28: Neighbor

Green Bamboo Market.

"Fellow Daoist, please, to enter our Green Bamboo Market, you must pay one Spirit Stone."

At the main gate, two Cultivators were collecting 'entrance fees' from those entering the market.

The two Cultivators were at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, dressed in green robes embroidered with a green bamboo, indicating they belonged to the Green Bamboo Market.

The one speaking to Lu Ming was one of them, and his tone was quite polite.

Lu Ming frowned slightly; how could it be that returning home after a trip now required payment?

However, he realized the reason when he thought of his current appearance.

Lu Ming also didn't plan to use his market token; there was no need for others to know he had been out.

Anyway, he would have money soon, so it didn't matter!

Seeing him pay one Spirit Stone, the Cultivator became even more polite, pulling a green token from his Storage Pouch and handing it to Lu Ming.

"This is our Green Bamboo Market token. It allows you to stay in the market for twelve hours. If you exceed the time limit, you will be expelled by the market's Law Enforcement Team."

"Those with a fixed residence can stay in the market for a long time."

The market Cultivator didn't forget to remind him when handing over the token.

Lu Ming cupped his hands in thanks, hung the token on his waist, and stepped into the market.

"Perhaps I really should get a legal identity in the market."

His 'Wu Daoren' identity needed to be confirmed, even if the probability of suspicion falling on him was very small.

Thinking of 'Wu Daoren,' he wondered how Zhou Yang was doing after a month.

Before leaving, he had informed him that he would be away for a while and told Zhou Yang to amuse himself.

"Never mind, I'll ask him after I've sorted things out."

Lu Ming was not in the mood to bother with Zhou Yang right now; his mind was entirely focused on returning to open his treasure chests.

Yang Hong and Yu Xia had both frequented the black market for years, so he didn't know what good things they had in their pockets.

In this battle, the two of them had barely contributed, greatly preserving resources for Lu Ming.

Seeing that he was almost at the East District, Lu Ming first found a corner to change his appearance back and adjusted his cultivation to Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

However, upon arriving at Qingyu Alley, he heard a commotion inside. More than a dozen Cultivator figures surrounded a small courtyard.

"These two Fellow Daoists died too tragically; they must have fallen victim to demonic Cultivators!"

"These demonic Cultivators are just a bunch of worms who only hide in the shadows!"

"Hey, don't say that; be careful not to be targeted. Maybe that demonic Cultivator is among us!"

"......"

Many Cultivators cursed and grumbled.

Listening to the curses and discussions, and watching the Green Bamboo Market Law Enforcement Team carry two mummified corpses out of the small courtyard.

Lu Ming's eyelids twitched. Why did those mummified corpses look so familiar...?

And whoever that was, don't talk nonsense!

Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation!

I am an irreconcilable enemy of demonic Cultivators!

Lu Ming didn't look any further and turned to walk towards his own small courtyard.

Arriving at the entrance of his small courtyard, as he was about to enter, a man and a woman, who looked like a married couple, walked out of the adjacent small courtyard.

The man was burly, dark-skinned, and carried a basket on his back.

The woman, however, was more brightly dressed, with a curvaceous figure, intimately holding the man's arm.

Lu Ming looked at the two, his eyes subtly moving.

"Have the next-door neighbors changed?"

He remembered that an old, shriveled man used to live there, who seemed to also be a Talisman Master.

However, he was quite arrogant and would always look down on Lu Ming, never bothering to interact with him.

Gradually, Lu Ming also stopped interacting much with his neighbor; there was no need to offer a warm face to a cold shoulder.

It seemed that old man had moved away?

"I am Feng Ping, and this is my humble wife, Chen Yumei. We moved here recently. Is this young man our next-door neighbor?"

The two naturally noticed Lu Ming. The man spoke first, cupping his hands in greeting to Lu Ming.

Seeing Feng Ping's friendly attitude, Lu Ming did not respond coldly; he also cupped his hands in return.

"Lu Ming greets the two Fellow Daoists. I do indeed live here."

"That's truly a coincidence! Our two families should interact more in the future."

Feng Ping seemed very forthright, then took out a Spiritual Plant from the basket on his back.

"My wife and I are both herb gatherers. This is a small welcoming gift; I hope Fellow Daoist will not refuse!"

Lu Ming initially wanted to refuse, but seeing it was just a common Low Grade First-Tier Spiritual Plant, a Green Spirit Grass, which wasn't very valuable, he no longer declined.

However, he also took out a First-Tier Fire Crow Talisman as a return gift.

"So Fellow Daoist is a Talisman Master, my apologies for not knowing!"

Feng Ping's eyes lit up when he saw the Talisman, and he took it with a chuckle.

"It's just a minor Dao; I merely dabble in a small craft to earn a few Spirit Stones and barely make ends meet."

Lu Ming said with a troubled expression.

"It's not easy for any of us Cultivators. Either we painstakingly refine our skills, or we venture into the mountains to risk our lives, like my wife and I."

Feng Ping nodded, empathizing with Lu Ming's words, but he didn't take them entirely seriously.

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, whether it's Alchemy or Talismans, both are extremely resource-intensive.

However, this only applies to Cultivators whose skills are not refined. Looking at the Talisman his neighbor gave him, his skill clearly reached Major Achievement. Feng Ping didn't believe he was just making ends meet.

Just as Feng Ping was about to say something, Chen Yumei, the beautiful woman beside him, suddenly spoke.

"By the way, a spiritual mine was discovered outside the market. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Lu would be interested in going to see it together?"

This sudden invitation immediately made Lu Ming vigilant.

Is this person sick?

We just met once; am I familiar with you?

Lu Ming politely declined: "My strength is insufficient, so I won't hold the two Fellow Daoists back. I wish you both a fruitful harvest."

Feng Ping glared at Chen Yumei, then let out two dry laughs and apologized to Lu Ming.

"My humble wife was being presumptuous. I apologize to Fellow Daoist."

"No worries, no worries..."

The atmosphere between the three then became a bit stiff due to this sudden invitation.

Afterward, the few of them didn't chat much more. After exchanging pleasantries, Feng Ping left with Chen Yumei.

Watching Feng Ping and Chen Yumei's retreating figures, Lu Ming's gaze gradually deepened.

...

"You invite him on your first meeting? Do you think others are fools?"

After leaving Qingyu Alley, Feng Ping spoke to Chen Yumei with dissatisfaction.

"Brother Feng~ I didn't mean to."

Chen Yumei held Feng Ping's arm, pouting with a hint of grievance.

Feng Ping initially wanted to scold her a few more times, but seeing her on the verge of tears, he ultimately held back.

He sighed, "This kid is a bit too vigilant. We can't rush things; we need to build a good relationship first."

"Everything is as you say, Brother Feng. I just couldn't help myself when I saw another Talisman Master, especially since that old fellow's wealth was quite considerable..."

Chen Yumei thought of something and smiled, pursing her lips.

"That's true. Although this kid is only at Qi Refining Fourth Layer, he can draw high-quality Talismans. His Talismans Legacy is probably not that simple.

We need to investigate carefully to avoid running into trouble, especially if he's from the Talisman Cultivator Alliance, that would be problematic.

But if he's not..."

Feng Ping wrapped his arm around Chen Yumei's slender waist, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes.