A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 61: Chapter 60: Store and Residence Affairs

Lü Zhong didn’t refuse. ’I paid for her company,’ he thought, ’so why would I push her away?’

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, it was time to talk business.

”Fellow Daoist Lin, if I wanted to settle here long-term, how would I go about finding a place to live?” Lü Zhong asked, putting down his chopsticks and addressing the young man named Lin Yunhua.

Hearing this, Lin Yunhua stopped what he was doing, thought for a moment, and then said with a smile, ”Fellow Daoist, you’ve asked the right person. Normally, new cultivators can only find a broker to rent a place. But your status as a Talisman Maker is different. You can use that Token to rent directly from the Store and Residence Affairs.”

He popped another bite into his mouth before continuing, ”The Workshop Market’s housing is managed by the Store and Residence Affairs. Renting from them is not only cheaper, but you also get first pick of newly listed properties. That makes it much easier for you, Fellow Daoist, to find a place you truly like.”

Lü Zhong nodded and filed the information away.

’If what Lin Yunhua said is true, then I’ve really lucked out this time. Still, I can’t just trust him so easily. Who knows if there’s a catch?’

He then asked a few more questions about the business of selling Talismans and found that the rules were similar to Qingliu Square. You didn’t even have to pay a fee for a stall; you just had to set up in a designated area.

Moreover, the supply of Fiery Sun Stones here was plentiful, so he would no longer have to worry about a lack of Talisman Ink to craft Evil Exorcism Talismans.

After this detailed conversation, Lü Zhong now had a general impression of Yanling Mountain Market.

It was, in essence, a scaled-up version of Qingliu Square—larger and with more complete industries.

Whether it was Artifact Refining, Alchemy, or workshops specializing in producing Talisman Paper, there were many such businesses here. A full range of workshops for daily necessities was also available.

As for gambling dens and brothels, that went without saying. The woman in his arms was the best proof; she had both looks and talent, and one could tell at a glance that she had been professionally trained and cultivated.

The only drawback was that the rent here was extraordinarily expensive.

According to Lin Yunhua, to rent a private courtyard with its own entrance, the lowest listed price from the Store and Residence Affairs was ten Spirit Stones a month, and it had to be paid annually.

Even though he had earned a fair amount of Spirit Stones on the road, he still felt a sharp pang at the thought of spending so much money on rent.

...

「The next day.」

When Lü Zhong woke up, he felt sticky and frowned.

He had to use a couple of Cleaning Talismans to get rid of the grime.

He left the inn and headed for the Store and Residence Affairs to rent a place for himself.

The streets were bustling, and most people walked with a hurried pace, unlike the leisurely Loose Cultivators of Qingliu Square.

Shops open for business lined both sides of the street. In terms of both decor and the variety of goods, they were far superior to the shops in Qingliu Square, with people constantly going in and out.

Though the goods were tempting, Lü Zhong resisted the urge to buy anything.

He continued along the street, which was mostly an uphill climb.

Due to its unique terrain, Yanling Mountain Market was divided into nine ”rings” based on the concentration of Spiritual Qi.

The Lower Three Rings were where the workshops were concentrated. Shantytowns had formed around them, and this was where most low-level cultivators lived crammed together. The Middle Three Rings were a hub for various shops, with some residences mixed in. This was where Lü Zhong planned to rent. Finally, the Upper Three Rings formed the core of the Workshop Market. Most of this area was restricted, accessible only to cultivators from government offices like the Law Enforcement Team and Tax Officers. Only a small part was open to the public.

The Store and Residence Affairs was located in that open section.

The sign for the Store and Residence Affairs was huge, so it was easy to spot.

At the entrance, many cultivators who looked like brokers were gathered, along with an even greater number of prospective renters.

These prospective renters weren’t eligible to enter the Store and Residence Affairs. They could only view the listings posted outside and then commission a broker to submit a small slip of paper on their behalf.

The listed properties were in high demand, forcing renters to bid against each other. The slips of paper contained the property’s information and their offered price.

