CG - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Changshan was a mountain range on the outskirts of North City. The mountains were small and not very high, but they were wreathed in mountain mist and rich in spiritual energy, making them an excellent place for cultivation. That was why Wu Gu had scouted the area as her first stop upon arriving in North City. When she heard Wei Jinzhi was going to Changshan, she nodded in approval. She had just expended some spiritual power checking Wei Jinzhi's pulse, and drawing talismans that night would require a constant supply of spiritual energy. Changshan was the most suitable place right now.

Wei Jinzhi's Changshan villa was located in an area of the mountain not open to the public. A small spirit-gathering formation had been set up inside the villa to help nourish a person's health, but its effect on Wei Jinzhi was negligible. Wu Gu noticed the formation the moment she walked in. Although her cultivation level was high, her age limited the breadth of her knowledge. Feng shui and divination happened to be her two worst subjects.

Seeing her looking at the spirit-gathering formation, Wei Jinzhi said, "Master Ma set it up. He said it would be good for me."

Wu Gu didn't feel it was her place to comment and followed her into the living room. Wei Jinzhi had her sit on the sofa while she went to put away the brocade box with the talisman on it. After Wu Yong brought her a cup of tea, he also went upstairs to retrieve the items she had requested. When the items were laid out on the table, their superior quality was obvious at a glance. It must be a hassle for an ordinary family to keep these things on hand all the time, she thought.

Even her master rarely held back praise when it came to Wu Gu's talisman drawing. Coupled with the abundant spiritual energy in Changshan, although she herself used very little of her own power, the talismans' potency was undeniable. Soon, six simple Spirit-Probing Talismans were complete. Wei Jinzhi sat beside her, watching intently. Though she couldn't identify the type of talisman, she could see that all six were identical.

Once they were done, Wu Gu took the initiative to explain. "These are Spirit-Probing Talismans. Tonight, I'll try to see if I can figure out the curse on you."

"Alright." They were sitting very close. Wei Jinzhi's gaze fell on the girl's curved eyelashes, and her tone softened. "What would you like for dinner?"

Wu Gu casually gathered the cinnabar and talisman paper on the table and replied, "Instant noodles."

Wei Jinzhi chuckled, gently trying to persuade her. "Although I don't understand the talismans you draw, I know that it consumes spiritual power. The cost of making six talismans is worth more than a dinner. Please, let it be my payment to you, alright?"

"The spiritual energy here is plentiful. I didn't lose anything."

"Do you know the market price for a single talisman?" When Wu Gu shook her head, she pointed to a warding talisman on one of the windows. "That one. A friend's price. Three thousand for one."

Wu Gu was shocked. "Three thousand? Is drawing talismans that profitable?" Then what was she doing working herself to the bone as a delivery driver? She could earn half a year's living expenses just by casually drawing a single talisman.

Wei Jinzhi was even more perplexed than she was. "You're a disciple of a Xuanmen sect. Don't you know you can take on paid jobs? I've heard that exorcisms pay very well. With your abilities, it should be easier than working part-time."

"I know rituals and exorcisms are profitable, but Master wouldn't let me do them. He said I was young and all alone. If I encountered a powerful ghost without any backup, I could lose my cultivation at best, or my life at worst."

Wei Jinzhi agreed with this reasoning. Wu Gu also thought her master's considerations were thorough. What she didn't know, however, was that Lao Wu's real reason for forbidding her was to prevent her from coming into contact with other Xuanmen sects. As her master, he knew the extent of her abilities better than anyone. He feared the old saying: an innocent man gets into trouble for his wealth. If outsiders coveted her unique skills and artifacts and plotted to harm his little disciple, Wu Gu's trusting nature would make her an easy target. His only option was to invent a reason and repeat it in his young disciple's ear from a young age. The cumulative effect over the years had proven very useful.

In the end, Wu Gu did not have instant noodles for dinner. After eating, she found a spot in the courtyard with good spiritual energy to rest and recuperate. As soon as the clock struck eight, she opened her eyes, went inside, and said, "Let's begin."

Wei Jinzhi led her to the second floor and opened a door to a purification room. Wu Gu had her sit on the floor, then sat down herself, a meter directly in front of her. After Wei Jinzhi closed her eyes, Wu Gu threw out the six talismans and quickly formed a hand seal. Wei Jinzhi felt as if she were being bound by ropes. She opened her eyes, but all she saw was a dark, empty void. Her body was immobilized, unable to move.

As Wu Gu formed the seal, the six Spirit-Probing Talismans arranged themselves in six directions around Wei Jinzhi. A Celestial Master with their Yin-Yang Eyes open would have been able to see golden lines of light connecting the talismans, forming a six-pointed star with Wei Jinzhi trapped in the center. Wu Gu took out her artifact and threw it toward Wei Jinzhi.

