The streets of Xuantian City were crowded with people, cultivators either flying low on swords or walking hurriedly. Yuyi weaved through the bustling crowd, striding toward the Robe Workshop in the city's east district. Afternoon sunlight spilled onto the blue stone road, casting dappled shadows. The air carried a faint fragrance of spirit herbs—Xuantian City's unique scent, mingled with the medicinal aromas drifting from various sects' alchemy halls.
Pushing open the carved wooden door of the Robe Workshop, a wave of warm spiritual energy washed over him. The interior was arranged with classical elegance, various dharma robes hanging on the walls, flowing with faint spiritual light under the illumination of spirit fire. Yuyi's gaze passed over these, landing on the robe crafting platform deep within the workshop.
Yunzhi was completely focused on crafting a dharma robe, her slender fingers deftly manipulating spirit fire, weaving golden threads into complex array patterns. Beside her, a man in green robes watched her tenderly, his eyes full of doting affection. The man had handsome features, his temperament warm as jade, a faint smile on his lips.
"Bixiao, greetings!" Yuyi hurriedly called out warmly.
Bixiao rose at the sound, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he quickly came forward. "Yuyi, you've come. Please sit, let me pour you tea." His voice was mellow and pleasant, his manner unhurried, exuding the air of a noble family's young master.
Yuyi sat in the guest seat, and Bixiao had already brought a cup of clear tea. The tea fragrance wafted up; Yuyi took a light sip, feeling spiritual energy circulate, his mind refreshed. This was top-grade spirit tea, worth no small amount in Xuantian City. Bixiao sat opposite, and the two chatted about everything under the sun—from recent events in the cultivation world to various sects' movements, from spirit stone prices to dharma artifact trades, their topics wide-ranging and deep.
Yunzhi only looked up to nod at Yuyi before returning to her work. Yuyi didn't mind—he knew well Yunzhi's obsession with robe crafting. When working, unless it was someone extremely familiar, she wouldn't even lift her head. That she nodded at him was already giving tremendous face.
Yuyi chatted with Bixiao while secretly observing this warm, jade-like man before him. He recalled the Cangqiong Alliance hall master Bixiao he had seen in Zhongzhou City, that imposing presence who strategized in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion—completely different from the man now watching Yunzhi with such tenderness. Yuyi wondered inwardly why Bixiao concealed his true identity from Yunzhi. But he soon let it go—everyone had their secrets. Since Bixiao chose to hide it, he had his reasons. Yuyi decided to pretend he knew nothing, never speaking of it.
The two chatted for over two hours before Yunzhi's work finally came to an end. Bixiao lovingly helped Yunzhi sit at the table. Yunzhi smiled beautifully, looking at Yuyi: "Yuyi, you returned quickly this trip. Did you sell everything for a good price?"
"Of course, all thanks to your superb skills." Yuyi smiled. "Whether quality or craftsmanship, far surpassing other robe crafters' work—naturally every trip sells for a good price."
Yunzhi listened to Yuyi's flattery, her heart pleased. She glared at him: "Alright, I know your crafty mind. Right now you're plotting after my Golden Thread Immortal Robes again, aren't you?"
Yuyi chuckled but didn't respond.
Yunzhi continued: "Golden Thread Immortal Robe materials are extremely hard to find. Bixiao specially found them for me—otherwise, even with money they'd be hard to purchase. I crafted seven total. I need to keep one for Bixiao, one for myself—only five I can sell to you."
Yuyi's eyes lit up with joy: "Yunzhi, you're too good to me. Enough, enough. One thousand spirit stones each, how about that?"
Bixiao smiled knowingly at these words, making Yuyi feel somewhat embarrassed. Yunzhi shook her head and sighed: "Now I know the purpose of that Golden Jade Hairpin you gave me last trip. I knew you weren't that generous. Now how can I have the nerve to haggle with you?"
Yuyi looked even more awkward. Alone with Yunzhi, with his thick skin, he wouldn't blush or his heart wouldn't race. But with Bixiao present, having his somewhat despicable behavior exposed on the spot, he felt his face burning.
Bixiao smiled and said: "Yuyi, don't be like this. If Yunzhi blamed you, she wouldn't have refused three spirit merchants, specially waiting for you to return."
Yuyi heard this and felt somewhat melancholic, feeling he'd gone too far. Speaking of which, when he first met Yunzhi, he invested capital for her without charge because he believed she would have a bright future—a long-term investment, not entirely out of kindness. But since then, whenever Yunzhi made good things, even if others offered higher prices than him, she insisted on waiting until he had taken enough goods before considering selling to others. Several times when he didn't have enough spirit stones, she even let him buy on credit. If not for Yunzhi, Yuyi knew his spirit stones wouldn't have accumulated so quickly—at least three times slower.
