Chapter 26: How’s the Craftsmanship?

Moyi Guihua asked Huo Zhi to draw a talisman in front of her.

For convenience, Huo Zhi imitated gravure printing. She first carved a template, added ordinary pigment to it before drawing, then pressed the talisman paper onto it, creating a copy. Then she only needed to focus on commanding the brush to draw patterns of appropriate thickness and spiritual qi density.

When spiritual qi and mental power were abundant, the success rate naturally increased.

As Moyi Guihua watched Huo Zhi successfully draw a talisman, the smile on her face grew even wider, and her eyes were so alluring they seemed to drip water.

“So this is how you draw talismans! How interesting! Even the grand Immortal Talisman Sect hasn’t thought of such a method! Wonderful, you’re a wonderful person! Little Sister Yuheng, I still think you should join the Blissful Union Sect. You really suit my tastes! If you join, I will personally serve you. The Blissful Union Sect has nothing else, but it has plenty of…” Moyi Guihua twisted her slender waist as she reached Huo Zhi’s side. Originally, she was wearing an outer robe, but she had put it into her storage bag. Inside, she was wearing a midriff-baring outfit, her toned abdomen adorned with graceful tattoo patterns and a navel ring. Her boldness was such that even in modern times, she would be at the forefront of fashion.

Moyi Guihua’s hand had already touched Huo Zhi’s face. Huo Zhi was so embarrassed that her cultivation technique was about to become disordered. At this moment, with a bang, the door was pushed open, and Linlang came out from the inner room.

Linlang’s cold and elegant face seemed covered in a layer of frost. She staggered over and grabbed Huo Zhi’s hand.

“Linlang, why did you come out? You’re not well yet!” Huo Zhi said, quickly supporting Linlang.

“Moyi Guihua, we will not join the Blissful Union Sect!” Linlang said, looking at Moyi Guihua.

“Little Cinnabar Bird, I didn’t invite you. Although you’re not bad-looking, with your fiery temper and being a mere insignificant little bird, do you think the Blissful Union Sect would even want a bird?” Moyi Guihua glanced at Linlang and said with a light laugh.

“I am a Cinnabar Bird, but I’m a hundred times better than a filthy person like you who seduces others everywhere! I…” Linlang grabbed Huo Zhi’s wrist tighter, not losing ground verbally.

“Linlang! Stop it,” Huo Zhi called out to Linlang, afraid they would say more unpleasant things if the argument continued.

Unexpectedly, the usually quiet and cool daughter was really angry!

She was truly afraid they would start fighting. Linlang’s mental power hadn’t recovered yet, and her cultivation was several levels below Moyi Guihua’s.

“If it weren’t for the sake of Little Sister Yuheng’s face, with my temper, I would have already broken your two wings! Little Sister Yuheng, will you join or not? You’re not going to listen to her, are you?” Moyi Guihua looked at Linlang with a colder expression, raising her hand to look at her fingers and glancing at Huo Zhi.

“Shizun, you promised me.” Linlang also looked at Huo Zhi, her eyes carrying grievance and a sense of lonely resolve.

“Mm, don’t worry. Sister Moyi, I was impolite earlier. I’m truly sorry. Linlang and I have other plans, so we won’t join the Blissful Union Sect. For this time you helped us, as I said before, I’ll give you ten percent of the talismans I draw as thanks, and I’ll also give you two Profound-Grade Talisman Artifacts.” Huo Zhi looked at Moyi Guihua with an apologetic expression.

Although Moyi Guihua’s behavior was exaggerated, Huo Zhi never felt she had ill intentions or thought badly of her. However, Linlang was too angry, and she had promised her earlier. No matter what Moyi Guihua said now, Huo Zhi wouldn’t agree.

As Huo Zhi finished speaking, Linlang looked at Moyi Guihua, silently declaring her victory.

Moyi Guihua was angered into a laugh.

“So you’re not joining because she doesn’t want you to? What a pity. Ten percent is too little. Out of these thousand talisman materials, I want a hundred finished talismans. Forget the Profound-Grade Talisman Artifacts. You can only leave after you’ve drawn them all.” Moyi Guihua said lightly.

“Alright. Thank you, Sister Moyi. Please sit down first. I’ll take her back to the room.” Huo Zhi said, tightening her grip on Linlang’s hand to prevent her from saying more.

006 had already sent a message that Linlang’s Happiness Value had dropped, and Huo Zhi would need to comfort her later.

