In the jianghu where prosperity and hustle bustle intertwined with desolation and loneliness, there was a merchant named Zhang Changsheng. Since childhood, he had come from a poor family, but with an innate shrewdness and courage, he managed to carve out a niche for himself in the treacherous business world. His business spanned across the country, with all kinds of rare and precious goods such as silk, tea, and porcelain flowing through his hands and circulating in various towns and markets. However, the journey of wandering in the jianghu was never smooth sailing. It was full of thorns and obstacles, and bandits running rampant were a common occurrence.

One day, as usual, Zhang Changsheng was escorting a batch of valuable goods, walking along the winding mountain road. On both sides of the road, ancient trees towered into the sky, giving off an eerie feeling, and the occasional chirping of birds added a bit more loneliness. When he reached a desolate tea stall, he dismounted to take a rest and have a sip of tea to soothe his tired body and mind. Beside the tea stall, several itinerant merchants were chatting about the strange tales and anecdotes in the jianghu. Zhang Changsheng couldn't help but prick up his ears to listen.

"I heard that a few days ago, in the depths of the Cloudy Mountain, a group of fierce bandits stopped a wealthy merchant. They not only looted all the goods but also brutally killed several people. In this world, it's really frightening to be away from home!" An old man with a weather-beaten face shook his head and sighed.

Everyone echoed, with worried looks on their faces. Zhang Changsheng's heart tightened as well. Over the years, he had encountered small groups of bandits several times, but fortunately, the losses were not significant. However, every time he thought about it, he still felt a lingering fear. Now, hearing such terrifying news, how could he not worry about his future trips?

Just as he was pondering, a young man mysteriously lowered his voice and said, "However, I've heard of a way that is said to ensure safety, ward off evil spirits, and avoid disasters. In our area, there is an old Taoist priest who travels around. He is a highly skilled and extraordinary person! A few days ago, he taught people in a village about a Green Cloud Talisman. As long as one wears it, evil spirits won't dare to approach, and bandits will flee."

Zhang Changsheng's heart skipped a beat, as if he had caught a glimmer of hope in the darkness. He quickly asked the young man about the whereabouts of the old Taoist priest, but the young man had only heard about it by chance and didn't know where the old Taoist priest was now. Zhang Changsheng didn't get discouraged. He thought that since he had learned about such a miraculous thing, he must try to find it.

In the following days, while on his way, Zhang Changsheng kept an eye out for news of the old Taoist priest. Whenever he arrived at a town or village, he would inquire with the local people. Finally, with persistent efforts, he got the news of the old Taoist priest at the foot of a remote mountain. He found a dilapidated Taoist temple and saw an old Taoist priest with white hair but a hale and hearty spirit sitting in the courtyard with his eyes closed, meditating.

Zhang Changsheng respectfully stepped forward, explained his purpose clearly, and earnestly begged the old Taoist priest to give him the Green Cloud Talisman. The old Taoist priest slightly opened his eyes, and his gaze was as sharp as a torch, as if he could see through his past and future lives. After a long while, the old Taoist priest slowly said, "All things in the world have their causes and effects. Since you have the opportunity to find this place, I'll give you this talisman." With that, the old Taoist priest took out a yellowed talisman from his sleeve. On it were painted strange runes, looking like clouds and fog, emitting an ancient and mysterious aura.

Zhang Changsheng took the talisman as if it were a precious treasure. After expressing his gratitude repeatedly, he carefully wore it on his chest. After leaving the temple, he continued his journey, feeling a bit more at ease in his heart.

The next day, Zhang Changsheng's caravan reached a barren mountain. The mountain was full of jagged rocks and overgrown with weeds, and a deathly stillness filled the air. Suddenly, a shout of killing broke the silence. A group of robbers emerged from all directions and surrounded the caravan. These robbers all had fierce looks on their faces and held sharp weapons. Obviously, they were hardened bandits used to looting.

Zhang Changsheng was greatly alarmed and subconsciously tightened his grip on the horsewhip. However, at this critical moment, the Green Cloud Talisman on his chest slowly emitted a soft blue light. At first, the light was as weak as a firefly, but in an instant, it shone brightly, enveloping the entire caravan. The robbers saw this and immediately stopped in their tracks, with frightened expressions on their faces. They only felt an invisible pressure bearing down on them, as if thousands of troops and horses were glaring at them, making them feel terrified and their legs weak.

The leader of the robbers widened his eyes, full of disbelief. He had roamed the jianghu for years and looted countless times, but he had never seen such a strange sight. At this moment, a strong urge to retreat surged in his heart, and he no longer had any intention of looting.

"Retreat!" With a shout from the leader, the robbers turned around and scattered like birds and beasts, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Changsheng let out a long sigh of relief, placed his hand on his chest, and looked at the Green Cloud Talisman that was still emitting a faint light, his heart full of gratitude and awe. After this incident, he deeply understood the magic of this talisman. From then on, every time he went out on business, he never forgot to wear the Green Cloud Talisman.

Strangely enough, since then, Zhang Changsheng's business had thrived even more. In the past, on his business trips, he always encountered some setbacks, either the goods got damp and damaged, or the horses fell ill and delayed the journey. But now, everything went smoothly. Everywhere he went, it seemed as if he was blessed by the gods. He could always find the best business opportunities and get to know all kinds of noble people.

Once, Zhang Changsheng went to a prosperous city to purchase a batch of rare spices. But as soon as he arrived in the city, he heard that the spice market had recently been monopolized by several large merchants, and the prices had been jacked up extremely high. Ordinary merchants could hardly get involved. Zhang Changsheng was in a dilemma, but he didn't give up easily. He strolled along the street, thinking about countermeasures. Suddenly, an elderly man in luxurious clothes stopped in his way. The old man had deep and meaningful eyes and looked at the faintly visible Green Cloud Talisman on Zhang Changsheng's chest.

"Young man, this talisman of yours is an extraordinary thing." The old man said.

Zhang Changsheng was slightly stunned, and then replied respectfully, "Sir, you have a discerning eye. This was given by a highly respected Taoist priest and has helped me out of danger many times."

The old man smiled slightly and revealed his identity. It turned out that he was an elder of the spice merchant guild in the city. Dissatisfied with the current monopolistic behavior of the guild, he was looking for a reliable person to break the deadlock. Seeing Zhang Changsheng wearing the Green Cloud Talisman and hearing about his past experiences, he determined that Zhang Changsheng was a lucky and upright person, so he intended to cooperate with him.

With the help of the old man, Zhang Changsheng successfully purchased the spices at a fair price. When this batch of spices was transported back to the city and put up for sale, the demand exceeded the supply, and he made a handsome profit. After that, Zhang Changsheng's reputation in the business world became even more prominent. Everyone said that he was favored by the gods, but they didn't know that it all stemmed from that mysterious Green Cloud Talisman.

With the passage of time, Zhang Changsheng was no longer the young merchant who had struggled for a living. He had accumulated vast wealth, but he wasn't blinded by it. He deeply understood that along the way, although the Green Cloud Talisman was miraculous, what was more important was that he had a kind heart and treated people with integrity. Perhaps, this was the true "way to save lives" and the secret to his being able to stand firm and achieve success in this complex jianghu. He often returned to that dilapidated Taoist temple, offered rich offerings to the old Taoist priest, and shared his story with later generations, allowing the legend of the Green Cloud Talisman to continue spreading in the jianghu.