The streets of capital city were prosperous and bustling. Everywhere one looked, there were green-tiled roofs and red walls. Shop signs and banners hung high from the protruding eaves, fluttering in the wind. The open spaces along both sides of the streets were also filled with vendors selling a dazzling array of goods, creating a lively and harmonious scene.
A red figure appeared on the street, her bearing cold yet flamboyant. Passersby all crouched down and cast sidelong glances at her.
The young woman in a red long dress and veiled hat walked into the medicinal materials shop. Once she was separated from view by the doors and windows, the pedestrians who had slowed to watch finally withdrew their gazes.
“Miss, may I ask what medicinal materials you need to purchase?” The shop assistant, who had been dozing inside, hurriedly straightened up and went forward to greet her.
The black veil of the veiled hat concealed the other person’s face completely. Having sold medicinal materials for many years, the shop assistant naturally understood that such people usually had impressive backgrounds and did not want others to know who they were.
A clear voice rang out. “Do you have talisman paper here?”
Talisman paper was generally made from bamboo that was rather difficult to find. Since bamboo was also a type of Medicinal Material, talisman paper could usually be purchased at a medicinal materials shop.
The shop assistant had assumed she had come to purchase medicinal materials, but he had not expected her to be buying talisman paper.
Could this mysterious person before him be a talisman master?
Someone who purchased medicinal materials was not necessarily an alchemist, but anyone who purchased talisman paper was certainly a talisman master! After all, no one would willingly buy useless waste paper.
“We do. Do you need low-grade talisman paper or advanced-stage talisman paper? Low-grade talisman paper costs one Spirit Stone for ten sheets, while advanced-stage talisman paper costs ten spirit stones per sheet.”
Feng Luan: “.....”
Feng Luan pondered for a moment.
Talisman paper was also divided into low-grade and advanced-grade varieties, corresponding to the spiritual power and spiritual power infused into it during its production.
Unfortunately, the original host’s purse did not support her purchasing advanced-stage talisman paper.
“Low-grade. Give me fifty sheets.” Feng Luan took out a somewhat faded but clean purse from her bosom and handed it over. Inside were exactly five spirit stones—the original host’s entire fortune.
The shop assistant was not the fawning type. He had seen countless important figures and had never judged people by their appearance. Nor would he look down on someone simply because they could only afford low-grade talisman paper.
After all, true experts always hid themselves most deeply.
Unfortunately, other people did not think that way.
Another shop assistant sat in a chair inside the shop, looking at Feng Luan with disdain. He then spoke to the other shop assistant in a sarcastic tone. “Li Er, you’re only fit to deal with this kind of trash.”
Hearing this, the shop assistant called Li Er showed faint anger on his face. “Zhang Cheng, watch your mouth. What business is it of yours?”
Zhang Cheng crossed his legs and rolled his eyes at Feng Luan.
“Li Er, you really are an idiot. Do you honestly think that wearing a veiled hat makes her a talisman master?”
Based on his many years of dealing with important figures, he judged that the red garments girl before him was certainly not from a wealthy family. This was evident from her coarse, shabby clothes and the purse sewn from burlap.
From the side, although her bearing was extraordinary, her delicate and slender wrist clearly showed that she was malnourished.
Feng Luan did not say a word.
She only wanted to purchase some talisman paper and did not want to create unnecessary trouble.
Besides, responding to such trash that looked down on people was beneath her dignity.
Li Er shouted, “Zhang Cheng, stop spouting nonsense.”
Zhang Cheng sneered lightly. “Which part of what I said was wrong? If you’re not a talisman master, don’t pretend to be one. Just like you, Li Er—you’ll only ever be a shop assistant at a medicinal materials shop for your entire life.”
The veins on Li Er’s forehead bulged. “You....”
He did not want to argue with Zhang Cheng. The grudges between them should not implicate anyone else.
Zhang Cheng rose carefree and irresponsible. His narrowed eyes held a contemptuous gaze as he looked at Li Er. When he was about to leave, he deliberately slammed into him.
Li Er gritted his teeth. “Zhang Cheng!”
Zhang Cheng was half a head taller than Li Er. He looked down at him, reached up to scratch his ear, and pretended not to see the flames in Li Er’s eyes. Then he cast a sidelong glance at the silent Feng Luan before him.
He mocked, “As expected, good-for-nothings always stick together....”
After saying that, he left the shop.
After the man had left, Li Er looked at Feng Luan apologetically. “I’m sorry, miss. I dragged you into being insulted as well. How about I give you ten more sheets of talisman paper?”
Feng Luan was unconcerned. “It’s fine.”
It was as though the person who had just been insulted had not been her.
Li Er cast her a grateful look. Zhang Cheng often made things difficult for him in the past, and even harassed customers who came to purchase medicinal materials from him, ultimately causing them to treat Li Er coldly.
He could only endure it in silence.
If Zhang Cheng had been worth her words, Feng Luan would certainly have retorted. Unfortunately, in her eyes, he was merely a clown making a scene, and she had more important matters to handle.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll go get the talisman paper.”
Feng Luan nodded. The black veil swayed lightly, and Li Er happened to glimpse half of the face beneath it—so beautiful that it took his breath away.
Li Er was somewhat dazed. He accidentally bumped into the corner of a table as he walked, a flush spreading across his face. He hurriedly lowered his eyes and went to fetch the talisman paper.
A short while later.
Li Er came out holding a stack of talisman paper and handed it to Feng Luan.
“There are sixty sheets in total. You may count them.”
Feng Luan accepted them and immediately placed them in her bosom. With a calm smile, she said, “There’s no need to count them. Thank you.” After saying that, she turned to leave.
As though remembering something, she stopped and asked, “May I ask, does your shop accept talismans?”
Li Er nodded. “We do. This is only one of our medicinal materials shops in the western part of the city. We are a branch of the Spirit Pavilion Auction. If you have talismans, you can bring them here for auction.”
Nowadays, talisman masters were gradually becoming fewer throughout the Void Spirit Continent, and there were even fewer of them in the Black Tortoise Kingdom.
Hearing this, Feng Luan understood.
After thanking Li Er, she walked away.
Outside the courtyard.
As soon as Feng Luan returned to the courtyard where she was staying, she caught the scent of an unfamiliar presence. It also seemed somewhat familiar, but she could not remember where she had encountered it for the moment.
She cautiously pushed open the courtyard gate, and a fluffy white figure crashed into view. The Silver Wolf that had fought her yesterday had actually appeared in the courtyard—and was even lying lazily by the entrance.
It seemed to have heard the sound of the gate opening.
The large head turned around. Upon seeing the red figure at the entrance, its green pupils locked onto her, and it pounced directly at her. Its snow-white fur was excessively long, floating somewhat gracefully through the air.
Feng Luan’s brows knitted tightly. Could this wolf have come to seek revenge?
Just as it was about to reach her, she swiftly dodged to the side and raised her leg, preparing to give it a roundhouse kick.
The Silver Wolf looked frightened and hurriedly stopped its pouncing body. The fierce beast actually revealed a pitiful expression, occasionally letting out a wronged little “awoo, awoo.”
It even rolled its enormous body over to expose its belly, while its two sharp claws made a cupping gesture.
Feng Luan: “.....”
Could this wolf have damaged its brain when she hurled it against the cage yesterday? Otherwise, why was it acting spoiled and fawning at her?
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