64 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 54: A Toast As evening settled, rain began to fall once more. The bestowed rainfall wove its way through the hemisphere-shaped enchantment that covered Huaihai City, pulling at the spirit-gathering array in the air and infusing the atmosphere with slightly impure spiritual energy. This was likely the first rain of the autumn, as the soft pinks and blues of dusk approached from the horizon. The heat of summer still lingered on the streets, only to be crushed into the cracks of the bricks by the autumn rain. The tavern had lit its lamps early, and the dozens of luminous pearls suspended overhead bathed the interior in white light, as bright as day. Under this soft glow, adults with shadowed faces exchanged toasts and banter. Zhu Yun was seated near the window, half-leaning against the lattice. She stretched out her arm, letting the early autumn rain play upon her hand. Droplets danced, soaking her alabaster forearm and the silk of her sleeve. She cherished the rain. The rains of Huaihai City varied with the seasons, and she favored the autumn rain most, especially at the beginning of autumn, when it carried the lingering warmth of summer. In the distance, a three-eyed dog, lazily sprawled under the eaves, panted with its tongue lolling out. Its fluffy fur was thoroughly wetted by the rain from the street, yet it made no attempt to seek shelter, panting stupidly. Upon closer inspection, Zhu Yun noticed a chain binding the dog by its neck to a vermillion pillar, leaving it no place to hide from the rain. The dog licked its wet paws and suddenly realized a child was staring at it from the second-floor window across the street, prompting it to bark playfully. “A Huang, what's the commotion?” A shop attendant emerged, unfastening the chain from the pillar and squinting across the street. The finely dressed child dangled a white arm from the window, her wide sleeve darkened by the rain. From afar, the attendant saw a delicate and pretty girl. But before he could take a closer look, a stern-looking man appeared behind her, pulling her back. The attendant turned back in confusion, finding his shopkeeper standing behind him, indicating with an inscrutable expression for him to return inside. Dazedly, he nodded and couldn’t resist glancing back one last time, only to find the window now tightly shut, the child nowhere in sight. “Watch where you’re looking; that’s beyond us,” the shopkeeper chided, giving him a sharp rap on the back of his head. “Oh,” he murmured, acknowledging his mistake. Perhaps she was a young lady of some prominent family, beyond his concern. His priority was to take A Huang inside. Zhu Che gently coaxed Zhu Yun back inside and shut the window. It seemed they had finished their conversation, leaving it to Zhu Yun to “negotiate” with them. The slender girl, barely ten, possessed a face so daintily formed it was smaller than a grown man’s hand. Her lips were painted with a vivid hue, her face adorned subtly with cosmetics, and her deep eyes, shaded by fan-like lashes, exuded a mysterious allure. Such words shouldn’t describe a girl of her age; it was neither proper nor moral. Zhu Che affectionately seated her down, drying her damp sleeves: “Xu Bo, this is my eldest daughter. Yun'er, greet your uncles.” His tone brimmed with pride, and rightfully so; Zhu Che had raised his eldest daughter with care. At ten years old, she was already graceful and demure. Upon her father's words, Zhu Yun, as if trained, lifted her face, replacing her disinterested look with a sweet smile: “Hello, uncles.” Her smile was so sweet and graceful, it seemed practiced flawlessly rather than reflexive. Zhu Yun surveyed the men surrounding the table—“uncles” thrice her size and twenty times her age. Only a young-looking man from the Xu family seemed slightly uncomfortable, while the others flattered her. “Within Huaihai City, no, the entire cultivation world would be hard-pressed to find such a charming child,” remarked a middle-aged man with a long beard called “Xu Bo” by Zhu Che. The Xu family head patted his second son’s shoulder, smiling broadly: “A nephew must learn from one like Yun'er. My granddaughter is fearless, nearly tearing off the Xu residence roof, while this boy does nothing. A girl should be more gentle, like our little Yun'er.” Xu Family Second Son’s face turned a hint of green, but he dared not contradict his father publicly, forcing a smile with a nod. “Speaking of which, how's your younger daughter? She's about Yun'er’s age; why not bring her along?” Zhu Che inquired. Zhu Yun’s eyelids fluttered lightly. Though she knew it was merely a polite inquiry, she couldn’t help imagining a peer witnessing her current role. Fortunately, apart from the Zhu family, who else would present a ten-year-old at such gatherings? The Xu Family Head waved dismissively: “Loud as she is, sent her elsewhere.” He was clearly inebriated, while the Xu Family Second Son explained awkwardly: “You Qing is unruly; I sent her to Yucang Mountain for training. Besides, she wouldn’t play well with Yun’er.” Superior spiritual wine of the cultivation world differed vastly from the crude brews of mortals. It went down smooth; strong spirits could even intoxicate cultivators, and crafted mostly from spirit fruits, its complex process infused it with pure spiritual power beneficial for cultivation. Someone drunkenly slapped the table: “How can they not play together? You’re disrespecting Yun’er; look how well she mingles with us!” The speaker, youthful in appearance, Zhu Yun meeting him for the first time, drank heavily and quickly. Now he encircled her slender form with an arm, grinning as he spoke: “Isn’t that right, Yun’er?” “Yeah, why not play together?” Zhu Yun didn’t flinch, although his elbow dug into her back unpleasantly. She remained unfazed, speaking cheerfully even as his grip tightened. Only when the man tried to pull her onto his lap did Zhu Che intervene: “Brother Bai, you’re drunk.” Seeing Zhu Yun cough gently as Zhu Che resettled her onto her chair, like a prized trophy retrieved, the Bai Youth seemed displeased with Zhu Che: “Brother Zhu, not fair. Sellers know to let buyers inspect the goods; why can’t we?” Zhu Che sipped his wine calmly: “A fine wine sealed in a jug gains flavor over time. Once opened, it’s a different story.” The Bai Youth's eyes narrowed dangerously: “You think the Bai family can't afford one jug of wine?” “Not at all, it's just…” Zhu Che smiled mysteriously, “This wine is unique, worth savoring, and there's no reason to sell it solely to you.” “What, do you plan to host a poetry and wine tasting, giving everyone a sip?” The group chuckled at the jest. Only Xu Family Second Son's face turned from green to white. He bit his tongue, forcing himself to look at Zhu Yun, who sat like a doll beside Zhu Che. Zhu Yun’s demeanor remained unchanged, as if Zhu Che had wound her up backstage, with the spring yet to unwind. She paid no heed to the exchanges, nor ate, simply smiling serenely. Upon recognizing the discord in Xu Family Second Son’s expression, she appeared genuinely intrigued, meeting his eyes. From her calm gaze, he sensed no turmoil or plea for help, trembling slightly as if a lump caught in his throat. He thought of his unruly daughter, sent off to another sect, lively and spirited in every feature. Zhu Yun seemed almost like a porcelain doll, invoking fear and discomfort. She was so beautiful, evoking memories of the radiant bridal procession when Yue Hua Jun married into the Zhu family. The Yucang Mountain cultivators brought forth a colorful aura, cloaking the already beautiful woman in a mystical glow. She resembled Yue Hua Jun closely. A decade ago, which young male cultivator didn’t admire the beauties of Yucang Mountain? Even random passersby in the cultivation world felt Zhu Che unworthy of the match. Knowing the truth, he thought it not just like a flower stuck in dung, but a true misfortune. However… surveying his father, aware of his position as the second son with little succession chance, what leverage did he have to defy his father? He stood abruptly, muttering, “I’ll hurry the dishes,” fleeing the room. Zhu Yun withdrew her gaze, her expression as calm as before, as if nothing had happened. The Xu Family Head’s interest was piqued by Zhu Che’s remarks. Extending a hand toward Zhu Yun but addressing Zhu Che, he expressed, “I must see this fine wine you’re selling.” Zhu Che nodded slightly, prompting Zhu Yun to reach out and gently place her hand, light and delicate, into that broad, calloused palm. When that large hand clenched around hers, Zhu Yun couldn't help but tremble. The grip was so forceful it felt as if he might crush her hand. An invisible pressure weighed down on Zhu Yun, making it hard for her to breathe as she sensed a foreign spiritual power coursing from their joined hands. The man's expression shifted when he realized his spiritual power moved through Zhu Yun's body unimpeded. Moreover, he couldn't sense any attribute of her spiritual roots. Ordinarily, any cultivator, even those at the most basic level or who haven’t begun cultivation, would inherently repel foreign spiritual power. The term "furnace physique" refers to a constitution lacking clear boundaries between itself and others, allowing it to be harvested by others. The most representative of furnace physiques is the Celestial Physique. Virtually all furnaces possess excellent characteristics of open and resilient meridians, but it was evident Zhu Yun was not such, as her meridians were narrow and fragile, causing her intense pain whenever someone else's spiritual power entered. Therein lay the peculiarity; it further confirmed Zhu Che had not lied to them. Zhu