Dao of Money

Chen Ren dreamt of home.

Not the chaos of Cloud Mist City, not the noise of markets or the sharp clash of blades, but home. The small apartment with peeling wallpaper, the aroma of instant noodles in the air, and the old, secondhand couch where he spent countless hours.

He wasn’t dreaming of the grind this time—the endless string of part-time jobs he juggled to keep the lights on and the rent paid, nor the late nights studying as a struggling business management student. No, this dream wasn’t about the struggle. It was about the moments in between.

Chen Ren saw himself sitting on that lumpy couch, a box of cheap pizza on his lap, the TV flickering with a cricket match. He could almost taste the greasy cheese and hear the roar of the crowd as someone hit a six.

Then the scene shifted. He was standing at the counter of one of his part-time jobs, leaning casually as he chatted with the girl from the next shift. He could hear his own awkward laughter as he tried to work up the courage to ask her out. Her laugh echoed faintly, soft and teasing, before fading into the next memory.

He was back outside his apartment building, crouched on the cold concrete, feeding the stray cats that gathered around him like tiny, furry shadows. One cat—a scruffy tabby with a half-missing ear—pushed closer. He reached out, scratching its head, feeling the soft fur beneath his fingers. He chuckled, a giddy warmth bubbling up inside him.

But something was off.

As Chen Ren scratched the cat, a strange unease crept in. A nagging feeling that something was missing, something important. He wanted to stay in this world, to savour these small joys, but the sensation tugged at him like an unanswered question.

The cat purred beneath his touch, and the streets around him began to shimmer unnaturally. The cars, the lights, the faint chatter of distant pedestrians—they all felt... distant, like echoes from another life.

Chen Ren looked up, and in the sky, he saw something streaking toward him. At first, it seemed like a shooting star, a bright light cutting across the dark canvas of the night. But as he squinted, focusing on the light, his breath caught.It wasn’t a star.

The figure grew larger, its shape clearer with each passing second. Wings stretched wide, scales shimmering like molten gold, and glowing eyes piercing through the haze of the dream. It was a dragon, descending from the heavens.

Chen Ren stared, his heart racing as the world around him began to crumble. The buildings disintegrated, the ground beneath him cracked and fell away, replaced by a void of endless light.

As the dragon loomed closer, its immense presence pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe. It didn’t roar, didn’t move with fury. Instead, it gazed at him with calm, commanding eyes.

”You have slept a lot, Chosen One,” the dragon said.

The words struck Chen Ren like a hammer. In an instant, memories flooded back—the bustling streets of Cloud Mist City, the taste of noodles he sold to its people, Yalan’s purr and attitude, the thunderous applause of the tournament, and the fight against Gu Tian. The weight of his life came crashing down, vivid and undeniable.

Chen Ren’s knees buckled under the realisation. The world around him broke further, the dream crumbling into nothingness. He looked back down at the tabby cat, his last anchor to this fleeting dream, but it was gone.

All that remained was the dragon and the endless void.

A sudden pull, like an invisible thread yanking him back, jolted Chen Ren awake. His eyes snapped open, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps as he adjusted to the dim light around him. Blinking a few times, he looked up, and a familiar sight greeted him—a wooden ceiling with faint cracks that he had come to know well.

The Tang Clan. My room.

The same place where he had woken up every morning since arriving in this strange, Xianxia world. His heart settled as he took slow, calming breaths, grounding himself in reality. But his hand instinctively moved to his chest, to the spot where Gu Tian’s blade had pierced him. His fingers traced the area, expecting pain, a scar, something.

There was nothing.

The skin was smooth, unblemished, and warm to the touch. He was whole, alive, and no longer on the brink of death. Relief flooded him, but it was quickly followed by confusion.

How am I healed?

Before he could dwell on it further, a soft presence stirred beside him. Turning his head, Chen Ren’s gaze fell on Yalan, curled up on his bed. Her tiny frame looked peaceful, her paws peeking out from under the blanket she had wrapped herself in.

A small smile tugged at his lips. She looked adorable like this, vulnerable in a way that belied her sharp tongue. Almost on instinct, he reached out to pat her head.

But just as his hand was about to make contact, her eyes flicked open.

“It looks like you’ve finally woken up,” Yalan said, her voice calm but sharp as her amber eyes locked onto him.

Chen Ren froze, his hand hovering in mid-air, his smile awkward. “Uh, yeah. I guess I have,” he replied, lowering his arm. “It feels like I’ve been out for a long time. What… what happened after I passed out?”

Yalan stretched lazily, her tail flicking to the side. “After you lost consciousness—”

Before she could finish, the door to his room opened with a faint crack and Lihua, the maid, stepped in. As soon as his eyes matched with her, shock plastered on her face.

“Young Master Chen Ren is awake!” She shouted, her voice ringing out like a bell.

