Chapter 004: Demonic Energy

Then he can be considered perceptive

The shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his face, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and waved his hand: "Send the young brother off, you should... hurry and leave."

The atmosphere on the street was particularly lively, and it was rare for Old Lu to witness such a scene. He couldn't help but ask an elderly man selling vegetables by the roadside, "Old sir, is there a celebration in the city?"

Upon seeing his son come out, noticing the brush and ink book in his hand, he quickly stood up and asked, "Did he sell it to you?"

What is the price of this?

The fortune-telling old man chuckled awkwardly, set down the astrological chart, and sometimes suddenly opened his mouth to scare passersby. A blind cat can occasionally catch a dead mouse; there will always be those with guilty consciences who fall for it. Of course, the main factor is still the attire of the other person. If they come from the village, they are mostly superstitious about this matter. There are many people from various towns and villages who come to the market, and today he has also made a few deals.

As he turned his head, he suddenly made eye contact with the young man beside the farmer, and he trembled violently, quickly lowering his head, not daring to look up.

Not long after, the father and son entered a shop adorned with paper fans, and the fragrance of ink wafted through the air. Lu Liangsheng stepped over the threshold and took a deep breath. At the counter opposite them, the shopkeeper, hearing their footsteps, put down his ledger and looked up, saying, "Feel free to browse, gentlemen"

How strange, it is clearly a person

Place it on the table for Lu Liangsheng to see. The pen holder is made of bamboo, giving it a rather verdant and jade-like appearance. Old man Lu calculates the money in his pocket, exchanges a glance with his son, grits his teeth, and prepares to make the purchase

It costs fifteen wen

A group of people dispersed like birds and beasts

This gentleman, would you not buy a talisman to ward off evil spirits

Only after the person had walked far away did the old man dare to lift his face, and the departing figure also appeared somewhat puzzled

Lu Liangsheng placed his last few coins on the counter, expressed his gratitude, and then left the shop. His father, Lu Laoshi, sat by the street, still fuming from earlier.

Having thanked the old gentleman, the dragon and lion dance troupe had already passed. Upon returning to the shop to purchase that pen, the shopkeeper awkwardly clasped his hands and said: "My dear brother, I truly apologize. I suddenly remembered that when I was calculating the cost earlier, I forgot to add an item. I need to include this amount in order to sell it to you. The new assistant has been rather careless in his work; I will speak to him about it. I sincerely apologize, truly sorry."

Lu Liangsheng stood at a distance, watching for a while, and was then pulled away by Lu Laoshi, who said, "Do not look, and do not learn; it is life-threatening."

The people in the city are truly bullying others

Someone shouted: "The officials and soldiers have arrived"

He reached out and easily picked up the pen, waved it in front of the two, then went to the bookshelf to take a blank booklet and an ink block

Ten wen. The shopkeeper took down the rabbit hair brush and made a gesture.

The day before, a rain had fallen, leaving the roads muddy. A peddler, carrying a burden on his shoulder, hurried past with a paper windmill stuck in his load. A forest hero, holding a sword and dagger, squatted by the roadside, chewing on a wheat stalk, grinning savagely or silently watching the people entering the city. Only when the patrolling soldiers approached did he show a slight restraint

Only then did I remember that there was someone in the store, looking over at the boy who was touching and peering around, hesitantly speaking up

Turn around and shout: "Someone come here"

"It really is this price," the shopkeeper said, shrugging his shoulders and pointing at the brush on the table. "I can't sell it to you at a loss, that wouldn't be fair."

Do you possess magical abilities?

Are you from outside? This is the birthday celebration of Mr. Chen from Fushui County, and a theater troupe has been invited to perform

As they walked and talked, upon leaving the street and heading towards the city gate, they passed by a stall. Suddenly, a voice called out to the father and son. Turning around, they saw a small banner with a black border and white center standing upright, beneath which sat an old man with a goatee, pinching the tips of his beard, his eyes cloudy like a pair of old books, staring intently at Lu Laoshi.

