Chapter 3: Collecting Debt

After the reminder, Xiao Zhangqing finally recalled who this glamorous female cultivator was.

Lin Ziyu.

The female cultivator who moved in next door three years ago is at the Qi Refining Fourth Level.

Her cultivation isn't high; even in Nanshan Fang she remains relatively low‑rank, but she has barely entered the Qi Refining Mid-stage, so the jobs she can take and tasks she can do are far more varied than those of Scattered Cultivators at the Qi Refining Early-stage.

Moreover, she has a strikingly beautiful appearance, so if she's willing to lower herself to earn Spirit Stones, it's fairly easy.

In short, with her cultivation and looks she could easily move to a better place instead of living in this Peng Hu Qu, the area with the weakest Qi and the poorest conditions.

It's not that this woman lacks ambition or is aloof and untouched by worldly affairs.

She places great importance on Spirit Stones and is extremely stingy.

When Xiao Zhangqing was with Zhou Yun'e, he was already very frugal, but he still ate Spirit Rice and Spirit Food a few times each month.

But what about Lin Ziyu? According to Zhang Sheng's observation, she hasn't bought Spirit Rice once in three years, subsisting entirely on mortal food!

"Sorry, sorry," Xiao Zhangqing hurriedly apologized, awkwardly saying, "My mind is a bit muddled today, my reactions are slow; please forgive me, Lin Dao Companion. How about we go inside and sit for a while?"

Seeing Xiao Zhangqing's memory restored, Lin Ziyu's expression brightened a bit, and they waved a hand, saying, "No need to go inside. I'm here to collect the Spirit Stones; I'll take them and leave."

"Spirit Stones…"

Xiao Zhangqing scratched his head.

He recalled the other's identity and naturally remembered the Spirit Stones he owed them.

What actually happened? Two months ago, after Xiao Zhangqing won the favor of the Lingfu Pavilion Shopkeeper and was gifted a Talisman Master's Handbook, his heart went wild, fantasizing that one day he could become a Symbol Master.

After spending a month poring over the handbook until he memorized it, he considered himself well‑versed in talisman drawing techniques, lacking only practical experience to become a Symbol Master.

So he thought of trying it himself.

Yet a set of talisman‑making tools, even of modest quality, requires three Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

Then purchasing the talisman materials costs another two Low‑grade Spirit Stones, even for a small amount.

In total, that's five Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

For a cultivator with a modest means, five Low‑grade Spirit Stones aren't much.

But for Xiao Zhangqing, who feels pressure paying rent each month, it's a large sum hard to part with.

Not only does he have to pull out the three Low‑grade Spirit Stones he painstakingly saved over the years, he also borrowed two from Lin Ziyu.

As a stingy female cultivator, Lin Ziyu would certainly never lend Spirit Stones to Xiao Zhangqing.

After all, human relations in the Cultivation World are thin; there's no saying distant relatives are better than close neighbors.

In the three years she's moved here, the number of conversations she's had with Xiao Zhangqing and Zhou Yun'e can be counted on both hands.

However.

When Xiao Zhangqing explained his purpose—borrowing Spirit Stones to draw talismans, having found work at Lingfu Pavilion, and hoping to become a Symbol Master…

Moreover, he isn't borrowing for free; he can pay interest.

After weighing it for a moment, Lin Ziyu agreed.

With interest, it's also like investing in the friendship of a future Symbol Master—any way you calculate it's a profit.

She doesn't think Xiao Zhangqing is deceiving her; after three years as neighbors, though not close, she knows him a bit.

As a result…

Today, when she returned home, she overheard the neighbors gossiping that Xiao Zhangqing's handsome, aloof Dao Partner finally couldn't endure the poverty and ran off with a local Second Generation Cultivator. Xiao Zhangqing was beaten unconscious; a patrol team carried him back, and his fate is now unknown.

Lin Ziyu immediately panicked.

If Xiao Zhangqing were beaten to death, what about the two Spirit Stones she lent? Ask Zhou Yun'e for a swap? She didn't lend them, and he ran off with another cultivator—would she even acknowledge the debt? So Lin Ziyu couldn't sit still at home and came over to knock on the door to check.

At first she was a bit worried and somewhat sympathetic, fearing Xiao Zhangqing might truly have died at home.

But seeing Xiao Zhangqing appear lively and vigorous, she felt relieved.

Then she began to collect the debt.

She now sees that Xiao Zhangqing truly lacks any Symbol Master Talent; even if he borrowed the Spirit Stones to sell for tools and materials, it's just this guy's fanciful overreach.

Expecting him to become a Symbol Master and repay her is a dream! Even his Dao Partner ran off with someone else; how could he have Symbol Master Talent? "What? Let me tell you, today I must reclaim my Spirit Stones. When you borrowed them, you promised interest. I don't want the interest now; just return the principal," Lin Ziyu said firmly.

"To be honest, Lin Dao Companion, I can't even produce fifty Spirit Sand right now, let alone return your Spirit Stones…"

Xiao Zhangqing understands this beautiful female cultivator neighbor's concern, likely fearing he'll disappear after not paying now.

He indeed had that thought before.

He was ready to pack up and return to the Mortal World, leaving this sorrowful place.

"Could you grant another two‑month grace period?" Xiao Zhangqing promised, "In two months I'll definitely repay the Spirit Stones with interest. If you don't trust me, I have a freshly made Cleanse Talisman here; I'll give it to you as part of the interest—how does that sound?"

The Cleanse Talisman, being the most basic and easiest-to-draw talisman script in the Qi Refining Realm, has little practical value.

Its price is also very cheap.

Ten Cleanse Talismans are worth only one Low‑grade Spirit Stone.

One is valued at ten Spirit Sand.

If demand is large, the price can be further cut.

Lin Ziyu came today to reclaim the principal and would not be moved by this single Cleanse Talisman.

Yet hearing Xiao Zhangqing's words, she couldn't help but widen her eyes and asked skeptically, "You made the Cleanse Talisman yourself? You can draw talismans now? You're lying to me!"

Although the Cleanse Talisman is universally acknowledged as the simplest and easiest talisman script to make, it's still not something an ordinary Scattered Cultivator can produce.

One must possess Symbol Master Talent and a certain level of proficiency and attainment.

But… if Xiao Zhangqing had Symbol Master Talent, how could his cold, aloof Dao Partner have abandoned him?

"It's truly just made now. If you don't believe, Dao Companion Lin, you can come inside and observe; I happen to have some leftover drawing material and can make another Cleanse Talisman."

Xiao Zhangqing, to postpone repayment and reassure the other, can only do this.

Owing money is a serious matter; he still can't manage something as simple as rolling meat.

Lin Ziyu followed Xiao Zhangqing into the house, half-believing, half-doubting.

They didn't waste words.

Xiao Zhangqing slightly adjusted his condition, then started drawing talismans again.

Again, it was smooth as flowing clouds and water, without any hindrance, as if aided by a deity; in a moment, a Cleanse Talisman imbued with spiritual power was produced.

Having witnessed it with her own eyes, Lin Ziyu couldn't help but believe.

"You can really succeed in drawing a Cleanse Talisman? I remember you only started drawing talismans less than a month ago," Lin Ziyu said, eyes wide.

"Actually, it's been two months. I just spent the first month simulating, without actually putting brush to paper." Xiao Zhangqing certainly wouldn't reveal his secret; he merely presented himself as a Symbol Master with a bit of talent.

Otherwise, many things wouldn't be explainable.

"Then... why did Fellow Daoist Zhou...?" Lin Ziyu didn't understand, wanting to speak but hesitating.

She wanted to ask, since Xiao Zhangqing had talent for drawing talismans, he would surely become a prominent figure in Nanshan Fang in the future.

Even if he couldn't become rich and noble, at least he wouldn't be worse than Hu Youquan.

That Hu Youquan merely relied on his advantage as a local cultivator, owning two ancestral shop fronts, with no other strengths.

As for my own cultivation at the fourth level of Qi Refining, it's entirely built up with pills and spirit stones; my innate talent for cultivation is quite ordinary.

"I, too, suffered a blow, suddenly had an epiphany, and only today succeeded in crafting a Cleanse Talisman," Xiao Zhangqing explained.

Lin Ziyu nodded.

That makes sense.

Great joys and great sorrows in life are easily conducive to enlightenment.

She wasn't particularly concerned about Xiao Zhangqing's feelings; after clarifying the reason, she turned her attention to practical benefits, a bit embarrassed as she said: "A Cleanse Talisman is of no use to me, Fellow Daoist Xiao—can you draw a Golden Body Talisman?"

The Golden Body Talisman is no longer a basic talisman script but an advanced one.

Its market price is two low-grade spirit stones per piece, and it can go a bit higher when demand is tight.

"Of course not," Xiao Zhangqing shook his head.

"What about Protection Talismans and Evil-Repelling Talismans?" Lin Ziyu asked again.

These are two common basic talisman scripts, unranked, among the Six Basic Talismans of the Qi Refining Realm.

However, they are also relatively difficult and valuable.

Each is worth at least five Cleanse Talismans.

"I can't do those yet either," Xiao Zhangqing shook his head, then frankly said: "For now I can only produce Cleanse Talismans, after all I only have a slight talent as a Symbol Master, not a genius of the Talisman Path."

"Well... okay," Lin Ziyu gave an embarrassed smile.

She was still thinking of taking advantage of Xiao Zhangqing; if she could get a talisman worth half a spirit stone as interest to offset her debt, she'd profit.

Unfortunately, her plan came to nothing.

At that moment.

Suddenly, a knocking sound came from nearby.

"Ziyu, are you home?"

A male cultivator shouted.

Hearing the voice, Lin Ziyu seemed to recall something, and hastily said farewell: "Fellow Daoist Xiao, I have other matters today, so I'll take my leave. I wish you progress in your talisman techniques, and may you soon become an Exclusive Lingfu Pavilion Symbol Master; when I come to buy talismans from you in the future, I hope you'll give me a discount…"

Xiao Zhangqing clasped his hands and said: "Certainly."

Lin Ziyu then turned and left.

Before leaving, she tidied her appearance.

As Xiao Zhangqing closed the door, he glanced and saw that waiting for her was a male cultivator with an impressive bearing, extraordinary demeanor, and a robe that looked obviously expensive.

In terms of bearing and appearance, he far surpassed Hu Youquan.

"Ziyu, I've already reserved a table at Lai Feng Lou; let's go quickly." The affluent male cultivator gave Xiao Zhangqing a sidelong glance through the door crack, narrowed his eyes, and then spoke loudly on purpose.

"Okay, let's go." Lin Ziyu, in front of the male cultivator, obviously changed her expression as well.

No longer was she, as she had been with Xiao Zhangqing, either overbearing or nitpicky.

She became intellectual and generous, matching her appearance and temperament.

"How did you come out from the side? Who is that person?" The affluent male cultivator asked casually, glancing at Xiao Zhangqing with the corner of his eye.

"Just an ordinary neighbor..." Lin Ziyu paused, seeming a bit hesitant, but after thinking she spoke in a low voice: "His name is Xiao Zhangqing; his Dao Partner Zhou Yun'e broke up with him yesterday and followed a local cultivator named Hu Youquan. When I returned home today, I heard he had been injured and was already unconscious when sent back home. I'm acting out of goodwill, wanting to check on his condition."

"Is it him? He's Xiao Zhangqing? Haha, I've also heard about this. His Dao Partner seems quite beautiful, but her taste is poor—she actually fell for someone like Hu Youquan..."

The affluent male cultivator laughed heartily, instantly putting his mind at ease.

"Someone who can't even keep his own Dao Partner, who runs off with a worthless person like Hu Youquan—what could he possibly compete with? No threat at all!" "Ziyu, you're truly kind-hearted, caring about such a person..." the affluent male cultivator praised.

"After all, we're just neighbors..."

Their voices grew fainter and farther away.

(End of chapter)