Chapter 31

Qi Feng looked at the stack of talismans that Luo Yuwai had carefully wrapped and handed over. This was a rare item indeed!

He wasn't unfamiliar with talismans; in the real world, there were many places where they were posted or hung. For example, a friend who was a few years older and ran a business had a large talisman hanging in his store, which he claimed was obtained from a certain Taoist on Dragon Tiger Mountain. It was framed with great reverence, looking like a world-famous painting.

However, compared to the stack in his hand, those could only be considered "scribbles." Qi Feng didn't believe that any of them could summon heavenly thunder or cause a blizzard. His were the real deal!

How do you use these things? This question made Qi Feng scratch his head. Surely, you don't just throw them like grenades? Even if you did, there should be a pin or a string to pull, right?

After carefully examining the stack of talismans, Qi Feng suddenly realized a bigger problem. The talisman patterns on the yellow paper were so powerful and majestic, and upon closer inspection, there was a faint glow. But he couldn't understand what kind of talismans they were at all!

What if he needed to use them to attack someone and ended up throwing a Guanyin talisman, which would only heal the enemy?

Luo Yuwai, seeing Qi Feng frown and remain silent, quickly smiled and said, "These talismans were obtained from the Three Pure Ones Temple on Mount Sanqing. But they are ultimately for us mortals. With your Daoist powers, you might find them unsuitable..."

Qi Feng snapped back to reality and waved his hand, "Ah? Oh! No, no! These talismans are great! They're just a bit different from our school's methods, that's all. As the saying goes, 'A stone from another mountain can polish one's own jade.' I'm just studying them..."

Luo Yuwai seized the opportunity to build a relationship, "Oh, I've been wondering for so long, where is your immortal mountain and temple?"

"Ah... well..." Qi Feng thought to himself, what sect could I possibly belong to? If you want to give me incense money, you might as well give it to me now. Thinking about the over a million copper coins he had pushed away, he coughed and decided, well, in the world of Immortal Sword, he really wasn't short of money!

"The mountain is deep in the clouds, unknown to the world..." Pretending to be a sage was surprisingly addictive, and Qi Feng decided to keep up the act. "Your sincerity is appreciated, but it would be better to give back to the community. Building bridges, roads, and supporting the elderly and orphans would be great. I see the transportation here isn't very good, so consider that. I'll count it as my good deed."

Sure enough, Luo Yuwai was once again in awe. This person was truly a sage, at a level where worldly things were mere illusions, unreachable! He refused money even when it was offered, which was a completely different dimension from those who begged for alms!

These talismans... well, Qi Feng thought it would be too much of a shock to ask Luo Yuwai what each one was. People's worldviews shouldn't be shaken so drastically in a single day. He decided to study them later.

He casually put the talismans into his inventory. This time, Luo Yuwai watched closely, and the talismans really did disappear without any trickery!

To his surprise, Qi Feng realized that the inventory actually displayed the names of the items. (Actually, it always did, but since he knew what the items were, he never noticed the names.)

He quickly checked and found that the talismans Luo Yuwai gave him were of three types: Celestial Master Talisman, Guanyin Talisman, and Vajra Talisman. Although there weren't many types, they had offensive, defensive, and healing properties, a well-rounded set!

Recalling his past memories, the Celestial Master Talisman could probably kill most minor demons and spirits with one use. The Guanyin Talisman had a decent healing effect, and the Vajra Talisman seemed to double defense, though Qi Feng wasn't sure what his current defense level was. It would be best to test it out. Armor wasn't easy to wear, so the Vajra Talisman might come in handy, even if it couldn't stop bullets, it could at least block knives.

Meanwhile, the rice-selling window at Luo Yuwai's shop had opened. Since the whole town needed to buy, Qi Feng's two temporary workers were overwhelmed. Luo Yuwai's price was only one coin more per pound, so it was better to buy and go home quickly. With the zombies around, it was fine during the day, but at night, the ghostly cries in the distance were truly terrifying.

Qi Feng also felt it was getting late. After this delay, he realized he wouldn't be able to visit the entire Immortal Sword Mall today. He might as well go back to the dorm. He had been distracted for a month, drifting through classes and practicing the Dragon Elephant Bodhi Power in his free time. Perhaps he should join his classmates in studying.

Seeing that the rice, flour, and tangyuan he had brought wouldn't sell out soon, Qi Feng thought for a moment and said to Luo Yuwai, "I have some other things to do, so I'll leave. Thanks for the talismans, Luo Boss. I won't take advantage of you. The rice and the money I made should cover the cost of the talismans. I think the price is about right."

