CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 26: MASTER

Yang Dawei was fiddling with second-hand appliances in his shop when a package arrived, the sender’s address showing Datang City.

Datang City? Yang Dawei muttered to himself, could it be that the package I sent out yesterday got returned?

"Cash on delivery, please pay a shipping fee of two hundred fifty star coins," the delivery robot said in a gentle female voice.

Yang Dawei: ... I can’t believe this!

It would have been better if it was a returned package! Damn it, I’ve been played!

Grumbling, Yang Dawei paid the fee, put on a mask, and cautiously opened the package. There are so many weirdos nowadays; who knows if that little white flower tampered with it, put something disgusting inside, waiting to splash all over when he opened it?

Turns out he was overthinking. It was just an ordinary package, and when he opened it, it revealed the Rune Plate inside.

"Huh?"

He thought his item had been swapped, but it looked like the cooling Rune Plate he had sent out, which calmed Yang Dawei down a bit.

"What’s going on... Was it actually repaired?"

Could it be that they saw the complex talismans on this Rune Plate and felt it couldn’t be fixed, so they sent it back? But why cash on delivery, seriously.

Finding that the little white flower wasn’t as bad as he thought, Yang Dawei felt better, put on gloves, took out testing equipment, and placed it on the groove at the edge of the Rune Plate. Instantly, a blinding ice-blue light shone, and the needle on the instrument slammed to the top as if it had been hit hard.

"Whoa—!"

Yang Dawei’s first reaction was that the testing equipment was broken, but after calming down, he realized that was impossible since he’d been using it throughout the day just fine.

What’s going on? How did a mid-grade cooling Rune Plate transform into a high-grade one?

With an excited heart and trembling hands, he tested several times, finally confirming the Rune Plate not only worked but also upgraded in level, leaving Yang Dawei sitting dumbfounded on a chair, muttering to himself like a stunned fool: "Impossible... absolutely impossible..."

Even though he was only a second-tier talisman master and pretty much at the bottom of the prestige chain, he still has common sense.

Repairing such a Rune Plate would generally take a talisman master of the spiritual level three days, but how long did the other person take? Excluding transit time, at most half a day.

Moreover, upgrading the Rune Plate requires at least a level nine advanced talisman master; how could a hobbyist do it?

Yang Dawei suddenly jumped up and rummaged through his desk, finally finding a ten-time magnifying glass, which he held to his eyes and carefully examined the edges of the Rune Plate.

He suspected she bought a high-end Rune Plate of the same model to replace it. Although he couldn’t understand why she’d do a losing trade, there had to be some conspiracy!

Once he saw his exclusive mark that he had carefully etched, the last bit of suspicion in Yang Dawei’s heart dissipated.

Whether intentional or coincidental, next to his mark, there was a new five-pointed star pattern that looked like a flower, probably left by the little white flower.

Yang Dawei carefully stored the Rune Plate, turned on his optical brain, and desperately tagged the weak little white flower in his contacts.

With such skills, who would believe she isn’t a talisman master unless she’s hiding her qualifications to protect her identity, perhaps?

In Yang Dawei’s mind, he had already crafted a drama of a high-level talisman master rebelling against oppressive noble forces, facing multiple suppressions and chases, finally changing her name and living incognito, forced to do online gigs to make a living.

It’s got to be a special kind of fate that led him to encounter Master Little White Flower amidst the vast crowd!

Reflecting on his attitude yesterday, Yang Dawei wanted to slap himself. Being able to collaborate long-term with the master, aside from what it meant for his business, just having connections with such a high-level talisman master would be enough for him to boast about for the rest of his life.

While Yang Dawei was waiting with bated breath, the "Master Little White Flower" thousands of miles away was busy wreaking havoc in the Star Beast Forest.

After dinner, brushing her teeth, and getting into bed, Li Xing finally had time to turn on her optical brain. As soon as she logged on, dozens of messages from "Making Money is Essential" flooded the screen.

Li Xing sipped her berry milk, leisurely reading through each one.

