Chapter 38

Chapter 38

◎Gift◎

The basketball signed by the basketball star is still on its way. His senior brother is busy preparing for the show and doesn't have time to handle such trivial matters, so it's all taken care of by his assistant.

Knowing that the third young master of the Ji family dotes on his younger brother, the assistant naturally takes the boss's arrangements very seriously. Feeling that just one star's signature is a bit shabby, he decided to have the entire ball signed before sending it back. Therefore, the ball is currently being signed by various star players, and it's unclear whose hands it's in now.

A gift that's just mentioned offhand doesn't seem very thoughtful. Considering that he has absorbed quite a bit of Xiao Ye's yang energy, Ji Nanxing decided to put some effort into picking a good gift for Xiao Ye.

Xie Paner hasn't been out in the daytime for quite a while. Going to school during the day doesn't count as going out. Seeing Ji Nanxing going out shopping, she wished she could tuck the yin wood plaque into his pocket herself.

Ji Nanxing didn't stop her, just reminded her: "Although the sun isn't strong today, the place I'm going is somewhere that even lingering ghosts would detour around."

Xie Paner placed the yin plaque in his coat pocket: "There's a difference between domesticated and wild. I'll stay quietly inside the yin wood plaque and won't come out."

Ji Nanxing: "If you're not coming out, then what's the difference whether you go out or not."

Xie Paner chuckled: "It's still different. Just hearing the hustle and bustle outside is a treat."

Ji Nanxing lowered his eyes and, seeing her enthusiasm, let her be.

The place Ji Nanxing was heading to was not just an ordinary curio shop. The shop occasionally stocked some valuable items needed by Taoists, like cinnabar and talisman paper. The shop had better sources for these essentials than others, though the prices were also higher.

On the small street of the collectibles market, whether due to the not-so-sunny weather or the recent economic downturn, there weren't many tourists around. Many shops didn't even have a single customer inside.

An antique shop with the sign "Ruyi Bogu" carved on it was also empty. A tablet sat on the counter, playing melodramatic lines from its speaker. Behind the counter sat a young man with chestnut-colored permed hair, wearing a single earring and dressed in trendy hip-hop clothes. He was engrossed in a drama, knitting a sweater on the side.

When Ji Nanxing walked in, the young man looked up and tapped on the computer next to him with a hand that seemed to have a ring on every finger.

After pulling up the accounts, he lazily said: "In July, your master bought two strings of ancient Five Emperors coins from me. The new stock had just arrived and hadn't even warmed up before he took them. In August, your master took two boxes of divine incense, two stacks of yellow talisman paper, a golden wolf-hair brush, and a black dog blood rope from me. He also treated me to three meals at the private kitchen next door and several tea house visits, all charged to our account."

After reading the accounts, the young man looked at Ji Nanxing: "That comes to seven hundred thirty-two thousand eight hundred. I'll knock it down to seven hundred thirty-two thousand eight hundred for you."

Ji Nanxing took out his phone and directly scanned to pay. The sound of the payment notification made the young man chuckle and stand up: "Speaking of which, your master hasn't been around for a while. He usually swings by to have tea with my old man. I was wondering if he felt bad about splurging last time, spending his disciple's money."

Ji Nanxing smiled. As his master's personal wallet since he was a child, he had been following his master around with his piggy bank since he was three and couldn't even reach the counter. If his master ever felt guilty about spending, he'd immediately suspect possession.

After settling his master's debts, Ji Nanxing asked: "My master is out on a mission. Do you have any good items in the shop recently?"

Xu Yi paused the melodrama on the tablet and handed him the photo album: "We just got a new batch of items. There are indeed a few good ones, but I'm not sure what you need. They're all here, take a look."

After stretching and looking outside the shop, he added: "Business has been slow lately. Few customers, few good items. It's tough."

Ji Nanxing listened to his lament while flipping through the album. His slender fingers lightly swiped on the tablet. Even standing simply, his back was straight, and his demeanor was imposing, not to mention the added charm of his delicate features.

