On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, Year 5513 of the Yuangguang Calendar, dark clouds pressed down upon the city, thick as ink.
Linghua Island.
Linghua Hall.
The group sat in their chairs, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.
"Wang Ping, have you finished the tally? How much did we lose?"
Seeing that no one spoke, Liu Yu had no choice but to ask.
"Second Senior Brother, the tally is complete. A hundred and forty-eight houses collapsed, seventy-six mortals died, and a hundred and thirty-five were injured. We lost seven Spirit Peach trees, and ten of our twenty mu of Spirit Fields will yield nothing this year! The spirit medicine field is unharmed!"
Then grief flashed across his face. "Martial Uncle Chen Yichong died!"
This was not the first time they had heard the news, yet their hearts still ached. In the nearly ten years since their martial uncle had returned to Linghua Island, he had toiled without complaint, wholeheartedly making Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink for the island. He had also taught Wang Ping everything he knew, like a teacher and a father! They had all seen it, gradually accepting this martial uncle and coming to respect him from the bottom of their hearts!
But now-!
Alas!
"Does Chen Feng know?"
Zheng Ji nodded. "He knows! The little fellow is very strong. He hasn't shed a tear in front of anyone, only crying quietly late at night. If I hadn't happened to notice the tear stains on his pillow, I wouldn't have known."
Hearing this, Liu Yu continued, "Make sure to soothe Chen Feng and keep him focused on his cultivation. Martial Uncle's final hopes rested on him!"
Zheng Ji nodded in agreement.
"How is Guiwu?"
"He's fine now, cultivating quietly in the spring!"
Liu Yu nodded and said, "Take