Chapter 83: Prevarication

“If Miss Shen doesn’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do. As for the origins of that talisman, I’m not entirely sure myself. All I know is that it isn’t the work of anyone in our era, but was passed down from ancient times. The Daoist here can vouch for that—he knows the lineage from which I inherited it.” Yi An spoke unhurriedly.

Upon hearing this, Shen Baiyu couldn’t help but turn her gaze to Xuan Yangzi. Only when she saw him nod did some of her suspicion dissipate.

The next moment, Shen Baiyu mocked, “Why didn’t you say so earlier? What a waste—such a precious talisman is worth more than its weight in gold. I never intended to kill you. If you had produced it sooner… I’m not the sort of person who is unreasonable, you know.”

Xuan Yangzi mused inwardly, “This lad is favored by the heavens—calling him fate’s own child would not be an exaggeration. Bringing him here to help was the wisest decision I’ve ever made.”

Yi An fell silent. You certainly weren’t saying that just a moment ago.

Truly, women are fickle—ancient wisdom does not deceive. Even if she is a demoness, the saying holds true.

“Miss Shen, as precious as the talisman is, it cannot compare to one’s life, can it?” A complex expression flickered across Yi An’s face. He would never admit to carrying any great treasures, not even a single magical artifact. The instant Shen Baiyu heard the word “talisman,” her eyes lit up, as if she might swallow him whole.

In this age of waning immortality, let alone postnatal or innate spiritual treasures, even ordinary artifacts are rare. Most people have never even heard of such treasures—only of the basic magical implements crafted by later immortals.

Clearly, Shen Baiyu belonged to this category. From the start, she assumed he carried a magical artifact, but its subsequent display defied any such explanation. Thus, when Yi An spoke of it as a talisman, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

Shen Baiyu forced a laugh. Yi An’s words were clearly a jab at her, but she took no offense. Instead, she smiled and said, “Young Master Yi, I must trouble you with a rather impolite request, and I hope you’ll grant it.”

Since it’s an impolite request, best not to voice it at all, Yi An thought, though he dared not say so aloud—for with her fierce temperament, she wouldn’t let him off so easily.

“I would very much like to help you, Miss Shen,” Yi An replied, “but my abilities are meager. That was the only talisman I had, and I’ve used it already.”

Hearing this, Shen Baiyu’s face showed a hint of doubt, but Yi An’s sincere eyes dispelled some of her suspicion. Still, this young man was endlessly unpredictable—his outward appearance might not reflect the truth.

So, Shen Baiyu could only half-believe his words.

She sighed in disappointment. “What a pity. I had hoped to purchase such a talisman from you. As for the price, we could have negotiated. The Silver Fox Clan has, over the years, gathered some extraordinary herbs, rare treasures, and spiritual medicines. Even a portion would suffice to support an ordinary cultivator through their entire Sun-Wandering stage.”

“Young Master Yi, you are so accomplished at such a young age—your talents are clear. With ample resources, you would surely soar like a dragon in a storm, sparing yourself many hardships.”

Yi An only shook his head, echoing her regret. “Alas, there really was only one such talisman. If I had a second, I’d be happy to make a trade. But such miraculous talismans are rare indeed—possessing even one is a stroke of immense fortune. To ask for more would be mere wishful thinking.”

Shen Baiyu closely observed his every expression, every subtle movement, but found not the slightest crack in his composure. Disappointed, she sighed, “Ever since the Celestial Court vanished, so many inheritances have lain buried in dust. Who knows if the glory of the past will ever return?”

That talisman’s value was far greater than it appeared. To an ordinary cultivator, it might be a mere life-saving tool; but to a talisman-crafter, it was priceless. With it, one could attempt to decipher the method of its creation. Though the difficulty was unimaginable, at least there was a sliver of possibility.

In other words, even if she never managed to uncover its secrets, at her level, confrontation with an equal was not just a matter of cultivation. It encompassed techniques, magical artifacts, the use of talismans and elixirs—all facets of true strength.

Imagine facing an adversary of equal power, both locked in stalemate; but if she possessed such a talisman, the balance would tip dramatically in her favor.

So, in any scenario, she would stand to gain.

Resources could always be gathered anew, but such treasures were nearly impossible to find.

After their back-and-forth, the two finally realized they had ignored the person at the heart of the matter—Miao Shihai, who had been left standing awkwardly aside.

Yi An was unwilling to linger on this topic—after all, the more one says, the easier it is to slip up.

He steered the conversation back. “I know, Miss Shen, that you have no interest in an ordinary scholar. I trust he is indeed the one you seek, but from the look of him, he’s terrified of you. Is that really what you hoped for?”

Shen Baiyu was at a loss for words. Earlier, she had been driven by longing and hadn’t considered this.

But Yi An’s trust warmed her heart. If it were anyone else—say, Xuan Yangzi—he would likely have suspected her of bewitching mortals, or worse, as she herself had said, would have attacked first and asked questions later.

But Yi An was different; he understood her plight. For a moment, Shen Baiyu felt the rare comfort of finding a kindred spirit.

She gestured to the trembling Miao Shihai nearby and said, “Look at him—how could he possibly listen to a word I say?”

Thus, it was simpler and more effective to just abduct him outright, sparing herself needless trouble.

Yi An hesitated, glanced at Miao Shihai, and nodded his agreement.

Just then, Miao Shihai, summoning a courage he scarcely knew he had, stammered, “M-miss Shen, I was raised by my parents since childhood. All my relatives and friends can attest to it… I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

Yet his pale face had already betrayed his terror.