Chapter 70 Talisman Paper

"There are still a few days until the Mid-Autumn Feast. If there are any activities during these next few days, I will call for Junior Brother."

Before Jiang Chen could open his mouth to refuse, Princess Yuzhen said with a beaming smile, "Don't refuse Senior Sister, okay? You are unfamiliar with Chang'an; with my help, you can avoid quite a bit of trouble."

Watching her appearance of beaming smiles on the surface while hiding madness underneath, Jiang Chen couldn't help but calculate in his heart whether this was her true self or just another layer of disguise.

"Since that is the case, then this Daoist will respectfully accept."

The conversation ended hastily just like that.

Jiang Chen left Yuzhen Taoist Temple.

Outside the temple, Princess Yuzhen watched Jiang Chen leave and remained motionless for a long time. After a while, she turned and walked into Yuzhen Taoist Temple, and the main gate closed behind her.

...

Jiang Chen went to the West Market, found a property agent, and chose a quiet and secluded residence to rent.

Inside the residence, there was a locust tree with lush branches and leaves. Its branches were covered in white flowers, bringing a hint of coolness to the courtyard even in the sweltering summer.

Everything was good, except that it was a bit expensive.

Jiang Chen agreed with the property agent to rent it for one month at a time, costing a little over three guan of coins in total.

By this point, Jiang Chen's money was about to run out.

"I must find a way to earn some money, otherwise just sitting around and depleting my savings is not a solution."

For a Daoist to earn money, it usually boils down to divination, fortune-telling, or slaying demons.

Jiang Chen had never studied the I Ching, and this city of Chang'an was protected by Dragon Qi, so no ordinary minor demons dared to invade.

Those who could settle down stably in Chang'an were basically all powerful demons, which Jiang Chen was not capable of opposing.

However, Jiang Chen had one other skill, and that was drawing Talismans!

He currently knew how to draw a wide variety of Talismans; he could draw ones for house protection, warding off evil, curing illnesses, and strengthening luck.

Jiang Chen decided that in his spare time, he would go to the market to sell Talismans.

For the people of Chang'an, there was generally no need to guard against demons and evil spirits.

Ordinary demons and evil spirits found it thankless to be here, and they also had to guard against Imperial Agents coming to check on them at any time.

However, there are exceptions to everything.

He went to the market to buy the brush, cinnabar, and yellow paper necessary for drawing Talismans.

He couldn't help but sigh; they say paper in Luoyang is expensive, but the paper here in Chang'an is not cheap either.

After Jiang Chen finished drawing some Soul-Calming Talismans and Tai Sui Talismans and took them to the West Market, he was told that he could not set up a stall there; he needed to register at the Zhujing Office before he could do business inside.

So, after asking for the location of the Zhujing Office, Jiang Chen headed toward it.

When he arrived, the people there discovered it was a Daoist coming to register.

They were very enthusiastic, without making unreasonable demands or having complicated procedures, and they quickly finished it for Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen returned to the West Market, found a small, shady corner, spread a cloth on the ground, and then took out a few Talismans and laid them on it.

Immediately after, he sat cross-legged and began to Cultivate.

The West Market was bustling with people, but most were shops, and there were very few people setting up stalls like Jiang Chen.

Therefore, Jiang Chen's attire and the Talismans on the ground quickly attracted the attention of many people.

But most just looked out of curiosity, took a few glances, and walked away.

Jiang Chen didn't mind and just sat quietly in meditation.

Until at one moment, a figure blocked the sunlight and stood in front of Jiang Chen's stall.

"Daoist, if you don't set up a large banner with labels on it, how will people know what you are selling?"

Jiang Chen opened his eyes, calmed his inner Qi, and looked at the person in front of him.

This was a man dressed in brocade and fine clothing, wearing a valuable magatama at his waist.

He was currently standing swaggeringly in front of Jiang Chen's stall, looking at these Talismans with an expression of disdain.

Behind him, there were several people resembling servants and guards surrounding him.

There was a faint trace of Qi in the man's body, not formed through natural Cultivation.

It seemed more like it had naturally formed from consuming precious medicinal herbs over many years.

This also made his strength exceed that of an ordinary person, but it was not up to the level of a practitioner.

This must be a descendant of some major Family.

"Those who are interested will naturally come," Jiang Chen said indifferently.

"Interested people? Where would interested people come from? Why haven't I seen a single interested person after watching for so long?" the man mocked.

He had just seen Jiang Chen set up a stall below while he was in the restaurant, but after watching for a long time, he didn't see a single person come up to ask.

"Is Your Excellency not an interested person?" Jiang Chen countered.

For a moment, this question actually stumped the man; he stammered for a long time without thinking of a retort.

Finally, he sneered, "Daoist, I never said I wanted to buy your few pieces of broken Talisman paper."

"Then don't buy it."

The man was choked up again; he had originally thought Jiang Chen would lose his composure and become angry out of shame, but he didn't expect the other party to just say that indifferently and close his eyes to doze off again.

This instead piqued his interest.

"Daoist, don't you know that the common people of Chang'an almost all believe in the Buddha? Your ghost-drawn Talismans are not easy to sell."

Although the Daoist sects were more powerful than the Buddhist sects during this period, Chang'an lacked any notable Daoist temples. Instead, temples like Dacien Temple and Huayan Temple had flourishing incense.

Especially Dacien Temple; because of the Empress and Master Xuanzang, it was even more popular among the common people.

Later, Subhakarasimha, a direct descendant of the Shakya clan and a contemporary high monk who practiced Esoteric Buddhism, traveled east. He was summoned by the Saint, who personally arranged his residence, further pushing the influence of Buddhism in Chang'an to its peak.

Although most ancient common people were feudal and ignorant, at least they wouldn't perform the palms-together salute in a Daoist temple.

Nor would they perform the right-hand wrapping salute in a Buddhist temple.

"It does not matter. If there is someone in need, they will naturally seek out this Daoist. And for those who do not need it, this Daoist does not hope they buy useless things just because of faith."

Jiang Chen took a deep look at the man, making him feel slightly guilty.

Because the reason he had been drinking happily in the restaurant but was inexplicably drawn to find Jiang Chen was precisely because of some underlying reason.

"Daoist, what functions do these Talismans of yours have?"

"Warding off evil, protecting the house, curing illnesses, calming the spirit, and slaying demons; all are possible."

"Bragging!" the man did not believe it.

Seeing that Jiang Chen stopped talking, the guards behind the man were furious.

"Bold! Our Young Master is talking to you; are you deaf?"

Jiang Chen opened his eyes and glanced indifferently at the guard.

Suddenly, the guard who had been glaring angrily felt as if he were trapped in a deep pool; he could not hear, could not see, could not speak, and could not move.

A feeling of being unable to breathe surged into his heart, making him feel as if he were about to suffocate to death.

Just at the moment he could no longer bear it, the restraints on his body suddenly dissipated, as if he had a feeling of seeing the light of day once again.

Immediately, the guard couldn't help but sit down on the ground with a thud, panting heavily, looking at Jiang Chen with terror in his eyes.

In the eyes of the other guards and the man, it appeared that after the guard shouted at Jiang Chen, he suddenly stopped moving, and his gaze became hollow.

After a while, he suddenly collapsed onto the ground, as if he had experienced something terrifying.