Chapter 71: Meeting Miss Second Again, Brother Cheng Will Take You to Read Book and Taste Tea!

After Lu Changsheng came down from the second floor to the first floor, he began to browse the items available for sale in the shop. He was checking to see if there were any items he wanted.He was hoping to purchase a magical pen for drawing talismans, some high-grade talisman paper, and high-grade spiritual ink during this outing. When Lu Changsheng was in the Third Stage of Qi Refining, he tried drawing top-grade talismans but was limited by his cultivation and the tools he had, resulting in a low success rate. He only managed to draw a dozen talismans to have on hand in case of unexpected events. After his recent breakthrough to Fourth Stage of Qi Refining, he tried drawing top-grade talismans again and still found it somewhat challenging. He could only draw a few simpler top-grade talismans with a success rate of about 40-50%. While this success rate was quite good for other talisman artists, Lu Changsheng felt it wasn’t quite enough. Thus, he thought about buying a good magical pen for drawing talismans, as well as some high-grade talisman paper and spiritual ink. This way, not only could he increase his success rate, but he could also confidently draw some of the more challenging top-grade talismans. Whether or not he would sell the talismans wasn’t the main concern; at least having more top-grade talismans on hand would give him a greater sense of security. Otherwise, what would he do if something unexpected happened while traveling between Jiulong Market and Qingzhu Mountain? Lu Changsheng examined the items for sale in the shop. Most of the talismans available were low-grade, followed by basic and mid-grade talismans, with a few high-grade ones. Besides the talismans, the shop also offered talisman pens, talisman paper, spiritual ink, related raw materials, and books on talismans. Then, he looked at the prices of the magical pens, high-grade talisman paper, and high-grade spiritual ink on the counter of talisman making tools. Low-grade magical talisman pen: 70 spirit stones. Medium-grade magical talisman pen: 200 spirit stones. High-grade magical talisman pen: 600 spirit stones. High-grade talisman paper comes in two qualities: premium and good quality. Premium: 50 spirit stones for a stack of 10 sheets. Good quality: 30 spirit stones for a stack of 10 sheets. High-grade spiritual ink also comes in two qualities: premium and good quality. Premium: 50 spirit stones per box. Good quality: 30 spirit stones per box. “So expensive!” Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but exclaim when he saw the prices. He previously thought he had a decent amount of money, but upon seeing these prices, he suddenly realized how poor he actually was. After buying a medium-grade magical talisman pen, he wouldn’t have much spirit stones left. “For my current needs, a medium-grade magical talisman pen is sufficient,” “And since magical talisman pens are far more durable than regular ones, lasting thousands of uses, I won’t have to worry about damage for a while.” Lu Changsheng stroked his chin as he planned to purchase a medium-grade magical talisman pen. After all, this investment would last him a long time. As for the prices of the talisman paper and spiritual ink, he thought they were reasonable and not too expensive, especially considering that a single top-grade talisman could sell for 30 to 50 spirit stones. Moreover, top-grade talismans can sell for over 200 spirit stones each! However, the reason they can command such high prices is due to the high skill and difficulty level involved. For instance, the Fourth Elder, being a first-rank talisman master, only sells three top-grade talismans a month due to the high failure rate. After subtracting the time and material costs, the profit was quite limited. Not everyone is as lucky as Lu Changsheng, who can create talismans as effortlessly as eating or drinking. “No rush,” “My spirit stones are mainly needed to buy the materials for the Hundred Treasure Refinement Body Tempering Technique. Tomorrow, I’ll check out Southwest street.” “I’ll see if I can find suitable materials for the Hundred Treasure Refinement Body Tempering Technique and maybe sell some talismans for money,” Lu Changsheng mused. He then asked the shopkeeper, Zhang Shan, about the cost prices of the magical talisman pens, high-grade talisman paper, and spiritual ink. Zhang Shan was forthcoming and provided the information. The cost price of the low-grade magical talisman pen is 43 spirit stones. The cost price of the medium-grade magical talisman pen is 139 spirit stones, and the high-grade magical talisman pen is 500 spirit stones. Since the Lu family doesn’t have a weapon refiner, they purchase these items from elsewhere to sell. As for the talisman paper and spiritual ink, the premium quality is made by the Lu family themselves, while the good quality is either made in-house or sourced from others using provided materials. Zhang Shan was unsure of the cost. After listening, Lu Changsheng nodded, planning to buy a magical talisman pen directly from the store at cost if he decided to purchase one. He then asked about the shop’s daily revenue, sales, which talismans sold well, and the prices and quantities at which they bought talismans from other sources. Lu Changsheng had