Chi Yu handed the Spirit Talisman to him. “What kind of talisman is this?”
“A Fortune Talisman.”
Chi Yu was surprised. “There’s such a thing?”
This kind of talisman wasn’t available on the market.
Jiang Jiuming said, “I created it myself.”
That day, he had set up a stall, but no one showed any interest.
Seeing the neighboring stall selling lucky charms making a fortune, he followed the trend and created the Fortune Talisman. It wasn’t actually useful—just for good luck.
“For just one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, you can have it. Whether it’s wealth, your cultivation path, Secret Realms, or even marriage, everything will go smoothly.”
Cultivators were the most superstitious about fate and fortune. Over those few days, he drew dozens of Fortune Talismans, and they all sold out.
But because there were so many people, he couldn’t remember whether he had come into contact with Song Yingying’s sister.
Chi Yu asked Song Yingying for more information and even consulted the System. However, since these two sisters weren’t even considered cannon fodder in the original story, there was no data recorded, so she gained nothing.
She muttered quietly, “This case is a bit difficult. I’m even starting to feel reluctant to take it.”
Song Yingying suppressed her impatience and looked at Shen Yanzhou. “Fellow Daoist Shen, please do your utmost to find my sister.”
She took out a Storage Bag. “This is a deposit of six hundred Spirit Stones. If you succeed, I’ll pay you another thousand.”
Before Shen Yanzhou could speak, Chi Yu roughly pushed him aside.
She looked at Song Yingying, pocketed the Spirit Stones, and said solemnly, “Don’t worry, we will definitely find your sister.”
Shen Yanzhou: “…”
Didn’t you just say you didn’t want to take it?
Only then did Song Yingying feel reassured. “If you have any news, come find me at the Yuelai Inn.”
With that, she left.
Chi Yu happily counted the Spirit Stones.
Jiang Jiuming asked her, “Where do we start investigating?”
He also felt the task was too difficult.
But Chi Yu had taken the deposit, blinded by greed. If they failed to complete the task, she would never be able to take on another case again.
Chi Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Song Wan disappeared after visiting the trading market. Naturally, we should go there first.”
Jiang Jiuming said, “The trading market is so big. How do we investigate?”
Even if they checked every shop she visited, it would take days, right?
And they didn’t even know which shops Song Wan had been to.
Chi Yu looked at him disdainfully. “You, you… I’d say you’re smart, but you’re not. I’d say you’re dumb, and you really are quite dumb.”
Jiang Jiuming: “…”
He retorted, “Then what’s your brilliant idea?”
Chi Yu picked up the Fortune Talisman. “The Song sisters have never lacked for food or clothing, and they’re both beautiful. They’ve never faced any hardships, so logically, their lives should be happy and fortunate. Yet Song Wan still bought your Fortune Talisman. Why do you think that is?”
When people do something, they always have a reason.
Even staying up late playing games or reading brings them joy.
Jiang Jiuming blinked. “Because…”
“(′д｀) My talisman is well-drawn?”
Chi Yu: “→_→ More like because you’re out of your damn mind!”
Jiang Jiuming: “Then what do you think it is?”
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Shen Yanzhou speak from the side. “The Sect Selection.”
Chi Yu snapped her fingers. “Exactly, the Sect Selection.”
“Song Yingying said that she and her sister don’t have much talent for cultivation and aren’t very confident about the Sect Selection.”
When people can’t accomplish something on their own, they often place their hopes on external things.
For example, if you fail an exam, your family will pray to gods and worship Buddha.
If you can’t find a partner, you want to pray to Yue Lao.
If you’re poor, you want to kneel before the Wealth God and wear a luck bead.
This is all normal.
Similarly, Song Wan buying a luck bead to pass the sect selection is also reasonable.
“I don’t believe in these things, but Song Wan definitely does. She even bought your cheap talismans. Do you think she wouldn’t go to those shops in the trading area selling such auspicious items?”
There are scattered stalls in the trading area selling various auspicious items.
But there’s an East Street entirely filled with such shops.
Because the sect selection is approaching, many people go there every day.
Chi Yu: “Song Yingying wears a string of luck beads on her wrist. She just said Song Wan gave them to her when leaving the trading area. When they got separated, Song Wan likely went to East Street.”
Jiang Jiuming: “That makes sense.”
Chi Yu stood up: “Since it makes sense, let’s investigate along my direction first.”
She took Shen Yanzhou and Jiang Jiuming to East Street, where they saw various bells, incense pouches, jade plaques, luck beads, red ropes, etc.
Chi Yu took out Song Wan’s portrait and asked each vendor: “Have you seen this girl?”
Some shopkeepers demanded they buy something before answering questions.
As dusk approached.