“Wait, no! Don’t—” Chen Ren tried to stop her, but the damage was already done.

Within moments, the room was packed with people. Tang Xiulan was the first to arrive, her usual composed expression softened with concern. Yuqiu followed close behind, barely managing to hide the relief in her eyes. Even Qing He shuffled in, her sharp gaze scanning him from head to toe. The children who helped around his stall also peeked in through the doorway, their wide eyes filled with curiosity and awe.

“Everyone…” Chen Ren started, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of visitors.

Before he could get a word in, Senior Qing He stepped forward, her wrinkled hands reaching for his arm. Her touch was firm yet gentle as she closed her eyes, a faint ripple of qi passing through him.

After a moment, she opened her eyes and gave a small nod. “You should thank the heavens,” she said. “You’ve come out of your ordeal with that demonic cultivator stronger than before. Truly, you have the resilience of a cockroach.”

Chen Ren blinked at her, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to respond. Finally, he let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. “I just woke up, and you’re already calling me a cockroach?”

“I’m praising you, kid,” Qing He said matter-of-factly, crossing her arms.

Chen Ren raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the pillows. “You need to work on your delivery, Senior Qing He.”

Her eyes narrowed, but there was a faint hint of a smile on her lips. “And you need to work on staying out of trouble. But I suppose that’s too much to ask.”

The room erupted into laughter, the tension breaking as Chen Ren shook his head, a smile finally spreading across his face. Despite everything, he was alive. And in this moment, surrounded by friends and allies, he couldn’t help but feel grateful.

Chen Ren shook his head with a wry smile and turned his attention to the others. “Alright,” he said, his voice still a bit hoarse. “What exactly happened after I was out?”

Tang Yuqiu stepped forward and gave him worried eyes. “You collapsed. And after that, the city guards took over to bring the situation under control. They moved you to the chambers of the City Lord’s personal healer. At the same time, they burned the body of the demonic cultivator and raided the inn where he had been staying. Everything in his possession was destroyed as a precaution.”

Chen Ren nodded, listening intently as Yuqiu continued.

“It wasn’t a quiet matter,” she added. “It was a public event. The whole city is in an uproar. Rumours are flying everywhere—some say you died valiantly while fighting the demonic cultivator, while others are hell-bent on the fact that you’ve been permanently crippled.”

Chen Ren blinked, his lips twitching. “Crippled? Really?”

“That’s not even the most outrageous one,” Tang Xiulan interjected, stepping forward.

“Oh? What’s the top rumour, then?”

“They’re calling you Dragonheart,” Xiulan said from the side. “Everyone in the city saw the golden dragon in the sky. People are saying you’ve been blessed by the fabled dragons themselves. That’s why they’ve given you the title.”

“Dragonheart, huh?” Chen Ren repeated, leaning back into the pillows. The name rolled off his tongue, and for a moment, he considered it. “Well,” he said with a shrug, “it’s a little early for me to have a title, but I’m not complaining. Dragonheart sounds just the right amount of edgy.”

The room chuckled lightly, though Chen Ren’s thoughts turned inward. He couldn’t help but reflect on the dragon that had appeared in his dream. Blessed by dragons? He shook his head. No, that wasn’t it. Even he had no clue what the dragon’s presence meant, let alone why it had appeared.

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His musings were interrupted by Senior Qing He’s sharp voice. “So, tell us, boy—are you blessed by dragons?”

Chen Ren glanced at her. “No,” he replied truthfully. “Even I know nothing about the dragon that appeared.” He paused, his gaze dropping to his hands.

The dragon called me a chosen one. Is it some world saving nonsense? He groaned internally. I hope not. That’s way above my pay grade.

Fortunately, no one pressed him further about the dragon. Sensing the shift in the conversation, Chen Ren straightened. “You’ve talked about all this like a lot of time has passed. How long was I out?”

Tang Xiulan exchanged a glance with Yuqiu before answering. “A week.”

Chen Ren’s eyes widened slightly. “A week? That’s… a lot of time!”

Qing He clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “You should be glad it was only a week, boy. With all the heavenly qi that filled your body, it’s a miracle you didn’t break apart. A week of rest is nothing. And it wasn’t wasted—you’ve made another breakthrough.”

Chen Ren blinked, caught off guard. “Breakthrough?”

“Yes,” Qing He confirmed, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. “Check it yourself.”

Chen Ren frowned, closing his eyes as he focused inward. He quickly sat cross-legged on the bed as he moved his qi through his dantian.

He could feel it—his core had changed. He hadn’t realised it before but the energy also flowed smoother, and stronger, almost as if the air itself had become a reservoir of power he could tap into. When he opened his eyes, his senses expanded beyond what he had ever known. Qi wasn’t just a subtle force anymore; it was tangible, a current in the air, swirling and flowing with life.

