Embroidered Uniform Guard: I Can Plunder Talents-Chapter 64: Mage Aptitude, I Think I’ve Cracked the Case
"Target: Yun Sheng."
"Cultivation: Ninth Grade Mage."
"Talent Entry: Mage Potential (Blue), Trickery & Swindling (White),"
"Mage Potential (Blue): Innate qualifications to become a mage."
Mage? Didn’t expect to run into a mage here.
The more case files Ye Liuyun read in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the broader his horizons became.
Mages and martial artists are both cultivation systems; mages are divided into nine grades, first grade being highest. This young man’s ninth-grade mage cultivation—well, that’s barely in the game.
There’s no clear winner between mage and martial artist; at best, the mage’s methods are a lot more bizarre, but martial artists have formidable bodies, and the innate gang qi of innate martial artists can ignore many mage techniques altogether.
The realms aren’t all that different either. It’s not just first-grade mages—even second-grade mages, you can count the number of them in the world on one hand.
The Great Qian Dynasty values martial prowess; everyone takes pride in becoming martial artists, so mages are pretty rare.
But from what Ye Liuyun’s gleaned from the files,
The Liuli Dynasty, closest to the Great Qian, is all about mages—it’s got the most mages in all the dynasties.
Also,
There’s one crucial difference between martial artists and mages.
Even if someone doesn’t have natural talent, if they grit their teeth through bitter winter and scorching summer training, after a few years something will click with martial arts.
But for becoming a mage—
If you don’t have the gift for it, you just don’t. You could spend your whole life trying and still never get anywhere; talent is everything for mages.
That Mage Potential talent on Yun Sheng—even if it’s just blue quality—it’s more than enough to get him started.
",,,,"
The County Magistrate at his side noticed Ye Liuyun had been quiet this whole time.
Instead, Ye Liuyun stared thoughtfully at Yun Sheng Daoist, not saying a word—he didn’t dare interrupt, just stood obediently aside.
"You said his peace talisman is the real deal?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, yes!"
Caught off guard, the Magistrate blinked, then quickly nodded his head.
"Exactly, people wear his peace talisman, and the ghost fire avoids them."
"So what about you?"
Ye Liuyun withdrew his gaze and looked at the Magistrate.
The Magistrate, seeing his thoughts exposed, grinned sheepishly and pulled out a peace talisman from his robe.
He’d clearly bought one himself.
"If you think these peace talismans work so well, what’s there to be afraid of then?"
Ye Liuyun took the talisman, studied it—hmm, nothing special, no hint of supernatural power. Really just scrap paper.
"Honestly, sir, according to Yun Sheng Zhenren, the spiritual qi in this talisman only lasts for three days. After that, it’s pretty much useless. Plus, these talismans aren’t cheap."
One hundred taels apiece.
Sure, having money is one thing, but not for blowing like this.
Giving Ye Liuyun cash to curry favor is one thing, but shelling out for these talismans feels like flushing silver down the drain for the Magistrate.
"Appeared just over a month ago?"
Ye Liuyun didn’t answer, just looked down at the talisman, quietly muttering to himself.
Recalling what the Magistrate had just said:
The ghost fire turned up over a month ago, and so did Yun Sheng Daoist, arriving in Shuihe County.
What a coincidence?
Well, looks like I just cracked the case—
But to be fair, Ye Liuyun knew if it weren’t for seeing Yun Sheng’s talent entries, he probably wouldn’t have made the leap so fast.
"Let’s go! Take a look!"
Ye Liuyun didn’t have folks arrest anyone on the spot.
Instead, he led the way to where the crowd was gathering.
Here, groups of uncertain folks hovered indecisively, torn over whether to buy the peace talisman.
Buy one for safety, but a hundred taels apiece? That’s daylight robbery.
Average folk couldn’t save a hundred taels in years.
"Make way! Make way!"
As Ye Liuyun and his crew approached, the crowd dissolved at once.
"Hey!"
Seeing his customers vanish, Yun Sheng Zhenren was about to protest—but then spotted the Magistrate among the newcomers.
He shook out his duster with a flourish, adopting the airs of a master.
"So, with my peace talisman, aren’t you perfectly safe? Need to buy a few more?"
Clearly.
The Magistrate had already bought quite a few talismans here. To Yun Sheng Zhenren, that’s a whale of a customer.
Ye Liuyun, standing off to the side, just observed, casually picking up one of the peace talismans.
Yep, still nothing special. Absolutely just a scrap of paper.
"What do you think you’re doing? If you’re not buying, don’t touch!"
Seeing Ye Liuyun’s actions, Yun Sheng Zhenren instantly frowned.
He tried to snatch the talisman back.
Si Nan and Shi Sheng closed in together.
"Buy, buy! If sir likes it, I’ll get it for him!"
The Magistrate, seeing things get tense, hurriedly spoke up, desperate to prevent any conflict.
Judging by his attitude over these talismans, the Magistrate was convinced Yun Sheng Zhenren was the real deal, and didn’t want to offend him; he practically started pulling out silver.
"Hmph. Much better."
Yun Sheng Zhenren’s attitude was arrogant; he didn’t even register the threat in Si Nan and Shi Sheng’s stares.
Even recognizing the Embroidered Uniform Guard gear on Ye Liuyun and his crew, he showed not the slightest hint of fear or caution; clearly, he genuinely believed the "Embroidered Uniform Guard" were nothing to worry about. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
Just as the Magistrate was about to fork over cash—
Ye Liuyun suddenly spoke.
"Forget it!"
He tossed that so-called peace talisman back.
"Just scrap paper. Doesn’t deserve a hundred taels."
Not only did his hundred taels slip away, but the peace talisman got straight-up trashed.
Yun Sheng Zhenren’s face sank instantly.
"Sir, you must be young. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts and gods, you should at least maintain some reverence."
"But what if I just lack reverence?"
Ye Liuyun cocked his head, found amusement in the retort.
Yun Sheng Zhenren’s brows lowered fractionally.
"I hope, when ghost fire comes after you, you can be that confident."
Ye Liuyun laughed.
"I’d love to see if this so-called ghost fire dares to come for me. If you ask me, it’s just a cheap trick whipped up by second-rate hustlers to fleece some common folk."
"Although, lowlife rats like this, probably wet themselves if they spot the clothes I’m wearing; bet they wouldn’t have the guts to come near me, hahaha!"
With every word Ye Liuyun uttered, Yun Sheng Zhenren’s face grew darker.
His grip on the duster was so tight, it creaked audibly.
"Well then, Sir, just wait and see."
He practically ground that out through his teeth.
That’s what being young is, isn’t it? It was just a suspicion before, but with you reacting like this, honestly, you’ve confirmed it for me.
Exactly—Ye Liuyun said all that on purpose.
Provocation might not always work, but sometimes it works wonders.
"We’re leaving!"
Ye Liuyun cast one last glance at Yun Sheng Zhenren, swept his hand, and led the group away.
,,,,,,,
