Not Making Money

Pan Yun drew quite a few talismans and decided to take them down the mountain to sell. Besides talismans, she also dug out quite a few books on physiognomy.

There weren't many books on physiognomy in Sanqing Temple, only two. However, the Spirit Realm recorded a lot of knowledge about physiognomy.

For the first eight years, Pan Yun wasn't bothered by livelihood and thus never seriously studied the art of physiognomy. But from Xuan Miao's experience in Prince Zhou's Mansion, she came to a realization: physiognomy was even more profitable than the Pill Dao and medical arts.

Of course, she also saw Tao Ji's role in Prince Zhou's Mansion. Even with doctors as competitors, combining a little knowledge of the Pill Dao and medical arts with physiognomy would be even more profitable.

Moreover, the Pill Dao was the most powerful aspect of Sanqing Temple!

In the daily lessons, physiognomy and talismans took up one class each, with the rest of the time spent learning the Pill Dao and medical arts.

Furthermore, the temple's resident Daoist priests were Wang Fei Yin, Tao Ji, and Xuan Miao.

Xuan Miao had been in seclusion for a long time and hadn't left her room yet. The most basic aspects of physiognomy and talismans were taught by Wang Fei Yin, and so far, she could draw all the talismans he had taught her.

Every now and then, Tao Ji would take Tao Yanbai down the mountain to practice medicine. When he stayed in the mountains, he would go to gather herbs. Their teacher for the Pill Dao and medical arts was still Wang Fei Yin.

Truly, every day, she opened her eyes to see Senior Brother and closed her eyes to see Senior Brother again.

No wonder Tao Ji said it didn't matter who you took as a master, because Wang Fei Yin taught them all.

Pan Yun stirred her rice and dishes together, making the rice seem more flavorful. She ate heartily and asked the usual daily question: "Has Fourth Senior Sister come out of seclusion yet?"

Miao Zhen said, "I've calculated it with my fingers. Fourth Martial Aunt will come out of seclusion this afternoon."

Pan Yun then said, "I'll go down the mountain with Fourth Senior Sister tomorrow."

Miao Zhen and Miao He turned their heads in unison to look at First Martial Uncle, who was sitting facing the cliff not far away.

It was clear that Junior Martial Uncle's words weren't directed at them, but at First Martial Uncle.

As expected, First Martial Uncle, who was eating seriously, turned his head, glanced at them, and asked, "What are you going down the mountain for?"

"One, to collect mail, and two, to earn money for Master."

The first reason was understandable; Tao Ji and the others going down the mountain could handle it. But the second reason...

The reason was too legitimate, and Wang Fei Yin couldn't find an excuse to refuse for a moment.

But then he thought, this child was different from Miao Zhen and Miao He. She was precocious, and her skills were all over the place. Her training couldn't be the same as Miao Zhen and Miao He's. So, he nodded and said, "Alright, you can go."

Upon hearing this, Miao He, holding her rice bowl, squeezed next to Wang Fei Yin and said expectantly, "Martial Uncle, I want to go down the mountain too. I, I'll guide Junior Martial Uncle and keep her company."

Miao Zhen didn't say anything, but she also brought her rice bowl forward and looked at Wang Fei Yin expectantly with Miao He.

Wang Fei Yin: ... He knew it. Pan Yun's appearance was the greatest challenge to his education. One of the greatest difficulties in the human world was not scarcity, but inequality.

Facing the gazes of the two children, Wang Fei Yin gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, all of you go."

Miao He and Miao Zhen cheered and, holding their rice bowls, returned to their seats, happily eating with Pan Yun.

Miao Zhen's calculation was very accurate. That afternoon, Xuan Miao indeed came out of seclusion.

She ate something, then bathed and changed. After completing her evening practice, she learned that she would be taking three children down the mountain tomorrow.

Xuan Miao: ...

Wang Fei Yin said, "Master Qian in Yushan County is ill and has been for a long time. Third Junior Brother took Yanbai to see him, and they won't be back for a few days, so this matter can only be entrusted to you. It's also a good opportunity to let the three children see the world since they're all grown up."

Xuan Miao said, "I don't plan to go very far, just to Dayuanwu Village."

Dayuanwu Village was the largest village nearby and the seat of the township. There was a market on the fifth and tenth days of the month. Tomorrow was the tenth, which was a market day.

There was an Express Post Station there, and mail for this area was sent there.

It was good to bring Pan Yun along. This trip down the mountain was partly to inquire about news from the Pan Family Second Branch for her.

Going down the mountain meant waking up early. Before the Mao hour (5-7 AM), the three children were woken up. After a quick wash, they shouldered the backpacks they had packed the night before and headed down the mountain.

Xuan Miao had Pan Yun walk at the very back, while she walked at the front, leading the way. She explained, "We are the elders, and our martial arts are also better than theirs."

"I know, it's about cherishing the younger generation and protecting the weak." It was the same principle as when she was protected between Tao Ji and Xuan Miao on the way up the mountain.

The four of them shouldered their backpacks and went down the mountain.

Although Miao Zhen and Miao He were young, they had started practicing martial arts and cultivation early, and their skills were not much worse than Tao Yanbai's. They also often gathered herbs in the mountains, so their stamina while walking in the mountains was no less than Pan Yun's, who had achieved cultivation.

