Chapter 6 Part III
The following day, He Lei dressed up in his new attire early in the morning. Today, as Master He, he had to ensure his appearance was both impressive and formidable.
"Father, I want to co too," He Yu, crawling from his bedding, pleaded with his father with a beseeching deanor.
"How could you, when it’s so far?"
"I can ride on your back!" The little one persisted stubbornly.
"Yu’er, your father is going to find you a new ho, don’t bother him," Miss Wang, busy in the kitchen, chided.
"But I want to see our new ho too," the youngster insisted, yearning for an adventure.
"Alright, alright, then you shall ride on father’s back," He Lei conceded. His sturdy, tall fra could easily carry the small boy, who was no heavier than a puppy, especially since he had now advanced to the dark blue-tier spirit energy cultivator.
After agreeing, the He family enjoyed their breakfast before the three of them setting off on their journey. Despite the early start, villagers on their way to the city greeted them cordially along the way.
He Yu, having never ventured far from the village, was thrilled at the sight of horses, donkeys, and goats along the road, exclaiming in excitent throughout the journey, making for a lively trip.
"Ah, Big Sister, look at those horses! There are so many," he pointed to a vast pasture where a large herd of horses grazed peacefully.
"Indeed. When you’re older, your big sister will buy you a horse to ride. Wouldn’t that be nice?" She smiled affectionately at him.
"Yes, yes! I want to ride through a vast pasture like this."
Upon reaching the city gates, He Yu’s excitent knew no bounds. Everything was new and wonderful to him, filling him with imnse joy. To the townspeople, He Lei appeared as a regular villager taking his son and daughter shopping, unaware that this man was the renowned Master He.
Zhenzhu led He Lei to the eting place she had arranged with the real estate agent, a quiet tea house where the agent and Master Tiao were already waiting.
"Ah, you’ve arrived, huh?" Master Tiao exclaid as he noticed Zhenzhu was not alone.
"Master, this is my father, He Lei," she introduced.
"Ah, Master He himself. I’m very pleased to finally et you," Master Tiao said respectfully. He Lei was indeed a man of impressive appearance.
"I’m sorry to trouble you." He Lei said evenly, neither arrogantly nor too humbly, which made Master Tiao look at him with admiration.
"Is this the master He that everyone’s been talking about? I’m honored to serve," the elderly property broker, who was present, said excitedly.
"We’ll be troubling you then," He Lei stated.
"Pleased to assist."
Once everyone was present, the broker efficiently laid out a map of the city and presented three plots of land that t Zhenzhu’s specifications for ample space for agriculture, each about 20 mu.
The first plot was within the city walls, not too far from a residential area but unsold due to a murder on the property, priced only at 1,000 taels. Nearby was a at market and opposite a timber yard.
The second plot, located outside the city walls to the east, spanned just 18 acres. Its disadvantage was a distant water source, requiring labor to transport water for agriculture, priced at 700 taels.
The last plot, outside the city walls to the south, fifteen-minutes’ walk, covered 22 acres and had a small stream running through it. However, its sandy soil ant low crop yield, priced at 500 taels.
"Isn’t there a perfect plot of fertile land without a history of death, not in a noisy area, and with an ample water supply?" Zhenzhu asked after hearing about the options, none of which appealed to her.
"If you’re looking for that kind, there might be so, but their owners aren’t looking to subdivide their large lands."
"Let’s hear about them," He Lei urged.
“That other two places, the first, located to the east outside the city walls, two-hours walk, featured a pond and was 50 mu at 1,600 taels. The second was the horse pasture between Dongshan Village and Master He’s house. But this large plot of land, covering an area of 300 mu, is surrounded by a sturdy fence. There is a stable at the back, and a stream runs through it, so there is no shortage of water. The price is 7,200 taels."
Eh? Isn’t that the land Xin Xi ntioned yesterday? The vast grasslands where He Yu pointed out the horses? If it’s that land, it would be ideal as it’s not too far from the city, a re thirty-minutes’ walk. It’s a pity the owner isn’t subdividing it; it’s such a large area, 300 mu, which she wouldn’t fully utilize. Such a pity.
