10: Chapter 10: Mastering the Dao of Talismans in the Dead of Night, Taking in a Girl with a Destitute Wood Spirit Root!

The visitor was named Li, one of the managing Deacons stationed in the West District of this street by the Xuanming Sect. He was at the fifth level of Qi Refining and was responsible for collecting rent and managing various miscellaneous affairs.

"Sitting won't be necessary."

Deacon Li waved his hand, took out a jade plate and a receipt from his chest, and placed them on the counter. "The rent for the next quarter is due."

"The old rules still apply: thirty Spirit Stones for shop rent, ten Spirit Stones for the street management fee, totaling forty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"This is the payment receipt, keep it safe."

Ye Linchuan's expression didn't change as he readily counted out forty Spirit Stones and pushed them over.

"Sorry to trouble you, Deacon Li."

Deacon Li finished counting, his expression softening slightly as he handed the jade plate and receipt to Ye Linchuan.

"Hmm, Alchemist Ye is a straightforward person."

He paused, then said as if in passing, "There might be some new rules coming down from the Sect soon. You shopkeepers should stay alert and don't cause trouble."

"Also… the city might not be peaceful. Keep your doors locked at night, and don't run around if there's nothing important."

This was identical to the warning from Fellow Daoist Chen, the herb gatherer, earlier.

Ye Linchuan felt a slight chill in his heart, but his smile remained unchanged.

"Many thanks for the tip, Deacon Li. Ye will keep that in mind."

"By the way, Deacon Li, this is a small token of appreciation, please have some tea."

He reached under the counter and pulled out a small jade bottle containing three high-quality calming pills, worth about ten Spirit Stones.

Deacon Li glanced at them, didn't stand on ceremony, and casually tucked them into his sleeve. A faint smile finally appeared on his face.

"Alchemist Ye knows how to conduct himself."

"Alright, get back to work. I still have to visit the next place."

Late at night, in the back room of the Ye Family Pill Workshop in the West District of Yunxi City.

The oil lamp was like a bean, illuminating Ye Linchuan's focused face.

Spread out before him was not a Pill Formula, but a pale gray Jade Slip.

This Jade Slip was exactly what he had obtained from the System lottery when his Son, Ye Xuan, was born: 《Second-Tier Talisman Making Techniques》.

After a long while, he withdrew his focus.

He had accumulated quite a bit of theoretical knowledge; it was time to put it into practice.

Drawing a Talisman required a Talisman brush, Talisman paper, and spiritual ink.

He had already purchased all these when he went to the Baibao Pavilion today.

He didn't aim too high by choosing an offensive or defensive Talisman; instead, he chose the most basic Dust-Repelling Talisman.

Ye Linchuan picked up the Talisman brush and dipped it fully into the spiritual ink.

The tip of the brush fell.

Spiritual Qi was injected steadily and evenly.

He didn't write fast; in fact, he was a bit slow, but extremely steady.

The feedback from the Talisman brush showed an extremely subtle lag.

"Hiss…"

A soft sound.

The spiritual light on the Talisman paper suddenly became chaotic, and the lines he had just drawn quickly dimmed and charred. Then, the entire Talisman paper ignited without wind, turning into a small pinch of ash.

The first attempt failed.

Ye Linchuan's expression remained calm. He put down the Talisman brush and closed his eyes to savor every detail.

"The subtle change in Spiritual Qi output at the turning point needs to be more precise."

A moment later, he opened his eyes, cleaned up the ashes, and laid out a second piece of Talisman paper.

He picked up the brush again.

This time, he injected his Spiritual Qi more delicately, constantly sensing the subtle balance between the Talisman brush, spiritual ink, and Talisman paper, and making constant micro-adjustments based on the feedback.

The silver patterns reappeared under his brush, smooth and fluid.

Hum!

The Dust-Repelling Talisman was complete!

Ye Linchuan picked up the Talisman, feeling the stable and weak spiritual energy field within it, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

One failure, and success on the second attempt.

He didn't stop, striking while the iron was hot to continue drawing.

In one night, he consumed twenty sheets of Talisman paper and successfully drew twelve Dust-Repelling Talismans.

A success rate of sixty percent!

If this result were known, it would be enough to make many apprentices who had been immersed in the Talisman Dao for years feel ashamed.

"Finally, I've made an entry."

He carefully put away the Talismans and cleaned the tabletop.

At this moment, the sky was already showing a fish-belly white.

Just as he was preparing to meditate for a while, a clear knocking sound came from the direction of the shop in front.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Ye Linchuan raised an eyebrow, straightened his clothes, walked to the front, and opened the shop door.

Two people stood outside.

The one in front was a woman in her fifties, wearing a dark purple silk dress, with a slick and worldly smile on her face, holding a pink silk handkerchief in her hand.

It was the famous matchmaker of the West District, Matchmaker Wang.

Half a step behind her followed a young woman.

The woman was about eighteen or nineteen years old.

She wore a light green dress, her figure was slender, her head was lowered, and her hands were nervously twisting the corner of her dress.

Although her head was lowered, one could see her fair skin and delicate features.

