Chapter 107: Help Me

Yuan Shijie's expression showed deep emotion.

But Zhang Shijie's gaze grew slightly colder; she looked at Zheng Fa and remained silent for a long while.

After a long silence, she finally spoke: "Yuan Shimei, I wish to speak alone with Zheng Fa."

Yuan Shijie nodded, giving Zheng Fa a look of concern and pleading, then quietly descended the stairs.

As she went downstairs, she glanced back at Zheng Fa once more, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

When her figure vanished around the stair corner, Zhang Shijie traced a golden sealing talisman in the air; the talisman shattered into golden specks that quickly dissipated into the corners of the room.

Zheng Fa felt the room fall utterly silent; the noisy hawking and footsteps from the marketplace below were now blocked outside by the sealing talisman.

The only sound he could now hear was Zhang Shijie's long, deep breathing.

"Why refuse?" Zhang Shijie asked.

Both knew that Zheng Fa's earlier words, though seemingly defending Yuan Shijie, were mostly a rejection of Zhang Shijie.

From the start, Zhang Shijie knew Zheng Fa had organized the ledgers; indeed, her purpose in coming here today may have been to place the marketplace under Zheng Fa's control.

"Yuan Shijie works hard."

Zheng Fa first spoke up in defense of Yuan Shijie.

At first, when Han Qi claimed Yuan Shijie was idle, he had believed it.

But after working alongside Yuan Shijie for a while, he realized that though she wasn't eager with accounting, she still cared deeply for the marketplace.

"I know," Zhang Shijie nodded, though her expression remained cold; she continued: "The Provisional Hall has two revenue streams—one is the marketplace. If she weren't diligent, I would never have entrusted the marketplace to her."

"Two?"

"Do you think these few spirit stones can sustain the entire Jiushan Sect?" Zhang Shijie glanced at him: "The Jiushan Sect's main income comes from the Provisional Hall purchasing disciples' talismans and selling them to other sects of the Baixian Alliance."

Understood—state enterprise and private enterprise!

"Then… why me?"

"I'm short on people, and there's unrest outside the sect," Zhang Shijie admitted frankly. "Some tasks I need her to handle; the marketplace must go to someone else…"

Zheng Fa nodded.

"Someone else… I don't trust," Zhang Shijie explained, looking at Zheng Fa. "Everyone is short on spirit materials now. With this much spirit stone flowing daily, I fear someone else in this position won't keep their hands clean."

Zheng Fa fell silent; he finally understood why Zhang Shijie was so eager to place a Qi Condensation Layer Two cultivator in charge of the marketplace.

It was like pulling up seedlings to help them grow.

And it would inevitably cause great turmoil.

But he believed her assessment of the others in Jiushan Sect—everyone knew how precious spirit stones were now.

"Among my lineage in Jiushan Sect… the only ones I'd say wouldn't reach for the money are just a few," Zhang Shijie lifted her gaze to Zheng Fa. "Yuan Shimei is one. You are another."

Zheng Fa froze.

"Sister trusts me this much?"

"Because you're talented enough not to ruin your future over such a small matter."

Zheng Fa humbly replied: "Sister overpraises me."

"And you're also timid—that's the main reason."

Zhang Shijie added.

…You thanked me too soon.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then still declined: "I understand your meaning, Sister, but my cultivation level… simply can't command respect."

"You're a mystic-grade talisman artist; aside from lacking spiritual power, you're essentially equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator," Zhang Shijie shook her head. "Foundation Establishment is still low, but it's barely enough."

"… "

Seeing Zheng Fa still silent, Zhang Shijie suddenly said: "Whoever doesn't submit, beat them until they do."

"?"

"Do you think no one questioned me when I, as a Jin Dan, took charge of the Provisional Hall?"

Zhang Shijie gave Zheng Fa a sidelong glance.

True—the head of the Jielutang was True Person Pang, a Nascent Soul.

The Provisional Hall, which controlled Jiushan Sect's revenue, was managed by a Jin Dan like Zhang Shijie.

That would surely provoke even more resentment than Zheng Fa taking over the marketplace.

"Since I joined Jiushan Sect, its atmosphere has never been good. In the Talisman Pavilion's rivalries, people have even been injured or killed."

Zheng Fa exclaimed in surprise: "... Now it's considered better?"

"Once I beat down the Jiushan Sect's peers, they accepted my rule: no killing."

Zhang Shijie continued: "I was the fastest to reach Foundation Establishment in Baixian Alliance history. Some in Jiushan Sect claimed I was the Baixian Alliance's greatest talisman genius. Naturally, others in the Baixian Alliance disagreed. Once I beat down most of their Foundation Establishment cultivators, they accepted that title."

"After becoming a Jin Dan, I took charge of the Provisional Hall. Those Jin Dan true disciples still resented me—I beat down every Jin Dan of my generation."

Zheng Fa grimaced.

What kind of world-enemy prodigy path is this?

He couldn't help but praise: "Sister, you're a natural genius—I'm stirred just listening, I wish I could take your place…"

"You could too."

"Cough, cough—I lack such talent."

Zheng Fa quickly denied it; Zhang Shijie's path was Zhang Shijie's path, not one Zheng Fa wanted to walk—he already had too much on his plate: The Talisman Foundation Method, the Five Thunder Body Technique, the Crimson Sky Scripture, modern research into talisman arts, and the college entrance exam…

How could he possibly have time for endless fights?

