The morning mist in Qinglan City had not yet fully dispersed as Ye Fan walked along the blue stone street toward the south city post station. He had spent half the night regulating his breathing beneath a pine tree; although the spiritual energy in his Inner World had not fully recovered, it was still more than three times faster than that of ordinary martial artists—a benefit brought by the "Unity of Heaven and Man" talent, which left even his healing tinged with the lingering resonance of the Heavenly Dao.
Unconsciously, his fingertips stroked the Jiuxiao Huanpei nestled against his chest, the engravings along its rim vibrating in subtle harmony with his pulse, as if reminding him of the serious business he had to attend to today. Three date-red horses were tethered to the hitching post in front of the post station, their manes dampened with unevaporated dew, clearly belonging to a caravan that had arrived only recently.
Boss Qian was standing under the eaves, flipping open an account book. Catching sight of Ye Fan, a cascade of smiles instantly bloomed on his face as he stepped forward to welcome him, his right hand gesturing invitingly toward the interior of the post station: "Young Master Ye has finally arrived; this old man's neck had grown three inches long from waiting."
Chapter 50