an idea in his mind. If he were to take full charge of managing the shop in the future, he wondered if he could use the shop to sell all the talismans he had on hand. For the questions he asked, Zhang Shan answered truthfully, giving Lu Changsheng a good understanding of the talisman shop. He learned that the business of this talisman shop in Jiulong Market was quite good, generating several thousand spirit stones in revenue each month. “Looks like this Lu family’s talisman shop is doing even better than I imagined,” Lu Changsheng thought to himself after hearing this information. After chatting with Zhang Shan for a while, Lu Changsheng didn’t continue asking too many questions. He returned to the resting area on the third floor and saw that Lu Miaoge was still in the talisman room, so he began meditating to cultivate. As evening approached, Lu Miaoge came out of the talisman room and informed Lu Changsheng that they could leave for the day. Although Jiulong Market didn’t have a curfew, the place became much quieter at night since cultivators also needed to cultivate and rest. Furthermore, Li Shi, Wang Wu also resided in the shop and could help keep an eye on things. Afterward, Lu Miaoge led Lu Changsheng to the Lu Family’s large residence in the eastern district. The walk from their current location to the Lu Family’s estate in the eastern district took a considerable amount of time. Walking quickly, it still took them around half an hour. The Lu Family’s estate spanned approximately 2,000 square meters. Although this was much smaller than the accommodations in Qingzhu Valley, it was a large property for the cramped spaces in Jiulong Market. Curious, Lu Changsheng asked Lu Miaoge how much such a large estate would cost in spirit stones. Lu Miaoge wasn’t sure of the exact price, explaining that estates like these were usually leased for at least three to five years. As for the cost, it ranged from several tens to a few hundred spirit stones per year. Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but be astonished. If the annual rent was tens to hundreds of spirit stones, then purchasing such an estate would likely cost thousands of spirit stones. It seemed that buying property was a challenge everywhere. Upon arriving at the estate, Lu Miaoge asked the estate’s steward whether the Second Elder was home. Since they had come to the estate, they naturally wanted to meet the Lu Family’s Second Elder. The steward informed them that the Second Elder was resting in the backyard and led the two to meet the Second Elder. In no time, Lu Changsheng saw the Lu Family’s Second Elder. Despite his white hair, the Second Elder’s complexion was vibrant and smooth, resembling that of a baby. He had a tall build and wore a blue robe, leaning on a jade bamboo staff. His imposing presence exuded a sense of authority and awe. This Second Elder was responsible for managing the Lu Family’s business and frequently traveled, so it was the first time Lu Changsheng had met him. “Second Elder!” “Second Grandpa!” Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge both greeted the Second Elder with respectful bows. The Second Elder nodded and turned his attention to Lu Changsheng and a hint of a smile appeared on his face. “You must be Changsheng. At your age, becoming a medium-grade talisman artist is quite impressive. In the future, if you need anything in Jiulong Market, you can come directly to me.” The Second Elder gave Lu Changsheng a friendly pat on the shoulder as he spoke. “Yes, Second Elder.” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ɴovᴇlꜰirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality. Lu Changsheng responded respectfully. The Second Elder then instructed the steward to arrange accommodations for Lu Changsheng and mentioned that there would be a banquet in the evening to welcome him and introduce him to other Lu family members so they could interact more frequently. Lu Changsheng naturally agreed politely. He knew that now that he was part of the Lu family, socializing and maintaining relationships would be inevitable. The steward then took him to a separate courtyard for his living quarters. The courtyard was not large, about 100 square meters, slightly smaller than his quarters at Qingzhu Mountain Manor. It had simple soundproofing and spiritual gathering arrays, with spiritual energy levels lower than Qingzhu Valley but better than Qingzhu Mountain Manor. In the evening, a servant arrived to inform Lu Changsheng about the banquet. He nodded and made his way to the main hall. “Mm?” As soon as Lu Changsheng entered the main hall, he saw the Second Elder, Lu Miaoge, two stewards of the same generation as Lu Yuanding, and five other Lu family members. However, his gaze was instantly drawn to a stunning woman standing beside Lu Miaoge. She wore a white long dress embroidered with crane patterns, and the fitted dress perfectly highlighted her curvaceous figure. The skirt was cut in a way that revealed her straight, slender legs, wrapped in delicate, translucent white silk stockings, adding a sense of elegance and purity. Her petite feet, covered in the white stockings, were clad in silver high heels with flowing cloud patterns, which accentuated her graceful and striking figure. The woman was none other than the Second Miss, Lu Miaohuan, whom Lu Changsheng had once been set