Chapter Forty-Four: The Antique Street

Agreement settled.

An Lan drove Ye Wushang back to the villa.

They agreed that tomorrow morning, she would call him, and then the two would go together to purchase the cauldron.

Returning to his room, he saw his sister still deep in slumber, even snoring softly. It was clear that with his company, she now felt at ease.

He gently tucked the covers around her, turned off the lights, and then returned to his own bedroom.

On the balcony, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and meditated.

He already had a plan in mind for the small workshop.

His sister’s condition was still unstable, so after buying the cauldron, he would immediately refine some pills to give her a calming medicine.

Once she fully recovered, he would set up the small workshop, open a noodle shop, and let her be the owner.

He’d hire a few people to help run it; with the daily bustle, the water in the courtyard would flow steadily once more.

By then, combining the Heavenly Fire Water from his grandfather for bathing, he believed it would greatly aid his cultivation.

The night passed without incident.

In the blink of an eye, it was the next day.

A faint buzzing sounded.

Ye Wushang, who had been silent for a long while, suddenly opened his eyes.

A glint of sharpness flashed in his gaze. With a flurry of fists, he struck out in a crisscross motion.

He actually managed to strike an object across the air, shattering a cup on the table opposite him, spilling its contents to the ground.

“Qi Condensation Realm, second level!”

Ye Wushang let out a low growl.

Feeling the changes in his body, he realized both his strength and agility had improved significantly.

For an ordinary person, this would be a dream come true.

Yet, compared to the level of absolute strength his father demanded, he still had a long way to go.

“Though my pill-refining skills are decent, the herbs are mediocre, and the cauldron’s quality is lacking, which makes the pills inferior in return.”

“I wonder how An Lan has fared. If I can’t buy the cauldron, my cultivation will progress far too slowly.”

A shadow flickered across Ye Wushang’s expression.

He glanced at the time—eight in the morning.

They had agreed she would call him before eight, but there hadn’t been a single sign.

Just then, a commotion sounded downstairs.

It seemed something had toppled over, instantly making Ye Wushang tense.

Though the villa was large, his sister had only just woken up and might not be comfortable around others, so he hadn’t even hired any staff.

There was only the two of them in the whole villa, and judging by his sister’s state last night, she should still be resting.

With this thought, he immediately rose and rushed out of his room.

He found his sister’s door still tightly shut, while downstairs in the kitchen, the lights were on, shadows moving, and a faint burnt smell wafted out.

A thief?

Ye Wushang was puzzled.

If someone wanted to steal, they should go for the bedrooms—why the kitchen?

Though he was suspicious, he locked his sister’s door from the outside for safety.

Then, moving as quietly as possible, he crept downstairs to the kitchen door.

With a creak, he opened the door, reached in, and in a flash, caught the intruder, restraining them with lightning speed.

The tray in the intruder’s hands fell instantly, crashing onto the floor and spilling everything.

“My milk!” came a startled cry.

An Lan called out in dismay, “What are you doing, Wushang?”

“Lanlan?” Ye Wushang was dumbfounded, instinctively letting go and frowning. “Why is it you? I thought it was a thief…”

“Have you ever seen a thief come to steal from the kitchen?” An Lan shot him an annoyed look, then, heartbroken, bent down to pick up the scattered items, muttering, “Last night, you were in a hurry to go back to the workshop and didn’t get a proper meal. I thought I’d come early to make breakfast for you and your sister. Now look, you’ve ruined everything…”

Ye Wushang gave a wry smile.

Looking down, he saw the milk she had made was thick and lumpy, the bread was burnt black, and the eggs, though cracked, were still raw inside.

Clearly, her cooking skills left much to be desired, but for her thoughtfulness, Ye Wushang still felt deeply grateful.

“It’s fine, Wuyou is still asleep. When she wakes up, some instant bread will do.”

He waved her off, helping her up and reassuring her, “There will be plenty of chances; there's no need to rush.”

“There’s broken glass everywhere here—be careful not to cut your hand.”

An Lan froze, then looked up at him, eyes lighting up. “Are you worried about me?”

“Isn’t it normal for friends to care about each other?” Ye Wushang’s breath quickened.

He did not wish to discuss matters of the heart.

Especially now, knowing the high hopes his father had placed in him, he wanted only to focus on cultivation, without distraction.

Seeing her earnest expression, he drew a deep breath and changed the subject. “By the way, Lanlan, how did the search for the cauldron go?”

“Did you find out where to buy one, and whether any are in stock?”

“Yes,” she replied, masking her disappointment at his deliberate avoidance. “It’s on Antique Street. I found out there’s a shop called ‘Breeze Pavilion’ that specializes in cauldrons. The year, origin, and material you want—they should all be available. But the place is full of all sorts, and I didn’t reveal my identity, so I didn’t make a reservation…”

Ye Wushang suppressed his excitement and smiled. “No worries. I’m just there to buy a cauldron, not to rely on the An family’s name.”

At this, his expression suddenly grew awkward, as if he were struggling to find the words.

“Wushang, just speak your mind.”

“Setting aside that you saved me and my grandfather, after these days together, aren’t we friends by now?” she said, patting his shoulder. “It’s normal for friends to help each other.”

Today, she was dressed lightly: pale blue skinny jeans that accentuated her graceful curves, a pristine white T-shirt that outlined her figure, and a cascade of lustrous hair flowing over her shoulders. Every gesture radiated allure.

Now her slender hand rested on his arm, her fragrance enveloping him like a gentle breeze—enough to intoxicate.

Even this simple touch could stir a man’s instincts.

She was, without doubt, a walking enchantress, impossible for any man to resist.

“Mm.” Ye Wushang instinctively took a step back. “It’s just… after divorcing Lan Ruoxue, I left with nothing. If it weren’t for your help, my sister and I wouldn’t even have a place to stay. So…”

“You want to borrow money?” An Lan caught on immediately, took a bank card from her pale green handbag, and handed it to him. “This is my spending card—there’s about two hundred thousand in it. Is that enough? If not, I can…”

“That’s plenty,” Ye Wushang said gratefully, taking the card. “Thank you, Lanlan. As soon as I earn some money, I’ll pay you back.”

A cauldron is considered an antique, but compared to highly valuable calligraphy or bronzes, it is much cheaper.

Two hundred thousand was more than enough; with any left over, he could even buy some medicinal herbs.

For him, making money was simple.

Refine pills to sell, heal the sick—any one could fetch millions.

“So you still don’t see me as a friend.” An Lan couldn’t hide her disappointment at his promise to repay her, but nodded. “But that’s fine. Lending and repaying money is only right.”

Though he acted distant, it only proved his character.

He never tried to take advantage—he kept friendship and reality clearly apart.

She had not misjudged him.