Nine Out, Thirteen Back

Alchemy Hall.

With Lin Zihao making the introduction, Zhao Huaian smoothly managed to meet Chen Feiyu.

"Senior Chen, this junior brother is short on funds and wants to borrow some spirit stones from you."

The moment he saw Chen Feiyu, Lin Zihao trotted up eagerly, his face brimming with ingratiating smiles.

Chen Feiyu glanced at him, then casually shifted his gaze to Zhao Huaian. "How many spirit stones do you wish to borrow?"

"One hundred low-grade spirit stones. I wish to borrow them for three months!" Zhao Huaian hurriedly answered with caution.

Chen Feiyu nodded, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "Then do you know the rules here?"

Zhao Huaian glanced at Lin Zihao. "Of course. Nine out, thirteen back. After three months, principal and interest together come to two hundred low-grade spirit stones."

Lin Zihao had already explained these rules to him on the way over.

Such exorbitant interest had truly given Zhao Huaian a fright, but considering that he had the Attribute Heavenly Book, he gritted his teeth and still decided to borrow spirit stones from Chen Feiyu.

"You know what you're doing."

Chen Feiyu smiled faintly and took ninety low-grade spirit stones from his Storage Bag. "Three months from now, principal and interest will total two hundred low-grade spirit stones. To be precise, it should be two hundred and nineteen low-grade spirit stones. But since it's Junior Brother's first time here, we'll go with the two hundred low-grade spirit stones you mentioned. I hope Junior Brother won't default, or it would be unfortunate if it harmed the bond between fellow disciples."

"Of course."

Zhao Huaian nodded. After accepting the ninety low-grade spirit stones, he carefully backed out.

Watching Zhao Huaian's departing figure, Lin Zihao smiled obsequiously at Chen Feiyu from the side. "Senior Chen, that kid is only a newly initiated disciple. He definitely won't be able to repay it in three months. Why not send someone to collect the debt after a while?"

"Oh... you two have a grudge?"

Chen Feiyu gave a cold smile and tossed ten low-grade spirit stones from his Storage Bag to Lin Zihao. "Rules cannot be broken. Whether he can repay it or not, we have to wait until three months have passed."

A newly initiated disciple had been brought here by Lin Zihao to borrow spirit stones. How could Chen Feiyu not know that Lin Zihao wanted to use him as a knife?

But he did not care. All he cared about was how many spirit stones he could earn from this.

As for whether Zhao Huaian would be able to repay the debt in three months, Chen Feiyu was even less concerned.

If Zhao Huaian could repay it, so much the better. He could easily earn one hundred spirit stones in interest.

If Zhao Huaian could not repay it, that was no problem either. The Alchemy Hall had recently been developing a new medicine. If he brought people over to test it, he could receive a hefty sum of spirit stones each time—more than enough to recoup his investment. A few more trips, and he would make a killing.

"Yes, Senior Chen!"

Seeing that Chen Feiyu remained unmoved, Lin Zihao could only nod.

Watching Zhao Huaian's back, Lin Zihao clutched the ten spirit stones as murderous ferocity flickered in his eyes. "I'll let you live another three months for now!"

"This senior brother, it's not that I'm trying to lowball you. I specifically asked around about the market prices. A copy of Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans is generally worth around seventy low-grade spirit stones. I only came here specifically to buy from you because you seem approachable, Senior Brother."

Greenwood Market.

Holding the ninety low-grade spirit stones, Zhao Huaian returned to the same stall as before and haggled tirelessly, nearly talking himself hoarse.

After a round of bargaining, Zhao Huaian finally closed the deal at sixty-nine low-grade spirit stones and purchased that copy of Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans.

The ninety low-grade spirit stones he had borrowed at exorbitant interest, added to the one low-grade spirit stone he had left before, had now shrunk in one stroke to twenty-two low-grade spirit stones. Zhao Huaian's face was full of heartache.

Yet it was all worth it.

After all, with this copy of Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans, he could finally devote himself fully to studying the path of spirit talismans and carrying out his plan to get rich.

Having successfully bought Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans, Zhao Huaian also purchased five low-grade spirit stones' worth of Talisman Paper and Black Ink for drawing spirit talismans.

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author—it may simply have been renamed!

After spending all that, Zhao Huaian deliberately set aside seventeen low-grade spirit stones for emergencies. Carrying a large amount of Talisman Paper and Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans, he hurried toward the Residential Area.

Time was money. He had three months left. He needed to become a Spirit Talisman Master as quickly as possible, draw a large number of spirit talismans, and earn two hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Residential Area.

The moment Zhao Huaian returned to the Residential Area, he ran into Liu Bohu, who was coming out of his room.

"Brother Liu, where are you going?"

Seeing Liu Bohu's rather hurried appearance, Zhao Huaian could not help asking.

"To find my clan brother!" Liu Bohu grinned, looking spirited and high-spirited. "My clan brother happened to return today from an assignment. He said he'd give me several bottles of elixir pills. With those elixir pills to help me, I'm sure I'll soon break through to Qi Refining Layer Three!"

As he spoke, Liu Bohu patted Zhao Huaian on the shoulder encouragingly. "Brother Zhao, you need to work hard too. This time, I'll definitely enter Qi Refining Layer Three before you do."

Zhao Huaian's cultivation was currently higher than Liu Bohu's. Moreover, he had drawn in his Spiritual Energy, so Liu Bohu naturally could not see through him. He still believed Zhao Huaian was like himself, remaining at Qi Refining Layer Two.

Hearing Liu Bohu's encouragement, Zhao Huaian smiled and raised a thumbs-up in praise. "Having someone to support you in the sect really is different. With Brother Liu's talent, together with the elixir pills you'll receive this time, breaking through to Qi Refining Layer Three is surely as certain as a nail driven into a board."

"Haha... thank you for your auspicious words, Brother Zhao!"

Liu Bohu laughed heartily, waved his hand, and strode away with easy flair.

After taking just two steps, he suddenly remembered something. His expression turned somewhat grave as he said, "Oh, right. Brother Zhao, be careful lately. A few days ago, someone was specifically asking around about you."

"Someone was specifically asking around about me?"

Zhao Huaian froze, disbelief flickering across his face.

Although he had been at Greenwood Sect for more than five months, he rarely went out, spending nearly all his time cultivating diligently in his room.

He had come into contact with very few people. Other than Liu Bohu, there were only Lin Dongpeng from the Incense Hall and a few stallholders at Greenwood Market. It was simply impossible for him to have offended anyone.

Yet even under such circumstances, someone had specifically been asking about him. How could that not surprise him?

"Indeed. But I don't know who is behind it either. Still, from my judgment, whoever has been asking around about you is no good person. Brother Zhao, you should be careful from now on."

Liu Bohu nodded, his expression grave.

With a Clan Brother in late Qi Refining as his backer, he had been thriving in the Residential Area over the past five-odd months.

Moreover, he was usually well informed. Naturally, news of someone specifically inquiring about Zhao Huaian could not be kept from him.

Zhao Huaian had always had a good relationship with him, and they got along well. Naturally, he had to inform him of it, if only to forge a good connection.

"Though I don't know whom I may have offended, I still have to thank Brother Liu for the warning."

Zhao Huaian's expression turned solemn as he cupped his hands toward Liu Bohu.

"It's nothing. Brother Zhao and I are close, so of course I should look out for you more."

Liu Bohu waved his hand with easy grace and strode away.

"Who could it be...?"

Zhao Huaian frowned deeply, staring at Liu Bohu's retreating figure, unable to make head or tail of it.

He had no idea when he might have offended someone. The matter was truly strange.

"No matter who it is, soldiers will come to block them, earth will come to dam the water. What matters most now is becoming a Spirit Talisman Master and paying off my debts as soon as possible."

Standing at the doorway, Zhao Huaian sighed at last when he could not figure it out. He returned to his room and took out the newly purchased Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans.