Chapter 62: The Lu Family Market

Lin Yang followed Inspector Yan into the Yan family residence. As he stepped through the main gate, his eyes were greeted by two rows of ornamental rock formations, each unique in their design. Flanking these artificial mountains were numerous clusters of bitter bamboo. On one particularly large formation, stretching dozens of meters, there stood a welcoming pine tree.

He walked along the broad path, which led to the true heart of the Yan estate. There, a grand two-story gate loomed, above which hung a plaque inscribed with two characters: Yan Residence.

Inspector Yan led Lin Yang straight to the guest hall, personally preparing tea for him. He handed the cup to Lin Yang, who accepted it with a word of thanks. Only then did Inspector Yan return to his seat of honor.

“May I ask, Master Lin, what brings you to our Yan family?” After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Inspector Yan finally broached the main topic.

“I have heard that the Yan family possesses a metallic heavenly treasure, which I happen to need for refining an artifact,” Lin Yang replied, stating his purpose directly. “So I hope to obtain it from the Yan family’s patriarch, if possible.”

Inspector Yan pondered for a moment before recalling the origin of the metallic treasure. Unfortunately, it had already been sold.

“Master Lin, you truly have come too late. That diamond crystal was sold by the patriarch forty years ago to exchange for a large quantity of spirit stones. I’m not sure where you heard this news—it’s a matter from a hundred years past.”

“Well, it seems fate has led me here at the wrong time. I won’t trouble you further.” Lin Yang realized the item had already been sold and could only rise to take his leave.

“Master Lin, don’t go just yet—let me finish.” Inspector Yan quickly stood to block Lin Yang’s departure. “I know of another place where you might find what you seek.”

“Then, Friend Yan, do you know where it is?” Lin Yang asked eagerly.

“As far as I know, the Lu family acquired a heavenly treasure some ten years ago, though I’m not sure from where. It is said their patriarch used it to refine an artifact, which granted him the strength of the Golden Core stage for a time.”

Years ago, the Lu patriarch had been stuck at the Broken Pill stage—stronger than Foundation Establishment but weaker than Golden Core. Although he could not truly match a Golden Core cultivator, with the aid of the heavenly treasure, his spells could reach that level.

“But that’s the Lu family’s lifeline. Would they really hand it over?” Lin Yang voiced his doubts. After all, it was the Lu family's trump card, the very thing that upheld their clan. To ask for it was tantamount to stripping them of their only safeguard.

“Ah, Master Lin, if you can meet the Lu family’s conditions, you should be able to obtain it. However, extracting the heavenly treasure from the artifact will likely diminish its power. I don’t know if it will still suit your needs.”

“That should suffice. I’ll take my leave for now and visit again when the opportunity arises.” With this new information, Lin Yang resolved to try his luck with the Lu family. Searching for another heavenly treasure would take far too much time.

“Take care, Master Lin.”

“Farewell.”

…………

Lin Yang wandered about and eventually arrived at the Lu family’s domain. Unlike the Yan family, the Lu family’s ordinary members were sent to live in the mortal world; only those with spiritual roots remained in the valley.

The Lu family was not as prosperous as the Yan family, with only about three hundred members. Their residence was also a small marketplace, where hundreds of independent cultivators gathered.

Lin Yang approached the gate of the Lu family’s marketplace, arriving just as the Lu family was hosting an event.

He walked forward and observed the lively crowd, the red paper lanterns hanging beneath the stilted buildings, and the many varieties of lanterns. Vendors along the street had their racks adorned with all sorts of handcrafted lanterns—some shaped like little rabbits, others like beautiful peonies. The whole neighborhood exuded a charming air.

As Lin Yang watched the passersby, he noted how meticulously everyone was dressed. The women wore powder and creams, and the men donned their finest and most precious garments, carefully arranging every detail. Many of the women were unmarried, their status revealed by their hair ornaments, while most of the men were quite young as well.

Hundreds of people conversed throughout the event space. There were even places for poetry and music, evoking the atmosphere of a lively pleasure district.

Lin Yang grabbed a young man and pulled him aside.

“Excuse me, friend, what’s happening here?” Lin Yang asked directly.

The young man, about to utter something impolite, sensed Lin Yang’s formidable aura and quickly composed himself, bowing respectfully. “Senior, this is the Lu family’s marriage gathering, held every five years to recruit young cultivators.”

“Thank you, you may go.” Lin Yang tossed him a small jade bottle and departed, having learned what he needed.

The young man opened the bottle and, upon smelling its contents, realized it held pills that could enhance cultivation. He hurriedly offered his thanks.

Afterwards, Lin Yang found a tavern and sat down, watching the people outside.

Soon, dusk fell. The dim sunlight cast its glow across the land, and the marketplace lit up with fiery red lanterns. The warm, golden light bathed the entire street, adding a touch of mystery.

Walking down the avenue, Lin Yang spotted a towering building ahead, filled with laughter and merriment.

“Southern Fragrance Pavilion—is this a brothel?” Curious, Lin Yang stepped inside, only to find it was not a brothel at all, but a place for listening to music—a source of income for the Lu family.

On the stage, a woman played the pipa and sang, while dozens of audience members joined in harmony.

Soon, the performance ended, and another woman took the stage. She was elegantly beautiful, dressed in a deep blue gown, a white jade pendant dangling from her right waist, engraved with the character ‘Lu.’

Her hairpin was a piece of polished jade, exquisitely carved—a chopstick-sized ornament bearing a dragon and phoenix, surely the work of a master craftsman.

She gently plucked her guzheng, and a melodious, ethereal sound filled the air, evoking memories of secluded orchids in mountain valleys.

The audience, soothed by her extraordinary music, gradually sank into contemplation, unaware as the lights beside them slowly dimmed.

Suddenly, one of the guzheng’s strings snapped with a sharp twang, startling everyone awake. They saw the broken string and the woman’s finger, cut and bleeding, and quickly rose to comfort her.

“Miss Lu, I have a new guzheng prepared just for you,” a bold-faced man stepped forward, presenting his instrument—carved with dragons and phoenixes, made of exceptional materials, inscribed with magical runes. His face brimmed with confidence as he proudly patted his chest.

“From now on, Miss Lu, anything you need—be it guzheng or pipa—I will provide the very best for you.”

……