“A wise choice to protect myself ?”
Lin Xun was confused at first and then nodded his head and said, “Yes, you know me.”
On thinking how he made a show of himself because of astonishment, Chu Feng sighed, “What you did is right. If other spiritual tattooists know you possess such great attainments in spiritual tattoos, they’ll also make a show of themselves just like me.”
He cupped his hands and said, “My little friend, I’m sorry to have offended you. Hope you don’t mind.”
Lin Xun said with a smile, “My name is Lin Xun, and you can call me that.”
As a gentleman, Chu Feng treated Lin Xun with courtesy, which naturally made Lin Xun feel good about him.
Lin Xun clearly knew if Chu Feng was ill-tempered like Old Mo, he would have already driven Lin Xun away.
Subsequently, as Chu Feng invited Lin Xun to sit down, he took out a jade-made document and recorded the information about authenticating Lin as a spiritual tattooist.
The recorded information was a certificate, indicating that as long as Lin Xun possessed the bronze badge granted to the primary spiritual tattooists by the Commune of Spiritual Tattooists, he could enjoy the corresponding benefits in any Commune in the 34 provinces of the empire.
“Name?”
“Lin Xun.”
“Native Place?”
“Feiyun Village, Donglin Town.”
“Your Master?”
“None.”
“Age?”
“14.”
“What?!”
Chu Feng was recording while asking Lin Xun. On hearing Lin’s age, with his wrist trembling, he almost misspelled it.
“14?”
Chu Feng lost his manner again and the way he looked at Lin Xun was full of surprise. A 14-year-old spiritual tattooist was rarely seen even in the entire empire!
It was said that there were few 14-year-old spiritual tattooists even in the three aristocratic families of spiritual tattoos. It could be numbered only with two hands!
The most renowned young spiritual tattoo in the empire should be the “Talent Girl” Feng Qingyou of Green-deer School, who became a master of spiritual tattoos at the age of 19.
It was well-known that as an occupation, spiritual tattooists were also divided into four levels, including spiritual apprentices, spiritual tattooists, masters of spiritual tattoos, and grandmasters of spiritual tattoos.
Each level was also subdivided into different sub-levels. Like spiritual tattooists, it was subdivided into primary, medium, high, and top sub-levels.
At the age of 19, Feng Qingyou was entitled with “master of spiritual tattoos”, which showed how outstanding she was.
Compared to her, Lin Xun became a “spiritual tattooist” at the age of 14, which represented that he was not inferior to her.
“You... Do you know Feng Qingyou?” asked Chu Feng.
Lin Xun nodded, “I’ve heard of her. She is a genius of the Feng Family, one of the three great aristocratic families of spiritual tattoos. Her father is the head of the Feng Family, and her master is the dean of the Spiritual Tattoos Department of the Green-deer School.”
Old Mo told him that, and Lin was deeply impressed with the name.
Chu Feng sighed with emotion, “In my view, you’re as good as or even better than her.”
Lin Xun said right away, “Senior, you really flatter me.”
Chu Feng took a deep breath and said seriously, “Do you know what a stir you will cause if I report this matter to the high authorities of the Commune?”
Lin Xun immediately frowned.
Without waiting for him to speak, Chu Feng said with a smile, “That’s my personal viewpoint, of course. I know a genius like you wouldn’t like to draw too much attention.”
Lin Xun took a deep breath and said seriously, “Senior, could you promise me one thing?”
Chu Feng seemed to know what Lin Feng meant, so he said subconsciously, “Are you aware that you’ll have an overnight meteoric rise with unimaginable status and privileges if you can obtain the attention from the real big shots of the Commune?”
Lin Xun shook his head, “I’m not interested in those things.”
Chu Feng felt surprised. As far as he was concerned, few young men like Lin Xun could resist those temptations, such as reputation, prestige, wealth, and status... whatever they wanted… How could Lin refuse it?
However, Lin Xun turned them down without any hesitation. He looked quite calm. Apparently, he really meant it.
Chu Feng said seriously, “Are you serious about your decision?”
Lin Xun nodded, saying, “Senior, I hope you can help me with that.”
Chu Feng sighed with his words fraught with apparent appreciation, “Lin Xun, you’re the most distinguished young spiritual tattooist I’ve ever seen. I believe that you’ll definitely have an extraordinarily promising future.”
Lin Xun said with a smile, “So, you promised?”
Chu Feng burst into laughter, “A gentleman is always happy to help the others attain their aims. Since you said so, how can I refuse you? Not only do I promise to keep it secret for you, but also I’ll guarantee not a third person will know your information at least in the Commune of Spiritual Tattooists of Mist City.”
Lin Xun stood up and bowed to him gravely, “Senior, thanks a lot.”
“Words of mouth being no guarantee, I’ll sign a spiritual agreement with you,” as Chu Feng spoke, he took out a scroll glowing with silver luster.
Covered with magnificent and delicate spiritual tattoo patterns, the scroll gave off a breath of obscurity and boundlessness.
Lin Xun was taken aback, “Is it the God-Devil Agreement?”
Chu Feng said, “Exactly.”
