The journey to find the demon is fraught with difficulties, part 2.
Neither Xuan Ye nor Huai Wen told either of them what happened that night.
After sunrise, Jiang Liyan, having had a good sleep, met Huaiwen downstairs and cheerfully asked where he had been. He had assumed Huaiwen was following him. Huaiwen laughed and said he had gone to admire the moon.
Jiang Liyan asked the waiter for two baskets of steamed buns and casually asked Huaiwen when he was going to buy weapons.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Cang Lun asked Jiang Liyan as they came downstairs. "What if you end up choosing someone who isn't right for you?"
Huaiwen thanked Canglun but declined his offer. Canglun thought Huaiwen didn't trust him: "What, you don't believe me? I'm the Immortal of the Lan Dao! I've cultivated for more years than several of you have lived."
Huaiwen stammered, "That's not what I meant, Immortal Master..."
"So what do you mean?"
Huaiwen's face flushed red, and he said bitterly, "It's not that I don't trust you, but the weapon you chose, Daoist Master, must cost a lot of money. You know I don't have any money on me right now."
In an instant, everyone fell silent.
After a long pause, Canglun sighed with pity, "Your transvestite institute has truly fallen into ruin."
Immediately, Cang Lun thought of something and looked at Huai Wen: "Don't look at me, Daoist, I don't have any money either."
Now that things have come to this, Huaiwen's most urgent task is to make some money.
Jiang Liyan suggested that Huaiwen go to Xuanye to borrow some money, but Huaiwen remembered that she had knocked on Xuanye's door earlier, but there was no response, so he was probably not there. Besides, after what happened last night, she felt that Xuanye also needed some time to think things through.
After all, whatever happens to her will affect Xuan Ye himself. Right now, Xuan Ye is probably thinking about how to get rid of the curse shackles on her.
After giving up on borrowing money from Xuan Ye, she and Jiang Liyan left the inn.
The two decided to return to their old business, but after setting up their stall for a long time, no one came. As they racked their brains for a solution, a voice came from above them.
"Didn't your master teach you anything about doing business?"
Hearing the voices, the two looked up and saw that the person was Xuan Ye.
Jiang Liyan immediately turned around and repeated Xuan Ye's words: "That's right, why doesn't your master teach you some skills so you can make a living?"
Huaiwen gave an awkward smile; her master was even less adept at making a living than she was. The fact that the transvestite community was able to survive mainly depended on her.
“If you want to do business, then do what others can’t do, but you can do,” Xuan Ye said calmly. “Now think about it carefully. What do you have here that others don’t, and what can be sold here?”
Huaiwen began to think, recalling the shops and pedestrians she had encountered along the way. Just then, some people passed by, discussing what weapons they wanted to buy. A flash of inspiration struck Huaiwen; she abruptly stood up—she knew what to do!
Two days later, on the main street of Xicuo.
With a loud gong bang, Jiang Liyan shouted as a group of people arrived: "Don't miss this weapon selection event! Those who don't know how to choose a weapon are in luck! Today, the Transvestite Association has graced us with their presence to solve your problems!"
Sure enough, customers arrived soon after. Curious, everyone asked Jiang Liyan what he was selling.
Jiang Liyan enthusiastically promoted the idea: "I suppose most of you have come here to find your own weapon. You must know that we cultivators, at a certain stage, must choose a weapon that suits us. This is for self-defense and to improve our immortal techniques. But many people act blindly and choose randomly, which leads to them not being able to attain immortality even after cultivating for hundreds or thousands of years."
Upon hearing this, someone asked, "So, you know how to choose?"
Jiang Liyan struck a gong, waved his hand, and pointed at Huaiwen: "He can."
After two wisps of smoke passed, Huaiwen walked out calmly. Upon seeing her, everyone noticed her ethereal beauty and dignified bearing; she was quite a sight. They immediately pressed her for her skills, asking her to demonstrate a few techniques.
Huaiwen smiled and said, "Then, esteemed guests, please take a good look."
"Hey! Everyone, open your eyes wide and watch carefully!" Jiang Liyan shouted.
"Are there any chivalrous knights, Taoist priests, demon immortals, or other immortals who would like to give it a try?" Huaiwen asked the crowd.
The crowd hesitated and didn't step forward. Huaiwen added, "It's just a try. If it doesn't work, I won't charge you. There are so many people watching, I won't renege on my promise."