up to meet for a potential match. Lu Changsheng hadn’t expected to see her in Jiulong Market, nor that she had switched from wearing black silk stockings to white. There was no denying that the Second Miss had a remarkable figure. Especially her legs, which were perfectly proportioned—neither too full nor too slender, straight, and smooth. Whether she wore black or white silk, both brought out an alluring, breathtaking quality in her appearance. “Hmph!” Lu Miaohuan also noticed Lu Changsheng and, seeing that his gaze fell upon her, responded with a cold snort before turning her head away to look elsewhere. Lu Changsheng simply smiled and acted as if he hadn’t noticed. He knew the Second Miss still held a grudge against him, which was understandable. It had only been half a year since their arranged meeting, where he had rejected her and then married Lu Miaoyun. Given the Second Miss’s proud personality, it was hardly surprising that she hadn’t forgotten the incident and still held a grudge. If it weren’t for the Second Elder hosting the welcoming banquet, the Second Miss might not have even bothered to see him. She certainly wouldn’t have given him a warm reception. Nonetheless, seeing Lu Miaoge and Lu Miaohuan standing together—both sisters with similar looks and figures—Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but wonder how the eldest Miss would look dressed similarly. Or perhaps the two sisters, one in black and one in white… Lu Changsheng quickly suppressed these thoughts, knowing they were too stimulating to dwell on. If Patriarch Lu Yuanding knew he was entertaining thoughts about his two daughters, he would likely slice him in half with one stroke. “Second Elder,” Lu Changsheng greeted respectfully with a bow. “Changsheng, let me introduce you,” The Second Elder responded, noticing the brief exchange between Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaohuan but saying nothing about it. He was aware of the minor grudge between them. After the original incident, Lu Yuanding had sent his daughter to Jiulong Market to find something to occupy herself and to relax. Following the Second Elder’s introductions, Lu Changsheng became acquainted with the two stewards of the Lu family and met the four other Lu family members. The group of people present in Jiulong Market all held significant positions and status within the Lu Family, representing its future leaders. Except for Lu Miaohuan, who showed her displeasure due to her previous encounter with Lu Changsheng, the others were all quite friendly towards him. After all, there was no unprovoked love or hatred. Lu Changsheng was easy-going and never made enemies, in addition to being a medium-grade talisman artist. Naturally, they were eager to establish a good relationship with him. Moreover, they all knew of Lu Changsheng’s talent for talisman crafting. The family had been trying to integrate him more deeply into the Lu Family, so these individuals were naturally inclined to foster good relations with him rather than risk offending him. Thus, Lu Changsheng made their acquaintance. After a satisfying meal, as everyone was about to leave, a young man named Lu Miaocheng draped his arm around Lu Changsheng’s shoulder and said enthusiastically, “Changsheng, this is your first time out. As the host, I, Brother Cheng, will take you to read books and taste tea tomorrow.” “Read books and taste tea?” Lu Changsheng was taken aback. “That’s right. This tea house is quite nice, offering various famous teas and different kinds of books. Just yesterday, they received a batch of new teas and books that won’t disappoint you,” Lu Miaocheng said meaningfully. “Brother Cheng, is this book reading and tea tasting legitimate?” Lu Changsheng’s tone was skeptical. Lu Miaocheng glanced around and lowered his voice, “Don’t worry, would I take you somewhere legitimate? Have you heard of the top ten famous artifacts? Tomorrow, I’ll let you experience them!” Lu Changsheng fell silent for a moment. As he suspected, this was not legitimate book reading and tea tasting. I’m your brother-in-law, after all, so why would you, as the brother-in-law, take me, your sister’s husband, to see the top ten famous artifacts? And I’m new to Jiulong Market, so is it really a good idea to take me to such a place? Or do you think I’m that kind of person? Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but ponder these questions internally. He then said, “Brother Cheng, I’m not that kind of person. I won’t go to those places.” “How can you broaden your horizons if you don’t see the world? This is also a form of training.” Lu Miaocheng presented his argument with poetic flair, stating, “As they say, beauty is like tea that should be savored slowly, and a lovely face is like a book that should be read closely. Reading books and tasting tea is about observing the ways of the world and savoring the flavors of life—it is the best way to increase your life experience.” “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Sister Miaoyun about this,” Lu Miaocheng added. Lu Changsheng was at a loss for words. It was impressive how visiting a brothel was described in such an elegant and respectable manner. He hadn’t expected to find such a character within the Lu Family. However, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but agree with the underlying logic in