Luo Yuwai, a seasoned businessman, was thoroughly convinced by Qi Feng's words. The immortal had used his powers to bring so many things and didn't take a single coin, giving them to him in exchange for the talismans. This immortal must truly be here to save people and gain merit, not seeking fame or profit, but selflessly helping others.

Moved, Luo Yuwai knelt down again, his gratitude genuine. His servants followed suit.

The villagers, though they didn't hear everything, knew that they had been spared from exploitation and the threat of zombies thanks to Qi Feng's help.

Then, everyone in the crowd suddenly knelt, leaving Qi Feng standing alone, feeling embarrassed. This kind of adoration was really too much.

Seeing this, Qi Feng prepared to leave, but not before giving Luo Yuwai a few more instructions, "Luo Boss, in business, be honest. Don't just focus on short-term gains. Avoid being unkind to the poor, and remember to give back to society. As they say, 'The bigger your heart, the bigger your market.' That's it, I'm off. Bye!" He hurriedly left, uncomfortable with the scene of people kneeling as if at a funeral.

Luo Yuwai, still kneeling, called out, "I will follow your teachings! May I ask your immortal name?"

Without turning back, Qi Feng ran out, "No need for formalities, just call me Lei Feng!" He disappeared through the door.

The crowd rushed outside, but Qi Feng was nowhere to be seen.

"Comes and goes without a trace, like a dragon showing its head but not its tail. Truly the way of the immortals, worthy of a great immortal!"

Everyone bowed to the sky, shouting, "Farewell, Immortal Lei Feng!" Their voices echoed for miles.

From then on, Luo Yuwai remembered Qi Feng's words, changing his greedy merchant ways. In his dealings with the villagers, he preferred to lose money rather than exploit them, always remembering to "give back to society." Each year, he used his profits to build bridges, roads, and charity halls, and even funded a private school for poor children. Whenever someone in the area needed help, the Luo family would do their best to assist. Soon, he was praised throughout the region, transforming from a notorious merchant to a well-known philanthropist. People flocked to his shop, and his business grew, eventually forming a monopoly in the area. The more good deeds he did, the more money he made, making the Luo family one of the wealthiest in the region.

Luo Yuwai, deeply moved by Qi Feng's teachings, had a famous calligrapher write a plaque with "Give Back to Society" and hung it in his main hall, along with the story of "Immortal Lei Feng," as a family motto to be passed down.

His descendants followed the family motto, and despite the ups and downs, the Luo family remained strong due to their good deeds, becoming a well-known merchant family in the south.

A century later, when war broke out in Central China, the Luo family moved to Lin'an and used their wealth to relocate the people of Baihe Town and the surrounding areas, escaping the war. With the help of the relocated villagers, the Luo family rebuilt in Lin'an and prospered even more.

When peace returned, the Luo family and the relocated villagers agreed that without "Immortal Lei Feng's" guidance and blessings, they would not have enjoyed such peace and prosperity. They all felt grateful to "Immortal Lei Feng."

However, they regretted not knowing where the immortal's cave was. The head of the Luo family proposed building a pagoda in Lin'an, named after the immortal, to worship and seek his protection.

"Immortal Lei Feng has boundless powers, embodies the will of heaven, and brings peace to the people. His merits are immeasurable, and he must have already ascended to immortality. Our prayers to him will surely bring prosperity and peace."

Everyone agreed, and the Luo family funded the construction, with the villagers volunteering their labor. In just six years, a seven-story pagoda named Lei Feng Pagoda was built on a hill by the West Lake, becoming one of the Ten Scenic Spots of the West Lake.

Time passed, and the Luo family left Lin'an, and the story of Immortal Lei Feng was forgotten. Later, the hill where the pagoda stood was called Leifeng, and the pagoda became known as Leifeng Pagoda. The story of Bai Suzhen being imprisoned in the pagoda is another tale, but that's for another time.

Now, let's return to the instigator of all this, who was sitting in a university library in the capital...

"Ah-choo!... Ah... ah-choo!"

Old Feng handed him a tissue, "Fengzi, are you catching a cold? I've noticed you've been dressing less than me these days!"

Qi Feng shook his head, "My divine powers protect me from the cold. How could I catch a cold?... I don't know why, but I've been sneezing non-stop since I got back. It must be because someone is talking about me behind my back!"

"Definitely because the yoga club girls miss you!" Everyone teased.

Qi Feng raised his middle finger, "Get lost!... Ah-choo!"