Afternoon.
Lin Zhao and Xiao Jiu'er sat on bamboo chairs by the lotus pond, enjoying the scenery. A gentle breeze rustled the lotus leaves, filling the air with the fragrance of the lake. It was an unparalleled pleasure. Dong Cang brought some fruits and preserves to the small table between them and then turned to wash up, scrubbing the lunch bowls twice, and wiping the table and chairs twice as well.
Shu Zhi approached with her sword and said, "My Lord, the last batch of artisans is about to depart. They asked if you would like to name your residence and have a plaque carved to hang at the entrance."
"Yes."
Xiao Jiu'er smiled, "Brother Lin Zhao is now the master of the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. Your residence should naturally be different from others. Shall we give it a name?"
"A name..."
Lin Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Tian Ran Ju, how does that sound?"
"Ah?"
Shu Zhi narrowed her beautiful eyes and asked with a smile, "Is there a story behind it?"
"Following nature's course, supreme good is like water. This is called Tian Ran Ju."
After saying this, Lin Zhao felt a little guilty. In fact, the name was from a restaurant outside his high school that he and Ding Chi used to frequent.
Tian Ran Ju, guests visit Tian Ran Ju, heaven's guests arrive.
The name was suitable for a restaurant, and it wasn't problematic for the residence of a sect leader on a mountain. It not only lacked worldly affairs but also possessed a touch of immortal aura.
"Mm."
Shu Zhi smiled and nodded, "Then... from now on, your residence will be called Tian Ran Ju? From now on, the heart of our Snow Domain Heavenly Lake will also be this Tian Ran Ju."
"Good."
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded.
Not long after, several skilled artisans had finished carving the plaque for the entrance. It was painted with dark green ink. The words "Tian Ran Ju," with their ancient charm, were hung in front of the first-floor entrance of the small building, adding a unique flair.
"Xiao Jiu'er, you continue cracking melon seeds, I'll go back to my room to organize things."
"Oh~~~"
Lin Zhao returned to his room. His room was now fully furnished. Dong Cang had already made his bed earlier. Beside it was a study, complete with writing brush, ink, paper, inkstones, antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, all meticulously arranged. Lin Zhao then sat down in front of the desk, not rushing to draw talismans. He took out piles of Golden Cicada Coins from his storage bag and started counting money.
Earlier that morning, Han Ye Tang had sent someone to the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. The more than 22,000 heads of demonic cavalry that Lin Zhao had given to Han Ye Tang had been exchanged for a reward, totaling a considerable 722 Golden Cicada Coins. Adding the 140 Golden Cicada Coins seized from the rogue cultivator Jia Hua Pin, the 174 Golden Cicada Coins from Zhao Guangyi, and the 1,256 Golden Cicada Coins from the storage bag of the great demon Wu Li, he counted three times and found a total of 2,293 Golden Cicada Coins. This made them richer than most mid-tier mountain sects!
However, Lin Zhao did not feel overly happy. The Snow Domain Heavenly Lake had extensive responsibilities. These more than two thousand Golden Cicada Coins would not last long. After all, other sects only needed to provide for the cultivation expenses of their entire lineage, while the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake also had to maintain a massive army. Moreover, the army's primary role was to counter the demon race. To gain an advantage over the powerful demons, one could not be stingy with money. The best warhorses, the sharpest weapons, and the sturdiest armor and shields were necessary to minimize every battle loss.
In the past, the Heavenly Lake Army lacked sufficient capital and could only fight the demons desperately. Things were different now. After Lin Zhao re-entered the game, he merged his memories from the real world. Although he still believed that man could conquer nature, having more preparations and plans was never a bad thing. Therefore, when confronting the demon race again, he would strive for a higher probability of victory, rather than gambling on the opponent's schemes.
"Brother Lin Zhao!"
At the window, Su Qingjiu leaned on the windowsill, resting her pretty face on her hands, her large eyes blinking as she looked at Lin Zhao. "Counting your earnings? Can I come in?"
"Come in."
Lin Zhao smiled. Xiao Jiu'er was no outsider. In fact, she was perhaps the closest person to him here. If he couldn't trust her, whom could he trust?
Su Qingjiu pushed the door open and sat in the chair in front of Lin Zhao. She smiled and said, "Rebuilding a human army under the eyes of the demons must be difficult, right?"
"Difficult, but necessary."
Lin Zhao rubbed his nose and said sheepishly, "If we don't station troops in the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, the day the four northern tribes march south will draw nearer. At that time, the one to bear the brunt will be Aunt's Xi Jian River, and Miss Lin's Fu Su Great Wall. Once the Fu Su Great Wall is breached, the crisis of the human world's destruction will truly arrive."
"Mm."
Su Qingjiu pursed her lips and said, "I've been the Sect Master of Chang Ming Mountain for so many years, and I've saved quite a bit of private money. Shall I lend some to Brother Lin Zhao?"
As she spoke, she took out a pale gold storage bag and, without waiting for Lin Zhao's reply, poured Golden Cicada Coins onto the table. There was a clatter, and spiritual energy surged. The Golden Cicada Coins poured out in ever-increasing amounts, dazzling Lin Zhao.
"Xiao Jiu'er, that's enough, that's enough!"
Lin Zhao reached out to block, "Aren't you going to keep some for yourself?!"
Su Qingjiu ignored him and continued pouring.
Only when the storage bag was completely emptied did she put it away, smiling, "That's all I have. I can't take out any more. In short, Brother Lin Zhao's affairs are my affairs."
"You..."
Lin Zhao counted and said, "A full three thousand Golden Cicada Coins?"
"Mm, if I remember correctly, that's the amount."
Su Qingjiu pursed her red lips and smiled, "Don't worry, the money for my sword refining has always been provided by the Ancestral Hall of Chang Ming Mountain. So, Xiao Jiu'er's spending money is all for Brother Lin Zhao!"
"No!"
Lin Zhao frowned, "That's too much, how can I take so much money from you? Xiao Jiu'er, you have to take back at least half. When Shu Zhi returned earlier, I only took half of her private savings."
"I won't!"
Su Qingjiu pouted, huffing indignantly, like the little girl she was back then, even her eyes reddened. "Brother Lin Zhao, listen to me. Talk after you hear me out and see if it makes sense."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded.
Su Qingjiu pursed her red lips and said, "I am a child who came from the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, I am the daughter of the Su Liang couple of the Great Chen Dynasty, and I am Brother Lin Zhao's Xiao Jiu'er. Now, the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake is in ruins and needs rebuilding. The mountain-top villas, the town, all require huge expenses. Other people only need to contribute half of the Golden Cicada Coins, but I, Su Qingjiu, am different."
She looked at Lin Zhao deeply and said softly, "Because I, Su Qingjiu, am now the foremost person in the Great Chen Dynasty realm, and because I am Brother Lin Zhao's Xiao Jiu'er, others only need to contribute half their effort. But Xiao Jiu'er must contribute all her effort. This is Xiao Jiu'er. You must accept these three thousand Golden Cicada Coins, Brother Lin Zhao, whether you want to or not. Anyway, this is my stance..."
"..."
Lin Zhao's brows were tightly furrowed. He was already wavering under Xiao Jiu'er's words. Yes, what right did he have to prevent Su Qingjiu from contributing to the Great Chen Dynasty? Although the Golden Cicada Coins were indeed too many, every single one would be spent on tangible things. Moreover, the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake currently had a large deficit and insufficient foundation. With his own strength alone, he could not resist the two demon encampments. He couldn't always rely on Lin Xing Chu and Lin Wan Hua, could he? After all, they also had their own territories to guard.
"Understood."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "I'll accept these Golden Cicada Coins. What will you do next? If you run out of money for meals, come back to Tian Ran Ju for food."
Su Qingjiu covered her mouth and chuckled, "Okay!"
She looked at Lin Zhao and smiled, "Actually, Brother Lin Zhao, you don't need to worry. Chang Ming Mountain is located in the south. Within the southern hundred thousand forests, there are many ancient giant spirits slumbering, known as Savage Witch Spirits. For the past ten years, I, along with several twelfth-realm cultivators from the south, have often ventured south to hunt these Savage Witch Spirits and hone my swordsmanship. The heads of these witch spirits can be exchanged for military merits in the Great Shang Dynasty. Military merits are Golden Cicada Coins, otherwise, I wouldn't have earned these 3000 Golden Cicada Coins."
"I see."
Lin Zhao said, "I don't know what Savage Witch Spirits look like, but you must be careful."
"Understood."
Su Qingjiu smiled and nodded. She took out another storage bag and began to take things out. A pile of magic artifacts, most of them mid-grade, would be very useful for Shu Zhi, Mu Ya, and Chu Yu, and could also enrich the inventory of the mountain-top villa. The truly useful items for Lin Zhao were the final treasures. Xiao Jiu'er took out a piece of Qingxin Rock, almost as large as a regular brick, and placed it on the desk. It was very heavy and made the desk creak.
"This..."
Lin Zhao frowned, "Xiao Jiu'er, you're giving all your fortune to the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, what about yourself?"
"I don't need it," Su Qingjiu said with a smile. "In fact, these are all external things. As a sword cultivator, all I need is the sword in my hand, the flying sword in the Sword Nurturing Lake, and my sword intent and swordsmanship. With these, I can already traverse the jianghu. For these magic artifacts, Brother Lin Zhao can use them if he can, or sell them for money if he can't. It's all fine."
"..."
Lin Zhao frowned. Xiao Jiu'er had given far too many things to the mountain-top villa.
...
"My Lord."
Outside the door, Shu Zhi's voice was heard. "Dong Cang asked if you would like to review the menu for dinner. After all, you've invited many distinguished guests, and we mustn't be negligent at our mountain-top villa."
"Oh, come in."
Shu Zhi entered the study and handed Lin Zhao a menu.
Su Qingjiu smiled, "Sister Shu Zhi, you've arrived at just the right time. I have a weapon here that I don't know if you like. If you do, I'll give it to you."
"Ah?"
Shu Zhi was startled.
Su Qingjiu brushed her fingertip across the front of the storage bag, and a treasure sword exuding strong immortal energy appeared on the desk. Intense spiritual energy coiled around the sword blade, and ancient inscriptions were etched into its body. The blade was sharp, emitting a soul-stirring cold light, and it was accompanied by an exquisite and sturdy scabbard.
Su Qingjiu gripped the hilt and lightly held the long sword horizontally across her chest. As she channeled her sword intent, the treasure sword hummed, emitting a faint dragon's roar. For a moment, the entire room was filled with the artistic conception of sword dao and immortality.
"..."
Shu Zhi stared blankly. Just its aura alone made this sword countless times stronger than her own treasured sword, which she had used for many years.
Su Qingjiu smiled with dimples, her beautiful eyes looking at Shu Zhi.
"This sword is called Cheng Xin. It is an immortal sword. For anyone else, I truly wouldn't be willing to give it away."