"Senior Zhai... please, have some tea."
In the back of a shop located in a town within the Lower Level of the Upper Realm, the tiger demon cultivator He Yin held a cup of tea, offering it respectfully to Zhai Bairong.
Seeing his flustered and nervous expression, Zhai Bairong took the cup and thanked him, telling him there was no need for such excessive formality.
"Exactly. Aren't we all old acquaintances? Why are you always acting like a stranger?" Nie Shiyun sat nearby, taking a sip of his tea and laughing.
"After all, you are both great seniors of the Integration Stage," He Yin said bashfully. He had known Nie Shiyun for a bit longer, and if it were just the two of them, the atmosphere might have been more relaxed. But as for this partner Nie Shiyun had brought back to the Lower Level... he wasn't sure about others, but he personally found it very difficult to act casual around him.
Zhai Bairong smiled and did not push him. Glancing outside, he changed the subject. "I must apologize for disturbing you while your shop is open. It was a lot of trouble for you to arrange this."
"Not at all, not at all," He Yin replied quickly. "Hardly anyone comes to the shop at this hour. My wife is watching the front; there's no need for me."
"That is good then," Zhai Bairong said softly.
After he and Nie Shiyun arrived in the Lower Level thirty years ago, they first spent some time sightseeing. Although the Lower Level did not have spiritual energy as dense as the Upper Level, there were fewer dangerous beasts in the countryside, making it very suitable for travel. After wandering around for a while, Nie Shiyun suggested visiting the Tiger Tribe where he had once lived for a time. Zhai Bairong naturally agreed.
Considering that the Tiger Tribe occasionally had contact with their main branch in the Middle Level, and fearing that his hard-won deception of Ao Fan might be exposed too early, Nie Shiyun did not make a grand appearance before the Tiger Tribe residents. Instead, he only contacted Hong Lang, who had taken special care of him back then, to say hello.
Upon hearing Nie Shiyun’s brief description of his experiences in the Middle Level, Hong Lang—who had originally thought Nie Shiyun had just gone there for a quick look—was scared witless. That was the Dragon Clan! He had never heard of anyone daring to play the Dragon Clan for fools like that.
Then, remembering that Nie Shiyun even possessed things like Phoenix feathers, a dazed Hong Lang wiped his face and told himself in his heart that it was probably no big deal... probably.
He was a man of great loyalty. Even setting aside the trust Nie Shiyun showed by telling him such things at the risk of exposure, the many magical treasures Nie Shiyun had forged for the Tiger Tribe in the past were enough to make him eternally grateful. Hong Lang immediately patted his chest and guaranteed that the matter of Nie Shiyun’s return to the Lower Level would remain a secret known only to them; they would never mention a single word to the main branch in the Middle Level.
After catching up, Hong Lang, as Nie Shiyun expected, warmly invited him to continue living near the Tiger Tribe. However, Nie Shiyun declined this time. He had finally reunited with Zhai Bairong and wanted to rest well for a few years before focusing on his cultivation. If he accepted this favor, he would surely have to help them with smithing from time to time.
Though Nie Shiyun politely declined, Hong Lang did not feel it was a pity. He already knew that after not seeing him for a short time, Nie Shiyun—who had already advanced to the Integration Stage—was no longer someone the Tiger Tribe could hope to associate with as equals. It was truly a stroke of luck that the other man had happened to be at a low point and in need of money back then, allowing them to benefit.
Hong Lang did not waste words, only laughing heartily and telling Nie Shiyun to come visit when he had time. He even picked a lot of food and herbs from the Tiger Tribe's lands to give him as local specialties.
Nie Shiyun was not polite either, accepting them all after giving his thanks. He asked about the recent situation of He Yin, who had lived in the same courtyard as him back then. After all, he had only been able to read the smithing manuals for free thanks to He Yin's help. Now that Nie Shiyun’s pockets were full, he wanted to repay that kindness.
