These past few days, Xu Yuan had seemed to get along splendidly with Zhou Chen on the surface. And whenever he asked about cultivation, the man usually answered without holding anything back. But Xu Yuan knew perfectly well that, deep down, the man still looked down on him.
Xu Yuan could see it in all the little things. Zhou Chen called him Third Young Master every other sentence, but as a bodyguard, he had never once knocked before entering his room. When they spoke, he never bothered hiding the stink of alcohol on his breath.
There had even been one time when, out of curiosity over how a Sumeru Ring, a treasure of the highest order, was constructed, Zhou Chen had shamelessly asked Xu Yuan to lend it to him so he could study it.
If Zhou Chen said he only wanted to study it, then he probably did only mean to study it. He would not dare pocket it for himself. After all, Xu Changge knew the ring was in Xu Yuan's possession. If Zhou Chen swallowed it, he would be the one getting swallowed by death.
But that was not the point. This was a Sumeru Ring. Every kind of private belonging and precious item was stored inside it. Asking to borrow it was basically the same as knowing your wife was home alone taking a bath, then asking for the key to your house anyway.
Xu Yuan had refused, and he had given Zhou Chen a proper warning while he was at it. But afterward, the man had still brought it up again once, half jokingly. And that was only one example among many.
Today, when Zhou Chen suddenly stepped in and helped him deal with Xue Yong, Xu Yuan had briefly thought the man had changed. He thought that maybe, after half a month of being treated to meals and seeing him grind through cultivation day after day, Zhou Chen had finally started to see him differently.
But the result was the same as ever. Afterward, Zhou Chen still came swaggering over with that cheerful grin and booze-soaked breath, chatting about women and asking Xu Yuan to help call up a few high-ranking courtesans for him.
Xu Yuan was starting to lose it. For the second time, he deeply understood the situation the Third Young Master had lived in, and why that man had become so sensitive and irritable. Originally, he had planned to endure it. Just like in his previous life, he would first produce results, slowly build authority, and only then gradually straighten out the people under him.
But after thinking it over carefully, Xu Yuan suddenly realized that with his status and his cultivation talent, there was no need for him to be overly polite to a Grandmaster like Zhou Chen. So he used the subject of bitter cultivation as an excuse to let loose.
The contempt in Zhou Chen's words had sounded as though he were saying, You, a wastrel like this, definitely won't last. Stop pretending.
So Xu Yuan mocked him right back for being the same sort of fool, just 50 steps laughing at a hundred.
The Third Young Master had given up cultivating because his meridians were blocked and his soul was practically crippled, leaving him unable to progress.
Zhou Chen, despite being a self-proclaimed genius, ran into a bottleneck and started drowning himself in indulgence. So what right did he have to stand there sneering and spouting nonsense?
With the physique the Third Young Master had now, if he wanted to start cultivating, what was the problem with that?
Xu Yuan's purpose was very clear. First, he wanted to properly put Zhou Chen in his place once and for all. Second, he needed a reason for focusing fully on cultivation. Third, he wanted to start changing the fixed impression others had of him, and little by little build an authority of his own in the eyes of these retainers and guest elders.
In his previous life, when the people under him only pretended to comply while dragging their feet behind his back, the worst that could happen was a delayed project or a complete train wreck. But now, if these retainers and guest elders played the same game with him, people could die.
That said, Zhou Chen's reaction really did surprise Xu Yuan. He had thought this Grandmaster, after losing face, would storm off on the spot. Instead, he lowered his head and admitted fault outright.
But on second thought, it made perfect sense. Zhou Chen was bowing now because of the warning Xu Yuan had just given him, yes, but also because of Xu Yuan's status, and even more because of the limitless potential of an Innate Dao Physique.
Xu Yuan gave the Grandmaster, still standing there with fists cupped in salute, a long look. When the situation turned bad, the man could immediately back down and lower himself. That, at least, was a good trait.
Though really… Xu Yuan said nothing. He simply stared at him in silence.
Zhou Chen kept the same bowed posture, fists clasped, his lowered face wearing the look of a man whose guts had just been stomped flat. Xu Yuan's words had made him realize something all at once.
The Third Young Master of the past had no future. A cripple in cultivation, a master with no future, was someone he could get away with half-assing. But the current man before him had, through some stroke of fortune, obtained an Innate Dao Physique.
And yet Zhou Chen had still been treating him with the same old attitude he used before. If the Third Young Master had truly changed, then with the talent of an Innate Dao Physique and the resources of the Chancellor's Manor, the young man before him might very well become the second coming of Xu Changge. Maybe he would rise even faster.