What moved Ye Linchuan the most was that this woman had an extremely weak fluctuation of Spiritual Qi on her.

Although faint, as if she had just introduced Qi into her body, it definitely existed.

She has a Spiritual Root!

Ye Linchuan's gaze lingered on the woman for a moment, his expression normal, and he looked at Matchmaker Wang. "Matchmaker Wang, so early? Is something the matter?"

"Oh my, Alchemist Ye, sorry to disturb you."

Matchmaker Wang was all smiles. "I was thinking, Alchemist Ye, you've been in Yunxi City for a year now. The pill shop business is booming, but it's always inconvenient not having someone to help you out."

She stepped aside, letting the woman behind her come out a little. "This girl is from Shenjia Gully. A few days ago, there was a landslide. Her family is all gone. She fled here alone and has no relatives to rely on."

"Old me sees that she is pitiful, and she is also honest and diligent. The key is…"

She lowered her voice, with a bit of fawning, "This girl was tested to have a Spiritual Root in her early years. It's a Low Grade Wood Spiritual Root, but unfortunately, she has never had resources or anyone to teach her, so her cultivation has stopped at the first level of Qi Refining."

"Old me thought, Alchemist Ye, you are a Cultivator and an Alchemist, so your vision is high."

"This girl is decent in appearance, gentle in nature, quick with her hands, and has a clean background."

"If she can find a job here with you, even if it's just cleaning the courtyard, it counts as having a place to stay, so she won't end up wandering the streets and being bullied."

"What do you think…?"

After Matchmaker Wang finished speaking, she looked at Ye Linchuan eagerly and gently pushed the woman.

The woman was pushed a small step forward and had to raise her head, revealing a clear but haggard face.

Her eyes were large, and her gaze was like a frightened little deer. She took a quick look at Ye Linchuan, then hurriedly lowered her head, her voice as quiet as a mosquito's. "Li… Little woman Shen Qingyan, greets Alchemist Ye."

Ye Linchuan looked at Shen Qingyan.

Spiritual Root, yes, although the grade is not high.

Background, simple and tragic, with no reliance.

Appearance and temperament, clean and delicate, with clear eyes, carrying an unsophisticated timidity and innocence.

Everything seems just right.

"Shen Qingyan."

He slowly read the name, his tone peaceful. "Do you know medicinal herbs? Can you do some simple chores?"

Shen Qingyan nodded quickly, trying to make her voice clearer. "Replying to Alchemist Ye, my father was a country doctor, so Qingyan recognizes some common medicinal herbs."

"I can do laundry, cooking, and sweeping the courtyard."

Ye Linchuan pondered for a moment and looked at Matchmaker Wang. "Matchmaker Wang, my shop is small, and the business has just started."

"However, Miss Shen's situation is special, so I will help where I can."

"She can stay for now, responsible for the daily cleaning of the shop and helping me sort and process some simple medicinal herbs. I will provide food and housing."

"Monthly… let's set it at three Low-Grade Spirit Stones. How about that?"

Three Spirit Stones, for a Cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining, is only enough for the most basic expenses. But for an orphan girl who just wants a place to stay, this is already a huge favor.

Shen Qingyan suddenly raised her head, water welling up in her eyes instantly, looking at Ye Linchuan in disbelief.

Then, she hurriedly bowed and saluted, her voice choked with emotion. "Tha… Thank you, Alchemist Ye, for taking me in! Qingyan will definitely do her best and will never dare to be lazy!"

Matchmaker Wang was also beaming; the commission was secure.

"Good, good, good, Alchemist Ye is benevolent! Qingyan, this girl, I will trouble you to take care of her from now on."

Once the matter was settled, Matchmaker Wang left satisfied, clutching the five Spirit Stones as a service fee given by Ye Linchuan.

In the shop, only Ye Linchuan and Shen Qingyan remained.

The atmosphere was quiet for a moment.

Shen Qingyan stood nervously, not knowing where to put her hands and feet.

Ye Linchuan pointed to the stool next to the counter. "Sit down, no need to be restrained."

"From now on, this is your home. Just do your work with peace of mind."

"Yes, tha… thank you, Alchemist Ye."

Shen Qingyan sat down carefully, sitting only on half the stool.

"I am usually in the back pill room or the quiet room. You look after the shop in the front."

"If customers come and I am not here, just note down what they need."

Ye Linchuan briefly explained the rules. "The medicinal herbs are in the cabinets, with labels on them. If you don't understand, you can ask me. Don't move things around randomly."

"Your room… the east wing of the back courtyard is still empty. I will take you there later, you can tidy it up yourself."

"Yes, Qingyan understands."

"Hmm."

Ye Linchuan nodded, said no more, and turned back to the back courtyard.

Shen Qingyan watched his back disappear behind the curtain, and her tense body relaxed slightly.

She looked around the tidy shop, smelling the faint medicinal fragrance, and the heart that had been hanging finally settled a little.

Having a place to stay, having a meager income, and this Alchemist Ye looks gentle and kind.

This is already a great stroke of luck.

She stood up silently and began to carefully wipe the counter and organize the shelves.