Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 22 Fangshi
Ning Fusang took another blue dress of the same style, paid for it, and left the shop.

She strolled from West Market to North Market and sat down in front of a restaurant. A little girl with pigtails came over, holding a piece of paper, and asked in a clear voice, "What does the fairy sister need? You can take a look at this menu."

The little girl had crescent-shaped eyes and a charming smile on her face.

Ning Fusang took the menu, glanced at it quickly, pointed to two lines of small print, and then handed the menu back to her.

While waiting, Ning Fusang casually glanced at the vendors in the market. On her right was a row of dazzling array of pills, talismans, spiritual plants, and other items. Since this was at the foot of the Southern Star Sword Sect, where sword cultivators were the most numerous, the goods related to swords were diverse and countless.

The dazzling array of items—grinding stones of varying grades, exquisite and delicate sleeve blades, magnificent scabbards, tassel-like sword tassels, and accessories such as mountain jade and water jade that radiate a shimmering spiritual light—is truly breathtaking.

"Sister, your Seven Treasures Fermented Rice Balls are ready." The little maid stepped out from inside the door, holding a jade bowl. She carefully watched her step and placed the bowl on Ning Fusang's table. Then she stood aside and said obediently, "The Snowflake Poria Cakes are taking a little longer to cook. Please wait a little longer, sister."

Ning Fusang untied his purse, took out a few spirit coins, placed them in her palm, and looked up to say, "I'll pay you first."

Spirit coins are made from scraps of spirit stones. When refined into spiritual energy, they are extremely meager, so they are mostly used for small-scale transactions among ordinary cultivators.

The little girl carefully put away the spirit coins, ran back to the shop, and handed the money to her mother.

Ning Fusang picked up a spoon and gently stirred the fermented rice balls. Unexpectedly, she saw a familiar figure.

Li Yeshan.

He walked through the market, looking left and right, as if searching for something. A rogue monk in brown robes pulled him to a corner.

Ning Fusang scooped up a spoonful of fermented rice balls and savored it slowly.

Across from her, a figure pulled out a stool and sat down. His voice was slightly deep; he was an old acquaintance.

"Li Yeshan and Junior Sister Ning studied under Master Gu and had a bond as classmates. Did Junior Sister Ning just stand by and watch him be deceived into buying fake pills?"

The man was handsome, with striking eyebrows and deep-set eyes, exuding a composed and steady demeanor. He was a disciple of the Wanfang Palace, named Bu Zheng, responsible for maintaining order in the market.

Bu Zhengchang patrolled the market. Ning Fusang had dealt with him a few times and they were fairly familiar with each other.

She asked in a flat tone, "Is it illegal to mind your own business?"

Bu Zheng hesitated, still wanting to correct her. As fellow disciples, she should at least have some empathy. But when he thought of Ning Fusang's personality, he finally shook his head and gave up trying to persuade her, lest she make another sarcastic remark.

"Brother Bu, we've caught the drug dealer who was selling counterfeit medicine."

Two disciples from the Wanfang Palace escorted a cultivator dressed in brown robes with a rat-like face as they approached.

Li Yeshan followed a few steps behind, and suddenly the small shed was packed with people.

This was his first time in the market, and he had never seen anything like it before. But Li Yeshan wasn't completely clueless. Just from the word "fake medicine," he could deduce something. He was feeling uneasy, worried that things might affect him.

Ning Fusang continued eating her Seven Treasures Fermented Rice Balls without raising her head.

The brown-robed monk cried out in distress, "Sir, I'm just doing business honestly in the market, I really don't sell fake medicine!"

Bu Zheng gave a look to the disciple who had captured the brown-robed cultivator, who understood and took a pill bottle from his robes. The brown-robed cultivator's eyes followed the pill bottle, seemingly nervous yet reluctant.

"Take this pill to the nearby Dancao Zhai for appraisal." As Bu Zheng spoke, he subtly observed the brown-robed cultivator's expression. "After the appraisal confirms there are no problems, I will return it to you."

"Take advantage of the time while the elixir is being appraised, and tell me about your situation."

The brown-robed cultivator reluctantly withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath, and said, "I am a rogue cultivator from the foot of the mountain. My surname is Fei, and my given name is Qi. I make a living by reselling some worthless, second-hand trinkets."

"That bottle contains Qi-Inducing Pills. They originally belonged to a young lady in Linzhou City. Later, she successfully induced Qi into her body, so she no longer needed the pills. At that time, I happened to be in Linzhou City on business, so I used some connections to get my hands on these Qi-Inducing Pills."

"Because this Qi-Inducing Pill didn't cost many spirit stones, when I resold it, the price was set a little cheaper than the Qi-Inducing Pills on the market. I suppose that's why you misunderstood, sir."

The "service" he was referring to was picking up valuables from the dead, a dishonorable act, so he glossed over it.

Ning Fusang slightly raised her eyes and glanced at him.

At this moment, the little girl came out holding a snowflake-shaped Poria cocos cake. She quickly gave it to Ning Fusang and then went back into the house.

Under the gazes of several people, Ning Fusang calmly ate her pancake.

Li Yeshan recounted everything he knew. Of the thirty-nine new disciples, only a few had not yet mastered the Qi cultivation, and Li Yeshan was one of them, naturally feeling anxious and flustered.

With the help of a senior brother, he learned about the Qi-Inducing Pill, which can help cultivators perceive spiritual energy and increase the success rate of inducing Qi into their bodies.

However, the Qi-Inducing Pills within the sect are a bit expensive, and one pill may not be effective. Li Yeshan only had the forty spirit stones he received when he first entered the sect, and he had used up quite a few of them due to his high physical exertion these days.

Knowing his predicament, the senior disciple acted as a go-between, introducing him to Fei Qi. Therefore, Li Yeshan didn't go to watch the outer sect competition, but instead came to the market.

After hearing what the two said, Bu Zheng already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

Not long after, the disciple who had taken the pill bottle for appraisal returned, saying with an upright expression, "Senior Brother Bu, the pill bottle contains Qi-Inducing Pills, there is no problem."

Bu Zheng nodded, indicating that he should return the elixir bottle to Fei Qi.

"Whenever a new disciple joins the sect, some people in the market become restless. They take advantage of the disciples' youth and naivety, either selling fake medicine or maliciously raising prices. In order to maintain order in the market, I have no choice but to do this. I apologize to Fellow Daoist Fei for offending you."

The terms "Fellow Daoist Fei" and "Brother Fei" showed Fei Qi considerable respect and face, to which he quickly replied, "I dare not accept such praise."

"Since it was all a misunderstanding, it's good that it's been cleared up."

Fei Qi wouldn't put on airs just because the other party flattered him. Bu Zheng was a disciple of the Southern Star Sword Sect, and in terms of status, he was worlds apart from Fei Qi, a mere rogue cultivator.

After the matter was clarified, Bu Zheng left with his disciples.

Fei Qi withdrew his gaze and looked at Li Yeshan: "Fellow Daoist Li, are you still going to do this business?"

The Qi-Inducing Pill had already been tested and found to be of good quality, so Li Yeshan had nothing to hesitate about. He nodded immediately and said, "Do it."

(End of this chapter)