Chapter 26: Heavens Have Mercy

10:00 AM. In front of the gates of Gudu University.

Although the autumnal equinox was approaching, the midday heat still lingered. Liu Qingya was dressed in a short-sleeved top and ultra-short shorts today, leaving her long, slender legs fully exposed. She had a wonderful figure—not only tall but also quite slim—and her hair draped loosely over her shoulders. At a glance, she looked every bit as striking as the big stars seen on television.

"Didn't you say you had something to find me for? What is it?" Liu Qingya asked, leaning against a white sports car.

"I'm going to collect a debt with you," I said, sliding directly into the passenger seat.

I had only just turned eighteen and hadn't gotten my driver's license yet; otherwise, I would have loved to experience what it felt like to drive a sports car.

"Collect a debt? What debt?" Liu Qingya asked, looking puzzled.

"A debt of twenty million. Don't ask, you'll know when we get there," I replied. "Just drive to 145 Nanshan Road."

"145 Nanshan Road? You mean..." Liu Qingya realized something immediately.

"The brass box was taken by them, and they stole it," I said, not bothering to hide it from her. Once we reached 145 Nanshan Road, she would likely understand the situation anyway.

"Then how did you know?" she countered.

"Coincidence!" I didn't offer a detailed explanation, simply urging her to start the car.

Liu Qingya didn't press the matter further. She stepped on the gas, and the sports car roared to life.

"Do you like this car?" she asked, noticing me glancing at the steering wheel.

"It's alright. It's a sports car—an extension of a man's speed," I said. It was undeniably cool; what young man wouldn't like it? It was just a matter of not having the money to buy one.

Liu Qingya’s car was a Ferrari 488, with a price tag of over four million just to get it on the road. Including taxes and registration, it was pushing five million. To me, five million was an astronomical figure. My old man and I could work for days just to scrape together fifty thousand.

"If you like it, you can take it and drive it," Liu Qingya said casually. "I don't really drive this car much; it only has two seats, and sometimes it’s not enough when there’s an extra person."

To be so indifferent about a sports car—that was the definition of humblebragging!

"Forget it, I don't even have a license." I shook my head. Perhaps it was the upbringing I'd had since childhood; my grandfather always told me to avoid touching things that didn't belong to me. Furthermore, this car was worth a fortune. What if I accidentally bumped or scratched it? If Liu Qingya asked me to pay for it, I definitely couldn't afford it; if she didn't, I would feel terrible.

"Find some time to take the test. I can teach you. You can't get by these days without a license," she said while driving.

...

Nanshan Road was quite a distance from Gudu University. By the time we reached our destination, it was already 11:30 AM. 145 Nanshan Road was a shop that sold talismans. It was located in a very remote area. Even though the shop was decorated luxuriously, one couldn't help but wonder if anyone would actually come to such a secluded place to shop.

"Welcome, what can I help you with?" Before we even fully entered, an elderly man in his fifties or sixties stepped out, greeting us with a beaming smile.

He was the same age as the old man I knew, but look at him—dressed in grey robes, exuding an air of dignity and prestige. Contrast that with Zhang Yuxuan, who was just a pathetic old geezer.

"Just browsing!" I replied with a smile, then pulled Liu Qingya inside.

The interior of the talisman shop was quite spacious, covering several hundred square meters. The lighting was bright, and the place was spotless. In dozens of glass display cases, hundreds of talismans were arranged. Most had a brief description, while a few had none at all, yet they were placed in the center and carried hefty price tags.

"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million..." I counted silently. There were seven zeros! Three million! Were they robbing a bank? A single talisman cost nearly as much as the Ferrari 488 Liu Qingya was driving. The other talismans varied in price, but even the cheapest ones started at five figures.

For a moment, I felt a twinge of envy. Look at how expensive these talismans were, while I was still worrying about my next meal. Heaven have mercy, why was I living so miserably?

"If you two have specific needs, feel free to share them so I can make a recommendation," the old man said, noticing us staring blankly for a long time.

Hearing this, I instinctively wanted to ask if he bought talismans; if he did, I could draw a few and have him sell them for me. Good grief, this was my first time seeing that selling talismans could lead to such immense wealth.

However, considering the business at hand, I suppressed the thought. "May I ask if Li Yiran is here? We are looking for her."

"Li Yiran? Are you friends of the young mistress?" the man asked.

"Not exactly friends, just need to speak with her about something," I said. I didn't mention the debt directly; what if they got annoyed and kicked us out? After all, this man might not know about the business between us and Li Yiran. It was better to speak directly in front of her.

"I haven't seen you two before; you look like strangers," the man said, becoming wary.

"It is a pressing matter, please convey the message. By the way, I am Jiang Chen, and this is Liu Qingya." I introduced us first. If Li Yiran agreed to see us, that would be fine. If she tried to play dumb, we would have to resort to other measures.

"Wait a moment, I will make a call." The man excused himself and headed toward a corner.

Looking at the room full of talismans, Liu Qingya sighed softly, "This is too expensive! I thought my father's real estate business was profitable, but this is the real gold mine! A single talisman can sell for tens of thousands or even millions! If someone could draw a hundred a day, wouldn't they be rich?"

"It is profitable, but talismans aren't that easy to draw," I explained. "Drawing them consumes a massive amount of spiritual energy and focus. For an average Taoist, drawing one ordinary talisman a day is already a good feat. As for those with deep cultivation, they might manage a few dozen of the basic ones, but for the advanced, high-level talismans, they can only manage one or two."

"Still a gold mine!" Liu Qingya lamented. "Why don't you draw some and sell them?"

"Forget it!" I shook my head. You need a reputation to sell these things. If you just drew one and asked for tens of thousands, who would buy it? Not to mention three million! People would probably just think I was an idiot. This requires reputation and connections; it's not something you can just sell on a whim. It’s like calligraphy: famous calligraphers sell their work for millions, while the unknown ones struggle to make ends meet.

"Please wait in the parlor upstairs; the young mistress will be here shortly." A moment later, the old man returned, led us to a room on the second floor, brewed us a pot of tea, and left us to wait.