9: Chapter 9: First Signs of Heroism

Xiao Tian followed closely behind Luo Yunkai, carefully guarding his left sleeve, his eyes filled with nervousness.

He had hidden the Storage Pouch in his sleeve pocket.

Luo Yunkai swept his Divine Sense over Xiao Tian's movement and shook his head.

However, he said nothing, letting his Cheap son digest it himself.

Xiao Tian followed him out of the Qingyun Shop for some distance before finally snapping out of the surprise of obtaining the Storage Pouch.

He scratched his head sheepishly and quickly walked a few steps to stay just half a pace behind Luo Yunkai.

"Dad, aren't we going home yet?"

Luo Yunkai could hear a slight tremor in his Cheap son's voice when he said 'going home'.

A pang of guilt flashed through his heart.

It was his fault for being heartless, leaving after getting what he wanted, leaving his son homeless.

"Of course we are going home."

"But I used to have no relatives, no attachments, and no thought of having a home. Now, I need to buy one."

Xiao Tian stared with wide, astonished eyes, his gaze fixed on Luo Yunkai's back becoming slightly moist, showing a closeness born of shared suffering.

"Dad..."

"Our home, father and son, we'll choose it together. Isn't that wonderful?" Luo Yunkai laughed freely.

A smile also appeared on Xiao Tian's Face, and he nodded heavily, "Dad is right!"

Luo Yunkai brought Xiao Tian to the management office for renting and selling Immortal Caves in the Yunyin Market.

Luo Yunkai directly sought out a familiar intermediary, a Middleman He in his forties with a cultivation base at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"Oh, Old Luo, I thought you weren't coming back anymore. I already rented out the Immortal Cave you used to lease. Look what I've done!"

Middleman He paused, then said, "How about this, Old Luo? I'll pick out an inferior-grade Immortal Cave for you and give you a ten percent discount. How about that?"

Luo Yunkai waved his hand. Middleman He frowned slightly upon seeing this, thinking Luo Yunkai was dissatisfied.

"Little He, I brought my son back to give him a good life. How could I let him continue renting an inferior-grade Immortal Cave? I want to buy a superior-grade Immortal Cave."

Middleman He didn't take Luo Yunkai's words seriously; everyone knew who he was after so many years.

He glanced at Xiao Tian following behind Luo Yunkai, saw that the boy had no cultivation, and racked his brains to offer a compliment, "Old Luo's son is truly a handsome young man."

Xiao Tian looked a bit embarrassed and nodded to Middleman He, "Uncle He."

Middleman He chuckled, "Since you call me Uncle, I can't let you lose out. How about this, Old Luo, for a superior-grade Immortal Cave, I'll give you a twenty percent discount."

His heart was bleeding.

Luo Yunkai found it amusing. He knew exactly what the man surnamed He was thinking. He still had the authority for a twenty percent discount on a superior-grade Immortal Cave. This man probably thought he was putting on a show of Face for his son and was cooperating to secure a superior-grade Immortal Cave to fool his Cheap son.

He smiled cryptically, "Little He, are you sure? A superior-grade Immortal Cave, twenty percent off?"

Middleman He was about to agree immediately, but when he met Luo Yunkai's eyes, which held a hint of malicious intent, he instantly shut his mouth.

He knew that Old Luo looked immortal and refined, but he was actually a ruthless person who would eat people without spitting out the bones.

Those unruly neighbors of Old Luo who had offended him now had graves piled two meters high.

Seeing that the man surnamed He hadn't agreed, Luo Yunkai wasn't disappointed. "Enough. I don't care about your discount percentage. Show me which superior-grade Immortal Caves are available. I'll take a look."

Middleman He looked at Xiao Tian behind him, "A real superior-grade Immortal Cave?"

Luo Yunkai narrowed his eyes, stroked his beard, and smiled kindly, but with an inexplicable danger, "What do you think?"

Middleman He inexplicably shivered and quickly took out the catalog of superior-grade Immortal Caves.