The world-enemy path sounded exhausting.

"I'll help you."

"?"

Zheng Fa looked at Zhang Shijie, and a question mark slowly rose above his head.

"Or perhaps, you help me," Zhang Shijie said softly, gazing at him.

Looking into Zhang Shijie's eyes, Zheng Fa clenched his teeth and nodded. "I'm willing—but I have one request."

"Say it."

"If it's not urgent, it would be better if I and Yuan Shijie jointly managed the marketplace for a while."

"You're quite considerate of her."

"I just want Yuan Shijie to help me hold the scene for a bit longer," Zheng Fa smiled.

"That's fine—it's not urgent," Zhang Shijie nodded. "She wanted this position as marketplace supervisor because she was too lonely before; now she loves the bustle, loves wandering around the marketplace."

"Lonely?"

"She's a Qingluan, raised by the Sect Master."

"..."

Zheng Fa's pupils widened as he recalled the giant bird that had once blocked out the sky.

"So Yuan Shijie is..."

"Golden Core. The Sect Master raised her to the Golden Core stage atop Jiushan. After she passed her Tribulation of Transformation, she descended the mountain under my guidance."

Zheng Fa nodded.

As he watched Yuan Shijie's round face downstairs, he couldn't help but recall the round, plump bird head from before.

Come to think of it, their face shapes really were somewhat alike.

Yuan Shijie watched the two of them with nervousness.

"Yuan Shimei, from now on, Zheng Fa will oversee marketplace affairs."

Yuan Shijie's expression darkened.

Yet she nodded silently, clearly obedient to Zhang Shijie.

"But Zheng Shidi hopes you'll stay on a bit longer," Zhang Shijie changed tone, and Yuan Shijie's face immediately lit up with joy: "Six months. After six months, the entire marketplace will be handed over to Zheng Shidi."

Had this been said earlier, Yuan Shijie probably wouldn't have been happy.

But now, these words felt like a stroke of luck—she grinned so broadly her eyes vanished.

"Use these six months to teach Zheng Shidi well."

Zhang Shijie gave a warning.

Yuan Shijie grabbed Zheng Fa's arm. "I'll teach him properly—I swear it!"

On Han Qi's stall, the mystic-grade talismans drawn by Zheng Fa sold out quickly.

Both men beside him beamed with delight.

"Brother, our talismans are selling faster and faster!"

"One mystic-grade talisman bundled with three yellow-grade ones is definitely more worthwhile and sells better! Brother really has brains!"

The tall, thin man also flattered Han Qi.

"I bet the other talisman vendors will start copying us soon."

Han Qi shook his head. His expression wasn't as cheerful as the other two's; instead, his brows were furrowed, troubled.

"True enough—those people aren't fools," the tall, thin man nodded. Seeing Han Qi's worried face, he reassured him: "Brother, don't worry too much. We still have Zheng Shidi's name. Our business will still outperform others."

"I'm not worried about that."

Han Qi sighed.

"Then why are you so gloomy?"

"Do you remember Yuan Shijie this morning?"

"Of course we do!"

"I think we've offended Yuan Shijie," Han Qi said anxiously.

"Huh?" The tall, thin man froze, his face paling. "How did we offend her?"

"Don't you remember how we acted around Yuan Shijie?" Han Qi said. "Now, under Zheng Shidi, you've changed so drastically. She's seen it all—how could she not think something?"

"True enough. They say women and petty men are hard to deal with... Will she give us trouble?"

Han Qi fell silent for a moment. "Yuan Shijie is the marketplace Huang Guanshi, and her cultivation is deep. Even if she doesn't give us trouble, offending her is still no good."

"But what about Zheng Shidi?"

The tall, thin man said uneasily.

"Zheng Shidi..." Han Qi's expression grew even more strained. "I'm afraid the three of us might drag Zheng Shidi down, making Yuan Shijie resent him."

"..."

"He's still just a Qi Condensation cultivator, and besides, Yuan Shijie is Zhang Shijie's confidante."

Hearing this, the smiles on the other two's faces slowly faded into worry.

"Then what should we do, Brother?"

"If all else fails, let's go to Zheng Shidi's home right now and apologize, let him prepare himself—have him go speak to Zhang Shijie first," Han Qi gritted his teeth. "If Zheng Shidi punishes us, we'll accept it!"

"Brother... I think we don't need to go to Zheng Shidi's house."

"?"

"Isn't that Zheng Shidi over there?" the tall, thin man pointed. "You said Yuan Shijie might resent him—does that mean... like this?"

Han Qi looked up.

Zheng Fa was strolling through the marketplace.

Beside him stood a familiar yet unfamiliar figure, pointing at the surrounding shops, her face glowing with enthusiasm, her mouth never stopping as she chattered away.

The three of them could not hear what Shijie Yuan was saying, but it did not seem like she was cursing.

"That is... Shijie Yuan?"

Han Qi said, dazed.

"The face looks quite like hers, but the expression does not," the thin, tall man beside him hesitated.

"..."

"Then Shixiong, shall we still go to Shidi Zheng's home to beg for forgiveness?"

"Forgiveness for what!" Han Qi slapped the foolish lackey beside him.

"What manner is she in before us, and what manner is she in before Shidi Zheng?"

"Does she have the face to blame us?"