Lin Chang Sheng spent over half an hour painstakingly crafting a new Suppressing Evil Talisman. After completing the ritual to appease the celestial master, he finally relaxed and stepped out of the room.
His talismans were indeed expensive for a reason—they were genuine yellow talismans.
Not like the fake ones on the market, those mere imitations with no connection to the heavens, utterly ineffective.
You see, the success rate for ordinary talisman makers was less than one in ten, and crafting a Suppressing Evil Talisman, which was more powerful than other yellow talismans, consumed a tremendous amount of mental energy.
However, not many people bought them, so Lin Chang Sheng rarely had any stock.
He would only replenish his supply after selling one.
He wasn't lying; he truly used one for every one he sold! If he didn't replenish his stock, they would become rare and out of stock.
Lin Chang Sheng felt tired, so he closed his shop early, shutting up shop for the night.
He had made a big sale today, so he could get off work early and enjoy life! This was his third successful sale since inheriting the paper-lantern shop.
…
The next day.
Dawn broke, the sky misty and light.
Lin Chang Sheng was already practicing his martial arts in his courtyard, relentlessly honing his skills.
It was the ancestral Maoshan Strengthening Technique, a powerful martial art far surpassing ordinary martial arts.
After all, in the era of his ancestors, they had to deal with zombies, those iron-clad creatures. Without the Strengthening Technique, they would have no way to fight them.
Lin Chang Sheng had been frail since childhood, so the Maoshan Strengthening Technique was his daily routine.
Thanks to it, his body gradually improved.
Now, he could easily handle seven or eight strong men with his bare hands.
Of course, due to his lack of endurance, he would be the one to fall if the enemies didn't fall within ten minutes.
“Whoa…”
A gust of wind from his punch vibrated the air, creating a humming sound.
“Whoosh…”
“Huff…”
Lin Chang Sheng regulated his breathing, exhaling a breath of stale air from his dantian and inhaling the purple air of sunrise into his abdomen.
The reason ordinary people are weak or lack endurance is because they absorb too much stale air.
This stale air accumulates in the body over the years, blocking acupoints, preventing ordinary people from breaking through their physical limits, affecting their speed, stamina, and endurance.
The air in the morning is the freshest, the clear ascending and the浊descending.
Lin Chang Sheng took a few deep breaths and felt refreshed.
He planned to have some hotpot later and treat himself.
Meanwhile.
Wang Kai Xuan had been waiting at the train station for a long time. He was there to pick someone up.
He couldn't handle this major task alone.
The train whistle sounded, and Wang Kai Xuan saw a man get off the train, his excitement growing.
“Hey!”
“The Heavenly King Covers the Earthly Tiger!”
The man who had gotten off the train glanced at Wang Kai Xuan and immediately responded, “The Pagoda Suppresses the River Demon!”
Wang Kai Xuan was ecstatic, striding forward and embracing the man, “Lao Hu! I missed you so much!”
The man, known as Lao Hu, was Hu Ba Yi. He patted Wang Kai Xuan on the back, “Long time no see!”
“Fatty, you've lost weight! If you keep losing weight, I'll have to call you Skinny!”
“What’s wrong, heartbroken and trying to lose weight?”
Wang Kai Xuan waved his hand, “Don’t bring that up. Times are hard, you know! Come on, let's go have some food and catch up!”
Hu Ba Yi refused, “No way, you're so skinny now, I'll treat you!”
“Don't be so polite, a hotpot meal is no problem for me.”
Wang Kai Xuan rode his three-wheeled bicycle, taking Hu Ba Yi to his residence.
Hu Ba Yi teased, “Fatty, you're doing well! You even have a ride!”
Wang Kai Xuan laughed, “Old Hu, don't make fun of me. This is just a mode of transport, hardly a ride. But, it will be soon!”
Hu Ba Yi was curious, “Oh? What's up? Is there a story?”
Wang Kai Xuan grinned, “I'll tell you later!”
Back at the residence.
Wang Kai Xuan told Hu Ba Yi about his plans to go tomb raiding.
“Old Hu, check this out!” Wang Kai Xuan pulled out the Suppressing Evil Talisman he had bought from Lin Chang Sheng.
“With this treasure, we can go down any tomb! We'll be rich and prosperous, just a word from us!”
When Hu Ba Yi heard about Wang Kai Xuan's actions, he instantly stood up in anger.
“What? You sold your ancestral jade for 1,500 yuan and spent 1,000 yuan on a yellow talisman?”
Hu Ba Yi held Wang Kai Xuan's head in his hands, “Fatty, are you okay? Did you hit your head?”
This wasn’t like Wang Kai Xuan at all. What was wrong with him, making such a foolish decision?
Wang Kai Xuan whispered, “Keep it down! The neighbors have nosy ears and mouths.”
Hu Ba Yi sat down, confused and questioning, “Fatty, let me break this down for you. Your ancestral jade is worth at least 3,000 yuan. You got ripped off, those talisman sellers are probably in cahoots!”
Wang Kai Xuan mumbled, “It can't be, right? That talisman seller is from the Lin family's paper-lantern shop. An expert bought some things from them before going down a big tomb and survived, thanks to the Lin family's paper-lantern shop items. He became wealthy after coming back. Da Jin Ya and the Lin family's paper-lantern shop wouldn't trick me, would they?”
Hu Ba Yi explained, “Fatty, let me organize your thoughts. This expert who went down the tomb, do you know his name?”
“Have you ever seen him?”
Wang Kai Xuan shook his head.
“So, it's just hearsay!”
Hu Ba Yi continued, “Da Jin Ya took your jade right after he recommended someone to you. It’s clear he knew you were planning to go tomb raiding.”
“They're a team. They spread fake news to hook you in, took your jade, got you to buy the talisman. It's all carefully planned. Don't you think it's too coincidental?”
“Why was this tomb suddenly discovered? Why is the Lin family's paper-lantern shop's talisman the only one that can save lives?”
“Think about it! How's the Lin family's paper-lantern shop business been lately?”
Wang Kai Xuan recalled, “The Lin family's paper-lantern shop only opens at 6 p.m. They basically have no customers.”
He suddenly understood! It was all a scam to trick him! Those two scumbags! I’ll make them pay!
“Those two bastards, I'll make them pay!”
Hu Ba Yi stood up, “Come on, I haven't stretched my limbs in a while. Let's go get our revenge today!”
…
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