Li Xiangping and the others waited for a while, eventually chatting idly on the shore and sharing amusing childhood stories, until they finally saw a faint silver glow rise from the lake.
"Is that the boat coming for us?"
From the center of the lake, a swaying wooden vessel approached, its sails draped in pale white feathers, spiritual light flowing across its hull — clearly a fine treasure in its own right.
Before it drew near, a voice called out:
"Fellow Daoists ahead, are you heading to the Moonview Lake market-fair? Why have you come so late?"
"We are!"
Li Chijing and the others answered quickly, apologetic:
"This is our first time at the Moonview Lake market. We didn't know the rules and missed the hour."
"Ha ha ha, you are too polite."
The man laughed and steered the boat toward the shore.
Li Chijing stepped forward, carefully probing with his spiritual sense. Distrusting the stranger, he asked cautiously:
"Are you here to take us to the market?"
"Indeed!"
The man laughed again. Seeing that Li Chijing and the others hadn't moved but were studying him warily, he clicked his tongue and said:
"One jin of spirit rice per person, or equivalent spiritual goods."
Hearing him name a price, Li Chijing actually felt reassured. His left hand patted the brocade pouch and a pale jade token flew out.
The token hovered in place and slowly projected several large characters:
"Qingchi Sect, Qingsui Peak."
Li Chijing then announced clearly:
"I am Li Chijing, disciple of Qingsui Peak, Qingchi Sect, passing through on official business. Many thanks to fellow Daoist for the ride."
Upon seeing the token, the boat shuddered and paused for several breaths as though verifying something. Then an elderly man with graying hair descended, responding with deep respect:
"So you are a disciple of the Immortal Sect. My apologies for the discourtesy. Please board."
Li Chijing nodded, and the three boarded the great boat. Inside the cabin, tea tables and tea sets were all present, the furnishings antique and elegant.
"Without a local acquaintance among you, this old man was terrified. I didn't dare leave the cabin to greet you at first. Seeing the Immortal Sect token put my mind at ease."
The white-haired elder smiled and apologized repeatedly.
"Not at all. One must be cautious when traveling."
Li Xiangping replied with a smile, and the elder continued:
"Next time, you should arrive at the midnight hour. The surrounding families enter the market at that time, and buying spirit rice or trading spiritual goods is most convenient."
"I see!"
The three chatted with the elder for a while, then felt the boat shudder. A faint sound of bustle drifted over, and looking out the window, they beheld the Moonview Lake market.
The market occupied a small islet in the lake, not large — perhaps half a village's worth. Tiny white lanterns hung along the streets, and foot traffic was fairly steady. People paused occasionally to examine wares at stalls, haggling with vendors.
"This transit fee — this old man absolutely cannot accept it."
The white-haired elder moored the boat and firmly refused the spirit rice Li Chijing offered from his storage pouch, insisting no matter what.
The three had no choice but to bid farewell to the elder and walked along the streets with enthusiasm. Li Tongya studied the goods at the stalls, silently comparing them to the Crown Cloud market.
"The wares are roughly similar, but here at the Moonview Lake market most prices are quoted in spirit rice, and the goods tend to be sold in smaller quantities. Spells are sold individually rather than in scrolls."
As he pondered this, Li Chijing ahead laughed:
"The stalls have goods of varying quality. To buy anything properly, you need to go to the shop counters."
Li Tongya fell silent, remembering how he had spent an entire day circling the stalls at Crown Cloud without buying a thing, and said nothing.
After a few more steps, the stalls grew sparser and several shopfronts appeared. Li Chijing studied them for a moment, selected a shop selling dharma tools, and stepped over the threshold.
"Go ask your shopkeeper whether they're interested in earthly fire miasma."
The clerk who greeted him froze, then seeing that Li Chijing had fallen silent while examining the dharma tools mounted on the wall, hurried off.
Before long, a bare-chested man burst through the back door in a flurry of motion, approaching like a whirlwind. Iron implements hung across his body clanged and jingled.
"Does the fellow Daoist have news of earthly fire miasma?"
The man was rough-looking with a bristly beard, though his voice was surprisingly gentle.
"I do. I am Li Chijing of Qingchi Sect, and I have a portion of earthly fire miasma for sale."
"So you are a disciple of the Immortal Sect."
The rugged man cupped his fists and smiled:
"I am Chu Minglian, running a small shop in this market. May I ask what price you have in mind for this earthly fire miasma?"
Li Chijing raised an eyebrow and said:
"Seventy spirit stones. I would prefer to trade in goods if possible."
Having lived frugally for so long — splitting every spirit stone in two — Li Xiangping and Li Tongya's eyes went wide as they stared at Chu Minglian.
Chu Minglian shook his head and smiled:
"A bit steep. Might I ask which items in my shop have caught your eye?"
"A talisman brush."
Li Chijing had no time to waste and cut straight to the point, pointing at two talisman brushes hanging on the wall:
"Could you describe them?"
"Of course."
Chu Minglian nodded, took down both brushes, and held up the green one:
"This one has a body of spirit jade-green jade, with bristles from a peak Embryonic Breathing weasel demon. Suitable for both Embryonic Breathing and Qi Refining stages. Fifteen spirit stones."
Setting it down, he picked up the other brush with a milky-white body:
"This one features a body of brilliant-spirit wood, with bristles from a Qi Refining stage fox demon. Only usable by at least a Qi Refining cultivator. Sixty spirit stones."
Li Chijing waved dismissively and pointed at the spirit jade-green brush:
"That one will do."
"I'll also need a storage pouch. A standard Qi Refining grade will be fine."
Chu Minglian chuckled softly, took a brownish brocade pouch from the shelf, and said:
"Three chi square. Thirty spirit stones."
After haggling, Chu Minglian happily traded the two dharma tools plus twenty spirit stones for the earthly fire miasma.
Li Chijing emerged from the shop clutching the storage pouch and talisman brush. Behind him, before Li Xiangping and Li Tongya could even lament the loss, they watched Li Chijing enter another shop.
"Three hundred sheets of Embryonic Breathing talisman paper. Ten spirit stones."
Li Chijing pointed at three stacks of brownish-yellow blank talisman papers on the counter and asked:
"These are Green Wormwood talisman papers, correct?"
"Indeed, indeed."
The clerk recognized Li Chijing as a knowledgeable customer the moment he saw him and replied eagerly.
Counting out ten spirit stones, Li Chijing swept the papers into the pouch and then handed the storage pouch to Li Xiangping, muttering quietly to himself:
"Talisman brush, talisman paper, storage pouch. Ten spirit stones left. How to spend them..."
Li Chijing's fluid string of transactions left the household managers Li Xiangping and Li Tongya exchanging stunned glances. Li Xiangping hurried forward:
"Keep the remaining spirit stones at home. We may need them for emergencies."
Li Chijing finally nodded. Watching the market thinning out as people departed, he stretched leisurely and smiled:
"Are there any other urgent matters at home?"