Chapter 21: Steward Weng Pays a Visit

“Perhaps tomorrow I should go out and see if anything unusual has happened in the marketplace,” Shen Lian mused inwardly.

The enforcers had suddenly become diligent—most likely because some elder from above had arrived. The arrival of a high-ranking cultivator often heralded events of significance. Better to inquire and set his mind at ease. After all, things happened daily in the marketplace; the deaths of fellow cultivators could circle the market several times over.

Shen Lian wished only for a quiet year, then a return to the state of Chu.

Night fell.

Seated cross-legged in his cultivation chamber, Shen Lian was absorbed in practice when a knock at the door interrupted him.

“Who is it?” he called.

Approaching the door, his hand within his sleeve produced several talismans, ready.

“Brother, it’s me,” came the familiar voice.

Upon hearing it, Shen Lian recognized the visitor. He disabled the array and opened the door with his other hand.

“Brother, you truly are cautious, keeping an array running even at home,” said Weng Xia, standing in the doorway and regarding Shen Lian.

“Brother Weng is indeed a rare guest,” Shen Lian remarked, surprised. Though acquainted, Weng Xia had only visited once in the past two years, to congratulate him upon becoming a first-class talisman master.

Now, deep into the night, what business did this elder have?

“I’ve come to beg a favor, brother—could you make some Miasma Dispelling Talismans?”

Upon hearing the request, Shen Lian put away the talismans he held and invited Weng Xia inside.

“Brother, if you need Miasma Dispelling Talismans, you could have just sent a message—” Shen Lian said, then paused awkwardly, rummaging in his storage pouch for his communication talisman.

Fortunately, Weng Xia paid no mind to this.

“I require a large quantity this time—all preferably high-grade.”

Noting Weng Xia’s anxious expression, Shen Lian’s curiosity was piqued.

“Is something the matter, brother, that you’re so urgent?”

“It’s like this. I have a great-grandson who’s an outer disciple of the sect. He arrived at the marketplace today, having accepted a sect mission that requires him to spend some time in the miasma-ridden wilderness.

You know how toxic the miasma is out there. Once it enters the body, it’s troublesome to expel and disrupts cultivation. Worse yet, it might affect his foundation-building, which would be disastrous.

I blame myself for not foreseeing this; the Miasma Dispelling Talismans you sold me before were so effective that I sold them all off, and now my own great-grandson is left without any.”

“So your great-grandson stands a chance at foundation-building—congratulations, brother!” Shen Lian observed keenly, offering a timely compliment.

As expected, Weng Xia’s aged face broke into a pleased smile.

“This boy isn’t bad—over fifty and already at the eighth level of Qi Refining, with hope of attempting foundation-building before sixty,” Weng Xia said, though his expression soon darkened.

“I asked him about the mission, but the rascal wouldn’t say a word—not even about its duration. I fear the miasma will damage his lungs and ruin his chance at foundation-building. I have no hope myself, so all my expectations rest on him.”

“Brother, I happen to have a few high-grade Miasma Dispelling Talismans left. Give me a few days, and I’ll make some more,” Shen Lian replied, producing five talismans.

He understood Weng Xia’s mindset—some parents, unable to soar themselves, lay eggs for the next generation to fly. If the egg proves foolish, then it’s just more egg-laying, generation after generation. In Weng Xia’s case, he’d reached his great-grandson, who finally showed promise.

“Thank you, brother. Make as many as you can within three days—I must also seek out some Miasma Dispelling Pills for him,” Weng Xia said, dropping a storage pouch and leaving in haste before Shen Lian could refuse.

Closing the door and reactivating the array, Shen Lian inspected the pouch: two bottles of high-grade spiritual ink, twenty high-grade talisman papers—worth three hundred sixty spirit stones, twice the price of his five talismans.

A first-class Miasma Dispelling Talisman had already undergone a qualitative transformation. It could disperse miasma within a hundred feet, and without wind, could last days. In a small cave, its effect could extend to ten days or half a month.

Typically, itinerant cultivators only used such talismans when great opportunities arose. Judging by Weng Xia’s urgency, his great-grandson’s mission was likely long-term.

Their dealings had started as mutual interest, but after two years of business, there was camaraderie as well. Besides, Shen Lian crafted talismans to sell—whether to Weng Xia or his great-grandson made little difference.

After a night of cultivation, Shen Lian washed up the next morning, ready to begin making Miasma Dispelling Talismans when the door was knocked again.

“Knock knock…”

“Is Talisman Master Shen at home?”

“I am Weng He, come to pay my respects.”

Hearing the voice, Shen Lian was taken aback. The great-grandson had arrived. Why did the grandfather and great-grandson come separately?

Listening to the sounds outside, Shen Lian realized there were three people, not just Weng He. He lowered the array’s strength, activated a Mind Sense Talisman, and opened the door with his left hand, keeping several talismans ready in his right, just in case.

“Are you Talisman Master Shen?” Weng He was tall and sturdy, his appearance honest, not as shrewd as Weng Xia.

“I am. May I ask—?”

Weng He and his companions wore blue robes, signifying they were all outer disciples of the Azure Water Sect.

“No need for alarm, Master Shen. We’re here for Miasma Dispelling Talismans.”

Recalling his ancestor’s advice—that Master Shen was wary and rarely interacted—Weng He stated their purpose upfront.

“Please, come in.”

The other two Azure Water Sect disciples followed Weng He, clearly subordinate.

“Master Shen, your Miasma Dispelling Talismans are rare treasures. We’ve come to commission a batch of high-grade ones.”

“A batch?” Shen Lian was surprised.

Miasma Dispelling Talismans weren’t like pills; aside from miasma-infested areas, they served little purpose. Were they planning to reside in such places long-term? At thirty spirit stones each, could sect disciples afford so many?

“Yes. We’ll provide the materials and pay you extra; all we ask is that you focus on making as many talismans as possible during this period.”

Shen Lian understood. The Azure Water Sect had thousands of disciples and countless talisman masters—yet Weng Xia and Weng He had come to him. The only reason was the superior quality and efficacy of his talismans. Their need was not only great in quantity but also required ongoing supply.

“I’m only at the sixth level of Qi Refining. Aside from cultivation, I can craft five high-grade talismans a day, with about a fifty percent success rate—sometimes two, sometimes three.”

Shen Lian did not refuse. He realized refusal was not an option.

“Thank you, Master Shen. I’ll return in three days for the first batch,” Weng He said, patting his storage pouch and depositing a pile of materials onto the table. He indicated one of his companions. “This is Yang Lin. If I can’t come, Yang Lin will collect the talismans and deliver materials.”

“Very well.”

Weng He and his companions came and went quickly.

After closing the door, Shen Lian examined the materials left behind—a profitable transaction. Most talisman masters could barely break even. Having someone pay for commissioned talismans, regardless of success rate, and gaining practice in crafting—most talisman masters would welcome such an arrangement.

Weng Xia and his great-grandson were unaware of Shen Lian’s perfect success rate.

Aside from the commission, he could pocket at least half the materials.

Weng He had left five bottles of spiritual ink, five stacks of talisman paper, a high-grade first-class talisman brush, and three hundred spirit stones. Including what Weng Xia had left last night, there was a total of materials worth fourteen hundred spirit stones, plus a three hundred spirit stone commission.

He would net three hundred spirit stones and seven hundred worth of materials.

Shen Lian found the arrangement satisfactory.

To make money is never shameful.