Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery
Chapter 44: Pointing at the Mulberry Tree and Cursing the Locust Tree

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Pointing at the Mulberry Tree and Cursing the Locust Tree

The next day, they began moving house.

There weren’t many people to say goodbye to.

Loose Cultivators often led precarious lives, deeply distrusting each other. Although Chen Li had met quite a few people since arriving in this world, most were mere acquaintances, with only Lin Gui having a somewhat closer relationship.

Unfortunately, Lin Gui’s house was now empty, probably because he had been taken away for alchemy.

Although the Spirit Tiger Gang was no more, any gang, as long as they weren’t blind, wouldn’t overlook someone like Lin Gui, a hidden talent from the countryside.

Chen Li wasn’t worried about this.

For Lin Gui, it was a good thing, as it at least meant his safety was assured.

Without any fanfare, Chen Li and Zhou Hong each carried a bundle. Informing no one, they quietly changed their residence. In the afternoon, the two of them went to the market district to buy life necessities they were lacking—spirit rice, meat, vegetables.

It wasn’t until evening that they returned, and even then, they weren’t finished.

The two of them also visited their new neighbors, bearing gifts (a Direction-Giving Talisman), before the busy day finally came to an end.

Physically, they weren’t tired, but mentally exhausted.

Yet looking at their new home, clean and neatly arranged, Chen Li still felt a sense of satisfaction.

His heart settled down once again.

Fame gained through violence often comes with plots and hatred.

Eventually, it often ends in killing.

Either you kill me or I kill you.

If you die, that’s the end of everything; if you win, a new cycle begins.

He was tired of these things.

Now, he just wanted to live a quiet life and cultivate.

Although Chen Li wasn’t someone completely devoted to the Dao, watching the numbers on the game-like system panel continually change, feeling his strength grow day by day, was still an addictive feeling.

...

At night.

Chen Li was panting after practicing swordsmanship, drinking water to rehydrate while opening the game-like system panel.

[Name: Chen Li]

[Lifespan: 41/112 years]

[Realm: Qi Cultivation Fourth Level: 6/100]

[Cultivation Technique: Longevity Skill Expert: 535/800]

[Skills:]

Talisman Making: Cleaning Talisman Master: 310/400; Silencing Talisman Proficient: 181/200; Direction-Giving Talisman Proficient: 185/200; Evil-Repelling Talisman Proficient: 16/200

Spell: Spiritual Power Fingertip Grandmaster: 1859/3200; Scolding Skill Expert: 12/400

Swordsmanship: Basic Swordsmanship Expert: 358/800;

[Divine Skills: None]

"Sigh, my progress has been delayed so much lately!" Chen Li lamented,

"The Arrow-Evasion Talisman too..."

Thinking of the Arrow-Evasion Talisman, he couldn’t help feeling irritated.

Despite researching it on his own for so long, he had still made no significant progress.

"I am definitely not some sort of genius, I guess I should find someone to consult with. As for the Arrow-Evasion Talisman, there are quite a few who can draw them in the market. The worst that can happen is that I have to pay a tuition fee!" Chen Li thought to himself.

...

He slept well through the night.

It was after all his first night in the new house, and the excitement was inevitable. When he woke up in the morning, he had another round with Zhou Hong.

Zhou Hong was worn out and fell asleep again in a daze.

Chen Li didn’t bother with her, instead, he slapped on a Cleaning Talisman and dressed himself before stepping out of the bedroom, looking refreshed and spirited.

His favorite thing about the new house was the courtyard, even though it was filled with nothing but weeds at the moment. Chen Li had already decided to plant a few fruit trees when winter passed and spring came.

...

"Good morning, Fellow Daoist Zhong," Chen Li greeted as he walked out of the courtyard.

"Eh, who are you? Oh, I remember now. You’re the new neighbor, Chen Wen." Zhong Shiqing was initially a bit confused but quickly recalled.

After moving here, Chen Li took on the alias Chen Wen, claiming dual expertise in both literature and principles. As for his last name, he chose not to change it.

"We’re neighbors now, I hope for your kind care in the days to come, Fellow Daoist Zhong!" Chen Li said with a cupped fist salute and a smile.

