“Brother Jiu, you must have saved up quite a few Spirit Stones by now, right? Do you want me to help you buy a second-hand Storage Bag?” Li Xinyue asked.
During this period, she had often followed Ye Fan hunting in the mountains, and her connections had broadened considerably. She had even been to the real cultivation world markets several times.
“As for Storage Bags, I still can’t afford them. If you have time, help me buy a few bottles of Meridian-Opening Pills, and also get me a few more Lightning Bolt Talismans.”
Ever since that time he was almost killed, he had become much more cautious. Now he slept during the day and cultivated at night. He had saved up three Lightning Bolt Talismans on his person, and also had three Fireball Talismans. But even so, he still didn’t feel very safe.
“I still have a few Lightning Bolt Talismans on me. If you want them, I can sell you two. But Lightning Bolt Talismans are really not cheap; they sell for three Spirit Stones each even in the mountains. As for Meridian-Opening Pills, they’re cheaper. Five Spirit Stones can buy two bottles. If you need them, I’ll bring them for you the next time I go to the market.”
“Then I’ll thank you in advance.”
Mu Jiuxiao cupped his hands towards her in thanks and took out Spirit Stones to exchange for the talismans with her.
“It’s just a small matter, no need to thank me.” She took the Spirit Stones and looked at Li Shuo and Ye Fan. “Brother, Brother Ye Fan, do you have anything else to tell Brother Jiu?”
“No, Little Jiu is very cautious now. We have nothing to tell him.”
“Let’s go back.”
The three stood up, bid farewell, and left. After they left, Mu Jiuxiao looked at their teacups. Besides Li Xinyue having touched his tea, Li Shuo and Ye Fan had not drunk his tea.
In fact, Li Shuo and Ye Fan were a hundred times more cautious than him. Not only did they accompany Li Xinyue every time she came to buy talismans, but they had never drunk his tea.
At first, he thought they were just not thirsty, but when they didn’t drink every single time, he understood somewhat.
In the cultivation world, they seemed harmonious on the surface, seemed to be good friends, but there was not a single person worthy of one hundred percent trust.
He would not one hundred percent trust them.
Similarly, they would not one hundred percent trust him either.
After putting away the things, Mu Jiuxiao sat down to draw talismans. He drew five talismans in one go, showing no sign of exertion. Now the Spiritual Qi in his Dantian was much more abundant, almost overflowing.
As long as the Spiritual Qi in the Dantian was completely filled, and then condensed to one-tenth of its original volume, he would enter the second layer of Qi Refining. At his current speed, it would take about half a month.
It must be said that Ye Fan and the others had really helped him a lot. If they hadn’t consistently come to buy talismans from him, he definitely wouldn’t have obtained so many cultivation resources.
It turned out that, like Li Xinyue and the others, he had also bought a Storage Bag. But this Storage Bag was a defective product because its internal space was very small, not even one cubic meter, only about one-fourth of that. The things it could hold, an ordinary person could carry away on a shoulder pole.
Because its space was too small, it had ended up in the Ning’an market. He saw it and picked it up as a bargain.
To others, this Storage Bag was useless, not even as good as storage talismans. But for him, it was just right for holding some Pills, Spirit Stones, and talismans.
He kept Lightning Bolt Talismans and Fireball Talismans in his bosom, convenient for activating immediately when encountering danger. But as for Water Cloud Talismans, he had quite a few extras.
In the real cultivation world markets, this kind of low-end talisman paper was much cheaper than in the Ning’an market. So now he had Ye Fan and the others help him purchase talisman paper and talisman ink.
But this way, Ye Fan and the others would know how much talisman paper they gave him. To hide his true skill, he generally kept his success rate around fifty percent.
The remaining talismans were all stored in his own Storage Bag.
When next spring came and all the tenant farmers needed Water Cloud Talismans, he would find an opportunity to secretly sell some, definitely making a big profit.
It was snowing, and everyone was busy hunting. But Mu Jiuxiao’s life was still so simple. However, he didn’t find it boring; instead, he enjoyed it thoroughly.
He didn’t like conflict. He didn’t envy others’ magnificent and eventful lives. He liked living such a simple life. The more ordinary, the better. It was best if nothing ever came looking for him, letting him cultivate peacefully forever, quietly improving.
…
“Knock, knock, knock!”
Early morning, a knocking sound woke Mu Jiuxiao from his sleep. He sat up from the bed. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Nie Tan.”
An old man’s voice sounded from outside the door.
Mu Jiuxiao walked over somewhat puzzled and opened the door. “Uncle Nie, why have you come so early in the morning?”
Nie Tan stood at the door, glanced inside, and indeed saw the spirit beast meat Mu Jiuxiao had placed in the corner. His eyes showed delight, but his expression became even more reserved. “Little Jiu, Uncle Nie came this time because there’s something I need your help with.”
“What is it?”
Mu Jiuxiao stood at the door, eyes filled with vigilance.
“Good nephew, I heard you have a good relationship with the Li siblings. Could you put in a few good words and have them sell me two jin of spirit beast meat?” Nie Tan pleaded.
“Uncle Nie, for such a small matter, why do you need to come to me? Li Shuo isn’t that petty-minded. As long as you go to him, if he has it, he’ll definitely sell it to you,” Mu Jiuxiao said.
“I’ve been there, but they said they’ve already sold all their spirit beast meat.”
“Then I can’t help it.”
Mu Jiuxiao said this and was about to close the door, but Nie Tan reached out and blocked the door. “Good nephew, you have a good relationship with the Li siblings. They must have sold you some spirit beast meat, right?”
“So what if they gave me some?”
Mu Jiuxiao’s look at him already showed some unfriendliness.
“Good nephew, sell two jin to your Uncle Nie. Your Brother Niefeng really wants to taste it.”
Nie Tan’s words were like coaxing a child, making Mu Jiuxiao find it laughable. Did he think he was still that child who could be easily fooled by him?
“Fine, bring the Spirit Stones over, and I can sell you two jin.”
“Good nephew, Uncle Nie is short on money right now. Let me owe it first. When we harvest the rice next year, I’ll definitely pay you back!”
Nie Tan lowered his head, appearing very humble. He was always like this, putting on a great act of begging. If you didn’t agree, you became the wicked villain.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Nie, I’m short on money too!”
Mu Jiuxiao directly refused him and reached out to close the door!
He knew Nie Tan well. Saying he’d owe it, in reality, by next year, his eyes wouldn’t remember the word “repay” anymore.
“Mu Jiuxiao, are you sure you won’t lend it to your Uncle Nie?”
Nie Tan reached out again, blocking the door. In that instant, his eyes were as fierce as a wolf’s. But upon closer look, he was still that pitiful appearance.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Nie!”
Mu Jiuxiao closed the door. At the moment the door shut, Nie Tan’s honest appearance finally disappeared. He raised his hand, looking at the dilapidated wooden door in front of him, wishing he could smash it with one palm!
But in the end, he still retracted his hand, lowered his head, hunched his body, and left. A few strands of white hair fluttered in the cold wind, looking extremely pitiful. Only his lowered eyes were like they had been dipped in poison.
Little Jiu, Uncle gave you a chance, but you didn’t cherish it. Don’t blame Uncle for being ruthless!