Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

Chapter 54: Night Store

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“He only opens the door at night and not during the day. How peculiar,” Chen Fei murmured, feeling a hint of frustration towards the shop’s owner’s unusual behavior. Despite his initial complaint, Chen Fei had a specific reason for seeking out this shop. Yesterday, he had inquired with Qian Jijiang about the source of the two candles he had seen. Qian Jijiang had directed him to this very shop. Observing his surroundings, Chen Fei failed to detect anything out of the ordinary. Thus, he decided to step inside.

“Sir, what can I assist you with?” a hoarse voice called out. Chen Fei turned to face the source and saw a person of diminutive stature, barely reaching a meter in height, standing on a stool. The individual wore a smile as they greeted Chen Fei. Assessing the shop’s interior, Chen Fei found nothing remarkable about it. There was no discernible dark aura or any sign of abnormalities.

“I’ve heard that you sell something that can ward off the supernatural,” Chen Fei addressed the shopkeeper. Although the shopkeeper lacked the aura of a martial artist, he exuded an inexplicable otherness, giving off an eerie sensation.

“Sir, you’ve come to the right place,” the shopkeeper replied, retrieving a red candle from under the counter and presenting it to Chen Fei. “When faced with something supernatural, light this candle to defend yourself. However, it only offers temporary resistance. If the uncanny persists and remains by your side, the candle will burn faster. Even if it burns to the end, the supernatural entity can still cause harm.”

“How much is it?” Chen Fei scrutinized the red candle attentively, confirming that it was the same one Qian Jijiang had used to save several lives in the mountain village.

“It’s one thousand taels,” the shopkeeper stated matter-of-factly.

Surprised, Chen Fei raised his head and gazed at the shopkeeper. “That’s quite expensive!” he exclaimed. The total value of Chen Fei’s current assets would likely only cover the cost of this single red candle.

“Compared to life, what is money?” the shopkeeper chuckled softly. “These candles are not easy to make. I’m the sole seller of them in all of Apricot Fen City.”

“Is there anything else?” Chen Fei inquired in a hushed tone.

“Of course!” The shopkeeper nodded and produced a white candle from beneath the counter, placing it in front of Chen Fei. “This candle has the ability to attract the supernatural. It’s priced at five hundred taels per candle.”

The inexplicable scent emanating from the white candle brought back memories of the incident that had occurred two days prior. Chen Fei realized that if it weren’t for the presence of the red candle, the white candle could have been a suicidal weapon, attracting numerous monsters simultaneously. Just the thought of it sent shivers down one’s spine.

“Anything else?” Chen Fei understood that he couldn’t afford to make any purchases today, so he decided to gather knowledge and widen his horizons. When he had accumulated more funds, he would return to replenish his supplies.

“The Evil-Vanquishing Sword can wound and even kill supernatural entities, even when wielded by an ordinary person,” the shopkeeper explained as a dark red blade materialized on the counter. The blade appeared incredibly thin, and it seemed that even a minor clash with another weapon could split it in half. Clearly, it was designed specifically to combat the supernatural.

“What’s the price?” Chen Fei asked, feeling a twinge of discomfort.

“Ten thousand taels of silver.”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford the price, but it would certainly take a significant amount of time to accumulate the necessary funds. While the sword blade was indeed effective against supernatural creatures, its use was limited solely to them.

“Please show me the next item.”

Without any signs of impatience, the shopkeeper presented the next item. A small medicine bottle materialized on the counter. “Illusion-Breaking Water. When applied to the eyes, it allows one to see through supernatural illusions.”

Curiously, Chen Fei examined the bottle, reminiscent of the legendary tears of a cow from his previous life, which had possessed the same effect. If he had possessed such a substance two days ago, he wouldn’t have had to worry about wandering in the fog.

“Awakening Incense, capable of breaking barriers when lit, priced at three hundred taels,” the shopkeeper presented another item, revealing an incense stick that Chen Fei had seen before.

“Is there anything else?” Chen Fei inquired.

“No, these are the only items I have,” the shopkeeper replied, shaking their head. They then asked Chen Fei, “Which one catches your interest?”

“I’ll consider it,” Chen Fei responded, unable to admit that he didn’t have enough money. While he could afford the candles and incense, he still needed to save up to purchase a quality pill furnace for refining pills. If he were to spend all his money now, he wouldn’t have enough left.

“May 1 ask why the shop only opens at night?” Chen Fei couldn’t help but inquire curiously before departing. He couldn’t fathom the necessity of running a shop exclusively at night.

“During the daytime, I’m asleep,” the shopkeeper replied shyly, offering an explanation that left Chen Fei momentarily speechless.

Chen Fei regarded the shopkeeper’s peculiar expression with a sense of bewilderment. This unexpected explanation had disrupted his mental preparations prior to visiting the shop. His mind wandered, wondering where the shop’s inventory truly originated from.

Leaving the shop behind, Chen Fei wandered the streets for a while before eventually returning to the inn. Throughout the night, he dedicated himself to cultivation. The following morning, Chen Fei embarked on a quest to explore various shops. His intention was not only to purchase a pill furnace but also to inquire about selling his own pills.

After visiting several establishments, Chen Fei’s expression grew somewhat complicated. While the shops were indeed willing to purchase his pills, the offered prices were disappointingly low—approximately 40% of the market value. It resembled the arrangement the Zhang family had proposed, treating Chen Fei as their in-house alchemist. In contrast to the exorbitant prices he had encountered in the underground market of Pingyin County, the disparity was vast. However, he acknowledged that the extraordinary demand for pills in Pingyin County had skewed his perception, making any comparison futile.

Chen Fei felt reluctant to sell his medicinal pills to the shop at such a low price. He considered an alternative option—setting up a stall to sell the pills. Apricot Fen City had a street where itinerant cultivators would gather and sell various items. Chen Fei had visited the street before and found a wide array of goods available. However, the quality of the items varied, and he would need to ensure the quality of his own pills.

Setting up a stall would require time and effort, which would inevitably detract from Chen Fei’s cultivation progress. He needed to focus on perfecting the Shocking Swallowing Art to expedite his breakthrough to the Bone Tempering realm. Additionally, he had to dedicate time to deducing the pill formula for the Eternal Floating Pill, using the remnants of the recipe he had obtained from the Zhao Family. Chen Fei estimated that it would take him about a month to complete the deduction.

Furthermore, he also wanted to further develop his archery skills. While there were few resources on archery in Pingyin County, Apricot Fen City offered a plethora of secret manuals and techniques. Chen Fei desired to elevate his archery skills to a higher level. Considering all these factors, setting up a stall seemed less worthwhile, as it would consume significant amounts of his time.

“I need someone to help me set up a stall and share the profits,” Chen Fei pondered for a moment, and the image of Chi Defeng came to mind. Chi Defeng had experience setting up a stall in Pingyin County, making him well-versed in such matters. With his decision made, Chen Fei purchased a pill furnace for 200 taels and returned to the inn.

“Do you want me to help you sell pills?” Chi Defeng expressed surprise as he looked at Chen Fei in the guest room. “Why don’t you refine the pills yourself and sell them? Why do you need my assistance?”

“The price offered by the shop is too low. I want you to set up a stall to sell them. In return, I’ll give you 5% of the profits,” Chen Fei replied with a smile.

“5%? That’s too little,” Chi Defeng instinctively began to negotiate. “How about 20%?”

“Alright, 20% it is then!” Chen Fei agreed immediately, reaching out to shake Chi Defeng’s hand as they made a pact. Chi Defeng observed Chen Fei’s actions with a puzzled expression.. Why did this seem so familiar? Had he quoted a price too low just now