Chapter 1447 - 783: Leisurely Elegance (Double Chapter)

Leshan County is located at the edge of Shu, right at a node on the winding Tea Horse Ancient Road between the steep mountains.

Not long after the new spring, the tea plantations in the mountains have yet to sprout new buds. But these shrewd merchants have already arrived early, lingering around the county and nearby towns. They are negotiating pre-purchases with local tea farmers and brokers while buying up last year's stock of premium Sichuan tea like Mengding and Emei Snow Bud, pressing them into bricks or wrapping them in bamboo leaves, preparing for the long haul ahead.

Chen Yi went out for a stroll and saw a tea stall set up by the roadside. The steamer was billowing with white steam, and the aroma was enticing, so he went in to order a pot of tea and some light snacks. Different from Dayu's tea rituals, this Sichuan tea, influenced by some Jin Style, was better for brewing. To him, an Outer Heaven Demon, it was almost the same as what he remembered: just some tea leaves left to brew, nothing more. Yet, he found it somewhat unfamiliar, possibly because he had stayed in Dayu for so long that he felt no different from the Dayu people.

A few Tea Horse traders were gathered around a pile of opened tea packages, grabbing a handful of dry tea and sniffing it deeply under their noses. They picked up a few pieces to chew slowly, squinting their eyes as if savoring the true flavor. They spoke in low voices, and their fingers swiftly moved across their abacuses or ledgers, while the Copper Coins in their pouches made a dull clinking sound.

Chen Yi sat down to enjoy his tea and snacks, watching a middle-aged merchant finish a transaction with a local tea shop assistant. Seeing no empty table at the tea stall, the merchant shared a table with Chen Yi, noticing his clean clothing allowed for a more friendly "Mind if you squeeze over a bit."

During tea, Chen Yi casually chatted with him a few sentences, asking directions beyond Leshan County, listening to trade complaints about uneven rainfall and thin tea base this year. Enthused, he heard the merchant boast about the great business in the old days, with a caravan of dozens of mules and horses all his own, witnessing countless gold and jewels. Yet, when Chen Yi sighed at such earnings, the merchant waved it off, saying it's not profitable, just labor money.

Chen Yi glanced at the jade ring on the merchant's finger, smiled, and nodded.

The tea finished, the snacks gone, and the merchant got up to leave. In the distance, some porters arrived. He began directing them, and Chen Yi watched as they nimbly hitched the cart and strapped down the goods. In less than half an hour, everything was packed. Amid the snorting of the horses, the caravan slowly moved towards the undulating mountains, soon leaving only a vague silhouette and the crisp, distant sound of caravan bells.

He watched until the bell sounds were also inaudible, then got up, settled the bill, and walked towards the market to buy meat.

Jianghu people search for illusory treasures, while these traders chase tangible profit margins. Though seemingly unrelated, in their to-and-fro journeys, there isn't much difference.

Having bought vegetables and meat, Chen Yi walked back leisurely.

Passing by the inn, the shopkeeper was leaning against the door frame, lost in thought while unconsciously rubbing the corner of the talisman in his arms, his expression less distressed. Seeing Chen Yi, he forced a smile and nodded.

Chen Yi slightly nodded back and didn't pause.

Back at the small courtyard in Willow Alley, opening the wooden door, that familiar serenity enveloped him.

Yin Weiyin was under the eaves of the East Wing, instructing Donggong Ruoshu to adjust a subtle hand gesture, speaking patiently. Donggong Ruoshu was studying earnestly, with beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

At the kitchen door, the Paper Maid had silently lit a small stove. A pottery kettle sat atop, the water on the verge of boiling, a slight sizzle emanating.

Chen Yi set the bamboo basket down, looked around the courtyard, and then glanced up at the distinct outline of Emei Mountain in the distance. The mountain was still that mountain, and the clouds were still those clouds.

He suddenly felt that just like this, in the small courtyard, buying groceries, cooking meals, reading, watching Yin Weiyin's cultivation, occasionally teasing the stupid girl; in leisure, listening to city rumors, watching the coming and going merchants... seemed quite good too.

As for the mountain secrets and the Jianghu disputes, let them stay in the mountains and Jianghu, unrelated to him.

At the moment, the tea was warm, and the time was still slow.