"Old Luo, take a look. If you like one, I'll speak to the higher-ups for you and ensure you get the lowest price."

Luo Yunkai stroked his beard and opened the catalog.

As soon as the catalog opened, a phantom image of an Immortal Cave, complete with gardens and spirit fields, appeared above the pages, with every flower, every tree, every blade of grass rendered perfectly.

Xiao Tian stared until his eyes went wide, but fearing he would embarrass his father, he quickly restrained himself and lowered his head.

"Tian'er, come take a look. Do you like this Immortal Cave?"

Xiao Tian looked up and saw his father smiling kindly as he presented the catalog before him. His throat felt tight.

"Dad, I don't understand. As long as you like it, that's fine."

Luo Yunkai stroked his beard, "Superior-grade Immortal Caves are never bad. It mainly depends on whether you like the layout."

Seeing his father insist that he offer an opinion, Xiao Tian braced himself and looked.

He looked at the catalog floating before his eyes and the Immortal Cave suspended above it. The astonishment in Xiao Tian's eyes could not be hidden.

"Dad, I think it's very good. It looks very nice."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yunkai immediately made up his mind. "Then it's this one. Little He, I want Cave Residence Number One. Name your price!"

Middleman He pondered internally, wondering if Old Luo had robbed some rich young master to become so wealthy.

Never mind, as long as there are Spirit Stones, that's all that matters. Their Immortal Cave management office never asked about the source.

"Old Luo, superior-grade Immortal Caves are inherently expensive, let alone this being Cave Residence Number One. It's the closest to the center of the Market, right next to the Market Master's residence, so the price..."

Xiao Tian's heart jumped with every word Middleman He spoke. By the time he reached the end, he directly wanted to regret it.

"Dad, actually, this Immortal Cave..."

"Just state the price directly!" Luo Yunkai interrupted his Cheap son's struggle and said calmly to Middleman He.

Middleman He held up two fingers, "Two thousand Spirit Stones per month."

Xiao Tian had been worried, but upon hearing this price, it didn't seem expensive?

He worried for nothing!

Luo Yunkai shook his head. Middleman He looked unsurprised.

"Old Luo, perhaps you should look at others..."

"I want to buy it, not rent it. How many Spirit Stones to buy Cave Residence Number One? Name a price."

Middleman He stared blankly at Luo Yunkai, pulling at the corner of his mouth, "Old Luo, if you don't have it, don't joke around..."

Luo Yunkai looked at Middleman He with calm eyes, cutting off his words.

Middleman He swallowed, "Really buying it?"

"It seems you can't make the decision. I'll find someone who can," Luo Yunkai said, turning to leave.

Middleman He's heart pounded. Intuition told him he couldn't let Luo Yunkai leave; this would be his greatest opportunity!

"Old Luo! Old Luo, I can make the decision, I can!" Middleman He shouted, the wind roaring as he stepped in front of Luo Yunkai, "Old Luo, we are old acquaintances. If you ask others, they might swindle you, but I won't!"

"I know your character."

Xiao Tian felt something was off about that statement. If he didn't cheat Dad, shouldn't he have said, 'Dad knows your character'?

Luo Yunkai swept his sleeve, pushing Middleman He aside, and stood with his hands behind his back, his white beard swaying slightly in the breeze, "Mm, it's good that you know."

Middleman He rubbed his hands together, "Old Luo, I'll give you a honest price. Three million Spirit Stones, I..."

"Done!" Luo Yunkai nodded.

Middleman He's words about the 9.8-fold discount were stuck in his throat and he couldn't utter them.

"Let's go process the paperwork and pay the Spirit Stones now," Luo Yunkai urged.

Middleman He, feeling dizzy, led Luo Yunkai and his son to complete the procedures, witnessing Luo Yunkai's extravagant spending.

Three million Spirit Stones nearly buried him on the spot!

It was terrifying!

After watching Luo Yunkai and his son leave, Middleman He noticed someone following the father and son. His muddled brain immediately cleared.

"I need to give Old Luo a reminder."