Upon hearing this, the onlookers and demons figured that since it was free anyway, they might as well have some fun. After all, new and interesting things appeared here from time to time, so joining in the excitement wouldn't be bad. So the crowd started jeering and pushing each other.
After a while, a rabbit spirit, having mustered up her courage, stepped forward. She clenched her fist and asked Huaiwen with clear eyes if he really wouldn't allow it for free. Huaiwen nodded in agreement.
After whispering with the demon beside her for a while, the rabbit spirit told Huaiwen that she wanted to give it a try.
Huaiwen reassured him, "You don't need to worry. I come from the Transgender Affairs Bureau, and I keep my word."
The rabbit spirit's tense and cautious expression eased somewhat. Huaiwen then whispered to her, "Please trust me."
Perhaps it was because Huaiwen spoke so gently that the rabbit spirit relaxed considerably. Seeing this, Huaiwen gestured to the rabbit spirit and said gently, "Then please do me a favor and inject a wisp of your magic power here."
The rabbit spirit pointed at the object in front of it and asked, "What kind of magical artifact is this?"
Huaiwen proudly replied, "I call it the Rising Jade Plate."
The Ascending Jade Plate resembles an octagonal disc with a central fulcrum. This fulcrum is then divided into sixteen branches, each representing a different cultivation method, and each branch is accompanied by a corresponding symbol.
When magic is injected into the central fulcrum, all sixteen fulcrums will be lit up. Then, the sixteen branches will gradually dim until only one branch remains.
Upon seeing the single branch and symbol light up, the rabbit spirit asked Huaiwen what it meant.
Huaiwen then explained, "This symbol signifies sinking. The Bingzi and Dingchou years represent the water flowing down the stream. This means you cultivate the method of ultimate softness, so the weapon you choose should ideally be adaptable and flexible, using softness to overcome hardness. Among the many magical artifacts, the one that possesses the quality of 'softness' is the Iron Rope..."
The rabbit spirit exclaimed in surprise and quickly shouted, "Then I'll go to the blacksmith's shop and buy a steel rope!"
Huaiwen grabbed her arm: "Wait. The iron rope is just one type of weapon that uses softness to overcome hardness; it doesn't mean you have to buy this weapon."
"Then what should I choose?" The rabbit spirit looked at Huaiwen with wide, round eyes.
Huaiwen glanced at the rabbit spirit, then at the crowd around her, and smiled, "How about I check it for you again?"
The rabbit nodded obediently.
"Whoosh—" Huaiwen waved his hand and conjured a white talisman. In one swift motion, the talisman was created. He then threw the white talisman into the Jade Ascension Plate, where it was swallowed by the spell. The spell merged with the rabbit spirit's magic, and instantly the white talisman that had been swallowed reappeared in the center of the Jade Ascension Plate, and the original incantation transformed into words.
Huaiwen took the talisman and handed it to the rabbit spirit.
The rabbit spirit held the white talisman and read aloud: "Curved Axe."
“That’s right. You cultivate the wood element, which uses softness to overcome hardness, but your nature is too gentle and your strength is insufficient. This curved axe blade is sharp and full of power, which can make up for your strength.” Huaiwen explained patiently, “Why don’t you go to the blacksmith’s shop and buy a curved axe to try it out? If it doesn’t suit you, I will refund you the money you paid for it. If you feel that it is very suitable for you, I hope you will come and tell everyone.”
The rabbit spirit nodded and ran to the blacksmith's shop to buy a curved axe.
Huai Wenshun looked in the direction of the rabbit spirit and saw Xuan Ye, Cang Lun, and Shi Yulu standing in the crowd.
Cang Lun and Shi Yulu came here not hoping that she could earn a lot of money, but to see what she, as a member of the transvestite community, could do.
Looking back hundreds of years, Canglun and Shi Yulu had also seen the splendor of the place where the demons lived. Now, seeing such a scene again, they couldn't help but feel saddened by the sight.
If a seemingly clumsy apprentice could make this jade plate within two days, then she cannot be called clumsy.
These three seemingly ordinary cultivators were actually far from simple. Just as Cang Lun had said before, the one in white was unfathomable, and the one in black was not simple at all. The two of them couldn't help but doubt their true identities.
"You're not lying to me, this really works."
The crowd looked towards the sound and saw the rabbit spirit running back, panting. He held a curved axe in his hand and shouted excitedly, "It was just as I expected! This curved axe is perfect for me!"