The other was part of the local gang and had a leadership role within it.

And he had a family.

Since Chen Li wanted to live a peaceful life, building a good relationship with such a person wouldn’t hurt; at the least, it was important to become acquainted.

"Hahaha, will do, will do!" responded Zhong Shiqing with a perfunctory smile, not minding too much and quickly leaving for the day.

Following this small interlude, Chen Li then proceeded to the market.

...

He stood in front of a stall that sold talismans.

Chen Li held an Arrow-Evasion Talisman, feeling the brushstrokes and the flow of spiritual power with his fingers. Unfortunately, he couldn’t discern anything right away and decided to ask the seller:

"Did you draw this Arrow-Evasion Talisman? This part of the pattern feels like the ink is a bit heavy. Is there a particular reason for that?"

"How strange, who asks about this when buying a talisman... Oh, I get it, you’re in the same business, aren’t you? Trying to steal a trick or two... Leave, leave, leave, put that talisman down. I’m not selling anything to you." The middle-aged Loose Cultivator selling the talismans seemed to recognize Chen Li, who sold Evil-Repelling Talismans, and began to shoo him away with a mocking tone.

Chen Li didn’t get offended upon hearing this and just chuckled, "Fellow Daoist, since we are peers, why make an enemy of each other? I see you even have Featherweight Talismans for sale here; I guess you wouldn’t care much about the meager income from Arrow-Evasion Talismans. Besides, I’m not asking you to teach me for free, I’ll pay with Spirit Stones."

"Paying with Spirit Stones?" The middle-aged Loose Cultivator looked at him suspiciously, up and down. Noting his robe and demeanor, which didn’t resemble that of a commoner, clearly he wasn’t one of those hapless Loose Cultivators who couldn’t even muster a single Low-grade Spirit Stone from their pockets. "How much will you give?"

"How about five Low-grade Spirit Stones?" Chen Li habitually haggled to the lowest possible price.

"Five Low-grade Spirit Stones, and you want me to teach you the Arrow-Evasion Talisman? Go daydream somewhere else. Learning this skill can feed you for a lifetime. Five Low-grade Spirit Stones, have you gone mad from poverty?" The middle-aged Loose Cultivator couldn’t hold back his sudden surge of anger, his face turning red as he shouted irritably.

"My dear brother, let’s calm down, let’s calm down. Everyone throws out an initial high bid but agrees on the actual price later, right? We’re all merchants here, respectable people... How much then? Name a price, and if it’s too high, I’ll forget it. I’ll just learn from someone else. After all, you’re not the only one here who can draw Arrow-Evasion Talismans. In the end, you’ll lose out on Spirit Stones and gain another competitor," Chen Li said playfully yet firmly.

The middle-aged Loose Cultivator, trying hard to contain his rage, considered the reason in those words and after a moment of silence said, "If you want me to teach you, it’s not impossible, but it’ll cost you at least fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"I won’t bargain anymore, fifty it is then, that’s the price! I’ll pay twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones upfront, and after I learn it, I’ll give you the remaining thirty. Where do you live? I’ll come to visit you tonight." Chen Li took out a purse from his sleeve and counted out twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones.

"What if I take the Spirit Stones and don’t teach you?" the middle-aged Loose Cultivator said as he accepted the stones, suddenly grinning at Chen Li.

"Twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones aren’t all that much to you, and you’re a smart man. Why risk so much over such a small amount?" Chen Li replied.

With a frustrated look, the middle-aged Loose Cultivator said, "I will only teach you for three nights, and if you can’t learn it by then, that’s your problem."

As he spoke, he picked up a stick and wrote an address on the ground. Chen Li memorized it quickly before the man wiped it away.

"As long as you don’t intentionally hold back, that’s fine!" Chen Li said.

"Rest assured! I, Zhang Yan, always conduct myself with integrity. I would never stoop to such a disgraceful act!" the middle-aged Loose Cultivator snorted.

Chen Li was somewhat skeptical that this fellow named Zhang Yan was insinuating something with those words, but he had no evidence to prove it.

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