In the blink of an eye, it was July. The dormitory was already somewhat sweltering, but fortunately, opening the window let in a cool sea breeze.
One Saturday morning, Yang Wenqing rose early to wash up as usual, but he did not cultivate with the White Dragon Ginseng, for it had already been used up last month. Still, he properly entered meditation and cultivated for an hour.
After daybreak, he got up and took out the finished talisman papers. There were one hundred "Immobilization Charms" and one hundred "Golden Light Body Protection Charms." At most, one of these low-grade talisman papers could be exchanged for fifteen yuan; if the quality was poor, they could only sell for eight. Yet the cost to inscribe a single talisman paper was five yuan—the profit wasn't even enough for breakfast.
Yet there were still people who, for the sake of it, persisted in meditating and cultivating for an hour every day. This caused the monthly output to be enormous, so they couldn't fetch a good price.
The City Defense Bureau had internal channels for recycling them. Although the price was slightly higher than outside recyclers, each type of talisman paper required at least one hundred sheets per transaction.
Yang Wenqing planned to sell these talisman papers and add a bit of money to purchase a White Dragon Ginseng root. As for merit points, he planned to save them and exchange them for a Dragon Ginseng Pill in two years.
The East City Public Security Station could recycle finished talisman papers. The collection point was in the logistics room behind the inner courtyard—a standalone, long, single-story building. The exterior walls were a plain gray-white, and the heavy ironwood doors were always wide open. There were no guards at the entrance, only the faint spiritual light of a simple detection array flickering at the threshold.
Yang Wenqing strode inside. A musty smell assailed his nostrils. The interior was more spacious and lofty than expected, with a high ceiling supported by thick wooden beams. Several pendant lamps inlaid with illuminating pearls provided steady light.
At the front sat a heavy wooden counter. Behind it, an old garrison officer in a sergeant's uniform was unhurriedly flipping through a thick ledger.
Hearing the footsteps, the old garrison officer lifted his gaze from the ledger and looked at Yang Wenqing. "Selling talisman papers?"
Yang Wenqing nodded and placed his neatly arranged talisman papers on the counter. "Sorry for the trouble, Chief Chen."
The old garrison officer set down the ledger, skillfully opened the paper bundle, and casually drew out an "Immobilization Charm" talisman paper. His fingers gently brushed over the talisman lines, feeling the residual spiritual energy fluctuations and assessing the completeness of the inscription.
"Mm, the quality is still stable." The old garrison officer nodded. Though his tone was polite, he still carefully inspected the quality of every talisman paper in the bundle.
"They're all quite good. I'll give you sixteen yuan each." The old garrison officer quoted the price. "That makes 3,200 yuan total. Do you need any talisman paper for making more?"
The price he offered was the highest possible, proving that the spells Yang Wenqing inscribed were of excellent quality.
"I need two hundred sheets. I also want to buy a White Dragon Ginseng root," Yang Wenqing replied softly.
"Wait a moment."
The old officer turned and walked to a shelf in the storeroom, picking up two paper bundles. He then walked to the back of the storeroom, where there was a large safe. In front of the safe stood a middle-aged man with a senior garrison officer's rank.
The two exchanged a few brief words. The middle-aged man opened the safe and took out a White Dragon Ginseng root. The old officer took it, returned to the counter, sat down, and carefully filled out two delivery slips.
"You still need to give me 2,800 yuan."
After issuing the delivery slips, the old officer looked at Yang Wenqing.
Yang Wenqing nodded. The price of a White Dragon Ginseng root was five thousand yuan, which was already considered cheap because it could now be mass-cultivated. Yang Wenqing did have 2,800 yuan. Apart from lunch, he hardly spent any of his monthly salary. Combined with the money from previous talisman sales, he had savings of nearly four thousand yuan.
After storing away the White Dragon Ginseng, Yang Wenqing headed straight out the station gates. A deep, powerful drumbeat suddenly reached his ears. Following the sound, he saw a troupe of people in elaborate costumes parading down the street—advertising tomorrow's stage play in the city center.
For this stage play, every public security station in the county city had to dispatch personnel for duty. Even though it was the weekend, many people vied for this post because they could watch the play for free. It seemed the East City Station only had one slot, which went to Zhao Qin.
"Wenqing!"
Just as Yang Wenqing was about to return to the dormitory, a familiar voice suddenly rang out. He turned around, a trace of a smile appearing on his face, and blurted out, "Second Uncle!"
The newcomer was none other than Yang Wenqing's second uncle, Yang Jianye. He wore a gray coarse cotton short jacket that had been washed until it was somewhat faded, paired with loose pants of the same color. The pant legs were rolled up to his knees, revealing his dark, sturdy calves tanned by the sun. On his feet were a pair of half-worn straw sandals, and over his shoulder he carried a bulging hemp sack. His face bore a simple and warm smile.
"Second Uncle? Why are you here?" Yang Wenqing hurriedly went to meet him.
"Here to bring you some rice." Yang Jianye grinned, revealing teeth slightly yellowed from tobacco. He set the sack off his shoulder with a dull thud. "Besides rice, there's also newly harvested taro and dried fish. Your dad went to the mountains a while back and found some wild honey. He sent you a small jar too."
As he spoke, he wiped the sweat from his face with a rough palm and glanced curiously at the noisy parade in the distance. He asked casually, "Has another troupe come to the city?"
Yang Wenqing took the hemp sack and asked, "Where's Dad?"
Usually, it was his father, Yang Jianmu, who came to deliver these things.
Yang Jianye let out a sigh. "Your dad fell and hurt his leg in the mountains five days ago. The old doctor said he needs to stay in bed for half a month."
Yang Wenqing was startled and quickly said, "Why didn't you come find me? What if it leaves a chronic condition?"
As he spoke, he took out a packet of talisman papers and drew one from within. "This is a talisman paper imbued with a Healing Technique. Take it back and have the old doctor use it on Dad."
This talisman paper was one Yang Wenqing had prepared for himself. Because the Healing Technique required specific wood-element or water-element Qi Refinement cultivators to produce, one sheet cost at least three hundred yuan.
In this world, as long as one had money, they basically wouldn't be troubled by illness.
"Your dad is truly blessed." Yang Jianye took the talisman paper and carefully put it away. Then he said to Yang Wenqing, "I've delivered the goods, so I'll be heading back."
"At least stay for lunch."
"Nah, I came on the general store's delivery truck from the village. They'll head back once they've finished stocking up. They won't wait for me."
Hearing this, Yang Wenqing didn't press further. Carrying the hemp sack, he escorted his second uncle to the South City wholesale market, located the general store's delivery truck, and then returned to the dormitory. He carefully sliced off a small piece of the newly acquired White Dragon Ginseng, dissolved it in water, and drank it. He felt the familiar medicinal power spreading through his body, guiding his spiritual energy to circulate through its cycles.
Time flew by, and several more months passed. During this period, Yang Wenqing continued his routine of patrolling, cultivating, and making talisman papers.
The summer heat gradually faded after a few autumn rains, and the sea breeze brought coolness.
In the blink of an eye, it was year's end.
A biting sea wind whistled through the county city. That afternoon, Yang Wenqing had just returned to the station after patrolling and was preparing to hand over his shift when Captain Xiao Liang walked over with a solemn expression, holding a document stamped with the red seal of the sub-bureau.
"Everyone, gather at the training ground with full gear!" Xiao Liang's voice brooked no argument.
Yang Wenqing didn't react much emotionally. He well knew the purpose of this assembly: before the Spring Festival arrived, they needed to clear out the demon beasts and evil creatures in the mountain ranges outside the city to ensure a safe and peaceful holiday.
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