed?

“Sister Qin is truly too kind.”

After a brief deliberation, Bai Yuan couldn’t conceive of any other reason, so she stopped troubling herself. She simply smiled and nodded, accepting the medicines. Doing good deeds and accepting rewards with a clear conscience—this was a lesson Yang Xuan had taught her in bed last night.

Moreover, she had indeed desired some elixirs these past days.

After all, her Inner Scenery’s Spiritual City still needed refining, and the remaining three Grand Abyss Demon Slaying Cannons awaited forging. Though she had grown accustomed to slowly accumulating power through cultivation, she would naturally not refuse medicine that could help shorten the time.

Zique returned to report, and Biyan went to store the medicines. For a time, only Bai Yuan and Cheng Rui remained in the courtyard.

Cheng Rui’s eyes flickered, her heart wrestling with itself. Her initial anger had long been extinguished.

She had heard of Nineflower Jade Dew Pills. Her own father had once obtained one, cherishing it like a priceless treasure. Before consuming it, he had specifically fasted, bathed, burned incense, and quieted his mind, adopting an extremely solemn attitude, striving not to waste a single trace of its medicinal power.

Yet, this woman here received nine bottles, sent by the First Madam herself, and seemed utterly unfazed. A simple “too kind” was all it took to dismiss the matter, without even a word of thanks. Not to mention the Profound Sun Pills; though she hadn’t heard of them, how could anything a Xiantian Grandmaster produced be anything less than extraordinary?

Who had said this Fifth Madam was currently out of favor?

‘She’s clearly spoiled rotten,’ she thought bitterly. ‘No wonder she carries herself with such airs.’

“Miss Cheng, is there anything else?”

Bai Yuan’s gaze drifted towards the somewhat bewildered Cheng Rui. She had, in fact, been keenly aware of the various psychological shifts the woman had undergone, but chose not to expose her.

Everyone viewed things from a different perspective, and those reactions were only human nature. If their positions were swapped, she would likely react similarly, so there was no need to get angry.

“That… Fifth Madam, about the matter of adding another hundred blades just now…”

Cheng Rui paused, forcing a smile, and asked cautiously.