Drawn by Reputation

Zhou Yan felt uneasy and carefully sensed his condition once more, only then did the expression on his face relax slightly.

Whether it was due to the strength of his soul or the nature of the system's cultivation, he found that the drawbacks of the Yakshas Meditation Method after consuming a ghost were far smaller than recorded; while that baleful aura existed, it could not easily shake his resolve.

Furthermore, the addictive sensation described in the Yakshas Meditation Method was almost negligible.

With this realization, Zhou Yan immediately set aside most of his worries.

That's a relief, though I shouldn't underestimate it; perhaps it's only because I've only devoured one malicious ghost so far. It seems best not to use the Yakshas Meditation Method to deal with malicious ghosts in the future until I find a way to resolve these side effects, Zhou Yan pondered secretly.

This served as a reminder that even when obtaining powerful techniques, one must be wary of hidden traps beyond just verifying their authenticity.

After dealing with the drunkard ghost and experiencing further delays, by the time Zhou Yan regained his focus, the sky had begun to brighten.

He tidied up and left the winery.

Walking down the street, vendors selling breakfast had already begun to call out.

"Buns, big buns, five Iron Yuan each."

"Tofu pudding, fresh tofu pudding."

"Wontons, thin skins and delicate fillings, light and savory..."

"Flatbreads, flatbreads..."

Zhou Yan smelled the fragrance in the air and felt his stomach rumble with hunger.

He found a small shop, sat down, and called out, "Boss, bring me a steamer of buns, a bowl of tofu pudding, five pan-fried buns, and three flatbreads."

"Coming right up!"

Hearing business, the boss responded immediately.

It was still very early, and there were few people out, so the boss wasn't busy.

In no time at all, the food was served.

Zhou Yan took a sip of the tofu pudding and ate a pan-fried bun, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.

Having been busy all night, he was famished.

With hot food in his belly, he felt an indescribable sense of comfort and contentment.

Coupled with the morning sun and the bustle of humanity, even a guy accustomed to staying indoors felt something he couldn't quite put into words.

Because of his cultivation, he rarely went out, but that didn't mean he enjoyed staying in dark corners.

By comparison, he preferred the feeling of the vibrant, mortal world.

In a few quick bites, Zhou Yan polished off all the food and stood up, satisfied.

After settling the bill, he strolled leisurely toward his house.

Zhou Yan pushed open the door and was surprised to find Ma Yan there.

"Brother-in-law, why are you here?"

Seeing Zhou Yan, Ma Yan let out a sigh of relief. "I was worried about you! I came over first thing this morning to see if you'd returned. Thank goodness you're back; I was just about to head to the winery to look for you."

Exorcising ghosts and dispelling evil was never simple; every encounter was fraught with danger.

Ma Yan knew this well, which was why he felt anxious every time Zhou Yan went out on a job.

Even though he knew Zhou Yan's reputation was growing and his skills were formidable, he couldn't help but worry.

After all, one who walks by the river often gets their shoes wet.

In Ma Yan's plan, once Zhou Yan earned his first pot of gold, the two families could use the money for something else; it was better than risking his life like this.

However, Zhou Yan's ambitions went far beyond that.

Zhou Yan smiled slightly and said, "Brother-in-law, don't worry, I know my limits. If things get too difficult, I won't force it to the bitter end."

He wasn't a disciple of some righteous sect sworn to oppose evil to the death.

He was just trying to make a living and provide a better life for his family.

Aside from his family, there was no one else worth risking his life for.

Ma Yan nodded slightly and asked, "Was the ghost at the winery taken care of?"

"It's resolved. It was a drunkard ghost, and it's been dealt with," Zhou Yan said casually.

Ma Yan finally felt at ease. "Alright, I'll notify the Hu family. By tomorrow or so, we should have those three hundred silver dollars in hand."

Zhou Yan trusted Ma Yan completely and said directly, "Keep half for yourself, give a portion to Mother, and take a portion for your own family."

Ma Yan didn't stand on ceremony and nodded.

The two families were closely linked, and Ma Yan was a man of spirit and ambition; he didn't care much for a little extra money.

Just as Ma Yan was preparing to leave, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Zhou Yan and Ma Yan exchanged glances, both feeling a bit surprised.

Who would be visiting at such an early hour?

Zhou Yan stepped forward to open the gate, only to find a neatly dressed middle-aged man standing outside, his expression amiable and his bearing extraordinary.

"Might you be Master Zhou?" the middle-aged man asked politely, cupping his hands in a salute.

Zhou Yan's gaze swept over the man, his eyes turning slightly solemn.

He returned the salute and said, "I am he. May I ask what brings such an honored guest to my door?"

"You are too kind, truly too kind."

The middle-aged man continued, "I am merely a steward. I have heard that Master Zhou possesses profound magical powers and a sterling reputation. Recently, there has been some unrest in my master's residence, and we wish to invite Master Zhou to take a look."

Zhou Yan's brows relaxed slightly as he nodded. "No problem. This is how I make my living. When would you like me to go?"

"If Master Zhou is free, we may depart immediately. The carriage is already waiting," the middle-aged man said respectfully.

Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow; this was the first time someone had sent a carriage for him.

In the eyes of commoners and ordinary merchants, his profession might hold some status.

However, in the eyes of the powerful and the officials, it was considered rather low-class.

Therefore, when those elites encountered anything unclean, they would usually bypass him and invite disciples from the major sects directly.

Yet, the man before him was clearly no ordinary person, and he was merely a steward.

What Zhou Yan could see, Ma Yan naturally understood even more clearly, his eyes filled with excitement.

Where the middle-aged steward could not see, Ma Yan frantically signaled Zhou Yan to accept the offer.

No matter how much work they did at the bottom of the social ladder, it could never compare to a single word from those in the upper echelons; it might just be the chance for Zhou Yan to step into a higher circle.

Zhou Yan was not as naive as Ma Yan, but he agreed to the invitation nonetheless.

Even if it didn't expand his business network, a family of this stature would certainly be generous with their payment.

No one turns away money, especially not someone from a humble background like Zhou Yan.

The costs of his daily cultivation and various other expenses added up to a significant sum.

"After you."

At the middle-aged man's invitation, Zhou Yan boarded the carriage.

The man himself did not enter the cabin, choosing instead to sit near the driver, and the carriage began to roll slowly toward the inner city.

Ma Yan watched the carriage depart, his smile as radiant and brilliant as the sun.