Soto City, outside Heart of Fire Academy.
The day had settled into a steady, bone-deep chill, the kind that seeped through clothes and into the skin. A fine drizzle fell from a dull gray sky, blurring the edges of the bustling street and turning the packed earth road into a patchwork of damp footprints and shallow puddles. Vendors huddled beneath patched awnings, their calls less spirited than usual, while the occasional passerby hurried along with their collars pulled high.
On a narrow storefront wedged between two larger establishments, a slightly crooked wooden plaque hung above the entrance. The faded red paint still clung stubbornly to its surface, bearing the name "cherry blossom honey." Beneath it, a horizontal inscription had been carefully carved, though the lettering had begun to chip with age:
"Cerry blossom honey from Heart of Fire, Gold Waves and Jade Buds Gather Immortals."
Inside the modest shop, the air was thick with a faint, sweet fragrance. Shelves lined the walls, each one filled with jars of honey in varying shades of amber, gold, and pale pink. Some were sealed with wax, others tied with simple cloth covers, giving the place a rustic charm.
At the center of it all, a middle-aged man with a hooked nose lounged in a reclining chair. He sat cross-legged despite the chair's awkward angle, rocking slightly as he called out toward the empty street.
"Don't miss out, folks! Our signature cherry blossom honey is brewed from fresh cherry blossom stamens of Heart of Fire Academy, imbued with the aura of cherry immortals. One sip makes your body light and healthy, two sips grant you a hundred years of life, and three sips will make your body reborn!"
His voice echoed more than it attracted attention, the drizzle outside dampening any enthusiasm from potential customers.
"Old Boss Flender, stop shouting. The weather isn't good today; there aren't many customers."
A burly man pushed open the back door, stepping inside with heavy, deliberate strides. Resting against his shoulder was a massive jar nearly half a meter in diameter. Its surface was slightly cloudy from age, and a pinkish-yellow paper label had been pasted on it, boldly marked with the words "Aged Honey."
Flender barely glanced at him before replying, his tone tinged with frustration. "Every sale counts. Old Zhao, you don't know the cost of living until you run a household. These shops outside Heart of Fire Academy are truly precious now. Our small shop alone costs five gold coins a month. How much cherry blossom honey do we need to sell just to cover the rent?"
He let out a long sigh, his earlier enthusiasm draining away. The rhythmic tapping of rain against the wooden beams seemed to echo his mood.
"I'm getting angrier the more I think about it. Damn it, if it weren't for that dog Yu Xiaogang, who took us to gamble with Dean Xin and lost the academy's land, how much would that piece of land be worth now?!"
As he spoke, his eyes took on a distant, almost glazed look, as if he could see mountains of gold coins slipping through his fingers. The regret was palpable, lingering heavier than the scent of honey in the room.
After the Soul Master Competition, Flender and Yu Xiaogang went their separate ways, and he returned to Soto City.
Back then, the city had already begun to change. Rumors of development spread quickly, and when news arrived that Heart of Fire Academy was being constructed—and that major powers like Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School were moving closer—Flender wasted no time. Recognizing an opportunity, he relocated his business to this very street, hoping to profit from the influx of students, merchants, and wandering cultivators.
Besides selling some of his cherished jade, his main product was cherry blossom honey.
In truth, Flender had always possessed a keen sense for business. He understood how to dress up a simple product, how to weave a story that would entice buyers. By associating his honey with the prestige of Heart of Fire Academy, he had managed to create an illusion of rarity and value. For a time, it worked—sales were brisk, and coins flowed steadily into his pockets.
This fellow's business acumen was quite good; leveraging the name of Heart of Fire Academy, the sales of cherry blossom honey were exceptional.
But success, like the weather, was fickle.
Just as Flender and Zhao Wuji were sighing over their troubles, the shop door creaked open. Two well-dressed individuals stepped inside, their robes neat and bearing subtle insignias that marked their affiliation. Their expressions were professional, but their eyes were sharp.
They were business management Spirit Masters from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Without wasting time, one of them produced a document and spoke in a firm, practiced tone. "Why haven't you taken down your sign yet? We've warned you multiple times. You are not a Heart of Fire Academy brand. False advertising is prohibited, and you cannot use the name of the Heart of Fire Immortals to sell goods."
The second one stepped forward, placing another paper on the counter. "This is the last warning. If you don't change your sign within three days, the shop will be closed for rectification."
Their words fell like cold rain, precise and unavoidable.
"Also, here is your fine ticket—five hundred gold coins. The fine will be directly compensated to Heart of Fire Academy. Please pay."
The crisp sound of the fine notice being set down seemed louder than it should have been.
The management personnel of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School business street issued a fine ticket and a warning letter, handing them to Flender.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, as if struck by lightning, Flender shot up from his chair, nearly knocking it over.
"Five hundred gold coins? That much?!"
His voice cracked, disbelief written plainly across his face. His mind raced, calculating, recounting, denying.
One jar of my cherry blossom honey only sells for two silver coins. My total income hasn't even reached five hundred gold coins!