"Grandmaster Bai... the total is around fifteen thousand two hundred million yuan."
That evening, after the chaos of the auction, people and money both found their way to Bai Fanxian's house.
It was Zhu Jinming's first time inside; he had only joined the auction this time around. The moment he felt the massive life force far exceeding anything beyond the Border, his whole body trembled with excitement.
He'd changed his mind. From now on, he would find excuses to visit Grandmaster Bai as often as possible.
"Deduct what you two invested..."
Bai Fanxian knew how much the two clans had to pay for this project. She also knew they planned to give her all today's earnings. After all, this was a long-term investment. The two clans could still turn a profit through shopping centers and tourism development. But she couldn't accept all of it.
She didn't want to feel too indebted to others.
"Understood... In that case, the total profit comes to four thousand six hundred million yuan."
Tang Tianjie had already anticipated this. He produced the figures without missing a beat.
Bai Fanxian accepted the black bank card holding over five billion yuan, a strange feeling stirring somewhere inside her.
She finally had enough to buy that island.
She should've done this sooner. But thinking again, five billion might not stretch far enough once construction costs were factored in. She still needed steady work that could keep bringing in money. The clinic would have to continue.
"Huang Zihuan, can you contact the man selling that island?"
She didn't want to delay any longer. She turned to her trusted butler, who was quietly serving tea.
"Yes... I'll contact him right away." He set down the teapot and stepped out to make the call. Soon he returned with good news.
"My lady, would you like to visit the island yourself tomorrow?"
He asked this because the current island owner personally invited them. And the elderly butler didn't think there'd be any harm in trying to visit once before deciding to buy.
"Well then, let's go..."
And so tomorrow's schedule became a trip out to that private island.
.
.
.
"Why do I have to be left here watching this place!?"
That morning, Wu Jia hadn't come out at all, so he had no idea everyone would be heading to the island. Bai Fanxian had already assigned him to watch the clinic instead, promising to rush back if anything went wrong.
As for Barbatos, whom Bai Fanxian hadn't visited for two days, restlessness had set in. Strange, nameless expectations had begun to stir within him.
"Have fun~"
Xiao Ting, staying on as assistant, gave a cheerful wave. Grandmaster Bai had left plenty of emergency medicines. A clinic that saw only ten patients a day was easy enough to manage on her own.
"Mm... I'll be back soon."
After saying goodbye, the traveling party set off. Two Sages and Bai Fanxian flew ahead, while a large black bird carried Huang Zihuan and the three children on its back.
She had chosen this method for speed—if anything came up, they could respond without delay.
Sages moved fast, and the great black bird was no slouch either. Sword Master Zheng Renyi was enjoying the wind against his face, beard streaming behind him—and within minutes, a large island rose out of the sea ahead.
Everyone descended at the beach. Bai Fanxian took in the surroundings. Forested mountains, untouched nature. Only one large mansion stood out prominently. A small pier extended into the sea with a gleaming white boat moored at its end.
"It's so beautiful..."
The children were instantly drawn to the beach. Although home had a beach too, but compared to this one with white sand and crystal-clear water, there was simply no comparison.
"...Where did you all come from?"
A man approached in surprise—he wore butler's attire not unlike Huang Zihuan's. He looked at Bai Fanxian's group, then glanced toward the pier. Besides the house's boat, there was no other vessel in sight. So where had they come from?
"Hello... I'm the one who contacted you yesterday about the island."
Huang Zihuan stepped forward to introduce himself. Recognition crossed the butler's face at once, and he broke into a wide, welcoming smile.
"Oh, welcome, welcome! Thank you so much for making the trip all the way out here."
"By the way, where did you dock your boat?"
"...We didn't come by boat."
The butler paused at that, as though something had just clicked into place.
"Are you cultivators?"
"Yes."
"Ah... my young master is a cultivator too."
He nodded with a smile and cheerfully led them all inside.
The mansion had an ancient feeling, as though it had been built long ago. But it had been fully renovated and redecorated, fitted throughout with modern equipment. Bai Fanxian swept her gaze around with quiet interest as she was shown to a large reception hall.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know you'd arrive this quickly, so my young master couldn't get back in time. He's rushing back now. Please make yourselves comfortable."