Xu Yi looked at him, then at himself, leaning on the counter with his butt sticking out, and silently straightened up. He realized that the kid who used to obediently call him "Brother Xu Yi" and only reached his chest had grown as tall as him.

Xu Yi's tongue pressed against his cheek. This kid should be in his first year of high school. What are kids eating these days? Their height genes seem too good.

Just as he was lamenting the unfairness of nature, Ji Nanxing pointed at a photo of a yellow moist bead bracelet: "Is this green fish stone?"

Xu Yi smiled: "Good eye, kid. It's beautiful, right? Let me show you."

After rummaging under the counter for a while, Xu Yi finally found the green fish stone bracelet: "This is a good item. Take a look."

Ji Nanxing picked up the green fish stone bracelet. It felt warm to the touch, with a hint of spiritual energy surrounding it. The texture was clean and transparent. Although it wasn't a magical artifact, it had some spiritual qualities. It was indeed a good item.

Xu Yi said: "This isn't your average green fish stone. Last year, there was an incident with an evil god in Xilan. Some villagers saw a huge black fish over two meters long and, foolishly, started worshiping it. The fish had lived for a long time and, after being worshipped and imbued with wishes, grew larger and larger. Eventually, it became a spirit and started causing trouble, so it was killed."

The Qingyu Stone is a growth that forms beneath the throat of a certain type of fish's occipital bone, scientifically considered a hyperplasia from long-term dietary habits. However, since ancient times, there has been a belief that Qingyu Stones can calm fright and ward off evil spirits, hence they are also known as Fish Fright Stones or Fish Spirit Stones.

Some of the old ancestors' traditions do hold some merit. Whether other Qingyu Stones truly possess such effects, Ji Nanxing doesn't know, but the one he holds in his hand is indeed a good item. At the very least, its power to ward off evil is stronger than talismans. Wearing it over time and gradually integrating it with one's own aura can create a virtuous cycle.

Ji Nanxing got straight to the point and asked, "How much?"

Xu Yi said, "This isn't cheap. I won't make too much off you, just a small margin for my trouble. Let's round it off to a whole number."

Ji Nanxing didn't bargain. Although the profit was likely more than just a small margin, some things are hard to come by even with money if you don't have the right connections. Being too rigid on price would only damage one's own connections. Moreover, compared to the use of talismans, such a sustainable and even evolving item with spiritual energy is indeed rare and hard to find.

Ji Nanxing nodded and decisively accepted it. He then gently tugged on the ordinary string holding the beads, and it snapped.

Ji Nanxing looked at Xu Yi, who sighed, "This ordinary red string can't handle your strength. Fine, I'll throw in a Tian Gang string as a gift."

Ji Nanxing smiled and said, "Thank you."

The Tian Gang string is also used for warding off evil and protection. After special treatment, it becomes sturdy and tough, not easily broken. Many Taoists who can't afford or obtain magical tools often wear a section of Tian Gang string around their wrists. In crucial moments, it can even bind ghosts.

Without waiting for Xu Yi, Ji Nanxing restrung the Qingyu Stone himself. After testing it a few times, it was indeed much more durable.

Xiao Ye, who loves basketball and sports, doesn't have to worry about this unique fish stone breaking easily. Now, with the Tian Gang string, it provides an extra layer of protection.

After paying, Ji Nanxing left the Ruyi shop with his new purchase. Once outside, Xie Paner, who had been quietly in his pocket, finally spoke up, "You make me stay up late doing your homework for a set of dance shoes and clothes that cost less than a thousand yuan, but you don't even blink when giving someone a gift worth a million yuan. Sigh, my life is tough."

Ji Nanxing casually put on his earphones and tapped the wooden plaque in his pocket, "He can let me absorb yang energy, can you?"

Especially since absorbing it once allows for a brief, intimate moment with family, something money can't buy.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he can be in the same class as Xiao Ye for three years. By then, he can have his older brother negotiate with the school to keep Xiao Ye as his desk mate. A gift in exchange for three years of yang energy is a pretty good deal.