Wei Jinzhi heard the faint chime of a bell, and then felt a cord wrap twice around her wrists. Trapped in darkness, she could only rely on her senses. The cord on her wrists grew hotter and hotter, and she even felt a fire scorching her from within her chest. Her soul and body burned with an unbearable heat. The agony was so intense that her manic emotions surged once more.

Beads of sweat also formed on Wu Gu's forehead. She pinched the black, hexagonal cone between two fingers as a thin red cord channeled her spiritual power toward the bell at the other end. The curse afflicting Wei Jinzhi was bizarrely strange; it seemed to possess a consciousness of its own, fiercely rejecting the spiritual power she was pouring in. Fortunately, the spiritual energy in Changshan was abundant, so she could hold on for a while longer.

She might be able to hold on, but Wei Jinzhi's body, weakened by years of affliction, could not withstand such a strain. The taut red cord suddenly went slack. Wu Gu froze for a moment, then opened her eyes to see Wei Jinzhi collapsed on the floor, clearly having fainted. Wu Gu blinked, thinking she might have just made things worse with her good intentions.

She quickly removed the artifact from Wei Jinzhi's wrists. She checked for breath and felt for a pulse on her neck—skills she hadn't mastered but had learned from TV dramas. Thankfully, the woman had only fainted. She tried to lift Wei Jinzhi, but she was like a dead weight, and Wu Gu couldn't find a good grip. After several failed attempts, she plopped onto the floor, panting from exhaustion.

Wu Yong, who had been standing guard at the top of the stairs, saw Wu Gu come down alone. His eyes darkened. Without a word, he lunged forward and seized her wrist. The pain made Wu Gu's face scrunch up, and she slapped at his arm with her other hand, tears welling in her eyes. "What is wrong with you? Let go!"

Wu Yong did not release his grip. He dragged her back upstairs. "Where is the Eldest Miss?"

"She fainted! I was coming down to get your help! You're going to break my bones, let go!" Seeing that he was immune to both pleading and threats, she snapped, "If you don't let go, don't blame me for what happens next." Wu Yong tightened his grip in response to her threat. Furious, she casually raised a hand, and the artifact wrapped around her waist flew out with a clear target.

Before Wu Yong could see what it was, a red cord nearly two meters long wrapped around his chest twice. The cord tightened, and the strength in the hand gripping Wu Gu's wrist vanished instantly. Wu Gu immediately jumped half a meter away, rubbing her wrist and glaring at him. Wu Yong looked down. The cord around his chest was thin, with a thumb-sized hexagonal cone and a bell of the same size dangling at its ends. He tried to struggle, but it was useless.

"Let me go!" he roared.

Wu Gu glared at him. "I can, but first, you have to promise not to get rough again."

"If anything happened to the Eldest Miss, I won't let you off."

"She's fine! I told you, she just fainted. I couldn't move her, so I came to get your help. Can't you figure out what's going on before resorting to violence?" she demanded. "I'll let you go, but you can't grab me. Deal? If not, then forget it."

Wu Yong had no choice but to nod in agreement. "If the Eldest Miss is hurt, the promise is off."

Wu Gu nodded and raised her hand to recall the Soul-Piercing Bell. The bell obediently wrapped itself back around her waist, hidden beneath her clothes. The red cord of the Soul-Piercing Bell was thin, so it wasn't noticeable even when wrapped around her waist four times. A pull of her shirt hem easily concealed it. It was convenient and saved time, but most of the time, she kept the Soul-Piercing Bell in her backpack, as she rarely needed to use it.

Wu Gu and Wu Yong entered the room. Wei Jinzhi was still lying on the floor, showing no signs of waking. Wu Yong knew some first aid and could tell that Wei Jinzhi had fainted from physical exhaustion. He picked her up and carried her back to her bedroom. Wu Gu followed, keeping a distance of half a meter. Once Wei Jinzhi was settled in bed, she placed the triangular talisman she had picked up earlier on the nightstand.

Checking the time, Wu Gu figured she should be heading back. "She's fine. Just let her rest for the next couple of days. I'm going home now."

"No."

"What is wrong with you? Can't you see she's fine?"

"You can't leave. You have to wait until the Eldest Miss wakes up tomorrow before you can go. I don't trust you. It would be difficult to catch you again if you tried some trick." Wu Yong was blunt. "And before you leave, I need to know why the Eldest Miss fainted."

Wu Gu was about to die from anger. Although Wu Yong had a point, his attitude was infuriating. She had offered her help out of kindness and for free, but the way he spoke made her sound like a scheming, sneaky criminal. Her good intentions had been completely wasted. She would be much better off sleeping in her dorm right now. Suddenly, her legs gave out, and she leaned wearily against the wall. She had already expended a great deal of spiritual power, and now, with her anger flaring, she nearly spat out a mouthful of blood to complete the tragic scene. "Where am I supposed to sleep, then?"

"The sofa downstairs."

