Chapter 16
Mr. Xu took the money bag and smiled broadly at Chen Jing: "Welcome to come again next time."
He then turned to Wen Wan and said, "Fellow Daoist, if you need this broken copper... or this immortal sword, please pay for it. It's a small business, so we don't offer credit."
Mr. Xu was relatively polite to Wen Wan; at least she offered ten high-level talismans right off the bat. Although it didn't seem real, what if it was?
If you can miss out on something valuable, how much more so can you miss out on a person?
He understood the principle that doing business requires being polite and agreeable. Although he was greedy and snobbish, he never offended anyone.
This is one of the reasons why Wanbaozhai, from its founding to the Huashan School, still bears the surname Xu.
"Will you trade ten high-level talismans? If you will, I'll take them; if not, I don't want them. I don't have any spirit stones." Wen Wan was aware that she was short of money, but her tone was neither humble nor arrogant.
If it works, we'll exchange it; if not, we can always come back when we've saved up enough spirit stones. This broken sword probably won't be of any interest to anyone anyway. If it's really bought, it just means she and this broken sword aren't meant to be.
She wanted to buy it for two reasons. First, this piece of scrap iron had burned a high-level purification talisman in her possession, so she wanted to know its true value. Second, this piece of scrap iron did indeed have some special features.
Humans are naturally curious.
"Tsk, you? Ten high-level talismans?" Shen Jing looked at her with a mocking expression: "It's embarrassing enough to not have spirit stones to buy things, let alone tell such a big lie. You know that Wanbaozhai doesn't barter. But if Boss Xu really agrees to trade with you for high-level talismans later, you still won't be able to come up with a single one."
Chen Jing deliberately spoke loudly to attract a crowd and watch Wen Wan embarrass herself.
Wenwan remained silent.
How did this person become so certain that she couldn't produce the talisman? Was it because she was dressed like a beggar or because she looked like a beggar?
"Junior sister, it's you?"
A man stepped forward and greeted Wen Wan. Upon closer inspection, Wen Wan realized that this was none other than the Hanlin Academy student from the fifth floor of the Hidden Gold Pavilion.
"Senior brother, it's been a long time," Wen Wan replied politely.
"My name is Luo Zifan. May I ask how you address my junior sister?" Luo Zifan's every move exuded the fragrance of books and ink, befitting the gatekeeper of the Scripture Pavilion.
"Just call me Wen Wan." Wen Wan gave a brief self-introduction.
Before the two could exchange any further words, Shen Jing couldn't wait to step forward and interject, her expression slightly shy and timid: "Senior Brother Luo, do you still remember me?"
Only then did Luo Zifan notice her, and asked with a puzzled look, "Excuse me, who are you?"
Chen Jing wasn't embarrassed at all, and took the opportunity to introduce herself: "Senior Brother Luo, my name is Chen Jing. Last week, I couldn't find any books in the Treasure Pavilion, and you helped me find them. I haven't had a chance to thank you properly until now."
After saying that, she added somewhat embarrassedly, "Also, my ancestral home is Fucheng, Hejiang."
Luo Zifan then realized, "So we're from the same hometown. It's just a small matter, Junior Sister Shenjing, no need to be so polite. I'll help other senior brothers, sisters, and junior brothers and sisters if they can't find books. It's my duty, and I'm not just helping you."
*Pfft*
Wen Wan laughed after hearing this. This Luo Zifan is really something. Didn't you see how calm his face turned black? Hahaha.
Chen Jing forced a smile: "Senior Brother Luo, that's not what I meant..."
"Oh, what you mean is not important. There are plenty of things to help find books, so you don't need to worry about it." After saying that, Luo Zifan ignored her and turned to Wen Wan, saying, "Junior Sister Wen, have you encountered any difficulties? Do you need my help?"
Seeing this, Shen Jing was so angry that she gritted her teeth. Why did Senior Brother Luo ignore her and take the initiative to talk to Wen Wan?
Before Wen Wan could answer, she interrupted with feigned concern: "Senior Brother Luo, Junior Sister Wen wanted to buy a sword, so she picked out the cheapest one at Wanbaozhai. However, because she was short of money and couldn't afford it, she made a boastful statement to save face, saying that she would use ten high-level talismans to exchange for this broken... immortal sword with Boss Xu."
She looked at the sword Wen Wan had chosen with a troubled expression: "Senior Brother Luo, why don't you persuade Junior Sister Wen? Poverty doesn't diminish one's ambition. As a disciple of the Huashan Sect, even if she is an outer disciple, she shouldn't lie, even if she is inferior to us inner disciples."
"Also, the immortal sword that Junior Sister Wen chose doesn't seem to be of very good quality. It's not worth a mere 1,000 high-grade spirit stones. When choosing a sword, you should choose the best one to maximize its effectiveness."
After saying this, he belittled Wen Wan's status as an outer disciple and said she had bad character, while elevating his own status as an inner disciple. At the same time, he complained that Wen Wan couldn't even come up with 1,000 high-grade spirit stones, and that she had such poor taste, choosing such a piece of junk.
Luo Zifan took a closer look at the sword and observed it, but found nothing particularly special about it. However, that was not important: "Since Junior Sister Wen wants it, I will give this sword to you."
After saying that, he reached for the spirit stone.
Although Luo Zifan wasn't as wealthy as Shen Jing's family, who could casually produce thousands of high-grade spirit stones, the Luo family in Hejiang Fucheng was still considered a prominent family. Coupled with his decent cultivation, handsome appearance, and a job at the Hidden Gold Pavilion, many female cultivators secretly admired him. Unfortunately, he was oblivious to their feelings. For example, this was evident from their recent conversation; the young man was a bit too straightforward.
He could manage to come up with 1,000 high-grade spirit stones if he gritted his teeth.
Just because Wen Wan casually left him a high-grade spiritual fruit, he felt that Wen Wan was a friend he could make closer to.
Wenwan stopped him from reaching for his wallet and asked Mr. Xu, who had been listening for a long time, again, "Shall we exchange it?"
Boss Xu hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "As long as you can produce ten high-level talismans, I'll trade with you."
It's one thing that the sword is of poor quality, but Mr. Xu was already dissatisfied when he heard Shen Jing publicly belittle the products in his store.
She said that Wanbaozhai did not practice bartering, but she insisted on doing so, hoping that the person in front of her could actually produce ten high-level talismans. However, no matter what, she would not lose out.
Wen Wan nodded without changing her expression, pondering which ten talismans she would exchange for them. In everyone's eyes, it seemed that she couldn't produce any talismans and was trying to continue the lie.
Seeing this, Shen Jing smiled smugly: "Junior Sister Wen, Boss Xu has already agreed to exchange with you, so don't try to fool him by not having any talismans."
Just as Luo Zifan was about to help, Wen Wan slapped the table, revealing ten high-level talismans neatly arranged on the surface.
Mr. Xu quickly went forward to check the talisman.
One purification talisman, one teleportation talisman, three imprisonment talismans, three invisibility talismans, and two recovery talismans—all high-level talismans, all good items.
Purification talismans, in particular, can remove negative influences from oneself and one's surroundings. They require complete concentration when drawing and are difficult to draw, making them practical but rare talismans.
A high-level purification talisman starts at 500 high-level spirit stones. This broken sword is incredibly worthwhile to get these high-level talismans in return!
The disciples watching were also shocked to see that Wen Wan could take out ten high-level talismans.
"Wow, she really has that? You really can't judge a book by its cover. Ten high-level talismans! I've never seen so many high-level talismans at once before. This junior sister is really generous." The person speaking gave Wen Wan a thumbs up, with a "you're awesome" expression on their face.
"Trading ten high-level talismans for such a celestial sword seems a bit of a loss, doesn't it? This sword looks... rather unremarkable?"
"Forgive my poor eyesight, but I couldn't discern anything from this sword. Ten high-level talismans—Junior Sister, you've really suffered a bit of a loss," another person said.
"This sword is really not that great. I tried it last time and its power was not good either. I didn't expect that some sucker would spend ten high-level talismans to exchange for it. Tsk tsk tsk."
"It can't be fake, can it? How could a female disciple with no cultivation possibly have so many high-level talismans?" someone in the crowd questioned. But whether it was real or fake, a talisman cultivator could tell at a glance.
"What kind of talisman is that? Is it a purification talisman? A high-level purification talisman? Even my master has a hard time drawing a high-level purification talisman, how come she has one!?" The speaker was a talisman cultivator, looking shocked, and then shamelessly stepped forward to ask Boss Xu for a closer look.
Boss Xu carefully handed it to him, saying, "You'd better be careful not to break my talisman!"
The disciple cautiously accepted the talisman, examining it carefully as he commented, "The one who drew this talisman must be one of the best among talisman practitioners. The brushstrokes are vigorous and powerful, the momentum is overwhelming, and the talisman is created with a single, flowing stroke. Powerful! Absolutely amazing!"
Having seen the finished talismans of his predecessors, he found it very helpful for his talisman cultivation studies. Inspired, he felt he was good again. He returned the talisman to Boss Xu, thanked Boss Xu and Wen Wan respectfully, and then left in a hurry.
Luo Zifan was also shocked. He could tell that Wen Wan was very generous. A few days ago, she gave him a high-grade spiritual fruit for answering a few questions. Now, she could easily pull out ten high-grade talismans. This junior sister was really rich.
When Shen Jing saw that she had actually taken out the talisman, her face flushed, and she continued to stubbornly say, "Tsk, how stupid, exchanging ten high-level talismans for a piece of junk, it's laughable."
Wen Wan ignored her sarcasm and happily completed the transaction with Boss Xu. Boss Xu felt that he had gotten a great deal, so he casually took an item from the shelf and gave it to her as a free gift.
"Little girl, this Illusion Bell is a free gift for you. Although the bell is damaged and not very effective, it can still protect you in critical moments since you have no spiritual power."
After completing this deal, Mr. Xu was in a great mood and even changed how he addressed her.
Wen Wan took the bell, thanked the shopkeeper, and smiled at the jumping-up Chen Jing: "It's alright, I have plenty of talismans, I'm happy to exchange them for scrap metal."
"So what if you got it? You don't have any spiritual power. The fate of a piece of scrap metal is to be a piece of scrap metal for life with a useless master." Shen Jing looked down on her and proudly stroked her sword: "My Frostflower Sword is still more useful. Not only was it the most expensive sword in the shop back then, but it can also go through life and death with me."
"Junior Sister Shen, please don't go too far with your words." Luo Zifan angrily stood up for Wen Wan.
In the world of cultivation, who doesn't want to become stronger? But Chen Jing keeps pointing out Wen Wan's shortcomings. It's already painful enough that she doesn't have any cultivation, yet she keeps rubbing salt into her wounds.
However, Wen Wan was not angry. She calmly said to Shen Jing, "You are wrong. Choosing a sword is not about choosing the most expensive or the best, but about choosing the one that suits you best."
Wen Wan picked up her new weapon, and the blade emitted a humming sound as if in response to her...
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