......…

Eventually, the leisurely days of elegant sentiments passed. With daily Dual Cultivation, basic necessities of life, tea brewing, and reading, the end of the first lunar month finally arrived, signifying time to set out.

The day before departure, Yin Weiyin stood under the old locust tree in the courtyard, looking up for a long time. She said nothing, but her reluctance was evident.

This small courtyard, these few days of quiet, made one reluctant to leave.

More unbearable was the thought of having to share the carriage again with Miss Donggong.

"Sharing the carriage again with Miss Donggong..." she said softly, quiet enough, but enough for Chen Yi beside her to hear.

Chen Yi was checking the carriage harness when he heard and turned back, seeing her displeased face, and couldn't help but chuckle.

He walked over, raised his hand, and gently brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers, "Endure it, just think of it as a sharpening stone on the path of cultivation. Besides, if it gets too dull on the road, we..."

He lowered his voice, the latter half carrying a teasing tone, disappearing into their ears.

Yin Weiyin's ears grew warm, and she glared at him reproachfully, turned away, and said lightly, "You have many ideas."

On the day the carriage left Willow Alley, it was a briefly cloudy morning.

The clouds hung at a mid-height, the air carrying a damp chill, as if rain yet not.

Chen Yi first went to the inn to settle the outstanding room charges.

Upon seeing him, the shopkeeper hurried forward, pushing the little broken silver and Copper Coins back with both hands, repeatedly saying, "Young master, you're overestimating me! You and the layman being willing to stay in that courtyard has already helped me tremendously. It's been peaceful these days, I'm grateful beyond measure, can't accept any payment."

Not only did he not accept the money, but the shopkeeper also turned to call the assistant, bringing out a lot of things: top-quality smoked meat wrapped tightly in oil paper, two jars of locally brewed wine sealed in mud, strings of glossy red sausages, and a few packages of new tea wrapped in thick paper, all were genuine goods.

"Just a small token, just a small token! The road ahead is desolate, take it for supplies, please don't disdain!"

Chen Yi's gaze swept over the pile of goods, neither rejecting all nor accepting all. He picked two packages of tea leaves, a small jar of wine, a few pieces of smoked meat, and sausages, wrapping them in a clean cloth bundle.

The shopkeeper, seeing he accepted some, beamed with joy, as if relieved of a great burden, helped to move the items onto the carriage without delay.

As the carriage harness was about to move, the shopkeeper suddenly remembered something, quickly came forward, bowed towards the vaguely visible white figure in the carriage window, and asked, "I haven't had the pleasure of knowing young master and layman's esteemed names? The layman's celestial presence lifted my hardship, I should know who to thank the grace of."

Chen Yi sat on the carriage harness, his expression unchanged at the words, casually replied, "My surname is Long, just passing by. My sister's Daoist name is 'Illuminant', a recluse, she prefers not to be ostentatious, shopkeeper needn't worry."

"Illuminant Sage..." the shopkeeper repeated softly, bowing deeply towards the direction of the carriage, "I've noted it. May the layman enjoy eternal blessings and a safe journey!"

The carriage curtains didn't move, only a very light "hm" sound from inside, considered a response.

The Paper Maid silently drove the horse, and the green-curtained carriage slowly moved away from the inn entrance. The shopkeeper and assistant stood by the roadside watching, until the carriage turned out of sight at the street corner, disappearing into the gray morning mist.

Inside the carriage, Yin Weiyin closed her eyes to rest while Donggong Ruoshu curiously peered out the window, murmuring, "The shopkeeper was quite nice... gave a lot of meat eh."

Chen Yi leaned against the carriage wall, listening to the wheels rolling over the road surface, watching the familiar street scenes slowly retreating outside the window.

The tofu-selling granny at the market entrance had just set up her stall. In front of the yard where Tea Horse traders rested, a few pack mules were munching on fodder; further in the distance, the massive outline of Emei Mountain loomed in the clouds, silently observing the comings and goings of this small town.

Retracting his gaze, he glanced at Yin Weiyin beside him, her eyes still closed, long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her fair cheeks, breathing evenly, already in meditation.

Opposite, Donggong Ruoshu watched the scenery for a while and seemed to get bored, her head nodding, soon falling asleep.