“Linlang, you’re not well yet. Go back to the room first. You still need to use the Spirit Recovery Talisman. Aren’t you feeling uncomfortable now?” Huo Zhi said, pulling Linlang inside.

Moyi Guihua watched Huo Zhi and Linlang enter, narrowing her eyes. If she were the type to give up so easily, she wouldn’t be herself.

“Linlang, I won’t join the Blissful Union Sect. We agreed on this before, and I won’t go back on my word. Don’t worry. Moyi Guihua is just like that. Don’t argue with her. She’ll say anything.” Huo Zhi pressed Linlang back onto the bed, speaking gently to her, and at the same time, reactivated the Spirit Recovery Talisman to help Linlang recover.

Linlang looked at Huo Zhi, not wanting her to leave.

Just now, when Huo Zhi had been out for a moment, she had been extremely worried, always feeling that Moyi Guihua would bully her, seduce her, or…

Enduring her discomfort, she went to the front hall and indeed saw Moyi Guihua seducing Huo Zhi with the most frivolous gestures.

She needed to recover quickly so she and Huo Zhi could leave this cursed place!

“Be good. I’ll go out and draw talismans. You continue resting.” Huo Zhi looked at Linlang, feeling a sense of vulnerability in her expression, and couldn’t help reaching out to pat her head.

Linlang closed her eyes, feeling uncomfortable and upset. She seemed to be falling into a feeling similar to her previous life again.

That feeling was extremely unpleasant!

The only comfort was that Huo Zhi liked her, cared for her, and treated her so well, so well…

Seeing Linlang close her eyes and obediently lie down to receive the Spirit Recovery Talisman treatment, Huo Zhi breathed a light sigh of relief and turned to go out to the front hall.

“Where do you plan to go after leaving here?” Moyi Guihua asked when Huo Zhi returned to the front hall.

“I want to go to Immortal Talisman City where the Immortal Talisman Sect is located. I want to join the Immortal Talisman Sect and continue learning the Talisman Arts.” Huo Zhi said.

“It’s very difficult to enter the Immortal Talisman Sect, and it’s too far from here. Taking an ordinary Flying Talisman Artifact would probably take about a year. You’re only at Foundation Establishment Stage now, and if you can draw Profound-Grade Ice Escape Talismans, they’ll only take you a few dozen miles. Who knows how many you’d need.” Moyi Guihua said quietly.

“Still, I have to try. I’ve heard about your situation from Mei’er. If I’m fortunate enough to reach the Immortal Talisman Sect, I’ll find a way to get a Three-Pattern Meridian Cleansing Talisman.” Huo Zhi said seriously.

Going to the Immortal Talisman Sect was not just to learn the Talisman Arts and improve her strength and status, but also to find something to help Linlang absorb the Inherited Spirit Talisman. Otherwise, that talisman was too powerful. It was fine while sealed, but once the seal cracked, Linlang’s current strength wouldn’t be enough to absorb it.

“That Mei’er, she really tells everything!” Moyi Guihua said with slight annoyance, and her expression toward Huo Zhi changed a bit.

Moyi Guihua continued watching Huo Zhi draw talismans until Huo Zhi’s mental power was exhausted and she went back to recover before leaving.

Huo Zhi returned to Linlang’s side to sit in meditation and recover.

Sitting in meditation was truly boring, and entering a meditative state was annoying. Huo Zhi really wanted to sleep, but sleeping was too easy to expose her—if she didn’t actively cultivate and absorb spiritual qi, her cultivation wouldn’t improve. So it was better to obediently meditate.

Linlang’s mental power hadn’t recovered, so she was easily tired and had fallen asleep again. As Huo Zhi sat down beside her, her body naturally leaned toward Huo Zhi, nestling close to her.

“Seems like my daughter trusts me; she even knows to snuggle up to me in her sleep,” Huo Zhi thought to herself as she reached out to stroke Linlang’s hair, a happy smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

When Huo Zhi finished recovering and went out to continue drawing talismans, the previously seen Mei’er hurried in. She stared blankly as Huo Zhi drew a talisman, and when she saw Huo Zhi successfully complete it, she suddenly knelt down in front of Huo Zhi.

“Fairy Yuheng, I was impolite earlier!” Mei’er kowtowed to Huo Zhi and said.

“Mei’er, what are you doing!” Huo Zhi was startled and quickly supported Mei’er.

