Drawn by His Reputation

Zhou Yan still wasn't reassured. He carefully checked his condition again, and only then did his expression relax slightly.

Whether it was because his soul was powerful or because of the system's cultivation, the drawbacks he felt after using Yaksha Ghost-Swallowing were far milder than the records described. The bloodlust was there, but it couldn't easily shake his mind.

What's more, the addictive feeling described in the Yakshas Meditation Method was almost negligible.

That put most of Zhou Yan's worries to rest.

That was a relief. Still, I can't afford to underestimate it. Maybe it's because I've only swallowed one evil spirit so far. In the future, I'd better not use the Yakshas Meditation Method against evil spirits until I find a way to deal with the side effects. Zhou Yan thought to himself.

It was a reminder that even when he acquired a powerful technique, he had to be wary of hidden traps as well as make sure it was genuine...

After taking care of the drunk ghost, he'd lost more time. By the time Zhou Yan came to his senses, the sky was already beginning to brighten.

He tidied up and left the distillery.

The streets were coming to life, and breakfast vendors had begun hawking their wares.

"Steamed buns! Big steamed buns, five for one Iron Yuan!"

"Fresh tofu pudding!"

"Wontons! Thin wrappers, generous filling, light and savory..."

"Flatbread! Flatbread..."

The aromas in the air made Zhou Yan realize he was getting hungry.

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

"Coming right up!"

Hearing that he had a customer, the owner answered at once.

It was still early, and there weren't many people about, so the owner wasn't busy.

Before long, everything was served.

Zhou Yan took a sip of tofu pudding and a bite of a pan-fried bun. A satisfied look spread across his face.

After working all night, he'd been hungry for a while.

The hot food in his stomach filled him with a comfort and satisfaction he could hardly describe.

And feeling the morning sun and the bustle of people around him gave even a homebody like him a strange sense of warmth.

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

On the contrary, he preferred the lively feel of the human world.

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

After paying, he ambled back toward his home.

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

"Brother-in-law, what are you doing here?"

When Ma Yan saw Zhou Yan, he let out a breath of relief. "I was worried about you. I came by first thing this morning to see if you'd made it back. Thank goodness you're home. I was just about to go look for you at the distillery."

There was no easy way to exorcise ghosts and drive away evil. Every time, it was dangerous.

Ma Yan knew that, so every time Zhou Yan went out to take care of something, he couldn't help worrying.

Even though Zhou Yan's reputation had grown and he was no amateur, Ma Yan still fretted over him.

After all, if you spend enough time walking by the river, you're bound to get your shoes wet.

Ma Yan's plan was to wait until Zhou Yan earned his first pot of gold, then have the two families use it to start another business. That would be better than risking their lives like this.

But Zhou Yan's ambitions went well beyond that...

Zhou Yan smiled faintly. "Don't worry, brother-in-law. I know my limits. If things get too dangerous, I won't push it."

He wasn't some disciple of a great orthodox sect, sworn to fight evil spirits to the death.

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

His family were the only people he'd risk his life for.

Ma Yan nodded slightly. "Did you take care of the ghost at the distillery?"

"I did. It was a drunk ghost. I dealt with it," Zhou Yan said casually.

Only then did Ma Yan relax. "Good. I'll notify the Old Hu Family right away. We should have around three hundred silver dollars by tomorrow."

Zhou Yan trusted Ma Yan completely. "Set half aside for me. Give some to Mother, and keep some for yourself."

Ma Yan didn't refuse. He nodded.

The two families were closely tied together now. Ma Yan was a man with ambition and resolve; a little money meant nothing to him.

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

Zhou Yan and Ma Yan exchanged glances, both surprised.

Who would show up this early?

Zhou Yan went to open the door. A neatly dressed, middle-aged man stood outside, looking amiable and distinguished.

"May I ask if you are Dharma Master Zhou?" The middle-aged man cupped his hands and asked politely.

Zhou Yan's gaze swept over the man, and his expression turned slightly serious.

He returned the salute. "I am. What can I do for you, sir?"

"Not at all, not at all," the middle-aged man replied.

"I'm merely a steward. I've heard that Dharma Master Zhou has profound Magic Power and an excellent reputation. Recently, my master's home has been troubled by strange occurrences, so we'd like to ask you to come take a look."

Zhou Yan's brow relaxed slightly. He nodded. "No problem. This is how I make my living. When would you like me to come?"

"If you're available, we can go right now. The carriage is waiting," the middle-aged man said respectfully.

Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow. This was the first time anyone had sent a carriage for him.

Among ordinary people and common merchants, his line of work might have earned him some standing.

But in the eyes of powerful officials and nobles, he was small fry.

So when those people encountered anything unclean, they usually invited disciples from the major sects directly.

The middle-aged man in front of him was clearly no ordinary person, yet he was only a steward.

Ma Yan could see it even more clearly than Zhou Yan. His eyes were bright with excitement.

Out of the steward's sight, Ma Yan frantically gestured for Zhou Yan to accept.

No matter how hard they worked at the bottom, it couldn't compare to a single word from someone at the top. This might help Zhou Yan rise to a higher level.

Zhou Yan wasn't as naive as Ma Yan, but he readily accepted the invitation all the same.

Even if it didn't help him expand his network, a household like this was sure to pay generously.

No one turned down money, especially not someone as low on the social ladder as Zhou Yan.

Cultivation expenses and all sorts of other needs added up to a considerable sum.

"Please."

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

The man himself didn't enter the carriage. Instead, he took a seat near the driver, and the carriage slowly headed toward the inner city.

Ma Yan watched the carriage disappear into the distance, his smile bright as the sun.