They smoothly followed Xuan Miao to the foot of the mountain, moving at a very fast pace.

It was still dark when they descended the mountain, but some people in the village were already awake. Xuan Miao led them through the village, with the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking everywhere.

A family living by the roadside poked their heads out to look. In the dim morning light, they vaguely saw Xuan Miao and quickly called out, "Daoist priest Xuan Miao, are you going out?"

Xuan Miao replied, "Going to Dayuanwu Village for the market."

"Oh, going so early?"

Xuan Miao responded and soon led the three younger ones through the village.

Once the morning light appeared, the sky brightened very quickly. In just this short while, they could see the path under their feet clearly.

By the time they reached Dayuanwu Village, it was completely light.

Pan Yun had never been to Dayuanwu Village before; she hadn't passed through it on her way up.

There were many people rushing to the market early, just like them. When they entered the village, the market was already very lively, with a continuous stream of people carrying their burdens coming from all directions.

There were also many food stalls.

The shops here are few, and the roads are all flat dirt paths, grassland. Anyone can claim a spot, so the food stalls arrive before dawn to secure their locations. Right now, the steamers for the steamed buns and mantou are billowing with hot steam, the aroma of white flour constantly wafting into people's noses.

The noodle stall's soup has also boiled, and the vendor is diligently kneading dough.

There are also stalls specializing in flatbreads. The larger ones directly take out braised meat and chop it up in front of customers, just waiting for people to buy meat pies.

Miao He couldn't move past the meat pie stall.

Xuan Miao said, "Let's eat breakfast first."

She sat down at the noodle stall, then grabbed a handful of copper coins for Miao He, "The three of you go buy some other food together."

Miao He happily agreed, put down her basket, took Miao Zhen's hand with one and Pan Yun's with the other, and left.

She even shared her personal insights with Pan Yun, "I like going down the mountain with Master and Fourth Martial Aunt the most. Master is soft-hearted; if we beg him, he'll take us to many places. Fourth Martial Aunt is generous; she'll give us money no matter what we want to eat."

Pan Yun asked, "What about Senior Brother?"

Miao He replied, "First Martial Uncle is also good, but First Martial Uncle has no money."

Faced with Pan Yun's confused gaze, Miao Zhen explained, "First Martial Uncle has no luck with money. As soon as he has money in his hands, he's bound to have an accident and lose it."

"Really?" For some reason, Pan Yun felt a faint unease.

Cultivating the Dao, cultivating the Dao, is essentially about getting infinitely closer to the Dao. Therefore, Daoists believe strongly in their intuition, considering it a hint from the Heavenly Dao.

Pan Yun grasped this feeling but couldn't quite figure it out.

After they had eaten their fill, she set up her neatly folded talismans next to Miao He and Miao Zhen's small stall.

People who passed by would glance at them, but only a glance, then move on.

On the other hand, the pre-packaged medicinal herbs sold by Miao He and Miao Zhen sold quite well, bringing in a steady income.

Pan Yun propped her chin on her hand and sat watching them.

Miao He generously gave her half of the money she earned.

Pan Yun felt she couldn't accept money from two children and pushed it back, "Does no one buy talismans here?"

Miao Zhen replied, "There are no illnesses or disasters, nor any ghosts or strange phenomena. Why would people spend money on talismans?"

Pan Yun then looked at the medicinal herbs they were selling, "Then these herbs..."

"They are all herbs for detoxification and clearing heat. Eating them in the summer refreshes the mind and prevents heatstroke," Miao Zhen said. "We sell them like this every summer. Even the pharmacies in Yushan County come to buy our herbs. The nearby villagers know this, so they buy from us."

"Also, people from Sanqing Mountain often come down the mountain to practice medicine. They all know our medical skills and herbs are good," Miao He added. "Junior Martial Uncle, I don't think selling talismans will work for you. There are no demons or monsters near Sanqing Mountain, so these things aren't needed."

Pan Yun asked, "Why are there no demons or monsters?"

The two replied as a matter of course, "Because we have the mountain god's protection."

This was unexpected for Pan Yun.

In her past life, monsters ran rampant, and talismans were the best-selling items.

Pan Yun's talismans were excellent, and as soon as they were listed online, they would sell out in no time. Yet here, they couldn't be sold!

Pan Yun looked up, channeling spiritual power into her eyes, and used her innate talent to observe the people in this village. She discovered... there wasn't a trace of dark energy at all.

Even if there were people suffering hardship, it wasn't due to misfortune, but simply their inherent circumstances. These people needed a Body Strengthening Talisman to reduce illness and physical damage caused by their hardship. Even a Good Fortune Talisman wouldn't work.

Because the entire area was generally poor, no matter how good their luck, they wouldn't stumble upon silver coins. Moreover, that kind of good fortune was built upon the misfortune of others, and she never drew such talismans.

Her Good Fortune Talisman only allowed people to avoid some misfortunes carrying ill omens; it couldn't grant them benefits out of thin air.

But hardship itself was not an accident.

For talismans, if they couldn't show immediate results, who would spend money to buy them?

Even if they bought one, they would suspect it was fake. In a state of disbelief, the effect of the talisman would be halved.

Pan Yun silently put away her talisman pouch and said, "I was wrong. I shouldn't be selling talismans here. I should go to a big city, like Kaifeng Prefecture or Guangxin Prefecture."