Chapter 11: Heart-Eyes

Is my heart a bit too small?

Chen Ci reflected on himself for a moment.

Hmm, there should still be room for improvement.

If this were Long Tangsan, that boy attendant would have already courted death; as an outsider, I only gave a small punishment for those few words—did he really think a Daoist's talismans were so easy to take?

After putting on the pressure and chatting a bit, Chen Ci finally stated his purpose: "Junior Brother Ding, I am disturbing you today because I wanted to ask which market in Xishan Prefecture is more reliable?"

"A market? Is Senior Brother looking to purchase spirit items?"

Ding Jiang slapped his thigh with a loud smack and said regretfully, "It's just that I, your junior brother, have no spare wealth; otherwise, since we hit it off so well today, I would have had to gift you a few pieces."

Chen Ci: "." That was too much; any more acting and it would be over the top.

After finishing his tea, Ding Jiang asked curiously, "I wonder what kind of spirit items Senior Brother needs... Junior brother was rash, don't mind me, haha. However, the most famous market in Xishan Prefecture is the Baohua Workshop on the Treasure Ship on the Yun River. I'm not boasting, you can buy spirit items from several surrounding kingdoms there, but..."

Ding Jiang paused for a moment, seemingly glancing at Chen Ci: "Just the ticket to board the ship costs one hundred taels of gold. I, your junior brother, have never been on it, so I won't make a fool of myself in front of you."

Damn it, a single ticket costs one hundred taels of gold? Is this ticket made of gold, or is silver—silver doesn't deserve to appear here!

The wealth gap in this cultivation world is truly a bit large.

"No need, no need, something ordinary will do."

Chen Ci shook his head repeatedly; that was not a place he could afford.

"Then there is the Fuyun Market on Fuyun Mountain. It's about thirty miles along the Yun River. The entrance is on the western slope. If Senior Brother stands under a very conspicuous old tree for a while, someone will come to guide you."

Ding Jiang smiled: "Fuyun Market is considered an Outer Sect industry of Longhu Mountain. There are many chambers of commerce and sect outposts there, so it's quite lively. Senior Brother shouldn't return empty-handed."

The two chatted for a while longer, and when the tea grew cool, Chen Ci prepared to rise and take his leave.

"Senior Brother, wait, I almost forgot two things."

Ding Jiang patted his forehead and smiled: "Fuyun Market only opens at the Hour of the Boar (9 PM - 11 PM). Senior Brother needs to go to the western slope early. Also, although Xishan Prefecture is relatively peaceful, I, heh heh, still suggest leaving the market only after daybreak."

Chen Ci thanked him; the purpose of these three Soul Fixing Talismans was now being realized.

"This Senior Brother Chen is actually quite a decent person. These three Soul Fixing Talismans are drawn really well."

Ding Jiang held the three Soul Fixing Talismans in his hand and looked at them for a moment, offering a compliment. Although Soul Fixing Talismans cannot be kept for long, in the He Mountain Sect, they would be used up in a matter of minutes.

Putting down the Soul Fixing Talismans, Ding Jiang took out brush and ink. After only a moment, a portrait that looked eighty percent like Chen Ci was finished. He casually handed it to his Apprentice and instructed: "Send this to Xishan Market and tell them over there that this is my dear senior brother. He has deep financial resources; the commission must be increased this time."

"By the way, transfer that guy at the front gate to guard the latrines. He has no eye for people at all; I have to give Senior Brother Chen some sort of explanation."

After speaking, Ding Jiang puffed out his belly and shook his head as he left. If it weren't for the fact that even a landlord's family had no surplus grain, he would have really hit it off with this cheap senior brother.

Yun River.

The Yun River is a great river that runs through the Liang Kingdom and flows into the sea. The river surface can be over a thousand zhang wide at its broadest point, and it has long held the beautiful reputation of 'Cloud flowing into the sea' in the Liang Kingdom.

Chen Ci stood by the river, looking at the vast expanse of water, and couldn't help but sigh. With resources like these, even an angler from his past life would probably be able to catch something.

Behind him was a tall, high mountain shrouded in clouds and mist.

However, he did not follow what that Ding fellow said and go to the western slope; instead, he changed into brocade clothes and first wandered around the riverside.

Nothing else, it's not that he didn't trust his brother, it's just that in his past life, he was truly scared of being scammed at tourist attractions. If he didn't take a few extra looks, he wouldn't dare enter a shop at all.

Sure enough, when the sky grew dim, many monks, Daoists, and strange people appeared near Fuyun Mountain, as well as wealthy guests in brocade and jade. They all headed into the mountains together. Some powerful people even had faint Spirit Light protecting their bodies, clearly having cultivated some kind of profound Daoist true method.

"If I only sense their aura, my cultivation is also at the upper-middle level. It seems that even in the prefecture city, I can count as a capable hand."

Chen Ci steadied his mind and followed the 'peers' into the mountain with a calm face. Although the scenery of Fuyun Mountain was good, with high mountains and secluded forests, now was clearly not the time to enjoy the view.

Along the way, strange cultivators passed by from time to time. Some were expressionless, others nodded and cupped their hands in greeting. Although everyone tacitly kept some distance, Chen Ci's hand still subconsciously pressed against the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag.

He couldn't help it, he really couldn't help it.

"Chen Ci, oh Chen Ci, be confident, you are an expert!"

Chen Ci gave himself a pep talk.

Halfway there, the crowd split into east and west. Some cultivators went to the western slope as the Ding fellow had said, but some went to the east. Chen Ci didn't think much about it and walked straight to the east.

It wasn't that he didn't trust his brother; he just wanted to see what was on the east side.

"Fuyun Market?"

Chen Ci looked at the sign standing at the entrance of a valley and scratched his head: "Then what is on the west side? Does Fuyun Market have two entrances?"

Never mind for now.

Chen Ci followed behind a few fellow Daoists, naturally wanting to squeeze into the market.

But before he even stepped into the market area, Chen Ci was called out by someone.

"Hey, that Daoist friend, stop for a moment."

"Yes, you, that handsome Daoist friend, hey~"

Chen Ci: "." He wanted to pretend he didn't hear, but since others were calling him like that, he could only stop.

"Is this Daoist friend new here?"

At the entrance of the market was an elderly cultivator with crane-like hair and a youthful face. He stroked his long beard and asked with a smile.

Was I exposed just like that?

My self-cultivation as an actor didn't pass the test.

"Yes."

Chen Ci didn't know what he meant and gave a vague answer.

"Daoist friend, don't be offended. Most of the peers cultivating in Xishan Prefecture are familiar faces. New peers are routinely asked a few questions."

The old cultivator saw the slight wariness on Chen Ci's face and asked with a smile: "I wonder where the Daoist friend comes from?"

So it wasn't that his acting skills were the problem, but that he had activated an artificial face-scanning system.

"Qingshui County."

Chen Ci honestly reported the name of the neighboring county.

"Who introduced you?"

"I don't know him; he's a pale, fat man surnamed Ding, with a somewhat large belly and rather small eyes."

Chen Ci gave a definitive summary: "He looks quite sleazy."

"Oh, it's him."

The old cultivator understood and gave a dark chuckle: "He told you to go to the west slope of Floating Cloud Mountain, right?"

Chen Ci nodded honestly.

"Go on in. The market rules are: you may compete in wealth, but not in magic. If your sect background isn't stronger than Longhu Mountain, you'll bear the consequences yourself if you disturb the market."

The old cultivator waved his hand and let Chen Ci enter.

That's it?

But it makes sense; with the reputation of Longhu Mountain, when opening a business, one only fears that guests won't come, not that they won't leave.

Chen Ci walked two steps, then turned back, bowed, and asked: "Senior, may I ask what kind of place the west slope of Floating Cloud Mountain is?"

"That place? That is Xishan Market."

A trace of reminiscence flashed across the old cultivator's face, but he immediately composed himself and said solemnly: "That area is all brothels and gambling dens; it's not a place for proper cultivators to go."

Oh.

Chen Ci thanked him, then leisurely entered the market.

At the same time, he suppressed the thought of how to invite Brother Ding to be a guest in the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag.

He had almost wronged a good brother.

Whether it's a brothel or not isn't important; Chen Ci mainly just wanted to challenge his own weaknesses and temper his Dao Heart.

Mmh!

(End of chapter)