[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-5":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Nothing Is Taboo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310390,4514,"Chapter 5: Buying a Life","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>The side courtyard was added later; it was originally a small yard next door, whose owner died mysteriously after being afflicted by malevolent spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao expelled the malevolent spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner had only one distant nephew; Master Qiao paid a few taels of silver to buy it, knocked down the shared wall, and made it his residence in Qihetai Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The side courtyard lay east of the inn, arranged with great elegance: bamboo along the southern wall, plum trees planted in the western corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan brought in breakfast; the accountant Liu Ye was also there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you getting used to it here?” Master Qiao asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s quite good, thank you for taking me in,” Xu Yuan replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your family entrusted you to me; I must look after you a little. If you need anything, just speak up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao waved his hand; Xu Yuan, understanding, bowed and withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accountant Liu followed him out and called after him in the courtyard: “Those two men yesterday—were they really here to collect mountain goods?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan opened his mouth to say “yes,” but found he could not utter the lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him, Accountant Liu’s dead-fish eyes stared unblinkingly; Xu Yuan could only tell the truth: “No, they went into the mountains looking for something, wanted to kill me, and planned to trap my soul to guide them further—I led them to Diaotou Ridge and barely escaped alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan gave a detailed account, trying to divert Accountant Liu’s attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Accountant Liu was too experienced to be swayed: “What were they looking for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan did not wish to answer, but any hesitation would betray him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I overheard them talking—they mentioned something called ‘cow leaf worm,’ but I don’t know what it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not lie, but he could muddle the pronunciation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were the people who asked you to guide them before also looking for something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The first two groups weren’t, but these last three were.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accountant Liu grew angry: “Why didn’t you report this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I didn’t know I was supposed to report it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accountant Liu glared fiercely at Xu Yuan: “Remember! You’re part of this inn. Any unusual situation from now on—you report it to me! Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan hurried away; Accountant Liu had no idea he’d been tricked by a naive child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the side courtyard’s gate hung a calligraphic plaque bearing three large characters: “No-Lies Ground,” enveloping the entire yard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ink was still wet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the power of a Literary Cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accountant Liu returned to his room and frowned: “Master, what is a ‘cow leaf worm’? I’ve never heard of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao stroked his beard, muttering repeatedly: “Cow leaf worm, cow leaf worm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no clue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Master Qiao said: “Watch the inn. I’m going into the mountains to gather information.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second floor of the front courtyard, in the easternmost room, the woman removed a massive ear ornament made of sandalwood and brass and sneered inwardly: You fool, Qiao Zia’ang—cow leaf worm? It’s clearly the June worm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This room wasn’t hers; Master Qiao had personally assigned her quarters to the westernmost end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The occupant of this room had been drugged by one of her alchemical cultivators and obeyed her without question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took out a bamboo-framed parrot, lifelike in every detail, and gave an order: “Send two people to test the boy in the back courtyard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The parrot flew mechanically out the window, landed in a courtyard at the town’s eastern edge, and mimicked the woman’s command to a group of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today Xu Yuan was chopping firewood, followed by two men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, near Linhe River, the field snail beauties on Meiren Dam were especially eager—when Linhe was closed, outsiders wouldn’t circle the dam, and they used their voices to lure husbands; it was peak season for business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan took a wide detour; just after crossing the dam, the two men caught up: “Young sir, slow down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was a method cultivator, the other an alchemical cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator was ninth-rate; the alchemical cultivator wasn’t even ranked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the ability of “Wang Ming”—one could see at a glance whether someone was a cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could also roughly gauge their level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other cultivators, unless they possessed special abilities, could not distinguish cultivators from ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly man and the one-eyed man had observed him secretly for a long time before confirming Xu Yuan was merely an ordinary person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except Wu Xiu…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any Wu Xiu who had entered the ranks would be physically larger than a normal person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re heading to Wangxiang Village—could you guide us?” The method cultivator pulled out a silver bean: “Not asking you to go empty-handed—this is your fee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the sixth group in half a month to ask Xu Yuan to guide them—but the first to actually pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver bean bore a faint magical mark—this was “buying a life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the method cultivator’s eyes, Xu Yuan’s worthless life was worth only this one silver bean—no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator sect was the most chaotic, with many schools. This man, who could make “buying a life,” likely cultivated “Merchant Law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most cultivated “Technique Law”; the hardest was “Statutory Law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan had even heard his stepmother mention they had specialists who cultivated “Reform Law”—capable of turning people into dogs, snakes, even millstones…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thoughts flashed through his mind, yet Xu Yuan responded as he had yesterday to the one-eyed man and the burly man: “Sir, some things must be clarified beforehand—it’s not about how much you pay…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator nodded: “We understand these rules.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.” Xu Yuan took the silver bean: “Gentlemen, follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator smiled inwardly as he watched Xu Yuan accept the “buying a life”—once the money was taken, the man’s life was in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a cultivator superior to him could not escape once “Merchant Law” was enacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two followed Xu Yuan, chatting idly; Xu Yuan, mindful of the silver bean, answered patiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After passing Maor Tomb and entering the mountains, the method cultivator asked: “Young sir, have many people entered the mountains lately?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many—no lie, you’re the sixth group I’ve guided into the mountains these past few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are they doing in the mountains?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Collecting mountain goods—most of them are doing that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s mind swelled with malice, even murderous intent—each time, he carefully observed their “lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one use of “Wang Ming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erliang had lusted after the woman in the front courtyard; his “life” carried a faint crimson taint of violence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these two men’s “lives” showed no change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their “lives” were green—richer than Erliang’s “white life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan silently shook his head; clearly his power was still too weak—even with malice, he could not affect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Then he’d have to find another way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator feigned worry: “So many ahead of us collecting—this time we might return empty-handed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan opened his mouth but held back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator pulled out another copper coin: “Young brother, hard work—take this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s eyes gleamed greedily, but he protested: “Sir, you’ve already paid—how can I take more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator pressed it into his hand: “That was for guiding us; this is for keeping us company and easing our boredom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator: “Now you can answer freely, yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This copper coin bought Xu Yuan’s “answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once paid, “Merchant Law” controlled him—he must answer truthfully, no lies allowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Xu Yuan said: “You needn’t worry—though those ahead claim to collect mountain goods, I suspect they’re not. They’re….” His voice dropped: “I think they’re searching for something. Just head to Wangxiang Village—you’ll still find something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are they searching for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know,” Xu Yuan’s eyes flickered, his expression strained, then he said: “I heard one of them mention ‘cow leaf worm…’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method and alchemical cultivators exchanged glances—no wonder the Holy Dame told us to watch him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator asked: “Where did those people go in the end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of them went to Wangxiang Village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they reached the edge of the woods again, Xu Yuan pointed ahead: “Gentlemen, follow this path straight ahead—it leads to Wangxiang Village. No spirits block this stretch—I won’t accompany you further; I still need to chop firewood…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Xu Yuan watched as a blinding crimson surge erupted rapidly within the method cultivator’s green “life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Violence surged violently!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator smiled strangely and reached out to Xu Yuan: “Your life is mine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside Xu Yuan’s sleeve, the mark on the silver bean flared brightly—then immediately went dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator suddenly felt reverse blood surge to his heart—he could not stop himself from spitting out a mouthful of blood!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magical backlash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both the method and alchemical cultivators were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method cultivator collapsed, utterly drained, the backlash continuing in waves—he spat more blood, disbelief in his voice: “What… what is this? This boy’s life… is it so valuable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1502,"2026-06-20T12:07:23.516Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4aae37558cfa2c575747f27f7f38426ce2fa43d04372a9e5c5dca7dfdea5e0f7","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-6","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-4",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]