Chapter 542: Farewell

Prices vary widely depending on the talisman's function and the specific runes used.

For example, a Third-rank Peace Talisman drawn on ordinary talisman paper costs ten taels of silver; on new talisman paper, it's priced at twenty taels.

The Immortal Tower earns money not only from those buying talismans, but also from talisman masters.

When Pan Yun and the others entered the Immortal Tower wearing their Daoist robes, the shop assistant below immediately recognized her as the talisman master who supplied them last year.

He stepped forward at once: "Master Pan, are you here to buy talismans or talisman paper?"

Pan Yun glanced at the shelves and asked: "Talisman paper sprinkled with gold powder?"

The assistant smiled: "We're the only ones in the Immortal Tower who sell this talisman paper."

Pan Yun finally looked up at him seriously: "How much?"

"That depends on the size you want," the assistant said, leading her to the counter and slamming down three stacks of talisman paper of different sizes. "We don't just have gold-powdered ones—we also have gold-foil ones."

He then pulled out three more stacks of talisman paper, each with gold foil and different sizes.

Pan Yun picked up one and examined it: "Won't these fall off when stuck to surfaces?"

The assistant chuckled: "These large ones are usually stuck to walls at home. These two smaller types can be folded and carried on your person, but who'd steal them from a pouch?"

Pan Yun studied them closely but couldn't detect any difference in effect from ordinary talisman paper, so she asked: "What advantages do they have over ordinary talisman paper?"

The assistant thought for a moment and said: "Is being easy to sell an advantage?"

Pan Yun fell silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes. What's the price?"

"The gold-foil ones are five taels, three taels, and two taels," he pointed to the other three. "The gold-powdered ones are one tael, eight mace, and five mace per sheet."

Seeing Miao Zhen squeezed in and sighed: "So expensive~~"

Seeing Miao Zhen also stepped beside Pan Yun and nodded: "They don't enhance talisman power at all, yet they're sold this dearly—worthless. Little Master, we buy talisman paper at one tael per hundred sheets."

One bundle means one hundred sheets.

Pan Yun nodded, a faint smile on her lips, and pulled out fifty taels of silver: "Give me two sets of gold-foil talisman paper, five sets of gold-powdered talisman paper, and five ordinary talisman sheets."

The assistant blinked, then his lips curled upward uncontrollably: "Honored guest, please wait—I'll fetch them right away!"

The assistant quickly packed the goods into a basket and brought it down. Pan Yun then selected two talisman brushes and a box of mediocre cinnabar, handing them all to the assistant.

The assistant clacked his abacus: "Total is fifty-two taels, six mace, and eighty-eight cash. I'll round it down for you—just fifty-two taels and six mace."

Pan Yun pulled out another silver ingot and handed it over, waiting until he weighed and tied it before asking: "With Senior Minister Yang's passing, are many people coming lately to buy talismans?"

The assistant replied offhandedly: "Many. Not just from Ji'an, but even from Jiangnan—people come requesting talismans for protection and safety. Some even pay to have Daoists descend the mountain to alter their fortunes."

The assistant shook his head and smiled: "But who dares tamper with fate and defy Heaven?"

Pan Yun nodded: "True. The money earned isn't enough to cover the cost of heavenly lightning."

"The Daoists on the mountain may not all have such power, but even if they avoid lightning, ruining one's fortune is still dangerous."

Pan Yun asked: "With Senior Minister Yang's passing, are many in court tied to him?"

"Not yet clear," the assistant said, glancing around as the Immortal Tower, frequented by travelers from all directions, was well-informed. He lowered his voice: "But the wealthy customers buying talismans worry—the next Senior Minister won't be from Jiangnan. There are only two cabinet ministers left from Jiangnan."

Pan Yun: "... The cabinet has only four members. When Senior Minister Yang was alive, Jiangnan held three. What are they worried about?"

If influence were measured by origin, shouldn't other regions be the ones worried?

Pan Yun picked up the basket and walked out.

She had less than seven taels left from her recent robbery.

Pan Yun kept over one tael in loose coins and shoved the remaining five taels into Hong Yan's hands: "Sister, go buy whatever you want."

Hong Yan said: "I have money."

Pan Yun insisted: "You having money is yours. This gift is mine. Buy whatever you like!" Five taels could buy much, yet it could vanish easily.

One visit to a clothing shop wiped it all out.

Young girls never dislike beautiful clothes, especially Hong Yan, who was so lovely—everyone loved watching her try them on, so a crowd rushed off to the clothing shop.

Tao Yanbai sat outside waiting for them.

Hong Yan tried on two outfits and bought both, then added some shoes and socks.

Pan Yun noticed a pretty umbrella nearby, looked at the umbrella, then at Hong Yan, and picked up two: "Buy these too."

Hong Yan: "Why would I carry an umbrella?"

"Animals get sick in the rain too. You should take better care of yourself. Take it. And when it's drizzling, holding an umbrella is absolutely beautiful!"

Hong Yan: "Fine."

Hong Yan went to pay. Pan Yun leaned against the counter, glancing around, and noticed a basket filled with handkerchiefs nearby. She stepped closer to look.

No mistake—a single hair—one inside—one content—one look!

The embroiderer, pleased with their swift purchase, smiled: "These handkerchiefs are ten cash each. If you like any, I can give you a discount, Master Daoist."

Pan Yun perked up: "How much of a discount?"

"One cash off."

Pan Yun leaned back, picking through them: "Still too expensive."

Her hand brushed the bottom and she let out a soft "hmm," pulling out an entire stack of handkerchiefs hidden underneath.

Pale blue handkerchiefs, thin in texture—ordinary fabric—but each bore two bamboo stalks embroidered on the right corner.

Each pale blue handkerchief, barely a finger's height, was uniformly embroidered with bamboo—on first glance, nearly identical.

The embroiderer noticed and said at once: "These are cheap—six cash each. I won't hide it from you, Master Daoist—they're cut from leftover fabric from last summer. Same color, same bamboo design, so they're discounted."

"How many are there?"

"About twenty or so."

Pan Yun waved her hand: "I'll take them all—five cash each."

The embroiderer blinked: "That price is acceptable, but why buy so many handkerchiefs?"

"To use, of course. Saves me from having to make them myself."

Pan Yun paid the money, gathered all the silk handkerchiefs, then escorted the Red Face to the edge of town.

Long Hushan was full of talented and unusual individuals; Pan Yun truly feared they might encounter stubborn Daoist Priests who hunted demons and slew monsters, so she specifically took out the Three Treasures Cauldron to send them fifty li beyond the town.

She handed the golden hairpin to Red Face, and Xiao Hong appeared; the two sides parted with deep reluctance.

Pan Yun gave them a stack of talismans, each with different functions: "If you're mistreated out there, come back to us. Overall, the Daoist Priests of Long Hushan are decent—True Person Zhang knows you and hasn't ordered you off the mountain immediately, so if you ever have trouble, you must come find me."

Red Face and Xiao Hong agreed, then turned and embraced Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He.

Miao He gave them some pills, mostly for Red Face, because Xiao Hong couldn't consume the pills she could brew.

Seeing Miao Zhen then cast a divination for them: "I've calculated it—the northeast is favorable for you; you may head northeast."

"The Nanzhili region?"

"Something like that—it's Nanjing, full of noble families and wealthy people, perfect for your worldly trials."

Red Face and Xiao Hong exchanged a glance and immediately decided to go to Nanjing.