The next day.
At dawn, before the market fully awoke, a din arose on Shunshui Street.
Chen Ye pushed open the courtyard gate, just about to take in the fresh air, when he saw the opposite courtyard gate wide open, a sturdy figure commanding several Loose Cultivators to move furniture.
It was none other than the Dark Old Man, Li Dageng.
"Brother Chen, good morning!"
The Dark Old Man’s voice boomed, his face radiating joy. He wiped off sweat and walked over quickly,
"Brother Chen, I’ve moved to Shunshui Street! From now on, we’ll be neighbors across the street, we must look out for each other!"
Chen Ye was not surprised.
The Dark Old Man had long planned to move, and after Bai Susu’s reminder, he naturally dared not slack off.
He congratulated, "Congratulations on moving to your new home, Gen! This is a good thing, visiting will be convenient from now on."
Chen Ye took a look at the courtyard across the street, its layout similar to his own, but with an extra wing room, presumably for Granny Li.
"Hehe, thanks to Brother Chen, I got some Spirit Stones from hunting a few times, plus my savings, it was just enough for the rent."
The Dark Old Man was sincerely grateful.
If it weren’t for Chen Ye’s help, he couldn’t have earned so many Spirit Stones alone.
"Actually, with your capabilities, Brother Chen, a B-grade Cave Mansion would be more than adequate," the Dark Old Man envied, "That B-grade Cave Mansion comes with a Spirit Gathering Array, although it costs six Spirit Stones a month, the cultivation speed is much faster!"
Chen Ye smiled: "No need for the moment. The B-grade Cave Mansion, with a one-time six-month rent and deposit, costs forty-two Spirit Stones. It’s better to save these Spirit Stones to purchase resources and enhance cultivation, which is the right path."
As they were talking, Granny Li’s robust voice came from inside: "Gen! What are you dawdling for? Hurry and lend a hand!"
The Dark Old Man quickly responded: "Brother Chen, I’ll be busy now. Once settled, I’ll invite you and the two kids over for a meal!"
Chen Ye watched the Dark Old Man enter the courtyard and then turned to return indoors.
The two little ones were awake by now, putting on their clothes by themselves.
Truth be told, they were still shy about it.
Seeing their master watching, they secretly dressed under the covers.
After they finished dressing,
Qing Jun rubbed her bleary eyes and curiously asked, "Master, it’s noisy outside, who’s come?"
"Granny Li and Li Dageng have moved in, they’re living across from us now."
Chen Ye said while helping Zhiwei straighten the slightly skewed collar.
The little black-haired one glanced at her toes bashfully.
Qing Jun’s eyes lit up: "Granny Li is here too? Did Yuanyuan also come?"
Chen Ye was amused by her eagerness to see the dog: "Most likely they came together. You’ll find out if you go check later."
Yuanyuan was the big black dog raised by Granny Li, fierce in nature but particularly close to the two little girls.
In the following two days, the two families became neighbors in name and reality.
The arrival of the Dark Old Man’s family brought liveliness to the previously somewhat quiet little courtyard.
Especially Qing Jun, who often chased and played with the dog in the courtyard, causing a chicken-and-dog jump.
Initially, Granny Li was still half-skeptical about Chen Ye.
But as days went by, witnessing firsthand,
She was astonished to find that Chen Ye had truly changed.
No longer drinking and causing trouble, he spent his days either guiding his apprentices or closing his door for diligent cultivation.
He was exceedingly attentive to the two apprentices, caring for them with warmth, no longer showing the past beatings and scoldings.
Occasionally, while Chen Ye was guiding his apprentices in cultivation, Granny Li would lean against the door, silently watching for a while.
Once, Qing Jun struggled with cultivation, her little face turning red from holding her breath.
Chen Ye not only did not scold her but patiently helped her smooth her meridians and softly explained key points, his demeanor focused and attentive.
The sunlight on his well-defined profile unexpectedly showed a hint of reliability and warmth.
