Chapter 47: Routine

Forget it, I'll just give Shi Sanniang a few extra Bigu Pills when we settle the account later.

Should I raise the ratio of grain essence to ninety percent?

Chen Ci thought about it, but dismissed the idea; if the taste happened to be even slightly worse, Shi Sanniang might think he was giving her inferior pills, and it wouldn't look good if she made a scene, so it was better to just give her more—it looked better, and it wasn't cheating an acquaintance.

Frost Sugar, grain, brocade, and liquor.

After loading several large carts, Shi Sanniang was quite satisfied; although she was the master of Yunshi Shan, ruling subordinates with force was nowhere near as satisfying as ruling them with profit, and with these supplies, her life of leisure would be even more comfortable.

"Qingquan Village?"

At the time of parting, when Shi Sanniang heard Chen Ci's inquiry, her brows furrowed slightly, and she explained: "Qingquan Village has never allowed outsiders near the Spirit Spring Stream, saying they fear people will defile the spirit spring or steal their medicinal plant techniques, so I am not very familiar with it either, but Village Master Miao has a decent reputation and won't refuse those who come seeking medicine; last year, he even invited several fellow Daoists he was close with to go into the mountains together to gather herbs and search for sand, and although it took quite a few days, everyone gained something."

Last year?

Chen Ci rubbed his chin: "Is that the time you were struck by an evil influence, Sanniang? What happened to the other fellow Daoists?"

"Nothing happened, I was the only one who accidentally bumped into a Corpse in the dark river that time; why, did something happen?"

Shi Sanniang thought carefully: "It's just that I haven't seen Village Master Tian for some time, and the wild game near Qingquan Village has clearly become much scarcer."

"Don't go over there much lately; there are some unsettling, strange things happening at Qingquan Village."

Chen Ci offered a word of advice but didn't say much more, as he himself wasn't clear on what was going on.

Seeing Chen Ci's serious tone, Shi Sanniang took it to heart, nodded earnestly, and made up her mind to stay far away from the Spirit Spring Stream for the time being.

Could it be that they were struck by an evil influence while gathering herbs and searching for sand?

The timing matches up; it was right around the autumn harvest, and the Huang Family Caravan hadn't encountered any strange occurrences when they went to Qingquan Village to purchase medicinal herbs during that period.

But it doesn't seem quite like it either; so-called "being struck by an evil influence" is usually just being tainted by some yin-filth energy without realizing it, similar to the interference of yin-ghosts on a cultivator.

The appearance of that human-skin blood-floc doesn't quite fit; thinking about it, it seems more like some kind of flesh-and-blood Evil Method.

Chen Ci pondered it for a moment but couldn't be bothered to overthink it, knowing that the Soul Fixing Talisman was the professional solution was enough.

It was just that the business opportunity he wanted hadn't arrived yet, which left Chen Ci feeling a bit melancholy; his current inventory of Soul Fixing Talismans could only be maintained at around twenty, and every day there were talisman papers that went to waste due to the loss of spirit energy.

In the way of business, not making a profit is a bloody loss.

Chen Ci decided that when the time came, he would ruthlessly add these costs onto the selling price.

Three more days passed.

In Sanyin Temple, Chen Ci felt a sense of frustration—he was ready to roll up his sleeves and do something big, but his grand commercial blueprint had withered before it even began.

It's been almost a month since the anomaly at Qingquan Village.

So much for the high-merit Daoist from Longhu Mountain, so much for the Deacon of the Wenxiang Sect—you guys better show up.

"This script isn't right; why is everything the opposite of what I expected?"

Chen Ci walked two laps with his hands behind his back; he hadn't felt the slightest bit of "masterminding the situation," and instead, his expectations had been wasted for nothing.

But this is also quite good; if everyone is in no rush, it means the matter in Qingquan Village shouldn't be very big or particularly dangerous.

Probably.

"Master, the Head of the Family of the Huang Family requests an audience."

"I know, tell him to wait."

Chen Ci let out a breath and left him waiting for a while before leisurely heading to the front hall; however, the moment he saw the Head of the Huang Family, he paused slightly—it had only been a few days, but the man looked like he had aged more than ten years; although Huang Defa's face had some wrinkles before, his spirit had been vibrant, and as a cultivator who had entered the Dao and spent many years in the business world, he had a certain bearing.

But looking at him today, he was no different from a little old man, his hair having turned much whiter; it seemed that living in fear these past few days had truly frightened him.

The feeling of one's fate not being in one's own hands is truly cruel.

"True Person Chen, this is the payment for last month's goods; please verify it."

Huang Defa didn't dare to be negligent just because Chen Ci hadn't offered help, and he hadn't even skimped on the Abyssal Sinking Sand he presented, which remained at the excess amount of thirteen jin and four liang.

Only through cultivation can one transcend.

Chen Ci admonished himself before taking the Abyssal Sinking Sand and asking with a smile: "Daoist Huang, Deacon Lin of your sect should be arriving soon, right?"

"Deacon Lin is busy with sect affairs, so that is not something this old man would know; True Person Chen, if there is nothing else, this old man will take his leave."

Huang Defa bowed respectfully and retreated, not daring to disturb him further, and left consciously after delivering the Abyssal Sinking Sand.

"Heh."

Chen Ci shook his head and chuckled; people aren't grass or trees, nor are they turtles—although the Head of the Huang Family's attitude remained respectful, there was actually still a bit of a rift between the two parties, a fact he could still sense.

But it wasn't a major issue.

Moreover, judging by his demeanor, he seemed relatively stable, so there shouldn't be any major trouble; looking at it this way, Lin Banshan should be arriving soon.

Chen Ci felt a bit stirred—the business is coming!

But if Lin Banshan asks for his help, should he agree or refuse?

To be honest, forming a party to run a dungeon in the cultivation world for the first time was a little exciting.

"I am an expert, stay calm."

"Better refuse; selling him a few Soul Fixing Talismans at a discount is enough of a favor—let's say six hundred taels each, buy five and get one free."

Chen Ci pondered for a moment; although Lin Banshan gave him a good impression and was someone worth befriending, he still didn't know the background of the Wenxiang Sect, so the matter of forming a party to run a dungeon would have to be discussed later.

That night.

Chen Ci was in the pill room, practicing the medicine-gathering incantation to extract grain essence, when he suddenly chuckled: "Daoist Lin, you've come from afar, why not come inside and sit?"

After a moment, the door to the pill room was gently pushed open, and a figure walked in straightforwardly, laughing aloud: "Daoist Chen's cultivation has improved, which is truly a cause for celebration; my little technique of concealment was unable to escape your discerning eyes."

It was none other than Lin Banshan.

After not seeing him for several months, Chen Ci had broken through several apertures in succession, and he could now vaguely sense that the man's True Qi cultivation wasn't actually as high as he had previously anticipated; it was just that his energy was more volatile and the peaks were higher.

About fifty-some apertures of True Qi cultivation, he reckoned.

"Daoist Lin, you jest."

Chen Ci smiled reservedly, brewed a pot of the aged tea he had prepared, and served it to him with composure.

Fully displaying the demeanor of an expert.

As for the fact that he would chuckle and call out once every five minutes, would he tell anyone else about that?

Impossible, obviously.

"Good tea."

Lin Banshan picked up the tea and took a sip, then chuckled: "I just saw Brother Chen practicing the pill method, and fearing I might disturb your progress, I stood outside the door for a moment. Brother Chen called me several times in succession; with such hospitality, I could only reveal myself."

Chen Ci: "." No, are you a clown? I called you and you didn't come out?

"Actually, it wasn't long, I only heard Brother Chen call me four or five times, hehe."

Lin Banshan put down his teacup with interest; this Outer Sect Disciple of the He Mountain Sect was even more interesting than he had imagined, truly a fascinating person.

Worth befriending.

Chen Ci: "." His thumb tightened, and he felt like he was falling apart on the spot.

This, this, this... are you sick? You stood outside in the middle of the night for nearly half an hour?

Why aren't you following the script? Are you messing with me!

Damn it, price increase. I'm going to raise the price significantly later; one Soul Fixing Talisman starts at eight hundred taels, and I'm not giving a single one away for free!

(End of chapter)