Chapter 15: Posted Talisman, Third-rate Means Of Survival
“This is impossible!”
Fang Shu was shocked.
But combining Second Uncle’s silence from their meeting until now, not saying a single word, and the thief outside cursing “Tongue-Cutting Slave” three words.
This made it hard for him not to guess that the Long Tongue Sword in his hand was Second Uncle cutting out his own tongue and sending it to him!
However, soon Fang Shu recalled that the Long Tongue Sword in his hand was not initially a Magic Tool, but merely a Demon Tongue that could barely be considered an Embryonic Tool.
Yet this did not dispel his guess; instead, it made him even more uneasy and filled with hatred.
At this moment.
The scolding voices outside the Paper House were getting quieter. Before Fang Shu could pry open the paper door, a shout rang out:
“Hey! Everyone look clearly, this Contract clearly says ‘Tongue Embryo’—where did this ‘Tongue Tool’ come from!
Even scamming isn’t done like this.”
Cheng Guanzi shouted, his voice clear, deliberately calling out to the neighbors.
Fang Shu heard it, his face cold as he stood behind the door. He no longer cared if he would damage Second Uncle’s paper door; he slashed the Long Tongue Sword at the door lock, then pulled the door open with sword in hand and leaped out.
Just as he emerged from the Paper House, he saw a black fat man, surrounded by several attendants, strutting away with his back turned.
This man was shaped like a jar, extremely obese—he should be the “Cheng Guanzi” mentioned by the Milk Shop beauty.
Fang Shu held his sword, not yet moving, when a familiar soft voice suddenly sounded beside him:
“Young Brother, wait here for your Second Uncle to return.”
He turned his head and saw the neighboring Paper House door opening inward. On the paper threshold, a plump woman was half-lying, looking up at him with a smile.
This was precisely the most pleasing Milk Shop beauty from Blood Street during the day.
Seeing Fang Shu look over, the Milk Shop beauty’s smile became even more charming. She placed one white hand on her chest, the other supporting her chin, looking him up and down with dripping eyes.
Before the two could say more, Fang Shu’s Second Uncle returned, face bruised and swollen, limping along, his Robe dirty.
Seeing Fang Shu burst out through the door, Second Uncle was first stunned, then immediately understood.
He cupped his hands toward the Milk Shop beauty, then pressed Fang Shu’s shoulder and pointed inside the door.
Fang Shu’s lips moved slightly, but he still lowered his body, obediently holding his sword and jumping back into the Paper House.
Uncle and nephew stayed in the room, blocking the broken-locked paper door, and had an open and honest discussion.
Fang Shu asked, Second Uncle answered with paper and pen.
As Fang Shu had guessed, his Long Tongue Sword was indeed closely related to Second Uncle.
On the document Second Uncle pulled out and clutched tightly when he went out, several lines were written:
“Now, one thousand Qing Fu Blood Money, and《 Secret Mouth-Sword Technique》 formula, and corresponding Magic Tongue Embryo one, sent to Fang Shu, orphaned son of the Fang family in Sanjiang County, recipient. Aged fifteen, appearance clear and handsome…”
The document had a signature and seal; the sender was Fang Shu’s Second Uncle Yu Le, and the broker was none other than Cheng Guanzi.
However, the “Embryo” character for Tongue Embryo on the document was especially white and new compared to the other handwriting, and in Second Uncle’s hand, he also held a small pasted yellow paper.
Pasted yellow paper is a small piece used to correct mistakes, but it cannot be used on a Contract; if insisted, a seal must be added on the pasted yellow.
That pasted yellow was old, clearly written with the “Tool” character for Magic Tool, but it had fallen off, and there was no seal!
Fang Shu’s Second Uncle covered his face with one hand, his expression helpless, shame and anger still on his face.
Clearly, both uncle and nephew had been cheated by Cheng Guanzi.
Fang Shu’s Second Uncle had indeed cut out his own refined Long Tongue and sent it along with Magic and Boat Fare to Fang Shu.
The Magic and Boat Fare were written clearly, so Cheng Guanzi could not touch them.
But for the Long Tongue Sword, that guy played a trick: while Fang Shu’s Second Uncle was dazed after cutting his tongue and severing the tool, he altered the “Tool” character to “Embryo” and covered it with disguised pasted yellow, passing fish eyes for pearls.
In the end, Fang Shu only received a Demon Tongue; to cultivate the Magic onto himself, he still had to refine the Magic Tool himself.
With the matter exposed, uncle and nephew had no evidence to argue.
Learning the specific reason, Fang Shu’s face was both heartbroken, guilty, and iron-blue.
Killing intent emerged in his eyes.