Lu Miaocheng’s argument; broadening his horizons and gaining life experience was important. “Maybe some other time,” Lu Changsheng considered. Although he wanted to gain new experiences, doing this sort of thing just after arriving in Jiulong Market made him feel a bit guilty. Besides, he had important things to focus on, such as planning to explore the Rogue Cultivator’s street market the next day. “Alright then. Whenever you’re ready, you can find me. I know this part of Jiulong Market very well,” Lu Miaocheng said as he patted Lu Changsheng on the shoulder, a bit disappointed that Lu Changsheng had declined. “Thank you, Brother Cheng,” Lu Changsheng nodded before returning to his quarters. He meditated for two hours before lying down to sleep. However, he found it difficult to fall asleep, feeling as though something was missing. “Ah, suddenly being alone takes some getting used to,” Lu Changsheng sighed softly. He had grown accustomed to sleeping with his wife and concubine every night, and sleeping alone felt unsettling. He then got up, took out his talisman-making tools from his storage bag, and began creating talismans. After crafting three medium-grade talismans and feeling a bit mentally fatigued, he drank a sip of White Jade Hundred Flowers Wine and lay down to sleep. The next day, Lu Changsheng got up, had a simple breakfast, and then went to find Lu Miaoge to head to the talisman shop together. On the way, he encountered Lu Miaohuan again. However, she did not greet him warmly. Initially, she had been chatting with her sister Lu Miaoge, but upon seeing him approach, she responded with a cold huff and a look of disdain. “Huan’s temperament is just like that, she doesn’t really mean any harm, so don’t take it to heart,” Lu Miaoge said apologetically. Last night, Lu Miaohuan had come to ask her why Lu Changsheng had come to Jiulong Market. Lu Miaoge did not hide anything and told her sister about the Fourth Elder’s plan to hand over the talisman shop to Lu Changsheng. After hearing this, Lu Miaohuan had some harsh words about Lu Changsheng, questioning his ability to manage the shop and doubting his competence. However, knowing her sister’s temperament well, Lu Miaoge recognized that the more critical her sister was, the more it showed how much she cared about Lu Changsheng. If Lu Miaohuan truly didn’t care about Lu Changsheng, she wouldn’t have reacted this way. Her heightened attention and response revealed an underlying, delicate, and potentially dangerous emotional attachment to Lu Changsheng. But Lu Miaoge wasn’t sure how to talk to her sister about the matter. Lu Miaohuan didn’t appreciate being lectured and could even react negatively to advice. “No problem at all. Second Miss has a straightforward personality, so I wouldn’t be bothered by it,” Lu Changsheng shook his head. “Besides, I know the situation is partly my fault.” He didn’t take Lu Miaohuan’s attitude too personally. During their arranged meeting, he had sweet-talked her quite a bit, making numerous promises. Then, after she agreed, he turned her down, which would upset anyone—especially someone as proud as Lu Miaohuan. Moreover, Lu Changsheng admitted that he might have a slight preference for beauty. Lu Changsheng had always been more lenient toward attractive women, so he was willing to overlook minor issues. The two continued chatting while heading towards the talisman shop. When they arrived at the shop’s entrance, Lu Changsheng mentioned to Lu Miaoge that he wanted to explore the market a bit. Hearing this, Lu Miaoge fell silent for a moment before advising, “Try not to spend too much time with Miaocheng. Don’t follow him to any disreputable places.” Lu Changsheng was taken aback by this statement and couldn’t help but wonder, “Just how bad is Chengge’s reputation?” Yesterday, he had just spoken to Miaocheng, and now Lu Miaoge immediately assumed he was going to follow him to indulge in questionable activities. It gave Lu Changsheng the uncomfortable feeling of being caught in a compromising situation. “Sister Miaoge, Chengge invited me to ‘read books and drink tea’ yesterday, and I turned him down outright,” Lu Changsheng explained. “I’m just planning to take a walk, maybe visit the southwest street to check out the market.” “Alright, I’ll be here at the shop. You can go,” Lu Miaoge nodded in understanding. “You could ask Li Shi or Wang Wu to guide you; they know the market well.” Lu Changsheng waved his hand dismissively, declining the offer. “No need. I’ll just wander around on my own.” He clearly remembered the way Li Shi and Wang Wu had looked at him yesterday and didn’t want to cause any distractions. “Fine, just make sure you’re back before dark. Do you have a communication talisman? If you get lost, you can contact me,” Lu Miaoge advised gently, as if speaking to a child. Lu Changsheng noted her nurturing tone, feeling as if she was treating him like a kid just starting out in life. “Don’t worry, Sister Miaoge. I’ll be fine,” He reassured her with a smile, sensing that she saw him more as a younger brother. Despite the kind intentions, he found it amusing and slightly troubling. As a father of thirty children, he was not used to being treated with such care. This brotherly dynamic might make it a bit challenging for him if he wanted to develop a romantic relationship with Lu Miaoge in the future.