Chapter Eleven: The Yang Family's Patron

Although Lu Baichuan was a wandering cultivator, he was still a rare Golden Core stage expert in the entire cultivation world. In the past, he would never have paid any attention to someone from a minor family like Yang Cheng. But now, having had his life saved by Yang Cheng, he could not ignore such a debt. True to his nature—forthright and clear in his dealings, disinclined to owe others—he treated Yang Cheng with deep respect.

Yang Cheng waved his hand dismissively. “Senior Lu, you’re too polite. Being able to help you is my honor. There’s no need to talk of repayment, and as it stands, I don't have anything I need help with. Please, Senior Lu, don’t dwell on it—come and go as you please.”

Lu Baichuan laughed heartily. “Young Master Yang, I’ve roamed the world unrestrained, never one to be bound, but the only thing I won’t tolerate is owing favors. Never mind that you saved my life, just this supreme-grade Restorative Pill you gave me is a favor beyond measure. I never cared much for wealth or external things, but I know such treasures aren’t easily come by. You spent more than half your family’s fortune to acquire this pill for me—such generosity is rare indeed.”

It turned out that when Steward Yang administered the pill to Lu Baichuan, his face wore an expression of deep reluctance, which piqued Lu’s curiosity and prompted him to ask. Supreme-grade Restorative Pills were legendary among wandering cultivators like himself; this was his first time experiencing their effects firsthand. His body, racked with internal and external injuries, began healing the instant he took the pill. After meditating for a short while, he recovered more than half his strength. With another half month’s rest, the effects would be fully realized and he would be as good as new. Otherwise, relying on himself, he would likely have spent a year bedridden, with no guarantee of fully regaining his cultivation. When he questioned Steward Yang, he learned just how much money had been spent on his behalf. Moreover, after chatting a while, he realized the Yang family was far from wealthy, and that Yang Cheng had spent most of the family’s assets without hesitation. Such generosity from a mere acquaintance exceeded even his own sense of justice—it won his admiration.

“But truly, I have nothing at present that would require Senior Lu’s assistance,” Yang Cheng mused. He had no enemies here, no pressing dangers. However, as he began to build a business, he might attract the covetous eyes of others. Sooner or later, once his family’s fortunes grew, he would need protection, or risk being devoured whole. “How about this, Senior Lu? Would you be willing to stay with my family for a year as our honored protector, ensuring the safety of the Yang family? After a year, you can leave freely, without any sense of obligation.” He looked to Lu Baichuan for his answer.

An honored protector in a family was akin to an elder in a sect, usually an outsider. The family provided for them as a mark of respect; the protector would give their strength in return, but the arrangement was not as binding as a regular employment—one could come and go at will.

After all, experts of this caliber typically worked for powerful families, or, in pursuit of enlightenment, wandered the world to temper themselves. Staying with him offered little prospect for them.

Lu Baichuan burst out laughing. “Young Master Yang, such a great favor—never mind a year, I’d stay for ten if you wished…”

“Thank you, Daoist Lu, for agreeing to safeguard my young master for ten years! Old Yang here bows to you in gratitude!” With that, Steward Yang knelt to offer his thanks. Yang Cheng watched his steward’s performance and thought to himself: Hah, this old fox! He took Lu’s words and immediately upped the offer to ten years. I only intended to ask for a single year, then use that time to earn enough to hire other experts and secure our position.

But Lu Baichuan was not angered by Steward Yang’s quick-witted maneuver. With a casual wave of his hand, a surge of spiritual power lifted Steward Yang to his feet. Lu laughed and stopped him from bowing further: “Very well, it’s settled—ten years means little to one with a Golden Core’s three-hundred-year lifespan. To repay a life-saving debt and a gift of medicine is truly my good fortune. Besides, to me, all things are cultivation, just in different forms. Haha! Young Master Yang, whatever you need, just say the word.” Lu Baichuan’s straightforwardness and heroic bearing were evident in his laughter and manner. In just a few words, the matter was settled without hesitation.

“Thank you, Senior Lu,” Yang Cheng said, bowing in gratitude.

“Young Master Yang, don’t call me ‘senior’—it sounds too formal. We’re people of the martial world; there’s no need for such ceremony.”

“Very well, Brother Lu. About that scar on your face—is there any spiritual medicine that could heal it?” Yang Cheng asked, noticing the fierce slash on Lu Baichuan’s face.

“That’s unnecessary. I don’t mind it at all. In fact, it’s more convenient for me to keep a low profile while staying with your family. If the garrison recognizes me, it might bring trouble to you—that would not do.”

“Brother Lu, you truly are carefree and thoughtful. Once this matter blows over, I’ll find a way to help you.”

“It’s nothing important, so there’s no need for you to trouble yourself, Young Master.”

The Yang residence was small and rather shabby, with few rooms to spare. Steward Yang had to order the servants to clear a room for their guest. Fortunately, Lu Baichuan was easygoing and took no offense.

After seeing Lu Baichuan off, Yang Cheng—who had maintained a calm exterior—could no longer contain his delight. He danced about in joy. Who would have thought that someone from such humble beginnings as himself could secure the loyalty of an honored protector? Although the arrangement was for a limited time and the protector was free to leave at will, having such a powerful promise meant that, for the coming years, the Yang family would be secure.

However, his current estate was truly too cramped—tucked away in a narrow alley, hemmed in by other residences, leaving no room to expand. This restricted his ambitions; he didn’t even dare hire too many people, and some servants had to live far away. He hoped that Daniu and Maozi would soon help him find a more suitable property.

A few days passed. Xiao Wu had been running errands back and forth, exhausted yet cheerful. The young master treated everyone with such kindness and respect that the servants felt truly valued—a feeling they had never known before, and it made their work a pleasure. All their lives, they had felt inferior, coming from families with no land, forced to find work as soon as they were old enough. There was no freedom to speak of, and beatings from their masters were commonplace.

But here under this young master, none of that existed. The servants privately praised his kind and generous heart, feeling lucky to serve such a lord.

Over the past two days, Xiao Wu had accompanied the young master to two so-called product launches and gleaned some insights. Though his own experience was limited and he couldn’t quite put everything into words, it seemed to him that every action and word of the young master carried hidden meaning.

Xiao Wu liked to think things over. If it were up to him, he would open his own shop, keep all the profits, and gradually expand to dominate the market. That way, he would enjoy all the gains, though it would take a long time. But the young master was different—willing to share profits, leveraging the abilities and resources of merchants to open up the market. He brought in many people and set up competition among them, then limited the number of places, making those who hesitated eager not to fall behind, so they would happily hand over their money, convinced they were getting a bargain.

What pleased Xiao Wu most was that the young master encouraged him to meet with shop owners and learn to recognize people—perhaps, if he proved himself, he could become an agent in the future. He might not understand everything yet, but he told himself that careful observation and earnest study could never be wrong.