"Have you tried asking the owner again? I’m particularly interested in the horse pasture, but it’s too large. They really won’t sell just a portion?" she inquired.
"I’ve asked several tis; they’re firm on not subdividing, Lady He."
"Would you like to see the land? I can take you."
He Lei was indeed interested in the horse pasture but felt daunted by the high price.
"Thank you, broker. I need to discuss this with my wife first. I will contact you again once we have made a decision," He Lei said.
"Of course, I’ll take my leave then," the property broker excused himself and left.
Zhenzhu and He Lei were deep in thought, pondering which land to choose.
"Father, I really want the horse pasture," she finally admitted, unable to let go of the idea. That place was simply too beautiful, with a mountain behind it, a road in front, a water source, a surrounding fence, and even a stable that could be used for storage. If it weren’t for the price, she would have paid for it already.
"I would like it too, but the price is just too high," He Lei expressed his concern.
"Master He, don’t treat as an outsider. Though I may not be wealthy, I still have so money to lend you if you’re not against it. If Master He has no objections, you could borrow from first," offered Master Tiao, whose family had been in comrce for generations and had accumulated so wealth.
"How could I trouble you like that?"
"Why not, Master He? We’re all friends here."
"No, no, if we can’t afford to buy it now, we’ll save up and buy it later. If it gets sold before then, we’ll just have to look for another piece of land."
"But..."
"Let it go, Master Tiao. My father is too polite. Could you tell which type of character inscription would make money the fastest?" She didn’t want to flood the market with too many pills, so she needed to find a new way to generate inco.
"Ah, how could I forget that I’m speaking to an inscription master?" Master Tiao smiled at He Lei. Inscription master was indeed quick to earn money. How could he not know.
"Hmm, there are ways. Dinsional Character inscription is interesting, but one needs to be at least a dark blue-tier inscription master to do it."
He had heard that dinsional, temporal, magical, and sorcery characters were among the hardest and most complex to inscribe because they defy the natural forces. Such inscription requires a spirit energy cultivator of at least dark blue-tier, and each attempt requires a resting period of at least half a year. However, successful inscriptions could fetch an astronomical price. In Yan Region, only seven dinsional objects have appeared, all inscribed by blue or indigo level cultivator.
Zhenzhu and He Lei exchanged hopeless glances. If He Lei were a real inscription master, this problem would be solved, as he was already a dark blue-tier practitioner. However, the true inscription master was still at the blue-tier.
After returning from the city, the He family sat down to discuss their options regarding the land purchase. Miss Wang suggested buying the 50-mu piece of land to the east of the city for 1,600 taels. If there was money left, they could also build a house. But He Lei and Zhenzhu couldn’t let go of the horse pasture.
"There’s another way," He Lei suggested.
"What way, Father?"
"Body Lending for Inscription."
"What is ’Body Lending for Inscription’?" Zhenzhu asked, puzzled.
"Body Lending for Inscription is an inscribing technique invented 500 years ago for those seeking to create higher-tier inscribed objects without being at the required spirit cultivation level themselves. So, they lend a cultivator of a higher spirit energy cultivation level their body for the inscription process. This thod allows the inscription master to create characters beyond their own level," He Lei explained in detail.
"Oh, I see. So, we could inscribe Dinsional Characters then!" she asked excitedly.
"Yes, but everything that defies natural laws cos at a cost. Normally, inscribing Dinsional Characters would require the inscription master to rest for 6-8 months. However, using the body lending thod extends the rest period to at least 3 years and 6 months. Therefore, it’s not a popular thod."
Due to the long recovery ti, inscription master rarely uses this thod, as it significantly delays their ability to inscribe new characters.
"That long?" Zhenzhu pondered. Ordinary inscription master needed 20-30 days of rest, but she only needed a day. So, for her, 3 years and 6 months equated to just 42 days for Zhenzhu.
Currently, she could only create 322 spirit energy channels. Waiting to advance to the dark blue-tier before she could inscribe Dinsional Characters would take even longer.
The thought of resting for another 42 days before she could inscribe again was disheartening.
Yet, she wanted to earn money to buy that land.
What should I do? Zhenzhu was torn.
"It’s your decision. If you really want that pasture, I’ll try my best to gather the money to buy it," He Lei said.
"Father, let’s start!"
"Are you sure, Zhu’er?" Miss Wang asked worriedly.
"Just another 42 days of rest, Mother. It’s nothing. Plus, I can use this ti to further my spirit energy cultivation."
"Then be careful."
"Yes, Mother. But what should we inscribe?"
Deciding what object to inscribe was the main issue. Dinsional Characters are commonly inscribed on bracelets, rings, and other jewelry.
"I don’t wear jewelries." The only piece of jewelry she wore was an old wooden hairpin her husband had given her before they were married.
"Hey, Yu’er, what are you holding?" Zhenzhu noticed Yu’er holding sothing white and dull in his hands.
"It’s a stone. I picked it up from the stream. Baihu peed on it twice," He Yu said with a grimace. This dull white stone was beautiful, prompting him to keep it for play, even though Baihu had marked it twice, displaying less than comndable behavior.
"Ah, good boy Yu’er, do you want the adow to run around in?"
"I do!"
"Then, bring that stone here to quickly. I will exchange it for the adow for you."
"Really?"
"Of course! Has your sister ever lied to you?"
"In that case, okay. But, include a horse too, please."
"Absolutely. When you’re bigger, your sister will definitely buy you a horse to ride."
Hearing this, He Yu eagerly handed over the stone to his sister, thinking he could always collect another just like it, since it was just one stone after all.
"Father, Mother, let’s inscibe on this stone."
"How would that work, Zhu’er? How can an inscription of such value be made on a re stone?"
"It will work, I assure you. The value lies in the inscription themselves, regardless of where they are."
"Let’s do as Zhu’er suggests."
When they finished discussing, it was already late at night. Zhenzhu inford her father that she needed two hours to review the inscriptions, considering they were of the dark blue- tier, more complex and intricate than anything she had previously attempted.
After her review, Zhenzhu walked out to et her father, waiting outside. That night, the entire He family gathered in He Lei’s modest bedroom to provide protection during the inscription process.
"Let’s begin."
The small stone was placed at the center, with Zhenzhu and He Lei sitting opposite each other. Zhenzhu concentrated, slowly extending her spirit energy, while He Lei gently touched his daughter’s hand, covering her spirit energy with his own blue energy, carefully transmitting his power.
Imrsed in the complex inscription process, they beca oblivious to their surroundings. Sweat beads ford on Zhenzhu’s forehead, trickling down her nose, yet failing to disrupt her concentration.
Four hours passed without any indication of completion. He Yu had fallen asleep in his mother’s arms, while He Ming vigilantly guarded his father and sister.
Finally, Zhenzhu completed the Dinsion Character inscriptions. To add value to the stone, she took advantage of the remaining spirit energy to inscribe Preservation Character and Master- Recognition Character, simple enough not to exhaust her spirit reserves significantly.
The Preservation Character, when engraved on ordinary objects, would not hold much value, but when engraved on a dinsional object, they could maintain the freshness of the items placed within the dinsion for an additional two months. For example, vegetables or fresh food stored inside it could retain their freshness for up to two months, making it ideal for rchants and travelers dealing in perishable goods.
The Master- Recognition Character, on the other hand, were simple bonding inscriptions used when sothing was lost. The object would return to its owner as if it had life.
However, despite the simplicity and utility of both the Preservation Character and Master- Recognition Character, they were not given much importance in the past, leading to their disappearance in modern tis. No inscription master today could engrave them anymore.
Except for her!
“Phew!” Both exhaled heavily.
They were drenched in sweat as if they had just erged from diving into water.
"How are you, Father, Younger Sister?" the waiting family mbers asked worriedly.
"I need water... Water, please." He Ming hurried to fetch two cups of water. Zhenzhu dipped a golden fish scale into one before handing it to her father, revitalizing them with its nourishing spirit energy.
"Did it succeed?"
"It did, Mother," Zhenzhu replied with a pale smile.
That night, the He family went to bed overwheld with excitent, joy, and exhaustion. Tomorrow, they planned to deliver this stone to Master Tiao for auction. Others inscribed inscriptions on precious objects worthy of a city’s admiration, yet they had chosen to inscribe a re stone. If others knew, they would be heartbroken by the thought.
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