Chapter 56: Oh, Master Qian

Fifty taels was already the maximum the shopkeeper was willing to offer.

As the shopkeeper put it, “There’s plenty of toilet paper on the market now. Even if yours is better, theirs are cheaper.”

“Common folks only buy the cheap ones. A little roughness doesn’t matter.”

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

Forget talk of technical equity—hah, is paper hard to make? Is toilet paper so 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 need more time.

So he was willing to pay fifty taels to avoid that effort; if it cost more, he’d rather study it himself.

Pan Yun was pragmatic; once she sensed this, she decisively sold the formula.

Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He also looked disappointed, Pan Yun herself felt better, even cheerful: “Fifty taels! I accidentally made this while drawing talismans—it’s like finding fifty taels for free! All the herbs we spent days gathering and processing barely netted us fifty taels.”

Miao Zhen and Miao He agreed—it was true—and cheered up too. “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 sell me the formula and then start making it yourself, as long as you don’t sell it within Yushan County, I can’t stop you. For such meager profit, I can’t follow you around like a shadow.”

So the shopkeeper simply made no demands—he only wanted Pan Yun to ensure no second seller existed within Yushan County.

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

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

Tao Ji and Xuan Miao took them to the herbal shop.

They sold all the herbs from their cart.

Honestly, their efforts over this period paid off well—this cart of herbs fetched 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 Senior Brother, the herbs you bought last time...”

Tao Ji: “Used up.”

He paused, then said: “Before we came down 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 refine Pan Yun’s body, but Wang Feiyin examined her and refused.

She looked strong on the outside, but internally weak; she was new here, hadn’t adjusted to the local climate and water. Rushing into body refinement would backfire, so he held off.

Now Pan Yun’s complexion was rosy, she’d grown taller, and gained a bit of weight—only then did Wang Feiyin agree to begin her body refinement.

Pan Yun whistled. “Body refinement is 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 just basic body refinement. When you grow older, you’ll need not only body refinement but also elixirs to aid cultivation—then the costs will rise further.”

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

But she said nothing now—Tao Ji practiced alchemy, so he kept refining elixirs.

Tao Ji finished buying everything, looked at them, and said: “You have half an hour. Meet at the city gate in half an hour—we return to the mountain then.”

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

As soon as they left the herbal shop, Pan Yun asked him: “Do you know anyone in Yushan County who buys talismans?”

Tao Yanbai thought, then took them to the Qian family’s front gate.

Everyone looked up at the large “Qian” character on the gate.

Tao Yanbai said: “This is the proprietor of the bookstore where you just sold your formula. The Qian family owns not just a bookstore but also a paper mill—they’re very wealthy.”

“Last time you and Third Senior Brother 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 fortune! If I ever become a clinic physician at the herbal shop, 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 was quite a lot.

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

Tao Yanbai said: “Diabetes. Last time he nearly died.”

Pan Yun immediately folded two talismans into her pouch and told Tao Yanbai: “Let’s go. Take us inside.”

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: “Who else? Third Senior Brother 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 profit with you.”

Miao Zhen and Miao He nodded in agreement. Tao Yanbai: “Master Qian is a good man—a philanthropist.”

“I’m a philanthropist 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 facts will prove to him that I and Mount Sanqing are worthy of his trust.”

If she never took this step, the world would only know Mount Sanqing for its elixirs and medicine, never its talisman arts—when would she ever walk her own Dao?

Pan Yun looked up at the Qian mansion, her resolve hardening. She dragged Tao Yanbai to the door and knocked.

The gatekeeper opened the door, recognized Tao Yanbai, and swung it wider. “Little Taoist, what brings you here?”

Tao Yanbai glanced at Pan Yun. “I have a small matter to request of Master Qian.”

The gatekeeper announced them. Master Qian was free and assumed it was about his illness—he 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.

!. Read

Not just Pan Yun—Tao Yanbai also sensed something off about Master Qian’s aura.

Miao Zhen and Miao He stared intently at Master Qian, their eyes scanning him like searchlights.

Master Qian, who had just opened his mouth to greet them: ...

It was... strange.

The four young Daoists stared at him, their eyes filled with shock and curiosity. Master Qian paused, then forced a smile, focusing only on the familiar Tao Yanbai: “Little Taoist, are you here on your master’s orders?”

“Master Qian, we came with Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle. Yes,” Tao Yanbai glanced at Pan Yun, “it’s my Little Auntie who wishes to meet you.”

Tao Yanbai introduced: “Master Qian, this is my Little Auntie from Mount Sanqing. These are my Fourth and Fifth Little Sisters.”

Pan Yun bowed with her two junior sisters to Master Qian.

Master Qian nodded warmly. “May I ask what brings you young Daoists here?”

Pan Yun’s face was serious. “I came to deliver a health talisman, but seeing you, I believe you need a safety talisman more.”

Master Qian looked blank. “Deliver talismans? Does Mount Sanqing sell talismans? Isn’t your sect only for rituals, ceremonies, and medicine?”

“We now also draw talismans for benefactors and believers,” Pan Yun said. “You may not know—my Fourth Sister comes from the Zhang family of Long Hushan. Her talisman arts are extraordinary.”

If these were Mount Sanqing talismans, Master Qian might doubt them. But the Zhang family of Long Hushan...

Master Qian grew interested. “If Zhang’s disciple is from Long Hushan, why is she training at Mount Sanqing?”

“Daoists follow destiny. Mount Sanqing and my Fourth Sister share destiny—it better suits her cultivation,” Pan Yun waved. “But today, none of that matters. What matters is that I’ve met you, Master Qian.”

Pan Yun studied Master Qian again. “Master Qian, you truly have destiny with Mount Sanqing. We met by chance today—if we’d come two days later, we might never meet again.”

This sounded ominous.

Pan Yun said: “Master Qian, do you know your yintang is dark blue, shrouded in gloom? This is an omen of great disaster. Are you planning to travel these days?”

Master Qian: “...Little Taoist, 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 Yanbai and Miao He bit their lips, worried—oh no, Little Auntie misread it...

But Pan Yun remained firm, smiling and nodding. “That’s best. For the next three days, Master Qian must not leave home. You may avoid this disaster.”

She paused. “If you must go out, you must carry the safety talisman I drew myself.”

Pan Yun didn’t reach for the health talismans in her pouch. Instead, she pulled two safety talismans from her sleeve’s inner pocket, refolded them, and handed them to Master Qian.

Master Qian: ...

Pan Yun smiled faintly, placed the talismans on the table, and said cheerfully: “Master Qian, don’t overthink it. You have great destiny with Mount Sanqing. I merely passed by, learned you were Third Uncle’s patient, and came to deliver two health talismans. But right now, you truly need safety talismans.”

Pan Yun placed the talismans down, bowed, and left.

Tao Yanbai and Miao He and Miao Zhen snapped to attention, bowed, and withdrew.

Master Qian watched them leave, frowning. Was this truly a chance visit to deliver talismans—or...?

If these were older Daoists, Master Qian wouldn’t believe them—everyone knew their real motive.

But these were all so young, from Mount Sanqing, and Tao Yanbai—he’d seen him often. A shy, diligent boy.

Thinking this, Master Qian couldn’t sit still. He called his steward: “Quickly, catch up to them. Give them... give them a red envelope with ten taels.”

The steward hurried off, grabbed the red envelope, and chased after them—just as they stepped out the gate.

The lucky number for this chapter is any number ending in 8. Screenshot as proof. Deadline: before next chapter update.

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(End of Chapter)