"What if Senior Brother puts up thirty Opening Heaven Pills as an advance?" Yu Xueping clearly had a plan already laid out, explaining at length. "Of course, I could also leave something here as collateral. That way, Senior Brother won't have to worry about me taking the pills and never coming back."
Yang Kai chuckled. "That works. What were you thinking of putting up as collateral?"
Yu Xueping reached out and grasped at the air, and a long sword radiating chilling light materialized in her palm. She held it out to Yang Kai. "How about this?"
Yang Kai accepted it and flicked a finger against the blade. A clear, ringing note sang forth and the blade hummed and vibrated. He nodded. "Fine sword. It'll do." He casually tossed it into his spatial ring.
He didn't know exactly how much this sword was worth, but it was probably in the neighborhood of thirty Opening Heaven Pills. This way, when the bazaar opened next month, he and Yu Xueping would both have reason to show up, and their transaction was guaranteed.
He took out thirty Opening Heaven Pills and handed them over. Yu Xueping's beautiful eyes lit up. "Thank you, Senior Brother! We'll see each other next month then." She turned and called to her companion. "Xiao Mo, let's go."
The two of them left the bazaar in a hurry, heading straight for the Water Spirit Domain.
Their conversation hadn't been conducted in secret. The stall owners to his left and right had watched the whole thing. Nobody here was stupid. Once Yu Xueping had departed, the half-aged man on the left side spoke up. "Young man, that young lady just now was from the Water Spirit Domain, wasn't she? I'm from the Earth Spirit Domain. Our orchards over there have bugs too. Perhaps we could work together?"
"I'm from the Metal Spirit Domain!" The stall owner on the right crowded in as well, wearing an eager, ingratiating expression. "I also know a friend from the Wood Spirit Domain. Want me to call him over?"
…
An hour later, Yang Kai packed up and left. He hadn't collected many insects this time around—just the eleven that Yu Xueping had sold him—but the channels were open now. All that remained was to wait for next month's meeting.
It was as though Yang Kai could already see mountains of Opening Heaven Pills rolling his way.
When he returned to the village where the servant quarters were located, he could see a long line snaking from Die You's door from a good distance off. Knowing the plan was progressing well, Yang Kai broke into a broad grin.
A figure sidled up to him in a furtive manner. Yang Kai turned to look and saw Old Fang's face split with an obsequious smile, his hands rubbing together. "Little brother! You're back!"
"Mm." Yang Kai responded casually. "Something up?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Old Fang grinned. "If you're not busy either, why not come over to my place for a sit? I've got a jar of fine wine I've been saving for years—it's perfect for opening today. Drinking alone is bland and tasteless. I wonder if you'd do me the honor?"
Yang Kai crossed his arms and regarded him with a look that hovered between a smile and something colder. "Drinking? Not really my thing. And if I recall correctly, someone around here said something along the lines of 'let's all pretend we never knew each other.'"
Old Fang slapped his own face without hesitation. "I was a fool back then, little brother—don't hold it against me. We're all far from home, and it's not easy finding acquaintances in this vast cosmos. Give an old man some face. Consider it an apology."
Yang Kai was still hesitating, but Old Fang had already latched onto his arm and was pulling him toward his house. "You're a generous man, little brother. Don't hold a grudge over this."
Yang Kai barked, "Fine, we'll drink. Just stop dragging me around—have some decency!"
"Right, right, right! No dragging!" Old Fang nodded vigorously, fawning from one extreme to the other.
Following Old Fang inside, the door shut behind them. Old Fang produced a wine jar with an air of mystery, set out two plates of spirit fruits, and sat down across from Yang Kai.
He broke the seal, and the room immediately filled with a rich, heady aroma of wine. He politely poured Yang Kai a full cup first, then filled his own. Raising his cup, Old Fang said, "Being able to meet Young Brother Yang here in the Fire Spirit Domain is truly this old man Fang's good fortune. Allow me to toast you first."
He tilted his head back and drained the cup to the last drop.
Yang Kai eyed him, then knocked his back in one gulp. His spirits immediately perked up. It was genuinely good wine—smooth, fragrant, and thick on the palate, with a warm sensation rising from his belly that made his whole body feel cozy and light.
Old Fang refilled Yang Kai's cup and spoke with a smile. "I've been aging this jar for eight hundred years. Back in the day, I gathered the most precious ingredients from my own little world and spent enormous manpower and wealth on it. In the end, I only got three jars. I drank one when I set out for this place beyond the void, and I gave another to Steward Zhou. This is the last jar in existence."
"Good wine," Yang Kai praised.
"Then drink more." Old Fang beamed. "And these spirit fruits—I brought them all from my own world. I've been saving them, never willing to eat them. Things may be exciting beyond the void, but you won't find anything like these anywhere out here."
Yang Kai nodded and picked up a cluster of berry-like fruits that resembled grapes, eating them as he went.
As they ate and drank, Old Fang chattered on endlessly—reminiscing about his days of glory, lamenting how wretched his current situation was. Before long, sorrow welled up in him and he grew speechless with emotion, tears streaming down his weathered face…
Yang Kai could barely stand it. "If you want something, just say it. Spare me the pointless rambling—it's irritating."
Old Fang wiped the corners of his eyes and said, "Honestly, I don't have much to say. I was just wondering—if it's not too much trouble—whether you might be willing to give this old man a helping hand."
"How could I possibly help you?" Yang Kai looked at him with an amused smile. "You know I've only been here two months. You've been here for centuries. If anything, you should be the one helping me along."
Old Fang waved his hands dismissively. "It's not about years, little brother. I've been here for centuries and I still haven't amounted to anything. But you—scarcely had you arrived when you pulled off something earth-shaking."