Bai Ling took a deep breath, her gaze locked onto the wooden chair in front of her.
She had seen imperial thrones. She had seen artifacts forged by divine blacksmiths.
Yet this chair—this simple wooden chair—radiated a sense of absolute harmony, as if it had been carved in accordance with the Dao itself. Every line, every grain of wood, every curve of the legs felt flawless.
She gulped.
This… this had to be the work of an unfathomable master!
Her maid, however, remained skeptical. "Princess—uh, Miss Bai—are you sure this isn't just… a really well-made chair?"
Bai Ling shot her a glare. "What do you know? True masters never flaunt their power. To ordinary people, their divine creations appear mundane, but in reality, they contain unfathomable truths!"
The maid blinked. "So… it's just a really well-made chair."
Bai Ling ignored her. This was a rare opportunity! If she could meet the master who created this chair, perhaps she could receive guidance. Maybe even a gift!
With great reverence, she stepped forward and knocked gently on the wooden gate.
Inside the house, Shen Mu had just taken a sip of tea when he heard the knock. He frowned.
Visitors? That was odd. He barely knew anyone in this world, and his shop wasn't even open yet.
He stood up, stretched lazily, and walked over to the gate.
As soon as he opened it, Bai Ling's breath hitched.
Before her stood a man in plain robes, his expression calm and relaxed. He wasn't radiating any spiritual energy at all—but that only made him more terrifying.
A true expert! Only those who had transcended the mortal realm could conceal their presence so perfectly!
Shen Mu, on the other hand, was just confused.
'Huh? Why is this young lady looking at me like that? Did I do something weird?'
Bai Ling quickly composed herself and offered a deep bow. "Senior, forgive me for disturbing your peace."
Shen Mu blinked. Senior?
He looked behind him, wondering if someone else was standing there.
Nope. Just him.
Awkwardly, he cleared his throat. "Uh… you don't have to be so formal. I'm just a simple woodworker."
Bai Ling's eyes widened.
A hidden master… who calls himself a simple woodworker?
This was even more terrifying! It meant that his Dao had reached such heights that worldly titles meant nothing to him!
She immediately clasped her hands in the traditional cultivation salute. "Senior, my name is Bai Ling. I was passing through when I saw your humble abode and was drawn in by the profound aura of your creation." She pointed at the chair. "May I… may I ask how you crafted such an extraordinary treasure?"
Shen Mu followed her gaze to the chair.
His perfectly normal, ordinary chair.
His brow twitched. 'Is this girl messing with me? It's just a chair!'
Trying to be polite, he coughed lightly. "Ah… I just used some good wood and took my time with it. Nothing special."
Bai Ling sucked in a breath. Such humility!
Good wood? Took his time?
This was a man who saw no need to explain the depth of his methods! She had read stories about such people—supreme masters who saw all things as equal. For them, forging a divine treasure was as easy as breathing!
She felt an urgent need to win his favor.
Her mind raced. What would a master like him want? Power? Wealth? No, no, he clearly didn't care for such things! Someone of his level must have long since abandoned material desires!
Wait… experts often enjoyed simple pleasures, like tea, rare ingredients, or—
Her eyes flickered to the vegetable garden.
That was it!
She turned to her maid. "Give me the jade box."
The maid, still lost, fumbled with her bag and handed over a small, ornate box. Bai Ling stepped forward with both hands raised. "Senior, I know my presence here is an intrusion, so please allow me to offer this as a token of respect. This is a rare spirit herb from the Cloudmist Mountains. It is known to enhance longevity and improve vitality."
Shen Mu opened the box. Inside was a small, golden herb glowing faintly with energy.
His expression twitched.
'This is… an actual cultivation treasure! This thing could probably sell for a fortune!'
He looked up at Bai Ling, who was watching him expectantly.
A realization struck him.
'Wait a minute… does she think I'm some kind of expert?!'
The way she had spoken… the way she had called him "Senior"…
Shen Mu nearly choked on his own saliva.
This was a huge misunderstanding.
He was about to clear it up when Bai Ling spoke again. "Senior, this humble one would be honored if you could accept this."
Shen Mu hesitated.
On one hand, he didn't want to mislead her. On the other hand… free treasure.
And more importantly—would she even believe him if he said he was just a mortal?
He sighed internally. 'Alright, I'll just roll with it.'
Putting on what he hoped was a wise and mysterious expression, he nodded. "Very well. I shall accept your offering."
Bai Ling nearly trembled with excitement.
He accepted it! That meant he acknowledged her sincerity!
Shen Mu, meanwhile, was thinking of how to best use this herb in a soup.
At that moment, a sudden pressure swept through the air.
Both Bai Ling and her maid stiffened.
A powerful presence was approaching—fast.
And in the next instant, a figure landed just outside the courtyard.
He was an elder in long robes, his aura terrifying. His sharp eyes immediately locked onto the chair.
"Who… who created this artifact?!"
Shen Mu froze.
'Oh no. What now?!'
---
End of Chapter 2