Li Hu's visit wasn't just a warning—it was a declaration. His veiled threats shattered whatever peace had begun to settle over the Azurewood Lin Clan. The courtyard, once alive with the scent of freshly harvested grain and Shen Yue's soft laughter during cultivation practice, now felt colder, taut with unease.
That night, Lu Chenyuan gathered Uncle Liu and Shen Yue around the small wooden table under the plum tree. The lantern above them swayed gently, casting flickering shadows on his face.
"We leave at first light," he said, his voice low, clipped, and devoid of its usual calm. "Uncle Liu, you're with me. Shen Yue, you stay here."
Shen Yue blinked, startled. "Stay?" she echoed, voice barely above a whisper.
Lu Chenyuan met her eyes. "Yes. Bar the gate behind us and don't open it for anyone but me or Uncle Liu. Keep one of the sickles nearby. I know your cultivation's still shallow, but your senses are improving. Trust them. If anything feels wrong, go straight to the root cellar under the kitchen. It's cramped, but it's the safest place we have."
For a moment, she looked like she might protest. But then she nodded. Her fear was still there—tangible—but it no longer defined her. The flicker of Wood Spirit Qi within her had done more than stir her dantian—it had planted a seed of strength.
"I'll be careful," she said quietly. "And I won't hesitate."
By the time the first light crept over the hills, Lu Chenyuan and Uncle Liu were already on the road, the morning dew still clinging to their boots. The air was brisk, but it did little to cool the tight knot of worry in Lu Chenyuan's chest.
Sixty-eight spirit stones. That was all they had left. Every coin jingling in his pouch felt like a brick strapped to his conscience. He walked quickly, urgency overtaking caution. Uncle Liu kept pace beside him, hand never far from the shaft of his old hunting spear.
They reached Serpent's End Market just before the sun hit its peak. The place buzzed with activity, the usual chaotic mix of merchants, rogue cultivators, and loud haggling. But today, Lu Chenyuan didn't stop to browse. He headed straight for a familiar cluttered storefront.
Shopkeeper Bao was wiping down his counter when they arrived. He looked up, smile already spreading, though it faltered slightly when he saw Lu Chenyuan's expression.
"Patriarch Lu! You honor me again so soon. Looking for something rare today, perhaps?"
"I need Three-Leaf Ginseng," Lu Chenyuan said flatly. "Grade Two Lower, minimum. Grade Two Middle if you have it."
Bao's eyes sparkled with interest. "Ah, a discerning choice. Vital herb. Excellent for Qi refinement. Price has gone up, though. The Stone Tiger Li Clan's been snatching up anything of value lately—Young Master Li Hu must be preparing something grand." He gave a greasy chuckle. "I've got a fine stalk. Grade Two Middle. Flawless leaves. Twenty-five spirit stones."
Lu Chenyuan nearly flinched. Twenty-five? That was almost half their fortune, and more than he'd paid for the Earth Spirit Root.
"That's robbery," he said, voice low.
"It's the market," Bao said, shrugging. "Demand's high. And supply's thin. You want quality or scraps, Patriarch?"
Lu Chenyuan ground his teeth. Bao was gouging him, and they both knew it—but the herb was too important. His recent attempts at Qi Nourishing Pills had failed, and he couldn't afford more waste. Still, he haggled, hard, until they settled on twenty spirit stones and a bag of surplus grain.
It was a bitter trade, but as he held the wrapped ginseng and inhaled its delicate, sweet aroma, he knew it was worth it. The stalk was fresh, pulsing with vibrant energy. With proper use, it could stabilize the next round of pills. It was an investment—one he couldn't afford to regret.
That left them with forty-eight stones.
Next came defense. A proper formation master was out of reach—for now. But there had to be something. Anything.
They scoured the talisman stalls. Most were run by suspicious types with wary eyes and inflated prices.
"Warning talismans?" one vendor offered. "Five stones each. Bang and a flash if someone crosses the boundary. Might spook a thief. Useless against cultivators."
Too expensive, too unreliable. Lu Chenyuan moved on.
Another vendor had Sharp Metal talismans—three for ten stones—and Earth Wall talismans, twelve for one. Better, but not by much.
Then Lu Chenyuan noticed a small, quiet stall manned by an elderly cultivator who seemed more craftsman than merchant. His table held small bronze plates etched with delicate patterns.
"What are these?" Lu Chenyuan asked.
"Simple Qi Disturbance Array," the man rasped. "Creates illusions. Confuses intruders unfamiliar with the layout. Can link to a basic alarm. Needs a few spirit stones to stay active. Fifteen stones for a set."
Lu Chenyuan paused. It wasn't flashy, but it was clever. Not a wall or a weapon, but a subtle trap. An early warning. A chance to act.
"I'll take it."
He bought the array components, then haggled down an Earth Wall talisman to ten stones, pointing out a small crack in the runework. That left twenty-three spirit stones.
Their coin purse was a shadow of what it had been that morning.
As they prepared to leave, Uncle Liu tapped Lu Chenyuan's arm. "Young Master," he whispered. "That man in the alley… I know him. Works for the Li Clan. Keeps watch in the market."
Lu Chenyuan's gaze shifted. A lean man with twitching eyes was loitering nearby, pretending to inspect some tools. The moment their eyes met, the man vanished into the shadows.
Lu Chenyuan's stomach sank. "We've been followed," he said grimly. "They're watching us. We need to get home. Now."
They took a different route—longer, but safer—and arrived as dusk fell. The crumbling gate creaked open as Shen Yue greeted them, eyes wide with relief.
"You're safe," she said, exhaling. "I was starting to worry."
"We're fine," Lu Chenyuan replied. "But we don't have much time."
The three of them got to work immediately. The array instructions were simple, but exacting. Five bronze plates buried in a specific pattern around the courtyard. The activation core—smooth, etched, and heavy—was placed near the main house. It needed three spirit stones to function.
Under the flickering oil lamps, Lu Chenyuan measured the distances and angles, guided by his growing spiritual intuition. Uncle Liu dug the shallow holes with careful, silent focus. Shen Yue, her hands steady, aligned the plates and covered them with fresh earth.
By midnight, it was done.
Lu Chenyuan placed three spirit stones into the core. A faint hum buzzed through the air. A soft shimmer passed through the edges of their courtyard, then faded.
[System Notification: Simple Qi Disturbance Array (Grade 0 - Basic) successfully activated. Minor disorientation effect on unauthorized entrants. Basic alarm function active. Clan Security +5. Clan Prosperity Meter: 11/100.]
The message appeared in his mind, faint but clear. Another step forward. The array wouldn't stop someone like Li Hu—but it might confuse them. It might buy time. And that was enough, for now.
They sat together for a while after that, beneath the stars. No one said much. The night was quiet, but it was the quiet before a storm.
Lu Chenyuan looked at the two people beside him—his old retainer and the girl who called him 'Patriarch' with growing faith. Their lives depended on his decisions.
And their spirit stones were nearly gone.