Jiang Liyan started beating the drums again, preparing for a big publicity spree. But soon, some people questioned whether the rabbit spirit was a plant hired by Huaiwen.
The rabbit spirit looked at the crowd, feeling anxious: "I'm not one of their shills."
"I've been searching for a suitable weapon for a very long time..."
Amidst the persistent doubts, Huaiwen first patted the rabbit spirit on the shoulder to calm her down. Then, Huaiwen addressed the crowd, head held high, and said, "Whether it's suitable for her or not, you and I can't say for sure. Wouldn't it be better to give it a try?"
The crowd whispered among themselves and nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, the rabbit spirit asked Huaiwen what to do.
Huaiwen gestured for her to wait, then took out four white talismans. Her eyes gleamed as she recited a spell. The four talismans, centered on the jade disc, dispersed at the four corners, converging to form a small protective barrier. She then conjured two leaves.
After Huaiwen placed the two objects in the air, he turned to the rabbit spirit and told her not to use the curved axe but to use it to cast a spell to make the leaves ripple.
The rabbit spirit nodded and did as instructed, while the others watched curiously. When the rabbit spirit cast her spell without a weapon, the leaves rippled lightly. But when she struck the leaves with her curved axe, she found that the leaves also remained light and airy.
Just as everyone was praising Huaiwen, the leaf suddenly retreated nearly two meters and split into two halves in mid-air.
The barrier itself was shaken by this force.
The crowd gasped in surprise, stunned for a moment, before bursting into applause. Praises quickly swelled towards Huaiwen, and then the crowd surged forward, shouting that they too wanted to try out which weapon suited them best.
Seeing this, Jiang Liyan quickly struck the gong and drum, shouting for everyone to line up and come one by one...
As the crowd surged forward, space gradually opened up around Xuan Ye. He glanced at the people and demons surrounding Huai Wen, then at Cang Lun and Shi Yulu. Seeing that Huai Wen's business was thriving, they decided not to join the fun and left first.
Xuan Ye's eyes darkened, and he stared intently at the busy Huai Wen, his breathing suddenly quickening.
He should have done it sooner, but he didn't believe it at first. Fortunately, it's not too late now.
After a while, Xuan Ye heard Jiang Liyan and Huai Wen arguing. Upon closer listening, he realized that there were too many people, and Jiang Liyan couldn't keep up with the money, making a complete mess of it.
As fate would have it, Huaiwen and Xuanye locked eyes at that very moment, the latter's intentions already quite clear. Xuanye nodded in response, a smile on his face, and strode towards Huaiwen.
After a long day, the three of them returned to the inn exhausted.
Canglun and Shi Yulu were very thoughtful, preparing meals for them in advance. In a few words, Canglun learned that Huaiwen and his group had earned thirty taels of silver. In another two or three days, they would not only have earned enough for weapons, but also enough for their travel expenses.
After swallowing his food, Jiang Liyan pressed the two men to tell him if they had come to see them.
Shi Yuluo and Cang Lun nodded in agreement. Jiang Liyan continued to press, "Since you've been here before, you know our business is booming. Would you like to come and help us out tomorrow?"
Shi Yuluo calmly retorted, "I'm afraid that won't work."
Why?
Cang Lun explained, "Although we didn't find any black clouds after entering Xicuo, we still carefully explored the surrounding area just in case."
Upon hearing this, Huaiwen felt a little flustered. She instinctively looked up and asked, "Did you find anything?"
Shi Yulu put down her chopsticks: "Not for now."
After taking a bite of food, Canglun rolled his eyes and asked with a smile, "Since Huaiwen could use that jade plate to help others calculate which weapon would be suitable for them, has she calculated it herself?"
Huaiwen laughed: "My master predicted it for me long ago. My weapon is a sword."
"Then how come you can't find a sword that suits you?"
Huaiwen shook her head; she didn't know either, and she couldn't answer the question.
The topic of weapons came to an abrupt end there, and everyone returned to their rooms after the meal.
The moment Huaiwen's door closed, she turned around and was met with Xuan Ye's exquisite face. Startled, she clutched her chest and leaned back, saying, "What are you doing? You appeared out of nowhere."
Xuan Ye didn't care about these things; he had something more important to say: "Tonight at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), I will take you somewhere."
"What?"
See you tonight.
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