The Way of Talismans

After hearing Uncle Nine's explanation, Lin Yu understood his current circumstances and his plans for the future.

"Don't worry, Master. I'll work hard at cultivation and restore Maoshan to its former glory," Lin Yu promised Uncle Nine, his little face serious.

"Hahaha, I believe in you, Xiao Yu. With your talent, it won't be long before you have a place of your own under heaven." Thinking of Lin Yu's talent, Uncle Nine stroked his beard and laughed.

"Although the Heavenly Court no longer shows itself, there's still the Underworld. Don't worry, the Maoshan patriarchs have already paved the way for you down there. As long as you accumulate enough merit, there are plenty of positions in the Underworld waiting for you." Uncle Nine took the opportunity to encourage Lin Yu.

"Ahem, don't worry, Master. Once I've succeeded in my cultivation, I'll slay demons and vanquish devils to accumulate merit."

The corners of Lin Yu's mouth twitched when he heard Uncle Nine. What kind of master hoped his disciple would go to the Underworld?

Lin Yu was only grumbling, though. After all, becoming an official in the Underworld in this world counted as securing a stable position, didn't it? Plenty of people would beg for such a chance in vain.

"But Master, didn't you say this is the Age of Dharma Decline? Since there isn't even enough spiritual Qi for us cultivators, where do those demons and ghosts get theirs?" Lin Yu suddenly wondered whether the later ban on creatures becoming spirits after the founding of the nation was because spiritual Qi had died out completely.

"Those zombies are outside the three realms and beyond the six paths of reincarnation, cast aside by the world. They can absorb either spiritual Qi or baleful Qi to cultivate. Nowadays, spiritual Qi is scarce, but baleful Qi happens to be extremely abundant, which has led to..."

"Master, it's time to eat." Just then, Wen Cai called out to the two of them that the meal was ready and they could eat.

"Mm, let's go. We'll eat first, and I'll explain the rest to you next time."

When they arrived at the table and saw the sight of pigs wolfing down food, Uncle Nine's previously cheerful face darkened at once.

Comparing goods made you want to throw yours away; comparing people could make you die of frustration.

Uncle Nine had originally thought that Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng were still young and would learn to cultivate once they grew older and more mature.

But then Lin Yu came along. Not only was he younger, he had entered Breath Cultivation in just half a day, faster than anyone of their generation or even any previous generation, and he could remain patient with his cultivation.

Uncle Nine was beginning to wonder who was the senior brother and who was the junior.

"Master, what do you think? Today's breakfast is pretty good, isn't it?" Wen Cai, standing nearby, still couldn't read the room and wanted credit.

"Hmph, what fancy tricks could you possibly pull off with porridge? Go boil an egg for Xiao Yu. He's still growing."

Uncle Nine couldn't stand the sight of him any longer. He gave Wen Cai a smack on the head as he gave the order.

"Oh. Ծ‸Ծ"

It was already noon when Qiu Sheng finally came dawdling along to the mortuary on his old twenty-eight-inch bicycle.

"You're here." Sitting in his rocking chair, Uncle Nine shot Qiu Sheng a sidelong glance.

"Good morning, Master." Qiu Sheng ran over to greet Uncle Nine with a cheeky grin.

"Go offer incense to your godfather first." Uncle Nine closed his eyes, too weary to bother with Qiu Sheng.

"Oh."

"Hey, what's wrong with Master this morning? Has he reached menopause?" Qiu Sheng caught hold of Wen Cai, who was peeking out from behind the door, and asked him.

"I don't know. You'd better not provoke Master. I got a beating this morning, and it still hurts. Heh, hmm~." Wen Cai pretended to lean his head against Qiu Sheng's chest as he spoke tearfully.

"There, there. You know I love you best." Qiu Sheng rubbed Wen Cai's head.

"Whoa, senior brothers, you two are such a sore sight!"

"Shoo, shoo, get lost. What does a little kid know?" Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng shooed Lin Yu away.

Behind them, Lin Yu covered his eyes, unable to bear the sight.

Lin Yu had been cultivating, but there really was too little spiritual Qi in this Age of Dharma Decline. In just a short while, he had sucked the nearby spiritual Qi dry.

With nothing else to do, he had come out for a walk, only to see this eye-searing scene.

"Are you two itching for another beating?" Uncle Nine's cold voice rang out.

"No, no, no, Master, it had nothing to do with me. Wen Cai pulled me over to slack off with him." Qiu Sheng hurriedly distanced himself. As soon as he finished speaking, he ran off to offer incense to his godfather.

"Hey, you disloyal scoundrel."

"All right, Wen Cai, go heat some water. In a little while, the three of you are to go to your rooms and wash yourselves clean."

"Huh? Master, why do we need to bathe?" Wen Cai asked in confusion.

"Why so many questions? Just go when I tell you to."

Before long, the three of them had bathed and burned incense as Uncle Nine required, then gathered in the courtyard.

A small table and a stool had been placed in front of each person, with a brush, cinnabar, and a stack of yellow paper on each table.

Uncle Nine, who had likewise finished his preparations, stood before the three of them and said solemnly, "Our Maoshan Sect is renowned throughout the world for its talismans, and I specialize in this art myself. As my disciples, you must naturally learn it too."

"Today, I'll teach you to draw talismans to ward off evil."

With that, Uncle Nine picked up the brush on the table. Silently reciting an incantation, he gave his wrist a slight flick, and the brush dipped in cinnabar landed on the yellow paper.

The three of them watched Uncle Nine's movements closely, but as he progressed, Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng grew more and more confused. Only Lin Yu followed along, while the other two eventually began whispering to each other.

"Hey, have you learned it?" Qiu Sheng asked, tugging at Wen Cai and speaking in a low voice.

"No. What about you?"

"What a coincidence. Me neither. Look how absorbed Junior Brother is. Do you think he's learned it?"

"Probably not," Wen Cai replied uncertainly.

But once the two discovered that neither had learned it, they gave up trying.

Only Lin Yu, from the moment Uncle Nine's brush first touched the paper, had once again fallen into a state of enlightenment.

As Uncle Nine completed the final stroke, the yellow paper covered in scrawling symbols glimmered with a faint light.

[Ding~ You have comprehended the Way of Talismans by watching an expert draw a talisman]

Lin Yu also came out of his enlightenment, accompanied by the notification in his mind that he had comprehended the Way of Talismans.

This meant that no matter how difficult a talisman he encountered in the future, Lin Yu would be able to draw it as long as he had enough magic power. From then on, drawing talismans without burning incense and bathing would affect it too.

"Not bad. That's one more way to protect my life." Now that Lin Yu knew the road ahead, he wanted to learn as much as he could.

"You all saw that clearly, right? I won't put too much pressure on you. One week-you can learn it in that time, can't you?" Uncle Nine instructed, staring at the three of them.

"Ah, Master, one week? You know what we're like. We've studied for so many years and still can't draw one. How could we possibly do it in a week?"

Before Lin Yu could say he had already learned it, Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai protested vehemently.

"Hmph, it's precisely because you two have drawn it so many times. Look at your junior brother. It's his first time, and he hasn't said a word about having just one week."

"Starting today, you'll come here to practice every noon. If you can't draw one, heh heh..." Though Uncle Nine said no more, his sinister expression said it all.

"What do we do?" Wen Cai asked Qiu Sheng, his face drawn.

"I've got it." Qiu Sheng's eyes darted around as a wicked idea came to him, and he sidled over to Lin Yu.

"Junior Brother, this is your first time dealing with talismans, after all. Why don't you ask Master to wait until you're familiar with them before he tests us?" Looking every bit like a creepy uncle, Qiu Sheng tried to coax Lin Yu.

"Good luck, senior brothers. I've already learned it." Lin Yu pushed Qiu Sheng's big face away with his little hand and ran toward Uncle Nine.

"Ah!" Qiu Sheng looked stunned.

"So that's how it is, you little ingrate! You won't even do your senior brother this one favor." Once he recovered, his face filled with indignation.

"What were you two just talking about? Did you come up with anything?" Wen Cai came over and asked.

"What idea? The only thing we can do now is draw talismans." As Qiu Sheng spoke, he picked up a brush and swiped it across Wen Cai's face as he leaned in.

After seeing Lin Yu's talent, Qiu Sheng was startled too. But he only put in a little extra effort before he and Wen Cai started fooling around again.