Chapter 40: Sisters Leveraging the Situation

"Dao Companion Lin, happy cooperation!"

"Shopkeeper Cao, happy cooperation!"

The next day, Lin Zixi and Cao Sheng successfully completed the transaction, and both parties felt extremely delighted.

"Dao Companion Lin, can't the Symbol Master behind you arrange a meeting for me?" Cao Sheng still felt a bit regretful.

Although he was very satisfied with the variety and quality of this batch of Talisman Scripts, if a long‑term supply follows, the Cao family spirit talisman shop could surpass other spirit talisman shops and soon become, in Nanshan Fang, second only to Lingfu Pavilion.

The Cao family's long‑standing goal is about to be achieved.

But human hearts are never satisfied; they crave more.

They obtain one and immediately desire the next.

Having Talisman Scripts is nothing compared to directly recruiting a Symbol Master. Once a Symbol Master is recruited, not only do we get the scripts, but they can also help train the Cao family's newcomers!

Perhaps someday the Cao family will also produce a prodigious Symbol Master disciple, which would be a truly great joy.

"Of course not!" Lin Zixi retorted outright, while silently staying alert.

Although, according to their analysis, Senior Bai must have unavoidable grievances, unable to appear and trade directly with these shops, even fearing that their whereabouts might be exposed and recognized…

Otherwise, each time the two meet, they wouldn't choose a remote spot in the dead of night.

One isn't afraid of ten thousand, but of that one "what if"!

If Senior Bai were to deal directly with the Cao family, wouldn't that make all her efforts futile, leaving her to starve thereafter? She will not allow that to happen!

"Dao Companion Lin, rest assured: as long as you can persuade that Symbol Master to meet my Cao family, even to cooperate, the benefits you receive will only be higher than now, never lower! Moreover, in the future you will be an honored guest of my Cao family; if anyone dares to trouble you, they will be opposing my Cao family!" Cao Sheng pounded his chest and guaranteed.

Lin Zixi, faced with such empty promises, naturally did not believe them.

Does she think I'm a fool?

Now they're speaking floridly; if Senior Bai truly cooperates with the Cao family, they'll cast her aside, the Cao family will turn hostile, and what can she do?

She, a scattered cultivator from a small locale, only at the third layer of Lian Qi, without background or strength, could still demand an explanation from the Cao family? "Shopkeeper Cao, you need not waste your effort. Think, if the Symbol Master behind me truly wishes to cooperate directly with the Cao family, why involve me at all? Am I his concubine? If I were attached to such a big figure, would I still need to set up a stall at the market?" Lin Zixi snorted.

Cao Sheng forced a smile.

He naturally understood the reasoning: the other side chose to let a young girl act as the intermediary instead of approaching him directly, which must stem from unavoidable grievances; the Cao family could not be swayed.

But not trying would be unsatisfying.

However…

With such a half‑hearted hint, who could it be? The senior First‑rank Talisman Masters of Lingfu Pavilion have long had covert, stable partners in Nanshan Fang; my Cao family has tried to poach them several times, but to no avail.

It shouldn't be a Symbol Master from Lingfu Pavilion, right? Could it be an outsider? Yet an outsider wouldn't dare avoid meeting people. Unless…

Cao Sheng thought of the recent turbulent situation and harbored some unfavorable conjectures.

It seems this matter, though beneficial to the Cao family, must be reported to the family head, and preparations made to avoid future passivity.

Cao Sheng, his thoughts swirling, kept a calm expression, smiled brightly at Lin Zixi, and said, "I overthought it, Dao Companion Lin, please forgive me. Then our cooperation will follow what we said before: two transactions per month… Though the Cao family lacks the fortune to cooperate directly with the Symbol Master behind you, from now on Dao Companion Lin will also be an honored guest of my Cao family!" He didn't know that Lin Zixi had been waiting for this sentence! Upon hearing it, her eyes lit up, and she immediately seized the thread, asking, "Then later, if I encounter some trouble… of course, trivial troubles for the Cao family that can be brushed aside, may I use the Cao family's name to intimidate the other party?"

Cao Sheng was taken aback.

He had uttered such diplomatic lines many times, yet this was the first time, when speaking, he was caught off guard.

Cao Sheng chuckled dumbly, "Dao Companion Lin, is this a trouble you encountered?"

Lin Zixi, a bit embarrassed, nodded and said, "There's a local cultivator in Nanshan Fang named Hu Yuan; not long ago his cultivation broke through to the seventh layer of Lian Qi. His father seems to be a basic alchemist of First‑rank Hall, with some connections…"

"Hu Yuan… basic alchemist of First‑rank Hall…" Cao Sheng thought for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Never heard of him."

Nanshan Fang has countless local cultivators; even a modest Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivator with a hint of talent, unless belonging to the four great families or linked to the foundation‑building figure behind Lai Feng Lou, is still unremarkable in the eyes of the Cao family, which has only one sect and two foundation‑building lines.

As for a basic alchemist of First‑rank Hall, it's not worth mentioning.

Unless it's a First‑rank Alchemist, then the Cao family might grant a bit of face.

"This credence talisman can be held by Dao Companion Lin. Possessing it signifies you are a friend of my Cao family; within Nanshan Fang, most cultivators who see it will extend some courtesy," Cao Sheng weighed it and decided to grant Lin Zixi the Cao family's name.

After all, the mysterious Symbol Master behind this girl is someone the Cao family needs to win over.

Especially at this critical moment, when storm clouds gather and wind fills the tower, the future situation may become even more chaotic; having a stable partnership with a First‑rank Symbol Master is crucial.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Cao!"

Lin Zixi, seeing her goal achieved, was overjoyed.

Now she truly has a firm foothold in Nanshan Fang! She has a stable income, and the Cao family's tiger‑skin to wield; as long as she doesn't provoke those she shouldn't, she can live comfortably in Nanshan Fang and focus on cultivation! As for Hu Yuan, he is the former suitor of her sister Lin Ziyu, a lofty Second Generation Cultivator.

Back then, this man heeded his parents' advice, chose to abandon her sister, and later revealed his true nature, nearly committing a beastly act against her sister.

Later the two sides cut off contact, and for two years they did not meet again.

Who could have imagined that not long ago, by chance they met again, and this man began to entangle both her sister and herself, pressing relentlessly! He not only wanted Lin Ziyu to agree to become his concubine, but also harbored the same intention toward Lin Zixi, hoping to claim both sisters! Naturally, the two sisters vehemently opposed and sternly rebuked him.

But after two years, Hu Yuan's cultivation advanced further, breaking through the Late Stage of Lian Qi bottleneck to reach the seventh layer of Lian Qi.

Moreover, he is still relatively young, not yet thirty, and may have some chance to challenge the foundation‑building stage in the future.

In the Cao family's eyes, such a so‑called prodigy who hasn't even reached the ninth layer of Lian Qi is unremarkable and needs no attention.

But for ordinary cultivators, such a talent is worth courting and investing in.

When Hu Yuan harbors malicious intent to claim the Lin sisters for himself, there are many ways to coerce them.

These past two months, Lin Zixi has suffered greatly, encountering many obstacles.

If not for Hu Yuan's threat, she might not have decided so quickly to follow Xiao Zhangqing and seek cooperation.

Now the goal is finally achieved.

The two sisters can now firmly establish themselves in Nanshan Fang, no longer fearing the beast‑hearted Hu Yuan! Please bookmark, please upvote! (End of chapter)