Chapter 723: Lin Yuanmiao
Zhang Yuelu ultimately did not make things difficult for Qi Xuansu. After the two left, Qi Xuansu returned to his residence alone and contacted Madam Qi, explaining everything in detail. He wanted her to purchase the Soul-Returning Incense on his behalf and asked her to assess the situation.
After listening, Madam Qi said, “I didn’t expect Lin Lingsu to have died that way. What a pitiful end! But this deal is worth doing. I see no major issues with it. I have some Soul-Returning Incense right here—top-grade powdered incense that can raise the dead and grow flesh on bone. A pinch is worth over a thousand regular sticks. I’ll even throw in a snuff bottle just for you.”
That was exactly what Qi Xuansu had hoped for. Burning 1,100 sticks of incense would look like a bonfire. A snuff bottle was much more discreet and elegant.
Knowing Qi Xuansu had money, Madam Qi added, “Transfer the payment first. Then I’ll ship it. Payment before goods—that’s the rule.”
Qi Xuansu asked, “How do I send money to you?”
Madam Qi explained, “Ancient Immortals often had their followers offer tributes through sacrificial altars. It’s said this practice came from the West, but it works very well. Set up a basic ritual, replace the fish talisman with my sigil, then initiate the Dream Meeting process, but without using the Soul-Returning Incense. That way, you’ll be able to offer a sacrifice to me.”
With that, Madam Qi showed Qi Xuansu her sigil.
Qi Xuansu was familiar with sigil correspondences. The Daoist sigil was a combination of the Eight Trigrams with the yin-yang symbol in the middle. True Lord Siming’s were the black-moon and white-sun eyes. These symbols commonly appeared in formations or restrictions.
Madam Qi’s sigil was remarkably simple—a circle enclosing a square.
At a lofty interpretation, it represented the heavens and earth. But one could also interpret it as a large ancient copper coin that had a square hole in the center. Madam Qi’s robes were often embroidered with the design.
Qi Xuansu took out the materials for the Dream Meeting ritual. He poured Imitation Torch Dragon Blood from a crimson gourd and drew a yin-yang symbol on the floor. He then placed black and white candles on the two dots of the yin-yang symbol and lit them.