The first time is strange, the second is familiar.

This time.

Han Yuan quickly entered the Inner City and arrived at Miao Shou Hall.

Huang Xuan had been waiting at the entrance of Miao Shou Hall for a long time. When he saw Han Yuan approaching, his old face bloomed into a wide smile.

"Lord Han, the sixty Spirit Yang Pills are ready."

"Let’s go to the tea room to make the transaction."

Huang Xuan said with a smile.

Han Yuan glanced at him. "You found out my name so quickly?"

"You jest, Lord Han. Who in all of Cangshui County doesn’t know your name now?"

"Quick, please, come in."

Huang Xuan said enthusiastically.

Han Yuan didn’t mind. He hadn’t bothered to hide his face, so anyone could find out who he was with a simple inquiry.

The two made their way to the same tea room as yesterday.

This time, however,

Huang Xuan did not enter. He just smiled and gestured with his hand, indicating for Han Yuan to go in by himself.

Han Yuan frowned but didn’t ask any questions, walking directly into the tea room.

A woman in a yellow dress, with thin lips and a sharp gaze, sat inside the tea room, brewing tea.

Han Yuan was a little surprised to see this person.

"Huang Xian’Er, what are you doing here?"

Huang Xian’Er chuckled lightly. "This Miao Shou Hall has always been an enterprise of my Huang Family. Is it so strange for me to appear here?"

"No wonder."

"The Huang Family’s enterprise is truly vast. You live up to your reputation as one of the five great families."

Han Yuan sat down directly opposite Huang Xian’Er.

"More or less."

"In fact, my Huang Family controls eighty percent of the medicinal herb industry in the entire Cangshui County."

Huang Xian’Er said softly.

"Eighty percent..."

Han Yuan’s expression flickered.

That was a figure tantamount to a monopoly.

The Huang Family must be making a fortune from the medicinal herb industry alone, not to mention their other businesses.

"The other families are the same... each with their own monopolies."

"The Bai Family has a near-monopoly on all the grain in Cangshui County."

"The Cui Family controls shipbuilding and the docks."

"The Li Family controls all the brothels in the city."

"As for the Lu Family, they’re the wealthiest... they own all the Money Shops."

Huang Xian’Er introduced the industries of the five great families to Han Yuan one by one.

These were just their monopolized industries; naturally, they operated other businesses as well.

After listening, Han Yuan’s expression didn’t change much.

"How come you don’t seem surprised at all?"

Huang Xian’Er found it strange.

Judging by Han Yuan’s previous behavior, this should have been the first time he’d heard what she just said.

"What’s there to be surprised about?"

"It has nothing to do with me, anyway."

Han Yuan said with a laugh.

"You... you’re a strange one."

"But back to business."

Huang Xian’Er shook her head slightly and said, "I have the sixty Spirit Yang Pills ready."

"I can forgo the silver. How about we make a deal instead?"

Han Yuan’s eyes narrowed. "I’m listening."

"Consider the sixty Spirit Yang Pills a sign of my Huang Family’s sincerity."

"I, Huang Xian’Er, on behalf of the Huang Family, formally invite you, Han Yuan, to become a tributor for our family."

Huang Xian’Er said with a serious expression.

"A tributor..."

Han Yuan was slightly surprised.

He hadn’t expected Huang Xian’Er to have such a plan.

"Yes."

"In addition to these sixty Spirit Yang Pills, we will also provide you with twenty Spirit Yang Pills every month."

"I believe none of the other major Noble Families could offer you such terms."

Huang Xian’Er said with a smile.

"It’s strange... with the Huang Family’s financial resources, it should be effortless to recruit an Inner Breath Tributor."

"Why would you offer me such favorable terms?"

Han Yuan asked, puzzled.

"It’s simple... because you are Han Yuan."

"Give you a few more years, and I believe you will definitely become a True Qi Martial Artist, with a chance to even break through to the Gang Essence Realm."

"Befriending a person like you is worth the high cost."

Huang Xian’Er said earnestly.

Clearly, what the Huang Family valued now was Han Yuan’s future.

Han Yuan fell into thought, seeming to weigh the pros and cons.

The conditions Huang Xian’Er offered were indeed excellent.

But becoming a tributor would also come with certain restrictions.

"Rest assured, with the Huang Family’s power, there will be few occasions where we would need you to take action."

"And if we do need you to act, we will provide Spirit Yang Pills as payment."

"What do you say?"

It was as if Huang Xian’Er had seen Han Yuan’s hesitation, for she stated this directly.

Han Yuan’s gaze turned serious. "Then it’s a deal."

He really did need Spirit Yang Pills right now.

Besides, Huang Xian’Er’s attitude was genuinely sincere.

"I thought you wouldn’t agree."

Huang Xian’Er breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why?" Han Yuan asked, puzzled.

"You were originally with the Government Office."

"And Supervisor Du has stood up for you many times."

"In the eyes of us Noble Family members, you’ve long been considered part of Supervisor Du’s faction."

"Generally speaking... we thought you would refuse."

Huang Xian’Er explained.

In truth, the Huang Family had wanted to contact Han Yuan for some time.

It was precisely because of this concern that they had never acted.

It wasn’t until Han Yuan came to buy Spirit Yang Pills this time that Huang Xian’Er felt it was an opportune moment to make contact.

"Then you were wrong."

"I have never been a part of Du Qiuxu’s faction."

"He just let you think that."

Han Yuan said with a laugh.

He had no interest whatsoever in the struggles between the Observatory’s orthodox lineage, the Noble Families, or the Sects.

He had joined the Observatory simply because it was a place that could make him stronger, nothing more.

"Then you..." Huang Xian’Er was taken aback.

Han Yuan knew what Huang Xian’Er wanted to ask. He said bluntly, "My move against the Bai Family... was simply because they moved against me first, and I didn’t like it."

"Just because you didn’t like it..." Huang Xian’Er hadn’t expected that answer.

"Of course... some things aren’t really that complicated."

"But people like you are experts at overcomplicating things."

Han Yuan said with a laugh.

Huang Xian’Er smiled. "Perhaps."

Now that everything was out in the open, she had no more reservations and took out six medicine vials.

"All sixty Spirit Yang Pills are here."

Han Yuan wasn’t shy about it and took them.

"Han Yuan, you aren’t married, are you?"

Huang Xian’Er suddenly asked.

"Why the sudden question?" Han Yuan was taken aback.

"I have a younger female cousin. She’s eighteen, beautiful, tall, and proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"Are you interested?"

Huang Xian’Er asked with a smile.

Marriage alliances were the most common method Noble Families used to win people over.

Besides, with Han Yuan’s talent, if her cousin married him, she would have a reliable backer in the future.

"I am devoted to the Martial Dao."

"I have no such thoughts for the time being."

Han Yuan refused her outright.

He had absolutely no mind for matters between men and women right now.

Moreover, once he was tied to the Huang Family by marriage, the relationship would become complicated.

As a tributor, he could quit at any time.

But marrying someone from the Huang Family would make it difficult to ever sever ties.

"Very well."

"I knew you would say that."

Huang Xian’Er had only been testing the waters. Seeing Han Yuan’s firm attitude, she didn’t press the matter.

Some things were best left unsaid.

Continuing to talk about it would only cause annoyance.

After she and Han Yuan settled a few more details, they each left Miao Shou Hall.

With these sixty Spirit Yang Pills in hand, Han Yuan naturally went directly into secluded Cultivation upon returning to the Observatory.