The hanging brushes come in various sizes, ranging from large to small, with brush tips varying from fine to broad, and arranged according to different materials used for the brush heads

Behind the counter, the shopkeeper adjusted the rooster-shaped hat on his head. Noticing that Lu Liangsheng was still present, he paid it no mind and smiled to himself, saying: "It is not that I won't sell, but I cannot incur a loss"

You..." Old Man Lu clenched his fists, his face flushed with anger. After a long pause, he finally managed to say: "You are not trustworthy. You promised ten wen, how can you go back on your word? This is a breach of trust.

Bullying people, I will not buy it anymore

"Shopkeeper, we would like to choose a pen." Old Master Lu glanced around and spoke in a slow and deliberate manner: "The cheaper kind will do, a smaller one is also fine, please recommend one for us."

Saying this, let us calculate the price

Pig bristles are the cheapest, but after some use, they easily split... Rabbit hair, sheep hair, and wolf hair are the best, among which rabbit hair is the most affordable of the three. Brother, how about this option?

Old Master Lu could not come up with any reasoning, so he turned and walked towards the door. However, Lu Liangsheng remained at the counter, showing no intention of leaving. He glanced at the brushes displayed on the counter for a moment, then suddenly smiled at the shopkeeper. While looking at the inkstones and paper on the shelf, he quietly formed a hand gesture with his fingers hanging by his side.

With a sudden shake of the wide sleeves, I reached for the pen, but my expression changed abruptly. Despite the force I exerted with my hand, the pen remained completely still in its place.

Upon entering the city, a scene of prosperity unfolds, with the sounds of tea vendors bustling about. The waiters, holding teapots, loudly call out to attract customers. Those with a moment to spare step inside for a brief rest. On either side, the street vendors open their steamers, releasing the enticing aroma of hot meat pies. A plump young boy dressed in brocade tugs at the steward's hand, standing there with longing eyes, shouting that he wants to buy some.

The shopkeeper used both hands together, pulling with all his might, causing his entire body to lean outward, his face turning bright red from the effort

Such a heavy aura of malevolence

Thank you for your generosity, but I will not take advantage of you

Oh! Something happened. I saw it!

How much are these two items

I spoke some reason, and the shopkeeper, being kind-hearted, agreed to sell it

Outside, there was a commotion, and the sound of footsteps suddenly erupted. Following that, the sounds of suona and gong came, drowning out the words of Old Master Lu. The father and son, curious, walked to the door, where pedestrians on the long street parted and stood at the curb, watching as a dragon and lion dance troupe approached from the end of the street. A few individuals on stilts, dressed in comical costumes, waved their long sleeves, swaying and singing along to the rhythm, moving past amidst the clanging sounds.

What is going on

"You fortune-teller, how can you speak like this..." Old Master Lu was fed up, pulling his son to leave, "Who in their right mind would buy your swindling goods? Liang Sheng, let's go."

Lu Liangsheng did not respond, but simply took out ten copper coins and placed them on the counter, "This is mine"

The father and son nodded slightly, behind them was a brush rack filled with various brushes that had yet to be inked: "Rest assured, my brother, the merchants speak of integrity; even if the brushes are inexpensive, we will not sell you inferior goods."

On both sides of the store, there are bookshelves made of teak wood, with white mulberry paper and yellow mulberry paper stacked in batches, neatly arranged. There are also blank booklets printed and piled there for people to choose from

The shop assistant heard the noise and came out from the back room. Upon seeing the shopkeeper's appearance, he stepped forward to help. Two adults, at the very least, should be able to lift over 200 pounds, yet at this moment, they were flushed in the face and could not move this pen even an inch.

The shopkeeper examined the attire of the two individuals and did not exhibit the condescending attitude typical of someone who looks down on others. Even small profits are still profits

Occasionally, piercing screams erupt on the streets, and from a distance, a crowd can be seen gathered, resembling a group of chivalrous figures from the rivers and lakes engaged in a dispute that has escalated into a fight, with the clashing of blades ringing out chaotically, causing a disturbance, and nearby stalls are overturned, leaving soup and pots scattered in disarray