Prayers to Ward Off Calamity

"It's all right... I was willing, anyway."

Shang Qingzheng answered with her head lowered, her voice indistinct.

"What?"

She had spoken so softly that Jiang Yang had only caught "It's all right."

A peach-pink blush spread across Shang Qingzheng's lovely face. She lacked the courage to say it again, so she changed the subject:

"Nothing. Quite a few Voice-Transmission Jade Talismans can perform this Spirit Talisman's marvelous messaging function, but this one has the advantage of range. A single talisman divides into two and can be used repeatedly. As long as the spiritual signature remains unbroken, the Spirit Cranes will not disperse."

The Spirit Talisman had been fashioned with brush strokes, splitting in two as soon as it took form. The paper crane in her palm had already recorded Jiang Yang's spiritual signature, while the one bearing hers had been placed in his hands.

"Oh, I see..."

Aside from recognizing a few basic Talismans, Jiang Yang knew nothing about them, let alone how to draw them. All he could do was nod.

He then asked:

"So what is this spiritual signature? What happens if Ruo breaks it?"

Shang Qingzheng fell silent for a moment before answering:

"A spiritual signature is the distinctive quality of a cultivator's True Essence and magical power. Everyone's is different. As for breaking... a spiritual signature generally won't break.

"If Ruo really does break, there are only two possibilities. The first is that the person has died. The second is that their cultivation realm has fallen and all their cultivation has been lost."

Jiang Yang understood at once. Unless someone died, their spiritual signature really would not break.

There were supposedly two possibilities, but they amounted to the same thing. For a cultivator, losing all their cultivation and falling in realm was scarcely different from death.

"I see. Then this talisman is very reliable, unless..."

"Pah, pah, pah!"

Shang Qingzheng hastily held a hand in front of Jiang Yang's mouth to stop him from continuing.

Then she took Little Sixteen back into her arms and held the cat's two front paws.

"No saying anything inauspicious! Come, Little Sixteen, offer a quick prayer. Pray for blessings, ward off calamity, and dispel misfortune."

Little Sixteen looked utterly bewildered, both paws held in Shang Qingzheng's hands, forced to bow up and down along with her.

"Huh?"

Jiang Yang watched, dumbstruck, an unreal feeling rising within him. His first instinct was to call it superstition, but before the words left his mouth, he remembered that in this world, divine powers and mighty abilities resided within individuals themselves. What was impossible here?

So he merely asked:

"Does... does that actually work?"

Shang Qingzheng lowered the cat's paws and stroked the little head before replying:

"Of course it does. The Cat Immortal I mentioned earlier is an immortal who presides over blessings and prosperity. Worshipping that divine being can bestow blessings, improve fortune, ward off calamity, and dispel misfortune.

"But immortals have not appeared in the world since Recent Antiquity, so how much effect it still has is uncertain. Still, as the origin of every spirit cat bloodline under heaven, the Cat Immortal should find Little Sixteen's prayers more effective than yours or mine."

Understanding dawned on Jiang Yang.

"I get it. Little Sixteen is a spirit cat, after all. If Ruo can reach heaven's ears, those of one's own bloodline would naturally sound more pleasing."

"More or less. It's only for peace of mind."

Shang Qingzheng nodded in agreement.

"All right, enough of that. Put this Spirit Talisman away safely. Besides sending messages, it also has a marvelous tracking function. You probably won't need it, but I'll tell you about it anyway."

"All right. Go ahead, I'm listening."

As he answered, Jiang Yang carefully tucked the pale yellow paper crane into his sleeve.

Shang Qingzheng said:

"You activate it the same way, simply by pouring in magical power, but the incantation is different. Remember this."

Then her delicate lips parted as she recited:

"Crane immortal, seek the trail; heed my command. One spark of spiritual accord, track across ten thousand li."

The Guiding Incantation was simple. Jiang Yang repeated it under his breath twice, then answered:

"Yes, I've memorized it."

Shang Qingzheng gave him one final reminder:

"One more thing. However marvelous it is, a Spirit Talisman is still only a Talisman, and its uses have limits. It can send messages over a thousand li and track over ten thousand. Beyond that range, it won't work properly."

"All right..."

Jiang Yang answered softly. Within the sect, they would never be a thousand li apart, so using it would pose no problem.

Silence settled over them again. It was time to part, yet neither showed any intention of leaving, as though something remained unfinished.

