Xi Mufu had no idea what was happening in the other world, nor did she know that the little note she had slipped into the incense money had given the players the greatest encouragement. At the time, she had only acted on a whim, writing a note and putting it in the incense money, never imagining that interdimensional visitors would also celebrate the New Year. She had simply wanted to give them some blessings in her own way.
Now, she was attempting to draw an exorcism talisman—and it worked on the first try!
Shanqu Guan picked up the talisman paper and examined it. “The golden light flows beautifully. It’s even more powerful than the protective talisman you drew before.” He said with a tinge of melancholy, “Your talent is terrifying. Fortunately, I’m over fifty and no longer competitive—otherwise, my Dao heart might not remain stable.”
Xi Mufu finished the talisman. Perhaps due to overusing her accumulated merit, she felt even sleepier, yet deliberately smiled and said, “I’m just… ordinary.”
Shanqu Guan: “…Go to sleep now!”
Xi Mufu laughed heartily.
Ji Jiu, standing nearby, also curved the corners of his lips.
After laughing, drowsiness hit Xi Mufu hard. She could no longer resist and, half dazed, began walking toward her room. “I’ll go rest for a bit.”
Halfway there, her body wobbled, as if she might collapse at any moment.
Ji Jiu stepped forward, supporting her and escorting her inside.
Of course, Shanqu Guan couldn’t follow, but the Special Administration Bureau had assigned a female cultivator to watch over Xi Mufu, who usually stayed in the backyard wing. He immediately summoned her so she could monitor Xi Mufu and report any abnormalities.
·
Xi Mufu slept for over ten hours. When she woke the next day, her stomach growled fiercely—she almost fainted from hunger.
Fortunately, Ji Jiu had already prepared food. As soon as she woke, someone brought it to her.
After finishing two bowls of porridge, Xi Mufu finally felt fully awake.
She washed up and stepped out, only to find that the two elders had returned to the incense shop, the farm professors were all present, and the courtyard was bustling.
“Little Fu, Happy New Year!” the two elders greeted her cheerfully, presenting red envelopes they had prepared in advance. “It’s just a little token; you must accept it.”
With the elders insisting, Xi Mufu couldn’t refuse.
“I just checked—18,888. That’s an auspicious number,” Shanqu Guan said with a grin.
Elder Zhang San, still cheerful, added: “When giving red envelopes, you have to pick a lucky number. I heard young people use 520 or 1314 during holidays.”
He wasn’t old-fashioned; he watched short videos frequently and knew a lot about young people’s habits.
Ji Jiu paused slightly. Previously, his New Year gift to Xi Mufu had been a 100-gram gold bar, and he hadn’t considered whether the number was auspicious.
Xi Mufu didn’t notice Ji Jiu’s expression. She curiously asked the two elders, “Why did you return to Jingning Town so early?”
It was only the fourth day of the New Year. She remembered the elders had said they would return after the Lantern Festival.
“We made a new discovery, so we came back early,” Elder Zhang San of Longhu Mountain explained with a smile.
Elder Ge Wu of Maoshan nodded. “Jingning Town is peaceful.”
Returning to their sects, besides discussing matters with peers, they also had to respond to juniors’ inquiries, making this New Year very busy.
“I think you two just want to slack off like me,” Shanqu Guan teased mercilessly.
Zhang San shot him a look. “We have serious business.”
—Earlier, he and Elder Ge Wu had volunteered as experimental subjects for the professors, testing the effects of rice. After only a couple of days back at their sect, they discovered they had breakthroughs.
They hurried back to report their findings to the professors.
Xi Mufu asked, “A cultivation breakthrough?”
Elder Zhang San’s eyes gleamed with joy. “Yes. My cultivation had stagnated for twenty years, and now I’ve broken through.”
In the Age of the End, spiritual energy was scarce. Breaking through a single cultivation level was difficult; some people spent decades stuck at the first level.
A breakthrough also meant a longer lifespan, so naturally he was elated.
Elder Ge Wu experienced something similar.
The professors discussed it too. “No wonder it improved the animals’ constitution. I assume the effect on ordinary humans is the same.”
Of course, whether for animals or humans, the rice had been processed into a porridge, diluted with water. This was necessary because ordinary people couldn’t consume raw spiritually-charged food without risk of fatal consequences. Only cultivators like Zhang San or Ge Wu could consume the rice directly.
“Little Fu, your farming skills are remarkable,” Elder Zhang San said solemnly. “Would you be willing to sell some to us?”
Everything Xi Mufu grew was highly valuable. They clearly placed great importance on it, and she wasn’t necessarily expected to sell. But if she wished to, the sect wanted to buy some officially—whether rice or other foods—which would aid cultivation. Other sects would likely compete for it once they knew.
Elder Ge Wu immediately expressed his interest too.
Xi Mufu: “…”
In recent days, she had planted lingzhi mushrooms, ginseng, and soybeans. The mushrooms and ginseng were for interdimensional visitors, the soybeans intended to help the country with import issues. She hadn’t thought about selling them.
She looked at Ji Jiu.
Ji Jiu said, “We agreed before that you can manage your farm’s output yourself. If the higher-ups want to buy, they will pay.”
Of course, the priority was to sell items to the state first.
Xi Mufu quickly waved her hand. “I don’t want the money.”
The state had already given her so much. She now had gold bars, savings, and, being a person of little desire, she didn’t need more money. She wanted to contribute these things to the state for free.
Ji Jiu didn’t comment, but any due payment would still be made. Whether she sold to Zhang San and Ge Wu was entirely her choice.
Xi Mufu thought for a moment and told the elders, “Can it wait a while?”
All the produce was currently being used for research, with none left to sell. Perhaps once her farming skills improved, she could grow more.
Elder Zhang San: “Of course. No rush—we can wait.”
·
As everyone chatted, someone suddenly shouted outside: “Little Fu, my child seems possessed! Please come and help!”
Xi Mufu recognized Sister Sun from the Front Street snack shop and quickly hurried out.
Sister Sun was holding her ten-year-old son at the door. Upon seeing Xi Mufu, she said anxiously, “Little Fu, please help exorcise my son!”
“Little Fu, don’t listen to my mom. I’m not possessed,” the boy said clearly. He didn’t seem to be in any distress.
Xi Mufu frowned in doubt.
“There’s definitely something wrong!” Sister Sun insisted. “He usually hates homework and only does his winter assignments on the last day. But these past few days, he’s been up at seven in the morning and working until nine at night, only taking breaks to eat. After finishing his homework, he even went to the bookstore to buy more practice books… He must be possessed by some dirty spirit! There’s no way he would love studying this much!”
Xi Mufu: ???