Chapter 31: Hidden Weapons.

Underneath the envelope was an additional document. Su Chen’an opened it, revealing a manuscript—blueprints for a mysterious device.

As an artifact refiner, Su Chen’an was instinctively sensitive to such diagrams. Though he didn’t dare claim to be one of the continent’s top refiners, his skills were certainly among the best of the younger generation. He had crafted over a hundred magical and spiritual tools, yet had never encountered such a strange and eccentric design.

His experience was still shallow, and it was normal that he couldn’t recognize all the 108 kinds of weapons. If that were all, he wouldn’t be so shocked… but he focused intently on the runes sketched on the blueprint, confirming he hadn’t misread it.

This person actually intended to inscribe runes onto the weapon, creating an entirely new type of artifact pattern.

Theoretically, it was possible.

But in the millennia of the cultivation world’s history, no one had ever dared to attempt something so bold.

Steadying himself, Su Chen’an carefully put the blueprint away, preparing to leave.

Knock knock.

A servant outside delivered the spirit stones Su Chen’an had won the night before.

It was a purple token with a golden border, recording his accumulated points. The number of spirit stones he won was so vast that it was directly converted into points.

In just one night, he had gambled away tens of millions of spirit stones, something truly unimaginable.

The servant, with his head lowered, stole a glance at Su Chen’an, his face filled with barely concealed awe and surprise.

This guest was a regular at the casino. Every time he made a bet, it started at a minimum of a million spirit stones, and he had never lost.

Leaving alone with his winnings was too conspicuous, naturally attracting thieves.

Casinos were filled with desperate people.

Some cultivators who had lost everything—ruining their families, becoming estranged from their wives—secretly followed Su Chen’an, plotting to rob him.

Suddenly, several hidden guards appeared from nowhere, blocking the way. “If you want to live, get lost! That man is a VIP of the boss, specifically named for special protection!”

“Just some rich young master with too much money! What’s so great about him? I can’t stand people like him!” One of the cultivators, drunk and disorderly, cursed under his breath.

In the next second, his words were cut short. He looked down to see his body sliced in half. He let out a couple of weak cries before collapsing into a pool of blood.

“Someone’s been killed!”

The others instantly sobered up, screaming and fleeing in panic.

The hidden guards spat disdainfully. “What a bunch of fools. They dare try to rob that artifact refiner? Plenty of people would kill for a chance to befriend him. If a single hair on his head gets harmed in our casino, we’ll all be in deep trouble…”

…

“Seventh Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister, do you think Fifth Senior Brother will really come back?”

The original story never mentioned which sect Su Chen’an belonged to, nor had it said anything about him returning or keeping contact with his sect… It seemed his connection to his sect was rather weak. Would he really take the time to visit?

“Now that I think about it, it’s been years since we last saw Fifth Senior Brother. But in my memory, he was always kind and warm-hearted,” Wenren Yue said as she absentmindedly played with the red snake coiled on her shoulder, resting her chin in her hand. “I remember when Fourth Junior Sister, Fifth Junior Sister, and I joined the sect. We were so young then, especially the two of them—they still needed someone to take care of them.”

“Master was often away from the sect, and Elder Senior Brother and Elder Senior Sister were so obsessed with the sword that they were hard to approach. At first, it was the Second Senior Brother who took care of us. But after two days, Fourth Junior Sister and Fifth Junior Sister got so sick from his cooking that they nearly died.”

“At that time, Third Senior Brother had a leg injury, Fourth Senior Brother was busy trying to kill himself, and Second Senior Sister was off hunting down her scumbag ex.”

“In the end, Fifth Senior Brother took over and looked after us for more than half a year.” Wenren Yue sighed. “We were so mischievous then. The three of us accidentally broke many of his precious artifacts and even poked a hole in his favorite refining furnace. That very night, it exploded, yet Fifth Senior Brother never once blamed us!”

Chu Sang and Tantai Ming, “…” They suddenly understood why Fifth Senior Brother never came back to the sect.

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

At that moment, a male voice, light and teasing, came from the doorway. Accompanied by a faint fragrance, a tall figure in blue stepped inside.

The young man walked in lazily, dressed in an inner robe of pale moonlight, with a dark gray-blue outer robe that was refined and elegant. A silver tassel hung from his waist, and his long hair was tied with a simple white hairpin. He exuded a noble, dignified air.

Chu Sang didn’t pay attention to his appearance—her eyes were focused entirely on something else.

Wow! Three rings on his fingers, plus all sorts of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and pendants… Even the folding fan in his hand was made of thousand-year-old spirit jade. The man was like a peacock, practically screaming “Rich, come and rob me!”

“So, this is the new junior sister?”

The folding fan lightly tapped her head, and the young man chuckled. “What’s the matter? Is Senior Brother too handsome, leaving you speechless?”

Chu Sang touched her head, “…” This Fifth Senior Brother is so full of himself.

But she was indeed mesmerised—by the sheer wealth he flaunted.

Although Sixth Senior Brother was also rich, he kept a low profile. He was a typical second-generation cultivator. But this Fifth Senior Brother, dressed in gold, silver, and jade, was more like a… first-generation nouveau riche?

Chu Sang reached out to touch the silver ring on his index finger, noticing a faint glint of light that piqued her curiosity.

The moment her skin made contact with the ring, dozens of hidden mechanisms activated—hundreds of tiny needle-like openings appeared on the smooth metal surface, ready to strike!

Before Chu Sang could react, Su Chen’an quickly pulled her aside, using his spiritual sense to deactivate the mechanisms. “That was close. You almost got hurt.”

“Junior Sister, don’t mess with anything on Fifth Senior Brother’s person,” Wenren Yue whispered. “He was kidnapped once, and ever since, he’s filled his body with all sorts of strange traps and hidden weapons.”

Chu Sang, “…”

This sect is full of oddballs.

No wonder this seemingly weak refiner could walk around so fearlessly—his whole body was practically a trap, just waiting for some poor fool to take the bait!

“Do you like this ring?”

Seeing her still staring at the silver ring, Su Chen’an smiled and handed it to her. “I didn’t prepare a proper gift for you since I came in a hurry. If you like it, take this ring for self-defence.”

Chu Sang loved hidden weapons like this. They made ambushing others so much easier.

She loved being sneaky.

“Thank you, Fifth Senior Brother! I really like it!” She smiled sweetly as she slipped the silver ring onto her finger. The ring immediately shrank to fit her, and from now on, no one but her could remove it.

This new junior sister seemed cute and obedient, a rare easy-going one. Not bad.

Su Chen’an nodded in satisfaction. Finally, a normal junior sister.

Chu Sang marveled at her new toy, an exquisite spiritual tool.

In the original novel, even the heroine struggled to obtain a spiritual tool. She only received one after her first journey outside, when Chang Yu gave her a three-use “Falling Immortal Seal” to protect her from danger.

But this Senior Brother casually gave her a top-grade spiritual tool from his hand!

Chu Sang couldn’t help but recall Su Chen’an’s fate in the original story.