Chapter 34: The Solution To His Problem
Shen An Na understood the need for control, order and the semblance of it at the least. She and even more so, her own older brother, concerned themselves about this—and perhaps for a man that probably had his life structured accordingly. This was frightening.
The people present in the office weren't exactly helping with the situation either.
She waved a hand and gave a look at the other men in the room; she needed to let this older man understand that they weren't here to be his enemy. When she had glanced down at his ID earlier, she had almost choked on the 'Allies' portion that he had placed in it. It only went to show how small the man's world was to her.
Name: Li Yang
Age: 28
Race: Human
POB: Beijing
Occupation: CEO
Items: None
Enemies: None
Allies: Li Liang, Olympian Corp.
She knew little about his personal background—although her brother insisted that she keep up with the people in the industry; she didn't manage to completely do so. What was there to care about old men and their often slimy attitudes? However, she was able to surmise something from his answer and now it was up to her and hopefully the others to assist him now.
"The Black Market is not the same thing as what you may expect—or perhaps, it is better to say that yes, there are illegal things, but included among them are far older cultivation items that are sometimes unearthed and found in ancient places or had come from remaining long-time cultivators that recently came out from their seclusion."
"When you say long-time cultivators, do you refer to people who are advanced over the normal life span?" Li Yang asked. "People that are over a thousand years old and such?"
Shen An Na coughed and glanced at Hua Zhao.
"They're quite few now, at least that's what we can surmise. It's been quite awhile since we've met anyone come out from any cultivation cave—perhaps the more powerful ones have already ascended in other realms." The martial artist said with a shrug. "Ones stuck here are big fish in a small pond that is to say."
Although still flippant in a way, at least the man was answering now.
But honestly, even then, the young man explaining it was enough to give her a headache. They really didn't need to discuss other realms—what if they scare the man away?
"Are you saying that there is a current stagnation with the current cultivation experts in this time and age?" Li Yang asked again. The man raised one of his brows as he tucked his arms over his chest.
Compared to what she had believed, the man took the information in stride. Shen An Na had to hear these stories to her when she was a kid to even consider it as true. And even then, she had thought her parents were telling her of folk tales.
Two people answered at the same time.
"Yes."
"No."
Shen An Na glanced at Mou Gu who raised his hands, "To my defense, I really do think we've stagnated as a whole. Technology and cultivation could have developed together."
Hua Zhao clicked his tongue, "It's a decision. Some people believe that aiming for cultivation and the immortality associated with it conflicts with the idea of samsara and nirvana."
"Oh no, we are not having this debate again Zhao—"
"Then you can probably shut your mouth while I explain my point of view."
Shen An Na rubbed her face and cut in. "Anyhow, in regards to the Black Market—we'll do our best to find a solution for your qi problem. But do we have any temporary solution because I believe that CEO Li still needs to go somewhere, Song Lan—any help?"
"I still have an evil-qi dispelling talisman?" The man finally peeked out from behind the monitor and held it up.
Shen An Na turned to the other two men, "Could that work?"
"Oh yeah, that could have worked without needing to block all the qi entirely." Mou Gu scratched his cheek. "How effective is that one?"
"Twenty-four hours."
Hua Zhao frowned, "Give or take twenty-four hours, unless he encounters something that evil and that goes poof. Don't we have special beads in the storage?"
"We have qi-concealing beads—he needs to stop absorbing qi. Learn the difference." Mou Gu grunted, "Besides, don't jinx about something evil coming up. You'll be the one taking care of it. I'm supposed to be on leave if it weren't for this handsome devil coming up—"
Shen An Na cleared her throat, walked forward to the desk and grabbed for the talisman, "Alright, enough is enough. Twenty-four hours is ample time for CEO Li to return here tomorrow."
"Huh?" It was Hua Zhao who raised a brow.
"Of course we need to see if any of the items will work effectively on Mister Li. But you better bring in some money." Mou Gu shrugged. "Black market and all."
The CEO finally spoke up, his brows knotted together, "...is the money that I have applicable here or do you have another form of currency?"
"Oh, that works fine." Shen An Na nodded and handed him the talisman. "If I must say, the beauty of this… black market, is that they still accept the human form of currency."
"How much for this talisman then?"
"Well—"
"Consider that as a complimentary gift." Shen An Na insisted with a stern look at the other men. Her brother and her didn't continue the embassy to take advantage of others. Even if the man in front of her right now was one of the wealthiest CEOs in their time, she had no need for them to pay for the talisman.
Shen Society desired to assist all walks of life, and it couldn't be bought with wealth at all.
"Then you have my thanks." Li Yang nodded as he looked at the talisman, "How do I activate this though?" The man asked it with a sheepish smile, the first one that she'd seen since he came here—
[ You Have Gained 5 Charisma Points ]
It wasn't actually that much, but it was still a few more points for him.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone