Chapter 56

Fifty taels was already the shopkeeper's absolute limit.

As the shopkeeper put it, "There's plenty of toilet paper on the market now; even if yours is better, theirs are cheaper."

Ordinary folks buy only the cheap ones—rough is rough, what does it matter?"

"So I can't charge more. By weight, I can sell at most five wen per jin of paper, and wholesale to other merchants, no more than three wen per jin—I make just one wen profit per jin." The shopkeeper counted on his abacus, "One wen profit per jin—I'd need to sell fifty thousand jin just to recoup the cost of this formula."

Don't even mention ideas like technical equity—hmph, is paper hard to make? Is toilet paper rare?

Who doesn't know that Yushan County's paper is as famous as Jingdezhen's porcelain?

Pan Yun's formula may be softer and more waterproof than current toilet paper, but it's not unrepeatable.

The shopkeeper hadn't seen it before, but now that he has, if he has his craftsmen study it carefully, they'll surely replicate it—just a matter of extra effort.

So he's willing to pay fifty taels to save himself that effort; if it costs more, he'd rather study it himself.

Pan Yun is a pragmatic person; upon realizing this, she decisively sold the formula.

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He also looked disappointed, but Pan Yun herself felt better, even cheerful: "Fifty taels! And I stumbled upon it while making talismans—it's like finding fifty taels for free! All the herbs we gathered and processed over so many days for all of us together might not have fetched fifty taels."

Hearing this, Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He also brightened: "Does the shopkeeper demand the formula not be leaked?"

Pan Yun: "He only requires that within Yushan County, I sell exclusively to him. Outside Yushan, he doesn't care."

As the shopkeeper himself said, "Even if you, Master, make this business yourself after selling me the formula, as long as it's not within Yushan County, I can't stop you. For such meager profit, I can't possibly trail after you everywhere, can I?"

So the shopkeeper simply made no further demands—he only required Pan Yun to guarantee no second seller exists within Yushan County.

With such low demands from him, what could Pan Yun do but agree?

Sigh, earning money is so hard, but spending it is so easy.

Tao Ji and Master Xuanmiao took them to the apothecary.

They sold all the herbs from their cart to the apothecary.

Honestly, their efforts over this period paid off well—this cart of herbs fetched a full one hundred and eighty-six taels; then Tao Ji immediately spent eighty taels, buying nothing but more herbs.

Pan Yun glanced and noticed many of these herbs were the same ones Tao Ji had bought last time; she froze: "Third Master, the herbs you bought last time..."

Tao Ji: "Used up."

He paused, then added: "Before we descended the mountain, Senior Brother said you've adapted to life on Mount Sanqing—you're ready for body refinement."

Last time, Tao Ji bought many herbs to bring up for Pan Yun's body refinement, but Wang Feiyin examined her and refused.

At the time, though she looked strong on the outside, she was internally hollow, newly arrived, still unaccustomed to the local climate and water—rushing into body refinement would have backfired, so he held off.

Now Pan Yun's complexion is rosy, she's grown taller, and she's gained a bit of weight; Wang Feiyin finally agreed to begin her body refinement.

Pan Yun gasped: "Body refinement is so expensive."

Tao Ji sighed: "That's why Mount Sanqing is so poor."

Because we earn a lot, but spend even more.

Tao Ji said: "These are still just basic body refinement. When you grow older, you won't just refine your body—you'll need pills to aid your cultivation. Then the costs will rise even further."

Pan Yun doubted the value of taking pills for cultivation; she preferred cultivating on her own, not relying on pills.

But she said nothing now—Tao Ji followed the alchemy path, so he cultivated through pills.

Tao Ji finished buying everything, looked at the others, and said: "You have half an hour. Meet at the city gate in half an hour—we return to Huishan then."

Miao He grabbed Pan Yun to leave, but Pan Yun seized Tao Yanbai and dragged him along.

As soon as they left the apothecary, Pan Yun asked him: "Do you know anyone in Yushan County who buys talismans?"

Tao Yanbai thought, then brought them to the Qian family's front gate.

Everyone looked up at the large character "Qian" on the gate.

Tao Yanbai said: "This is the owner of the bookstore where you just sold your formula. The Qian family doesn't just run a bookstore—they own paper mills. They're very wealthy."

"Last time you and Third Master came down to treat him, how much did they pay for the consultation?"

Tao Yanbai said proudly: "Ten taels."

Pan Yun frowned: "Ten taels is a lot?"

Tao Yanbai said: "A huge amount! If I ever become a resident physician at an apothecary, I'd earn only four or five taels a month. Third Uncle earned in seven days what a regular physician makes in two months—how much is that?"

That really was a lot.

Pan Yun asked Tao Yanbai: "What illness does Master Qian have?"

Tao Yanbai said: "Diabetes. Last time he nearly died."

Hearing this, Pan Yun folded two talismans into her pouch and told Tao Yanbai: "Let's go. Take us in."

Tao Yanbai watched her, swallowed hard, and asked cautiously: "Little Auntie, you're not seriously thinking of selling talismans to them ourselves, are you?"

Pan Yun: "What else? Third Master is a physician—he's not suited for this. These talismans are mine, so I'll sell them. When I make sales, I'll share some of the money with you."

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He nodded in agreement. Tao Yanbai: "Master Qian is a good man—a benevolent man."

"I'm a benevolent person too. Don't you trust my talismans?"

"I trust them—but I fear Master Qian won't. If he rejects them, it'll damage Third Uncle's and Mount Sanqing's reputation with him."

Pan Yun's face turned serious: "Time and results will prove to him that I and Mount Sanqing are worthy of his trust."

If I never take this step, the world will only know Mount Sanqing for its alchemy and medicine, never its talisman arts—when will I ever walk my own Dao?

Pan Yun looked up at the Qian mansion, her resolve hardening; she dragged Tao Yanbai forward and knocked on the door.

The gatekeeper opened the door, recognized Tao Yanbai, and swung it wider: "Little Tao Daoist, what brings you here?"

Tao Yanbai glanced at Pan Yun, then said: "I have a small matter to request of Master Qian."

The gatekeeper announced them; Master Qian happened to be free. He assumed it was about his illness and immediately ordered them brought in.

Pan Yun followed the servant into the main hall and saw Master Qian seated on a chair.

He looked thin and listless—clearly ill. But that wasn't the main thing; the main thing was his yintang was dark blue—so dark, Pan Yun could see it at a glance.

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Not only Pan Yun, but Tao Yan Bai also sensed that Qian Master's aura was unusual.

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He stared curiously at Qian Master, their eyes scanning him up and down like searchlights.

Qian Master, who had just opened his smile to greet them: …

It's… just really strange.

The four young Daoist Priests who entered all fixed their gazes on him, their eyes brimming with shock and curiosity; Qian Master paused a moment before forcing his smile back, focusing only on Tao Yan Bai: "Young Daoist, are you here to the county on your master's orders?"

"Qian Shanren, we came with our Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle," Tao Yan Bai said, glancing at Pan Yun: "It's my little auntie who wishes to meet you, Qian Shanren."

Tao Yan Bai introduced him: "Qian Shanren, this is my little auntie from Mount Sanqing; these are my Fourth Cousin and Fifth Cousin."

Pan Yun bowed with fists to Qian Master, flanked by her two junior disciples.

Qian Master nodded amiably, "May I ask what the young Daoist Priests seek from me…?"

Pan Yun's expression turned grave: "Originally, we came to deliver a Health Charm to you, Qian Shanren. But now that I've seen you, I believe you need a Peace Charm more."

Qian Master's face went blank. "Charm delivery? Does Mount Sanqing sell charms? Isn't your sect only involved in ritual offerings, ceremonies, and treating illnesses with medicine?"

"Now we also draw charms for virtuous patrons and believers," Pan Yun said. "You didn't know, did you? My Fourth Senior Sister hails from the Zhang family of Long Hushan—her talisman arts are peerless."

If these were Mount Sanqing's charms, Qian Master would have been skeptical—but Long Hushan's…

Qian Master grew interested. "If the Zhang family's disciple isn't training at Long Hushan, why is she at Mount Sanqing?"

"Daoists follow destiny," Pan Yun waved. "Mount Sanqing has destiny with my Fourth Senior Sister—it better suits her cultivation, so she came. But today, none of that matters. What matters is that I've met you, Qian Shanren."

After studying Qian Master from head to toe, Pan Yun said: "Qian Shanren, you truly have destiny with Mount Sanqing—we happened to meet today. Had we come two days later, we might never have seen you again."

This sounded deeply ominous.

Pan Yun said: "Qian Shanren, do you know your Yin Tang is dark blue, and black clouds hover over your head? This is an omen of great disaster. Are you planning to travel these two days?"

Qian Master: "…Young Daoist, you're mistaken. I have no plans to travel."

He pressed his chest. "I'm unwell. I won't be going out these days."

Tao Yan Bai and Miao He bit their lips, glancing worriedly at Pan Yun—terrible, little auntie misread it…

But Pan Yun's expression remained firm; she smiled and nodded. "That's best of all. For the next three days, Qian Master must not leave home—perhaps you can avoid this disaster."

She paused. "If you must go out, you must carry the Peace Charm I drew myself."

Pan Yun did not reach for the Health Charm in her pouch—instead, she pulled two Peace Charms from inside her sleeve, refolded them neatly, and handed them to Qian Master.

Qian Master: …

Pan Yun smiled faintly, placed the Peace Charms on the table, and laughed cheerfully: "Qian Shanren, don't overthink it. You have great destiny with Mount Sanqing. I merely passed by your gate, learned you were my Third Senior Brother's patient, so I came to deliver two Health Charms. But right now, you truly need Peace Charms more."

Pan Yun set down the Peace Charms, bowed with fists, and left.

Tao Yan Bai and Miao He, Miao Zhen snapped to attention, bowed quickly, and withdrew.

Watching them depart, Qian Master frowned—was this truly a chance visit to deliver charms, or…?

Had this been an older Daoist Priest, Qian Master would never have believed it—everyone knows what "delivery" really means.

But these ones are so young, and from Mount Sanqing—Tao Yan Bai, he'd seen many times before; a shy, diligent boy.

Thinking this, Qian Master could no longer sit still—he called for his steward at once: "Quickly, catch up to them and give them… give them a red envelope with ten taels."

The steward bowed and hurried off with the red envelope, running hard—just as they stepped through the main gate, he caught up.

The lucky number for this chapter is any number ending in 8—screenshot as proof. Deadline: before the next chapter updates.

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(End of Chapter)