Chapter Eight: Danger at Arm's Reach

The fireball talisman transformed instantly into a blazing sphere the size of a basketball, shooting forward at tremendous speed and exploding with a boom, gouging out a pit roughly three feet deep. Among fireball talismans, this ranked at the very peak of power. To acquire such a top-grade talisman at an ordinary price was truly a rare bargain.

“Wow, this fireball talisman is several times stronger than the usual fireball spell!” the crowd exclaimed in awe. Their enthusiasm for buying surged at once, each person eager to snatch up a fireball talisman.

“Young man, give me twelve fireball talismans and ten barrier talismans.”

“Very well, here are your talismans—twelve spirit stones in total,” Lin Yang said, handing over the goods.

“Me too! I want some as well!” The crowd burst into a frenzy, scrambling to get their share. At this rate, the remaining talismans were sold out in no time.

“All right, all right, I’m sold out for today, friends. Come again next time!” Lin Yang cupped his hands in farewell and began packing up his wares.

“Young man, come back next time! Some of us didn’t get any!” called a voice from somewhere in the crowd.

“Yes, yes, I’ll come again. I hope you’ll all continue to support me,” Lin Yang replied. Soon, the crowd dispersed, and he gathered his things, preparing to leave.

Suddenly, several nearby stall owners stood up and surrounded him, clearly intent on preventing his departure. The disparity in height made Lin Yang uneasy, so he drew his longsword.

“What do you want?” Lin Yang demanded, sword pointed at the man who seemed to lead the group.

“Easy, young man,” the portly man replied calmly, pressing down the tip of Lin Yang’s sword as he spoke. “Are you, by any chance, a talisman master?”

“Indeed I am. What business do you have with me?” Lin Yang raised his blade once more, keeping it trained on the group, ready for anything.

“Friend, if you keep selling like this, there’s no business left for the rest of us,” the portly man said, his tone gentle yet insistent. “I suspect you’ve too much work and too little time, hence the discount sale. Why not sell your talismans to us? We’ll resell them, as we need to restock anyway. You make your profit and save time, we earn ours—everyone wins!”

Hearing this, Lin Yang sheathed his sword but kept a fireball talisman in hand. “Whether I lack time or not is none of your concern,” he replied coldly.

The portly man, seeing Lin Yang lower his guard, tried to sweeten the deal. “We could even gather materials for you and deliver them right to your door, as well as pick up finished talismans. It would save you trouble.”

Lin Yang cupped his hands in a polite gesture. “Forgive my rudeness, friends. May I ask your names?”

“I’m Li Dafu. These are Zhang Erwa, Wang Laosan, and Li Laosi. And your name, young friend?”

“My surname is Lin, given name Dong. You may call me Brother Lin or Daoist Lin,” he replied.

“So, Daoist Lin, what do you think of my offer?” Li Dafu asked.

Lin Yang considered briefly before replying, “Since Daoist Li is so sincere, it would be impolite for me to refuse. Very well, I’ll sell you three fireball talismans for one spirit stone, and three barrier talismans for two spirit stones.”

“Excellent!” Li Dafu replied, producing a jade slip. “Here, Daoist Lin—this is my sound transmission talisman. Contact me when you wish to trade.”

“Very well, I shall,” Lin Yang said, accepting the jade slip. “Until next time, friends.”

“Until next time, Daoist Lin,” Li Dafu and his companions replied, returning to their stalls.

Lin Yang quickly slipped away, ducked into an alley, and used spiritual energy to rid himself of the powder that had been scattered on him. He casually discarded the sound transmission talisman as well and changed into a new set of clothes, blending into the crowd.

At that moment, Li Dafu opened his eyes. “He refuses to cooperate. Second Brother, follow him. Keep an eye on him, and when he leaves the marketplace, take care of him.”

“Understood,” replied the tall, thin man, rising to pursue Lin Yang.

Earlier, when Lin Yang was surrounded, this man had sprinkled the powder on him. But Lin Yang, ever cautious, had sensed it and taken measures. The disappearance of their target made the spirit beast uneasy, leading to everything that followed.

Lin Yang could still sense someone tailing him. He retrieved a black cloak from his storage pouch, draped it over himself, and slipped deeper into the crowd, moving swiftly through the throng thanks to his small stature. The tall, thin man, however, was soon trapped by the press of bodies and fell hopelessly behind.

“Damn, lost him,” the man muttered, forced to turn back and report to Li Dafu.

“Big Brother, it was too crowded—I lost him.”

“No matter. Have our men watch the exits of the marketplace—he couldn’t have removed all the powder. As long as there’s a trace of scent left, he won’t escape,” Li Dafu snarled. “As long as he’s inside the market, we’ll get him eventually.”

“Brilliant, Big Brother. I’ll send the word now,” the lanky man said, giving instructions to his underlings.

...

Clad in his black cloak, Lin Yang hurried through the streets until he was certain he was no longer being followed. He stopped and sighed to himself, “I was too naive, still haven’t adjusted my mindset. Just for a few dozen spirit stones’ worth of goods, and already I’ve drawn this much trouble. Perhaps they think I’m young and easy prey.”

“Fortunately, I don’t intend to leave the marketplace,” he thought. He approached a passerby and asked for directions to the broker’s office, thanked him, and made his way there.

He entered a prominent three-story building that stood out among the marketplace’s modest stalls.

The clerk at the counter noticed him and hurried over. “What may I help you with, honored guest? We’ve just received a new batch of high-quality slaves—”

“I’m here to rent a room,” Lin Yang interrupted, lowering the brim of his hat so his face was shrouded in shadow. He spoke in a deep, magnetic voice quite unlike his own—altering his voice was simple enough, so long as he used spiritual energy to wrap his throat.

“Then you’ve come to the right place, sir. Our brokerage is the largest in the Southern Valley Market—all vacant properties in the market are handled through us,” the clerk said enthusiastically. “What sort of place are you looking for?”

“Something spacious and quiet, if possible.”

“We do have such a place. There’s a small courtyard on the north side of the market, complete with a spirit-gathering array. If the previous owner hadn’t died while hunting beasts, it wouldn’t be vacant now.”

“Take me to see it,” Lin Yang said.

...