To his surprise, He Yin had actually opened a shop during the time he was away. Hong Lang said that the Tiger Tribe still didn't much like going to the human towns, and now that He Yin was focused on running his furniture shop, he didn't have much contact with his kin and was likely quite lonely. If Nie Shiyun could go see him, it would surely be a great surprise.
Nie Shiyun was quite interested to hear that He Yin had actually started a business. He immediately asked for the address and, after saying goodbye to Zhai Bairong, went to find him.
When the two paid their visit, He Yin, who was completely unprepared, was startled.
At that time, his shop had just opened, and the storefront was both remote and small. Seeing the Nie Shiyun of today, who was incomparable to his past self—and especially the partner beside him who seemed to radiate a celestial aura—He Yin felt his little shop was far too shabby and was quite overcome with shame.
"I've made a fool of myself before the Seniors. As you can see, it's really just a small shop where making a living is still a struggle..."
Nie Shiyun scanned the shop. Although the decor was simple, it was a case of "the sparrow may be small, but it has all its vital organs." He patted He Yin's shoulder to comfort him, saying that all businesses start out this way and telling him not to worry. He then asked with a smile if He Yin had time to drink together that evening.
Seeing that Nie Shiyun was already an Integration Stage cultivator yet his attitude was exactly the same as before, He Yin was deeply moved. He immediately agreed, saying he would call his wife and treat Nie Shiyun to dinner at the best restaurant in town.
That evening, He Yin's wife, who had been summoned from the Tiger Tribe, also arrived, and the four of them went to the restaurant together.
"It's thanks to Senior Nie that I was able to make up my mind to leave the tribe," He Yin said with bashful gratitude. Although Nie Shiyun said he wanted to thank him for the manuals and tried to pay for the meal, He Yin insisted that he was the one who had benefited and could not let Nie Shiyun spend his money.
After several rounds of drinks, He Yin, who had been overly stiff due to Zhai Bairong’s indescribable aura, finally relaxed a little.
"Senior Nie mentioned his partner to me before. Back then, I knew he must be someone of outstanding appearance, skilled in smithing, and a cultivation genius with a single spiritual root. But I didn't expect that meeting the person himself would be even more impressive than I imagined..."
Zhai Bairong quickly said, "You flatter me," and turned to look at Nie Shiyun. "Why do you go around telling people such exaggerations?"
Nie Shiyun said candidly, "Everything I said is the truth, isn't it? Besides, I only mention it to those I'm relatively close with. If you don't believe me, ask them when we visit the Tiger Tribe later; I don't just desperately introduce you to every person I meet."
Zhai Bairong whispered helplessly, "Don't. Please, spare me."
He Yin and his wife looked at each other and smiled. Seeing the way Zhai Bairong spoke with Nie Shiyun, He Yin felt that Zhai Bairong was much more approachable. But the next second, when the other man turned back to continue speaking with him, the atmosphere around him returned to its original state. He Yin immediately became nervous again, speaking with utmost deference.
Overall, the meal was a pleasant affair for both hosts and guests.
He Yin wanted to invite Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong to stay over, but he couldn't, as his shop was too small, with only a tiny storeroom in the back for him to sleep in. His wife still returned to the Tiger Tribe every day during this period. It was shameful to admit, but because his shop's income didn't cover its expenses, he still needed his wife to hunt in shifts with the tribe to trade for goods to survive.
Seeing He Yin's situation—working diligently but with little success—Nie Shiyun couldn't bear it. He was still mindful of the unpaid debt of gratitude for the manuals, so with a turn of his mind, he decided to stay with Zhai Bairong for a while.
From the next day onward, Nie Shiyun would occasionally drop by He Yin's shop. He Yin was honest and simple-minded, burying his head in his work and sitting idly in the shop the rest of the time. His shop was in a remote location, and he didn't advertise; he didn't have a single customer all day long. Taking the opportunity of their chats, Nie Shiyun gave him a few casual pointers, telling him that the saying "good wine needs no bush" didn't apply to every situation.