Wu Gu snorted in displeasure and turned to go downstairs. Wei Jinzhi's sofa was big, wide, and soft—more comfortable than her dorm's single bed, if she had to compare. Unfortunately, Wu Yong was so cold-hearted he didn't even offer her a blanket. She could only use a throw pillow for her head and hug her backpack as she lay down. Perhaps she had used more spiritual power than she'd realized, because she fell asleep within minutes.

Wei Jinzhi woke up early the next morning. It took her a long moment to recall the events of the previous night. She sat up, her body feeling weak and as if it had fallen apart. After sitting on the edge of the bed for half an hour to gather her strength, she finally made her way to the door. As soon as it opened, Wu Yong, who had been guarding it all night, immediately stood up to check her expression. Wei Jinzhi glanced at the chair by the door and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

"Eldest Miss, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

She didn't feel unwell, just tired. "Where's Wu Gu?" she asked. Wu Yong handed her the tablet from the chair. The security feed showed Wu Gu curled up on the sofa. Wei Jinzhi hurried downstairs, her steps unsteady even while holding the handrail. By the time she reached the sofa, she was completely exhausted. She had to take several deep breaths before she could gently shake Wu Gu awake. Wu Gu, cold, was hugging her backpack tightly. At the sound of a voice, she mumbled sleepily, annoyed at being disturbed.

Wu Gu's words were mumbled, but Wei Jinzhi understood the gist. Her tone grew even gentler. "Get up for now. If you want to sleep, you can go upstairs." She touched Wu Gu's hand; it was ice-cold. She held it in her own to warm it. "Come on, get up first."

Wu Gu opened her eyes to the sight of Wei Jinzhi's beautiful features. In her daze, she didn't forget to praise her. "You're so pretty." Only then did she sit up and remember last night's events. "You're awake! Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Wei Jinzhi shook her head. "No. Why were you sleeping downstairs? Did you catch a cold? Does your head hurt? Is your throat sore?" Wu Gu's limbs were numb from the cold. Just as she tried to move, a cramp shot through her numb calf, making her face twist in pain. Wei Jinzhi quickly began to massage her leg. After a moment, she asked, "Is that any better?"

Wu Gu nodded. Wei Jinzhi had a good idea why Wu Gu had slept on the sofa. It was most likely the result of Wu Yong's rash actions, assuming something had happened to her. Filled with apology, she spoke in a soft, gentle voice, "What would you like for breakfast?"

Wu Gu's limbs had recovered. She took Wei Jinzhi's wrist and checked her pulse with her spiritual power. "I was too hasty yesterday and made you faint. But your body is fine, you'll be okay after a few days of rest."

"It's alright. We can take it slow."

"Right, I found a triangular talisman yesterday and put it on your nightstand. Did you see it?"

Wei Jinzhi had seen it that morning while resting on her bed. It was the same talisman the old Daoist had given her. She had taken it out of the brocade box yesterday and put it on her person. It must have fallen out of her pocket when she fainted and was moved. She took it out and showed it to Wu Gu. "An old Daoist I met years ago also saw that I was cursed. This is the talisman he gave me at the time."

The paper was folded into a triangle, showing only the head of the talisman. "Can I open it and take a look?" Wu Gu asked.

"Of course."

Unfolding the paper revealed an Exorcism Talisman. The patterns were complex; it wasn't a simple one. It bore some resemblance to her own style. The spiritual power on it was completely depleted, rendering it a blank piece of paper. "This talisman is useless now," she said. "There's no point in carrying it."

Wei Jinzhi had thought as much. After so many years, the talisman's power had long since faded. She folded the paper back up. "I carry it for peace of mind."

Wu Gu opened her bag, pulled out a new Exorcism Talisman, folded it, and handed it over. "Here." Then she asked, "Why weren't you carrying it back then?"

Wei Jinzhi accepted the talisman from Wu Gu, a warmth spreading through her heart. "At the time, I thought that Daoist was a fraud. Master Ma happened to give me a few new talismans, so I just tossed this one in a cabinet."

"Did Master Ma see this talisman?"

Wei Jinzhi thought for a moment, her memory a bit hazy. "I think he did." Wu Gu said "Oh," and nodded, but offered no further comment. "What is it?" Wei Jinzhi asked.

Wu Gu shook her head. "Nothing. It's just that this old Daoist's talisman is very well-drawn. No worse than mine."

Wei Jinzhi smiled and opened her palm to look at the new talisman. "Alright then. I'll pay you market price for this one. From now on, you can give me one talisman a month, and I'll pay you for it. You're still a student and need to focus on your studies. Working too many part-time jobs will affect your grades."

Wu Gu initially disagreed, insisting that one talisman was no trouble at all, but Wei Jinzhi reiterated that she couldn't take advantage of her. In the end, the two settled on a friend's price. When Wu Gu received the money transfer, it still felt a little unreal.

Get instant access to all the chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next