“I broke through,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. “Qi refinement realm.”

Qing He nodded approvingly. “Yes, but don’t get ahead of yourself, boy. You still need rest, and I’ll not have you running off to test your newfound strength like some brash fool.”

“I wasn’t planning to.” Chen Ren chuckled at that thought. He didn’t feel like testing his strength right away, not after the fight he’d had.

“Good,” she said, though her tone suggested she didn’t believe him for a second.

Before Chen Ren could respond, Tang Yuqiu spoke up. “You’ll have to wait until you’re summoned anyway.”

Chen Ren tilted his head. “Summoned? For what?”

“The award ceremony. Due to the attack and your… unconscious state, it was delayed. The other participants received their rewards three days after the incident. But the City Lord wanted to personally meet you and reward you for defeating the demonic cultivator.”

Chen Ren frowned slightly. “Personally?”

Tang Yuqiu nodded. “You’ll get the summons any day now. And before you meet him, you’ll need to prepare.”

“Prepare what?” Chen Ren asked, confused.

“An outfit,” Yuqiu replied with a smirk. “You can’t meet the City Lord looking like an ordinary cultivator, can you?”

Chen Ren glanced down at his plain robes. “What’s wrong with this?”

Xiulan almost rolled her eyes. “Everything, young master. You’ll need something formal. Something that makes you look like the hero they’re calling Dragonheart.”

Chen Ren sighed. “I didn’t ask for that name, you know.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Tang Xiulan said. “You’ve got it now, and you’ll have to live up to it.”

***

Chen Ren remained on the bed for three more days under Qing He’s strict supervision. Her sharp gaze left no room for argument, ensuring that he fully recovered before she finally allowed him to move freely. By the end of the third day, when she was convinced his condition had stabilised, a formal summons from the City Lord arrived.

Without delay, Chen Ren prepared himself, donning the new outfit tailored for him. No one accompanied him to the City Lord’s estate, uncertain about the nature of the meeting. Even Yalan refused, citing the reason that she would be patrolling around the city, making sure that no other demonic cultivator had made their way in.

The carriage ride through the city was an experience in itself. His recent achievements were still being talked about, raising his stakes in the city significantly.

Even from inside, he could hear whispers of “Dragonheart” and snippets of stories about his supposed feats. The tales had grown with each retelling, painting him as a heroic figure blessed by the dragons.

Chen Ren shook his head, amused yet resigned to the title he hadn’t asked for.

When they arrived at the City Lord’s estate, the grandeur of the place did little to faze him. What caught his attention, however, were the expressions of the guards and maids stationed outside. Their eyes literally sparkled with admiration, and some even seemed starstruck, as though they were in the presence of a legend.

He was instructed to wait downstairs until a guard came to escort him. The short wait was filled with curious glances from the staff, some discreet and others outright gawking. Chen Ren ignored most of them, focusing instead on keeping his composure.

Then, he heard footsteps approaching him.

When he turned, he froze momentarily, recognising the man—the same guard captain who had interrogated him. Cai Tao, he remembered the latter’s name correctly. The man’s facial expressions were entirely different this time. He wore a genuine smile and, to Chen Ren’s surprise, bowed before addressing him.

“Young Master Chen Ren,” Cai Tao began, his voice respectful yet tinged with hesitation. “I wanted to apologise for suspecting you as a demonic cultivator and for interrogating you. It was a grievous mistake on my part and the guards. I hope you can accept my apology and my gratitude for ridding the city of Gu Tian.”

Chen Ren took his words with a bit of surprise. He hadn’t expected anything like that even with his newfound glory. Still, he was in no mood to accept it.

“Okay, but I don’t think an apology will cut it. You were ready to send me to my death in the Purity Chamber. Don’t act like you don’t know what that means.”

The guard captain flinched slightly, his smile faltering. He looked down for a moment before replying, “You’re right. That’s not something an apology can fix. I understand your anger. I was following orders from my superiors, but I didn’t join the guards to force innocents to their deaths. If it’s any consolation, I deeply regret my actions.”

Chen Ren studied the man, his gaze searching for signs of deceit. Unable to tell if the regret was genuine or simply a show, he finally nodded. “Fine. I won’t hold it against you. That’s the only thing I can say right now.”

Cai Tao bowed again, his voice steady this time. “That’s more than enough.” The tension eased slightly as the captain straightened up. “Now, if you’ll follow me,” he said, gesturing toward the stairs.

Chen Ren nodded and followed the captain deeper into the City Lord’s estate silently.

He decided not to press the issue with the guard captain. It wasn’t worth burning bridges, not when he still had plans in Cloud Mist City. Maintaining a good relationship with the guards would be far more beneficial. After today, he was certain they’d owe him a debt for taking down the demonic cultivator—a debt he could call on if needed.

With that thought in mind, he followed the guard captain through the winding halls of the City Lord’s estate.

