The next day
Shang Yanting inquired all the way and found the best doctor in the small town.
Observation, questioning, examination, and pulse checking.
After a round, the doctor frowned, "Young master, this injury, I cannot treat it."
Though the external wounds have healed well, the internal meridians are completely severed. It's a miracle he can walk and perform simple daily tasks now. To restore to full health, it would take a miracle.
Upon hearing this result, Shang Yanting wasn't too surprised. He stood up, said "Thank you," and left.
The old doctor looked at his slow-moving back and sighed slightly, What a fine young man, handsome in appearance and gracious in manner, unfortunately crippled.
##
Jia Xitong knew Shang Yanting's legs would recover, but hearing the doctor's words may inevitably cause Shang Yanting some disappointment.
To keep him from being upset for too long, she assigned him a new mission.
"Hello, dear Host, you have a new mission: Collect 1000 sheets of Anjianxuan grass paper and 5 taels of Wenyao Fish Blood Ink.
Mission reward: 1 Mixu Talisman"
Upon hearing this, Shang Yanting paused.
He originally planned to return to the inn, but instead turned toward the medicine shop.
Medicine Shop
"Young man, you're back again."
The shopkeeper put down his work to greet him, "What are you selling this time?"
"I want to buy 1000 pieces of Anjianxuan grass and 5 taels of Wenyao Fish Blood."
The shopkeeper was taken aback by Shang Yanting's words, this is a big business!
"Although our shop has them, not as much as you said. For such a large quantity, I need a few days to prepare, and you'll need to pay one-third as a deposit."
The shopkeeper calculated quickly, "Ten sheets of Anjianxuan grass cost one tael of silver, and Wenyao Fish Blood costs ten taels of silver per tael, totaling two hundred taels of silver, with a deposit of 67 taels required..."
Shang Yanting ended up leaving empty-handed.
"Dear Host, we're so poor."
Jia Xitong started reminiscing about the once extravagant Young Master Shang Mou.
##
The small town was just a temporary stop.
Shang Yanting acquired a carriage, rations, and other luggage in preparation to leave the town.
Two days of accommodation cost 50 wen, while rations and other supplies cost 30 wen, the carriage cost 2 taels of silver, and a black iron token cost 1 tael.
At this point, they still had 17 taels and 20 wen left.
"Dear Host, where are you planning to go?"
"Zhaoyang City."
Shang Yanting said the name of the place.
It wasn't far, not within the territory of the Eight Great Families, and housed a famous Divine Doctor from Dongxu Country, the most suitable place for them to go now.
After five days
They finally arrived.
The heavy and archaic city walls and towers came into view.
At the city gate, soldiers in armor were inspecting the arriving and departing locals, and Shang Yanting presented the iron token he bought for 1 tael, passing without issue.
Inside the city, clusters of gray buildings stood, with flat stone slabs paving the ground.
Shops were everywhere, and vendors came and went, far more prosperous than the small town.
Much more prosperous, but the prices were also much higher.
"Young master, accommodation for one night is 100 wen. Additionally, caring for your horse costs another 10 wen daily."
Shang Yanting paid for five days, leaving him with only 16 taels and 470 wen.
Money is needed everywhere!
Jia Xitong increasingly felt the importance of silver.
And it was rumored that a consultation with the Divine Doctor cost 500 taels of silver, "Dear Host, how are you going to pay for the treatment?"
"Sell you."
"Huh?"
Jia Xitong was momentarily stunned by his words, then quickly realized he was joking, "I'm in your Sea of Consciousness, how would you sell me?"
"Sell your Heavenly and Earthly Treasures."
This statement frightened Jia Xitong, "Dear Host, calm down!"
The dear Host didn't seem able to calm down; the scoundrel actually walked into a pawnshop! She shouted many times in the Sea of Consciousness, but to no avail, only to see him take out a talisman from his backpack.
"Could you please have this appraised, this is the item I wish to pawn."
The shopkeeper showed a trace of disappointment in his eyes when appraising the item, "A talisman..."
The last time someone pawned a talisman was more than twenty years ago.
How to put it?
Like chicken ribs.
Of little use if kept, a pity to discard.
But business is business, and the shopkeeper gestured for him to sit down, "I wonder how much the young master wishes to pawn it for?"
"Two hundred taels of silver."
Shang Yanting slowly stated the price.
Jia Xitong was shocked, wondering if her drawn talisman was worth that much?
The shopkeeper had trouble maintaining his professional composure, "Two hundred taels of silver? Young man, there's no talisman in this world worth two hundred taels. Regardless of whether your talisman can provide illumination or aid sleep, it isn't worth more than 20 wen."
The commotion caught the attention of others in the store.
Even though talisman cultivation disappeared from Aotian Continent more than a hundred years ago, among those present were people who recognized it.
"Someone daring to sell a talisman for two hundred taels of silver, is it made of gold?"
A wealthy-looking man sneered, publicly "exposing" the scammer, "Two hundred taels of silver? The talisman alone isn't even worth 20 wen, honestly."
More people were drawn by the commotion, gathering with a sense of curiosity.
The wealthy-looking man held an air of superiority, rubbing the thumb ring on his right hand, noticing a graceful figure descending from upstairs from the corner of his eye.
Cao Zhi Jie, seeing the goddess in his heart gaze his way, continued demonstrating his knowledge and superiority in front of the crowd,
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me explain. Talisman studies vanished completely hundreds of years ago; today, these talismans are fraudulent. This person attempts to pawn a fraudulent item for two hundred taels of silver."
After his explanation, the crowd's gaze towards Shang Yanting changed.
"He looks impeccable, who'd have thought he was a scammer."
"You can never know anyone truly, selling something worth 20 wen for two hundred taels of silver, he's daring."
"Right!"
...
Hearing Cao Zhi Jie's introduction, the crowd started buzzing.
Seeing the effect achieved, a slight smile appeared on Cao Zhi Jie's face before he turned to extend his hand toward the goddess, "Originally intended to bring Miss Xie for some entertainment, but encountered this situation, I hope you'll forgive me."
Jia Xitong watched this oily man putting on airs the whole time.
Especially his expression at the moment, it was truly the epitome of arrogance.
She was about to suggest to the dear Host to teach him a lesson, only to hear Shang Yanting coolly respond, "Two hundred taels of silver, not one less."
Cao Zhi Jie's steps halted as he was about to leave.
"Is that so?"
He could not stand such men who use their looks to flaunt, entirely without any substance.
Cao Zhi Jie cast an eye over him from top to bottom, then fixed his gaze on the talisman he held, "Pray tell, how does this talisman justify the price of two hundred taels of silver?"
"This is a Solidification Talisman."
Shang Yanting replied unhurriedly, "It can upgrade refined steel weapons to Radiant Gold."
He was lying!
Radiant Gold Magical Artifacts are each worth at least a hundred gold, crafted only by master-level Artifact Refiners.
If a single talisman could transform a refined steel weapon into a Radiant Gold Magical Artifact, there would be no need for Artifact Refiners.
"Fine, I'll buy one of your talismans."
Cao Zhi Jie coldly laughed, pulling out a silver note worth two hundred taels, "If this talisman can't transform refined steel weapons into Radiant Gold Weapons, I want you to strip down at the doorway and shout 'I am a fraud' three times."