Only the highest bidder would get to rent the house.

Such was the process for an ordinary cultivator to rent a home in Yanling Mountain Market.

Lü Zhong didn’t need a broker. He went straight to a steward inside and told him why he was there.

”Renting? Let me see your Certification Token. You have to have one to rent here.” The steward’s expression was flat. It was obvious he had no interest in dealing with Lü Zhong, but he also feared the man might actually be certified, so he maintained a strictly professional demeanor.

After seeing the Token, the steward’s face suddenly broke into a wide smile as he held out a catalog.

”Would you like me to make a few recommendations, Fellow Daoist? It’s only ten Spirit Stones, and I guarantee I’ll point you to some excellent properties—great value, places that ordinary people can’t get their hands on.”

Lü Zhong didn’t dwell on the man’s sudden change from arrogance to deference. After glancing through the catalog, he considered the offer and cupped his hands. ”Then I’ll be in your hands, Steward Feng.”

”My pleasure, my pleasure!” Steward Feng’s attitude warmed considerably now that money was involved.

The houses in Yanling Mountain Market varied in age and size.

They ranged from luxurious, three-courtyard mansions built less than a year ago to old, dilapidated mud-brick houses.

Unlike in Qingliu Square, tenants here had to maintain the properties themselves. It was therefore crucial to find a place that didn’t need many repairs and was move-in ready, which would save a significant amount of money.

True to his word, now that he was paid, Steward Feng recommended a selection of just such properties.

The steward then led him to see a few places, and it didn’t take long for Lü Zhong to find one he was very happy with.

It was a courtyard hidden within a bamboo forest. The property, including the grove, was about a mu in size. It was quiet and secluded from prying eyes. There was even a small, prepared Spirit Field. Although the soil quality of this tenth-of-a-mu plot was only average, it was more than enough to grow Talisman Grass.

Furthermore, the courtyard bordered the Third Ring, meaning its Spiritual Qi concentration was slightly higher than in other parts of the Fourth Ring.

All in all, it was a steal.

According to Steward Feng, this place was originally inhabited by a Late-stage Qi Refining Loose Cultivator.

The cultivator had left not long ago, setting out to wander the world in search of an opportunity for Foundation Establishment, thus vacating the bamboo courtyard.

Plenty of people had their eye on the courtyard, all waiting for the half-month holding period to end so they could be the first to rent it.

Now, however, Lü Zhong had beaten them to it.

After paying a full year’s rent—at a rate of ten Spirit Stones per month—he received a Document Contract.

The Document Contract served as a lease, listing the property’s address, a description of the tenant’s appearance, the rental term, and various other stipulations.

With this Document Contract in hand, Lü Zhong now officially held the rights to reside in the bamboo courtyard.

...

The bamboo courtyard was a simple, single-entry compound. Past the bamboo grove and through the main gate was the yard itself, which was enclosed by single-story buildings: a main hall, two side-wings, and a reverse-facing building at the entrance.

The main hall was divided into three rooms. Lü Zhong decided to furnish the left and right rooms as his bedroom and a Talisman Making Room, respectively, while the central hall would serve as a reception area for guests.

As for the side-wings, he planned to convert the east wing into a Quiet Chamber for his secluded cultivation.

A dedicated Quiet Chamber was essential for cultivation.

As for the west wing, Lü Zhong planned to use one of the rooms as a kitchen for his daily meals.

He didn’t hire anyone to clean the courtyard.

Besides, there was a certain pleasure in watching the new house become spotless little by little.

He started by clearing out the unwanted furniture. Then, with a series of Cleaning Talismans, the somewhat old-looking courtyard was gradually restored to a pristine state. All that remained was to buy new furniture and bedding, and he could finally settle in.

’It’s a shame I don’t have enough Spirit Stones,’ Lü Zhong thought. ’Once I’ve saved up enough, I’ll definitely set up a Defense Array here.’

Without one, an outsider could use a simple Qi Observation Skill to see everything happening inside the bamboo courtyard.

That would leave him with practically no privacy.