Shang Qingzheng stroked the belt covered in intricate dark patterns at her waist, where her jade flute hung. After a moment's hesitation, she broke into a smile.

"Let me play a tune for you."

"Of course! I didn't get to hear the whole thing last time. This time, I'll listen properly."

Jiang Yang's eyes brightened, anticipation glimmering within them.

Seeing him agree, Shang Qingzheng untied the Pure Tone Nine Shao Flute from her waist and lifted it to her lips. She closed her eyes, settled her mind, and began to play.

The lilting flute notes echoed through the woods, clear and harmonious, flowing freely in a rich, shifting tapestry.

Whether it was because of Shang Qingzheng's mood or simply the flute's timbre, he could not tell.

To Jiang Yang, a profound emotion seemed to flow through the melody, low and winding, tranquil yet delicate, distant yet consoling.

When the tune ended, lingering notes wound through the woods, unbroken in his ears.

That was no exaggeration. The lingering music truly did not cease. Even after Shang Qingzheng lowered the jade flute, it still resounded through the trees.

With the flute notes accompanying her, she lowered her gaze, her expression solemn, and sang softly:

"White, white, the hills lie joined, wrapped in robes of snow. How could I not think of you? Too far away to reach.

"The Jin River lies to the left, the Qu River to the right. A maiden leaves to wed, far from her honored parents.

"The Qu River lies to the right, the Jin River to the left. Her artful smile gleams white; her pendant jades sway with grace.

"The Qu River flows on and on, cypress oars and a pinewood boat. I set out upon a journey, to ease the sorrow in my heart."

"..."

Her voice was clear and ringing, the melody soft and haunting, laden with longing and stirring endless reveries.

After a long while, Jiang Yang clapped his hands in praise:

"Sorrow and longing entrusted to a verse, carried upon a flute's melody. What a lovely piece! What a lovely tune!"

Then Jiang Yang looked at her with bright, intent eyes and added:

"Of course, your singing was even better. Your voice is clear and crisp, and it touches the heart."

His praise sent Shang Qingzheng's spirits dancing. Blushing, she pressed her lips together, rocked on her toes, and turned away to avoid his gaze.

Jiang Yang knew nothing of a young woman's heart. Seeing her turn away, he thought he had somehow praised the wrong thing. He scratched his head, at a loss.

He had no experience coaxing girls. All he could do was follow her, catch her wrist, and try to repair his words:

"It's true. I'm not lying. It really sounded beautiful."

"Ah!"

With her fair wrist suddenly caught, Shang Qingzheng gave a startled cry. She could faintly feel warmth passing through her thin sleeve, straight to her skin.

"Y-you... what are you doing?"

Shang Qingzheng was so nervous that she could scarcely speak straight. She stammered, torn between pulling away and remaining still, her whole body frozen in place.

"Don't be angry, Birth. I meant every word. If I said anything wrong, just tell me..."

Seeing that the girl still kept her head down rather than face him, Jiang Yang could only coax her clumsily.

Shang Qingzheng's heart was already pounding like a drum, her moon-pale cheeks flooded with crimson. She said quietly:

"I'm not angry, Birth. First... let go of me first..."

Only then did Jiang Yang realize his impropriety. He hurriedly released her arm.

"That was rude of me. I'm sorry. I was just anxious, and..."

Shang Qingzheng tucked her hand behind her back and steadied herself before speaking:

"It's all right. I was only startled for a moment..."

Despite her words, she was still too embarrassed to raise her head and look Jiang Yang in the eye.

"Then... that's good."

Jiang Yang inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever else, at least he had not soured the mood.

Nearby, Little Sixteen rested among the fallen leaves, the little head turning first toward Jiang Yang, then toward Shang Qingzheng. Unable to make sense of their behavior, the cat lowered that head and devoted all attention to licking a paw, as though it were some supreme delicacy.

After that, Jiang Yang felt too embarrassed to linger. He soon said his goodbyes and made his way out of the Bamboo Grove.

Shang Qingzheng could hardly ask him to stay. She could only watch his figure recede into the distance, withdrawing her gaze only once he was completely out of sight.

Although Jiang Yang had long since released her wrist, it still felt astonishingly hot, and that heat seemed to be burning all the way into her heart.

Only now, with the Bamboo Grove silent and no one around, did Shang Qingzheng let her feelings show, chiding him under her breath:

"You blockhead!"