CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 35: XIAOPANG

He Kao cautiously replied, "Before today, besides Wu Yanjun, no one else mentioned the Hidden Moth to me."

Lin Qingshuang: "It’s better that you don’t know, to avoid getting entangled in further troubles.

There’s one more thing. I would like to ask you for a favor, which is to borrow this Beast Claw Pendant for a while. I can’t just borrow it for free, let’s say I rent it.

If it’s for Foundation Establishment, this item doesn’t have much effect on adults, but a relative’s child might benefit from wearing it for a while to see what changes occur.

Fellow Daoist Qian, what do you think is a suitable rental period and price?"

Lin Qingshuang wanted to "rent" He Kao’s pendant. Interestingly, when she talked about the price at the end, she asked not He Kao, but Old Qian, who today was merely playing the straight man.

She knew He Kao might be embarrassed to talk openly, much like many real-life deals that require a broker to initiate.

Who would be a more suitable intermediary than Qian Guran? It’s known that the Qi Observation Skill Tier Two is known as "Broker," and Tier Three "School of Cross and Vertical" also serves as a more proficient broker.

On the other hand, He Kao only found out today that his pendant had some significance. He’s an outsider, while Old Qian had studied this item for a long time and could draw more accurate conclusions.

Before He Kao could say anything, Qian Guran already answered, "If it’s for the effect of calming the spirit, wear it as long as you like, but you can’t borrow it for a lifetime, right?

If the elder’s goal is to help that child awaken their spiritual sense to assess their potential, the shortest duration would yield results in three months, and no longer than six months is needed.

Let’s calculate the rent based on a flexible period, between three to six months. As for the rent, let me estimate, thirty to fifty thousand should be about right.

Since the elder plans to have a child wear this, the possibility of it being lost should be considered. I suggest you first give Xiao Kao a two million deposit..."

As soon as Lin Qingshuang spoke, Qian Guran knew what she was up to. Failing to take He Kao as a disciple, but her intention to accept a disciple was stirred, possibly a form of compensation in her mind.

Lin Qingshuang herself had no children, so she wanted to test a child from a relative’s family. If He Kao’s pendant was worn long-term, it might help in awakening spiritual sense and assess if the child was suitable.

Theoretically, anyone can practice techniques, but most people fail to cultivate successfully, and it’s not worth the wasted effort. It’s said that a Magic Sect Elder once invested a lot in his own son but ultimately failed to help him gain entry level.

After the price was mentioned, Old Qian turned to He Kao and said, "Letting Elder Lin take this temporarily isn’t a bad thing. If you keep wearing it, you might attract trouble. Let’s wait until the Hidden Moth incident blows over."

Lin Qingshuang immediately nodded, "Thirty to fifty thousand? Can’t let Xiao Kao suffer losses, so let’s set it at fifty thousand.

Xiao Kao, give me an account number, and I’ll wire you two million as a deposit right now. When I return the pendant, you can pay me back a million and a half... I’m taking this thing today."

He Kao hadn’t regained his senses yet; the transaction had concluded, leaving him a bit at a loss, "It’s just borrowing for a few months, why pay? If it’s useful to you, take it. You’re not going to not return it!"

Lin Qingshuang shook her head, "I knew you’d say this out of embarrassment, that’s why I discussed the price with Xiaoqian. How could I just take a family heirloom for free?

This item is useful to me, and if you are not willing to rent it, I won’t force you. But if you are willing, let’s stick to the previous terms. I’m asking you now, are you willing or not?"

Faced with such a straightforward offer, He Kao had no choice but to agree. Still a bit dazed, he hadn’t expected the pendant to be so valuable — renting it for a few months would earn him fifty thousand, more than what he made laboring for a year!

Though the apprenticeship didn’t work out today, was it a profitable day?

Seeing He Kao nod, Lin Qingshuang didn’t want to waste more time and left with the pendant.

Perhaps still unwilling, as she exited, she said to He Kao, "Delete everything after the second page of your technique. Remember, don’t practice blindly.

As for the first two pages, I’ll annotate them for you. It won’t involve the Observing Body Sect’s secrets, just some taboos and my personal insights."

With the elder gone, only two people remained in the private room. He Kao got up, reached across the table, and caught Old Qian by the sleeve, "What happened just now? Elder Lin clearly wanted to take me as a disciple but suddenly changed her mind. What did you all hear?"

In front of Lin Qingshuang, He Kao acted very composed and couldn’t just push for answers. But with his colleague Old Qian, he was more casual.

Qian Guran, with a pained expression, "How do you know..."

He Kao: "So you admit it! Even a blind man could guess what happened then. Did someone use the Sound Transmission Technique to tell you something?"

Qian Guran sighed, "It’s not the Sound Transmission Technique but Divine Thought. An elder, though I don’t know which one, but surely a Magic Sect elder, instructed us not to take you as a disciple.

As for the reason, I don’t know, it was just that one statement..."

Just moments ago, Lin Qingshuang and Qian Guran both heard a sentence, or rather, a thought telling them not to take He Kao as a disciple or recommend him to other senior members of the sect.

This wasn’t a secret sound transmission technique but a thought that appeared directly in their minds, a method only grasped by a Tier Six Elder of the sect. The person didn’t reveal their identity, so Qian Guran didn’t know who intervened.

...

Meanwhile, as Lin Qingshuang went downstairs and settled the bill, she couldn’t help but observe around, curious about which Magic Sect elder caused the side issue, but she found something else.

A chubby guy was queuing behind her to check out, wearing a string of amber beads on his left wrist.

Although Lin Qingshuang wasn’t a Sorcerer of the Micro Realm Sect, she instantly recognized the beads weren’t genuine natural amber but synthetic resin, like those sold in tourist spots to fool customers.

The chubby guy finished paying, humming a tune as he exited, swinging his hands intuitively. Perhaps the elastic was loose, and inadvertently flung the amber, conveniently caught by a sister at the roadside.

The chubby guy hastened over, "Sorry, really sorry, I almost hit you. Your reflexes are impressive, have you trained?"

The sister frowning at the bracelet, face filled with disdain as if holding something filthy, handed it back, "Where did you get this blood-sucking sinister thing? How dare you wear it?"

He was dumbfounded, "What do you mean? What’s wrong with my stuff?"

That sister was Lin Qingshuang, sternly said, "Chubby, have you recently felt like your body’s been really worn out? Kindly reminding you, this thing has malevolent energy. If you keep wearing it, your days may be numbered!"

After saying that, Lin Qingshuang turned away, no longer minding other’s business. She knew very well that just by saying that, anyone would feel uneasy, and Chubby would no longer wear the amber.

Yet, Lin Qingshuang didn’t realize she had just brushed past Huang Si.

**