Chapter 6
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Chapter 6: Changing Robes for Chains
Until Li Hui’s figure completely disappeared, Brother Zheng and the others did not leap out to intercept him.
Who among the outer disciples would dare to provoke the Grand Elder of the sect? Moreover, speaking of magical bonds and hidden truths was a death sentence if the word got out. Those outer disciples present believed it was impossible for someone to be so audacious.
The problem was that the bold individual had already sensed a hint of danger and was hurrying to leave the sect to seek refuge, hoping that the aftermath of the sect wars would lead to their downfall…
Outer disciples, Artifact Pavilion.
A tall building thirty zhang high, divided into sixteen levels, decorated brilliantly, with flying eaves and intricate brackets; even the grand pillars outside were crafted from sandalwood.
“Brother Cheng!” Li Hui exclaimed joyfully, knowing that this Brother Cheng was a rare and wealthy benefactor, and the two met at the entrance.
“Junior Brother Li,” Cheng Zihuan nodded slightly, recognizing Li Hui from a previous encounter. Upon seeing Li Hui’s clothes, he showed a hint of displeasure.
“Your Highness, as a member of the royalty of the Daling Dynasty, if it weren’t for your obsession with crafting tools and talismans, you would likely be seated on the current Emperor’s dragon throne.”
Li Hui smiled and said, “Royalty is still royalty; they must pay attention to their appearance. Do you think my outfit today looks acceptable? Rest assured, this is not the authentic dragon robe, but merely a python robe; how could I dare overstep? It’s just a decorative variation, and I can only wear it once before it will quickly fade.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Hui lightly rubbed his sleeve, and the robe instantly scattered, releasing flashes of light and shadow, dazzling to behold.
“The dragon robe!”
Seeing the light and shadow about to fade, Cheng Zihuan took a deep breath, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
The dragon throne was not something anyone could easily sit upon. The various princes of the Daling Dynasty vied for power, plunging the world into chaos. After a difficult period of recovery, several natural disasters struck, compounded by human tragedies. This prince had fallen out of favor and was burdened with unfulfilled ambitions, relegated to a life of crafting tools and talismans. Yet, years later, he could still see such an authentic dragon robe.
It was undeniable that the dragon robe suited Li Hui extremely well, emanating an air of authority—sometimes charm presented itself unexpectedly in appearance alone.
“Sigh! Let the past blow away with the wind!” Cheng Zihuan lamented softly.
“Senior Brother harbors lofty aspirations; a mundane person like me can only look up to you! However, I have a genuine dragon robe here, so I hope Senior Brother can keep it in mind, as it would showcase your dignity when you return home to visit.” Li Hui spoke sincerely, but at that moment, the light and shadow faded, leaving him in a simple blue shirt, and even the golden crown on his head quietly crumbled, revealing that the dragon robe he wore was merely an imitation.
As a person, one must have the integrity of a person; no matter how splendid the garments, they could not leave a single trace on his heart—only to pave a path to markets.
“Thank you for the kind offer, but let’s pass on that.”
Cheng Zihuan had experienced the struggle for power and seen various tempests. He waved a hand to refuse; whatever Li Hui sought from him, he could not disturb the hard-earned serenity he had cultivated.
“Senior Brother, it’s just this one item.”
Li Hui had chosen this fallen prince because he had overheard him speaking in his dreams, reminiscing about the grandeur of the dynasty—a lofty cultivator unable to maintain his composure in his dreams, how could he refuse a dragon robe?
Originally, this was just the first piece of a series of robes, with plans to develop Cheng Zihuan into a regular customer, guiding him towards luxury. After all, even if he had lost his status, royalty still ran in his blood; otherwise, how could one afford to craft tools and talismans? That required a substantial investment, and it was said that Brother Cheng’s crafting skills were terrible; occupying a place in the Artifact Pavilion was solely the result of vast resources.
Seeing that Cheng Zihuan was indifferent, Li Hui quickly unwrapped the package.
“Junior Brother seeks nothing more than a chain bag you crafted yourself. I plan to head to the White Sea markets tomorrow and won’t see Senior Brother for two or three years; I won’t get to hear your guidance. It’s just this small request; I hope you can grant it.”
“Oh?” Cheng Zihuan looked at the exposed corner of the clothing in the package, feeling a tremor in his heart.
He once wore such garments freely, but now they represented nostalgia.
Considering how much he had fallen, the person on the dragon throne could not be so bored as to test him, and this dragon robe did not exceed regulation.
“Only a chain bag?” Cheng Zihuan asked Li Hui.
“Indeed, just a chain bag for convenience while traveling,” Li Hui replied earnestly.
Originally, he had high hopes, wanting to cling to this connection with Cheng Zihuan and would not let go. However, plans had changed, so he decided to treat it as a one-time business deal, using the dragon robe to secure the chain bag.
It was still a gain, but compared to the original plan, it lacked significantly!
“Alright! Since Junior Brother is about to venture out, as a Senior Brother, I should gift you a chain bag.” Cheng Zihuan had spent years honing his character, and the princely air about him had long disappeared, leaving only nostalgic sentiments at midnight.
If it were not for this, Li Hui would not dare approach such a person. After all, only a few years prior, he had been on the battlefield transporting corpses. If not for his sister-in-law and elder brother, who had gritted their teeth and poured all their resources into sending him to the Jade Symbol Sect, he would never have had the opportunity to speak with royalty, albeit a fallen one.
Cheng Zihuan was deeply absorbed in crafting tools and didn’t lack for chain bags. He nodded and put away Li Hui’s “bribe,” casually taking out a rough hand chain made of six black stones.
“Six-link chain?”
Li Hui was overjoyed; he had originally thought he would receive a simple three-link chain and would make a modest gain, but unexpectedly, Brother Cheng had given him triple the return.
“Haha!”
Cheng Zihuan chuckled softly, setting aside his feelings of nostalgia for the past. Seeing the fascinated expression on Li Hui’s face as he accepted the chain brought him comfort.
“Junior Brother, to be precise, the chain bag has limited storage space and cannot contain artifacts; therefore, it cannot truly be called an artifact. It’s merely a small tool to increase convenience.”
“This is still wonderful!” Li Hui genuinely praised, examining the six-link chain from different angles.
As the name implies, the six-link chain could only hold six bags. Although the bags could not be too large and retrieving items was not as convenient as a true storage bracelet, it was sufficient for storing clothing, talismans, ropes, Ink, Brush, Paper, and Inkstone, food, and water, making it much easier than carrying a huge package.
Having held a high position for many years, Cheng Zihuan had a keen eye and could read people well.
He noticed that Li Hui’s eyes were clear, indicating he likely had no ulterior motives in approaching him. The dragon robe was merely a means of ingratiating himself and seeking to connect with fellow disciples of crafting tools! Seeking a six-link chain made this child quite happy.
“Thank you, Senior Brother! You are too kind to me! I’ll immediately arrange a feast to treat you!” Li Hui expressed his gratitude. Since he had decided to leave the Jade Symbol Sect, he had shed some of his ulterior motives and felt genuine appreciation for the excess reward from Cheng Zihuan.
“Alright, but eating from someone else’s plate can be a slippery slope. Since Junior Brother is departing, I happen to have a spot available that will guarantee you entry to the Artifact Pavilion to select a low-grade Spirit Motion marked artifact.”
“Ah?” Li Hui’s mouth dropped open; he truly did not expect such a delightful surprise!