Having got a clear answer, Lin Xun couldn’t stay calm anymore.
According to Master Lu, the war between Gods and Devils lasted for thousands of years in the ancient times, resulting in great chaos in the world, plunging the people into misery, and leaving the people on the verge of starvation.
In the end, the two sides reached an agreement and signed a contract, promising to each other that they wouldn’t infringe upon each other again, and that whoever violated the contract would stand condemned by God.
The agreement seemed as unauthentic as oaths, but it was said that it was reached based on the origin of the power of God. Thus, it was the most awe-inspiring and the most indestructible. Moreover, it indeed exerted a strong binding force on the two sides, bringing a halt to the long-lasting war between them.
Spiritual tattooists managed to refine the God-Devil Agreement in the light of the contract afterward. Subject to the spiritual power, the agreement was reached with a kind of mysterious and unspeakable force so that no one dared to violate it in case of any calamities.
This was hearsay, of course. Even Master Lu couldn’t judge whether it was real or not. As a matter of fact, “God-Devil Agreement” really existed.
However, they were rather scarce and not many of them had been passed down in the world. Besides, no spiritual tattooists had refined one over hundreds of years for lack of a certain kind of special spiritual material.
Thereby, God-Devil Agreement was on the verge of extinction. The more they were used, the fewer they were left in the world.
Lin Xun felt somewhat surprised upon seeing Chu Feng take out an extremely precious God-Devil Agreement to insure his promise.
“Don’t think too much. I believe you’ll make greater achievements, so I want to develop a good relationship with you,” having seemingly noticed Lin’s thought, Chu Feng made his real thought clear in an open and straightforward way.
Lin Xun said while shrugging his shoulders, “Frankly speaking, if you’re not honest to me, I’m afraid I won’t sign the agreement with you.”
Chu Feng burst into laughter.
Lin Xun laughed, too.
Straightforward men made each other feel glad.
They two immediately signed the God-Devil Agreement with their blood.
Chi!
The moment they signed the agreement, the God-Devil Agreement immediately burnt into ashes.
Lin Xun promptly felt that there seemed to be a mark in his soul, a mark he thought was the power of God-Devil Agreement.
He even had an intuition that when his spiritual energy became powerful enough, he could definitely remove the mark!
Of course, this was just an intuition.
After signing the God-Devil Agreement, Lin Xun and Chu Feng became much closer. They wouldn’t stand on ceremony any more.
Chu Feng didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry upon knowing that Lin Xun only came here to make money. Even so, he still patiently gave Lin Xun some advice.
It was quite easy to make money in the Commune. Firstly, there were many missions to be issued in the mission area on the first floor each day. As long as one could resolve them, he would get the corresponding paybacks and also accumulate his own credits.
At the same time, a spiritual tattooist could consign the spiritual tools he refined in the spiritual treasure area for sale. There were two means: with a price tag; auction.
Additionally, there were a variety of other means to make money. After one passed the authentication of the Commune, he could enjoy those benefits.
Lin Xun took out the Snowfall Saber on the middle grade of Human-rank and gave it to Chu Feng. After a careful assessment, Chu instantly advised Lin putting it in the spiritual treasure area for an auction.
Lin Xun accepted his advice without hesitation. After all this, Lin Xun said goodbye to him and left there without any delay.
Shortly after Lin Xun left, Chu Feng hurriedly summoned the middle-aged man in gray and the beautiful maid who had served Lin Xun.
“Have you two seen the boy who came here for authentication?” asked Chu Feng gently.
The middle-aged man in gray and the beautiful maid nodded, but deep down, they wondered whether something serious had happened.
“From today on, do not tell anyone else a word about him.”
Chu Feng originally gentle face became grave immediately even with a trace of coldness, “If I know any information on him leaks out, I won’t spare you no matter whether it is you two who leak it or not. I promise you it’s something you can’t bear.”
The middle-aged man in gray and the beautiful maid darkened their faces promptly and felt fidgety. They continuously swore to God with their lives.
Chu Feng regained his gentleness as usual. He clearly knew that oaths were not completely reliable, but his power and force he possessed as the chief of the Commune was enough to make them keep their mouths shut.
Having thought for a while, Chu Feng fixed his eyes on the beautiful maid, “Your name is Yunque, right? Whenever that boy comes, you’ll be his personal maid. From now on, your salary will be tripled, as your reward.”
The beautiful maid called Yunque nodded right away and felt fearful and surprised at the same time. She was in a daze totally.
“Jia Zhen, as a seasoned man in the Commune, you’re in charge of the spiritual treasure area from today on. Remember, if any of the boy’s spiritual tools is consigned for sale, don’t mention his identity to anyone!”
The middle-aged man in gray called Jia Zhen became exhilarated immediately and shouted, “Chief, you can rest assured. I’ll do as you told me!”
The head in charge of the spiritual treasure area was a profitable position, way much better than his previous job as the head in the authentication area!
“H’m, you can go,” Chu Feng waved his hand and said.
Jia Zhen couldn’t help asking before leaving, “Chief, could I know the boy...no, the childe’s name?”
Having pondered for a long time, Chu Feng said one word lightly, “Xun.”