Chapter Nineteen: The Hall of a Hundred Treasures

After leaving the Martial Canon Pavilion, Ye Cheng did not return directly to his residence. Instead, after turning a few corners, he looped around the Ye family’s rear garden and made his way to the family’s finance office.

Inside the finance office, a rather corpulent, bloated middle-aged man was seated at the accounting desk. This was Cai Rong, the Ye family’s chief steward. When he noticed Ye Cheng’s arrival, he heaved his heavy body up and greeted him with a broad smile.

“Young Master Cheng, what brings you here?” Cai Rong asked with a beaming face.

Noticing this warm reception—so different from the lukewarm manner Cai Rong had shown him in the past—Ye Cheng surmised that his recent achievements had quietly elevated his status within the Ye family.

With this understanding, Ye Cheng felt little need for pleasantries with the steward before him. After a moment’s thought, he said directly, “I’m here today to settle my allowance. It’s been about three years since I last collected the silver the family allotted me. By now, the sum must have grown quite a bit.”

As a member of the Ye family, every month he was entitled to ten taels of silver as spending money, while those of the direct line received a more generous twenty taels. Over the months, the amount had accumulated to a considerable sum.

“Of course, Young Master Cheng.” Cai Rong dared not delay, quickly pulling out the account ledger from his robe and flipping through it. Given Ye Cheng’s current talent and standing, he was now one of the family’s most valued members—any misstep could bode ill for Cai Rong’s own future.

“Young Master Cheng, you haven’t collected your allowance for three years and four months. At twenty taels per month, your total comes to eight hundred taels of silver,” Cai Rong said with a smile, his fleshy face creasing.

Ye Cheng nodded, silently doing the calculation in his mind before replying, “Very well, I’ll withdraw it all now—I need it urgently.”

Cai Rong wasted no time and hurried into the silver vault, soon returning with a few banknotes in hand. “Young Master Cheng, here are the banknotes.”

Ye Cheng accepted them and glanced at the figures, then asked with a hint of doubt, “Steward Cai, are you sure you gave me the right amount? This is a note for a thousand taels—I thought I was owed only eight hundred?”

Cai Rong chuckled obsequiously. “Young Master Cheng, you haven’t drawn your allowance in so long and are now taking it all at once. I suppose you must need it urgently. I’ve saved a little over the years in service to the Ye family—please accept the extra two hundred taels as an advance to help you out.”

“This fat man certainly knows how to ingratiate himself,” a voice sounded in Ye Cheng’s mind—Old Mu. “He’s quite tactful. Since he’s offering, you might as well accept. A thousand taels should be enough to commission a decent spirit spear.”

Ye Cheng nodded inwardly. He indeed needed money at the moment, and since Cai Rong was offering, there was no harm in accepting. Besides, Cai Rong managed the daily affairs of the family, and soon Ye Cheng would be heading to the Demon Forest for training—he would not be able to look after Ye Ling personally, but by building rapport with Cai Rong, he could ensure Ye Ling received some extra care.

With this thought, a smile appeared on Ye Cheng’s face. “Since this is Steward Cai’s goodwill, I’ll gladly accept it.”

With a calm smile, Ye Cheng turned to leave, heading directly to the most renowned market on the eastern side of town.

The eastern marketplace of Luoyang Town was bustling with people, a constant stream coming and going, their shouts and cries filling the air in an endless cacophony that echoed above the crowded streets.

Entering the marketplace, Ye Cheng showed no reaction to the press of people. He wove through the crowd and side streets with purpose until he stopped in front of a large shop.

He looked up at the sign that read “Spirit Treasure Pavilion,” shook his head slightly, and walked in.

Spirit Treasure Pavilion specialized in selling all manner of goods and was the most famous shop in town. It also purchased a variety of items. Inside, one could find healing medicines, weapons, cultivation techniques, and martial skills—everything an adventurer who hunted demonic beasts might need.

As Ye Cheng entered, he saw many adventurers in hunting attire browsing the wares. A pretty young saleswoman noticed him and approached with a courteous smile. “Sir, welcome to Spirit Treasure Pavilion. May I assist you with anything?”

“I’d like to see your spirit spears,” Ye Cheng replied, his gentle expression and handsome features causing a faint blush to rise on the young woman’s cheeks.

She nodded shyly, her voice soft. “Please, follow me,” she said, leading the way upstairs.

Ye Cheng smiled and followed, taking in the displays as he walked. It was his first visit to Spirit Treasure Pavilion, and the brown décor and dark wooden furnishings lent the place an air of ancient elegance.

On the second floor, various martial weapons were displayed in the glass cases—swords, sabers, and spears dominated the collection, suggesting these were the most popular among customers.

Following the young woman, Ye Cheng glanced about until she stopped at one of the display cases.

Through the clear glass, Ye Cheng saw a silver spear standing upright. It was nearly eight feet long, and under the light, its tip gleamed with a silvery radiance.

“Sir, this spear was crafted by a master named Luke. It holds a far greater reserve of spiritual energy than ordinary spirit weapons, making it much more powerful. I highly recommend this spear,” the saleswoman explained.

Ye Cheng nodded with satisfaction. He could sense the spiritual energy flowing within the weapon—far more than what was found in a typical spirit weapon. Clearly, the maker had employed some special techniques to enhance its capacity.

However, when his eyes drifted to the price tag—two thousand taels—an odd look crossed his face.

He had only a thousand taels to his name, barely half of what was required. Shaking his head helplessly, he was about to speak when the laughter of a middle-aged man rang out behind him.

“Haha, Young Master Ye, such an honor to have you grace my Spirit Treasure Pavilion. Why didn’t you send word ahead so that I, Wei, could welcome you personally?”

As the voice faded, a refined middle-aged man in a blue robe approached, several attendants following at his heels.

The saleswoman who had led Ye Cheng upstairs greeted the newcomer respectfully, “Steward Wei.”

The man, known as Steward Wei, waved her off with a gentle motion before turning to Ye Cheng. “I am Wei Chao, the manager of this Spirit Treasure Pavilion. At the Ye family’s coming-of-age ceremony, I had the privilege of witnessing your prowess firsthand—an impression that has stayed with me ever since.”

Ye Cheng nodded, having already guessed the man’s identity from the saleswoman’s address. As a manager of such a prominent establishment, Wei Chao would certainly have been invited to the Ye family’s important events.

Not wishing to dwell on formalities, Ye Cheng returned the greeting with modesty. “So you are Steward Wei.”

Wei Chao smiled broadly, his eyes drifting almost imperceptibly to the display case behind Ye Cheng. “Tell me, Young Master Cheng, have you taken a liking to this spirit spear?”

“I have, but with a price like that, a pauper like me could never afford it.”

The story continues...