“Fairy Yuheng, I was too foolish! The Sect Leader’s eye is indeed good. I beg you, if it’s truly possible to enter the Immortal Talisman Sect, please help the Sect Leader. I’d be willing to be your ox and horse!” Mei’er was about to kowtow again, but Huo Zhi held her back.

“You are very loyal. I said before that if your Sect Leader helps me, I will also help her. Get up, I need to continue drawing talismans.” Huo Zhi said. Seeing that Moyi Guihua had such a loyal disciple, it probably meant she was indeed like the original work described—treating her fellow sect members well and caring for them.

“I’ll stay here and serve you, Fairy. If there’s anything inconvenient or anything you need, just tell me.” Mei’er stood up and said.

“No need. If you want to watch, you can, but serving isn’t necessary. Don’t touch anything recklessly; it’ll disrupt my rhythm.” Huo Zhi said.

Mei’er dared not move carelessly and moved a bit farther away, waiting for Huo Zhi’s instructions.

Huo Zhi shook her head and said nothing more.

As Huo Zhi continued drawing talismans, Moyi Guihua’s personal maid came to call her.

“The Sect Leader said she wants to remove your Tattoo Talisman and asked you to come with me,” the maid said.

Huo Zhi stood up to stretch out, went into the room to check on Linlang, and saw she was still sleeping. She didn’t disturb her but told Mei’er to inform Linlang if she woke up.

Huo Zhi followed the maid out of their residence, turned along several winding corridors, and arrived at a Spirit Spring Pool shrouded in dense, swirling spiritual qi. Moyi Guihua was leisurely reclining inside.

“…We’re doing it here?” Huo Zhi asked.

“It’s for your own good. Removing a tattoo is very painful. This Spirit Spring Pool is the place with the richest spiritual qi in the entire Blissful Union Sect. It will ease the pain, and soaking in it helps your cultivation, and also quickly recovers mental power. Come down, I won’t eat you up,” Moyi Guihua beckoned to Huo Zhi.

Moyi Guihua’s long hair was loose, wrapped in just a piece of clothing that exposed her shoulders and neck, and her long legs were clearly visible under the water. Without any makeup, she was still gorgeous and bewitchingly seductive, her allure penetrating to the bone.

Huo Zhi had visited public swimming pools and even large public bathhouses in modern times, and they were all women, so she wasn’t shy. She took off her shoes and socks, entered the water in her inner garment.

Indeed, the pool deserved its name as the Spirit Spring Pool. As soon as she entered the water, she felt every pore in her body absorbing spiritual qi, extremely comfortable.

“Lie on this water platform here and pull down your clothes a bit,” Moyi Guihua said to Huo Zhi.

Huo Zhi obediently pulled down the shoulder of her clothing to expose the Tattoo Talisman.

Moyi Guihua wore a subtle smile.

Well, this little one from an orthodox sect who cultivates the Dao of Ruthlessness was proper enough, but concerning some things, she seemed a bit slow and unresponsive.

She went into the water when told to, lay down when told to, and took off her clothes when told to. If it were anyone else, Moyi Guihua would have thought they were a delicacy delivered right to her door.

But this person gave a different feeling. There was admiration and appreciation in her eyes, but nothing else, as if this was all normal.

She really did believe she wouldn’t eat her up!

Straight.

Different from that Little Cinnabar Bird.

“It’s starting. Bear with it. To prevent the Positioning Talisman from recovering again, I’ll erase it completely, removing the lines that have penetrated deep into your skin layer, and make this part that absorbs spiritual qi disappear entirely,” Moyi Guihua took out a silver needle and transmitted her voice before beginning the removal.

“Mm, I’m ready,” Huo Zhi said, gritting her teeth. She had to maintain the operation of her cultivation technique and not slip up from the pain.

As Moyi Guihua operated, Huo Zhi’s body trembled slightly.

“Fairy Yuheng, you said you want to enter the Immortal Talisman Sect. I have some connections to obtain an Examination Token. But there’s a condition,” Moyi Guihua transmitted to Huo Zhi.

“What condition?” Huo Zhi was in pain but felt happy upon hearing this. She knew Moyi Guihua was a former disciple expelled from the Immortal Talisman Sect, but didn’t know if she still had connections there.

“How about becoming a Guest Elder of my Blissful Union Sect? It doesn’t count as fully joining. You can still go to other sects, just maintain this Guest Elder relationship with us. When your cultivation is high, Blissful Union Sect can use your name and benefit from you. In turn, the Blissful Union Sect will do its utmost to be your backing. If you become a Guest Elder, you can soak in the Spirit Spring Pool anytime, and I’ll come to serve you anytime, how about that?” Moyi Guihua transmitted, saying the last sentence out loud.

Huo Zhi’s talent in talisman drawing was something Moyi Guihua had never seen even in the Immortal Talisman Sect, which is why she now valued Huo Zhi so much.

“That’s acceptable,” Huo Zhi said, understanding after hearing this. Being a Guest Elder was like being a visiting professor or honorary dean, something along those lines. In that case, it was fine.

The Blissful Union Sect had so many beautiful sisters, and Moyi Guihua was not bad.

If Moyi Guihua could indeed help her obtain that Examination Token, she would save a year’s travel time and could go directly to take the Immortal Talisman Sect’s exam. With her current level, she should be able to join the Immortal Talisman Sect.

“Refreshing. Then it’s settled,” Moyi Guihua laughed, her hand pressing a bit harder, causing Huo Zhi to let out a soft sound.

“Did it hurt? Then I’ll be gentler. Tell me if it hurts,” Moyi Guihua said, lightening her touch.

“Yes, a little,” Huo Zhi said. Tattoo removal was indeed painful. In modern times, she’d heard that removing a tattoo required many sessions; it was truly troublesome.

“Is this strength okay? Ah, it seems my craftsmanship has declined. Little Sister Yuheng, what about that little Cinnabar Bird disciple of yours? How is her craftsmanship?” Moyi Guihua asked. Even though it was a normal conversation, when she said it, it sounded full of ambiguous charm.

“How could Linlang know something like that,” Huo Zhi said.

“Oh, she doesn’t. I see how well you treat that little Cinnabar Bird. Haven’t you two done it?” Moyi Guihua continued asking.

“Done what? What are you joking about!” Huo Zhi was stunned for a moment, then realized.

“Aren’t you two lovers? Don’t you like her?” Moyi Guihua asked.

“How could that be! We’re not lovers. She and I, it’s simply impossible. We’re just a pure master-disciple relationship. Stop joking! Mm…” As Huo Zhi was speaking, Moyi Guihua’s hand pressed harder again, causing Huo Zhi to let out a louder cry.

Huo Zhi found what Moyi Guihua said absurd. Linlang was her daughter! And she directly asked if they’d done it!

Done what, curse it all!

“That’s wonderful. Since you have no relationship, why don’t we be together?” Moyi Guihua said with a smile.

“Host, terrible news. Linlang’s Happiness Value dropped by five thousand!” Before Huo Zhi could answer Moyi Guihua, she heard 006’s broadcast.

“What happened?!” Huo Zhi was shocked.

“Linlang has arrived!” 006 said. Huo Zhi quickly turned to look for Linlang. Through the dense, swirling spiritual qi mist, she saw Linlang standing dumbfounded not far away.

As if losing her soul, completely motionless.

“Linlang!” Huo Zhi was frightened and quickly called out, wanting to climb out of the Spirit Spring Pool. But she only saw flames erupt from Linlang’s body, a burst of fire covering her entirely, making her expression unreadable.

Huo Zhi climbed out of the Spirit Spring Pool and ran toward Linlang. Before she could reach her, she saw Linlang transform into a Cinnabar Bird and spread her wings, flying into the sky.

“Linlang!” Huo Zhi shouted loudly, only to see Linlang’s storage bag and fire-resistant clothes fall to the ground.

A long, piercing cry echoed through the sky, filled with desolation.

For a moment, Huo Zhi felt a heart-wrenching pain and chased in the direction Linlang flew.

Moyi Guihua emerged from the water behind Huo Zhi, looking toward the distant spot where Linlang quickly disappeared, left with only a red speck, her face showing astonishment.

She knew Linlang had come and just wanted to anger her, speaking ambiguously. She never expected Linlang to react so strongly!

Tsk tsk, after all, she was young, impulsive, extreme, and easily duped!

She didn’t understand Little Yuheng at all!

As Moyi Guihua thought this, she saw Huo Zhi running after Linlang. She flew over, and the red silk ribbon on her body shot out, wrapping around Huo Zhi’s waist and pulling her back.

“How can you chase her? She has wings and is flying extremely fast and urgently. I’ll take you with my Flying Talisman Artifact. Follow me,” Moyi Guihua said, holding Huo Zhi back.