Chapter Fifty-One: Human Greed Knows No Bounds

Radiant brilliance poured forth, flooding the ground with shimmering light, colors swirling in harmony.

At the end of several towering bookshelves, a man in plain robes and a white crown sat upright on a pale yellow meditation cushion. A luminous jade glow enveloped him, and his already aloof, lofty bearing was accentuated by this radiance, making him seem ever more detached from the mortal world, almost transcendent.

Around Chen Heng, several talismanic artifacts floated and danced playfully, rising and falling. Tu Shan Ge glanced once and immediately recognized the Purple-Gold Demon-Breaking Hammer of Tong Gaolu and the Flowing Skies Ruler of Zhou Chuyu among them; their presence was striking.

“How did you know my cultivation has advanced again?” Chen Heng smiled.

“Master, have you never looked in a mirror?” Tu Shan Ge glanced about the elegant, richly adorned quiet chamber, noting the ornamental bamboo and ink paintings, but found no mirror present.

He chuckled, spreading his hands to conjure a bright mirror with divine power.

Seated on the cushion, Chen Heng raised his eyes to the mirror and frowned slightly.

“How is it that compared to before…”

“If master wishes to avoid entanglements with female cultivators in the future, you’ll have to keep that bamboo-and-wood mask close at hand.” Tu Shan Ge laughed. “Master’s beauty is rare even in the vast Dongmi Province, but your cold and distant demeanor always kept others at bay. Now you’ve gained a gentle, jade-like warmth—truly harmonious!”

“I had no idea such a change had occurred.” Chen Heng laughed helplessly.

This transformation was likely due to the ‘Jade Body of Supreme Purity’ technique. Both Tong Gaolu and the Daoist of Yang Mountain, after mastering this method, possessed a calm, mountain-like presence and became much more approachable. For him, the effect was even greater…

“Master, this is a blessing. When the Temple of the Flower Goddess recruits disciples, they first consider aptitude and temperament, but next comes appearance!” Tu Shan Ge, seeing Chen Heng’s indifferent expression, couldn’t help but speak. “I heard from my previous master a tale: there was once a wandering cultivator who won first place at the ‘Gathering of Blossoms,’ but because his appearance was unbearably ugly, the deputy master personally expelled him from the sect!”

“The Temple of the Flower Goddess is a powerful second-tier sect. If you join, achieving the rank of Golden Core is possible, and becoming a Master of Profound Refinement is all but assured.”

“Appearance is but the most superficial aspect; the deputy master’s actions lack fairness, and the sect itself seems not so wise…” Chen Heng shook his head, intending to say more, but remembering he might indeed need to join the Temple of the Flower Goddess, as they were among the few sects that accepted wandering cultivators.

He sighed inwardly and fell silent.

“Once you reach Golden Core, you can reshape your body and appearance at will. No matter how strange you look then, it won’t matter.” Chen Heng considered, then said to Tu Shan Ge, “Did you notice these talismanic artifacts? Please choose one as a token for your enjoyment.”

“Me?” Tu Shan Ge was startled, barely believing his ears.

“Since we met, you’ve helped me greatly. A single artifact hardly repays your merit.”

Tu Shan Ge hesitated for a few breaths before courageously asking for the Cloud-Chasing Flying Boat.

Chen Heng erased the blood imprint from the artifact, and after half a cup of tea’s time, withdrew his aura. When Tu Shan Ge received the flying boat, his joy was evident.

He disliked conflict; among all the artifacts, the Cloud-Chasing Flying Boat was the most splendid, its crimson cloud form a delight to behold—a favorite of his.

Chen Heng didn’t mind; this trip to Yuanjing had yielded more than ten lower-grade artifacts and four of mid-grade.

They were: the Purple-Gold Demon-Breaking Hammer, the Maiden’s Painted Scroll, the Flowing Skies Ruler, and the Concordant Carriage.

The hammer and scroll came from Tong Gaolu, who was said to possess three mid-grade artifacts, though Chen Heng had only seen two. Whether the rumor was mistaken or Tong Gaolu had sold the third over the years was unknown.

The ruler and carriage were taken from Zhou Chuyu’s spatial pouch.

The first was a powerful offensive tool; the second could be used for flight, its speed far outstripping the Cloud-Chasing Flying Boat, which made the latter dispensable to Chen Heng.

“And what about Tu Shan Zhuang…” Chen Heng said.

“Master, master! I’ve already rewarded him, no need to bother!” Tu Shan Ge jumped, hurriedly explaining, “That beast loves fine food above all else; I gave him a hundred taels of gold from the Tong residence, and he’s still eating and drinking. Truly, there’s no need for more.”

“Is that so?” Chen Heng considered for a moment, smiled, and admitted, “To speak frankly, I’m currently short of talismanic currency for cultivation, so I won’t be polite. I’ll put it on the account and reward him later.”

Tu Shan Ge nodded repeatedly, accepting without objection.

At that moment, a commotion arose outside the door. Scores of servants knelt, loudly pleading for Chen Heng to show himself, their voices shaking the heavens.

“What’s happening?” Chen Heng’s expression chilled. “Wasn’t it agreed to return their slave contracts and divide some gold and silver so they could all return home? I’ve neglected to ask—why are these people still here?”

After slaying Zhou Chuyu, he had taken over the Tong residence. For the servants, he released their contracts and gave them gold and silver as capital for their new lives.