"This idler... really has changed..."
Granny Li watched the scene, her heart full of mixed emotions, she couldn’t help but mutter to herself.
She thought of Chen Ye’s drunken state in the past and the scars that never failed to appear on the two little girls, then looked at the man patiently teaching his apprentices before her.
For a moment, she was full of sentiments.
Moreover,
What Granny Li couldn’t imagine the most was, it was this idler she looked down upon who changed her family’s fate.
Whether it was the new home or her son’s rising cultivation,
It was all thanks to Chen Ye taking Li Dageng hunting, which earned Li Dageng more Spirit Stones.
Thinking of this, the old lady lowered her head and continued sewing spring clothes for the two little girls.
...
The inner market of Shunshui Street quietly commenced again.
Chen Ye set off early, this time with a clear goal.
To purchase a large number of Pills!
Last time, he missed the Qi Nourishing Pill from Pill Master Hu due to financial constraints, but this time he was confident.
The inner market was held in Pill Master Hu’s small courtyard, the gate tightly shut at this moment, but a few Loose Cultivators had already gathered sporadically at the entrance, quietly conversing with an air of expectation.
Just as Chen Ye arrived at the entrance, he encountered Lin Qiongyu.
After not seeing her for a few days, the Female Cultivator seemed slightly thinner, a faint worry on her brow.
But seeing Chen Ye, she forced a gentle smile.
She hurried forward, without waiting, she shoved two Spirit Stones into Chen Ye’s hands, her voice soft, mingled with some shame and embarrassment:
"Senior Chen... Qiongyu will first return two Spirit Stones, as for the rest... Qiongyu will find a way as soon as possible..."
Chen Ye was somewhat surprised. To be honest, he never expected Lin Qiongyu to be able to repay all one hundred Spirit Stones.
This was a hundred Spirit Stones!
How could an ordinary Loose Cultivator afford it?
In fact, Chen Ye had no intention of settling scores with this pair of Daoist companions.
Initially asking for a hundredfold compensation was more out of anger and to knock some sense into this pair of wayward companions.
If Luo Heng hadn’t directly exposed the matter, otherwise, Chen Ye had planned to keep it hidden.
The reason was simple, in the market, killing was not an option.
Beating them and inviting more grudges?
After all, they bullied the previous self, and Chen Ye didn’t have a pressing urge for revenge.
Chen Ye leaned more towards avenging the past only after accumulating enough strength in the future.
Before Chen Ye could refuse,
Lin Qiongyu had already stepped back half a step, lifting her charming face, striving to squeeze out a smile: "Senior, please go on in, the inner market is about to start."
Chen Ye weighed the Spirit Stones in his hand, his feelings towards this Female Cultivator growing more complex.
The courtyard gate opened, and Pill Master Hu came out, face beaming with joy.
Seeing Chen Ye, he plastered a warm smile on his face: "Taoist Friend Chen is here! Please come in, come in!"
The inner market quickly commenced.
Pill Master Hu cleared his throat, clapped his hands to draw everyone’s attention.
"Fellow Daoists, today this old man has once again refined Blood Burning Pills, thirteen pills in total, the usual rules..."
Before he finished speaking, the courtyard atmosphere heated up. Loose Cultivators’ eyes lit up, crowding forward, afraid of falling behind.
Chen Ye had no interest in this demon path pill that overdrew essence blood, merely waiting quietly aside.
Once the Blood Burning Pills were quickly snatched up, Chen Ye stepped forward, ready to purchase Qi Nourishing Pills.
Pill Master Hu, having just finished collecting Spirit Stones, was in a good mood.
Seeing Chen Ye, he asked with a bright smile: "Taoist Friend Chen, were you satisfied with the Blood Burning Pills last time? Would you like a few more? This old man happens to have three lower-grade ones."
Chen Ye declined: "Thank you for the kind offer, Pill Master Hu, but I don’t need the Blood Burning Pills for now. I’m looking to buy some Qi Nourishing Pills instead."