Yun’s furnace physique was artificial, manifesting in a manner completely different from other furnaces, yet possibly yielding similar effects. On another level... the man could hardly believe it: Zhu Yun had no inclination towards any spiritual energy element. She was a Celestial Root. This not only meant she could absorb any type of spiritual power as fast as a single-attribute cultivator, but her efficacy was over five times greater. It also implied she could be "used" by any cultivator, regardless of their attribute. This was a Celestial Root! The cultivation world hadn't seen a Celestial Root in countless years; it was the most promising sign of eventual ascension, and here sat one before him. In a sense, Zhu Yun was the world’s most efficient spiritual energy filter. The multi-colored spiritual energy she refined would lose its original attributes, making it absorbable by any cultivator... Effectively transforming her possessor into a Celestial Root. The Xu Family Head withdrew his hand in a daze, his intoxication completely cleared. His gaze upon Zhu Yun changed from playful to avaricious, like a hungry wolf eyeing a shortcut to immortality. It took him a moment to conceal that blatant look, and he smiled affably, raising his cup to Zhu Yun, “Truly remarkable. Let me toast you.” Those around, unaware of the finer details, gazed at the girl with newfound curiosity. They realized that what Zhu Che had said was true, and the potential benefits far exceeded their expectations. Zhu Yun glanced at her father. Her spiritual roots were fragile, and she couldn’t easily process or endure the spiritual power contained in spirit wine. Yet Zhu Che cheerfully urged, “Since Uncle Xu is offering you a toast, drink it.” Unhesitatingly, the girl took the cup her father handed her, clinking it against the elderly man’s as if they were old friends, then decisively drank the spirit wine. The liquid was fiery, slashing through her throat like a knife and burning all the way to her stomach, where the pain radiated out to every part of her body. It had been a long time since Zhu Yun had experienced pain like this. She had always been her father's good girl, always obedient. I’m already listening, so why? Tears from the intense pain seeped out despite her. The smile she’d been trained to maintain didn’t waver, her pallor quickly flushed with red from the rising drunkenness. She blinked, letting tears fall from the sides like a blossom stained with morning dew, crushed by the roadside. The man continued to press, “My dear nephew, you were mentioning the mass production…” Before he could finish, the Xu Family Second Son returned with hurried steps, interrupting the conversation, engendering the man’s anger, but the Second Son leaned forward and whispered something by his father’s side. “There’s news from the city gate, Yue Hua Jun entered the city this afternoon,” he reported, his eyes subconsciously glancing towards the girl, now dulled by inebriation, announcing loudly enough for her to hear. Just then, a paper sparrow squeezed through the window crack, alighting by Zhu Che’s ear to deliver an urgent report from unheard subordinates. Expressions turned peculiar in the Xu family entourage. Yue Hua Jun was Qiwei's junior sister; if her arrival concerned Zhu Yun, the arrangements made earlier would unravel... The Xu Family Head was displeased. He couldn’t allow a catch slipping through at the last moment, promptly standing as he said, “Since we have esteemed guests arriving, you should focus on them, my nephew. We'll discuss this matter in detail once the guests depart.” As they left, he cast a meaningful glance at the young girl, stating, “If you need any assistance from the Xu family, just ask.” Thus, Zhu Che knew the deal was settled, though disrupted by this unexpected visitor. Otherwise, it would have ended with a contract like last month with the Bai family. He cursed under his breath, this woman's timing was impeccable. How the news leaked was a mystery. In the now empty room, Zhu Che scowled, gripping his daughter’s collar, “That woman is snooping for information about you in the city. If I catch you betraying us…” He instinctively raised his hand but lowered it, recalling it wasn’t wise to add more marks to Zhu Yun’s face now. Still dazed, the girl pondered the previous question. She murmured, “Yue Hua Jun? Who is that?” Surely, no one was coming from afar to rescue her. Author's Note: Content that even unsettles the author slightly. But don't worry, nothing bad will happen. The master is coming to save them. Thanks to the angels who cast votes or provided nutrient solutions between 2022-03-02 20:35:41 and 2022-03-03 21:11:35~ Thanks to the angel who provided nutrient solution: Nine Wan Li 10 bottles; Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard! No pop-up ads on the site, permanent domain name (xbanxia.com)