In just over half a month, the Third Young Master had already broken through to ninth rank. Give him a few more years, let his cultivation build, and with this man’s grudge-holding temperament...
Zhou Chen suddenly wanted to slap himself hard across the face. Habits really could get a man killed.
Xu Yuan watched Zhou Chen quietly. And Zhou Chen remained bowed with his fists cupped.
Looking at how the man stubbornly refused to say anything more, impatience began to surface in Xu Yuan's eyes.
A smart man, but not quite smart enough. Since you've already realized what the situation is now, and I've put up with you for over half a month, you think one apology for overstepping is enough to make this go away?
With his cultivation, Zhou Chen naturally caught the shift in Xu Yuan's gaze. His expression changed a few times. Then he gritted his teeth. "Third Young Master, you have only just entered ninth rank, and I’ve yet to offer his congratulations. This is a small gift I prepared especially for you."
As he spoke, he reached into his robes and pulled out a small jade bottle.
Xu Yuan felt a little disappointed at the sight. He did not want things. What he wanted was Zhou Chen himself. At the very least, he ought to get a few promises that the man would step in and help when needed.
The thought flashed through his mind, and Xu Yuan also knew he was being too greedy. Winning the wholehearted loyalty of a Grandmaster when he was only ninth rank? Even his eldest brother was not that absurdly formidable.
Reining in his thoughts, Xu Yuan looked at Zhou Chen again.
The man wore a pained expression. He squeezed his eyes shut, then reluctantly pushed his hand forward and held the jade bottle out to Xu Yuan.
“This is called Essence Dispelling Powder.”
Essence Dispelling Powder? Xu Yuan glanced at the bottle. A layer of fine blue-gray crystalline powder lay scattered across the bottom. In this world, not every medicine came in pill form. Liquid, solid, powder, even gaseous medicines were all common enough.
He searched his memory for a moment and quickly recalled what this stuff did.
A top-tier body-tempering medicine, simply pour it in a bath and soak. It worked for any rank, and even someone like him, newly advanced into ninth rank, could use it. It warmed the meridians, tempered the body, and laid the groundwork in advance for entering the Iron Body Realm at sixth rank.
A medicine that could even aid a Grandmaster's cultivation. If this Essence Dispelling Powder were sold outside, its market price would be far more than 10,000 taels. For Zhou Chen, this definitely counted as a heavy loss.
The corner of Xu Yuan's lips curled slightly. He raised a hand, took the bottle from Zhou Chen, and turned it over idly in his palm.
Only then did Zhou Chen lift his eyes. He stared fixedly at the jade bottle in Xu Yuan's hand, his face full of reluctance and naked pain.
Xu Yuan suddenly turned to look at him.
Zhou Chen forced a smile and said cheerfully, “Third Young Master, with your ninth rank cultivation, you only need to pour in a tiny bit when you bathe, ah...”
Before he could finish, Xu Yuan casually tossed the jade bottle right back.
Zhou Chen hurriedly caught the precious thing with both hands, surprise flashing through his eyes. His first instinct was that this Third Young Master simply did not know what was good.
Xu Yuan only gave him a glance, turned, and walked off, leaving behind a single line. “Breaking through a bottleneck when entering a realm through martial cultivation isn't easy. You should keep that Essence Dispelling Powder for yourself.”
Something flickered through Zhou Chen's eyes. Then he suddenly bared his teeth in a grin and clasped his fists in salute. “You have my sincere gratitude…”
Xu Yuan did not reply. His steps remained steady as he headed downstairs.
After a brief pause, Zhou Chen quickly followed after him. Sometimes, having a thicker skin brought nothing but benefits.
Walking at Xu Yuan's side, Zhou Chen returned to his usual manner. But this time, there was no smell of wine in his voice as he asked with a cheerful grin, “Third Young Master, are you going to cultivate? I've been free lately. I could assist you with your cultivation.”
“Assist with cultivation?” Xu Yuan arched a brow. It was the first time he had heard the term.
Zhou Chen smiled and explained, “It's a special trait of my cultivation art. I can use my soul intent to temper the surrounding source qi first, then gather it around you. You would only need to keep refining it.”
“There’s such a thing?” Xu Yuan gave him a look.
“Of course.” Zhou Chen shamelessly pressed on. “Would you like that?”
“Mhm, not for now.”
“Ah? Then going downstairs like this, you're...”
“If I'm going downstairs, obviously I'm going to find the madam.” Xu Yuan stopped and looked at Zhou Chen from the side, amusement in his eyes, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. Then he explained, “Tomorrow, the Drunken Immortal Tower's top courtesan is making her debut.”