Second Uncle cutting his tongue to gift the tool was a great kindness to him; Cheng Guanzi dared to steal it, ruining Second Uncle’s great kindness—he had a death wish.
Moreover, the Magic Tool being swapped forced Fang Shu to start Sacrifice and Refining from scratch, harming body and lifespan, forcing him to risk killing demons to continue life—that guy deserved death even more!
Zheng!
Before Fang Shu could act, the Long Tongue Sword in his hand, connected by Qi and Blood, surfaced bright red, seeping blood light, and trembled lightly.
But at this moment, Second Uncle Yu Le reached out, gently stroking the Long Tongue Sword, pinched the blade with two fingers and shook lightly, dispersing the surging Qi and Blood on the Long Tongue Sword.
Second Uncle shook his head, stopping Fang Shu with his gaze, a smile on his face.
He took a pen and wrote a few words:
“Hide the tool on body, wait for the time to act.”
Seeing these words, Fang Shu’s gaze changed.
He nodded, exhaled deeply, released his hand to place the Long Tongue Sword on the paper-stuck low table, faced Second Uncle, and bowed deeply.
Back then, not yet fifteen, he suffered a great disaster and was mistreated by clan elders, enduring silently until Second Uncle sent Magic and Talismans via messenger, gradually regaining control.
Later, with successful Magic Cultivation, Fang Shu repaid tooth for tooth, blood for blood, severing all Fang family ties.
Now newly entering the Immortal Cultivator Marketplace, even his proud Second Uncle was in such straits; he must be even more cautious than before, biding his time.
Sure enough.
Seeing Fang Shu calm his mind, Second Uncle showed relief, then used pen as tongue to write about Cheng Guanzi’s dealings on paper.
Though that guy was black and fat, unattractive, he had entered the Dao by consuming Pills, a First Calamity Immortal.
More importantly, he backed by the Black Tiger Dojo in the Marketplace, used “offering wife and son” to befriend strongmen, gaining rent collection rights for the nearby Paper Workshop.
Such scum was like mortal world’s bully officials: needed strong power to kill, and must be done unknown to gods and ghosts, leaving no hidden dangers.
Otherwise, it would easily bring fire upon oneself.
Fang Shu pondered, then said gravely: “Understood, Second Uncle rest assured.”
Seeing Fang Shu calm and discerning right from wrong, Second Uncle exhaled again.
He rubbed his cheeks, suddenly grinned, shook his head, and wrote:
“Don’t think Second Uncle was just impulsively shamed earlier.
With matters at this point, must trouble him, and disturbing him with the pasted yellow can delay at least three months’ Rent Money!”
Seeing Second Uncle, though bruised and swollen, acting smugly pleased.
Fang Shu was speechless for a moment.
He relaxed his mind and chatted idly with Second Uncle.
Immediately, Second Uncle hand-wrote a pile of Cheng Guanzi’s embarrassing stories.
When the Paper House atmosphere recovered, Fang Shu casually asked:
“Second Uncle, how to scare that guy into kneeling and begging forgiveness, coming to cut his tongue in apology?”
Second Uncle understood and wrote a few words:
“Enter Dojo, learn Immortal Merit, join Sect!”
He perked up, spread his Sleeve, raised his right hand, ready to write fervently at length.
Seeing this, Fang Shu hurriedly offered the Long Tongue Sword repeatedly, requesting Second Uncle take it into his mouth and continue.
His Second Uncle also mastered Secret Mouth-Sword Technique; with a Tongue Sword, after refining, it could transform into a Long Tongue to replace the missing human tongue.
But Second Uncle still firmly refused.
Even if Fang Shu asked him to temporarily refine it for a few days for communication, Second Uncle smiled and shook his head, refusing again with “Mouth open loses spirit, tongue moves births trouble, now is fine.”
No choice, uncle and nephew continued with one speaking and one writing answers.
Soon, Fang Shu learned the three general lifestyles of Immortal Seekers in this Immortal Cultivator Marketplace.
The lowest were those selling blood as slaves in the Marketplace, like oxen and horses, barely surviving, only hoping to draw an Opportunity Talisman or turn their lives around one day.
Fang Shu had heard “Opportunity Talisman” several times already.
He asked carefully and learned it was aptly named: spend money to draw lots for Opportunity, two Talisman Money per draw.
Prizes included “draw again,” Blood Coupon, Talisman Money, mine ticket, etc., plus Magic Tools, Spirit Pets, Dao companions, even mine vein operation rights, or direct Sect entry!
Run by the Sect behind the Marketplace, renowned, fair to young and old, with lucky winners yearly.
As for mid-tier Immortal Seekers.
They had a skill—medicine, Talisman, tool, etc., not young; even if entered the Dao, Immortal Path broken, so settled in Marketplace, starting families, hoping next generation seeks Immortality.
