Chapter 25: The Talisman-Selling Vendor Part 2

Huang Qi, Zhang Beauty, and Old Tang quietly shifted back into the alley between the makeshift room and the wall. It was long enough to be a blind spot from all distant angles. Huang Qi had Heart-Eye Vision to detect approaches, and Old Tang’s shikigami could kill humans and ghosts alike!

A dozen or so of the earlier attackers lay in the alley; two or three staggered to their feet. Dong Zi shouted, “Trying to run?” He rushed over and kicked them down again, leaving them writhing in agony on the ground, none daring to rise.

Suddenly, a voice rang out. “Wang Ya…” “Wang Ya…” It sounded like soul calling, now far, now near, left then right, shifting positions rapidly at high speed!

“Wang Ya, where are you?”

“Wang Ya, come out!”

Wang Ya pursed her lips and rolled her eyes in exasperation. She was an expert at Hook Soul herself— who dared try to call her soul away? She wasn’t some useless Zheng Yanxia. But then she recalled Open-Eyed Blind’s Radar Eye and quick reactions in danger, retracting her dismissive thought!

The voice drifted everywhere, calling souls and wailing grievances, utterly annoying. Wang Ya knew it wasn’t a ghost—ghosts had no voices. Ghost entities used Hook Soul or Soul Calling when people slept or were dazed. This was either a Paper Effigy or puppet transmitting sound remotely, or something like Old Tang’s shikigami with vocal capability.

Suddenly, a small white Paper Effigy floated onto the wall beside Wang Ya, its eerie green eyes staring straight at her position. Its pale mouth curved into a grin. “I see you!” Wang Ya got goosebumps instantly, instinctively raising her palm to seal it—but Old Tang suddenly flicked his hand, shooting a white light that severed the Paper Effigy on the wall in two. At the same time, a tender green vine wrapped around the still-crying “Wang…” Paper Effigy, countless fine tendrils instantly cocooning the halves and dragging them underground. The cry cut off abruptly, silenced.

Huang Qi said, “Wang Ya, they’re trying to bait you!” To bolster her confidence, she pursed her lips and whispered, “I can’t even see you.”

Wang Ya knew she was the enemy’s prime target. As long as she stayed hidden, she was their biggest worry and her team’s greatest asset, so she didn’t expose herself. Guessing the Conceal Qi Talisman’s effect was nearly up, she quickly pulled out another and renewed it. She noticed Zhang Beauty and Old Tang glancing her way, but their gazes didn’t actually land on her. Then Old Tang coughed and lowered his voice. “Wang Ya, lend me a few talismans, yeah?”

Old Tang spoke without directing his line of sight toward her hiding spot, to avoid exposing her.

Wang Ya shot Old Tang a sideways glance and raised her right hand, extending three fingers right in front of his eyes! Not the OK sign with middle, ring, and pinky—but index, middle, and ring for “three.” She’d told him before: thirty thousand per talisman!

Old Tang spat loudly. “Thirty thousand a talisman? Go rob a bank! Three thousand!” His voice was loud but still avoided her direction. As long as Wang Ya stayed hidden, he could sing at the top of his lungs or run naked in the alley without issue—cough, better skip the naked run with three young folks nearby, two of them girls; that’d ruin him for life!

Wang Ya’s “three” fingers stood firm and unwavering.

Old Tang yelled, “Two thousand eight hundred!”

Wang Ya whipped her head to glare at him fiercely! She withdrew the “three,” crossed her arms, and ignored him. Sis ain’t selling anymore!

Old Tang coughed again, coaxing the air before him. “Wang Ya, look—you can draw dozens of talismans in one go without breaking a sweat. We’ve got three people here; three talismans are nine thousand bucks. Sprinkle some water’s effort and you’ve earned nearly ten grand. We’re all in the same boat, united against the enemy, right? You’ve got so many talismans; if you don’t sell ’em, they’re wasted. Earn ten grand or eight grand, whatever. Am I right? Besides, we supplied the materials for your drawing—should get a couple sheets fair and square!”

Wang Ya ignored Old Tang. She only had four Conceal Qi Talismans total—barely enough for herself for an hour!

The darkness fell silent again.

With Zhang Beauty’s array blocking the yin qi, Wang Ya couldn’t sense if the outside yin qi had dispersed or if the ghosts had left, so she stayed vigilant. She timed her Conceal Qi Talismans carefully. As the third one’s effect waned and she used her last one, her heart tightened—once the fourth expired, she’d be exposed, forcing another hard fight. But with ample wood spiritual energy around, forming Yi Wood seals was easy, and she had some fight left. That offered slight comfort.

Suddenly, Wang Ya heard faint police sirens in the distance; she thought it was her imagination.

Huang Qi said, “Police are coming!”

Hearing Zheng Yanxia confirm it, Wang Ya knew it was real—her hearing was sharper. Wang Ya let out a long sigh of relief! With police here, they should be safe. Her grandma had told her more than once: you could avoid dealing with official powers, but never challenge them. The nation’s might and modern firearms were beyond her. Not just her—no sect could withstand an army sweep.

Huang Qi heard Wang Ya’s sigh and softly added, “The darkest hour is before dawn. Wang Ya, you’re three steps to my left, right?”

Wang Ya startled and quickly shifted position, staying crouched.

Old Tang chuckled silently, unsympathetically.

Another ten minutes passed, and police cars entered the construction site. Huang Qi said, “Let’s go!” and led the way out of the alley.

Wang Ya saw Zhang Beauty lightly flick her hand upward; the glowing green vine slithered out like a little green snake, coiling back around her arm. Old Tang also withdrew his shikigami, tucking it under his clothes. Wang Ya followed behind Old Tang. Her chest talisman had minutes left, and fearing lurkers, she didn’t remove it. The police cars’ lights pierced the dark—over a dozen vehicles, even armed police. The officers dismounted and formed a tight formation immediately.

Four police approached them, and everyone’s gazes locked on her, some stifling laughs.

Wang Ya glared with her beautiful eyes and snapped lightly, “What’s so funny? Never seen a beauty before?”

“Pfft!” The four police in front burst out laughing. The lead one, a serious old officer in his fifties, pointed gently at her face. “Little miss, why do you have a talisman drawn on your face…?” Wang Ya then remembered the blood-drawn, expired Conceal Qi Talisman still on her forehead. Looking down, she saw three Conceal Qi Talismans on her chest and Evil-Suppressing Talismans on both arms. She felt utterly embarrassed, like a street vendor hawking talismans door-to-door! But could she tell a bunch of cops, “I’m a ghost-exorcising expert fighting ghosts”? Wang Ya wailed inwardly but kept a cool, expert demeanor on the surface, standing tall like a master.