The butler excused himself to make a phone call, then returned with good tea and an assortment of snacks.
"So why does the owner want to sell the island?"
Sword Master Zheng Renyi glanced around the room curiously.
"The master passed away some time ago..." The butler's voice grew quiet. The memory seemed to weigh on him.
"The master had one grandson, and he left this island to him. But the young master didn't want us to stay sad and stuck in the past, so he made the decision to put it up for sale."
A quiet fondness came into his eyes.
"The master almost never gave the young master any property—he didn't want to spoil the boy. Even this island he barely let him visit. So normally the young master lives on the mainland like any ordinary person."
Huang Zihuan gave a slow nod. Some great clans raised their heirs this way—never letting them grow up too comfortable, making them face hardship first so they would understand the true value of money and status.
"The others have gradually left. Now only I remain as caretaker, waiting to hand it over to whoever buys it."
The butler glanced toward the door with quiet hope. From outside came the low hum of a small boat's engine. He recognized the sound at once and hurried downstairs.
"Sounds like he's here."
Bai Fanxian walked out onto the wide balcony and looked down toward the water. Below, a small boat was easing up to the pier.
Two men climbed out. They'd apparently piloted the boat themselves.
"Young lady... don't those faces look familiar?"
Sword Master Zheng Renyi had followed her out. His newly sharpened Sage-level eyesight had no trouble picking out faces at this distance.
"Mm..."
Bai Fanxian's eye twitched.
"...Isn't that my lady's fan club leader?" Liu Yianfei stepped out as well and couldn't help laughing softly the moment he recognized them.
That's right. The two who had just disembarked were none other than Brother Yang and his younger brother who went by "Novice Alchemist" online!
What on earth were they doing here?
"Young master, welcome back." The butler hurried down to greet them. The younger man smiled back politely.
...Young master?
"Butler Fang, I've told you not to call me that anymore."
The novice alchemist quickly reached out to stop him, looking flustered. On the balcony above, Bai Fanxian exhaled quietly while her two companions tried to hold back their laughter.
"Are these the people buying the place?"
The novice alchemist glanced toward the pier, confused. There were no other boats besides the house's own.
"Yes. Up there." Butler Fang pointed toward the balcony. Several people stood looking down. Their eyes met.
The novice alchemist and Brother Yang went still.
"...Uh, Brother Yang. Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"I'm seeing what you're seeing..."
Up on that balcony stood Bai Fanxian herself.
The Empress!
.
.
.
"This is too much of a coincidence!"
Once past the stunned greeting, the novice alchemist—they learned his name was Zhou Jingzi—quickly pulled himself together and welcomed Bai Fanxian's group himself.
"...I apologize, my lady. I just found out too." Huang Zihuan smiled dryly. He never expected this mansion's current owner would be an acquaintance. Normally the person he'd always contacted was Butler Fang.
"So the Empress wants this mansion?"
Zhou Jingzi looked at her curiously. Bai Fanxian nodded.
"In that case, I..."
"You don't need to give me a discount." She cut him off before he could even finish. She knew exactly what he'd been about to say.
"...As the Empress says, you still need to pay your workers a proper retirement sum. And if you're going to keep pursuing alchemy, you'll need reserve funds too."
Brother Yang offered this with a teasing smile. "And most importantly, you still owe me money for one house."
He chuckled softly as his younger brother's face went red. The day before, besides the first house he'd bought for himself, he'd also quietly purchased a second one for Zhou Jingzi, who couldn't have afforded it on his own.
"Understood..." Zhou Jingzi sighed and gave in. But he hesitated, as though there was something he couldn't quite bring himself to say.
"Empress... there's actually one more thing I think I should mention first. I wouldn't want to keep it from you."
He glanced toward the doorway where Butler Fang had gone to fetch more refreshments, then dropped his voice to a whisper.
"I learned this from Grandpa... He wrote it in his journal before he passed. Only Grandpa and I know."
The color drained from his face. The hair on his arms stood on end.
"Somewhere on this island... or in this mansion..."
He swallowed hard.
"...there's a ghost."