And top-tier Immortal Seekers… Second Uncle suddenly pointed at Fang Shu.
The paper strip in his hand wrote:
“You under thirty-six, full of vitality, should enter Dojo, learn Immortal Merit, preserve Physical Body, pass Immortal Tribulations.
Until one day, endure tribulations Refining Qi, enter Immortal Sect, seek Immortal Studies—that’s living like an Immortal Cultivator!”
Fang Shu saw “Dojo,” “Immortal Merit,” “Refining Qi” on the paper, his mind stirred, recalling expectations before entering the Marketplace.
No mistake!
He came to the Marketplace to seek Immortality and the Dao—how could seeing blood-selling scenes make him forget his Immortal aspirations.
He would not only enter the Dao in the Dojo to become an Immortal Cultivator, but join a true Immortal Sect, Refining Qi to Foundation Establishment, even Longevity!
Fang Shu restrained his surging chest, bowed to Second Uncle:
“I heed the teaching!”
Second Uncle, hearing this, showed a “the child can be taught” expression. His face flushed red, as if more nourished than after Milk Food.
After dreaming big, Fang Shu asked why Second Uncle fell into disaster, becoming like this.
Probing, he asked if Second Uncle had other enemies.
Second Uncle looked wistful and sighed.
Shaking his head, he frankly wrote: during Second Tribulation breakthrough in Refining Essence, due to average aptitude, impetuous haste, he failed outright.
He had bet all his possessions and borrowed from former Dojo sectmates.
After failure, Second Uncle sold all Goods, Dao companion left, bankrupt instantly.
Hearing this.
Fang Shu pitied Second Uncle but still had one confusion.
After pondering, he asked:
“May I ask Second Uncle, since Immortal Seekers in the Marketplace have three tiers, why not choose mid-tier but lowest… to sell blood for a living?”
At this, Second Uncle, both helpless and proud, took paper and pen, scribbling with him:
“We from Mortal World origins, occasional Magic but few skills, starting business hard, easy to collapse midway.
Besides selling blood, only two startup paths viable: Farming or Mining…”
Fang Shu read carefully, gradually understanding.
To live mid-tier in Marketplace was no less hard than Dojo Cultivation, often needing two or three generations to stand firm.
First generation, like them fresh from Mortal World, to save money and advance Cultivation, basically only Farming or Mining.
Beyond these, Hunting demons, treasure hunting, gathering medicine etc. could be third path, but high-risk heavenly fortune, not solid startup.
But even Farming and Mining were arduous.
First, Farming.
Renting outer “low-grade spirit fields,” fifty money monthly per acre, plus three months’ deposit（ one hundred fifty money）, and one month prepaid rent（ fifty money）.
Total initial cost two hundred money.
After two hundred money startup, need grass seeds, Medicine Seeds; cheapest thirty money per bag.
Also, fertilizing needed, twenty to thirty money start, varying per acre; without spirit fertilizer, grass grains, herbs can’t double or monthly harvest, but half-year or year…
All this, even with good weather no pests or demons, netted merely three hundred money per acre monthly.
And this three hundred per acre required a strong man toiling day and night.
Just reading this, Fang Shu was slightly stunned.
He remembered in Blood Hall, selling blood earned four to five hundred monthly, easily.
Even long-term, with Marketplace Spiritual Energy nourishing body, netted three hundred monthly, steady flow.
He suspected he misremembered, so asked Second Uncle the expert.
Indeed, selling blood netted three hundred monthly too!
Farming’s only edge over selling blood: eat grass roots, gnaw grass cakes, save one hundred money bottle of Grain-Avoiding Pills monthly.
But two hundred money Paper House rent unskippable. To save, sleep outside town, risks self-borne.
After Farming profits, Fang Shu couldn’t resist, unwillingly asked Second Uncle to calculate Mining profits.
Second path, Mining unlike Farming’s slow low output—daily output, monthly surplus usually six hundred money.
But entering Mine Tunnel daily threshold fee; without Magic Tool, renting one daily extra, and daily Ore limited.
Compared to Farming, edges: daily income plus rare chance of precious Ore or Spirit Stones.
But danger greater than Farming.
Cave-ins secondary; Mine Tunnels often had poison gas, Demonic Beasts etc., risk just below Wilderness Hunting treasure.
Injury meant buying Health Preservation Pills, possibly wiping earnings, bedridden without income long-term.
Worse, disability etc. ruined all prior efforts, worse than death.
Learning this, Fang Shu fell silent.
Compared to Farming, Mining profits and risks, seemed truly better as Blood Slave, slowly selling blood in Marketplace.
Plus, Marketplace had Opportunity Talismans—if one day lucky big prize?
