Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 58: Mr. Ge’s Prey

Three months later.

Lin Chang’an, who was purchasing supplies at the market, met Ge Li again.

"Mr. Lin, come on, let’s have a drink together."

Ge Li, appearing tired and travel-worn, showed a hint of displeasure in his expression, while Lin Chang’an smiled and nodded, feeling a bit curious himself about where the other had bought the array.

After all, high-level arrays are something that ordinary cultivator clans don’t have, and almost all of Yue Kingdom’s are monopolized by the Three Major Sects.

Inside the private room of the restaurant.

After a few rounds of drinks, the travel-worn Ge Li couldn’t help but vent about his experiences during this time.

"Those bastards, they clearly agreed to work together, barely lured a Tier Two Demon Beast into the array, only to each have their own schemes, causing the array’s power to greatly diminish.

It was clearly an attempt to kill two birds with one stone and swallow everything whole. The demon beast wasn’t even dead yet, and those black-hearted ones were already eager to act. If I hadn’t run fast enough..."

As Ge Li cursed, there was also a hint of lingering fear in his expression.

Lin Chang’an listened and comforted him, "Mr. Ge, you and I have experienced this countless times in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, where knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean knowing their heart, so we should’ve been aware by now."

"It’s just that I’m not reconciled."

Ge Li looked aggrieved, explaining how much he had lost this time.

"Mr. Lin, you don’t know, but this time I almost couldn’t return, and the assets I’ve painstakingly accumulated over these years are all gone."

Lin Chang’an only comforted him, but internally he felt that something seemed off.

However, seeing Ge Li’s heavily lost appearance, he temporarily suppressed that thought.

...

A few days later.

Ge Li invited Lin Chang’an to gather at the restaurant again.

"Mr. Lin, the more I think about it, the more unreconciled I feel. Most of my fortune is gone, and although I’m not skilled in killing and fighting, if I don’t fight now, I’ll never reach Foundation Establishment in this lifetime. You’re someone I can rely on, and I’m willing to gamble once more as an old brother."

Ge Li, like a gambler, looked at Lin Chang’an with bloodshot eyes, as if telling him that although it was risky to gamble with his life, for the sake of Foundation Establishment, he was willing to take that chance of trust again.

"Mr. Ge."

Originally intending to comfort him, Lin Chang’an suddenly thought of something and became vigilant.

First inviting to state the purpose of hunting a demon beast, after being rejected, collaborated with others, lost most of his fortune, and barely survived.

Who wouldn’t feel sorry and let their guard down upon hearing this, and now proposing cooperation once again, while expressing willingness to trust you?

This is completely showing weakness!

Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an felt a chill in his heart. Seeing the honest-looking Ge Li in front of him, he feigned hesitation and finally sighed helplessly:

"Mr. Ge, I don’t have big ambitions. With the chaos outside and Ghost Three Blades rampant, I’d rather wait until things settle down."

Lin Chang’an, appearing worried about the market’s unrest, caused Ge Li’s heart to burn with anger, thinking, "Isn’t he willing to go out?"

"Damn, this guy is such a coward."

...

After leaving the restaurant, feeling the cool breeze of the market, recalling Ge Li’s pitiful expression at their parting, Lin Chang’an became more cautious.

"Maybe I’m wrong, but it’s better to be cautious."

He’s seen such betrayals before.

Back then, he and Erniu personally experienced a situation where a long-time familiar friend lured them out, only to kill and rob them.

All because of the temptation of just two Spirit Stones, and back then, he and Erniu were lucky to escape because they barely had any money.

The incident was only revealed when the perpetrator was caught in the act of murder and robbery, exposing that it wasn’t their first time.

"Mr. Ge, despite how tempting your offer sounds, I’d rather trust myself."

Lin Chang’an shook his head secretly. Ge Li’s appearance of heavy losses and presenting himself as weak made him wary.

This pattern seemed quite familiar.

...

Inside the restaurant, Ge Li, who had appeared pitiful, now looked rather displeased.

"Damn, he’s not taking the bait."

As the door opened, two cultivators walked in, patting the storage bags tied to their waists and saying sternly:

"Boss, what should we do if he doesn’t take the bait?"

"Consider that kid lucky; we’ll find someone else."

