Starting Cultivation During a Trip

The next day, morning.

Sanqin District, Shangmafang Old Residential Area.

The old courtyards are connected to each other, resembling pigeon cages from above, appearing old and weathered amidst the towering buildings of the city.

A solitary pancake stall is set up beneath the broken and weathered walls, the pancakes sizzling and smoking on the iron anvil, the rising heat becoming the last bits of mortal world smoke in this old city area.

”Uncle Feng, add two eggs for me...”

Zhang Fan stood in front of the stall, watching Feng Ping’an expertly making pancakes, unable to resist adding an extra egg.

”You really know how to eat.” Feng Ping’an grinned and said, ”Do you want scallions and cilantro?”

”Yes, both, a bit less cilantro.”

Zhang Fan nodded, his gaze resting on the pancakes, yet his attention constantly roaming around the surroundings.

Yesterday, after returning from Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance, he couldn’t sit still.

Sui Chunsheng’s words were like a waking stick hit, making Zhang Fan feel urgent.

”Over twenty years ago, someone used the Heaven-Stealing Technique to steal Jade Capital Dragon Qi, ten years ago, there was an extremely unusual leakage causing a three-hour interruption of the Yangtze River’s Huai’yan section water flow.”

”According to investigations, the source of the Dragon Qi theft is in that old residential area of the Sanqin District.”

”Fan, your dad wants you to visit the old mansion sometime; he left something there that’s quite important.”

The various leads of the Jiangnan Province investigation, combined with Liu Fusheng’s reminder, made Zhang Fan believe such coincidences don’t happen in the world.

At this moment, Zhang Fan had a bold speculation arising in his heart; even though it might not be true, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the so-called ’Celestial Secret Theft, Stealing Dragon Qi’ source was indeed his family’s old mansion.

”Fan, eat while it’s hot.” Feng Ping’an handed over a steaming pancake wrapped in kraft paper.

”Uncle, how much?” Zhang Fan took out his phone.

”Trying to slap Uncle’s face!? Eating a pancake, and Uncle would charge you?” Feng Ping’an brushed his greasy hands on his clothes and chuckled.

”Uncle, your pancakes are truly delicious.”

Zhang Fan took a bite, the skin soft, the sauce rich, it was no exaggeration to say it was almost the tastiest pancake he had ever had.

”Hehe, whether the pancake is good or not, the key lies in the fire time...”

Feng Ping’an muttered softly with his head lowered, ”With the fire time controlled well, everything tastes great.”

”Fan, there’s a trick in here, Uncle is teaching you, just in case you can’t make it in the future, at least you have a skill, you can be like Uncle, making pancakes.”

”A trick?” Zhang Fan paused for a moment while eating the pancake.

”The trick of controlling the fire time is just two words: calm mind.” Feng Ping’an grinned.

At this moment, the pancake vendor steadfast in the old city area seemed to have a sparkle in his eyes, his slightly hunched body appearing much more upright.

”Calm mind!?”

”I remember that winter, Uncle was still burning on a charcoal stove, the wind and snow were too strong, and the fire went out in the stove... Your dad was helping Uncle kindle the fire and muttered something scholarly, sort of like that...”

”My dad? What did he say?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

”The heart empty like a valley, then the fire can blossom brilliantly.” Feng Ping’an murmured softly, yet there was an emptiness in his eyes.

”The heart empty like a valley, then the fire can blossom brilliantly...” Zhang Fan chewed over these words, pondering.

”Zhang Fan!?”

At this moment, a voice of surprise and inquiry came from beside them, pleasant and familiar.

Zhang Fan turned around in surprise, he never expected to run into Xu Zhixia here early in the morning.

Beside her stood a tall, thin young man, wearing gold-framed glasses, dressed in a white shirt, looking refined.

Zhang Fan immediately recognized him as the man who drove the Mercedes-Benz with the big hook that night.

”Zhixia, long time no see.” Zhang Fan spoke softly.

They had parted hastily that night, nearly getting hit by a car, and hadn’t really had a chance to formally greet each other.

”Not that long.” Xu Zhixia paused and maintained distance, a hint of a smile appearing.

All in all, it had only been three or four months since graduation.

”How have you been?” Xu Zhixia spoke softly.

It’s a line that nine out of ten reunions of ex-lovers will feature worldwide.

”I’ve been well.” Zhang Fan replied casually.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, no matter how close the relationship was, reunions after separation often lead to speechlessness, truly echoing the old saying that meeting is not as preferable as remembering.

”Why are you here?” Xu Zhixia broke the silence.

”I lived here as a child, thought I’d drop by early in the morning to look around, but I can’t go in.” Zhang Fan pointed to the old residential area behind him and said.

”Of course you can’t go in, here...”

At this moment, the young man with gold-framed glasses beside them spoke, his tone indifferent, his gaze toward Zhang Fan carrying a subtle arrogance, speaking halfway and then stopping abruptly, seemingly unwilling to waste words with insignificant people here.

”Zhixia, let’s go in.”

”Wait a second.”

Xu Zhixia looked at Zhang Fan apologetically and said, ”This is my friend, Li Gaoyang.”

”Zhang Fan, soon there will be old city redevelopment here, now they are conducting foundational surveys and risk assessments, so in principle, ordinary people can’t go in...” Xu Zhixia explained.

”Ordinary people can’t go in?” Zhang Fan began to mutter.

He believed this reason before yesterday, but after returning from the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance, he realized that all the risk assessments were just a facade; they were merely investigating the source of the Dragon Qi theft.

Such a major event naturally wouldn’t allow ordinary people to meddle.

”Then you guys...”

”How are we the same as you?” Li Gaoyang pushed up his gold-framed glasses, sneering.