Eventually, they stopped before a pair of ornate doors flanked by two guards.

“This is it,” the guard captain said, nodding toward the doors. “Please go inside. The City Lord is waiting.”

The guards pushed the doors open, revealing a grand chamber lit by a massive chandelier. As Chen Ren stepped inside, his gaze immediately landed on City Lord Li Baolong.

He sat on a chair, wearing long white robes with rings donning his fingers. His eyes briefly landed on them before noticing that the City Lord wasn’t alone.

Beside him sat an old man with a long, flowing, silver-coloured beard that cascaded down his chest. His wise eyes gleamed with a sharp intelligence that seemed to see through everything. He wore simple but elegant robes that bore the emblem of the Soaring Sword Sect.

Chen Ren recognised him immediately, Yan Xiu—an elder of the sect who had overseen parts of the tournament. Though they hadn’t interacted directly, Chen Ren had seen him back then.

Suppressing any sign of unease, Chen Ren followed the etiquette Yuqiu had drilled into him and bowed deeply.

“Raise your head,” City Lord Li Baolong said. “There’s no need for formalities today.”

Chen Ren straightened, meeting the City Lord’s gaze.

“I would like to thank you,” he continued, “for the great service you have done to this city by ridding us of that filthy demonic cultivator. To be honest, when the first rounds of the tournament began, and I saw how you moved through without engaging in direct combat, I thought you were nothing more than a schemer. A hack who relied on tricks rather than skill.”

Chen Ren kept his face neutral, though the bluntness of the statement almost made him twitch.

“But,” he added with a small smile, “as the tournament progressed—through the semifinals, the finals, and, of course, your battle with that vile cultivator—you proved me wrong. You showed not only your strength but also your righteousness. You are deserving of the title the people have given you: Dragonheart.”

Hearing the title again, Chen Ren resisted the urge to grimace. It seemed there was no escaping it now.

Before he could respond, the City Lord Li Baolong continued, “For your deeds, I have decided to double the amount of spirit stones you were to receive as the winner of the tournament. Consider it a token of this city’s gratitude.”

Chen Ren blinked, momentarily caught off guard. That was no small reward, especially when spirit stones were a vital resource for cultivation.

“Thank you, City Lord,” Chen Ren said, bowing slightly. He chose his words carefully. “I only did what any cultivator should when faced with such evil.”

The City Lord’s smile widened. “Humble as well. Good. That will serve you well in the future.”

The elder beside him nodded slightly, his wise eyes fixed on Chen Ren as though evaluating him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this meeting was about more than just gratitude.

Chen Ren smiled and bowed politely at the words, but before he could say anything, the City Lord added, “Not only that. Sect Elder Yan Xiu also has a reward for you.”

Chen Ren turned to the elder, unable to keep his gaze away.

The old man chuckled warmly, the sound deep and rich like an ancient bell. “I won’t offer you flowery praise like Baolong,” he said. “I have a feeling you’re the sort who already knows your capabilities and takes pride in your accomplishments.”

The elder’s gaze sharpened slightly, as though testing Chen Ren with his next words. “You know, one of the rewards for winning the tournament is being granted core disciple status in the Soaring Sword Sect. But I would take it a step further. I am Yan Xiu, the Vice Sect Leader of the Soaring Sword Sect, and I offer you the opportunity to become my personal disciple. I will ensure that you are not only an exceptional cultivator but that you will receive every priority and resource the sect can offer.”

Chen Ren blinked, taken aback. He had no idea this man was the Vice Sect Leader. His thoughts raced. This was an incredible offer—one most cultivators would dream of. Core disciple status was prestigious on its own, but being taken under the wing of a the man just below the sect leader? That was on an entirely different level.

The Chen Ren who had first transmigrated to this world would have accepted immediately. Even the previous Chen Ren, desperate to find his footing, would have jumped at the chance.

But now?

He had come to trust his instincts and his chosen path. While the offer was tempting, Chen Ren knew it would tie him to the sect’s rules and politics, constraints he wasn’t prepared to accept.

Making his decision, Chen Ren bowed deeply to the sect elder. “I am deeply honored by your offer, Vice Sect Leader Yan Xiu, but I must decline. I have no intention of joining a sect at this time.”

The City Lord’s eyebrows shot up, his expression one of surprise. “Are you certain? This is a rare opportunity!”

Yan Xiu, however, didn’t look surprised. If anything, he seemed amused. “Very well,” he said with a nod. “So be it. I had a feeling you might refuse.”

Chen Ren straightened, watching as the man’s smile grew.

“But,” the elder continued, “a debt is still a debt, and I cannot let your contribution to the city and the sect go unrewarded. How about this: aside from the rewards for winning the tournament, I will allow you to select one item of your choice from the inner sect treasury. Do you accept that?”

***

A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too.