Chapter 55: Speaking Too Soon
The comforting aroma of roasted meat and sweet honey dumplings lingered in the air while the oil lamps on the low mahogany table flickered low, casting dancing amber shadows across the walls of the sitting room.
The plates were mostly empty now, the remnants of dinner pushed aside to make room for maps and parchment notes that Han Lin had unrolled across the polished wood.
Leaning forward over the table, Han Lin tapped her finger decisively against a marked district on the map, her tone carrying the crisp, authoritative edge of someone who had spent the entire day crunching numbers and locking down logistics.
"I cannot stress this enough, Young Master," Han Lin said, her dark eyes glittering with organizational zeal. "We need to leave early. Both agents have cleared their schedules for tomorrow morning. The first estate is nestled right against the northern ridge—quiet, heavily fortified, and boasts an independent warm spring that feeds directly into the main courtyard. The second one is closer to the shopping district, slightly smaller, but has superior defensive arrays pre-installed."
She looked up, fixing him with a steady, expectant stare. "You and I are going to inspect both of them personally, and by tomorrow afternoon, we are laying down the deposit. No delays."
Lu Feng leaned back against his silk pillow, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips as he watched her take charge. "Relax, Han Lin. Your efficiency is noted. We’ll be up at dawn."
From across the table, Ye Chenxue shifted slightly, her silver-trimmed robes rustling softly in the quiet room. She picked up her teacup, took a slow, deliberate sip, and set it down before speaking.
"I will be coming with you," Ye Chenxue stated calmly, her voice devoid of any room for argument.
Han Lin blinked, tilting her head. "Are you sure, Chenxue? I thought you would want to dedicate the entire day to deep cultivation and reviewing your internal qi pathways like you planned this morning."
"My cultivation can wait an extra day," Ye Chenxue replied evenly, her piercing gaze shifting toward Lu Feng. "If I stay behind in the villa, I will be entirely alone while both of you are out inspecting properties. There is no logical reason for me to sit here in an empty house when these estates are being acquired specifically for our use. I am coming along to evaluate the spatial layout and the spiritual density of the properties myself."
Lu Feng chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. "She has a point. It’s her future training ground, after all. It wouldn’t make sense to buy a place she hasn’t even laid eyes on."
Han Lin offered a warm, knowing smile, entirely unsurprised by the consensus. "Fair enough. And as for me," she added, her voice softening with a quiet, unwavering loyalty, "wherever the Young Master goes, I go. My opinion aligns entirely with his."
With the itinerary for the following day firmly settled, the conversation naturally wound down. A few moments later, both women stood up, offering polite goodnights before stepping out of the parlor and retiring down the hallway to their respective chambers, leaving Lu Feng alone in the quiet warmth of the room.
The sudden silence allowed his thoughts to drift inward.
Sitting by himself in the dim light, Lu Feng crossed his arms, his mind immediately turning to the practical realities of the impending move. ’What are we actually going to need for a brand-new estate?’ he mused, mentally listing off furniture, defensive talismans, kitchen provisions, and training equipment.
A second later, he let out a dry breath and rubbed the bridge of his nose. ’This is pointless. I haven’t even seen the layout of either property yet. Trying to plan interior logistics before knowing the structural dimensions is just guessing in the dark.’
He decisively shoved the logistical checklist out of his mind, making a mental note to revisit the inventory only after they had physically walked through the gates of their chosen home.
His thoughts then drifted toward the mysterious workings of his system. Ever since acquiring the ability, every major investment and purchase had been tied to the peculiar reward multipliers that governed his rapid rise in this world. Naturally, a question had sparked in the back of his mind: *Will the system trigger a multiplier on the property purchase I’m about to make tomorrow?*
He leaned his head back against the wall, considering the possibilities. While a massive system payout on real estate acquisition would certainly be convenient, it didn’t weigh heavily on his mind. He wasn’t relying solely on system handouts anymore; he was building a genuine economic and martial foundation, steering his long-term plans with a clear, calculated vision.
Naturally, that vision brought to mind Lin Laifu—the cunning merchant who had previously promised to assist him in scouting out high-end properties across Crimson Vale.
Lu Feng frowned slightly in the dim light. Lin Laifu had yet to report back with the progress of his own house-hunting ventures. Since they were already planning to inspect the properties secured by Han Lin’s agents tomorrow morning, Lu Feng figured he should at least touch base with the merchant to see if his side of the search had yielded anything worthwhile.
’Should I tell him we’ve already found better options?’ Lu Feng debated internally. ’No. If I tell Lin Laifu we’re actively inspecting houses now, he’ll start asking too many questions about competing brokers. Better to keep our cards close to our chest until we’ve actually locked down a deed.’
His strategy quickly crystallized. When he contacted Lin Laifu, he would casually inquire about the progress of the merchant’s house hunt, framing their daytime excursion simply as a casual trip to explore the city markets. That way, Lin Laifu would remain useful as an information broker and financial ally without needing to know every detail of their domestic arrangements.
Satisfied with his mental blueprint for the next day, Lu Feng stood up from the low table, stretching his limbs. He walked back to his private room, washed the dust of the day from his face with cool water, and climbed into bed, fully prepared for whatever Crimson Vale City decided to throw at them next.
He spoke too soon though.