On the way home, passing by a dessert shop, Xie Paner, who had been quietly in his pocket, started shaking the wooden plaque, making noise.

Ji Nanxing held the plaque tightly to avoid drawing attention to his jiggling pocket, "What's wrong?"

The wooden plaque stopped moving, and Xie Paner whispered eagerly, "Can I prepay my homework quota for a piece of cake?"

Ji Nanxing turned to look inside the shop. The glass counter displayed various beautiful cakes of different sizes, and the aroma of baking wafted out, sweet and enticing.

Ji Nanxing didn't say anything and turned to enter the shop.

The sweet greeting of the shop assistant sounded, "We have freshly baked egg tarts and milk cakes, as well as our new sesame crisps. There are samples to try here."

Ji Nanxing looked directly at the cakes, "Which ones are available now?"

The assistant introduced a few available options and added, "Other cake styles only need half a day's notice. If you order now, you can pick them up in the afternoon."

Ji Nanxing put on his earphones again, took a photo casually, and pretended to make a call, "Which one?"

Xie Paner had already emerged from the wooden plaque and was standing beside Ji Nanxing. She had never eaten such a large cake in her life and even hesitated, "Are you really buying me a big one? Actually, those small triangular ones are fine too."

Ji Nanxing ignored the smaller ones and asked again, "Fruit or Black Forest?"

Xie Paner licked her lips and pointed to the most beautiful and sweet-looking one, "That strawberry one."

Piled high with strawberries, it looked delicious.

Ji Nanxing said to the assistant, "The strawberry one, please pack it up. Thank you."

A six-inch birthday cake, priced at only 299 yuan, already had Xie Paner floating with joy. She even passed through the counter to smell the cake as the assistant packed it, her face filled with the anticipation and excitement of a little girl.

As soon as they left the store, Xie Paner couldn't stay still in the spirit plaque anymore. Taking advantage of the absence of sunlight, she flitted around Ji Nanxing, hopping and skipping, occasionally glancing back at the cake he was carrying.

When they passed a crossroads, Xie Paner, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around and shouted, "Hold up, don't come over!"

Ji Nanxing paused, but the people beside him couldn't hear Xie Paner's voice and continued walking forward normally. The next moment, they collided with a group of girls running from the opposite side of the intersection.

The three girls were carrying a lot of things. Although they weren't hurt in the collision, their items scattered all over the ground.

The guy who got bumped muttered in annoyance, saying they weren't watching where they were going, then hurriedly continued on his way.

The girls rolled their eyes, grumbling as they gathered their scattered items.

Ji Nanxing switched the cake to his other hand and used his free hand to pick up a cosplay outfit from the ground.

One of the girls thanked him, then looked up and paused for a moment before clearing her throat and speaking softly, "Thanks."

Ji Nanxing glanced at the outfit in his hand and said, "You should return this. It's tainted."

The girl quickly took the outfit, brushing it off. "It's fine, just a bit dusty. I'll wash it at home."

Ji Nanxing shook his head, "Not just dirty. It smells like blood. You should return it."

The girl gasped, her expression turning uneasy as she looked at him. The other two girls, now holding their things, looked equally confused. They picked up the outfit and sniffed it. It smelled like mothballs, but blood? They couldn't detect any blood smell.

Ji Nanxing didn't say more. He'd done his part by warning them. Whether they listened was up to them.

Ji Nanxing walked off with the cake, leaving the three girls standing there, still baffled.

One of them turned the outfit inside out, "Smell of blood?"

Another asked the girl who had bought the outfit, "You gonna return it?"

The girl hesitated, uneasy despite her doubts.

The girl who had been sniffing the outfit said, "But official pre-orders from Sanyuanpu take a month and cost five thousand. We lucked out getting this legit, nearly new piece for two thousand, and it's a limited edition. Are we really gonna return it just like that?"

Hearing this, the girl who bought the outfit grew even more unsure, "Maybe we'll hold off on returning it. Let's take it home and give it another wash?"