Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

Wei Tu watched Che Chulong walk into the distance.

After a moment of thought, he left his shanty and went to Hu Yao’s residence to tell her what Che Chulong had come to discuss.

After finishing his story, Wei Tu made a promise to put Hu Yao’s mind at ease.

"As long as Fellow Daoist Hu can get the Talisman Paper at a 40% discount... hmm... a 30% discount would also be acceptable. From now on, I will have you procure all of it for me..."

He said with a serious expression.

Compared to Basic Talismans, Tier One Talismans were a high-end market, and their profit margins were far higher than those of ordinary Talismans.

The procurement cost for Tier One Talisman Paper was therefore higher than for basic Talisman Paper, so a smaller discount was acceptable.

After offending Che Chulong and the other Talisman House owners, he figured that even if he went to the Bai Shihu Marketplace to buy it himself, the cheapest Talisman Paper he could find would likely cost him 70% of the list price or more.

Rather than do that, he might as well cede that 10% margin to Hu Yao, giving her more confidence to find a new supply channel for Talisman Paper.

Besides,

Previously, Hu Yao had been confident about getting the goods with a 40% discount because she had the Talisman House owners as suppliers. Now that she’d lost that connection... for him to still demand a 40% discount would be like kicking her while she was down.

Since he had chosen Hu Yao over the Talisman House owners, he had to see it through and help her to the very end.

He had to help her establish this new channel.

"Thank you for your help this time, Fellow Daoist Wei."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yao’s eyes lit up slightly. She rose from her seat and gave Wei Tu a solemn bow.

Just a moment ago, when she heard Wei Tu’s story about Che Chulong, she’d assumed he would take advantage of the situation and demand more for himself. She never expected him to be the one to speak up and offer her that 10% margin.

"I will definitely find a new Talisman Paper supplier within a month."

"I absolutely will not cause any delays for Fellow Daoist Wei."

Hu Yao said, gritting her teeth.

...

「Fifteen days later.」

Wei Tu received the first batch of Tier One Talisman Paper from Hu Yao at a 30% discount.

’The quality is similar to the Talisman Paper from the Marketplace shops. It seems Fellow Daoist Hu hasn’t found a new supplier yet. She’s stubbornly taking a loss just to hold onto me as a major client.’

Wei Tu carefully examined the two stacks of Talisman Paper on the desk. Seeing that the color and materials were nearly identical, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

The market price for Tier One Lower-Grade Talisman Paper was eight Spirit Stones per dozen.

In other words, Hu Yao was gritting her teeth and bearing the cost. Including the previous batch of Talisman Paper, she had lost at least three Spirit Stones in just over ten days.

Time flew by in a flash.

「One month later.」

Hu Yao had an apologetic and dejected look on her face. "Fellow Daoist Wei, I’ve disappointed you. I wasn’t able to find a new supplier for Talisman Paper during this time."

Over the past month, she had truly experienced the great ups and downs of life.

The Talisman House owners like Che Chulong, who had been so friendly to her before, now all shut their doors in her face, refusing her entry and not even giving her a chance to negotiate.

"In a moment, I will go and plead with Che Chulong and the others. They should be willing to cooperate with Fellow Daoist Wei again and let go of their grudges."

Hu Yao added.

A month ago, Wei Tu had fallen out with Che Chulong and the other Talisman House owners in order to defend her.

However, no matter how bitter the falling-out, it couldn’t outweigh the allure of profit.

As long as one was willing to be submissive and apologize, it wouldn’t be difficult for the two sides to reconcile.

"Fellow Daoist Hu, why not try a different approach? Instead of looking for a Talisman Paper supplier, look for a supplier of Demon Beast Hides..."

Wei Tu mused, revealing the plan he had been considering for the past half-month.

He had the method for making Talisman Paper from cured Demon Beast Hides, which he had gotten from Tong Peipei.

The method for making Talisman Paper wasn’t particularly rare knowledge among Talisman Masters.

When Tong Peipei had given him the method as an apology, she hadn’t said that he couldn’t pass it on to others.

Besides, if they could produce even cheaper Tier One Talisman Paper, he was confident he could also pull Tong Peipei into this Alliance with him and Hu Yao.

This would be a good thing for Tong Peipei as well.

"A supplier for Demon Beast Hides?" Hu Yao was surprised to hear this, but after thinking it over, she felt this path might just work.

Demon Beast Hides came from the Demon Beasts hunted by Assassins.

Compared to the Talisman House owners and their stable alliance, Assassins were numerous and disorganized. Starting there would undoubtedly be much easier.

"I believe in Fellow Daoist Hu’s connections and abilities..."

Wei Tu smiled faintly, took out a pre-written note, and handed it to Hu Yao.

"I will engrave Fellow Daoist Wei’s kindness in my heart."

Hu Yao took the note, glanced at its contents, and thanked Wei Tu again.

’Snatching business from the Talisman House owners had its pros and cons. If I succeed, my future earning potential will increase dramatically. I’ll no longer have to scrape by in the Shantytown and might even have a chance to glimpse the Foundation Establishment Immortal Dao.

But there are downsides, too. None of these Talisman House owners are people to be trifled with.

By making enemies of them, I might end up dead outside Danqiu Mountain someday. Or even... be assassinated right here in the Shantytown.’

"Once this is successful, I will give Fellow Daoist Wei a share of the profits from this business."

Hu Yao said in a solemn voice.

Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded in agreement, not bothering to refuse or pretend to be magnanimous.

...

After Hu Yao left, Wei Tu began to pack his belongings. He planned to move to the Marketplace today and rent a Cave Mansion to avoid any trouble that might come with delay.

Originally, he had planned to wait a year until he had earned enough money, then find an opportune time to move into a Cave Mansion in the Marketplace.

But plans couldn’t keep up with changes.

After giving the Talisman Paper-making method to Hu Yao, he had undoubtedly offended Che Chulong and the others to the point of no return. Staying in the less-secure Shantytown would inevitably be dangerous.

Sooner or later, he had to move anyway.

’It’s just that with the money I have on hand now, I can only afford to rent a Cave Mansion with poor Spiritual Qi...’