After walking through this street, Chi Yu had acquired many cheap items, all bought just to ask questions.
And indeed, several shopkeepers had seen Song Wan.
“That girl bought our most expensive luck bead, then walked toward the street entrance after leaving. I didn’t notice anything else.”
Not far from East Street entrance was Jiang Jiuming’s stall.
Chi Yu calmly analyzed: “Song Wan probably left East Street, bought your spirit talisman, then was found by Song Yingying, and returned to the inn together.”
Those shops have been open for decades, and the owners show no abnormalities, so it likely wasn’t them.
Thus, the problem lies on the path from East Street entrance to Jiang Jiuming’s stall.
With a clue, Jiang Jiuming felt energized: “What should we do next?”
Chi Yu looked at the sinking sun: “Eat.”
Jiang Jiuming was stunned: “Ah? Maybe take some fasting pills and continue investigating, hurry to find her.”
Chi Yu remained expressionless: “But Zhouzhou says he’s starving, doesn’t want to investigate anymore, wants to eat braised pork, steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roasted duck, roasted young chicken, roasted goose…”
As she spoke, she sighed and turned to Shen Yanzhou: “Eat less, we have no money.”
Shen Yanzhou: “”
He hadn’t said a word.
System: “Host, take Shen Yanzhou to check his spine someday.”
Chi Yu: “”
System: “Carrying blame every day can easily cause deformity.”
Chi Yu ignored it, pulling Shen Yanzhou and Jiang Jiuming to go eat.
The sky was dark, and she accidentally bumped into someone.
She quickly helped her up.
“Sorry, grandma, are you alright?”
The old woman didn’t mind, kindly looking at her: “Girl, want to buy a luck rope? It’s very effective.”
Chi Yu instinctively wanted to refuse, but seeing the old woman’s somewhat expectant eyes, her slightly shabby attire, and the red rope in her hand, she paused, then handed her a spirit stone, speaking kindly: “Then I’ll buy it. It’s getting late, you should go home early.”
The old woman naturally happy, gave her the luck rope, then slowly left.
Jiang Jiuming scratched his head: “Didn’t expect you to be quite compassionate.”
He remembered Chi Yu saying she didn’t believe in such things, assuming she was just supporting the elderly vendor’s business.
Chi Yu held the luck rope, pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly and said: “Bro, this is for you.”
Jiang Jiuming was surprised: “Really?”
She nodded: “Of course.”
As she spoke, she fashioned the luck rope into a wristband and solemnly handed it over: “From now on, you must wear it always. It’s proof of our deep brotherhood.”
Jiang Jiuming was deeply moved.
He carefully put on the wristband, treasuring it greatly.
Shen Yanzhou watched from the side, eyebrows slightly twitching.
Chi Yu only smiled this radiantly when it involved money.
Something wasn’t right.
But seeing Jiang Jiuming’s cheerful expression, he said nothing.
Since they didn’t have much money, the three of them pooled together for a meal of meat before returning to Yunshui Residence.
Nighttime.
Shen Yanzhou sat at the table when suddenly, the door was knocked.
He rose to open it and saw Chi Yu. Assuming a gentle demeanor, he asked: “What’s wrong?”
She gestured for silence, quietly entered, and slipped a Spirit Talisman into his hand: “Take this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s an Invisibility Talisman I bought at the trading market. It lasts for one hour.”
He was puzzled: “Why did you buy this?”
Chi Yu infused Spiritual Power into it: “Don’t ask so much now. Use it with me.”
Hearing this, Shen Yanzhou complied.
She led him outside, even circling around the inn attendant to confirm he truly couldn’t see them, then confidently headed toward the innermost chamber.
The night breeze was gentle.
Jiang Jiuming yawned, and the door suddenly blew open.
He muttered to himself: “Is the wind so strong tonight?”
He rose to close the windows and doors, extinguished the candlelight, then lay down to sleep.
Shen Yanzhou frowned, glancing at Chi Yu beside him.
Did she use the Invisibility Talisman just to watch Jiang Jiuming sleep?
He was about to ask her what she intended to do when suddenly, a “hissing” sound came from the bed.
The wristband on Jiang Jiuming’s arm continuously lengthened and widened, passing through his body and swiftly wrapping around him. In an instant, he was enveloped by the Red Rope.
Even so, he did not wake up.
Then, the Red Rope returned to its slender form, while Jiang Jiuming became extremely small, embedded within the knot of the rope.
At the same time, the door was pushed open a crack, and a mouse slipped in. It skillfully bit onto the Red Rope and exited through the door.
Shen Yanzhou froze, but Chi Yu quickly pulled him along, heading outward: “I knew there was something wrong. Hurry, follow it.”