In truth, He Yin's craftsmanship was quite exquisite. He had also studied formation inscriptions for a time; while he couldn't draw high-level ones, adding a few small inscriptions to furniture was a clever touch. At least in this Lower Level, Nie Shiyun hadn't seen many shops like this, so he felt He Yin's business had a bright future. Sure enough, with his help, after only a month or two, customers drawn by the advertisements he had put out began to frequent the shop.
"Senior Nie, so many people have come to place orders!" He Yin had made more money in this one week than in the previous several months combined. He looked at Nie Shiyun, who was leaning leisurely against the counter, and cried out in excitement.
"What did I tell you?" Nie Shiyun smiled.
"I had greeted the neighbors before and put out news of opening discounts..." He Yin scratched his head, somewhat confused.
Nie Shiyun sighed and corrected him. "Your neighbors are all ordinary families. They might support you once, but they won't need new furniture every day. In times like this, you have to target those in business, especially those opening shops or restaurants... Moreover, your previous discount price wasn't high, but it wasn't low either. Since you were losing money anyway, wouldn't it be more enticing to drop it to the absolute minimum?"
He Yin reflected for a moment and said helplessly, "But my previous price took the rent into account. If it were any lower..."
"It was just a slightly larger temporary loss, and haven't you already earned it back? Put it away." Nie Shiyun tapped the countertop. The deposit left by the customer just now made a clinking sound inside the money bag. He Yin gratefully picked up the bag and said he wanted to give a portion to Nie Shiyun. Nie Shiyun waved his hand with a smile, saying he had no use for it now and that He Yin should carefully consider using the money to move to the main street or a more prosperous town to sustain his business.
"Then... then I'll take it for now." He Yin thought it made sense. Nie Shiyun had given him a good start; he couldn't let it fail now.
Hearing him say this, Nie Shiyun found it funny. "What do you mean 'take it for now'? It was your money to begin with."
He Yin shook his head. "It's all thanks to Senior's efforts. I was only able to come out and do what I wanted because of Senior. You've been busy helping me all this time; I truly have no way to repay you..."
Nie Shiyun patted his shoulder and joked that this would count as repaying the favor for the manuals. He wouldn't help him to this extent in the future, or he'd have to start charging a consultant fee.
Since Nie Shiyun had been staying in the town lately, He Yin remembered he hadn't seen Zhai Bairong for a while. He asked worriedly if the matters of his shop had affected the two of them. Nie Shiyun told him not to worry, explaining that Zhai Bairong had been out scouting the environment lately; they wanted to find a place to settle down and build a cave dwelling. After much thought, they didn't want to live near the town, as the environment was too noisy. So, Zhai Bairong had been traveling a bit further afield these days.
"Senior Zhai looks like the type who should live in a place ordinary people can't find. He really shouldn't live in such a cluttered place," He Yin immediately nodded in agreement.
Nie Shiyun asked curiously, "Are you afraid of him? I see you're always so deferential when you speak to him. Actually, he isn't a stern person; he's quite easy to get along with."
He Yin said helplessly, "I know Senior Zhai is a good person. But I can't help but feel nervous when I speak to him. Only you, Senior Nie, could be so close and intimate with him." And he even teased him from time to time, something others wouldn't even dare to imagine.
Nie Shiyun smiled and did not continue the argument.
He remembered that a long time ago, Zhai Bairong was much more "smooth" than he was now. Back when he was still in the Moon-Reflecting Sect, he got along with everyone from top to bottom and was very popular.
Although he had long since forgotten the details of the so-called "original story," Nie Shiyun vaguely remembered that in that book, Zhai Bairong clearly held the responsibility of communicating with outsiders on a daily basis.
However, facts proved that Zhai Bairong perhaps didn't like those things at all.
Ever since he left the Moon-Reflecting Sect, the occasions where he had to socialize with others became fewer and fewer. Nie Shiyun could also clearly feel that Zhai Bairong preferred to leave the trivial communication tasks to him, while he himself was responsible for listening on the side and giving suggestions and opinions afterward.
Thinking that Zhai Bairong was now living much more freely and happily than his originally intended life path, Nie Shiyun couldn't help but feel happy for him, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Then, once Senior has decided on a residence, I will surely bring good wine and my wife to pay a visit."
After parting with He Yin, Nie Shiyun went to find Zhai Bairong. By then, Zhai Bairong had finished scouting the locations. It was an environment similar to when they lived at Yunqing Pavilion—a quiet and elegant place nestled against mountains and near water.
Soon, the two of them built their cave dwelling. Since coming to the Upper Realm, they had always been on the move; now they could finally be considered temporarily settled. For this, Nie Shiyun breathed a long sigh of relief.
Both knew they would not stay in the Lower Level forever; they were only lying low for now because of the matter with Ao Fan. Once their cultivation improved in the future, they would surely go to the Upper Level to reunite with Xuan Yang, as the spiritual energy there would be more suitable for cultivation. But at least for a long time to come, they would live here in seclusion.
In the blink of an eye, thirty years passed.
During this time, the two lived a simple life, spending most of their time on cultivation. Occasionally, they would visit He Yin and his wife, and stop by the town to sell some pills and magical treasures. With their current level, selling items once in a while was enough to earn money that would last a long time.
Thanks to Nie Shiyun’s advice, He Yin’s furniture shop business flourished. After a few years, he moved to a large, prosperous town. The scale of the shop grew, and he had two apprentices helping out. He Yin’s wife also finally stopped having to hunt for a living; she likewise left the Tiger Tribe’s territory to help him manage the shop, so they no longer had to live apart.
On this day, the two had just finished a three-year closed-door cultivation session and had come out for a walk after a long time. They came to the town to restock herbs for alchemy and stopped by the shop.
Feeling that he had no talent for the path of cultivation, He Yin only felt that the gap between himself and these two—who were already worlds apart from him—had grown even larger. But as for exactly what level they had reached, it was not something his level could probe.
"Seniors, could it be that you are preparing to advance to the Mahayana Stage?"
Nie Shiyun wore an expression that said "don't joke with me" and quickly denied it. "It hasn't even been a hundred years since we reached the Integration Stage; we're still far from the Mahayana Stage. At most, we can say—we are progressing steadily."
Zhai Bairong nodded, quietly sipping his tea on the side.
As expected of a successful business; the tea leaves were much higher quality than before.
He Yin was shocked, stammering, "So you really are preparing to advance to the Mahayana Stage... I just said it casually." Just the thought that he actually knew two Mahayana cultivators made his hands shake with excitement.
"...Hm?"
Zhai Bairong let out a short, low sound of confusion. Nie Shiyun immediately turned his head, casting an inquiring gaze.
Zhai Bairong looked slightly surprised, though he quickly calmed down. "It's the communication crystal. Excuse me, I'll step away for a moment."
Nie Shiyun also showed a look of pleasant surprise. There were only two possibilities for someone to have a way to contact Zhai Bairong: either it was from the alchemy shop where he once worked, or it was from Shen Yan, who had chosen to stay in the Upper Level. There must be some special news for them to contact him.
Seeing they had important business, He Yin was no longer as dense as when he first started his business. He was quite discerning and told them to go ahead and not mind him, making an excuse to check the front and running out of the room.
"Oh? It's Shen Yan." Zhai Bairong’s tone was rarely a bit cheerful. After spending time with Shen Yan, he knew that the man would never engage in idle chatter unless there was something important. Shen Yan might not even be willing to trouble him if he encountered danger. Sending a message after all these years... perhaps Xuan Yang had finally come out of seclusion.
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 187 | A Quiet Life Below | Novela.app | Novela.app