At that moment, Ge Li’s eyes were vicious, completely betraying his previous honest demeanor.

...

"Lu Qingqing?"

Walking down the market street, having purchased some supplies and preparing to leave, Lin Chang’an was surprised to see Lu Qingqing with a child and holding a wooden box.

Usually, this little junior sister rarely goes out, and today she even brought a child out and carried a wooden box.

"Brother Lin."

Calling out to an acquaintance, a hint of embarrassment flashed in Lu Qingqing’s eyes, followed by a smile as she brushed the hair beside her ear.

"Shen Lie has been so busy these past few days that he’s hardly been home. He’s looking quite haggard, so I came to see."

Hearing this, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but feel that Shen Lie was truly fortunate.

"Little Junior Sister, the market isn’t very safe lately. Let’s go together."

Reaching the other side of the market, they saw Shen Lie from a distance at his stall. Besides the scheduled home deliveries, Shen Lie spent most of his time selling leftover demon beast meat at the stall.

"Top-quality demon beast meat, guaranteed quality."

"Old Shen, you’re really working hard."

"Haha, I still have a kid at home. If I don’t work hard while I’m young, won’t the boy have to suffer like his father when he’s old?"

Joking with three or five friends at the stall, Shen Lie’s face was filled with smiles, but from a distance, Lin Chang’an and Lu Qingqing both paused, their expressions somewhat silent.

Underneath Shen Lie’s smiling face was top-quality demon beast meat, yet he was eating dry fasting pills.

The difference between a fasting pill and a fasting pill might be just a word, but worlds apart.

"No wonder," Lu Qingqing muttered to herself after witnessing this scene, while Lin Chang’an wisely walked away.

"Little Junior Sister, I’ll go buy some talisman materials nearby first, you go find Brother Shen."

"Thank you, Brother Lin."

Lu Qingqing took a deep breath and, with the child, carried the wooden box over.

"Qingqing, why are you here!"

Shen Lie looked at Lu Qingqing and his child in surprise, awkwardly holding a cheap fasting pill in his hand.

"Why else would I be here? You, a distinguished late-stage Qi Refining Great Cultivator, mustn’t neglect your cultivation."

Lu Qingqing smiled sweetly, took out the meals prepared at home from the wooden box, using top-quality spirit rice and demon beast meat.

"I..."

Shen Lie’s awkward gaze evaded, but when he lowered his head, his eyes were already red, while Lu Qingqing pretended not to see, twisting to play with the child with a full-face smile.

"Eat quickly, I coincidentally ran into Brother Lin, so the child and I will head back soon, rest assured."

"Okay."

Bowing his head to eat, tears trickled into the bowl.

Lu Qingqing, playing with the child with a full-face smile, had tears welling up in her eyes.

From a distant shop, Lin Chang’an witnessed this scene, letting out a soft sigh.

A man can endure any hardship outside, but nothing is more daunting than suddenly having someone care for him.

With the Gathering Immortals Tower gone, amidst the market chaos, the seasonal rent and cultivation needs—Shen Lie wasn’t alone; he had a wife and child.

He didn’t want his descendants to walk the same path, so upon detecting his child’s talent for spiritual energy, he laid a foundation from an early age.

He wasn’t a Talisman Master or an Alchemist, and couldn’t live off reserves, so he needed to plan for the future.

Selling high-level demon beast meat, Shen Lie was just starting, choosing to earn minimal profits in exchange for stable clients.

As a result, outsiders only saw him Shen Lie establishing himself, while missing the hidden bitterness.

More importantly, after using a Tier-Breaking Pill to break through, Shen Lie knew his potential drastically decreased, so his focus shifted to nurturing the next generation.

"Reporting joy, not worries. Perhaps this is the responsibility a pillar of the family must bear."

Lin Chang’an’s expression held some envy, but more determination.

His path was long, and it wasn’t yet time to stop. If he were to find a Dao companion, it should be someone who could accompany him all the way.

Not someone who would stop halfway, adding more melancholy to a lonely path.

"This Immortal Cultivation Realm truly captivates the heart while also being somewhat repulsive."

Gazing at the beautiful scenery of heaven and earth, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators flying across, Lin Chang’an mused with a complex expression.

At that moment, Lin Chang’an seemed to have an epiphany, feeling as if this world had become clearer.