//Making Money is Essential: Master, the Rune Plate arrived, you are incredible! I was blind not to recognize gold inlaid with jade, daring to question your skills, utterly unforgivable, please don’t hold it against me.//

//Master, are you there, Master? Call me when you’re online, let’s discuss the payment. Mwah mwah//

//Master, did you receive my message? Love//

//Master...//

...

Before Li Xing could finish reading the messages, Making Money is Essential sent another one, this time Li Xing replied.

//Weak Little Flower: I’m here.//

Even through the screen, Li Xing could feel his excitement.

//Making Money is Essential: Master! You’re finally online!!!//

//Weak Little Flower: Did you accept the Rune Plate? If everything’s good, send the money quickly!//

Though the words had no emotion, Yang Dawei just felt the master Little White Flower wasn’t too pleased, and the last thing he wanted was to make the master upset now.

//Making Money is Essential: Master, what I sent you was a mid-grade Rune Plate, and with your skillful handiwork, it became a high-grade one, different from what we agreed on.//

Li Xing raised an eyebrow; what now? She was ready to accept the loss, but did he want to find fault in perfection?

//Weak Little Flower: Get to the point.//

Yang Dawei felt the master was even more displeased.

//Making Money is Essential: To be honest, after reinstalling the Rune Plate into the fridge, I made a net profit of seven thousand, and with luck, maybe even more. Therefore, I’m increasing the repair fee to three and a half thousand, what do you think?//

Li Xing really didn’t expect that the person who was haggling with her yesterday, not only disclosed the whole truth today but also voluntarily offered more money. Did he take the wrong medicine?

Seeing no reply from the master, Yang Dawei thought maybe she found it insufficient, clenched his teeth, and sent another message:

//Making Money is Essential: Four thousand!//

Li Xing raised an eyebrow, adding another five hundred?

Still no reply, Yang Dawei gritted his teeth and continued typing.

//Making Money is Essential: Master, my business is just getting started, and I have rent and utilities to pay, with plenty of inventory unsold, operating at thin margins. Four thousand is honestly my limit, sob sob sob...//

Yang Dawei barely finished crying when the other side sent a message—//Deal!// which made him slap his thigh in joy as he quickly transferred four thousand star coins to the account of Master Little White Flower.

The sound of the money arriving, "ding," was the most stress-relieving sound in the world, and Li Xing beamed as she responded.

//Weak Little Flower: Pleasure doing business! Reach out directly if you need repairs in the future.//

From this, it seemed the master was willing to work with him long-term, and Yang Dawei saw a bright future ahead.

//Making Money is Essential: Master, if I may ask boldly, what’s the probability of upgrading the Rune Plate’s level?//

High-level talisman masters occasionally have a chance to upgrade Rune Plates, and Yang Dawei was immensely curious; if Master Little White Flower had a high success rate, then it meant he could purchase low-cost and sell high-end, and within a few years, open branches and live the dream life.

Li Xing, on the other hand, stared at the message, contemplating. Did she upgrade the Rune Plate’s level?

Since Making Money is Essential asked this way, it meant not all talisman masters could achieve an upgrade. No wonder he shifted from arrogance to humility; the issue probably lay here.

//Weak Little Flower: Not sure, I haven’t tracked it.//

Li Xing’s dismissive response further deepened Yang Dawei’s misunderstanding—it’s not that the master didn’t track it; it’s probably because the success rate is so high it’s inconvenient to disclose. Yes, that must be it!

//Making Money is Essential: Ah, I understand, I understand. Master, let’s draft a new agreement. Business is business; some things are better plainly stated.//

Li Xing fully agreed with this idea.

//Making Money is Essential: Repairing a low-grade Rune Plate costs two thousand per unit, mid-grade three thousand, and high-grade four thousand. If the Rune Plate’s level increases, we’ll add an additional thousand to the original fee.//

Fearing that Master Little White Flower might find it too low, he added a note:

//Master, although the individual fee isn’t much, we’re focusing on long-term development. Each month, I can at least assign you twenty tasks, adding up to a significant total; what do you think?//

Li Xing considered the offer reasonable this time and agreed. After arranging for Making Money is Essential to send a few more Rune Plates the next day, Li Xing went offline.