Seeing Old Master Tang so worked up, Ge Ming understood at once what Tang Ling had just been asking about.

He glanced at Tang Yan, his eyes brimming with amusement. So in the old man's eyes, this fellow had always worn the face of a wastrel?

Before Tang Ling could blow his top, Ge Ming explained, "Calm yourself, Family Head Tang. It isn't that Young Master Tang owes our Myriad Pill Pavilion silver. It's that our Myriad Pill Pavilion is settling silver to your Tang Family. Little Brother Tang, didn't you explain this to your grandfather?"

Seeing Old Master Tang glaring at him like a tiger eyeing its prey, Tang Yan gave an awkward laugh. "There's been too much going on lately, so it slipped my mind. A while back Master gave me a pill formula and told me to partner with the Myriad Pill Pavilion. We take thirty percent of the sales profit, settled once a month. Today just happens to be the settlement day."

"Our Tang Family earned three million three hundred thousand taels of silver this month?" Old Master Tang's heart quaked. Three million taels and more-such a staggering figure was equal to half a year of the Tang Family's earnings.

"Just so. We've already converted it all into banknotes, each worth fifty thousand taels. Please have a look." Ge Ming waved a hand, and someone from the Myriad Pill Pavilion stepped forward with a wooden box.

Old Master Tang opened it. Inside lay three thick stacks of banknotes, arranged in neat rows. Seeing the crisp watermarks and the seal of the Tingxiang Trading Company, he knew at once they were no forgeries.

Besides, the Myriad Pill Pavilion would never wreck its own name with counterfeit money. He gauged the thickness, found it about right, and closed the lid. Just as he meant to give Ge Ming his heartfelt thanks, Tang Yan cut in.

"Brother Ge, why is it so little?"

Hearing this, Tang Ling broke into a cold sweat. Three million taels and more in a single month, and the brat still thinks it's too little?

He studied Ge Ming's face, and his astonishment only deepened. He'd expected the man to show at least a flicker of displeasure, yet the Grand Elder of the Myriad Pill Pavilion wore nothing but sheepish embarrassment.

"Heh heh, sales had only just begun. The Pavilion had to gather hands and get them familiar with refining the pill, and spreading word of it takes time as well. With all that delay, the month was gone before we knew it.

"Don't fret, Little Brother Tang. The Meridian Tempering Powder has been well received. From now on, your monthly take won't fall below five million taels of silver!"

Ge Ming's few words left Old Master Tang's head spinning. He'd always believed there was no such thing in this world as a pie dropping from the heavens, yet today one had landed squarely on him, and it was a hefty pie at that.

Five million taels of silver. That was nearly a full year of the Tang Family's earnings. And such money still had to keep the family running; by year's end, the savings they managed to set aside were never much.

"Then I thank you, Brother."

"Haha, no need for that. We profit one another. I wonder, has your esteemed master come up with any new pill formulas of late? If so, we can still discuss a profit-sharing arrangement." Ge Ming asked with a smile.

"Pills like this-low in grade yet superb in effect-are rare, and Master holds only this one formula. Still, my master has poured his whole life into the Alchemy Dao. There's good hope he'll devise new pills in time." Tang Yan answered with a smile.

A trace of disappointment flickered through Ge Ming's eyes.

Yet he knew Tang Yan spoke sense. After chatting idly a while longer, he took his leave of the Tang Family.

"Boy, this silver truly belongs to our Tang Family?" Once the Myriad Pill Pavilion's people had gone, Old Master Tang still could hardly take it in.

"It does!" Tang Yan nodded firmly.

"And there'll be more every month?"

"Every month!" Tang Yan nodded again.

With Tang Yan's confirmation, Old Master Tang showed no great burst of joy. Instead he let out a long breath, and a flicker of comfort crossed his eyes.

"That cultivation method in the jade slip-does it take a certain strength to practice?" Old Master Tang shifted the subject, his tone concerned.

"Mm. You need to reach at least Black Rank before its power shows."

"That powerful?" Surprise filled the old man's eyes, then he said, "Cultivate well, then. Whatever you need, just tell me."

He hesitated, then pushed the wooden box across to Tang Yan. "You earned this silver, so take it and use it. Heavenly Treasure has an auction tonight. Go and see whether there's anything that suits you."

An auction? Tang Yan's eyes brightened. Right now he was short exactly one cultivation method. He didn't stand on ceremony, and tucked the box away without fuss.

Night slowly fell.

Tang Yan brought Zi Yun along, and the two set off for the auction house.

"How much of your strength have you recovered by now?" Tang Yan asked, looking at her.

The corner of Zi Yun's mouth curved up. "Another two days," she said lightly, "and I should step into Earth Rank."

"That fast!" Surprise flashed through Tang Yan's eyes. Her recovery was far quicker than he'd reckoned.

"Mm." She paused, then said, "I've been away from the clan so long. I'm afraid that, before much longer, I'll have to leave Yun City."

"Good that you're going back. You've eaten and drunk for free at our place all these days and never paid a copper-"

A moment ago a touch of sorrow had hung in Zi Yun's heart, but the instant those words left his mouth, her almond eyes flew wide. "You-you're asking for a beating!"

Caught completely off guard, Tang Yan felt a delicate foot plant itself square on his backside.

The kick was swift and savage. With the vast gulf in their strength, he had no room to dodge. There was a thud, and Tang Yan lurched forward.

"Silly girl, you're so violent-who'd dare marry you down the road? Can't you be a little gentler?" Tang Yan was ready to weep without tears. He couldn't out-fight her, so all he could do was meekly plead his case.

"You still dare insult me!" Zi Yun's brows knit. Her body shot forward like a whirlwind, her foot rose, and Tang Yan took another.

This time he wised up. He kept his head down, walked on, and held his tongue.

Watching him trudge along like a wronged little wife, Zi Yun stifled a laugh behind his back.

It was a rather breathtaking sight-one Tang Yan never noticed.

The two hadn't walked long before the Heavenly Treasure Auction House came into view. Seeing the steady stream of people converging on it, Tang Yan felt a stir of anticipation.

This time his pockets were full. He only hoped Heavenly Treasure wouldn't let him down.

He stepped into the auction hall with Zi Yun, and at once they drew a good many stares.

Most of those eyes, though, settled on Zi Yun at his side.

The woman carried an air aloof and otherworldly, with the cold pride of a snow lotus blooming on a high peak, and the sight of her struck the crowd breathless.

A few recognized her-this rare beauty was the very one who had appeared with the Tang Family at the Mid-Autumn Conference.

Rumor outside held that she was Tang Yan's betrothed; others said she was a relative of the Tang Family. Just what she was to Tang Yan, no one had yet confirmed.

Tang Yan tuned out the crowd's stares, pulled Zi Yun along, found the Tang Family's seats, and sat down to wait for the auction to begin.

Before long the hall was packed.

Tang Yan looked about and realized that all four great families of Yun City had sent people.

Feeling the hostility radiating from a few of them, he gave a contemptuous smile.

This time, I won't let you lot get so much as a scrap.