This gesture left them deeply grateful; after all, Tong Gaolu had been convicted of treason, and if the Rong family held a grudge, even as slaves, their fate would have been dire.

Yet while cultivating in the quiet chamber, he still heard the sounds of people lingering and conversing. He had thought it due to unresolved issues with the gold or a few old retainers reluctant to leave, and paid it little mind.

But the uproar outside now was surprising.

Tu Shan Ge looked embarrassed and bowed his head. “Master, some have left, but a small group stubbornly refuses to go, insisting on seeing you—”

Chen Heng immediately understood, a cold smile flickering across his face. His eyes shone, and he remotely flung open the door.

Outside, the kneeling crowd saw the door suddenly open, and inside, a man of divine bearing gazed calmly at them. Startled, their eyes darted, and they wailed even louder.

Their cries were so pitiful that Tu Shan Ge felt a pang of sympathy.

Chen Heng listened quietly; the pleas were all variations on reluctance to leave their old home, insufficient funds, or lack of skills to survive outside, destined to starve once they left.

The loudest was a short, plump old man, tears streaming down his face.

“Master, master! Have mercy! I am over sixty, with no children or kin, destitute—if you insist I leave, you are killing me!”

He shuffled forward, desperate to embrace Chen Heng, but Tu Shan Ge glared him down.

“If you won’t let us stay and serve in the residence, you are abandoning us—how can you attain the Dao that way?”

Seeing Tu Shan Ge’s increasingly hostile gaze, the old man lowered his voice, changing tack: “Or perhaps, master, you could give us more gold and silver… Such worldly things are useless to you, so why not grant us more, out of kindness?”

Tu Shan Ge was furious; these people hadn’t acted like this when they begged him earlier.

“It seems my previous generosity made you think me an inexperienced child.” Chen Heng merely smiled. “You claim poverty, yet your fat, pale form clearly marks you as a privileged steward. Before saying such things, why not hide that jade thumb ring?”

The old man startled, hastily covering his hand.

“Two hundred taels of silver each is enough to live comfortably in Yuanjing—how can you claim it’s not enough?”

Chen Heng ignored him, sighing to the rest outside: “You simply resent the loss of your former status after Tong Gaolu’s death, and now seek to attach yourselves to me, is that not so?”

The crowd tried to feign misery and plead further, but facing Chen Heng’s deep, unfathomable gaze, they choked, unable to utter a word.

“See now? This is the greed of men, as insatiable as the serpent swallowing an elephant,” Chen Heng said to the dumbfounded Tu Shan Ge, then summoned a mighty wind that swept the entire crowd away in an instant.

The wind was vast and mysterious, enveloping them like feathers, rolling them out of the residence, where they tumbled seven or eight times, landing bruised and battered, groaning in pain.

“Steward Qiu, what now?” Someone, grimacing, crawled to the plump old man for guidance.

“Hmph!” The old man, supported by many hands, snorted irritably. He was about to curse when a chilling murderous intent struck his mind. His eyes glazed over, his throat gurgled, and he collapsed backward.

“Steward Qiu!” The crowd jumped in fright, chaos erupting.

…

Inside the residence.

Tu Shan Ge, deeply ashamed, knelt and offered the Cloud-Chasing Flying Boat, saying, “Master, my actions were lacking—I’m unworthy of this gift…”

“We are fellow cultivators; there’s no need for such formality.” Chen Heng smiled, helping him up. “I bear no blame for you. You were raised in a noble sect, nurtured among ancient mountains. Though you are skilled in worldly affairs, your heart remains too soft, and you sometimes lack discernment.”

“I’ve learned my lesson!” Tu Shan Ge scowled, teeth clenched. “From now—”

“You’re thinking, next time you encounter human misery, you’ll turn a blind eye?” Chen Heng asked.

Tu Shan Ge did not answer, only sighing. “A kind heart has brought this mess—doesn’t master scorn such coldness?”

“My acts of kindness are driven by my own will; what others praise or criticize is irrelevant. Fleeting annoyances cannot sway my convictions!”

Chen Heng’s expression did not change as he said, “If something displeases me, I’ll cut it down! Why bother with doubts? If mere words can alter my resolve, why cultivate the Dao at all?”

Tu Shan Ge’s face changed, lost for words.

“I still need to borrow the ‘Jade Embryo Mother Pool’ from the Rong family. In the coming days, tidy up here; when I return, we’ll depart for Yang Mountain.”

Chen Heng said, “The grudges of Yuanjing are settled—it is time for quiet cultivation.”

Tu Shan Ge nodded, indicating his understanding.

With a slight nod, Chen Heng transformed into a white streak of light, soaring into the sky.

Before long, he arrived above the imperial palace.

Within a grand hall, Rong Tuo, sated with wine and food, was embracing several beautiful palace maids, his robe already loosened, ready for pleasure.

Suddenly, he heard a thunderous roar, like rolling thunder, and looked up in alarm to see a pure white streak of light in the sky, vast and powerful, leaping like a dragon or serpent.

Within the light, Chen Heng appeared gentle and courteous, bowing and saying, “It seems I’ve come at the wrong time, interrupting your pleasure, my friend.”

Rong Tuo’s expression was sour, yet he forced a cheerful smile, though it looked painfully awkward.

“You noticed, did you?” he cursed inwardly.