Yuyi said with some seriousness: "Yunzhi, if not for your help these months, I definitely wouldn't have earned these spirit stones. I plan to wait another two months, when I have enough spirit stones, then return to the sect to cultivate diligently. The extreme need for spirit stones has made me take advantage of you quite a bit. Yunzhi, I'm just like this, but if you ever need anything in the future, I, Yuyi, will definitely help you with all my power. After so long together, I truly consider you a good friend."
Yunzhi's expression darkened: "You're leaving in two months?"
Yuyi nodded, his tone full of determination: "That's right, at most a little over two months. I believe the spirit stones I've accumulated will be enough for me to spend a long time, to cultivate with focus. Going into business was always for the sake of later dedicated cultivation. But don't worry, I've calculated—by the time I leave, your skills will definitely be sufficient to reach Grandmaster level. Only after watching you become a Robe Crafting Grandmaster will I feel at ease leaving."
"Alright, stop talking, Yuyi. I really never blamed you." Yunzhi said softly. "I don't really care about spirit stones either. I just need enough for cultivation, enough spirit stones to buy materials to continue practicing my craft."
Hearing Yunzhi's words, Yuyi felt even more guilty, and a warmth filled his heart. He knew clearly that Yunzhi had a genuine concern and gratitude for him, care without any mixed interests or purposes. Yuyi was truly touched.
For the next two-plus months, Yuyi successfully traveled between Zhongzhou City and Xuantian City four times. Several business trips with the help of the manager and Yunzhi gained enormous profits. By now Yuyi had assets exceeding tens of thousands of spirit stones—even in the Nine Provinces cultivation world, he could be called a small wealthy cultivator. Seeing Yunzhi was not far from Robe Crafting Grandmaster level, Yuyi decided to delay his departure further, specially traveling to several cities abundant in materials to purchase the crafting materials Yunzhi needed.
One day, Yuyi stepped into Yunzhi's Robe Workshop but unexpectedly saw Youying, Lingxiao, Liuchen and their group.
"Yuyi, they say they're your friends. I saw them asking about your whereabouts on the street, so I brought them here." Yunzhi looked up and said to Yuyi, then returned to her work.
Yuyi happily entered the workshop, warmly greeting everyone, exchanging greetings. For a moment, the atmosphere in the workshop became very harmonious.
"Yuyi, we happened to come to Xuantian City to complete a sect mission, so we came to find you. We figured you should be done with your work by now." Youying smiled.
Yuyi quickly nodded: "Just finished not long ago. I can pack up a bit and leave with you tomorrow. I'll need your care in the future."
Youying smiled: "Don't say such polite words—we're all family."
Yunzhi unexpectedly looked up: "Yuyi, can you delay leaving for two days? I have something to give you." Her tone carried a hint of pleading.
Yuyi was momentarily stunned, then said: "No problem. Youying, sorry for the trouble. If you have urgent matters, I'll come find you in Zhongzhou City in a few days."
Youying didn't mind: "It's fine, we can tour Xuantian City's scenery."
A cultivator beside Youying—the one who had paid for Youying at the mountain foot last time—showed some dissatisfaction on his face, but didn't say anything. Yuyi was busy expressing apologies and didn't notice this, otherwise there might not have been a later dispute.
Seeing Yuyi agree, Yunzhi happily returned to her work. Everyone sat for a while longer. When Yunzhi finished her work, Yuyi invited everyone to Tianxiang Tower and reserved an upper-grade private room to treat them.
"You've gotten rich? How many spirit stones have you swindled from people these days?" Liuchen said half-jokingly.
Everyone was indeed surprised by Yuyi's extravagance—this meal probably wouldn't cost less than dozens of spirit stones, yet Yuyi didn't even frown. Yunzhi's reaction showed no surprise either.
Yuyi laughed: "Small business doesn't count as getting rich. I'm just so happy to see you all. I'll need your care in the future, so showing some appreciation is only right."
Everyone didn't pursue this topic further, simply asking about Yuyi's cultivation level, then chatting about various matters in the cultivation world.
Over the next two days, with Yuyi's generous funding, Youying's group toured all of Xuantian City's famous sights—spirit herb gardens, artifact crafting pavilions, immortal markets—enjoying themselves thoroughly.
On this day, the group left Tianxiang Tower, each carrying luggage, heading straight for Yunzhi's Robe Workshop. From afar they saw Yunzhi anxiously looking out from the workshop entrance. Everyone quickened their pace, and moments later entered the workshop at Yunzhi's invitation, each taking a seat.
"Yuyi, wait a moment." Yunzhi said, turning into the inner room. Not long after, she emerged holding a bundle made of excellent material, handing it to Yuyi: "Bixiao specially found the materials for me. My first Battle Dharma Robe and first War Soul Dharma Robe—I believe they'll definitely help you in the future. Also a Longyuan Sword, a gift from Bixiao."
Everyone was astonished. Yuyi stopped untying the bundle, looking up at Yunzhi with a strange expression, his lips moving but unable to speak.
Battle Dharma Robe—currently the best defensive dharma artifact in the Nine Provinces cultivation world aside from sect guardian treasures. The materials were extremely rare, currently selling for thousands of spirit stones on the market. And the War Soul Dharma Robe possessed high attack attribute bonuses that even sect guardian treasures couldn't match, but simultaneously had no defensive capability. Its materials were even more precious than Battle Dharma Robes, currently reaching nearly ten thousand spirit stones on the market. As for the Longyuan Sword, it was forged from profound iron, its attack only slightly below sect guardian treasures. Profound iron was extremely hard to find—even with money, this sword was difficult to purchase. How could everyone not be astonished?
Yuyi finally spoke after a long while: "Yunzhi! The robes you're giving me, I won't decline too much—I'll accept them. But the sword from Bixiao, how can I accept it?"
Yunzhi's face immediately darkened: "Yuyi, Bixiao is my future husband, just like me. Is giving you a sword inappropriate?"
Yuyi knew Yunzhi's temper—she was truly angry now. Yuyi was absolutely not someone with particularly noble sentiments, but he absolutely didn't like taking others' gifts for free. Yuyi's heart had a pride—he calculated, but in his view that was business principle. However much he swindled others was his own ability; he didn't think he owed anyone. But others' gifts were different—that was human feeling, absolutely not something spirit stones could repay, even making Yuyi feel his dignity was insulted.
Yuyi hesitated, extremely unwilling to accept Bixiao's gift. Though he got along very well with Bixiao, their friendship definitely hadn't reached this level. Yuyi tried to speak calmly: "Yunzhi, the things you're giving me are incomparably precious. Only because I know you care about me, I won't decline—I'll remember the gratitude in my heart. But the sword Bixiao is giving is too precious, don't you understand? How can I accept."
Youying couldn't help admiring Yuyi inwardly. In the cultivation world, everyone longed for a dream divine weapon. That Yuyi could refuse one placed before him showed his heart wasn't dominated by greed.
Yunzhi was about to get angry when a sigh came from the workshop's inner room. Yuyi recognized it as Bixiao's voice.
"Yuyi, I consider you a kindred spirit, didn't expect you to look down on me like this. Even so, this sword you absolutely should accept! Just for your help to me, you deserve it! Consider it my repayment of your kindness."
Yuyi's heart tightened, knowing what Bixiao referred to. Seeing Yunzhi's angry expression, he couldn't help sighing: "Yunzhi, I'm sorry. Bixiao, please don't mention kindness or not. I'll accept this sword, treating it only as a gift from you, Bixiao, without mixing anything else."
From inside the room, Bixiao laughed heartily: "Good, your words are enough. I don't want to add to the sadness, so I won't see you off."
Yunzhi heard Yuyi was willing to accept the sword and immediately smiled: "Yuyi, remember to come back and see us when you have time. In two years when Bixiao settles in Xuantian City, we're planning our wedding. No matter what, you must attend."
Yuyi forced down his surging emotions, trying to speak calmly: "Don't worry! To the ends of the earth, I absolutely won't break my promise. When I have time I'll definitely come back to visit you. Yunzhi, Bixiao, if you need anything in the future, whatever it is, I, Yuyi, will definitely help with all my power. I'm leaving."
Having said this, he resolutely turned and stepped out of the Robe Workshop's door. Yunzhi couldn't help sobbing softly. Since entering the Nine Provinces cultivation world, the first person she met was Yuyi. Half a year together—how could one not feel sad? Youying and Lingxiao's group also bid farewell to Yunzhi and Bixiao in the room before following. Everyone was moved by the three's feelings. Originally they all thought Yunzhi and Yuyi were daoist companions, but it turned out to be a genuine friendship—everyone couldn't help feeling respect.
Only when everyone had gone far did Bixiao emerge from the room, gently embracing the still-tearful Yunzhi, softly comforting her.
"Why did he leave without even turning his head?" Yunzhi sobbed.
Bixiao gently kissed away the tears from the corner of Yunzhi's eyes: "Because he didn't dare turn back. He had no confidence he could hold back the tears that would surge if he did."
Yunzhi's restraint completely collapsed as she held Bixiao and cried bitterly. The sunset's afterglow spilled through the window lattice into the workshop, gilding this farewell scene with golden light. In the Robe Workshop, the Golden Thread Immortal Robes flowed with faint spiritual light under the spirit fire's illumination, as if also moved by this sincere friendship.